Noted: Weekend Review - Kuaotunu with friends

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This past weekend we went away with other people... and it was wonderful. Making friends was one of the things I was most concerned with when we made the decision to move overseas.

lots of fishing trips

Ben and I have our own quirky personalities and drastically different needs when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Finding people that we both connect with (who can tolerate us and our brood of rowdy children) is nothing short of miraculous. I am sure all the extrovert/introvert couples can relate.

It can be a bit scary signing on for an extended get-away with friends... there is nowhere private to fight with your husband or yell at your kids. I have come to find (the hard way) that feigning perfection is futile and exhausting. Sooner or later, you (or one of your offspring) will do something to tarnish the family name... and everything could go downhill from there (insecurity, justification, finger pointing, guilt, blame, shame, and on and on)... UNLESS you (and your friends) are aware of (and comfortable with) your imperfection. If not... reference Brené Brown - she has some brilliant (and hilarious) insight on the topic of vulnerability.

This little group of people that we meet with every week have become a safe haven for us here in New Zealand. The fact that they know how very imperfect we are, makes them better friends.

fresh snapper for dinner every night

Rosemary telling Maggie about there upcoming "OE"

Charlie and Jonah

We had a very loose agenda (including, but was not limited to) eating, drinking, napping, reading, fires, swimming, fishing, tennis, swinging, coffee, talking, laughing, legos, walking and sunsets. We were at a family owned beach house in a small town on the Coromandel Peninsula called Kuaotuna... it couldn't have been a more stunning setting for a weekend with great friends.