February trip to NZ

Once again it is February meaning it is time for our annual trip to New Zealand. It actually become a tradition by accident that we spend almost every Valentines in NZ. 

So here is a brief history of our visits:

In 2010 we visited for our first Valentines and so I could meet hubby's darling mum. We enjoyed cocktails and a delicious meal at the Matterhorn on Cuba St, Wellington. I also baked hubby the first of many batches of brownies.

In 2011 we visited to celebrate our engagement with hubby's family and friends once again over Valentines. We had the flight from hell boarding in Melbourne at 6:30, remaining on the runway for 3hours for various reasons related to storms, refuelling, the smell of smoke through the cabin and finally a change of staff. Hubby watched all of his movie before we took off (he was concerned he wouldn't see it all as it was so long) we then detoured by air over Sydney, arrived in Auckland where we were given food vouchers and 1hour to change to a plane that would finally take us to Wellington some 10+hours after we left Melbourne. We were very tired travellers that day. We also took our first road trip in New Zealand to do Blackwater rafting in Waitomo  and play at the Playground in Levin

In 2012 we visited once again for Valentines as it now appeared to be tradition, and flights are consistently cheap then :)

2012/2013 Visit Kumara Chips with L&P at Devonport, NZ

2012/2013 we visited in December/January with my maiden aunt, an amusing tidbit as I returned from the trip pregnant with Boo, making her the worst chaperon maiden aunt ever. But our trip was amazing we visited Auckland, Devonport, The Kauri Forests, Te Aroha (means the love, hubby and I were upgraded to the honeymoon cabin and ta-da baby Boo), went caving at Waitomo and caught up with Hubby's family there who had driven to meet us.

2014 Hubby took a month off work and we took our darling 3 month old Boo to meet his Kiwi Family. We had a lovely time and had him christened there. My dear friend Phoebe was visiting her partner (my brother in law, yes they met because hubby and I Married) so I was able to have an Aussie Godmother. For our valentines date we left Boo with Nanna and headed to the delightful Roxy Cinema  for lunch at Coco's (delicious) and watched Frozen (delightful). 1 month was a little long but better than the 1 weekend visit we did for Boo's 1st birthday later in the year which was entirely too busy, too short and too tiring.

2015 and finally we make it to our most recent trip, a perfectly length well planned week long visit in which plenty of time was spent with Nanna, all family was seen at least once for most twice and hubby and I managed once again to leave Boo with Nanna and abscond for a date at Coco's before watching that romantic film 'The Imitation Game' at the Roxy. The film was excellent if not exactly the classic choice for a valentines date :)

As occurs on all our NZ visits Whittaker's Chocolate, RJ's liquorice and other NZ specific treats were purchased. Having learnt from our 2012/2013  trip we avoided purchasing L&P and TipTop ice cream because while both are extraordinarily delicious over consumption can occur in epic proportions because hubby and I are children with credit cards on occasion, my aunt also participated in our over consumption. 

We also made sure to consume another NZ peculiarity we wish we got here by ordering Kumara chips (sweet potato chips) when we had Fush and Chups :p

Overall the visit was a delight as has the entire month of February been. In summary I have become slimmer and thus more pregnant looking. Hubby has greatly enjoyed some much needed family time especially with his mum and our little man.

This is Kiwi

 Boo has started playgroup and taken to it like a duck to water, abandoning Kiwi (his lovey toy) within seconds of first arrival without a backward glance for me or Kiwi. I do adore his fearless, adventurous and independent spirit and was especially proud when on our second visit to playgroup after returning from NZ  he managed himself beautifully throughout the session sitting for singing and story. ( a feat he is yet to repeat) 

 Boo's NZ cousins disputed Kiwi's authenticity as he is not brown but we think he is truly fabulous. Kiwi is  a flamboyantly french interpretation from the toy company Moulin Roty, a gift from Boo's grandma that has quickly become a favourite and ever present companion in Boo's  daily life. 

Bean is growing well, if a little round around the tum (all concerns around possible gestational diabetes have now been allayed) as we approach the close of February we are mere weeks from full term and due dates though I hope he/she is happy to stay where they are till playgroup term concludes in the last week of March :)

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