tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25134846017482363152024-03-21T22:27:44.766+13:00When we went to New Zealand...Kyle and I are spending time in Auckland, New Zealand! I am working as an Animator on The Penguins of Madagascar, and Kyle is working as an Engineer at Blue Barn. What an experience! Follow our adventures as we work, live, and travel in New Zealand!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-8153058272637009092011-08-23T09:00:00.000+12:002011-08-23T09:00:42.396+12:00A post by Kyle: "The experience we call life..."I am not one to blog or write about much that goes on with life, but I have had a few changes in my life recently that have made me come to realize that sometimes things that are expressed and shared can really make others open up and embrace a challenge they would normally say "I wish I could" or "That would be pretty cool to experience". There are things that we do every day, little challenges we take on, or come across that, that really shape and mold who we are, both in our careers and in our lives. And there are some that people look at them and say “no, I couldn’t do that, or that is just crazy” when it may be more doable than you thought, and will have such an impact that you would say “I was crazy to not give it a go!” I know because I was that way…<br />
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I guess what got me thinking about this was a short while back someone said to me "What are your aspirations for your career, what do you want to accomplish?" Normally I would think, "I have an answer for that strait away"... but on the spot, I froze. I had to think, and even after a long think about it, I still did not have a really good answer. I knew the answer, but I didn’t at the same time. Growing up, and during college I thought I knew the answers to that question.. go to school, get a degree in engineering, start out with a good firm, and learn the ropes before starting a engineering company for my self… how cool would that be right?.. That was always what I saw myself doing. I had gone through the first parts of that plan.. and got to a point were I was happy, working hard, exploring and learning every avenue of civil engineering. Working long hours, but loving it at the same time. Almost to the point where I thought "something is wrong with me... I must be sick in the head to want to work 90hrs a week!” One can only do this for so long until you realize that you have the rest of your life to work, and you need a healthy balance, while continuing to challenge yourself in your career.<br />
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About three years ago, in the middle of my craziness, I managed to meet someone pretty special… incredible actually!! She happen to be 10 hours away, and many people thought it was crazy, but I figured “I can work as much as I do, and manage to find time for a long distance thing to work.. right?” I got a lot of “you’re crazy’s, what the heck’s, and how the hell’s” from a lot of people. And all I can say as that, you may never know how satisfying a challenge can be, until you try. Not just with meeting someone that will change your life, but also with choices you make in your career.<br />
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My big change happened to be a combination of both things, with a small bonus shot of adventure in a new country, that got me feeling like a kid on Christmas. It was a very much anticipated opportunity to be with Katie, and experience a new lifestyle together, coupled with an opportunity to explore an unknown adventure in my career. Both opportunities, like any, didn’t come with out a risk, mainly being the unknown. I was happy in Michigan, I have the best friends anyone could ask for, an incredible family close by, I had a nice home, two loving pets, the best roommate a guy could ask for (those of you that know Dan are probably laughing, but he seriously is a fantastic friend and I really enjoy having him as a roommate). That all being said, I guess a part of me felt like I was not challenging my self with life enough for my liking. You only live once, and you need to make the most of that right?<br />
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Katie got an opportunity to move to New Zealand, and I had no idea where the hell it was other than what I had seen on TV, with hunting and skiing shows. Once I started to look into life here, I was amazed…I could not believe that I did not have it on my bucket list to visit!! It was really my minds creation of paradise all in one place. Full of new things, new sights, different lifestyle, and most importantly new challenges! Again I got a lot of “your crazy’s” when I starting thinking about leaving a good job, and the life I had, to make this move. I have to admit, I was torn, I had a good job, and loved where I was at. But after talking with a few friends that give some pretty damn good advice, both in life and career, I said “You know what, think I’ll give it a go.” It wasn’t until I starting applying for a work visa, and looking for jobs, finding a home for Zoey and Tiger, and looking for a one way flight, that it hit me… “holy shit, this is terrifying!” Followed shortly by, the feeling that I was only terrified because I had relaxed my ambitious mentality to always challenge my self, and get the most out of life, to the point that I was scared of change. This circled back to my reasons for making this change in the first place to always continue to challenge myself and keep my life fresh.<br />
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I can not say that it has all been peaches and cream. It was very emotionally draining my last day at my old job, the last night Buddies with all my friends, my good-bye with family, and especially the day I left my house, Dan, Mom, Tiger, and Zoey. Zoey especially in her condition, made it so incredibly hard. I can’t begin to express how much appreciation I have for Dan and my family for helping with that aspect of this. I know she is in good hands when I left. Once Mom left me at the airport, and I was waiting to board the plane, I thought one last time.. “What the hell am I doing!? This is not just a vacation, I have packed all I need to live somewhere new, on the other side of the world, and who knows when I will come back!” After 15 hours in transit and skipping an entire day in the calendar, I landed, and the wide-eyed excitement began!<br />
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I landed in New Zealand knowing that I needed to find a job, get us a car, find a more permanent place to live, and settle in here with Katie, but all I wanted to do was hit the roads and see what I had read out! I had forgotten how much work writing a good resume, or finding a job was! On top of that Kiwi lifestyle is pretty relaxed and most places are closed for three weeks over the holidays…I landed on Dec 24th…finding a job would have to wait! :)<br />
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Knowing how tough it can be back home to find a job, I was a bit concerned, but at the same time, New Zealand was heavily looking for civil engineers, and I felt my experience brought a lot to the table for me. I have always felt that experience trumps education in what a civil engineer does, but couple it with a great education, and you are in pretty good company. Having confidence I had that working for me, I had to balance it with the fact that it was an uphill battle to land a job where all of the standards in design and construction are different from what you knew and were taught. It’s part of the challenge I was looking for right!? Once the holiday shut down was over I began to make progress, and with in a short time I was interviewing. I had my eye on a small firm that I found via the internet before I came. I had made contract with them before I came with little luck, but I figured I would give it one last try once I landed. My phone rang almost the second I hit send on the email!! This was the one I wanted!!…. With little practice to freshen up my rusty interview skills, they wanted me in next day! Excited as hell, I was a bit nervous to say the least, but as soon as I sat down in the interview, I felt at home in there office. I couldn’t tell in the interview who was more excited talking about work and projects they had been a part of, me or them! It was a truly fantastic experience and a huge compliment to my experiences to that point at HNTB. The place is run by three Kiwi guys that are some of the nicest people I have ever meet, and the office is full of talented and easy going people. It’s a pleasure and I feel blessed to be there… most days. ;)<br />
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I can not stress enough, to all my friends, and especially fellow civil engineers, your career is what you make of it, and you can not replace or put a price on your experience. I have never felt more challenged with my career as I do right now… Some days it is incredibly stressful and frustrating, but the mind has a way of working through solutions, and making the outcome build you up to prepare you for the next one. There is defiantly a strive at the place I work to create a fun atmosphere, and allow everyone to feel like they are a vital part of a team, and balance a healthy lifestyle with a normal 40hr a week work life. I was “thrown into the fire” if you will from day one, and I welcomed the challenge. New standards, new methods of construction, new clients, and the new challenges create a great opportunity to really grow and learn new things every day! The one key thing that I am realizing is, no matter where you are in the world, when you work with other engineers, the engineering brains have a similar mentality, and it is that talent and mentality that makes a good engineer. You can learn new standards, but you can not teach someone to think like a good engineer. I am blessed to have landed amongst great engineers both at home with HNTB, and here in New Zealand with Blue Barn!<br />
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It may have been 75% a desire to be with and explore this country with Katie, and 25% looking for a new challenge with my career, that brought me to New Zealand. But I can say that now that I am here, and really had a chance to reflect on it, it is 100% the desire to challenge my self, and get the most out of life, that is keeping me here for now. It truly is an incredible feeling to be somewhere as beautiful as New Zealand, and to call it my home for now, makes me feel spoiled a bit! It is very tough to be away from family, friends, and so hard to be away from Zoey being sick like she is, but I am doing something that never in my 28 years would I have thought that I would… and I can’t wait for what the next day brings!<br />
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To anyone that took the time to read this… my advice to you, while you are still young, is this… There are so many opportunities that you never would have thought existed, if you want to challenge yourself a bit. There is so much to learn outside of your comfort zone, and outside of the US. If you ever come to a point in life that makes you say “it would be so cool to try that, or to live there” or “I am getting a bit stuck into a routine where I am at, and I need to refresh” or even “man I wish I could take on an exciting new challenge in life or my career” two words.. Do it!! Don’t think, “I can’t”, “it’s too hard”, “why would I leave what I have”, or “I’m afraid to leave my comfort zone”. Just do it!!.. those things will be there when you come back. Even if you make a change, and are unhappy, you can always return and no one will give you any grief for trying something new. You only live once, and there is so much satisfaction by taking on a challenge in life like this! You will not regret it! :-D<br />
