More Christmas Presents = More Celebrating!

Thank you Felix family for the fun presents you sent to us! Unfortunately, they arrived the day we left for Nelson, which was the day after Christmas, so we did not get them until after we arrived home from our summer project. Thanks for thinking of us. It was fun having Christmas prolonged...we love you!

Isaac checking out daddy's new flashlight.

Isaac playing his new drum from Grandma and Grandpa.

Raggedy Andy and mommy's new bag.

Thanks for my blanket Aunt Laura! Daddy keeps stealing it from me to take naps. :)

The End Result

I know that some of you prayed for all of the details of our banquet to come together. Here is the final result of all of your prayers...turned out great, just as we had hoped and prayed.
Josh gave the final talk of the evening and he played mandolin in the worship band.
A few students from our ministry in Wellington.

Some crazy pictures from the night...including our good friend Josh M. from Canterbury.

Women's Breakfast

Here is a picture from the women's breakfast. These lovely ladies helped us lead the women's side of the Nelson Summer Project. Lacy (to the left of me) is on our team in Wellington.

Super Isaac!!!

Josh's creativity strikes again! One morning he made Isaac a cape out of his blanket. I think Isaac enjoyed a few moments of being a mini super-hero.

Men's Breakfast with Uncle Josh M.

As project leaders for the Nelson summer project Josh and I decided that it might be fun to have the leaders over for breakfast. Here are some pics from the Men's Breakfast at our house.

(Take note of the red head dancing with Isaac- Josh McGeehan and I were on a team together back in 2002 when we started the ministry in Christ Church, NZ. He is still working in CHCH and he was with us this summer in Nelson...so fun!)

Josh M. has got ot be one of the funniest people that I have ever met- hubby Josh agrees and so did Isaac. The picture of Josh M. and Isaac was taken while Josh was marching around the house with him! Isaac loved it! You can see it in his little face.

The men cheered Isaac on as he danced for them!

Josh M. and Isaac marching!

Beautiful Golden Beaches

On our day off during project Josh, Isaac, Laurie and I drove 1 1/2 hours to Kaiteriteri Beach in the Abel Tasman area. We took a water taxi to the second beach that you can hike to along the Abel Tasman trail. I am so glad that we only paid to go to the second beach as the water taxi was extremely bumpy- Isaac hated it and my pregnant belly could have done without all of the bumping and bouncing around. Regardless of the crazy taxi ride we did have a wonderful time! Isaac loved the sandy warm beaches, playing with daddy, and I had an awesome time catching up with Laurie. I met Laurie 10 years ago on my first summer project as a staff member and we have kept in touch ever since. She came to NZ this summer to help us with project and it was SUCH a blessing and a breath of fresh air to see her. Thanks Laurie for all of your help! We love you!

Can you tell that Josh has a bit of sandwhich in the side of his cheek and Isaac looks like farmer Joe with his hat up so high...this picture cracks me up!

Crashed!

Here is a pic of Isaac passed out in his cot after a morning at the beach. His crazy hair shows how much fun he had!

Play Dates with Ruth and Amelia

Ruth was the only other mom on project with me this summer, so we made sure to hang out and encourage one another every week. Ruth's daughter, Amelia, is so sweet! She recently started walking and I think she enjoyed watching Isaac run around like a wild man. Seeing Isaac and Amelia together made me realize how much energy little boys truly have! They say that boys are 50% more energetic than girls....this is definitely true about Isaac.

Bunny Ears

Isaac found some bunny ears at our beach house in Nelson. He enjoyed wearing them around the house from time to time....

Ferry Ride to Picton

The day after Christmas we left bright and early to catch a ferry to Picton. From Picton we drive 2 1/2 hours to Nelson for our two week beach project. The ferry was packed with holiday travelers! Isaac had so much fun on the ferry that he passed out on the car ride to Nelson.

We don't have pics from our ferry ride home because it is definitely a trip we would all rather forget. The ferry was late, the weather was monstrous, our ferry was actually nicer, but a lot smaller, so our whole trip was very unstable with the waves crashing around and into our ferry. (Both Josh and I threw up....as did a little girl sitting next to me) Thankfully, Isaac slept on my lap in the nursery for an hour and a half. That was the only redeamable thing about the trip. Man, was it good to be back on land. :)