Hello! And Happy New Year!
Things got a little (a LOT) crazy at the end of last year so we have been enjoying the summer and a beautiful, long E X H A L E.
On Christmas Day JR surprised us all with a two and a half week road trip around the South Island he'd been planning during his late nights out in the workshop. I love a good road trip, and combined with the chance to see my sister, it was pretty much the best gift ever (until the reality dawned on me that we'd be driving, to the bottom of the South Island, with 6 kids, ranging in age from 4 months to 11 years!) But when you've put in massive hours for the last 3 months, and your home is your workplace, driving out the front gate felt pretty much essential to our sanity at that stage.
We left on New Years Eve and travelled down the West Coast of the South Island and stayed with my sister in Invercargill for a few days before heading back up the East Coast.
We drove 4,000.6kms exactly! The kids and our car (ahem, mini bus) behaved beautifully. The crossings were smooth and despite having a tummy bug join us for half of the trip, we had the most amazing time together. I honestly think the kiddos were just as desperate for a change of scenery as we were.
Our favourite spots were Greytown, Haast, Makarora and staying in the old cottage without electricity at Paradise (thank you to the customer from Arrowtown who recommended it!) The South Island really has a beauty that is quite breath-taking.
We are still enjoying a slower pace, but will be cracking back into it in a few weeks and will be completely restocked in March.
Looking forward to sharing new things with you in 2016!
Things got a little (a LOT) crazy at the end of last year so we have been enjoying the summer and a beautiful, long E X H A L E.
On Christmas Day JR surprised us all with a two and a half week road trip around the South Island he'd been planning during his late nights out in the workshop. I love a good road trip, and combined with the chance to see my sister, it was pretty much the best gift ever (until the reality dawned on me that we'd be driving, to the bottom of the South Island, with 6 kids, ranging in age from 4 months to 11 years!) But when you've put in massive hours for the last 3 months, and your home is your workplace, driving out the front gate felt pretty much essential to our sanity at that stage.
We left on New Years Eve and travelled down the West Coast of the South Island and stayed with my sister in Invercargill for a few days before heading back up the East Coast.
We drove 4,000.6kms exactly! The kids and our car (ahem, mini bus) behaved beautifully. The crossings were smooth and despite having a tummy bug join us for half of the trip, we had the most amazing time together. I honestly think the kiddos were just as desperate for a change of scenery as we were.
Our favourite spots were Greytown, Haast, Makarora and staying in the old cottage without electricity at Paradise (thank you to the customer from Arrowtown who recommended it!) The South Island really has a beauty that is quite breath-taking.
We are still enjoying a slower pace, but will be cracking back into it in a few weeks and will be completely restocked in March.
Looking forward to sharing new things with you in 2016!