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-Kyle<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJampINBb6sVf8zrzyhgNnPwOQ90hNWNyF9z1Hn4IRPT5QrTGfD-KGJ2W5pYY-kiNrDb6i7Z9IptgJYrhsCj-N6H8gWenTmr4ctUDzGjMXO4n8DXx0XLHwEiZOw3h-WXes31toZyBYVjB/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJampINBb6sVf8zrzyhgNnPwOQ90hNWNyF9z1Hn4IRPT5QrTGfD-KGJ2W5pYY-kiNrDb6i7Z9IptgJYrhsCj-N6H8gWenTmr4ctUDzGjMXO4n8DXx0XLHwEiZOw3h-WXes31toZyBYVjB/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-48297866358194677002011-08-23T08:11:00.000+12:002011-08-23T08:11:43.541+12:00long time coming updateHaha, so apparently all it takes for me to stop writing regularly is a week and a half without internet! YAY! They cut our internet access at work too, so its been difficult to keep up.<br />
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Quick update for everyone:<br />
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Things are good, busy as always.<br />
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-Marathon training is in full swing, did our Half Marathon training run on Sunday and it went well.<br />
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-I got sick for the first time since getting here, meaning a week off training for me (last week), and a seriously stuffy nose / cough / all-that-fun-stuff-that-comes-with-a-cold-ness. Better now, but now Kyle is sick!<br />
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-We are headed to Queenstown on Friday for our 3 year anniversary! It will be the first time we've ever been on a plane together, and first time to the South Island. Fingers crossed we make it home with no broken bones from Skiing!! And look for some epic photos to appear.... I can not WAIT to take in some of the scenery!<br />
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-We spent a week and a half at the beginning of the month House Sitting for Kyle's boss. It was AWESOME having some space to ourselves and some peace and quiet. We got to take care of two cats, a dog, and chill with some sheep too! Haha. Did some difficult runs out there. The area was called Dairy Flat.... and let me tell you, it is FAR from flat! Great challenging 9 miler out there. I though I had posted about that, but looks like I didn't get to (thats when we had no internet, I couldnt get my computer to log into their server).<br />
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-Work is good, Im working on Robot and Monster now for a while. My second episode of Penguins just aired on Saturday as well!!!! Youtube: "Operation: Vacation" part 1, for a look at what I did!<br />
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-Getting toward the end of winter finally, and getting SUPER excited about some beach time this year!!!<br />
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-ASSASSINS game at work: Haha, so far, there were 16 of us that started the game..... and now there are only 5 remaining. Im in the top 5, and I've had the most "kills" at work so far. AND, Im the only girl left........ ;-)<br />
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But yea, things have been great! More of a solid update to come. I know, sometimes Im super bad at keeping up with this :-D<br />
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<3Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-6208304510970617312011-07-11T11:31:00.001+12:002011-07-11T11:41:09.497+12:00This made me stop and think for a second...<h2 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">So today I started looking at a blog that Matt had posted on the forums at work. I was really impressed by it... its the drawings of a 16 year old named De'Von Stubblefield....and he's amazing.</span></h2><h2 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h2><h2 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Check out the blog here if you're interested: </span></h2><h2 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h2><h2 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://drawrstubbs.tumblr.com/">http://drawrstubbs.tumblr.com/</a> </span></h2><h2 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">I read this post from him though... and I was SO impressed at what he said. And it made me want to do these things...to try and get back some of that creativity I feel like I used to have. He's completely right about how daily life sometimes changes us, and gets rid of the ways we used to feel about certain things. Read on:</span></h2><h2 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h2><h2 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h2><h2><a href="http://drawrstubbs.tumblr.com/post/4332191439/whatever-happened-to-that-childlike-sense-of-wonder">"Whatever happened to that childlike sense of Wonder?</a></h2><div class="body">I’m pretty sure this question pops into most of our minds from time to time. I don’t know if there really is a definite answer, because everyone was brought up differently. But at some point I think mostly all of us werre at the peak of our vast imaginations. We saw the world in a different light. Our imagination provided endless oppurtunities to create. But as we began to grow older something happened. The things that used to fascinate us no longer did. Reality slowly crept in with all its worries and its troubles and we began to lose sight of what <i>ignited our imaginations</i>.<br />
Maybe it was negativity, stress, responsibility, criticism, or peer pressure that lead us astray. What happens is that once you block the flow of your creative mindset, you will start to drift into the world of black and white. You start seeing things in its simplest states. But how does one step back into that seemingly distant world of technicolor? The answer is simple, start taking different routes to your daily destination. Begin asking questions about why things are the way they are. Look at things through diffent perspectives, be it mentally or physically. Listen to a song that brings back a memory. Don’t just listen to it but resonate in it. Start to observe what makes people happy and ask them (or to yourself) what makes them feel that way. If you have the time go for a walk, a bike ride, read something (in a book), write down a list of things that make <b>you</b> happy and why they make <b>you</b> feel that way. Once you begin an of these things your black and white world will slowly but surely be filled with technicolor."<br />
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Just something to think about as you go along in your daily life :-) I know I will be. </div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-60866368234848144502011-07-09T19:58:00.001+12:002011-07-09T19:58:08.804+12:00Mmm what a dayGood day, what can I say? Started out at the Otara Market, which we hadn't checked out yet. We go to the Avondale market on Sundays regularly. This one turned out to be pretty similar, but we still had a good time. Started with a great big coffee for each of us, plus a hot sandwich with beef, onion, and egg for Kyle, and one with bacon (the Canadian kind), and egg for me. YUM. <br /><br />Onward we wandered through the stands, admiring everything. Picked up some great local produce too, three bags of fruits for $11!!! AWESOME. Good times<br /><br />Came home after, and got ready for our weekend long run. Today was 7 miles, 11.2km. And what a run it was! Started off beautifully, gorgeous, sunny and warm, with a bit of wind. We were running along the water front toward Mission Bay (where the recent Auckland earthquake just occurred, lol), and the moment we hit half way, ready to turn around, we were hit with pretty much a mini hurricane!!! CRAZY! I mean the wind had picked up, and the waves had gotten really big in the harbour, but we didn't expect this! It was INSANELY windy. I mean, so windy you could lean into it, and coming right into our faces. Not only that, it was pouring, and it hurt so bad that I though I was little hail!!!! Haha. We kept running though because we were literally in an area with no cover, and had no choice. At one point though, It got so strong that we ducked by a parked car, because the rain was so horizontal that we stayed dry when down next to it. Crazy! It literally lasted less than 5 minutes too, and then it was miraculously back to a bright, clear, sunny day!!! CRAZY! New Zealand weather is literally so unpredictable. It was quite epic. We made our 7 miles too! On the dot. My ankle held up as well, until he last mile when it KILLED. I had double-wrapped it to see if that would held stabilise it more. Kinda worked! Got home and iced it and wrapped it again after the run. <br /><br />Then, off we went to run some errands, including getting ingredients for CHILLI!!! YUM! As I am sitting here I can smell it. So awesome. So, since then we have been chilling out at the house watching master chef. :). <br /><br />Great end to a great day. :)<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-8284263448565007422011-07-06T10:05:00.001+12:002011-07-06T10:08:05.458+12:00Dogs, sheep, hiking, and good times.Aiight... soo little update. Been a fun week (from last Tuesday) thus far. Lots of things going on. Marathon training is in full swing... and my ankle isn't feeling stellar right now after yesterday's run... BUT Im proud to say Ive not skipped workouts! In fact... I think I did more than I needed to.. haha.<br />
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Well, starting with last Tuesday, we usually do Trivia night now at a local pub. 1/2 price pizzas and all that. Its a good time. But this time, Pierre was sick, and Kate wasn't feeling great either (apparently sickness is going around now...), so we all skipped out, and Kyle and I went to see X Men: First Class. LOVED it. Great movie. We got some chinese food, then some ice cream, and then headed to the movie. Had a really good time!<br />
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Then, on Friday, I was supposed to head out to Blue Barn where Kyle works to do a Poker night with them after work. Unfortunately that got cancelled, but I still headed out to Kyle's office for the evening, because his boss, Matt, had invited us to dinner. Matt asked us if we would house-sit for he and his family while they are away on vacation for a week and a half! Looks to me like Kyle has made it in good with his boss!! Haha, anyway, he's a really really nice guy, and his family is fantastic. We had a really nice dinner and enjoyed hanging out with them.<br />
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They have a dog, 2 cats, and 4 sheep! So we get to look after those while they are away. Really cool too because they have the type of dog that Kyle and I have considered getting one day when we head back home / settle in somewhere. Her name is Sky, and she's a labradoodle. SOOO cute, and so incredibly friendly. Big too, and she's only 18 months. She's more lab than she is poodle (1st generation labradoodle I think they said...), so she still sheds and smells kind of dog-ish (the one thing about dogs I dislike is how they smell..), but shes awesome. I think we'll have a lot of fun hanging out with her. And we get to feed the sheep too!! haha, they have one ram, and 3 ewes. That sould be fun! Their house is really nice too; heated (which is STELLAR since ours isnt), wood floors, a stereo / sound system, a PROJECTOR to watch movies on. Its going to be a good week. Plus, its out in the middle of nowhere... quiet, peaceful... theres hiking trails around, and its close to the water. Who could complain?! So yea, it will be nice. I'll have somewhere new to run as well for a week. Yay!<br />
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So, after a very nice / fun Friday evening, Saturday Kyle wanted to check out some hiking trails out at Bethells beach. So, after a lazy morning (I got some drawing on Evan's tattoo finished, and then we headed to the French market for some coffee), we geared up with our backpacks / cameras / food / snickers bars :-) and headed off. About a 40 minute drive,and off we were. Started out with some HUGE sand dunes, and people were sliding down them into the streams below, and just hanging out. Black sand everywhere. It was really unusual.. seeing this farm land / mountainous landscape... with this huge ass sand dune in the middle! haha. Really cool.<br />
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From there, we headed down to the lake... and here is where it got muddy. And I mean... MUDDY. I was really thankful I had finally bought some cheap hiking shoes that had some tread on them (sadly I had never owned a pair before that!) I had some trouble at first, cause it was all up hill in the mud and I kept slipping, but Kyle found me an epic walking stick that helped a lot. <br />
