From the mouths of babes

Bella asked me the other night how old Nona (her grandma) is. When I told her she looked surprised and said, "Wow, that is almost 70! I heard about two people who just had their 100th birthdays. I thought when you turned 100 you just automatically died".

LOL!!

First day of school!

I know most parents are so happy when the kids go back to school. It means the return to normal schedules, a routine. But I always find it a bit sad. I remember how hard it was to go back to school at the end of a summer that seemed way too short. I never looked forward to it knowing I had huge amounts of homework in my future. Riley is just like me. He did not want to go back to school. This is his last year in elementary school before he starts middle school (junior high). Bella, on the other hand, was thrilled to go back to school. She has the same teacher that she had for kindergarten because the teacher got moved up a grade.

Both kids are happy with their teachers and their classes so far. Riley is not happy with his homework, but he is dealing with it as best he can.  I have a feeling it is going to be a great  year!!

New Zealand Part 6 {the rest of our time in the Coromandel}

We loved spending time in the Coromandel with my brother in law's family.  They were so welcoming. We were able to celebrate my nephew, Chase's, first birthday while we were there at Sue and Bernie's (Billy's parents) farmhouse. Here are some photos from our time at the farmhouse and the rest of our time in the Coromandel and New Zealand. It was an amazing trip!

Chase's first birthday party

Bella horseback riding

Hot water Beach

Hahei

Bernie and Sue's house

New Zealand part 5 {Nakatani Beach}

I need to hurry up and finish posting about NZ so I can post about other things going on in our lives!

Nakatani Beach was amazing!! We had to take a boat (tinny) to reach it. It was totally secluded and absolutely breathtaking. Billy and Ryan ate sea urchins and oysters fresh from the ocean. We swam, kids played in the water and we hung out on the beach. We also went fishing and I caught a fish. I was so excited! It was a great day!

New Zealand Part 4 {New Chums Beach}

New Chums was an amazing beach. The kind you see in magazines. What made it even more special was the fact that you had to hike over huge rocks and up a hill for about half and hour to get there. It was worth the trek! The kids, Ryan and I loved this beach and had a gorgeous afternoon relaxing there.