Reclaiming the Slope

Summer is teasing us and on days like today Aaron has been out in the sunshine trying to re-tame the garden after the neglect of the winter... removing all the weeds and planting some new plants in the hope that eventually we will cover the slope so well that the weeds don't have a chance.... ;) we can live in hope! It is a great time of year with garden coming back to life and the veggies all coming through. I just hope that the inclement spring weather (usually very windy) doesn't destroy too many of the plants... that is why we keep a few in the greenhouse as back up to replace any that get decimated!

Bring on summer and nice days in the garden and outside!

Peanut - 12 Weeks

We have made it to 12 weeks and I have had another scan and blood tests to check everything is okay with the baby. The baby now looks like a baby and is 7 cm from head to bum.. and reassuringly it seems to have 2 arms, 2 hands, 2 legs, 2 feet, a spine, a nose and a strong heart beat... Fortunately the blood tests also came back with good results. We are happy and relieved.... 

I have also stopped feeling nauseous, but I am still constantly hungry. I do have higher energy levels and am not so tired. We have certainly got over the shock and are getting more used to the idea of having a baby. We have started to tell our friends, which is nice not to keep it to ourselves anymore and share our excitement. 

Unexpected news!

In late August while I was up in Auckland for a conference I got a little surprise. After several years of trying to have kids and currently on the waiting list for IVF next year, we discovered that we were pregnant. Needless to say this was a big shock.... here is the rather amorphous blob from our 9 week scan - about the size of a peanut. Amazing how much extra such a small thing required me to eat... Although I can't really complain as I only had mild nausea and was never sick. I was just very, very tired. We are slowly getting over the shock... and getting used to the idea. 

Weekend in Auckland - Waitakeres and Waiheke Island

Although I have been to Auckland for work several times in the last few years - the last time Aaron and I were in Auckland was over 10 years ago... when we were on holiday visiting from Australia. As I was heading up to Auckland for an Antarctic science conference we decided to go early for the weekend - primarily to go and see the Cirque de Soleil show - Totem that had just opened. My real birthday present.

We arrived very late on Friday night after a few delays... then on Saturday morning we were picked up by a friend Bruce who gave us a tour of the Waitakere Ranges to the west of Auckland. An area that he mapped for his PhD (many years ago) and now well known for its surf beaches. We had a lovely sunny day doing some short walks in subtropical bush, visiting beaches and waterfalls.

Aaron overlooking Karekare beach, Waitakeres

 

Our tour guide Bruce Hayward standing in front of one of his outcrops - pumice and lava rocks!

 Kitekite Falls

On Saturday night we went to the circus. There were some very impressive acts... we were especially blown away by the 5 uni-cycling girls that managed to cycle 2 m high unicycles with 1 foot and then flip cups from the other foot and catch them on their heads.... or on to someone else's head... I don't think I could do it not on a uni-cycle...

On Sunday we headed out to Waiheke Island. This island is known for wineries and holiday homes. We took the bus around the island and checked out quite a few of the holiday houses - homework for Aaron's latest design project.

 Onehanga Beach

 Rocky Bay

The interesting library.... part of the architectural homework....

We had a lovely weekend, with great weather - but still much more to explore around the Auckland region. We might have to go again in the near future....

Helen's Birthday Weekend

The weekend began with dinner at La Boca Loca (the local Mexican restaurant) followed by a movie at the local cinema.

The Roxy Cinema

Saturday we went to Makara Beach to go for a wee walk and check out the local wind farm West Wind.

Looking north

The Birthday Girl

Ship in Opau Bay

West Wind

Sunday the weather was still really nice so we went and rode the Rimutaka Rail Trail.

New Arctic lego

Aaron bought "us" some of the newly released Arctic lego for our 9th wedding anniversary present. This afternoon we opened the first box and made the ice breaker and various accessories including a helicopter, a snowplough, a skidoo, a dogsled with 4 huskies and a laboratory with a scientist -  complete with computer, microscope, hand lens, and sample jar. We had some help from a 4 year old lego expert - our friend Thomas.

Thomas, Aaron and Barbara (Thomas's mum) building the lego

Completed!

A great way to spend a damp and cold, wintery afternoon. Tomorrow we'll build the plane.. (after Aaron has finished his uni work).

School Holidays

I have finished my first semester, so now I have two weeks break before the next semester starts. Things were moving at a glacial pace the first month of school then the pace picked up quite rapidly during the last few weeks. I have several assignments that are due when I start back and an exam. So while I am on holidays, it doesn't feel like it with so much hanging over my head when I start back up again.

I did take a couple of days off and headed up to Rotorua to do some mountain biking. It had been raining quite a bit a the first day and I was nearly swallowed up by a bog that was much deeper than it looked. The second day I decided to head up to the coast and have a look around as I had not been there before.

Kaituna Falls

On the way I stopped at Kaituna Falls. Evidently it is a fairly popular waterfall to raft over. I didn't see anyone doing while I was there - must be more of summer thing. it doesn't look like it in the photo but it is supposed to be a 6m fall.

Entrance to the harbour at Whakatane

Ohope Beach

Time to head home so of course the rain stops and the sun comes out. It was very cold though. The shady sides of the trails were covered in ice. I managed to stay upright the whole time; not sure how though.

Of course this is my last day...

The Desert Road was closed due to snow, so I had to go around the west side of the volcanoes. Makes the trip a bit longer but gave me a chance to look at some land for sale near Ohakune. We have been toying with the idea of buying some land and building a cabin up near the volcanoes for a while.

Road closed

 This one didn't look to bad and  it was even protected by a herd of vicious alpacas.

Alpaca attack!