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We heard ALL kinds of birds... LOTS of Tui hanging out in the trees, which was so cool. They make such an interesting sound! They have two voice boxes, so they have distinctly different types of chirps. Kyle LOVES them, so it was neat to see / hear a bunch all over. So, the hike continued on, we followed along a ridgeline, finally got out of the mud, and hit some really really nice views. Kyle has all the photos on his camera (sorry), but we got some good ones. The weather was perfect too. A lttle chilly, but not cold / not hot. Shaded for the most part too. We saw some wood pidgeons as well, one scared the crap out of Kyle when it came out of nowhere and landed on a branch above his head. MASSIVE birds! Seriously.. like... 3x the size of a regular pigeon. Really pretty birds though, they have kind of a greenish-teal color to them. Pretty cool! We saw King fishers too. Lots of birds for sure. Not really any other wildlife though! No squirrels, thats for sure ;-). <br />
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Anyways, we are almost done with the hike, heading down toward Bethells beach, and we come across what looks like an Army Training compound. SO weird. Right along the trail! I mean, there were tanks, wooden training equipment... it was crazy. Pretty neat / random. We also realized we covered quite a bit of random terrain... sand dunes, to mud and grasses, then to clay and rocks, then through a pine tree forest with a sandy floor, and then down to the beach. SO weird how many different things you can encounter in one place. Turns out... once we finally reached the beach.. we had hiked 12km. WOW. Quite the hike! So we hung out at the beach just as sun was setting, and enjoyed the views. What a day! We had a great time. Those Snickers were AWESOME too :-D Great hiking food!<br />
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Next day, we had our 10k run. Went good for Kyle, rough for me though. I just wasn't into it. We did it though! Just wasn't in the mood for it, you know? But it got done. Then we did some grocery shopping, nothing too exciting. Chill day for the most part. But it was good. We managed to get in our 5k run on Monday too.. but man my ankle was killing me. Took yesterday (Tues) off though, and didn't cycle. Feeling better today.<br />
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Last night was fun too, no one was in for trivia again, so Kyle and I went out anyway on our own to do something. When no one can come to Trivia its kind of becoming like... a regular Date Night. Fun! We have some vouchers for fun things that we've purchased on those "Grab One," or "Daily Deal" web sites, so last night we used one I had gotten. It was for a "tasting platter and a bottle of wine," at a restaurant up the street from the house that we had never tried. Awesome, cause I got it for $30, when it would have normally been $70 ;-). So we enjoyed hanging out over our platter and bottle of wine. Some interesting food in there.. funky cheeses and meats, bread with this AWESOME Capsicum (red pepper) spread, and olives. We were still hungry thoguh, so we decided to order dinner as well. Lucky enough, we were there on Tuesday, meaning it was "get any two mains for only $30!" SO... what did we do? Order the two most expensive things on the menu! :-P HAHA. Kyle got a Venison Shank with some AWESOME garlic mashed potatos, and I got the mixed grill which had every kind of meat on it. And let me tell you... their food is GREAT. We will definitely go back there agian, I was really impressed.<br />
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So in the end... we spent $60 for like... $130 worth of food and drink. WOOHOO! Bargain shopping = TOTALLY WORTH IT. <br />
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Twas a great night. Its so nice to spend quality time with Kyle :-) We have some fun together.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-42262529714455434832011-06-29T10:59:00.001+12:002011-07-06T10:06:12.556+12:00S is for Surfing... and coincidentally Summer too...Haha, ok, so over the weekend a group of us went surfing again from the office. Around 14 of us were there this time. And let me tell you... its now officially winter here in NZ. Granted that doesn't mean its NEARLY as cold as it would be at home.. but it still gets cold!<br />
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Needless to say, everyone wanted to go anyway. Im not all the stellar at surfing, so I just went and rented a wet suit to body board with Kate while everyone else went surfing. Thank GOODNESS we had winter wet suits on... cause it was EFFING COLD. Apparenly wind chill made it like... 50 or something? Maybe cooler? Not sure... but NOT the weather Id want to be in the ocean in. Thankfully it was sunny out for the most part. We had a good time all in all, but I think that'll be the last time I go in winter. Kyle seemed to be fine, Pierre as well, but MAN Kate and I were cold! haha. Too much for us.<br />
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So it was a good weekend all together. I woke up that same morning and went to do my 10k before we hit the road to surf. It was a great run. Hard at the start, but ended well. Im running some fast miles these days! I duno if its because ive been riding just about twice a week on average, or its the walking to work, or all of the above... but Im definitely faster. I was doing some 8:30 miles for about a mile or two straight, and feeling really solid. Only problem is: I seem to have acquired some ankle pain. Its been hurting after a few runs now, or toward the end, but I kind of let it go as one of those just nagging "this will go away later" pains (which sometimes happens). But no... I can run about a solid 3 miles before it really starts hurting, and Monday, after the run the day before, my ankle was KILLING me. So I bought a support brace, and fingers crossed it helps.<br />
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Skipped the run Monday because of it, but still rode yesterday. STRONG ride too, I felt good, and Im getting faster on the bike too. The group definitely pushes me to go harder. Got to run a short 5k tonight though, so fingers crossed it goes ok. Then on to biking Thurs, running Fri, and another run Sat.<br />
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Marathon training FTW... hoping it goes well. Im failing at morning runs these days. So it'll be after work. Gotta get up early Friday though! :-)<br />
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Alright, back to work.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-64359410232021773602011-06-19T17:25:00.000+12:002011-06-19T17:25:30.049+12:00PwnedHaha, Pierre TOTALLY just whooped my ass in our run this morning. Kyle, Pierre and I went on a, just under 10K run, through some neighborhood hills, etc. We essentially did a route Kyle and I have done twice now... backwards. Unfortunately this meant, the hills were just that much steeper to go up!<br />
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Anyways, we started out the run fast anyway, Pierre can run like, a > 7 min mile I think, when he's pushing it, so I ended up trying to keep up the pace. So I ended up running the first mile or two at an 8:30 pace. EPIC for me. Wiped though. THEN we get to the hilly part. hahaha. TOTALLY got my ass handed to me on a silver platter. Pierre was running up them like it was old news! CRAZY!<br />
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Haha, just goes to show I need to really start working. I am impressed that I was able to mostly keep up though, even though that was a slower pace for him. I WILL be sore tomorrow...<br />
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Thank goodness I have at least been riding semi - reguarly (btw, last week's three rides in a week totally failed. I had a wiped out week for some reason, was just SO tired all week long).<br />
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Marathon training starts in a week...... *dies* Fingers crossed we can keep this up.....Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-67252332481671628112011-06-18T13:57:00.002+12:002011-06-18T13:57:09.768+12:00OMG IM CAUGHT UP ON EMAIL!YESSSSSSSSSS!<br />
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There are officially NO unread or unresponded to emails in my inbox RIGHT THIS MINUTE.<br />
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Omg. This is so epic I had to post about it. I am ALWAYS behind on email. Tis a problem I have. He he...<br />
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Anyway, SO EXCITED!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-3013350738366231472011-06-17T11:51:00.001+12:002011-06-17T11:51:49.565+12:00I love my officeHahaha! This is what happens when one of your co workers gets stuck in Christchurch (Rico went on a trip there, but because of the recent earthquakes he is unable to get back at the moment. He's fine and safe though!) :<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/14/3336.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/14/s_3336.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/14/3337.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/14/s_3337.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/14/3339.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/14/s_3339.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/16/3699.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/16/s_3699.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Well, someone had to do his frames!!! Haha!<br /><br />Love it. Animators are great<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-65360197046905847842011-06-15T22:25:00.000+12:002011-06-15T22:25:48.928+12:00MY FIRST PENGUINS EPISODE AIRED!!!!!!!!!!AHHHH! <br />
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My first ever Penguins Episode FINALLY aired today in the USA! SO excited! The best part?? Everyone at home got to watch it!! AND whoever missed it, gets to watch it when it airs again tomorrow night.<br />
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omg SO COOL. :-D<br />
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Check out some screen grabs of a couple of the shots I worked on:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, for those who are wondering, this is one of the two episodes with the infamous Savio, who has the worst snake rig in history. BUT, the show turned out GREAT! So awesome to finally see something I worked so hard on.... air on TELEVISION! Love love love it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wish there had been a screen grab available of the credits... but sadly the video cuts out before them online. Ah well, I SHALL get a screen grab of it!! :-)</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-68335248162530459912011-06-14T21:30:00.000+12:002011-06-14T21:30:41.064+12:00Biking, anyone?Haha, ok, so I didn't run Monday, but I definitely biked today. I was tired too! Not sure why, I didn't do anything over the weekend really. Our surfing trip kinda got messed up, so we didn't even do that (we did hang out at Muriwai for the afternoon though, so that was fun).<br />
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Anyway, so Im going to give this a go.... I have two weeks before Marathon training officially begins, so I am going to attempt 3 bike rides this work week. 1 down... two more to go. Im going to ride with a new group tomorrow, and Im kind of looking forward to it. A little nervous, as you never know what kind of pace they're going to do... or what kind of HILLS they're going to throw you into... but Im hoping that I can keep up. I can definitely keep up now (for the most part, I get dropped on a lot of the hills), with Bike 75, and I hear this new group is about the same pace, so lets see. <br />
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5:00am comes early though...... and its 9:30, and I haven't even eaten dinner yet! Ugh. This happens to us a lot... we get home, we usually make dinner first, but tonight we kind of came home and started doing bills, and other work that had to be done. Ah well, bills got to be paid, right? Haha. <br />
