We made it to Auckland!

After a long flight (with a screaming kid in front of us that I wanted to strangle!) we made it to Auckland. Of course, Alex and I got colds right before we left so we haven't been operating at 100% but we are making the best of it. Auckland is a very cool city that I like a lot. This is the Sky Tower which is huge! It really stands out wherever you are. We went up to the top for dinner, right at sunset, in the revolving restaurant which was wonderful.

Here are some shots from around town. The Sky Tower has plate glass you can look through - it is so high!

Joe is SO tan and SO skinny! Alex is SO pale next to him! And not much shorter than Joe now either! We've been enjoying hearing all of Joe's stories and just catching up. Although the two of them in out little hotel room are starting to drive me crazy now after 3 days! :-)

Fun Family Times!

The granddaughters were over for the night on Friday. I so enjoy having them over. Every year the girls and I decorate a gingerbread house. I hope this is something that we will always get to do and a tradition that the girls will always remember fondly doing with their Nana. I used to do it with Alex too when he was little so it was nice that he got to help some this year too as Mia was needing a nap...

David and Kelli stayed for dinner when they came to get the girls. Alex thought he was ready to take his big brother on in an arm wrestling match.....yeah, he got schooled! David gave him some really good pointers though!

Kevin & Hannah Come for a Visit!

Adrienne's other baby brother and his beautiful girlfriend came up to Oregon to see us. It was so fun having Kevin and Hannah here for Halloween (see their cute costumes). We went to a party at our friend's house then over to the Haunted House. I of course, did not go in (along with Heather) - too scary for me!

We spent a lovely afternoon at Silver Falls. I don't think I have ever been there in the Fall. It was so beautiful with all the leaves changing colors. I just love showing off this wonderful park that is so close to my house.

Look at this leaf I found! Huge! There were leaves everywhere! So pretty!

Kevin and HannahKevin wanted to take Hannah to Pacific City too. It was surprisingly a nice day over there! Their pictures made me and Alex wish we had gone too! Although I'm probably too lazy to climb all the way up to the top of that dune! If Hannah was pooped I would have never made it!

We had a lot of fun riding the tractor, climbing trees and exploring our property. These pictures are down by the creek and over on to our neighbors. It is just the most beautiful forest down there! I'm reminded how much I love my home and know that I will NEVER leave it! They're going to have to bury me down there next to little Sur :-(

This hollow tree has been a source of enjoyment since before Alex was born. It just looks like a little hobbit's hiding spot to me. Alex always looked in there when he was little to try and find a critter of some sort. Now HE wanted to crawl in there! Hannah got the creeps though (I would have too!)

It has been so fun having my baby brothers up for a visit. We all enjoyed spending time together and getting to know Hannah and Anne better. I sure we wish we all lived closer together....