Auckland Anniversary Jan 26th

I find it cool that most of the cities here in New Zealand actually celebrate the city's anniversary. Auckland Anniversary is the last Monday of January. The last Monday of January last year we were gathered together as a ward to celebrate when we learned of the passing of President Hinckley. I was really nice being with friends and loved ones who love him just as much as I did. This year we lucked out and nothing happened! Well other than having fun on the beach. Ferron had to work so Tejas and I ended up going later to Milford Beach. It's one of my favorite places to go. Our ward had a bar-b-que, water balloon toss, a game of touch (rugby) and just fun!!

Shortly after we got there Tejas cut her hand on some rocks. I said lets go and ask the lifeguards if they have any plasters. She got the works. She had fun!

Ferron had taken a picture last year and it was through is "Incognito" colored sunglasses. So I decided to take a shot through mine, this was the result.

The Water Balloon Toss

Tejas with cousins and friends swimming in the Pacific Ocean

I was having fun watching the seagulls fly around.

A picture of my feet. A little help from Picasa, only my feet are color!

Self Portrait

I buried Tejas along with her friends Reese and Jayden Nathan in the sand.

Tejas and Reese at the end of the day. We were the last people to leave!

My friend is gone!

Yesterday my niece Mica (14 almost 15) left for Australia. She originally was just going over to visit our family that lives there, but during the course of time her parents decided that they should move over there. So she had a one way ticket. I'm really bummed because she is one of my best friends here. She makes me laugh. She's so funny. I'm really happy that her brother and sister Monson and Loren are still here. I don't think I would have handled it well if all of them left at the same time. Mica was 5, Monson 3 and Loren just over 1 when Ferron and I got married, so they have been a big part of my life through the years. I'll miss the other two when they go.

We got up early (3:20am) to get ready to go to the airport. We had a feed at McDonalds and then sent Mica off. Ferron was working that morning so he was able to take Mica through and actually help her onto the plane. He was able to priority her bags and make is so she was at the front of the plane to get off quickly. We went to the Sky Deck to watch the planes and got to watch a Qantas plane take off. It was really neat!!

Another Assignment!

Today I was approached by someone in our ward who is on the High Council. He asked if he could speak with me and had already talked to Ferron. He asked if I could be the Eternal Marriage institute teacher. I'm really excited about it. I've taught seminary and institute before so it's exciting to me to be able to do it again! So that makes 4 callings, not including visiting teaching.

Gospel Doctrine Teacher, Assistant Ward Chorister, Relief Society Pianist and Institute Teacher! I love serving the Lord! It's so humbling!

Dad's 77th Birthday

Ferron's dad's birthday on January 8th of this year was his 77th. It was a lot of fun because we have the younger of the nieces and nephews here. Dad was really happy. My brother in law Heber and his wife Margaret took dad out for a birthday lunch. Laina (my sis in law) and I planned on taking dad out for dinner with the kids. Since he went out for lunch we decided to just stay at home and bring back food from the restaurant we were planning on going too. Nando's...it's an awesome Portuguese restaurant. It's awesome. Laina made her awesome chocolate cake. It was awesome! I'm grateful that dad is still around!

One Tree Hill

The other day Ferron, Tejas and I went on a hike up One Tree Hill with my two nieces, Mica and Loren and my nephew Monson. We actually had just had the plan to go up and play at Cornwall Park, but that didn't last long because there were a million kids there because it was an awesomely beautiful day! When you are on the top of One Tree Hill on one side there is a massive crater. Inside that crater there are rocks that people will arrange and spell out names etc. So Ferron suggested that we hike up the mount and then into the crater to do that with our names. Ferron, Tejas, Loren and Monson walked into the crater while Mica and I hike up to the top of the hill so that we could take pictures of what they were doing. It was a lot of fun....and a gorgeous day. Mica and I walked back home to get the car so we could pick them up. I was filling the water bottle and set the camera down and forgot to take it back up the hill with me. They had written my nickname and Mica's name with the rocks, but unfortunately we don't have a picture of that. We went back the next day and the rocks had been rearranged. It sucked. So here are pictures from that.

ME

My new haircut like Alice from TWILIGHT after Christmas I saw TWILIGHT IT'S THE bOmB


PLEASE SEE TWILIGHT

Clouds in New Zealand

I LOVE clouds. I don't know why but I always have. Last night while sitting inside the house I looked out the window and saw that it was kind of a golden/red color. It was really surreal. So I grabbed the camera and took some pictures. Then it started to get cold, which was weird because it's summer!!