Farewell

You were good to us New Zealand.

Great neighbors

The morning we left we said goodbye to our favorite New Zealand neighbors - the Dobsons. We had lots of great times with this special family and we miss them already!

Small group dinner

These friends made New Zealand feel like home. Every Thursday we got a sitter and spent a few hours eating, drinking, talking and praying together.

The night before we left, we had a special dinner out.
It was wonderful. After dinner, the boys had an unsuccessful possum hunting expedition.

Fun people... we miss them heaps.

Skyline with friends

On our last Sunday in Rotorua we went to church and then spent the afternoon at Skyline with our good friends the Hartmanns. We rode the luge (a favorite activity for the kids) and watched a bit of the national downhill mountain biking competition.

The Rotorua Redwoods have been a longtime mecca for mountain bikers. Skyline has recently joined the fun - developing trails and hosting great events. Crankworx was the most recent event held March 25-29. We were sad to miss it - but enjoyed keeping up with all the photos and videos posted online. Loved this one...

Friends from work

Ben worked with a great group of people at the Rotorua hospital. The Saturday before we left, his boss Mazen and wife Sosek hosted a wonderful going away party for us.

They live in a beautiful, open, home on a hill - with a breathtaking view of Lake Rotorua. Their yard is filled with delicious fruits, crisp vegetables and brightly colored flowers.

Mazen is a very funny guy, and a bit of a pied piper when it comes to kids. My kids love being at his house for many reasons. Big fun yard, delicious food, fireworks and double servings of ice cream. We wrapped up our evening with a piano concert from his very lovely and talented daughter Rita.

I know Ben thoroughly enjoyed working at Rotorua hospital.... but perhaps not as much as I enjoyed him working there. As a wife and mother living abroad, it was such a blessing knowing that my husband's colleagues fully supported his role as a husband, father... human. Thanks guys, we love you and miss you heaps!

Fitzgerald Glade

When we first arrived in New Zealand we flew into Auckland and stayed the night in a nearby hotel. The next morning a shuttle van picked us up and drove us to our new home.

On our three hour drive to Rotorua, I remember sitting in the front seat enjoying the scenery and processing a myriad of mixed emotions.

About two hours into our trip we drove through the very beautiful "Fitzgerald Glade". It felt like a symbolic confirmation that we were headed in the right direction.

In the middle of the glade there was a clearing with a cute little cafe. We probably drove past it forty or fifty times coming and going on different excursion. We finally stopped in for milkshakes and fries on our last week in New Zealand. It was a wonderfully quaint cafe with a perfect room for kids.

Te Waihou Walkway

Te Waihou Walkway was one of our favorite short hikes in the Rotorua area. We made one last stop before our move. It was beautiful... as usual.

{Noted Moments}

laundry line, unkempt garden & sweet little boy

Sulphur City Sisters

In the 18 months we lived in New Zealand I became very attached to these ladies. They helped me become a legitimate derby girl and slammed their way right into my heart.

After "skate the runway" we went to a pub for some "going away" drinks. They had an incredibly thoughtful gift picked out for me... a beautiful greenstone pendant with a hot pink thread woven into the necklace. In New Zealand greenstone (nephrite jade) plays an important role in Māori culture. It is considered a treasure with spiritual significance. I love it.
 
These women impressed me at every turn and made my unexpected roller derby adventure an absolute pleasure. I miss them heaps.

Skate the runway

photo credit Peter Graney

I wrapped up my New Zealand derby "career" in the best way possible. The Sulphur City Steamrollers were invited to participate as marshals in the Rotorua Bike Festival's kickoff event - The Runway Project.

Sunset with a view of the lake, skating down the runway at the Rotorua International Airport with my favorite derby girls. It was a night to be remembered.

photo credit Peter Graney

photo credit Peter Graney

photo credit Peter Graney

Kid's party

The kids had an after school pizza party on our last Friday in New Zealand. I recruited two of our favorite babysitters to help manage the chaos. We set up a table in the garage with all of the toys/books/art supplies that we weren't taking with us and everyone went home with something fun. The kids made some special friends in Rotorua - we will miss them.