NEARLY THERE

wow tomorrow is the day - its finally here. We are all packed, the house is sorted and stuff organised. We have had some last minute changes to our schedule and now have an extra two days in LA due to flight changes - such a hardship. We will go with the flow but intend to venture down into Mexico. Today has also been a sad one as my uncle passed away today. RIP uncle Colin. This has changed our children's plans a bit as mum and dad are now going to be busy this week organising his funeral and sorting out all the estate stuff so the kids are going to Te Anau now. Alex is a little annoyed as this means a week away from his girl friend - such a hardship. Our hosts have emailed our programme for us and its really exciting and there are so many things that we are going to be doing that I never dreamed of. There is a football match, a ice hockey game, visit to a Dairy farm that produces and bottles its own milk, a power station visit, rotary meeting, and many other things. They have really put allot of effort and thought into our programme. I am most looking forward to the football match and the ice hockey game. Another exciting thing is t plane flight over Kansas in a small plane, and a day with the School officials. We wont want to come home. We will keep you posted as Internet access becomes available , but most probably there wont be a Post until we are in Missouri.

WOW not long now

cool, cool, cool its only four more sleeps to we fly out. We are getting really excited now. We have our clothing sorted and all arrangements made for the kids. Its funny though, all day I have had a feeling that something was going to happen with our flights, and that we were going to be stranded. I think it was because Virgin Blue made the news this morning as there are loads of tourists stranded in Australia due to a computer malfunction. Anyway when I got home and checked our emails there was one from the travel agent advising that our flights home were going to change due to airline rescheduling. It appears that we are going to have to spend two extra nights in LA - that will be such a hardship!!!, it's perfect as we were regretting not having slightly longer there to explore the sights. I might even get to see Mexico and get my big hat COOL. I have always wanted one of those, ever since studying Mexico at school as a young girl. Richard is not keen to go there as its not a very safe place at night - so we will see. Exciting, exciting exciting and only two more days of work left - yipee!

Good Morning Sunshine

Good morning everyone
Its 8 am and I am still in bed after drinking a coffee and eating breakfast, contemplating starting the day. We have a busy day planned, with Church, Baking and visiting friends, lawns etc.
The sun is streaming in the window and the birds are chirping - it's lovely. A bit of a contrast to yesterday where it was snowing and freezing cold urrgh.
The holiday preparations are still happening with a quick trip to Dunedin yesterday to meet with Mum and Dad, and to purchase a suitcase. Who would think that something simple like buying a suitcase would take so much consideration - there was size, hard or soft, pockets or not, and what colour - I haven't made a suitcase purchase ever before. Anyway I took advice from a very helpful sales assistant, who had just returned from Europe, and purchased a plastic orangy watermelon colour suitcase with two compartments inside. It is cool - but quite big. Plenty of room for presents etc. Mum and Amelia, who helped, thought that it was too big, but liked the colour.
Yesterday we had fun taking Mum shopping as she hadn't been out and about for the last few months due to a failed knee replacement. We nabbed a wheelchair and went wheeling around.

The weather was strange. When I parked in the shopping center car park it was a lovely sunny day, and when we left it was snowing!!!. It was a balmy 4 degrees Celsius. I love snow though. Amelia enjoyed watching the snow and hail. We took Mum for lunch down by St Kilda beach and it was lovely sitting inside by a roaring fire watching it snow and see the wild sea. Lunch was yummy - thanks "Esplanade restaurant".

The biggest contrast for us is going to be the weather as I looked up the temperature in Missouri and California and saw that yesterday it was 34 oC there - wow 4 degreees to 34 will be a bit of a shock.

We are getting very very excited now. On Friday we purchased our US dollars, and that was a bit depressing as NZ dollars don't buy many US dollars. The next thing to do is to get some actual cash but you have to order that. I will spend this week preparing some meals for the freezer, and stocking the pantry for when we are away.
Well must go - things to do and places to be.

Not Long Now

Hi again, wow time is ticking and we aren't far away from getting on the plane. There is so much to do and time is running out. We now have passports, tickets, and pre booked accommodation, and rental car organised. I have yet to finalise our clothing, suitcases, and food etc for the kids. Haven't even though about how the lawns are going to get mowed and the garden kept tidy. But an important thing was sorted today - I now have computer access again, a shiny new PINK laptop, as the kids broke my one. It was only a year old and the second one in the last year - urrrgh KIDS. Needless to say they are banned from using this one. Work is very very busy and there is also heaps to get completed before leaving. It will be heads down and Bottoms up to get sorted. I must also remember to cancel the mail too. Well must go and get stuck into some of these tasks. not many sleeps to go now.