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Doing some graphic work too that Im trying to stay on top of. I gets hard when your day gets long, and you don't want to be on the computer after work. But its good.<br />
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We no longer have Gmail at work anymore... so I'll have to start replying to my friends emails (which Im WAY behind on already... I feel like I catch up, then get behind all over again), after work, and be motivated. Haha. So far... so good.<br />
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I think this coming month or so is going to be about......... NOT procrastinating. SO far Im doing really well at that at work... now I need to put it into every day life.<br />
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This Marathon certainly isn't going to run itself..... and the bills won't pay themselves either..... ;-) The joys of being an adult.<br />
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At least the money I save in paying my bills early (yes, they do that here), means I get to take more trips! WOOHOO! ;-) <br />
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Mk, time to make dinner........... Wish me luck on getting out the door for this ride tomorrow.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-57051548148119878992011-06-12T00:41:00.001+12:002011-06-12T00:41:28.825+12:00Random afternoon in DevonportSoooo we were going to go surfing today, but the weather and surf forecast didn't quite make that very appealing. SO instead, we got a late and lazy start, and headed to Devonport to check out a WW2 post. It was pretty epic. Networks of tunnels all throughout this massive volcanic cone land mass. Huge old cannons and guns, as well as a stellar view of Auckland right across the water. <br /><br />I also learned that Bastian Point, this nice little area that we often ride up to at the end of our group morning rides, was the other side of a lookout post across the water from where we were. There was a mine field, we discovered, that spanned all the way across the water there. Pretty cool! They tried to keep enemy ships and whatnot out of the harbour using those, as well as a huge net that they put across the water in the same spot. Nifty. <br /><br />Anyway, we enjoyed exploring the area, in and out of underground rooms and tunnels, back out to the view. Really cool. Kyle took most or the photos, but I took just a few. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/980.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_980.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/981.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_981.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/982.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_982.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/983.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_983.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Pretty cool for a random afternoon excursion. We spent about two hours there. <br /><br />Then we went around Devonport in search of some food, and enjoyed a little happy hour at one local spot. They apparently have a really nice looking breakfast menu, so well have to come back one morning and do breakfast. :) we enjoyed some beer, wine, and wedges. <br /><br />Then we went elsewhere in search of actual dinner, cause that place was pretty pricey. We ended up eating at a local pub, which had some of the best service we've had at a restaurant! Kyle got a massive burger and I got a salad after having those wedges. Awesome food. I took some fun photos too.... <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/984.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_984.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/985.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_985.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/986.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_986.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/987.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_987.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/988.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_988.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/990.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_990.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/991.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_991.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />:). Good times!<br /><br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Devonport&z=10'>Devonport</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-41209653339847471072011-06-08T21:05:00.001+12:002011-06-08T21:05:25.924+12:00Wasted wednesdayHilight of my evening (besides seeing and spending time with mr Kyle :) who brought cake from his office home to share).....<br /><br /> GREEN mashed potatoes!!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/08/265.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/08/s_265.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />That's right, green! Yes, I made them. I heard Michael, FOREVER ago, say something about how she put an avocado in mashed potatoes instead of butter, because it created the same creamy texture without the unnecessary calories. SO, I finally had an avocado, and an excuse to use it in potatoes! YUM. <br /><br />Also, they are a mix of kumaras and regular potatoes, so not only are they green and avacado-y, but they're also a little sweet. :). Awesome! Very proud I remembered that. And thanks Michael for the suggestion!<br /><br />Great ending to a frustrating day. Just wasn't motivated for some reason. Still got some substantial work done, but not like I had intended. Of course, I finally get engaged in what I'm doing toward the end of the day. oh well. Tomorrow is another day :) which will start off with another bike ride :). <br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-3031690517783045982011-06-06T21:22:00.001+12:002011-06-06T21:22:26.351+12:00It's been 15 years...:-/<br /><br />Right this minute, I wish I was at home. <br /><br />Today, it's been 15 years since my father's funeral. And I almost forgot. <br /><br />It's so weird being over here, with the seasons different, and the places and people...time and events get away from you. But mom definitely didn't forget. It sucks...she was home alone today, and remembered that sad day. How could she forget? I wish I had been there. <br /><br />Instead though, we had a little conversation over how grateful we are, at least for each other, our relationships with each other and our families, and where we are in our lives, despite the bad things that may have happened in the past. How grateful we are for the people that care for us in our lives, and those we care for in return. For the futures we have ahead of all of us, too. <br /><br />Life is good...in fact, its REALLY good...and I think sometimes I need to be more grateful of how good it really is. Because time is short, and you never know what life might bring next. <br /><br />Love you Mom. <br /><br /><br />And I love you Dad, and I miss you. <br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-67066310195613119542011-06-06T21:10:00.001+12:002011-06-06T21:10:44.414+12:00Spontaneous sundayI love spontaneous days, and today definitely turned into one! Thank goodness the rain cleared from yesterday and actually left us with a really clear, sunny warm day. <br /><br />About 9am we got up and headed to the Avondale market. Love it there, the place is huge! Like a big outdoor garage sale almost...or flea Market. Lots of new and used stuff for cheap. Kyle and I like going there, grabbing a coffee and wandering around. They have lots of locally grown fruits and veggies too, as well as a guy who makes fresh bread. So we got some fresh bagels, a couple loaves of bread, and a bunch of produce. Avocados (one of my new favourite things, I can cut them up and just eat them straight!), kiwis, and persimmons. Good stuff! <br /><br />After finishing our round, and our coffees, Kyle suggested we head out to Titirangi and just see what's out there. Haha we saw this on the start of our walk:<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/299.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_299.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />He has a job out there with his office too, so we went over to check out the slip they are repairing. New Zealand has quite a few slips overall it seems like, all of the mountains and the rain it gets. <br /><br />Anyway, this is what he is working on now:<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/300.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_300.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/301.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_301.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Crazy, huh? So that is what he does at work! Well, sort of. :). <br /><br />After checking out the slip, we hiked a short bit up to the top of.... I can't remember what it's called... But it had a fantastic view of Auckland. See!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/302.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_302.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/303.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_303.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />You can see the sky tower...kind of<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/304.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_304.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Cool, huh! Sorry the photos aren't amazing, I didn't have he camera, but the iPod was with me. <br /><br />Well, we were hungry after that little hike, so we went to find where the locals ate. On our way to find lunch, we also found THIS guy just chillin in the parking lot! <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/305.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_305.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/306.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_306.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/307.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_307.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />How cool is he?! Huge too! <br /><br />Anyway, we found this great little cafe that was serving EPIC coffees...in a BOWL. Kyle was all over that, so we got some!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/308.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_308.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/309.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_309.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/310.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_310.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Kyle's always happy with his coffee! Haha awesome. <br /><br />After finishing those off, plus some grilled sandwiches, we took a drive to check out some more of the area, particularly the waterfront :)<br /><br />Some of the homes out there are EPIC. And they have the steepest driveways ever!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/311.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_311.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />It's like a freaking WALL! Crazy. Anyway, through he windy roads an neighbourhoods, we came across THIS<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/312.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_312.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/313.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_313.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/314.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_314.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />SO off we went to hike around!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/315.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_315.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/316.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_316.