Candi & Erana's trip to New Zealand - 2/11 to 3/7

FEBRUARY 11TH TO MARCH 7TH:

This will be a short and candid story on our trip of New Zealand which was three and a half weeks long, here go's: Sad to say goodbye to Daddy but exciting to go to NZ, well not really excited for the flight but just to be in NZ will be awesome.  Erana really liked her first time being in an airplane and flying.  LA was dumb cause they were renovating and we had yucky sushi and realized after we checked in and went through to the other side to get to our boarding gate that we should've bought food there!

Had to haggle with the girl that was checking us in about my carry on bags! oi vai! I'm sure I was right, just look at your dang rules and regulations on the internet it says it on there!~ anyways got on the plane and Erana and I were sitting at an end of the middle section where there are four seats.  We sat with two aussie guys.  Well didn't sleep much, very uncomfortable, just listened to the greatest hits of Whitney Houston, wanted to sing along but ya know lol.  At least Erana was able to lay out and get a moe!
Fiji yikes blimmin ghetto, it was dark and rainy when we arrived and it looked like a huge shed that we were going into, had to stay there for a while, and we found a quiet place with podunk couches and rested there.

Finally got to NZ and was so excited I forgot my purse on the chairs while waiting for the time to go meet my sister outside, anyways we were outside paying for the parking when I realized I forgot my purse and then frantically running back praying to god no one has taken it, whew it was still on the seat next to people, a lady saw me and says, "Sh_t you're lucky"! lol

Had a very nice and short stay at my sisters, they have an awesome house in a really nice area. Erana loved being with her cousins Tiffany, Skylar and Akaylah.  I took the girls to the park which is across from their school and their school is about a block away. They had an awesome playground with even a flying fox, and a really long tunnel slide, where I grazed my elbows on when going down it.  My Mum and Michael were there too, they came from Aussie to stay for a while, that's why I came the same time.  Wanted to visit with my grandma but she passed away two weeks before.

There was a fishy smell in Whitney's room and they were blaming it on me and my luggage, but we quickly realized it was Michael and his tuna he was eating in the room. lol
Went to the markets and bought some maori/nz tops, bone carvings and caps. Went and ate at 'Yumcha's' and it was delicious, Chinese food in NZ is way better than in America. Watched 'Frozen' in the park and got free bars of cadbury chocolate bars! Went to the Pokeno market in the morning got a maori carved dish, and had some yummy tiptop passionfruit and mango ice-cream.
Mum and Michael and Lian left to go to Hastings. And Dad came to pick me up, Erana didn't want to leave her new best cuzzies.

We watched frozen at a park, where they gave out big size cadbury chocolate bars for free, you could choose from all the flavors too. We got Pizza etc and had a nice time. The weather didn't co-operate and it lightly rained, but we were prepared and had umbrellas & tarps to cover us up with. 

Dad's home in Hamilton was really nice and we stayed for a bit, Cynthia and Tiffany showed up to come with us to Hastings. While in Hamilton we visited Strantz Wihongi at his work.  And we also went to Jason's Dads gravesite 'Barney'.

Travelling to Hastings we had to endure Dads mix of his songs, I remember one song he use to listen to it when we visited him in Wellington 'Zoom'.  We stopped in Taupo and got some t'shirts & stuff.  The weather was nice and sunny, Tiffany and Erana played at the cool playground.

Napier, Pania of the Reef

This was the beginning of many trips to 'Rush Monroes' the best ice-cream ever. My favorite Passion fruit and then Feijoa.

I went to Hastings Girls High School to see if I could get me a 1992 year book.  I didn't buy one at the time because I didn't want to burden my Mum with extra school fees.  I was willing to pay for it no matter the cost, but when I got there the lady said I didn't need to pay for it. 

Visiting with my niece & gran'nieces, Steph, maddie and Ariah. 

 My Home!

Omahu Marae's Art Week

My girlfriend Geraldine Cowan shouting me breakfast

Hastings 'Art Deco' Week

Rush Monroe Love!

 Hastings Farmers Market

  Hugs from Grandma Poh Choo!

 Fun with Grandma, watching Carson & Wiki

 Cuzzie Mel Nuku & her daughter

 My old school

 Gerald, Me & Vanessa reminiscing

 Picking pumpkins Bridge Pa style!

