The other half...

So, here we are post-Russell (the usual tickle war between these two). We were so happy to have been out of the city, we spent a day or two shopping, and got the heck out of there...

Sunday at North Head in Devonport - Auckland skyline behind

exploring WWII tunnels and bunkers

(you must do this if you come to Auckland!)

 

(but bring a headlamp - it's spooky!)

Camping in Karekare

this is where the famous scene from "The Piano" was filmed.

not as glamorous with the truck tracks and muffin top :)

 

she needs a dog

 as we were walking along, I saw a little mound of blue fluff up on the shore, so I joked that it was a penguin and low and behold... it WAS a penguin!

 this one was dead, but soon after we saw another LIVE one getting pushed to shore by the strong waves. since penguins mate for life, they were probably companions, so it was heartbreaking to send the live one back to the ocean past the waves without his/her mate.

we hiked the next day to Kitekite Falls in Piha and tried to spend an afternoon at the beach...

but it was WINDY

For New Years, we decided to head down to Hamilton to stay with our buddy Alice for a couple days...

 

temple lights were a highlight

swimming a big hit

Raglan a real mud-slinger

and the day wouldn't be complete without a waterfall hike

(behind sloan's noggin)

January started off with a quick trip to the Coromandel...

 

hey, we're in the woods

found a great spot on a river.

be thankful no pictures of sloan or me here!

had a small crisis finding a place to stay on the Coromandel during peak travel season, but 'settled' for this town, Tairua. we paid a lady $20 to camp in her cow paddock (sorry, no photos. trying to forget)

Sloan decided we should probably live here.

Although it was raining on our last day of the trip (the day set aside for Hot Water Beach), we got lucky finding a "Gala" at Cooks Beach instead

 

complete with tea cups

 

and a rope swing on the beach!

it was a great day & worked as the grand finale' to our trip.

Okay, I GUESS we can go back to Auckland now...

just in time for my birthday!!  This is a bad picture of my awesome, passionate Italian/Kiwi friend Maria - she is an actress and always has something fabulous planned for us. She took Ruthie and I to the Botanical Gardens on my bday for lunch.

 and Sloan took me to Lonestar for dinner - RIBS - my favorite!!!

and a free birthday pavlova - are you kidding me!!? my other favorite!

I also got to go out with Aly for a smoothie while Mike watched Ruthie (and directed her in a new movie called "Ruthiezilla")

and out the next night with the girls to the Chocolate Boutique - MMMM!!

and LaNae even licked her elbow for me...

   

couldn't have asked for more!

By January 8, birthday fun was over and we were suddenly back to real life (Sloan back at work, feeling stuck in the city, tight on funds, feeling unsettled/unsure of our plans, etc). But Ruthie doesn't let us take things too seriously and there is so much to love about being here. Just wish there was a clear answer to what happens next?!