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/317.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_317.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/318.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_318.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />This tree made it's Mark right trough the sand stone!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/319.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_319.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/320.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_320.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Awesome. We had a great time. I love days like this!! <br /><br />Soon after, we headed home and went off for an evening run. It was really nice, but definitely going to be sore after it! Good end to the day. <br /><br />Vancouver won in the hockey game we watched after dinner too! Haha, I liked their uniforms so I wanted them to win. Shhhhh! :) <br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Avondale,%20Titirangi&z=10'>Avondale, Titirangi</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-14508871160731600682011-06-04T20:55:00.001+12:002011-06-04T20:55:22.684+12:00Lazy saturdayAhhh what a good lazy day. Woke up early, for some weird reason, and then fell back asleep again, listening to the wind and rain outside. The weather here is definitely interesting in the winter, we get a lot of rain. It's often windy here too, gusting pretty heavily. Weather systems seem to move very fast, so I don't feel like we usually have too many days when it rains ALL day. But today was one of those days!<br /><br />Kyle and I were goofing off and playing that scrabble game for a while in bed, and when we finally got up, he made an epic breakfast. And I mean epic. Eggs, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, onions...all mixed together, with toast and yoghurt with fruit on the side. Yum! He definitely knows how to do breakfast. :)<br /><br />For the rest of the day we just hung out really. I did some design work, we both did some laundry, and relaxed. Kyle was looking up some trip information for our potential anniversary trip. Thinking about going to the Cook Islands, maybe Rarotonga......<br /><br />It has been great! Haha Kyle made a great pasta dinner too (we have left overs for days after how much food was made for breakfast and dinner!), and now we are relaxing on the couch watching Bolt :). <br /><br />Good day :)<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Parnell&z=10'>Parnell</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-66418647558301462302011-06-04T17:23:00.001+12:002011-06-04T17:23:12.092+12:00Happy FridayWell, yesterday was a pretty good day. Got two of my longer shots on this episode finished. I could have finished all of my longest shots, but i just wasn't in the mood to get into working with the bees, so luckily my other shots got assigned and I did a few of those. Only have a solid 750 frames left for next week. Not bad! :). <br /><br />Anyways, end of the day went well, and we saw a screening of the finished Robot and Monster episode during happy hour. Then hung around the office chillin with people until Kyle picked up Kate and I. <br /><br />We dropped Kate off, and headed out to a spontaneous dinner at a nice little Italian restaurant down the street. It was REALLY really good. Veal Marsala, with red wine, and then tiramisu for dessert :). Yum!! When we finished, Kyle mentioned going to check out the local piano bar up the street, so off we went. <br /><br />Awesome fun. Two guys playing the pianos and singing some great music. Elton John, Eric Clapton, Eagles, etc. Everyone was up and dancing by the end. I was trying to get Kyle up to dance, but he wasn't feeling it. Next time, he won't have a choice. Haha. Anyway we had a great time. Then as we are leaving, one of the pianists was outside with his wife, and they struck up a little conversation with us. Really nice people. So we will definitely going back! :)<br /><br />Good times. <br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Parnell&z=10'>Parnell</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-66824734338695193122011-06-01T20:55:00.001+12:002011-06-01T20:55:55.295+12:00Workin outWell, so far so good with workouts this week. Surfing Sunday, ran my first hilly 10k on Monday in months, and swam today. Nice! Sore from it all too. Tomorrow I'm cycling with the group and maybe running Friday. Pretty good! <br /><br />Work was slow today, but still got a good amount done. <br /><br />I'd say that calls for a steak and mashed potato/kumara dinner! <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/01/165.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/01/s_165.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Moms mashed potato recipe (thanks mom), and Kyle did the steaks. NOM! <br /><br />Time for some more scrabble, and bed (gotten addicted to Word With Friends on the iPod. :) )<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Parnell&z=10'>Parnell</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-86102398910190130432011-05-31T22:44:00.001+12:002011-05-31T22:44:27.886+12:00Tri-winning...its like bi-winning, but with three people....Apparently....we are not very good at trivia. :). The three K's need to brush up on our knowledge.....of New Zealand. And, well, things in general. Haha. <br /><br />That is all. <br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=The%20Paddington&z=10'>The Paddington</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-74210050731467235592011-05-31T08:13:00.002+12:002011-05-31T08:15:42.704+12:00RainbowsOk I must say that I see more rainbows here in New Zealand than I have anywhere else. It's insane (or "intense" even, lol). For example, the huge one from this morning on the way to work:<br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/05/30/2807.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/05/30/s_2807.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="297" /></a></center><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/05/30/2810.jpg"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/05/30/s_2810.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/05/30/2812.jpg"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/05/30/s_2812.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br />
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Crazy! Well, even though I skipped the ride his morning in this clear, chilly weather (quads are sore from the hills last night), let's hope today is a good day. Going to a Trivia Night at a local bar after work tonight. Though....I have a feeling I won't know any New Zealand trivia! Oh well :)<br />
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod TouchKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-43617711784786209632011-05-30T22:09:00.001+12:002011-05-30T22:09:29.963+12:00Workout, what?!Dude, Kyle and I just ran a pretty solid 10k (just a tad short of the total 10)! First time I have run that far in months. AND there were a couple wicked hills. Nice! <br /><br />SOOOO sore in the arms from surfing. After that run too, hoping I'm up for the bike ride tomorrow morning. Haha listen to me... I sound like I did in college ;). Well at least a run like that warranted a nice Snapper dinner! Yum. <br /><br />Can you believe we are STILL eating the red snapper we caught from when Kyle's mom and brother were here?! Nuts! Love it. :)<br /><br />Good day today. I'm even caught up with all my work!!! Can't say that happens often :). Love it. Now to catch up on the rest of my emails...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Parnell%20&z=10'>Parnell </a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-47277963549091692702011-05-29T18:07:00.001+12:002011-05-29T18:07:34.389+12:00Surfin!Well, today we took surfing lessons! A big group of us from work went together. There were about 8 of us that took he 10:30am lesson at Muriwai Beach Surf School. It was a good time! I can't say that I did awesomely, well, not like I had hoped anyway, but our instructor Martin, and his assistant (we cant remember his name), were really good. Martin was helping me a lot, and I got up a couple of times, unfortunately mostly on my knees, or on one knee, but that's ok. I would go again. Had a couple of wipe outs, and definitely swallowed some sea water...as well as totally clogging up one of my ears pretty bad. Ah well, no pain no gain! Haha. <br /><br />Kyle did really well though! He had a great time and was definitely not ready to stop after the hour. Haha had we not been with a group, I think he would have surfed all day! So glad he had a good time. Apparently I need to do some serious push-ups to prepare for the next time we go. My arms got tired before anything else. <br /><br />We dragged Kate out with us too last minute, and she had a good time. She did really well, better than me! She got (at least) one wave that I saw her ride all the way in. Good stuff! <br /><br />We will definitely go again. Once I get rid of my ear ache! :)<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Muriwai%20Beach&z=10'>Muriwai Beach</a></p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-44151702362112793562011-05-28T17:25:00.001+12:002011-05-31T08:16:46.473+12:00Since we last spoke...I turned 25!Soo about a month has passed, and lots of things have happened!<br />
<br />
-Panasonic People's Triathlon! <br />
-Mountain bike race in Rotorua with Kyle's work mates at Blue Barn <br />
-Caving / good times for my birthday in Waitomo!<br />
<br />
<br />
-Well, I've been working a lot. We took two trips so far, one to Rotorua, and one out to Waitomo! Its been good. Keeping up with work (had my 6 month review, and it went well!), and I think I've been doing pretty good on this episode. Staying on task, and ALMOST got everything done before our deadline. We'll see what happens Monday!<br />
<br />
But yea, things have been good. The weather is getting crappier as winter sets in, but not too bad yet. Im riding twice a week with Bike 75 down the road from work, and I have definitely gotten stronger. I love it! Its hard to get out of bed in the mornings, but since I have them to meet, I've been pretty good lately with actually going. Been falling off on running, but I have a month left.... until I start training for the Auckland Marathon in October!!!!!<br />
<br />
Yes, I said I would never do another one....... but what could it hurt? Our room mate Pierre suggested the Half Marathon... but then we found out it was sold out, so he said "well, why not the full then?" So I... sadly... agreed. Haha. Kyle did too! So the plan starts soon, and fingers crossed most of my runs aren't wet ones. Auckland winters can be prett freakin.. rainy. Blech.<br />
<br />
I just turned 25 too!!!! Im kinda happy about it. I love the #5, so Im hoping this only means it'll be a good year. OH, and I got my NZ driver's License!!!!!!!!! I OFFICIALLY hold a NZ Id, and I can....still....legally drive here. Haha, its just nice to have an ID cause Ive been refused alcohol before for looking...well, under 25 I guess? Stupid, I know. Anyway, NO LONGER CAN THEY REFUSE ME! Haha.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I got some gorgeous flowers from Kyle's family to start it all off too! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw8AB4GK-ZqYFwhnzqtnxHhMVNCqfppQXhVYjFQ8ljRHO2UCLbhJ-j0q3UG_SH17f7ByrsHq6FHTMdsd3wyhxBvGHfhGirv8pX0d5CPSB5OieXGJgK9MEk4hf2F5RvPxt9yo-rZ4eL7u-/s1600/100_7275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw8AB4GK-ZqYFwhnzqtnxHhMVNCqfppQXhVYjFQ8ljRHO2UCLbhJ-j0q3UG_SH17f7ByrsHq6FHTMdsd3wyhxBvGHfhGirv8pX0d5CPSB5OieXGJgK9MEk4hf2F5RvPxt9yo-rZ4eL7u-/s320/100_7275.JPG" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I had a stellar birthday. Here's a pretty good description of what happened, that I wrote in an email to my Nana :-P<br />
