Houston we have a problem....

16 Oct 2013

Realized its been a while since ive posted and mainly I owe this to the daft my newish MacBook crashed one last week, just as I was sitting down to blog and Skype.  Is there a message there?
Anyway, for those who care, the problem is hopefully being solved by dear folks at the Technology Centre.  Haven't heard back, but hope it is not too big of a problem.  Wanted to show you some fun photos from the weekend, but will have to wait.  Anyway, a bit of an update on our recent doings....

1. Kids are back in school after 2 week break.  Hooray! Maggie has not cried once, and I got confirmation today that her teacher is a bit of a witch, likes to snap at kids.  She's been at it too long.
After some brief debate about switching to the Tauranga Boys College so the can row on the team there, decision has been made to keep boys at current school, Mt. Maunganui College.  Despite rumors of it being the more laid back, surfer, pot smoking institution, it is easier in many ways and I do believe there's more to learning than pure academics.  Today they ventured 6 hrs up and back to Auckland to a science lab where DNA research is done.  Spoke with a microbiologist  researching TB and another looking into maternal/fetal blood connections and using placental cells in maternal blood for ways to help neonate.  All this and then structure of fructose I learned about at dinner.

2. Noah, Maggie and I explored Rotorua on Friday last.  Easy 45" drive from here, big tourist center of N. Island.  Maori arts and cultural center, lots of geothermal activity, town smells perpetually of sulphur, wild animal park, but we opted for the luge run.  Noah talked the lady into three rides for some smoking deal and off we went.  Wild and fast in the rain, plastic cars w wheels and a brake down concrete paths-beginner, intermedia, and advanced.  It was really a blast hate to admit.

3. Last weekend boys took and passed their surf life saving course so they are now Jr. Patrollers.  They will patrol w the seniors this summer, learning all the fun rescue techniques.  It is big stuff here and the course and Patrolling seems to have a bit of a mystique and reverence, like getting one's black belt or eagles scout.  A proud parental moment.  It'll be more fun once summer hits!   And in the meantime I've found a new sport called surf rowing, part of the life saving club.  Check it out on you tube.  Wild!,  combines surfing and rowing!   Hoping to get in a boat next week to try it and see if they like me.  I'll have to become a guard as well then and pass that swim test. Ugh!  The boys by the way rocked the swim and after only 2+ weeks of training cut off 3" each from their time of the 400m swim! Another sweet moment for mom!

4. Lina decided this week to return stateside in Dec and will we miss her immensely.  She bakes such amazing cookies!   Her absence will leave us to open new doors, and luckily we are blessed with others in the wing we may be able to join us in this journey.  Time will tell.

5. Anticipation of summer is here.  Every day people tell me how lovely the weather will be soon, and the beach so fun and the waves so great.  I do feel we have landed in the perfect place for us.

Experiencing some blogging problems so will sign off for now, photos to follow soon I hope! Once computer is back in action.  Hope all is well as you settle into Fall with harvests and pumpkins and colors changing and crisp mornings and cider and fires.  Maggie and I are enjoying the blooming wisteria scent along the beach access trail from our house to beach.  Intoxicating!