#anettingnewzealandadventure: The Nettings do NZ Week #2

Hello!

It is our second Sunday in New Zealand and we've (I've) decided to blog weekly. What about? Our day-to-day life, our adventures, anything and everything! What for? As a reminder for ourselves, a fun way for Kensley to see our year in the future, and for our family and friends to see what we are up to. So far, we've gotten sorted in our cute little apartment, became acquainted to our great neighbourhood, drank a lot of lattes, went for some good runs (and ordered a running stroller), done some mountain biking (Caleb only), and Caleb is 3 days into his fellowship.

On Saturday, we decided to commit to a wine [stay-at-home] adventure. We've decided to dedicate each month to a NZ wine region and grape. Saturday started our August Marlborough Pinot Noir month (where we will buy and, obviously, drink various bottles of this grape from this region). We enjoyed a [partial] bottle of Stoneleigh Pinot Noir (19.09 on sale for 13.99). We had it with a homemade beef stew and dumplings. We both agree it's smooth and easy drinking. Caleb describes it as having a mixture of roses and raspberries (4/5). I describe it as yummy (4.5/5)! Tonight (Sunday) we ranked it again; this time scoring 3/5. We found it remained smooth but lost its flavour. We still enjoyed it thought with leftover fish and chips and a salad. I will admit that this wine definitely eased my anxiety, as Saturday was Kensley's first night out of her Woombie (free arms=potentially scary night).

Leftover fish and chips?! you might be asking yourself. Well, we couldn't pass up the 2 pieces and chips for $17.00 today while we were on our first adventure outside of Christchurch. Needless to say, we were not expecting the portion we received, hence the leftovers for dinner. Anyways, we took the day and made our way to Akaroa, a peninsula that is about an hour and a bit south east of Christchurch. The winding and hilly roads made for some beautiful views and some upset tummies! Note: we were passed by 6 Ferraris on the way home. Apparently, this little (it is quite tiny) gem of a place welcomes many cruise ships throughout the NZ summer (Caleb read that they are expecting 91 this year and some with up to 5,000 people!). Friends and family who intend on visiting, you can definitely expect us to take you on a day trip here- see pics! Kensley was a little champ, as always. As much as I love to be regimented with Kensley (and everything else in life), Caleb helps me break the mould, so today she did all of her naps on-the-go (no bassinet). Yikes, it made for a bit rougher of a bedtime (a little crying) but she's currently sleeping away with free-arms! She also played on her first rock beach, directly on the rocks thanks to her daddy, which she LOVED; she seemed much less impressed on the blanket I eventually put down :P.

Overall, we have had many successes during out past week:
We have internet!
We've overcome our first NZ cold (which was quite rough).
Caleb has received his medical licence and visa.
Caleb has successfully chauffeured us around while driving on the left side of the road (and I survived despite the fear that we were going over a cliff multiple times today)
Kensley is out of her Woombie!
I've run my fastest pace post partum.
We've found some damn good lattes.

Stay tuned for more updates next week!

Love,

The Nettings