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"I had a fantastic birthday, Kyle surprised me and took me out to a place called Waitomo. Its full of underground caves, about 300 of them all over the area! Really rural, out in the mountains. Lots and lots of farms, and absolutely beautiful scenery. So we got to the first place we were staying, and it was at a bed and breakfast on this woman's farm. They have like, 260 acres of FARMLAND! insane! They have only one bedroom, and its like its own little apartment right off of the house. It was brand newly renovated, and really really nice. SO we stayed there, and spent the evening playing with the farm animals! She had a ton of chickens, goats, horses, pigs, rabbits... etc. And they were a lot of fun. We took a bunch of pictures, I'll try to upload some when I get home. <br />
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The next morning, we went horseback riding, the woman whose family owns the farm leads trail riding tours, so Kyle booked one for us. It was his first time on a horse, and my first time in a very long time. I LOVED it. So much fun. After that, we hung around the farm a little longer before moving on to the next place we were staying. This next building was an old Victorian place, that was 103 years old!! It was kind of neat, and everything was original. We checked in, and then went off to check out some of the natural landscape. We saw a HUGE waterfall, and a natural bridge. It is seriously gorgeous out there.<br />
<br />
Then that night, Kyle took me on a Glow Worm tour in one of the caves. That was neat, I had never seen a glow worm before! The cave wasn't huge, but we walked in with a tour group and took some really cool photos. Next day, we wen Black Water Rafting, which is pretty much where a group takes you down into one of the caves, and you travel about 3 miles through it, through the water, climbing around, and floating through it on your innertube raft. CRAZY! They put is in wet suits and whatnot, thankfully cause it was very cold (its getting into winter time here). It was so so awesome though. We saw an eel in the water (thankfully not the electric kind), and these big big bugs called Wetas. its like a BIG cricket type bug, thats only in New Zealand (I think). It was so cool! We both had a blast.<br />
<br />
Then, we took some hot showers and ate some hot soup at the lodge after the caves, and headed home. Kyle took me out to a really nice dinner, and then we went and saw Pirates of the Caribbean 4 in the movie theatre. I LOVE those movies. It was a fantastic weekend. Kyle definitely knows how to plan a birthday vacation I'd say!! :-)"<br />
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<br />
So yes, the man did well! PLUS, after ALL of that, my co workers set up a dinner on Tuesday night for me, so we went to this really good Japanese restaurant near the office. <u><i><b>17</b></i></u> people came too! Man, I felt popular! Dinner was really good too. And I got a free dessert! Tempura bananas with chocolate ice cream. YUM! No birthday cake though, which is fine, cause I didn't need it. I had "Happy Birthday" sung to me in a CAVE, and I had two epic dinners that Mr Kyle took me too, so I was definitely satisfied.<br />
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But wait, its not over... I come home from work late on Wednesday, and what did Kyle do?! HE GOT ME A BIRTHDAY CAKE!! haha, not only that, but it was a Mint Chocolate Mud Cake. NOM! I took photos. It was great. He made dinner and everything. TALK ABOUT SPOILED! I guess 25 is a pretty "big" birthday. But man, I have some work to do to get Kyle's 30th planned then! Well, two years, but still. Its gotta be good! Haha. I'll need to come up with something creative.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Anyways, thats all for now. We're going SURFING tomorrow. Excited. Bunch of people form work are going. Should be fun! COLD though, of course its "winter here" and we decide to go surfing! Haha. Ah well, Looking forward to it!<br />
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Heres some Photo hilights lately:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1JJTTyoQUZRNDw4oj41KbMf0MQ3V0Id8IzyMKfKsJPVOVRcuXETKeTdiQlboozY0l5naQ_TIS1aKqAVcxeOikqpgUm8xG8nfuUghg6EKd9cttANpMz0R_xpj8i1TVcQ5MGntJBZJeWRn/s1600/255741_620594771007_6602927_33600302_5283337_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1JJTTyoQUZRNDw4oj41KbMf0MQ3V0Id8IzyMKfKsJPVOVRcuXETKeTdiQlboozY0l5naQ_TIS1aKqAVcxeOikqpgUm8xG8nfuUghg6EKd9cttANpMz0R_xpj8i1TVcQ5MGntJBZJeWRn/s400/255741_620594771007_6602927_33600302_5283337_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6j9s8pC2mz6dUGGZ2BfYea99m-kHtVmNk0CNedQaufy0JLItFUf6omlMIR93PDRaEiP8-lai_C2wMR_SN1naoiQHgCEBRoQClz7nAgBWsZhz7mf6YbdMXn34NOIRCSXtwq4r4dSrBlQl/s1600/248631_620594686177_6602927_33600299_7285171_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6j9s8pC2mz6dUGGZ2BfYea99m-kHtVmNk0CNedQaufy0JLItFUf6omlMIR93PDRaEiP8-lai_C2wMR_SN1naoiQHgCEBRoQClz7nAgBWsZhz7mf6YbdMXn34NOIRCSXtwq4r4dSrBlQl/s400/248631_620594686177_6602927_33600299_7285171_n.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-m2n_V4mC5P7x__c2h0B8pRhRMsrWSEuPCLyCIX0yvAYn3DvoStAjOVKmYilTN_4CUkyiS8QUw_SgC559_lfokeN_-GtwmTCNBvoCOO6RZ5xWX0qR2HZZ0OjwqHJnpoep9DDuzQip3bPM/s1600/100_7290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-m2n_V4mC5P7x__c2h0B8pRhRMsrWSEuPCLyCIX0yvAYn3DvoStAjOVKmYilTN_4CUkyiS8QUw_SgC559_lfokeN_-GtwmTCNBvoCOO6RZ5xWX0qR2HZZ0OjwqHJnpoep9DDuzQip3bPM/s640/100_7290.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_4HPy2Xe_m2UCrR0IYARezCuSwrif-gAvYhHomGGrxs9K0HyHQFg2l6pNsMXl1jyKWRx9dVQrVMvUqyfKapI1AW2L7iwGnVBa85kQ-au3_sYTLFopnylyI_pYntg2SMbiq9m_SCuIN8T/s1600/100_7317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_4HPy2Xe_m2UCrR0IYARezCuSwrif-gAvYhHomGGrxs9K0HyHQFg2l6pNsMXl1jyKWRx9dVQrVMvUqyfKapI1AW2L7iwGnVBa85kQ-au3_sYTLFopnylyI_pYntg2SMbiq9m_SCuIN8T/s1600/100_7317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_4HPy2Xe_m2UCrR0IYARezCuSwrif-gAvYhHomGGrxs9K0HyHQFg2l6pNsMXl1jyKWRx9dVQrVMvUqyfKapI1AW2L7iwGnVBa85kQ-au3_sYTLFopnylyI_pYntg2SMbiq9m_SCuIN8T/s640/100_7317.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhmwz7Uaje0QUtE5m3sn7nifbkm4o8_59kv6HDk3Rucy26uTskhXUG1bMW4jdbzS-2-z_65_4umR1nXH260hkJ3_-u1f9m4ys9XBoL6TJ3nxIGkXPUPDJBvUX9HsJnQsytdknhfzwA9Uz/s1600/100_7327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhmwz7Uaje0QUtE5m3sn7nifbkm4o8_59kv6HDk3Rucy26uTskhXUG1bMW4jdbzS-2-z_65_4umR1nXH260hkJ3_-u1f9m4ys9XBoL6TJ3nxIGkXPUPDJBvUX9HsJnQsytdknhfzwA9Uz/s640/100_7327.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eDd2HAZGnpjZpYJPOX7xSF7vjn8ic2r6NFEn4a7oXz8QyxIvNtO2lpYB0Dkkx0WMRz_4o391wuftqYzkgXmRVCHu9PXav47RQOMgWeIHcXxI1QdaMbmjqnEpnKHW1q1yeRPll7cyJF3n/s1600/100_7330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eDd2HAZGnpjZpYJPOX7xSF7vjn8ic2r6NFEn4a7oXz8QyxIvNtO2lpYB0Dkkx0WMRz_4o391wuftqYzkgXmRVCHu9PXav47RQOMgWeIHcXxI1QdaMbmjqnEpnKHW1q1yeRPll7cyJF3n/s640/100_7330.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-gQ2Zlo459AiWq61pi_acNCyL3gPzon7MAKbw4p2XOvH2en7EI4yUiUJTai6oPqPrniM1TUmBDeXRED_JsIwGshCu-k0vpiSkzgkF9UoKZONG5B3MlZmnFBlXuiOyl6w85cH6sMYdSgw/s1600/100_7301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-gQ2Zlo459AiWq61pi_acNCyL3gPzon7MAKbw4p2XOvH2en7EI4yUiUJTai6oPqPrniM1TUmBDeXRED_JsIwGshCu-k0vpiSkzgkF9UoKZONG5B3MlZmnFBlXuiOyl6w85cH6sMYdSgw/s640/100_7301.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbUttQWfnWOOE7aJXExRXvfCBt99-13udmL7JotQ0d39ov4XQ8tNaSF4rmpxxGUflLVLwNct7KUU45y3ngzR5Q3cS0rYGZaVz3iVeU-wns0kHrN_xW5FYDYxWrkyDay3SuMeJ5_MBw3Et/s1600/100_7321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbUttQWfnWOOE7aJXExRXvfCBt99-13udmL7JotQ0d39ov4XQ8tNaSF4rmpxxGUflLVLwNct7KUU45y3ngzR5Q3cS0rYGZaVz3iVeU-wns0kHrN_xW5FYDYxWrkyDay3SuMeJ5_MBw3Et/s640/100_7321.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-74550470091596114332011-04-07T21:59:00.000+12:002011-04-07T21:59:14.600+12:00Alright, one more thing to add...So after the two weeks with Patti and Keving being here, I was making up work hours and trying to catch up, so I worked all of the following weekend. Not terrible, but you know, I had to do it. Got everything done too that I needed to.<br />
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Anyway, so LAST weekend, considering things have been so hectic, Kyle turned to me on Thursday and said "what do you think of using our one free night stay out at Piha to enjoy one of the last nice weather before the winter hits?" Of course, Im like "HELL YES!" So Kyle contacted Aaron at the Piha Exquisite Bed and Breakfast, to see if they had booking for Friday - Sunday. <br />
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Thankfully, they did! And not only that, they gave us the master suite! AWESOME place. This is the same place we stayed at for the New Year, and they had given us a voucher for one free night when you stay for two. How could we pass it up?! Haha, it was great having a nice little spontaneous trip for the weekend. So, I got off work a little early Friday, and off we went.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Even better than the last time, if thats possible!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd8UyJDP2-hlt6FAwfB3cPXkrBIu8hzEgHz2QxaRVGCYOC4zmZGAfrhQRAycon8FgYHEXW6XrJpZRh5R8je-4peqLlKZD_mAxPOwWXc0lm1wv08RZmpZC5bRqEn9k-HfZoNr9N2kqhzim/s1600/100_7111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd8UyJDP2-hlt6FAwfB3cPXkrBIu8hzEgHz2QxaRVGCYOC4zmZGAfrhQRAycon8FgYHEXW6XrJpZRh5R8je-4peqLlKZD_mAxPOwWXc0lm1wv08RZmpZC5bRqEn9k-HfZoNr9N2kqhzim/s640/100_7111.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Epic Bathroom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZYyJm2fgG9mP9cj6W7RB0Gm7V2kOQXR91KGaVZ8olYHkZNKU-VJwa-eWAqM1OKJGxpQxIupCJdGEEhceg_ClxzQWukmIsf0xHFICqp2Vc8uCP80NG0qB8xK0BGtWXMqPz1I7js7mFZd5/s1600/100_7115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZYyJm2fgG9mP9cj6W7RB0Gm7V2kOQXR91KGaVZ8olYHkZNKU-VJwa-eWAqM1OKJGxpQxIupCJdGEEhceg_ClxzQWukmIsf0xHFICqp2Vc8uCP80NG0qB8xK0BGtWXMqPz1I7js7mFZd5/s640/100_7115.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicd8UyJDP2-hlt6FAwfB3cPXkrBIu8hzEgHz2QxaRVGCYOC4zmZGAfrhQRAycon8FgYHEXW6XrJpZRh5R8je-4peqLlKZD_mAxPOwWXc0lm1wv08RZmpZC5bRqEn9k-HfZoNr9N2kqhzim/s1600/100_7111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> INSANE view... as always</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeFV68ixAc6EECqooKYDGocaYveTKQeUPo7WCkyBRqKlb-LGACe0q8F6MH332XgcHq2kb3vAmjEC6BKdQwVQ3j7DFFFMA5JJGt360BHudGYhghMBkOWrvm403C1YRZsrEd8hqvgfN8f0u/s1600/100_7116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeFV68ixAc6EECqooKYDGocaYveTKQeUPo7WCkyBRqKlb-LGACe0q8F6MH332XgcHq2kb3vAmjEC6BKdQwVQ3j7DFFFMA5JJGt360BHudGYhghMBkOWrvm403C1YRZsrEd8hqvgfN8f0u/s640/100_7116.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Good morning Piha.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRXJyoc32ZS7VDn-0TpiFeUtM15aIjwKi-jb3AubdI3R3ipS1xM_pmDXfni0dYRP6crOxxnyF-UpeMZEWwOD_iEcrE4uadmTuu0oYWxj8fHehgrD4nunjFpX7-P7lXYr3GaFdzlkGjY72/s1600/100_7117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRXJyoc32ZS7VDn-0TpiFeUtM15aIjwKi-jb3AubdI3R3ipS1xM_pmDXfni0dYRP6crOxxnyF-UpeMZEWwOD_iEcrE4uadmTuu0oYWxj8fHehgrD4nunjFpX7-P7lXYr3GaFdzlkGjY72/s640/100_7117.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Exploring the rocks. it was a little creepy though... there are MASSIVE boulders just hanging out over our heads here... we didn't hang out too long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7j2eKkHWTO4ZbK7WbNx9vYcqjpSe6S8-dPHnjjnrUuacewU-K_WXmwIopG7stIfqydgk_ozuBhURwq0F2HMgYOpH68sSKvCMlwCY6Bc-jHsC3Kmp_jfp3tPxQwRQawYCK1_mjjJ_pIHK/s1600/100_7129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7j2eKkHWTO4ZbK7WbNx9vYcqjpSe6S8-dPHnjjnrUuacewU-K_WXmwIopG7stIfqydgk_ozuBhURwq0F2HMgYOpH68sSKvCMlwCY6Bc-jHsC3Kmp_jfp3tPxQwRQawYCK1_mjjJ_pIHK/s640/100_7129.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The surfers walked / climbed through here to get out to the bigger waves further out in the water. We decided to follow, but the tide started coming in, so we didn't make it far.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOp6S7D9d8xvkfPJbxcWvf7e6Lo52HDFtsZel1wzvq4k29XKaSMt7X1eaaEKLhbaKZl3dcv_pX-VtoCEv21hqLe7FYZz-c7y7pDD9lfHae2maMTqpIwlkPnB4ciABx0oJaBYuv_V6Tz3H/s1600/100_7136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOp6S7D9d8xvkfPJbxcWvf7e6Lo52HDFtsZel1wzvq4k29XKaSMt7X1eaaEKLhbaKZl3dcv_pX-VtoCEv21hqLe7FYZz-c7y7pDD9lfHae2maMTqpIwlkPnB4ciABx0oJaBYuv_V6Tz3H/s640/100_7136.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Sea foam. EVERYWHERE.