 Arrggghh I'm a pirate, and Boboy loves me

 Bed time stories

 Napier Beach

Spiritual Cleansing Maori style

Aunty Trisha xxx

  Omahu or Home!

 Grandma Nuku's house

Reihana & Agnes Nuku's grave

Saying Goodbye to Grandma Poh Choo

Omahu Marae

 Hastings Library - Pukana!

 Mmmm Lambtails!

Goodbyes are hard & sad :(

 Dad & I at NZ Hamilton Temple

 Dad, Erana, my lil'bro Matt, & me

 Grandma Cathy

 Skylar lost a tooth while eating chinese food

Akayla & Erana inseparable!

 Cuzzie's Tayna & Hazel

Grandpa Pat clowning around!

Auckland Airport saying goodbyes :(

Fiji :)

 Argentina Rugby team

L.A Airport

 Catching flies!

 Home Sweet Home - Utah!

February - Candi's 40th Birthday!

2/1 to 2/7: 

Sunday the 1st we went to Scott's home to watch the Superbowl and eat. The Patriots beat the Seahawks on an unlikely last second interception when the Seahawks were at the 1 yard line about to score to win the game. Should have given it to Marshawn Lynch. Friday 5th Candi and I went to the temple. We went to eat dinner at the Lonestar steakhouse to use a $25 dollar gift card. It was really good and we were stuffed. We had bread then a cheesy shrimp dip with tortilla chips, then I had a lobster & shrimp chowder before our main course of steak. Then we went to the movies and saw The Seventh Son. It was our Valentines date since Candi will be gone on Valentines Day. Saturday we watched Leila play basketball and in the evening we went and ate at California's Pizza Kitchen. Only Leila and Erana came. It was a birthday dinner for Candi since she isn't here on her birthday. It was good pizza.

2/8 to 2/14: 

For FHE on 2/9 we went to Leatherbys for a last family time before Candi leaves to NZ. We had cheese fries too. We love those. Candi has been buying heaps of gifts for her family (spending too much). On Wednesday 2/11 I stayed home the first part of the day to be with Candi and drop her off at the airport. I wasn't looking forward to this day. I'll miss her and Erana too much. Their flight to LA was at 1:46pm. I went to work after dropping them off. They have a flight to Fiji then Fiji to NZ. The flight to Fiji left at 10:30pm pst so they had a while to wait. I went to Jaxon and Leilas' parent/teacher conference at 7pm. The kids had no school Fri 13th. I went and got a few things at the store. Saturday was chore day. I did 3 loads of laundry. I was supposed to put some blue stuff in with the whites but ended up staining them with it, lol. Should have read the instructions. Candi got there safely and texted and called on Google Hangouts and Skype.

2/15 to 2/21: 

We ate dinner at Tania's Sunday at 5pm for a last dinner with Shaun's family before they move to Hawaii. Tania's neighbors were there as well and some of Shaun's ward friends so it was a crowded place. Jaxon went to Talia's, Mina with Malia and Leila with Kage for the night because they didn't have school Monday. I didn't have work, it was Presidents Day. Didn't do a whole lot that day. Slept in until 11am. Tuesday and Thursday I left work at 2:30pm to watch Mina play volleyball at Bennion. She does well. They won both games. She played in the b team game as well on Thursday because she didn't have any game time on the a team. Friday the 20th Jaxon went with the scouts to an over-night camp in the mountains. He went with Rex Morgan. We got all his gear ready and his tent. He came back and said it was horrible. He didn't sleep in the night because it was freezing cold, even with 2 sleeping bags and his snow clothes on. It snowed and his tent had bent inwards almost to him when he was laying down. He did sledding the next day. I told him it's an experience that will toughen him up and that he can look back on and say things are easy compared to that. I won't make him do any more winter camps if he doesn't want to go but I wanted him to experience it once. Anymore camping requirements can just be done in nice weather. I have been talking with Candi almost everyday using Google Hangouts which has been really nice. I stayed up really late on the week end a couple times chatting with Candi. I miss her so much. Doing a lot of her chores has given me a renewed appreciation for what she does for our family.

