December 17, 2010

Christmas 2010...finally!

So I realize not everyone who checks the blog has Facebook. The network has become so widespread that when I post pictures of 'Reese-ent' events to my FB account, I often forget to also put them on the blog...assuming everyone is all caught up. What I'm trying to say is...my apologies to you non-Facebook users!! Here are some of our favorite photos from the Christmas season.

These pictures are from the Christmas tree lighting in our town. It was a little tough to tell that the tree had been lit because it was still so bright outside. During the summer, it doesn't get completely dark here until almost 9:30 at night! Not so helpful for putting the girls to bed, but it's really cool to have so much sunlight during the day!





This year was the first time we bought out very own Christmas tree! Trees here in New Zealand aren't the same as what we're used to, but they sure have lots of character! This is our perfectly shaggy Kiwi Christmas tree.


Reese helping decorate...


...to be honest, she was probably taking the ornaments off. By the time we took it down, there were very few decorations around the bottom part of the tree!


A couple days before Christmas, we got the girls all dressed up and let them run around outside. It was a beautifully sunny day, but was very windy (as we're starting to get used to around here...)






In our backyard.



'Look at the candy canes!!'


Yes, we bribed them with treats...


We also visited Santa's Cave this year. It's housed at our local museum, and we're told it has been a Christmas time staple in Palmerston North for over 90 years.





Of course, we went to see Santa. Daly had a great time telling the big guy what she wanted for Christmas.


Reese, on the other hand, was not so sure about this big man with the red suit and scary beard. She completely froze (I guess we're lucky she didn't have a major meltdown...but smiles on Santa's lap were not happening this year!)


On Christmas Eve, right before bed, the girls each got to open one of their gifts. Reese opened her little telephone. She LOVES pretending to talk on the phone, and we loved this throw back toy (which happens to be featured in one of the girls' favorite movies, Toy Story 3).


Daly opened her Mrs. Potato Head (also from the third Toy Story!) She went around asking everyone to 'please open Potato Head's butt!' for the next week...until she finally figured out how to open the storage door herself!


Christmas morning...before the girls woke up. Complete with gifts tucked under the tree, stockings hung, empty milk glass, half eaten cookies, and special letters from Santa.


We had a great Christmas...but we were counting down the days until our upcoming trip to California to see family and friends!!!

October 16, 2010

July to September...

Let's get caught up through mid-September...

We were blessed to celebrate Emily's 10th birthday with the entire family at the beach. It was such a gorgeous day...not only the beautiful weather, but incredible time to relax with some of the most important people in our lives.

Loving those blonde curls and yellow frills!

Reesie hanging with Uncle Pat...

...and Uncle Mike!

Emily blowing out her candles (on a delicious cake!)

Living far away from our family is so hard. But it has helped us truly understand how precious our time together is. I wanted to get a family picture (knowing this might be the last time in a long time we'd all be in one place at the same time)...so we planned ahead. I am so happy we did! This has become one of my most favorite pictures and memories.

Love and miss these faces...


The next birthday we got to celebrate was Reese's first! Wow...I know everyone says it, but truly...where did those three hundred and sixty five days go?

These are some of my favorites
from her one year old photo shoot.


I love how she's looking and smiling at Gidget.

For Reese's birthday lunch, we went to the same Claim Jumper in Monrovia where we took Daly for her first birthday. We ended up being seated in the exact same booth!


Still think they look alike?

Giving a super special 'Big Sister Smooch'.

'I'm one!'

Reese's birthday party was such a great time with family and friends!


Homemade cupcakes.

Reese's birthday cake...a bit blurry...
sort of like the first year of her life... :)




And to leave you with a big smile on your face...

Remember Daly's 'cute face'?

Reese has learned it too...

June 15, 2010

'Gentle' Annie

It all started with a friendly facebook message from Gareth...something along the lines of, 'We've got snow about a 30 minute walk away. Road trip?' Sounded great, so we packed up and headed to The Highwayman Motel in Masterton to meet up with the Teahans.

Gareth packed his dogs in the van and lead us to the base of Mt. Holdsworth. Our fun and leisurely, 30 minute walk started with lots of layers...



...and turned into a two hour, fairly strenuous hike, with fewer jackets.



Gareth wasn't lying about the snow though! When we got to the lookout point, it actually snowed on us! It was our payoff for being duped into a 'fun afternoon walk' up a trail called 'Gentle Annie'.



The view was incredible, definitely worth the burning legs and sweat.






Daly throwing her first snow ball. She could not stop talking about playing in the snow.



June 12, 2010

Make like a tomato

Where did May go?

We went from an immobile Reese, to a crawling Reese, to a pulling to stand and cruising around tables Reese! {video coming soon} Both of our laptops died within about a week of each other. {only one was fixable, hence the lack of blog posts} Our container arrived from the US, which was incredibly exciting and incredibly overwhelming. Lots of basketball, and with that came the opportunity to explore more of the North Island.

One of the games we road tripped to was in Taranaki. We had a blast with the Craigs and Teahans!

The leaders of our caravan, during a stop so Caitlyn could have a snack.



After a tough loss, we packed up the kids and went for an amazing walk through Pukekura Park and visited the Brooklands Zoo in New Plymouth. Absolutely gorgeous.



The girls had a blast. The moms tried to stage this picture of Daly, Kyra, and Aaliyah throwing leaves in the air...it was semi-successful.



Also worked on staging some sister pictures. Behind the girls is the venue where Jack Johnson will be playing later this year. {Ryan made sure to get tickets the minute they went on sale...should be incredible.}

Daly telling Reese all about the park.





Beautiful colors and beautiful girls in the poppy garden.



Daly's personality continues to grow and grow. She's so much fun to watch. She was very concerned about this poor little flower bud that had fallen on the ground.





Two little monkeys.



Giving new meaning to 'fish kiss'.