Kia Ora and LOVING Wishing for a Happy 2014!!

Kia Ora! Happy 2014 everybody! If you follow me on Instragram, you know we have been out and about enjoying the holidays, and life in New Zealand - and LOVING it. 

My goal is to really get this blog updated regularly so all of my lovely friends and family around the world can keep up to date with our adventures! I have some fabulous ideas, and I'll keep you posted! 

In the meantime, here's what I'm LOVING this week....

I'm loving driving past this beautiful mountain, my favourite - Mt Ruapehu. 

The new addition to our family - loving our gorgeous rescue dog Lenny! He's fitting in perfectly with our family! Love him!! :)

Went camping for the first time with Miss G - had such a wonderful time! Camping is exhausting!!

Spot the seals at Cape Palliser!! 

Oh my goodness! First day of Kindy! How did this happen!! Loving my big girl!! :)

Linking in with the adventures of MNMs for this weeks... 

Things I'm Loving - early November!

Wow! It's November!! How did that happen? We've been busy, busy! I'm adjusting to full-time nursing, Miss G's loving her in-home daycare and the MR Ed is still tinkering away on trucks and his car... (It does look pretty cool!)

Anywho, onto things I'm loving in November...

This weekend, we celebrated Guy Fawkes by having friends over for a BBQ and to watch the annual fireworks display put on by our local firefighters. I was having so much fun visiting, eating yummy food, drinking fantastic New Zealand wines and cuddling Miss G (who now thinks they are too scary and noisy)... that I didn't take a single photo! But, I promise, it was fun, and I'm loving we had the opportunity to catch-up with friends in good weather! :)

Loving the roses in our gardens!!

Sitting pretty at the Victoria Esplanade Gardens for a friends birthday party! 

I'm loving that I'm back at bootcamp this week! CAN. NOT. WAIT. Summer fitness, here we come! I'm planning on hiking Tongariro crossing this summer, so best get in shape for it!! Here we are hiking the Manawatu Gorge...

We've had some absolutely stunning family photos taken by the gorgeous Kim Sargent Photography. Sorry, no sneak peeks, as they are Christmas gifts! But, come the holidays, look for the redesign of my blog! (New year, new look!) Kim is AMAZING if you are in the Manawatu and looking for a photographer. Beautiful photos by a wonderfully talented lady. Love her!! :) Ok, maybe one TINY sneak peek!! PS, yes that is my thumb holding the photo... ;) 

I'm loving The Kite Runner as my latest read. I've just finished a few lovely Philippa Gregory books, so I'm welcoming the change in scenery. :) 

Check out what the others are loving this week in Things I'm Loving!!

Catching Up!!

Kia Ora friends and family!! Yes, I realise it has been TWO MONTHS since my last post. Eek!!

What's been happening around these parts? HEAPS. Like - I am on week 7 of my 9 week transition-to-placement FINAL, full-time clinical placement. Final - like, I will be sitting my state final exams on 16 July to become a Registered Nurse. Where has 3 years gone? How did this happen so quickly!?!? 

I have been working on some of my 34 Goals... I've signed up for a half-marathon (what was I thinking!?!?), reading like a mad woman (loving Overdrive), have a job offer (WOOHOO!!!), and wrapping up my degree to name a few!

Miss G is HILARIOUS at 2 1/2 years old. Everyday she says something absolutely comical and witty! It's just so fun to watch her grow up and see how quickly she picks up the smallest of things. It's great. She is absolutely obsessed with Finding Nemo - will be great to take her to the movies when Finding Nemo 2 comes out!  She also loves Pocoyo and Dora - good times. She loves going to daycare - as she gets to play with her best buddy. She typically walks into the house without looking back. Miss Independent!

MR Ed has been plugging away at work, cutting firewood and sneaking in a few low-key trips in his rotary. He managed to wrangle a trip up to the Bay of Plenty to see his parents with Miss G. They had a very fun time away (I was on unpaid shifts! Boo!), and I got in plenty of reading time in front of the fire with Pixie, Daisy and Diesel! (As well as my clinical hours...)

My sister and her family have officially moved back stateside. (Devastated!) Will definitely miss my siso, bro-in-law, our Taupo holiday home and of course my sweet Kiki!! Gotta love FaceTime... Hoping for a USA holiday next year...

Also, the MR's brother and sister-in-law have moved over to Aussie! Very exciting opportunity for them both - and can't wait to come for a holiday! ;)

Keep an eye of what we are up to with Instagram >> view the latest on the sidebar! :)

Things I'm Loving: AUCKLAND!

Linking in with Meghan for this week edition of 

Last weekend, we loaded up the ol' Suby and headed up to Auckland for a whirlwind weekend of FUN. 

It was my sister's 30th birthday celebration and we headed up to the Mexican Cafe for a fun family gathering on Sat eve. 

Miss G LOVES Mexican food!! 

YUM! 

We had a table(s) of 20 - complete with 7 kids! (4 under 3!) Excellent food, great atmosphere and AWESOME company!

Headed north of Auckland for some fun with my absolute favorite English family. 

Loved catching up with them! 

Miss G loved Dinky! (But was too scared to ride!)

My favs - Debbie and Guy!

Tegs and her gorgeous horse! 

My Bro was in town for 24-hours of fun - and we braved to rain to hit the Auckland Zoo! 

Chasing a 2-year-old is not an easy task! ;)

The awkward moment the emu attacks you?

"Hurry, there's more animals!"

Knackered! 

Toured a bit of Auckland city - mostly got lost and couldn't find parking. Felt like a bit of a hillbilly. ;) 

Uncle Dano and the girls. (Miss G's nickname for my bro.)

Siblings!

No one was playing the game with me! ;) 

P.S. Follow me on Bloglovin... 