2/22 to 2/28:

Shaun and Christine came and borrowed our van Monday, 23rd until Thursday when they leave to live in Hawaii. We had FHE and Tyrell gave the message from the New Era about having good friends. I emphasized the importance of being friendly to everyone, make many friends but only hang out with friends that have similar standards to yours because they can have a huge influence on your life for good or bad. We also watched a couple mormon messages on youtube. Tuesday I left work early to watch Mina's volleyball team beat Eisenhower jr high. Mina made some good plays. I didn't go to the Thursday game but Mina said they won so they are undefeated with one more game to go before playoff time. Tyrell has been practicing rugby Mon, Wed and Fri. Wed the kids had mutual and scouts. Friday I slept in and did the groceries with Leila. She's my shopping buddy. She's very helpful. Jaxon's friend Ventrick stayed the night. Saturday I did the laundry and took Leila and Jaxon out to Carls Jr for dinner. Candi has been having fun in NZ visiting friends and family and shopping and stuff. She said Erana has been having heaps of fun with Leo but she is naughty sometimes.

January 2015! - Jaxon's 12th Birthday

1/1 to 1/10: 

On New Years day I spent time setting up my new pc and also playing the Rock Band game with the kids. We went to Sizzlers for Mum's 74th birthday. Scott, Jared and wives, Jody, Serina, Malia and Julia and Christine were there. Candi got the all-u-can eat baby back ribs but regretted it cause it wasn't that good for her. We went to Scott's after for cake. Candi bought Mum a book about the early maori saints that joined the church. It had a part about Raihi Ngawaka our ancestor on Nanny Jean's side. Most of the families mentioned were ones Mum knows. On the 5th we took the kids to Chick-fil-A for FHE. A new one opened close to us and they wanted to try it. They got chicken strips and shakes. On the 9th we saw the Unbroken movie with Tyrell about the ww2 vet that ran in the olympics and survived getting shot down in the pacific for 42 days before a Japanese ship found them then he spent years in a prison camp. Quite amazing what he had to endure. Leila had a basketball game on the 10th. She tries hard and is getting better on defense. She's fun to watch.

1/11 to 1/17: 

Tyrell gave the FHE lesson about talents and gifts we are given and how we should develop and share them. Candi and I went on a date Friday the 16th to the Flavors of India lunch buffet. Candi liked it but I didn't. Too spicy. I did like the flat bread and mango pudding. We saw the American Sniper right after. Was good. A bit too much cursing for my tastes but the true story of Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in US military history was quite interesting. The kids had no school Friday. Leila had another game Saturday.

1/18 to 1/24: 

Sunday we had dinner at Scott's. Candi is still working Sundays from 2pm to 10pm so she wasn't there. We looked at some old photos Mum had scanned from negatives that we hadn't seen before from the 60's and 70's. Scott got her the scanning device for Christmas. Monday the 19th was Martin Luther King day so I had no work and the kids had no school. Candi and I spent the day looking at stores. We went to Walmart first then went to Valley Fair mall and walked around. I got me a new pair of shoes at Ross. Friday the 23rd we took Jaxon to the Chinese Gourmet for his birthday. We had a nice time together. Saturday we watched Leila's game. She has still yet to make a basket but she tries hard.

1/25 to 1/31: 
For FHE we had a trivia game about the Priesthood since Jaxon will be getting it soon. On Wednesday the 28th he went to the Wairhouse trampoline place for his birthday. Talia and Lawson came. They had fun. After we went home for cake and his presents. He got his Assassin creed unity wrist knife/crossbow he wanted for Christmas. Jaxon is 12 already. He is growing up so soon. We love him so very much. Mina went to the Jazz game with the free tickets Leila got from her basketball team. She went with Madeline. Shaun took them and then she stayed with them the night. Lawson stayed the night with us and all the kids except Tyrell bunked school Thursday. Candi took them to the movies at Valley Fair where they met Christine with Mina. After Leila's basketball game Saturday we went to Jonah's baptism in Sandy then ate lunch at their chapel. Tyrell went to his school's sweet heart dance with a girl that wasn't Brenna but is Brenna's friend. He and Brenna are just good friends. Brenna wants them to date other people. Tyrell I don't think wants that so much but is going along with it. Sunday I conferred the priesthood on Jaxon and ordained him to Deacon. It's an awesome experience to do that.

Christmas Holidays & New Years

12/22/14
FHE message was from the New Era about Christ can sometimes be hidden during Christmas. Asked how does he get hidden and what we can do to make sure Christ doesn't get hidden. Talia was with us.

