SNOW weekend!

We had been planning to visit the snowy mountains this year since last Winter.  Luke had never seen snow before, we hadn't taken him on our last trip (when he was just 2 years old).  When we invited our good friends to join us, it soon became a very exciting adventure weekend to look forward to.  We have had a close friendship with these families for longer then our relationship has been alive - Marty and these 2 guys have been friends since they were teenagers, and God granted us a huge blessing when the 3 guys married 3 girls who were destined to become close friends too.  Our kids are practically cousins, growing up together.  It seemed natural to have a weekend at a bach together, and we were all looking forward to it.  Sadly, 14 year old Dylan ended up with a really bad virus in the month before we went, and had to go to Starship hospital for almost 2 weeks of testing.  It left the Dempsey family pretty wiped out, and they weren't able to join us after all.  However, we felt this year was a great success and can't wait to fill the beds properly next year with the whole group of us.  

Here are the kids watching the Lion King bright and early on Saturday morning together 

Pancakes for breakfast!! It took a while...of course we found the non-stick electric frypan AFTER we made them all!

 

The children were SO excited to be heading to the snow.  It POURED with rain for our entire journey to Kuratau on Friday evening and kept raining all night.  We were a little worried, but praying that God would give us a spot of respite on Saturday.  Us adults stayed up till midnight, chatting around the fire and catching up.

Boy, did God answer our prayers! Saturday started clear and fine.  In fact, we got HOT at the snow.  It didn't start snowing/raining until we headed home again.  Thank You GOD!

 As we approached the snow, the kids watched excitedly out the window.  "Its like cookies and cream" the girls squeeled and "I have more snow out my side then you do" (typical competitive girls).  Luke tried to count the pockets of snow.  "There is 200 million and one!" he exclaimed!

 We had a blast at Whakapapa, finding an entire crisp and untouched side of a hill right by a carpark to claim as our very own.  It was knee deep fresh powdery snow for us.  We sledded again and again, made deep snow angels, built a snowman (complete with carrot nose) and climbed the hillside to explore the other side.  We ate our packed lunch sitting in the snow and 3 hours later, we were all happily content with our time....and ready to go to the hot pools!

beanie hair! 

The thick wooly socks Granma had knitted the kids kept their toes toasty and dry.

After a soak at the local hot springs, it was home for showers and nachos for dinner, followed by hot apple pie and icecream.  The kids settled down with a movie (Annie) while us adults played a game of "Forbidden Island".  Later we roasted marshmellows around the fire and then when the kids were in bed (they crashed out!) we watched a movie and sipped Wine.  Aahhhhh..

On Sunday, the day was gloriously sunny.  We decided to spent our morning exploring the area, and walked down to the boat ramp at the bottom of the hill after a big breakfast of scrambled eggs.  Chatting to the locals, playing with cameras, finding pumice and exploring in the sun.  It was so relaxing...we all agreed it would be nice to come back in summer.

Finally it was time to pack the cars up, clean the bach and head into Taupo for lunch and a swim.  Fish and chips on the lakefront was delicous, followed by a swim at the AC Baths, where the kids had a blast on the hydroslides again and again.    We headed home, relaxed and happy -  Thanks for a marvellous weekend to the Winters Family, we can't wait to do it again...and next time we will bring the Dempsey family too!