It's A Kiwi Christmas

So, one of my New Year's resolutions was to blog more.  I promised myself that at least once a month I would get some words and some photos here so that in twenty years, my babies could see where we were and what I was thinking.  Scrapbooks are heavy and take up room in suitcases and moving vans so this is my solution.

This was our second Christmas in New Zealand and probably our last.  We knew the lay of the land this year.  BBQ, maybe the beach, laid back, fun times at Christmas.  We knew not to expect the hustle and bustle of a US Christmas and we were willing to leave it with the snow!

We made our ornaments and decor this year and had so much fun...

We visited Grandma's Kiwi Christmas experience at Smith & Caughey and read the book EVERY NIGHT!!  I plan for this book to travel back with us and be one of the ways that we honor our time here as the boys grow.  You can learn more about Helen McKinlay and all her fun books.  We often enjoy Grandma Joins the All Blacks too.

Had a short meeting and photo op with Santa and his elves (my boys were 100% enchanted!).

Of course, we tried to simply live at the beach whenever possible.  This is something that I undervalued before I lived in Auckland and have full knowledge I will be missing immensely by next December.  This access to the beach is what I will not be able to pack up and take home, and I really regret that.  

We got a slip and slide and the AJs have decided that the best dress code is nudity!  So grateful for our garden wall!

Auckland puts on a natural show at Christmas time too.  It goes from really beautiful to magnificent!  

We got this giant tree.  Even I, despiser of the Christmas tree appreciated it for a short while (until it started dropping needles).  

It was the most beautiful Christmas I have experienced, ever.

As our holidays begin to wind down with Auckland City Day this weekend, I wish you a happy new year! 

 Cheers!