12/24/14
I took Christmas eve off. Slept in. Candi worked from 6am to about 2pm. My new pc came today, yay! I was going to open it Christmas morning but got bored and unpacked it to start setting it up. We had a family Christmas eve dinner. Candi went and got Dickey's BBQ and a KFC bucket. It was good. We read Luke 2 at the table. We watched a short video with a message about serving Christ. The Shoemaker. They decorated ginger cookies for Santa. Then we went to see the Hobbit: Battle of the 5 Armies. When we got home we told the kids not to stay up late. Candi and I got stuff ready that night.

12/25/14
We got up about 7am. I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep anyway. It had been in the 40's so far in Dec so no snow but last night it snowed for Christmas, not a lot but more came during the day. So we got a whit e Christmas. Gave out the gifts. The kids enjoyed themselves. Mina got a bluetooth speaker, skateboard, rock band (for Leila too), etc. Tyrell and Jaxon got an x-box one. Erana got a new bike, well one that Candi got from someone on ksl. They played with their new gifts until we went to Mum's/Scott's at 12:30pm. We ate and opened gifts, had dessert and went home about 5pm. Same old routine. Was quite chaotic giving out gifts. I worked on the new pc more and played Rock band some. Candi and I relaxed in the evening together. Another Christmas come and gone.

12/26/14
Slept in, ate leftovers, set up new pc, played around and generally didn't do a whole lot of anything productive. Ate lots of chocolates. Very nice day well until a fight that occurred outside our place. We heard a commotion of thumping and yelling. Candi yells out the windows that she's calling the cops. I get my gun in case I have to stop a murder or something. I go to the front door and the guy who got beat up thumps at the door and stumbles in all bleeding from the head and half conscious. He says some guys beat him up. I sit him down and got an ice pack and wet rag to wipe the blood. He had 2 gashes in his forehead. His friend comes in. They said they weren't visiting anyone but pulled in because some guys were following them? Mina heard the other guys mention why he was looking at his girl friend or something. They didn't stick around for the cops who were on the way. Two cops came and asked questions. One asked where we were from and liked our accents. They went and asked questions from the neighbors but without the victim staying to report they couldn't do much.

12/27/14
Saturday is clean up day. Malia got picked up. She stayed since Christmas. We blitz cleaned every level. Every one joined in the cleaning on each level and really dusted and stuff. We got a lot done. Then after we mucked around some more.

12/28/14
We went to Taylor Barlow's homecoming at 9am at her Suncrest chapel which is up the top of that hill that goes from Draper to Alpine. Never been up there before. It was snowy but the view of the valley was quite nice. She went to the Philippines. She gave a great talk about conversion. We ate at a club house after and talked with cousins. Left around 12:30pm. Candi went to work at 6pm instead of 2pm.

12/29/14
I took Monday off as well so I could have a nice long weekend. Slept in and worked on getting my old pc downstairs and my new pc set up most of the day. We took the kids to see Night at the Museum 3 which was pretty funny. Then ate at Arctic Circle. It snowed more and is very cold. Tyrell's car won't start so we called to have it towed to tunex.

12/31/14
I had to work today. Didn't do much. The party at our house started at 7pm. We had breakfast food again. It was good. Eggs, sausages, bacon, quiche, pancakes, crepes, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls and more. After eating we had a 2014 trivia game by Scott. I one with 20 out of 26. Jared had 22 but he cheated by using his phone. We had a couple other games then played Just Dance 2015. The kids and adults had a turn. I was with Jody, Jared and Scott. I chose 'Walk this way' by Run DMC. They thought I had practiced because I could do most of the moves and they couldn't. I had never seen the game before I just knew the dance moves because they were old school moves from the 80's that I used to do. They were just jealous of my cool moves that made them look like un-co stiffs. We had the count down then cleaned up soon after. It was a fun night. The year is gone and done. It was fast like every year. The kids are growing so fast. I resolve so never take them for granted and enjoy each day with them while I still have them. They'll be gone before I know it. I also resolve to love my wife more and more.

