Sunday 24th December Christmas Eve

So we got up Sunday morning and had some breakfast and headed to church. It was really nice.
I did a short talk about the Saviour and his time of birth and how there was a new star that formed and how it was a light and a guide, just like the Saviour and like our families.
It's always really nice to be in Tokoroa ward. I love those people and who they are to me and my family. It was nice to look out on the congregation and see them all and know how they know me and love me.
I had a wonderful time afterwards catching up with some of the people and talking to them and seeing what they had been doing with themselves.
This is mama benion and she's in her 90's and I went up to her and said hi and she knew exactly who I was and talked to me like I hadn't been gone. What a wonderful woman she is. I'm glad I could be with her.
She was walking around the chapel telling everyone I was one of her daughters. So special.
We then went back to Llew's house and made the kids some lunch and hung out for a while before we headed over to mum's house for the Christmas Eve shenanagans.
Dru and I headed to mum's to make the burgers for our sliders we were gonna make but left the kids watching a movie at Llew's. It was nice to have a little quiet without my kids at mum's for a second and get those burgers made.
The kids made these cute things with their Uncle and Auntie.

We then went and picked up the kids and brought them over the mum's.

We had a BBQ and some amazing food that we all contributed to. It was awesome. It was also really nice to all be together as well and be with each other at this special time.
We then decided to come in together and do a talent show family by family. Masaru, Yuki and Takeshi all played a piece on the piano for everyone.
Llewellyn's family put Zeke out the front and he did a dance to Bruno Mars.


It was pretty cute man.
Sarah's family put knox in the middle and he showed us his muscles and then this weird cool finger thing. It was pretty cool and funny.
Gareth's family had Nixon play a piece on the piano for all of us and it was really nice.
Haydn's family had Gracie who did a dance with the cuzzies for us.


They just put this together as well. Pretty good aye.
Delwyn didn't do anything and then Bevin put Eve out there and we sang a Maori song and Eve did yoga for us.



After we'd done our talents we talked about Christ a bit and sang two carols then went around and said three things we were grateful for.
It was pretty awesome to all be together and contribute in that way. It was really nice and I'm so grateful for those kinds of moments.
We then kept hanging out.
The theme of the night was Haydn and Masaru tackling people down to the ground and tickling their feet.
They got everyone except for Gareth. It was pretty funny man and made the night hilarious. Llewellyn and Masaru turned on Haydn and got him and Haydn turned on Masaru and got him too.
It was just a really special night at mum's house.
It was everything I could've asked for.
I have an overwhelming amount of joy from things like this. My family make me happy and it's what the season is all about you know.
Words can't express the feelings in my heart.


We set up the stockings and set up all the presents and Dru sat and wrapped everything while everyone sat and wrapped and talked as well.
We ended up staying up till 1:30am
It was nice to to stay up and chat. It was Delwyn, Jessie, Bevin, Me, Dru, Dior and maybe Haydn but I can't remember. He likes his sleep so might've went to bed.
It's been really nice to hang out and chat.
Great, great day from sun up to sun down.

Saturday December 23rd Baptism Day

Dru and I woke up at Llewellyn's house and then got our gears together to go for a mtb ride.
We took the kids to mum's house so they could watch them while we went out.

It was pretty wet but it was still fun though.

While we were mtb Llewellyn and Gareth went with their families on a bush walk with the kids. They took Yuki. It looked beautiful.



Yuki with her cuzzie Rylie.

We then came home and showered, ate and hung out really.

Daisho came over and chilled for the afternoon till he picked his girlfriend up. He showed the kids card tricks which they loved.









This video is from Llew's house friday night that I forgot to put up.
We then went to Llew's house to get ready for the baptism since all our clothes were over there and headed to the baptism.


We tried to get some pic's but Emiko didn't want to be in the picture so we took some with her.



But then she came in and smiled for us.



I don't know who sneaked this photo of all of us at the baptism but this is all of us at the baptism.
It was family only this time as Kat couldn't come cause her family are in town cause of the season.
Haydn conducted with Pete up there representing the bishopric.
Sarah did the opening prayer.
Llewellyn talked about faith
Delwyn talked about repentance
Dru baptised Takeshi with Bevin and Haydn to witness it.
Dru, Pete, Haydn and Bevin gave Takeshi the Holy Ghost.
Bevin sang a song about baptism to Takeshi
Haydn talked about the Holy Ghost
Then Gareth did the closing prayer to finish it off.
It was simple and beautiful and I loved it.
Takeshi got emotional when he was being given the Holy Ghost and it was a beautiful moment. I think he knew what was happening was special, which it was.

We then headed outside and got some photo's taken.





















Such a sweet pic of Daisho



Gareth and Iestyn

Violet

Sisters



Delwyn came in late and got the short mattress and he didn't even care. When we woke up we saw it and were cracking up.










We all came and ate dinner together and hung out. It was really nice.
We had a great day and I loved how to programme went. Im glad everyone was together for the day and for the dinner.

Friday December 22nd

So today we got up early and sorted out our bedroom for my brother and his wife who were coming up to stay, Jessie and Haydn. We packed up all our stuff and put it away so they could have the room that we were staying in.
We then did the kids homework and got them all packed up for staying at Llewellyn's house for 2 days before Christmas.
We then all jumped in the van and headed out to Waitomo caves with Aja as well, to meet Gareth, Livi and their boys.

Takeshi's in the back, already asleep.
We decided to use Haydn's van but he doesn't have a usb point to play off of our phones and so we had to hunt for some CD's. The only thing we could find was Justin Beiber and Adel, which was just fine by me man.


I was having a great time.
It was only an hour and a half to get to Waitomo and so that was awesome.

We got there and Gareth was already there. It was great to see them and be able to catch up.
We were on time but needed to hustle to the cave beginning.



We went to the Ruakuri cave first. Rua means two and Kuri means dog. When this cave was founded they found two dogs in it and ate them, hence the name.
It was just beautiful.

We walked down this 15m path to the cave. It was awesome.







How cool are these caves.



Fossils





























It was just beautiful.
Then we went out for some lunch and a walk. It was nice to chill.

They went on this bush walk for half and hour. Aja didn't wanna go so I stayed with her. Dru took these pic's and video's of it.





















Then it was time to go to the second cave, Aranui. It was a quicker tour this time but just beautiful.






































After we'd finished this cave we hung out and got some water and chilled out for a while until it was time to go into the Waitomo glow worm caves.
We weren't allowed to take any pictures of the caves but let me try to find a picture of it so you can have an idea.

Isn't it just amazing? It was nice and quiet and surreal and amazing.
So they're actually glow maggots. They're the larva of a nat fly. They glow to attract insects and once they turn into a fly they only live a couple of days and die. It's pretty sad actually, but they're beautiful to look at.
They have these long sticky threads they hang down to catch the insects. Let me try to find a pic.

The kids found it fascinating and I'm really glad we went.

We saw this wood pigeon on the tree as well which was pretty good too.
After we'd had a spectacular time we headed off back to Tok.



We stopped in Otorohanga to get ice cream then made it all the way home.
Once we got to Tok we had some dinner at Llew's house then hung out.
Jessie came over and did my nails while we hung out.
They're the best nails I've every had BY FAR and Jessie is AMAZING right?
Check it out.

I love them and am ready to look good at the baptism tomorrow.
Great, great day and I'm looking forward to all of us being together tomorrow.