Saturday, March 29th was a big one over here – Bill returned after being gone in Germany for a week. He was in Germany for a great conference, which we knew would be an opportunity fellowship CME money would pay for and future jobs don’t so he took it. I have been literally dreading this conference since he mentioned it to me in August. For some reason, sending him to literally the other side of the world (30 hrs flying one way, 29.5 hours flying back – we had a 12 hr time difference) while I am on this cute little island in the middle of nowhere freaked me out. If I was back in the US, I think I would have been more chill about it. All that to say, I was THRILLED when I saw his flight had landed in Auckland (those google flight trackers freak me out a bit, but are very helpful). Just to remind you how far away Hannover, Germany is from Auckland, NZ these were his flights. Auckland to LAX, 12 hrs, LAX to Munich, 12 hrs, Munich to Hannover, 1.5 hrs; Hannover to Munich, 1.5 hrs, Munich to Hong Kong, 12 hours, Hong Kong to Auckland 11 hrs – he flew around the world and he was only at the conference for 4 full days – flying the rest.
Back to my main point – Saturday we knew dad would be showing up around 1ish so the kids and I headed down to my favorite café in St Heliers – La Fourchette. We bellied up to the takeaway window and ordered 3 fluffies and a flat white.
this place is legit french – everyone who works there speaks french.
I’ll have to go inside and take better pictures some day when I don’t have little kids who want to bail out of the stroller.
ellie’s shoe choice was the best. two different shoes – both left feeters.
celebrating surviving a week with just mom.
Prue showed up with Millie and Finn and we tried to enjoy an almond croissant very quickly before all youknowwhat broke loose.
had to play a bit at the park before heading down to see the castles being built.
the kids were huddled around a little pool checking things out.
charlie spotted a jelly fish – reeeeeallly tiny – red center with clear puffing up and down part (along the right side of the black mussels that look like texas).
people were hard at work on their castles. it was a pretty chill competition so it was fun to see some families out there doing things too.
it’s a turtle.
flower.
we headed back to the park to get some lunch. claire wanted to be charlie for a bit.
Bill arrived when the wheels were really coming off the bus so there were no pictures of his reunion. ellie instead put on a nice cry about whoknowswhat.
the finished pieces.
tennis shoe
loved this lion one.
the titanic.
a croc.
the kids were checking out the shell teeth.
this was a fossil – pretty hard core!
2 little mermaids.
I think this one won.
after checking out the final castles we went down to the water at REALLY low tide.
we looked up and saw this.
at first it honestly looked like a beached orca! but after a bunch of people on the beach started getting all excited we realized it was just a project on saving beached orcas.
bill was determined to take the kids out to see and touch the orca because charlie and ellie were interested. claire was screaming in protest – she didn’t believe it was fake.
claire was screaming on bill’s hip.
that evening I was out taking a walk and saw this! Tomater! It must have been blocked by the crowds during the day.
a wonderful Saturday!