Uncle Mose's Funeral

12/1/14
During the day I walked down from my work to the church office building to see Tyrell perform with his school choir. They did some Christmas songs in the lobby. Went to see the Temple lights for FHE before it gets too cold. Parked at the mall then walked around Temple Square and the nativities at the church office building area. Listened to the one at the visitors center. After we went to Leatherbys and got cheese fries and sundaes for a treat. I love the cheese fries. I didn't get a sundae but there was enough left over from the others that I had some ice cream.

12/6/14
We put Leila in Rec center basketball and she had her first game today. Her team only had one practice before hand. Leila has already played it at our park so she knows how to dribble and shoot. I practiced some with her too. She is pretty good. They lost. Leila got 9 shots off but didn't get any but I was proud of her for playing well and not being afraid to shoot the ball. It's fun to watch. We had to leave our ward party early to get to the game. The breakfast was good. Love the fried bread and honey butter. We went back to it after to help clean but it was already done. They gave us lots of fried bread left overs.

12/8/14
For FHE we watched the church's video "He is the Gift" and had a lesson on Christ being the gift at Christmas and always.

12/13/14
Leila had her 2nd game. She played well and got 2 shots off but didn't get any in. Kage came with us to watch. The other team girls were good defenders so it was a tough game to get a shot off. Leila likes playing it.

12/15/14
FHE activity was going to watch Tyrell's choir perform Christmas songs at his school. Their were other choir groups singing. He is in the concert choir. He seems to enjoy singing even though I don't hear him sing a whole lot at home.

12/18/14
Thursday evening took Leila to her practice at 7pm. The 3rd Hobbit came out yesterday so Candi, Tyrell and I saw it at 10:30pm. I liked it. It was good.

12/20/14
Uncle Moses died this past week of age related complications when he got sick.  He was 80. He will be missed but I know he has had a happy reunion with his parents, brother (Dad) and sister (Waima) and son Jono Jay. We didn't go to his viewing Friday night but came to his viewing and funeral early at 9:30am at a chapel in Alpine. Vaughn's ward chapel. Got to see him in his casket. It started at 10:30am and was a nice service. Got to mingle with many relatives. We went to the internment at the Alpine cemetary. It was lightly drizzling rain and was about 40 degrees or something. His son in law read a jewish prayer, Uncle Don dedicated the grave, Nephi gave a maori tribute then we did the haka. I was trying not to cry during the haka and wept a lot after it trying to keep my composure. We went back to the chapel to eat. We mingled a bit then went home.

Cute Erana Sayings

• Erana was watching Mickey mouse in reading nook. The rest were watching Godzilla. She comes up to go to the toilet then says, "You kids will have bad dreams. Mickey mouse gives good dreams but this (pointing to the tv while noisy monster sounds are going on) will give you bad dreams." Lol. She said more that I can't quite recall exactly but she was so cute.
  

10/22/14

• Jaxon had hit Leila. He was in bed, Leila was crying quietly on her bed. Erana comes up and tells on Jaxon. She says to go down and make Jaxon cry. lol. I question Jaxon and then Leila. Erana climbs on the bed in front of me and says, "That's the truth." "Is that the truth?" "Looks at me with a big grin and puts a finger on her chin and says" Hmm". She is so funny. Jaxon cries when I smacked him. Erana is giggling and Leila is telling her to keep quiet, it's not funny.

10/23/14

• Just baked chocolate chip muffins, cause baby was asking for muffins yesterday & then this morning she's crying for muffins, but she was watching 'daniel the tiger' & they were talking about being 'fustrated' & she says to me 'Mum I'm so fustrated I want muffins' lol. She ate some and says to me 'mum your muffins are good'.
• Went to get Erana out of bath and i told her i burnt the muffins and she says 'Are you fustrated?' I said yup! then she starts singing 'when your fustrated Stop and ask for help' lol I said, 'no one can help those muffins their burnt. She said let's blow them, I said nope you can't eat them their black and hard lol.
  

11/20/14

• The room was dark and Erana on the sofa going to sleep. I open drawer to sneak some lollies. Erana says, "uh uh uh, you don't eat lollies, you need to brush your teeth."
  

12/1/14

• Erana: "mum I'm still hungry" she had for breaky about 2hrs ago, omelete, meat, pumpkin cake? Me: Your not hungry you just ate, your gonna get fat!  Erana: "Mum I just poop - food means poop"! lol

12/10/14

• Candi: Put your seat belt on. Erana: You do the honors