Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
A Long Plane Ride
Three days ago we woke up and packed. We had tickets for a plane ride to Wellington. Our flight was canceled. We got new tickets to Auckland where we would get on another plane to Wellington. Four hours later we arrived in Wellington where my soon to be cousin, Matt, showed us around town. He was a really good tour guide.
The next morning we woke up around 4:30 am. We had a really early flight to Sidney. We had a six hour layover so we decided to take a ferry to Manly Island and back. We even got to see the famous opera house from the boat.
Our next flight was to Dallas. This one was the worst because it was over fourteen hours. I got to sleep a lot and watch movies. When the plane landed we made sure that all of our baggage had arrived. On the taxi ride home I realized how fun the trip has been. It was a blast!
The next morning we woke up around 4:30 am. We had a really early flight to Sidney. We had a six hour layover so we decided to take a ferry to Manly Island and back. We even got to see the famous opera house from the boat.
Our next flight was to Dallas. This one was the worst because it was over fourteen hours. I got to sleep a lot and watch movies. When the plane landed we made sure that all of our baggage had arrived. On the taxi ride home I realized how fun the trip has been. It was a blast!
Friday, March 8, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Last Full Day In Queenstown
This morning we woke up disappointed. Apparently there were too many clouds in the sky at Milford Sounds, so it was too dangerous to take off and land in the helicopter. I ended up doing schoolwork until lunch.
When we finished our schoolwork we went into town for lunch. After some McDonalds we went to a cookie store. Of course I got a fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookie. When we finished we all went to an under-water viewing place of the lake.
Huge rainbow trout, salmon, and lake trout were swimming around the window, waiting to be fed. We put a dollar coin into the feeding machine and watched the feeding frenzy begin. Ducks dove into the water while the fish slammed into each other trying to get food. It was crazy!
For dinner dad made pan-fried steak and lamb. It was tasty! We also watched the rest of our last James Bond movie from two nights before.
When we finished our schoolwork we went into town for lunch. After some McDonalds we went to a cookie store. Of course I got a fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookie. When we finished we all went to an under-water viewing place of the lake.
Huge rainbow trout, salmon, and lake trout were swimming around the window, waiting to be fed. We put a dollar coin into the feeding machine and watched the feeding frenzy begin. Ducks dove into the water while the fish slammed into each other trying to get food. It was crazy!
For dinner dad made pan-fried steak and lamb. It was tasty! We also watched the rest of our last James Bond movie from two nights before.
Jet Boat Ride
This morning we started back on schoolwork again. When we finished lunch we all got in the car. We were going to get to go on a jet boat ride. When we arrived we had to cross a one-lane bridge that went over a huge canyon with a shallow river at the bottom. That's when I realized this ride was going to be intense. We got out of the car and checked in. When everyone was ready we went down to the river and got in the boat. At first the ride was fun because we weren't in the canyon yet. It was super fast and intense. But when we got to the canyon it felt like we were going to crash into every rock and wall. Our lives were literally in the boat driver's hands. At the end I realized that I had a blast.
When we got back mom stayed home while Kylie, dad, and I went into town. Around six we left to have dinner at a place in the gold mining town that we visited yesterday. It was delicious and Kylie and I got to play outside on a big area of grass.
When we get home we will go straight to bed. Tomorrow we are going on a helicopter ride!
When we got back mom stayed home while Kylie, dad, and I went into town. Around six we left to have dinner at a place in the gold mining town that we visited yesterday. It was delicious and Kylie and I got to play outside on a big area of grass.
When we get home we will go straight to bed. Tomorrow we are going on a helicopter ride!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
A bit from the one who sounds like a grumpy old man.....
At least he didn't say I look or act like a grumpy old man! I decided that it would be wise to go get some meds to have for the kids and myself since we have a very long flight home. Sinus troubles and airplanes are not a fun mix!
We have 2 more full days here and then it's off to America via Sydney on Sunday. The beauty of our time difference is that we leave here early Sunday and get home Sunday afternoon. And then be in a fog for a few days :)
We have been staying in a house in Queenstown with another amazing view. This is the adventurous part of our trip where Tim was supposed to go bungee jumping but it looks like that won't happen this time. We did the crazy jet boat ride on the Shotover River. Tomorrow we have hopes of taking a helicopter to Milford Sound. The weather looks good so far - we are keeping our fingers crossed that it is a go!
It's been lots of fun but we are all looking forward to coming home and seeing everyone, having great (unlimited) internet, California cab's and our favorite foods that we can't get here. Ryan scored a Dr Pepper at special shop yesterday. I think that was the highlight of his day.....although he didn't blog about it :)
We have been enjoying some wonderful wine the last few days thanks to Jack and Lil. Big plans for the Shiraz with a good steak tomorrow night, Jack! The Pegasus Bay Pinot was superb. Well, they all have been great so far!
Saturday brings us to Wellington where we get to go visit our soon-to-be newest member of the family. Actually, I think he has already been adopted into the fold because he is such a great guy - this would be Matt. Erin is off working in another part of the country but it will be fun getting to see Matt.