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqs2BOvB889rzICu4ANqJ9fqwIjgCx3lK1Av6d-61G4b4f7iTs69mpi_jr0VboefhmB3XLI0NgdVPdHRjbK0CamoYXKXGjz8DPdPmiA2toEX20H_Cr8obwoGMWdERsu9oq7BlgzOu5DJ6/s1600/100_7156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqs2BOvB889rzICu4ANqJ9fqwIjgCx3lK1Av6d-61G4b4f7iTs69mpi_jr0VboefhmB3XLI0NgdVPdHRjbK0CamoYXKXGjz8DPdPmiA2toEX20H_Cr8obwoGMWdERsu9oq7BlgzOu5DJ6/s640/100_7156.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The waves were so big, and the undertoe so strong, Surf Rescue was kicking people out of the water. Crazy. Kyle looks like he's at the end of the world. :-P </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-IMxOrRpeYDIv2pY54A_Ue6ibtm4QuDRk3IfBH032yf87tZ85TVtZ64ruIdrCkrQ1B0qToU9c1dLwbsQ9i_w9W16h5gTdupg05eOER8mkfdpIpBmg28lRiFnRGbQL5g4WdAPWoQpqigP/s1600/100_7164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-IMxOrRpeYDIv2pY54A_Ue6ibtm4QuDRk3IfBH032yf87tZ85TVtZ64ruIdrCkrQ1B0qToU9c1dLwbsQ9i_w9W16h5gTdupg05eOER8mkfdpIpBmg28lRiFnRGbQL5g4WdAPWoQpqigP/s640/100_7164.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Lion Rock! Can you see the Lion? After being here 3 times, I FINALLY did, but only at this angle...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-STNyeGMGNAOHLMRyGl6vbQWUz8HX46Ajo_chyGz5pWbQ3KGXP4j3fPLlNHWV0M-GbZvJ91Kf27T2-HAyXUCOztHecff7bZxcRH0ZFZ2XvPtu1IFlc0MhyroOO3QIEpwkAecuSfzqA9z/s1600/100_7170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-STNyeGMGNAOHLMRyGl6vbQWUz8HX46Ajo_chyGz5pWbQ3KGXP4j3fPLlNHWV0M-GbZvJ91Kf27T2-HAyXUCOztHecff7bZxcRH0ZFZ2XvPtu1IFlc0MhyroOO3QIEpwkAecuSfzqA9z/s640/100_7170.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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haha, we had a good time exploring around that day. Theres more to the story of the weekend..... like how INSANELY hung over we got the next day because of this random family of Kiwis (4 of them were staying at the Bed and Breakfast with us for the weekend) that took us out drinking with them...for their family member's 60th birthday.... But more on that later, I promise. Haha. Enjoy!<br />
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Bed time for me!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513484601748236315.post-18574853974408114522011-04-07T21:33:00.000+12:002011-04-07T21:33:32.522+12:00Official update.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0HJZg2TvXPQPW8do7cFXpMzgDJt8bRmsNbxhV5vZ6T44JFax29bAmns5r_Fu5vYT7LeXjpLyjuw19-aoe2gGumdRtMaJoPWqrI0hRh8zB7lJpqwSfjtvLdYroY8kTiQ6CZq7ysuel7Iy/s1600/100_6725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0HJZg2TvXPQPW8do7cFXpMzgDJt8bRmsNbxhV5vZ6T44JFax29bAmns5r_Fu5vYT7LeXjpLyjuw19-aoe2gGumdRtMaJoPWqrI0hRh8zB7lJpqwSfjtvLdYroY8kTiQ6CZq7ysuel7Iy/s400/100_6725.JPG" width="400" /></a>So, it has been a while.<br />
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Things have been good though, really good. And only seem to get better for the most part, which is so great.<br />
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Had a little bit of time where I was getting homesick, missing friends and family a lot... and really wanting to go home for a visit. I guess that happens after 4 months! Luckily, I am out of the slump. Had some good phone conversations / online conversations with friends and family, and it helped a lot. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0HJZg2TvXPQPW8do7cFXpMzgDJt8bRmsNbxhV5vZ6T44JFax29bAmns5r_Fu5vYT7LeXjpLyjuw19-aoe2gGumdRtMaJoPWqrI0hRh8zB7lJpqwSfjtvLdYroY8kTiQ6CZq7ysuel7Iy/s1600/100_6725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
By the way, in case I didnt mention it before (cause I probably didnt), Mom and G are moving to South Carolina coming up this year! CRAZY! The house is going to be sold, and off they will good. It will be a good change for them, Mom especially. Gary will be closer to the girls (though thats not why they are moving), and it will be a new fun place. They're going to Charleston to be exact. It will be good for Mom, she'll be in a new place, new people, new things, and warmer weather! Im really happy for them. Sad the house wont be there anymore, and what ive called home will no longer be, but I think its good. Exciting. I'l just have to take trips to visit my friends! Which throughout the US, isn't too bad ;-). I never really thought about it, but I wouldnt be going home after this anyway! Not for permanent.<br />
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Things have been going really well for Kyle and I. Learning to adapt and live together, learning the things that upset or annoy eachother, and really just trying to flesh out a life has been challenging, but been going well. Better than I thought. Had some time where it was harder, moving, getting used to work schedule, ME not spending so much time at the office, and compromising on things. But I think we're getting it. And I sure as hell am happier over all. <br />
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Starting to work out again finally too. Ive been riding with the bike shop next door roughly once a week. They KICK my ass, so right now once I ride with them on Tuesday, Im pretty much unable to keep up on Thursdays, so I just do once a week at the moment. But Ive been running, started swimming, and Kyle and I are doing all of it (except riding) together. Starting to do push ups and sit ups at the end of run workouts, and tonight we're going to do swim at another local (indoor this time) pool. We had been to Parnell Baths, which is an outdoor, salt water pool. Really nice pool, and cheap! But now its getting cold, and I think they close for the season on Easter anyways. So we're going to check out the one in Newmarket. I think they have a little gym too, so I can start lifting before / after swimming again. Just like old times ;-). Im happier when Im working out, thats for sure! <br />
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Had a nice little break from work last month, Kyle's mom and brother came into town for two weeks. It was hectic, but fun. I tried to catch up on all my work hours within the payperiods, so that I would still make money and get my work done. Made for some long days though. Early early mornings, and some later nights, but fortunately I was always home for dinner while they were here. Our first stop was Coromandel. We pretty much took two long weekends off while they were here, so we went off on Friday morning, and headed south to spend 4 days out there.<br />
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The weather was BEAUTIFUL just about the whole time, and we rented a bach to stay in. Really close to the beach, included the use of kayaks, and had everything we needed. Really liked it there. Heres some photo hilights :-D<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">The view on the way through the mountains. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhK1m4MeZC6hhyaa8W4wzRfLpREvZ6pmnxSG0zqMZK1ujyeSKYC6DvgrcWSD2v4RkZRnbqkVzI2VepL2zC_vo4OU_05e0z8CHgxxM_hrlRbBo5CP-SsKs3fAr2VhevmTmDZgMcNe8iF0V/s1600/100_6734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhK1m4MeZC6hhyaa8W4wzRfLpREvZ6pmnxSG0zqMZK1ujyeSKYC6DvgrcWSD2v4RkZRnbqkVzI2VepL2zC_vo4OU_05e0z8CHgxxM_hrlRbBo5CP-SsKs3fAr2VhevmTmDZgMcNe8iF0V/s640/100_6734.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is the house we stayed at </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixClA_fSPTc_KyH6MVFEzjW26Xh6lUHCHd06WJ3ItIOV98dHbo9NkeA0QssAte0gN2TRBWQWyxqvAyENJZlQv22LUChPxMwj7XHGBAjXKaHMSyMAP0BstlRr3jF4_lSkI978QyuB1Wueke/s1600/100_6770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixClA_fSPTc_KyH6MVFEzjW26Xh6lUHCHd06WJ3ItIOV98dHbo9NkeA0QssAte0gN2TRBWQWyxqvAyENJZlQv22LUChPxMwj7XHGBAjXKaHMSyMAP0BstlRr3jF4_lSkI978QyuB1Wueke/s640/100_6770.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautiful sunset the first night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBAsvk-T8utcXfiw3BoU1pkkPu1RYOcFbCOxSoeh19esqkZ5t1s4Sz9epAedR5SXT5YNaG8C4c2jiqtIeO7oWyzk6OI_oijS5ie-7W_P5dbQ_-uhI92lc_Ot7FHojRO0oY5O9gz2dSxry/s1600/100_6744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBAsvk-T8utcXfiw3BoU1pkkPu1RYOcFbCOxSoeh19esqkZ5t1s4Sz9epAedR5SXT5YNaG8C4c2jiqtIeO7oWyzk6OI_oijS5ie-7W_P5dbQ_-uhI92lc_Ot7FHojRO0oY5O9gz2dSxry/s640/100_6744.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIs-opu-7PWrX9GKlvbt5oGaVb5tgkDxFvQ10dcEkgDEmFXpq9flUt75oUoY9fVcT-EwnUCC7TDucPAPXZ4a1n7SOOSTDjqSJEYAogcfpIQMR_AbInO61VcbtwclOFXoHg7Obc5rvBogt/s1600/100_6742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIs-opu-7PWrX9GKlvbt5oGaVb5tgkDxFvQ10dcEkgDEmFXpq9flUt75oUoY9fVcT-EwnUCC7TDucPAPXZ4a1n7SOOSTDjqSJEYAogcfpIQMR_AbInO61VcbtwclOFXoHg7Obc5rvBogt/s640/100_6742.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful view of Coromandel, the next day on our way to check out Cathedral Cove! </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">***By the way, this as the day of the Earthquake / Tsunami in Japan. We did not know that it was happening at the time, and we spent the day out in and around the water (not to mention Kayaking as well as snorkeling..). Very very greatful that we were not affected like we could have been.***<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Heading down to Cathedral Cove... these are the "stairs" we had to make it down first! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94WEz8jllaltiWy1DnQxVdIGD0-hjkRDyn22xi7cxTNDmPRwLINOrKjQWL-zKmdNVS1HJ96mmTBd3AUH4O1O6ZevRSBHE1UVfEP_AkyLoHBoD1UTY0EEqNAJyYtE75OoP1gd3hlnLzQ1A/s1600/100_6753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94WEz8jllaltiWy1DnQxVdIGD0-hjkRDyn22xi7cxTNDmPRwLINOrKjQWL-zKmdNVS1HJ96mmTBd3AUH4O1O6ZevRSBHE1UVfEP_AkyLoHBoD1UTY0EEqNAJyYtE75OoP1gd3hlnLzQ1A/s640/100_6753.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzasMyar1oW7-a09QLNtLnrYF_hU_TTy0AYJSknRVFLsvqy-xNKBpxCE1Ld95ccdQEe6F0Pm7cyiQpIgVUQkrSXwjV_9ElxOcdBo0_44jWUk-Ex2l426RlnAC7JMfpIT-RJ3RnY4WjeXq/s1600/100_6764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzasMyar1oW7-a09QLNtLnrYF_hU_TTy0AYJSknRVFLsvqy-xNKBpxCE1Ld95ccdQEe6F0Pm7cyiQpIgVUQkrSXwjV_9ElxOcdBo0_44jWUk-Ex2l426RlnAC7JMfpIT-RJ3RnY4WjeXq/s640/100_6764.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sadly the "Cathedral" part was blocked off because we recently had a cyclone come through and take out a bunch of coast line :-\. We got to see it though! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthE-PvO0ZPuCVvCWYbkTXrdnE7sijCNZNYC1IuWJjGPH0cPrXrNqqfh6sAqsk5IuQYqub8NrQF6n-7dYfaDScXFKue_e2Qg1l0Z3mWMVkUzcfaZWurE-S76by7N-Lu5a9xpWhp1OFdscU/s1600/100_6756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthE-PvO0ZPuCVvCWYbkTXrdnE7sijCNZNYC1IuWJjGPH0cPrXrNqqfh6sAqsk5IuQYqub8NrQF6n-7dYfaDScXFKue_e2Qg1l0Z3mWMVkUzcfaZWurE-S76by7N-Lu5a9xpWhp1OFdscU/s640/100_6756.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next morning I walked down to the beach to watch the sun rise and take a walk :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiPsOFlfceF1H6TI5xn0CwuyDByddLtfTG4Zfs7AZeu_ABYzVbsrsFaNswt52Qkk9vR59bkq_yRqIgyiqY0tUY-MeDNIQD9MkbtpZLHrfeF7K009hOhwNs4hiGWsFvXQtm2ViT_LDsJPa/s1600/100_6775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiPsOFlfceF1H6TI5xn0CwuyDByddLtfTG4Zfs7AZeu_ABYzVbsrsFaNswt52Qkk9vR59bkq_yRqIgyiqY0tUY-MeDNIQD9MkbtpZLHrfeF7K009hOhwNs4hiGWsFvXQtm2ViT_LDsJPa/s640/100_6775.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Well worth the early wake up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_99q4VUs-Z4BfjxF8GH4VK37TzhbP14Ps2Vwu5AGwq4uXVZdmj3fYbNgR-Iu7TQFyaut7203LWVA-Ac-Bj2A9dgIvY-Zx78Oc0Ouds3b2-x3zYu_TXMG8hhRheYD7eaz41bOHs0Qq2EIY/s1600/100_6778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_99q4VUs-Z4BfjxF8GH4VK37TzhbP14Ps2Vwu5AGwq4uXVZdmj3fYbNgR-Iu7TQFyaut7203LWVA-Ac-Bj2A9dgIvY-Zx78Oc0Ouds3b2-x3zYu_TXMG8hhRheYD7eaz41bOHs0Qq2EIY/s640/100_6778.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</a></div>We went charter fishing one of the days out there too, and had a GREAT time with that! We saw little blue penguins out in the water on our way, and those things are SO cute. We were fishing for red snapper, and even though we got off to a slow start, man did we end up with some fish to take home later! More than we could handle! Kevin and I got to be the lucky ones of the day too, he caught a Kahawai, and I caught the monster King Fish! The only one on the boat to snag one, and boy did I fight for that fish! He caught the line toward the end of the trip, within the last hour, and it took me 20 minutes or so to reel him in! 15lbs of fish right there! (6.6 kilos or so). Man, it was well worth it. That was my last fish of the day too. And the "captain" of the boat was impressed! haha, he stood next to me and helped give me some advice while I was reeling it in. Everyone wondered if I was going to get tired or not, but nope! I reeled that sucker in. Very proud. heres a nice few photos :-P<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Red Snapper, one of the many!