Things I'm Loving - early October!

I am totally loving the 2012 Capture Your Grief project for infant and pregnancy loss I am participating in memory of my Angel Degen. It is extremely difficult, emotionally draining, heartbreaking ... but so rewarding. Love. Take a peek up - and you will see my tab  that I am updating daily with photos. :)

Loving that little Miss G, Miss K, my friend Ner and I all went to the Polkadots concert together. It was so cute to watch the girls dance and really getting into it. Loved the excitement on their faces... So adorable!

Loving that my first essay in my nursing programme - FINAL year - came back with excellent marks. Woohoo!!

Loving that I have a forced break this weekend from school - as the server is being updated. Yipee- what kinds of mischief can we get into this weekend?? ;)

Have a great weekend everyone!! Linking up with Megan at...

Things I'm Loving - 1 March

Linking up with Paisley Jade for Things I'm LOVING on 2 March!

LOVING the photos that Morwenna @ Keepsake Photography captured for Miss G's first birthday and cousin Keira's 4-week photos! Of course, we had to sneek in some photos of all of us girls! Aren't they great? LOVING them!!

Miss G 

So Big!! Me and Miss G! :)

Me, Miss G, Gma, Baby K and Sissy

LOVING that Gma spent 2 months with us in New Zealand! Loving that she takes the opportunity to leave a Minnesota winter and come visit us girls in the New Zealand!! Miss G LOVED having Gma stay - and so cool they have so many fun memories together now! Yay!! LOVED having her here and we were all super sad to see her go home yesterday. But, looking forward to visiting the USA this summer! :) 

Check out what others are loving at Paisley Jade. 

Baby K's Baptism

This Sunday, 26 Feb was my sister and brother-in-laws first wedding anniversary! This was us a year ago - what a fabulous wedding! So fun - and very friends and family orientated - it was a great day to catch up with loved ones!

Dad, Mom, Jen, Sam, Miss G, Edan and Dan

To celebrate their one-year anniversary, they decided it would be very special to have Baby Keira baptized in the church they were married in - by the same pastor - one year later. It was very appropriate, being the first Sunday in lent, with the discussion being about baptism into the church.

Proud Godparents - with Baby K and Miss G

Parents and Godparents - Loving Baby K! 

Manic Monday

Well, my mental health essay is DONE and handed in! I finished it in the wee hours of the morning. Okay, it was 12:45am when I got to bed. So, really not classed as an 'all-nighter'...  But, still. Phew, done and dusted! Brought it into school this morning and then had coffee with a couple other fellow nursing friends. I had two back to back 6-week placements (surgical and mental health), so we haven't been in class since October last year! Shesh! Back in class on Monday, 5 March - over half way to becoming an RN!! yipee!!

My next two papers/classes - are on ethics in nursing practice (always interesting!) and healthcare in the community/world/country. Should be interesting - although they have quite close essays for assessments... Must not procrastinate!

Now I have the rest of the week off to relax, hang out with mom, sissy, Miss G and baby K up in Taupo! Good times! Mom flies back stateside on Thursday (boo!) so it will be great to have a couple days of 'girl time' before she heads out.

Last week, Jen and baby K came down for a visit - we had such a good time. Did some shopping, walking, visiting and laughing! It's great being on maternity leave!!

Trio of backrubs - Gma, Sissy and Miss G

SKYPE'ing with Gpa! Jen and baby K!
Dad must be a bit dull for baby K! 

What I'm Loving this week...

Once again, linking up with Paisley Jade for Things I'm loving...

Loving that Te Kawau netball season has started up - looking forward to another great year!! And, really loving the fitness aspect! Go Greens!

Loving how the 2012 Rangitikei District GirlGuides is shaping up - we have great leaders and awesome girls! Looks like it will be a fun year! Get ready for BISCUITS! Coming out 1 March - yay!!

Loving having this week off to spend with my mom, sister, niece and fabulous Miss G!

Miss G sporting her American swim style!

Loving the fabulous wood shed E built for the winter - now we won't run out! It is now completely full - fantastic! :)

Loving that Miss K's baptism is this weekend - really looking forward to being her godmother! *More pix to come! She's a gorgeous wee poppet!!

Things I'm Loving - 21 Feb...

Things I'm Loving on 21 Feb 2012... 

Linking up with Paisley Jade for Things I'm Loving... Check out some of the others if you have time - fabulous lists!! :)

Loving this cute girl! On the beach at Napier for the Art Deco Festival last weekend! Yay for great weather, fun costumes (on others), good fun with family and cheeky monkeys!! :)

Loving that Grandma (my mom) has been here in NZ for 2 months! Yay for escaping Minnesota winters to come visit her daughters and granddaughters!!

Loving that we've been using our pool! Miss G loves the water!

Loving that I just finished two back to back placements - 6 weeks in surgical and 6 weeks in mental health. Loved them both! Now, I have an essay due next week to get done RE: mental health, one week off and then back in class! 54.16% on the way to being a Registered Nurse!! (Thanks Amanda!)

Things I'm Loving - 3 Feb edition!

Linking up with Paisley Jade

Things I'm Loving...

I'm LOVING that it's FRIDAY and I have a 3-day weekend. 

I'm LOVING that I've really enjoyed my surgical and mental health nursing placements. Although, makes my decision on where to focus my career so much more difficult... 

I'm LOVING my new niece Miss K. Sooo adorable!! 

I'm LOVING spending the summer with mom! Two months with no winter for her! yaya!! 

I'm LOVING that the fabulous Miss G had such a neat birthday party! It was such a wonderful day with so  many special people celebrating her first birthday! 

Birthday buddies - dad and Miss G!! :)

Playing with my friends! 

Yay! My first candle and everyone is singing to me! 

Yum! Yum!