Oh, and the James Bond movies that we have been watching are the 6 Roger Moore ones. I picked up the 2 volumes at Walmart for $10 each.....the kids LOVE them. We are on the final one - Octopussy. Kylie has figured out which are the good girls and which are the bad ones based upon how quickly James kisses them in the movie. The bad ones he "kisses" near the beginning the good ones at the end. Next trip we need to start at the beginning with Sean Connery - I have a feeling those sets will cost more money.....I think the Pink Panther Movies would be fun too!
We have 2 more full days here and then it's off to America via Sydney on Sunday. The beauty of our time difference is that we leave here early Sunday and get home Sunday afternoon. And then be in a fog for a few days :)
We have been staying in a house in Queenstown with another amazing view. This is the adventurous part of our trip where Tim was supposed to go bungee jumping but it looks like that won't happen this time. We did the crazy jet boat ride on the Shotover River. Tomorrow we have hopes of taking a helicopter to Milford Sound. The weather looks good so far - we are keeping our fingers crossed that it is a go!
It's been lots of fun but we are all looking forward to coming home and seeing everyone, having great (unlimited) internet, California cab's and our favorite foods that we can't get here. Ryan scored a Dr Pepper at special shop yesterday. I think that was the highlight of his day.....although he didn't blog about it :)
We have been enjoying some wonderful wine the last few days thanks to Jack and Lil. Big plans for the Shiraz with a good steak tomorrow night, Jack! The Pegasus Bay Pinot was superb. Well, they all have been great so far!
Saturday brings us to Wellington where we get to go visit our soon-to-be newest member of the family. Actually, I think he has already been adopted into the fold because he is such a great guy - this would be Matt. Erin is off working in another part of the country but it will be fun getting to see Matt.
Oh, and the James Bond movies that we have been watching are the 6 Roger Moore ones. I picked up the 2 volumes at Walmart for $10 each.....the kids LOVE them. We are on the final one - Octopussy. Kylie has figured out which are the good girls and which are the bad ones based upon how quickly James kisses them in the movie. The bad ones he "kisses" near the beginning the good ones at the end. Next trip we need to start at the beginning with Sean Connery - I have a feeling those sets will cost more money.....I think the Pink Panther Movies would be fun too!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Doctor
This morning we got up and didn't do schoolwork. That's right no schoolwork. The main reason why we did not have to do schoolwork was because dad had to take Kylie and mom to the doctor. Kylie has a cough and mom's voice started to sound like a grumpy man with a rough voice. While they were getting checkups dad and I went to a small cafe and bar (with wifi). The doctor said they were fine and gave them some medicine.
After lunch we went to Puzzling World (a building with many optical illusions in it and a big maze in the back). It was just ok. Not my type of thing. When we finished we went to an old gold town. Well I guess it's not really an old gold town because someone found a six ounce gold nugget in 2013. After looking around we got some ice cream. It was delicious! We had Japanese food for dinner and got to watch another James Bond move.
After lunch we went to Puzzling World (a building with many optical illusions in it and a big maze in the back). It was just ok. Not my type of thing. When we finished we went to an old gold town. Well I guess it's not really an old gold town because someone found a six ounce gold nugget in 2013. After looking around we got some ice cream. It was delicious! We had Japanese food for dinner and got to watch another James Bond move.
Monday, March 4, 2013
The luge
This morning we woke up and packed again. Around ten we got in the car and left Dunedin. We stopped several times to admire the beautiful river that we were driving next to. At one point the river became a canyon with rapids at the bottom. There were several power plants on the side of the river that were generating water that was running from creeks into the river. After we unpacked at our house (in Queenstown), that overlooked a beautiful lake, we all got back in the car to have some fun. We were going to a luge. We all rode a gondola to the top of a mountain and grabbed a cart (except Kylie because she had to ride with dad) and rode it down the track (which was about fifty meters down the mountainside). It was amazing. After I had fajitas for dinner we all watched half of another James Bond movie.
Cadbury World
This morning we woke up and did schoolwork until lunch. After lunch we all got in the car and went to... Cadbury World (Cadbury Chocolate Factory)! We got a tour of the factory and we tasted lots of chocolate. It was all delicious. Did you know that different brands of chocolate tastes different because of the milk used in them. Cadbury feeds their milking cows coco bean pods to make their milk taste a little bit chocolatey. At the end we had bought more than fifty dollars worth of chocolate (most of it was for mom though). After gorging ourselves with chocolate we went to the local train station. It was still running but only for scenic trips. When we had seen enough we went to the Dunedin museum. We only had time for the best part of the museum because they were closing soon. It was the butterfly room (which is basically a big secure greenhouse with loads of butterflies. It also had a waterfall with a koi pond at the bottom. Iit was amazing! After a spaghetti dinner we watched another James Bond movie.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Saturday, March 2, 2013
The Worlds Steepest Road
This morning we got ready to get on the road again. After a quick breakfast we packed up the car and got on the road. I did my schoolwork in the car instead of doing it this morning. On the way we stopped at an amazing playground. It had a giant hamster wheel and a really high and steep slide. Speaking of steep when we arrived at Dunedin (after we unpacked at our hotel) we went to the steepest street in the world. We all hiked up it and back down. Dad even drove all the way up and back down without crashing the car. After a great dinner (pizza) we all watched a James Bond movie.
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