New Zealand 2012 - The rest

So I realized today...I should have just made one giant post for NZ as it was so far after the fact that I actually got around to blogging. 

Well, lesson learned. 

This is the last New Zealand post, then one Australia one and then promise, I'll be done!

We headed to the Hamilton, New Zealand temple to be with Rachael (Phil's youngest sister) when she took out her endowments. Its quite the journey from Mum and Dad B's, about a 3 hour drive! Needless to say we left early. But that didn't stop us from getting Pokeno's ice cream! Massive, inexpensive and creamy New Zealand ice cream...mmm I could go for one right now.

It was a special experience to be there in the temple. We're so happy for you Rach!

Afterward Mum & Dad B were kind enough to treat us to an all you can eat mongolian restaurant. It was really tasty!

It was a long day out but great to spend time with the Bennallack clan.

During our 2.5 weeks in NZ we also enjoyed swimming at the hot springs pools

Church outings

A 1st birthday celebration for Arlandria and Savannah complete with pin-the-tail on the donkey

Aunty & Pacey bonding time/matching day! (matching by accident)

 And plenty-a-day ending like this

Miss you already New Zealand!

New Zealand 2012 - Bean Boozled

Honestly, for about a month or so after getting home from our trip I couldn't look at any of the photos without getting more sick to my stomach. Sure I was pregnant and the memory of feeling sick and not being at home plus the treacherous journey home were not a good combo, but I secretly (meaning not really but maybe) think a big part of it was because of these Jelly Bellys.

Jade found these on or trip to Rotorua and needless to say we had some fun with them one crazy night. You pick a jelly bean and either its a nice flavor or a gross flavor. Needless to say, there was a lot of laughing, tears shed and vomit/almost vomiting going on that night. Just reading the flavors makes me queasy:

I was pleasured to have 2 canned dog foods and a centipede and toothpaste before I called it quits. And I don't even like regular jelly beans! I know, what was I thinking? I've never tasted anything as gross as the centipede one...who even tests these to make sure they actually do taste like a centipede? Yuck!

Here's a video of our "fun". I'm not sure I can ever eat jelly beans again.  

(Jade was the "game master" so that's why we gave her a hard time)

Crazy Bennallacks! Happy to be one of them :)

New Zealand 2012 - Christmas!

It was a fun Christmas holiday with the Bennallack clan. On Christmas Eve we made "gingerbread", or Arnott's biscuit houses, while sipping homemade eggnog. Here's my house-

Here's Jade's (she secretly just squished as many lollies on as she could so she could eat them later- ha!)

Andrew & Alex's

and you can see Rachael's 3-story house down on the end in front of Phil

and the whole line-up in front of our wonderful hosts for our visit (Phil's parents)

Houses~Phil's, Rachaels, Mine, Jade's, Andrew & Alex's

 Here's the Christmas corner! It was still funny for me to come in from swimming or a walk out in the hot sun and see a Christmas tree. So crazy! With all the siblings around, the presents pile under this tree grew and grew until Christmas. It was exciting.

Christmas morning was so sweet with all the little ones around. Our niece Pacey rushed out of her room thinking she'd missed Santa coming! There was a look of panic, and then she saw her Santa sack and it was ok. (you can see her pouty face here...she's still thinking she missed it all!)

We had a full house that morning but it was full of Christmas cheer and love. Its so sweet how little kids are thrilled by the most simple of things. 

Little Savannah was so thrilled about her Pooh bear!

Little Pacey loved her sunglasses and Pooh bear too

And little Leo loved his elf outfit

Ok, maybe we loved it more than he did, but he makes such a cute elf!

It was special to be with a majority of the Bennallack's for the holiday. Who knows when we'll all be together again?!

We finished off the day with a beautiful Christmas lunch/dinner complete with Christmas crackers, Christmas crowns and all.

Such a fun Christmas holiday to spend all together. Family is the best during the holidays and we're happy we were able to make the trip!

New Zealand 2012 - Saaawimmin'

Summer in December. Whaaaaaat!? My head still has to think about that when I say it. But hey, if it's summer, no matter what time of year, you'll find us in the pool. Phil's family is just the same. Pool = fun, enough said!  Even when the Takapuna's weather wasn't cooperating perfectly, the pool was still our best buddy. We spent time both at the hotel pool and in Phil's parent's pool. Phil's infamous pool games were perfect with all the siblings and little Pacey around. 

Pacey was learning to hold her breath and swim underwater. We didn't realize how funny Pacey was underwater until we snapped this gem...

All the little nieces loved being in the water. I'm sure they loved all the attention too. :)

Cousins Arlandria and Savannah interacting for one of the first times...

How cute is this bee swimsuit/hat? Love baby clothes!

And of course, we had some "selfies" taken with the underwater camera. Love you Rach! :)

Can we go swimming...again? :)

New Zealand 2012 - Rotorua

The big kids were lucky enough to have a fun day out and headed to Rotorua. Rotorua has so many fun things to do and it is so scenic. Our first stop was Zorbing.

I was so proud of Phil! He is super claustrophobic and has been back and forth on this zorbing thing for a while. He told me he had a little freak out at the top of the hill but after that it was all fun. Its just like being in a giant washing machine, with each other, laughing the whole way. Haha. Love it!

This is the 'criss-cross' course that Andrew & Alex and Jade & Matt did. You have to walk yourself down the weavy path on this one.

And Jade demonstrating the classic "jump!" they have you do after you get out of the ball.

Next it was off to the skyswing and luge. We'd done the luge before but the skyswing was a new experience. It was a rush! It was so beautiful and exhilarating all at the same time!

We stopped at a Jellybean store up on the top of the mountain before heading to the luge. They had some cool displays. This one is a luge sled.

And then the luge. I love this thing! You go as fast or slow as you want. True New Zealand style. Plus this time it was so much warmer (and drier) than it was the last time we were there. Makes for a much more enjoyable ride down.

(Alex, Phil, me, Andrew)

Not sure whether I'm depressed or concentrating...haha

And this was Phil's face the whole time. Someone loves the luge! 

 Off we go!

We had baby Leo with us so we swapped out babysitters so we could ride with Matt and Jade

And then it was our babysitting turn.

Babysitting doesn't get any better when you have a view like this...

 After a tiring but fun day we headed back down the mountain on the gondola.

So glad that the siblings decided to head to Rotorua. I have videos of all this stuff but my computer doesn't like me today so I guess we'll just do a big video of our NZ trip when I finish up the posts. Until next time...