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNUCe0dDS1Qvuv9-MqEhlIqmHB6iDclZKqfpC4rqXiPIIse7rgZmM2YnkWNUyKXNttCV-KMVI5bZo2ryBus8UXxMxa7YAKNeG17seZlXiG-JtjjFGGipybBwykAiOKM3fFQEJB4jKkRcp/s1600/199378_591618853977_6602927_33472374_911133_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNUCe0dDS1Qvuv9-MqEhlIqmHB6iDclZKqfpC4rqXiPIIse7rgZmM2YnkWNUyKXNttCV-KMVI5bZo2ryBus8UXxMxa7YAKNeG17seZlXiG-JtjjFGGipybBwykAiOKM3fFQEJB4jKkRcp/s640/199378_591618853977_6602927_33472374_911133_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">And the winner for the day: the King Fish </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-UXlFQAWoO9rJed8KEsQqe3omcvOfZDvllR7QFsj9NwBamB-475KOSKq45ilajDnOPtlumR8bY4ambfgCngDXjaulMyMpoaUlZY2gp4ztqJ8gu_sTDMpNOq2GxT8nPPuilGYkf_LAqkG/s1600/197956_591619128427_6602927_33472391_460923_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-UXlFQAWoO9rJed8KEsQqe3omcvOfZDvllR7QFsj9NwBamB-475KOSKq45ilajDnOPtlumR8bY4ambfgCngDXjaulMyMpoaUlZY2gp4ztqJ8gu_sTDMpNOq2GxT8nPPuilGYkf_LAqkG/s640/197956_591619128427_6602927_33472391_460923_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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Then, exhausted, back to the house we went. Dropped the fish off (probably had like... I duno... 40 - 60 snapper we caught that day???) to a local guy to have him cut them up into fillets, steaks, etc, and smoke the Kahawai, and we picked them up the next morning after our train ride. We took a pottery / scenic train ride tour the next morning. It was nice! Lots of history, learned all about this artist that just makes fantastic pottery. Patti was all over that too, we all had a good time. I got Kyle a neat barrel looking mug for work, and Patti got a nice little plate to take home, as well as some other miscellaneous gifts.<br />
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Then, on to Northland! Ahipara is where we stayed, also known as Shipwreck's Bay (no, we didn't see any shipwrecks sadly..). But while we were out here, we hung around the beach, and enjoyed some relaxation. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">But check it out, we stayed at this bach with a Fantastic view! And a GREAT porch!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgartcBPAZsGHucqZwiHqEmTq7oGja0Fo1iErN0AnPO6O3dqeM2qSEv_-p4nz69hUw4zXGdNaz_7gGgRGFUXJ4yCo8073rUBCF_2zXgRwHnxuz9DOVRxgpGI27Nw4JSvhFbTjHX_WHKinyS/s1600/100_6891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgartcBPAZsGHucqZwiHqEmTq7oGja0Fo1iErN0AnPO6O3dqeM2qSEv_-p4nz69hUw4zXGdNaz_7gGgRGFUXJ4yCo8073rUBCF_2zXgRwHnxuz9DOVRxgpGI27Nw4JSvhFbTjHX_WHKinyS/s640/100_6891.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Check it out! Talk about Beach-Front...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4lYVA-UxOV8wKGf2n3IadQsbh_bmfx9r7RnEw1P_R6SS3UEN_lHpFcdqd1GT31aKMzpHdyUDgpWe_gRNDlr7-GCw4U7zLSEcWLYuicSGmZyIDLKRcgHwHw0-ZnWg8-_HQyq8DbKtXDri/s640/100_6892.JPG" width="640" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That night, the sunset was ABSOLUTELY spectacular</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZA61M8AXMPKgbDbyMLEFDEUtPkMsXG30vvPu4eFKfLReUuC-fcBuQcQDihGAMZW2dQEC7F7BbJmVICce-2lGsYhfsZ_ZeOhEhh2PxIHfL_Ne-GiaOGGEoT8FvHc4UaCecDK9bQ8R8oBvj/s1600/188819_591624787087_6602927_33472705_5422739_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZA61M8AXMPKgbDbyMLEFDEUtPkMsXG30vvPu4eFKfLReUuC-fcBuQcQDihGAMZW2dQEC7F7BbJmVICce-2lGsYhfsZ_ZeOhEhh2PxIHfL_Ne-GiaOGGEoT8FvHc4UaCecDK9bQ8R8oBvj/s640/188819_591624787087_6602927_33472705_5422739_n.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE6rzbUdhIfPVm32XwVZ7e0C6xHiucUg8jaWxGXKtesn33S5u6vehjDyH4surhY0Vw6dKIjwo6x1OT2L81aPh-fwNzXZycIkX_PIa1W_FU5Oqo5hSwoDVF-rqCeqiDzWgPaeo7SoQ0KPN/s1600/197367_591624836987_6602927_33472708_213566_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE6rzbUdhIfPVm32XwVZ7e0C6xHiucUg8jaWxGXKtesn33S5u6vehjDyH4surhY0Vw6dKIjwo6x1OT2L81aPh-fwNzXZycIkX_PIa1W_FU5Oqo5hSwoDVF-rqCeqiDzWgPaeo7SoQ0KPN/s640/197367_591624836987_6602927_33472708_213566_n.jpg" width="480" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0a1uN36K5CGGiWBk0bIGpkal_zOcL4o5JVoigYhq0X1J7ScxY4QV6X-C1y2WEaQV5HfqVMKZbmekHzXx5RSvkDLhVABfQyQZKNMsHW6aL_5YYu5n1JxsPLEmXunQxXaDGbp61aLf6hrQA/s1600/100_6917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0a1uN36K5CGGiWBk0bIGpkal_zOcL4o5JVoigYhq0X1J7ScxY4QV6X-C1y2WEaQV5HfqVMKZbmekHzXx5RSvkDLhVABfQyQZKNMsHW6aL_5YYu5n1JxsPLEmXunQxXaDGbp61aLf6hrQA/s640/100_6917.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-aSYJ5ONqzSIaQ_QdyULHhxRpFyYxMh5DLjdn3863jQMnn4kYiJtyVq-wcpuu8ic6dhMeLDWkJnMN_2NKPIwvkWHZkn1jfy6dLCpUPIFvOeWMG1MgAb9K_j02rBXD_Mj5gMSLp1IS1qf/s1600/188976_591625041577_6602927_33472723_7113449_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-aSYJ5ONqzSIaQ_QdyULHhxRpFyYxMh5DLjdn3863jQMnn4kYiJtyVq-wcpuu8ic6dhMeLDWkJnMN_2NKPIwvkWHZkn1jfy6dLCpUPIFvOeWMG1MgAb9K_j02rBXD_Mj5gMSLp1IS1qf/s640/188976_591625041577_6602927_33472723_7113449_n.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Where ELSE could you see something like this?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp5AvMPZVVIUvpmqNEyzA_uwM1Xg01Esj1dEymi5MKMnKbU7LEf-fcyBqXYt-VNjEWQioL6vArgyNc0FAyF3YNx3O2E6TPc79Llz9TOGRxJhUz5w4Ft9IKhpiFAcQ_lPK7tFGJOk7qx2R/s1600/199594_591624931797_6602927_33472714_8067109_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp5AvMPZVVIUvpmqNEyzA_uwM1Xg01Esj1dEymi5MKMnKbU7LEf-fcyBqXYt-VNjEWQioL6vArgyNc0FAyF3YNx3O2E6TPc79Llz9TOGRxJhUz5w4Ft9IKhpiFAcQ_lPK7tFGJOk7qx2R/s640/199594_591624931797_6602927_33472714_8067109_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Gorgeous Panoramic by Kyle.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OsSa-zETBur6s2Lnj1sorFRe9zNTl64P7VadAWhxJmvw1sMy9oJox-jM-IqPHgTGKEfvGjb0iPTvAWAMj6VPOxzFsjBkT6YSAHf81BiDCxe6XGxgooigvpQ2a6hTR_uwyiGknhKS9Jap/s1600/199216_591624707247_6602927_33472699_1765940_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OsSa-zETBur6s2Lnj1sorFRe9zNTl64P7VadAWhxJmvw1sMy9oJox-jM-IqPHgTGKEfvGjb0iPTvAWAMj6VPOxzFsjBkT6YSAHf81BiDCxe6XGxgooigvpQ2a6hTR_uwyiGknhKS9Jap/s640/199216_591624707247_6602927_33472699_1765940_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, heres what the Blue Penguins look like! Sadly, this one isnt living, but hes still cool</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-sLO9-RsX9Fi6f9Vsen8HBblenA9D6TUuCB5tPSJza5ICwQ19Yhh-bal727l2PHdtzNRqzVzJn4FCz7egz9UTBdMU7kcBGesfeWOQ1mU9A1HI0AF-SWqtwEdT445xeaiC4lvFfR-ribX/s1600/100_6906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-sLO9-RsX9Fi6f9Vsen8HBblenA9D6TUuCB5tPSJza5ICwQ19Yhh-bal727l2PHdtzNRqzVzJn4FCz7egz9UTBdMU7kcBGesfeWOQ1mU9A1HI0AF-SWqtwEdT445xeaiC4lvFfR-ribX/s400/100_6906.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cape Reinga, the furthest North Tip of New Zealand :-) Where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean Meet (over on the Right side of the photo with all the waves) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyj8bduStig3hebSQz-Gr1U34xQ9aAXIYsj7bmqxnbnMlvTxg-pO9VQBicMo0D2qF5i1_gS4rwTGBebkqXWaAPOl8Zo7XEdmUEvzXPK6yvrMHQ1c1Ro7KokvnFbWupaJ2XNtmJwJR1izE/s1600/100_6942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyj8bduStig3hebSQz-Gr1U34xQ9aAXIYsj7bmqxnbnMlvTxg-pO9VQBicMo0D2qF5i1_gS4rwTGBebkqXWaAPOl8Zo7XEdmUEvzXPK6yvrMHQ1c1Ro7KokvnFbWupaJ2XNtmJwJR1izE/s640/100_6942.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The Light House </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3BkDclUjLOm8guJysG7tQZ4A8Tagqt2AFGwAX0nnExsSdIb7e4YkKlSBkRN-ZNH5GUTtCY2fyDXFyFNdgauhErpveUpBCU0ot_o_9UZIL4SZPUp3R5oWCmFaUyWQqV3fSkzzsdaymqC0/s1600/100_6948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3BkDclUjLOm8guJysG7tQZ4A8Tagqt2AFGwAX0nnExsSdIb7e4YkKlSBkRN-ZNH5GUTtCY2fyDXFyFNdgauhErpveUpBCU0ot_o_9UZIL4SZPUp3R5oWCmFaUyWQqV3fSkzzsdaymqC0/s640/100_6948.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little tree is over 800 years old, holding on to the side of the rock. This area is the gateway to the Mauri equivalent of Heaven, if I remember right... kind of a neat place :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vx5R0786yjb3zbotERha9eX08hxIv0u13ZgziUjcPNWXfFq29aFanIF99u_JQBebahIFRRVbXr-rqK3Wlt4hIipWjUHyUYTo5AiqnhueHzsB8G62oko6NNQIeW335ob1GfTcyouLpgi1/s1600/100_6961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vx5R0786yjb3zbotERha9eX08hxIv0u13ZgziUjcPNWXfFq29aFanIF99u_JQBebahIFRRVbXr-rqK3Wlt4hIipWjUHyUYTo5AiqnhueHzsB8G62oko6NNQIeW335ob1GfTcyouLpgi1/s640/100_6961.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHey8edHu7K-DLsFfX84_3sg98KO-kGwxKwaDAzPF0nzviwCT-UfaOqkN8Vwv4dspOSiq-w3m8hyphenhyphenFZYqvPgwrFmOfRRBzuaoxhk6atGSTKUPgtRAEzB5aJVMvif19d4INAsFjtO2nWSF1r/s1600/196572_591625919817_6602927_33472791_661112_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHey8edHu7K-DLsFfX84_3sg98KO-kGwxKwaDAzPF0nzviwCT-UfaOqkN8Vwv4dspOSiq-w3m8hyphenhyphenFZYqvPgwrFmOfRRBzuaoxhk6atGSTKUPgtRAEzB5aJVMvif19d4INAsFjtO2nWSF1r/s640/196572_591625919817_6602927_33472791_661112_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_SIycQEiKGzAxxUFBq4_Q23NC6kg5h2xFs_qz9Ce54jg9uoj2IUtabsYg_phF73A2XA-Y0gF-feHE_nQZbBhjfjHvLEZJS7EtPUWueoAnh9R-h2G0LOT_KdJKAIixDQ-vAj7NQ9PZF4h/s1600/100_6953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_SIycQEiKGzAxxUFBq4_Q23NC6kg5h2xFs_qz9Ce54jg9uoj2IUtabsYg_phF73A2XA-Y0gF-feHE_nQZbBhjfjHvLEZJS7EtPUWueoAnh9R-h2G0LOT_KdJKAIixDQ-vAj7NQ9PZF4h/s640/100_6953.JPG" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the way to Bay of Islands, driving along 90 Mile Beach! </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjBRyjOdt7l36xs82hbb8_IaNav8JTDcR9Hnt7irrYQdt-FIxvrEp_Ya-rb_GM73f2LKnzzkWYKw2qL_zx4lAKurXGEitXrofbgN7P52lqtjlO3Y0yMJ8wTeBt6vx3eIg3Lc6v276l1DE/s1600/100_6968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjBRyjOdt7l36xs82hbb8_IaNav8JTDcR9Hnt7irrYQdt-FIxvrEp_Ya-rb_GM73f2LKnzzkWYKw2qL_zx4lAKurXGEitXrofbgN7P52lqtjlO3Y0yMJ8wTeBt6vx3eIg3Lc6v276l1DE/s640/100_6968.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
We stopped off at the "Kauri Museum" and the staircase on the inside is literally made of a tree. AND ITS HUGE! I can't remember how old it is, but the thing is EPIC! Kyle and I found a bunch of things that we want to go back and get to take home for the house. They sell unfinished Kauri wood, which is so cool! We will be going back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsfp_9TkrOeoL_4ga7JZlfnqMq8JzmAmKPhgBF7nGLRUoM5-bvjY9NzcfzHjgx_xhw7C8IW9L7rjc0ZRHe38R3o8nRwhK34H7PxWKetgKcGvXsGMFNtGihSf4LZ8Li8eNs-Ip502_er4k/s1600/196375_591625770117_6602927_33472778_5783429_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsfp_9TkrOeoL_4ga7JZlfnqMq8JzmAmKPhgBF7nGLRUoM5-bvjY9NzcfzHjgx_xhw7C8IW9L7rjc0ZRHe38R3o8nRwhK34H7PxWKetgKcGvXsGMFNtGihSf4LZ8Li8eNs-Ip502_er4k/s640/196375_591625770117_6602927_33472778_5783429_n.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What a great trip! Sadly, once we made it to Bay of Islands, it rained the whole time and we were only really there for one full day, so there aren't really any photos of that area. We'll go back though, we wanted to do a snorkeling day at Poor Knights Islands, but they cancelled it due to the weather. Next time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, thats it for now, LOTS of photos I know, but enjoy!!!!! :-D</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had a great time with them here. SO glad that we got to do so much as well! It was really nice to have some vacation time from work. And boy, did we take advantage! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vx5R0786yjb3zbotERha9eX08hxIv0u13ZgziUjcPNWXfFq29aFanIF99u_JQBebahIFRRVbXr-rqK3Wlt4hIipWjUHyUYTo5AiqnhueHzsB8G62oko6NNQIeW335ob1GfTcyouLpgi1/s1600/100_6961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12535853635804355193noreply@blogger.com0