New Zealand, Here We Are (part 1)

Well, a lot has happened since my last update, like a lot so I'm going to update with pictures and it might get long. :)

During the month of January we were super busy packing our house to load the container.  The container left our house on January 19th.  We'll let you know when we see it again...(Sorry no pictures, but think chaos, boxes, lists, and coloring coding.)

We did manage to squeeze in a visit to Brevard.  I think the only pictures taken were by Cate and Shelley.  Cate posted a few portraits of Edith that I have shamelessly downloaded and posted here.  We had a great weekend catching up with our friends there!  We stayed with Jeff and Shelley, who were (are) great hosts and the kids had a ball playing with their dog Arlo.  I think Arlo was probably glad to get his toys back once we left. :)

After, we loaded all our stuff on the container we did not sleep on the floor, but stayed with MarMar and JonJon.  They spoiled us rotten and we will/do miss them!!!  Eleanor is becoming quite the budding photographer and documented our stay there.  Here are some of her best shots.  You know, minus the finger over the lens and with a subject.

 

Just before leaving Paducah Edith was baptized.  It really meant a lot to me that she was baptized in the same church that I grew up in and where Andrew and I got married and the other two were baptized there as well.  My church family at First Pres has meant so much to me throughout my entire life that its great to know my children are part of that even if they live halfway around the world.

Add caption

Edith wore the same gown that the other two wore and looked gorgeous.  Its a special family heirloom.  Granny Jill's grandmother made it for her to wear to her christening.  MarMar and I tried to capture the handmade details but let's just say we are not professionals and didn't go it justice.  Sign us for lighting classes. :)

The flight over was long, but uneventful.  The kids had fun playing in the kid area again in Nashville, but other than that there aren't many pictures.  It was hard because a family of five can't sit together in the same row because there are only four oxygen masks.  But we made it!

 

Break time: message from Eleanor:

lllVersion:1.0 StartHTML:0000000167 EndHTML:0000000691 StartFragment:0000000457 EndFragment:0000000675

E4tnnnn,,,//jrjfja6ddfghjkl;lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllkmmkkkkkkkkkkk22222222224555aaaasrtyuuiioop

 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppooollooooolkllllklllllll 

  

TRANSLATION UNAVAILABLE.  ITS FOR HER GUYS ONLY! :)

Stay tuned for part 2 coming soon.