#anettingnewzealandadventure: The Nettings Do NZ

This week was a fun week for Kensley full of activities. We were invited to a sensory room by Jacqui with a group of her friends. It was a neat room with tons of things for little people to explore. There was a glow in the dark corner, bubbles, a scent machine, various textures and musical instruments, plus much much more. I was impressed and so was Kensley! We went to our first Tumble Times, which was an hour of go-go-go for Kensley. She loved running around the gym, chasing the balls, playing with the hoola-hoops and attempting to climb on things that were a bit too advanced for her. Another afternoon went to the library and Ella, who Kensley LOVES, joined us! Ella and her boyfriend are trying to get working holiday visas in Canada so we hope to see some of Ella back home!

We have always looked out the window from our couch and this week, while looking, Kensley started blinking her eyes at me and pointing to something. It took me a few seconds to realize that she was telling me about a green blinking light on the building across the street from us (I think maybe part of their security system). She now loves to point out blinking lights on things (bicycles, cars, street crossings). She has also started walking to The Boast Shed with me for our afternoon coffees. It is so sweet, she bounces alongside of me, so obviously proud of herself for walking the 250ish metres. I feel it is important to make note that Kensley’s obsession with blueberries continues. She requests blueberries all of the time and lights up with excitement when she gets them. Nothing seems to compare.

For Caleb and I’s week....I got out for dinner with Mary and her friend Anne and Caleb has started going to the climbing gym with Andy on Thursday nights. Our big excitement for the weekend was that we got away for a night. We dropped Kensley off at Sarah’s family’s house on Saturday morning and took off for a little adventure with Liz and Andy. Kensley was sad initially but better once we left. It made me feel a bit better that Liz said that Harriet felt the same way and she was at her grandparents for the night. The four of us were off for a hike and overnight at a hut. We stayed the night at Tarn Hut which is above the head waters of the Ashley River. It was AMAZING. We hiked for about 3 hours in to the hut. It was grey and wet and we were quite chilled when we arrived; thank goodness for the fire. We got things sorted and warmed up before we went out to collect some more firewood. Then back to the hut to enjoy the TWO bottles of wine that Liz hiked in. Can you believe that Caleb thought we’d be ok with one bottle between the four of us; does he even know me?! Anyways, thank goodness Liz went with her gut and brought two because we were done them both by 8pm and ready for bed. The fire burned long enough into the night to keep us nice and toasty all night. Liz and Andy are such great company. I have not laughed as much as I did that weekend in a really long time. If anyone is looking for a good belly ache from laughing, ask Andy to recall some of his childhood memories for you; Or ask Caleb and Andy to discuss the O Zone layer over NZ. We were all up early and well rested on Sunday morning. Caleb and Andy climbed the ridge a bit higher while Liz and I enjoyed more coffee. Our hike out was an hour shorter, because it was all-downhill. We stopped on a café for some yummy meat pies on our way home and Andy graciously shared his lemington cake with us, after stealing it from a young child. We picked up Kensley from Sarah’s and she was happy as could be all weekend, which made a perfect weekend that much SWEETER! As I finish writing about this week, I’m hit my the first wave of sadness (fight back the tears!) in anticipating our departure from NZ in 5ish weeks. Life has been so good here and I couldn’t have imagined forming the friendships I have made.