It's Been Far Too Long!

Oh my oh my! I'm sorry for my absence, see, I've just been having the time of my life, and sometimes I forget to update you all. Let's see...I guess that means I owe you lots of stories and pictures...

The last "roomie pic" of 2012 was us doing "Tim Tam Slams" where you bite the ends off these yummy cookies called Tim Tams and suck coffee through them and then devour them...quite delicious!

Dec 20, Holiday Day 1: Geraldine to Christchurch

We hitch hiked quite successfully on both days 1 and 2!

Dec 21, Holiday Day 2: Christchurch to Akaroa

Akaroa is stunningly beautiful!

And these dolphins were there just off shore to welcome us.

Dec 22, Holiday Day 3: Akaroa

See those little rock islands sticking out in the middle...you guessed it...we went out there!

Dec 23, Holiday Day 4: Akaroa - Christchurch

The touristy shopping and pictures with statues day.

Then I took the bus back to Christchurch. It felt very weird to not be with at least part of The Crossing family for the first time since mid-September!

Dec 24, Holiday Day 5: Christchurch - Auckland

These lovely ladies (Carmel, Amber, and Jo) called my name out of their car window at the airport, so that's how I chose which car to get in (they are friends of a friend)! We had never met each other, but have become great friends now!

Saw Santa! Poor guy must have been so hot in that suit! 

And saw my first black sand beach...which came with a car stuck in it!

Dec 25, Holiday Day 6: Auckland

Amanda flew in on Christmas day! From China! 

My wonderful family sent me heaps of presents with her! 

We kept her up all day and did many fun things...one of which was a great game of croquet! 

So happy to have her here!

Dec 26, Holiday Day 7: All over Auckland

A new friend, Shelly, took us to volcanos, memorials, and the museum. This one was called One Tree Hill.

In the museum.

In the Maori section of the museum.

A really pretty one to Michael Joseph Savage 

Auckland City

A cool chair to hide from the rain in at the Viaduct 

We went to Shelly's parents house for dinner and made this tree out of cookies!

Dec 27, Holiday Day 8: Rangitoto - it's a volcano

We thought we lost the path 

Taking in the view up on the top

Exploring lava caves...super scary!

Floating down on lava...well...it used to be I guess...now it's just sharp rocks

Dec 28, Holiday Day 9: Auckland

We went with even more new friends to a marine reserve. 

We were brave and snorkeled...I was brave facing the icy cold water, and Amanda was brave facing sharks...(there weren't any, but it was the ocean, so you never know) 

Me and Aiden (one of my new friends) tried to build a sand castle, but it wasn't the best sand to work with so we turned it into an erupted volcano. 

Got some yummy kiwiyo after dinner!

Dec 29, Holiday Day 10:

We went Black Water Rafting...super fun!

Coming out at the end of the cave.

We survived!

And then we found a kiwi bird to climb on!

Okay, sorry to shove 10 days all together! It was hard to sum it all up so quick, but just know that every day is an adventure and there are plenty more pics that you will one day be able to see if you'd like to. Merry Christmas every one!