Castle Hill/Cave Stream

It has really been awhile since we posted last. We have been busy at work and have only taken 1 weekend trip since we've been back. These are a few of the photos from our weekend away...only a day trip to Arthur's Pass to go to Cave Stream. Hard to explain but you dress in warm clothes (wetsuit optional) and put a headlamp on your head...you wade into the icey river and spelunk your way against the current through the cave. There are waterfalls you climb up, gorgeous rock formations, beautiful calm pools, and side hallways to explore...really different and neat. The water was crystal clear and very tempting to drink! At the end (well actually the beginning of the cave) there is a big waterfall and you climb up metal rungs (man-made, ha) and shimmy under a rock overhang holding onto a chain to get out. Out into the bright sunshine after being in a pitch black dark cave for an hour!
Afterwards we drove about 1 mile and went to Castle Hill...a hill with lots of random, enormous boulders. I think we were 4 of the only people not going to rock climb/go bouldering (which is actually a sport).
I will post some more pictures...we didn't take our camera in the cave so I will have to get Jonny or Cat's pictures of inside.

Back to Work


Kate faking a phone call…she changed out of her nursing hat and clunky white shoes for this photo.

Me slaving away after 5pm (overtime)…and no that isn’t the gamecast of the LSU vs. Ohio State game on the screen.

I don't know why everyone has a problem with me liking Doritos.


After 3 weeks off and copious (clap…clap) amounts of fried food, fast food, rich southern cooking, grease, wild game, and Doritos, we finally had to come back to do our jobs before things fell apart. After all, neither of our jobs can handle us being away too long. So, now that we are back into a routine lifestyle; we would like to thank everyone for the adventure we like to call, “A Holiday with Family and Friends”. We got to see almost everyone on our list, and the rest we got to talk to over the phone. Thank y’all for making time available for us and sitting through multiple repetitive stories about how “different” the Kiwi way of life is. Christmas and New Year’s felt like it was supposed to feel with decorations, cold weather, and entirely too much shopping; and, not too much has changed since we have been gone – others may argue this. So, thanks.

We thought we would post a picture or two of us working, because no one believes that we do work based on blog photos. So, one post of our workplace should suffice, and now the rest of the pictures will most likely go back to our weekend trips. And, if anyone still wants to try a holiday away from home, our door is always open…..seriously….any holiday, even Confederate Memorial Day - I still have a few friends who get that one off.

Hello! We are back home safe and sound (with our luggage thankfully). As I type Blaine is out on our deck pruning our grapevine b/c it is overgrowing our bedroom window! It is about 80 degrees here, so strange to come from winter to summer. Our flights were o.k. The only real hardship was sitting on the runway for 5 hours in L.A. before beginning our 13 hour overseas leg. With all the bad weather in California, L.A. airport was very crowded and we had to sit in line to take off for many hours.
We arrived to some very bad news: Jonny's dad had a stroke 2 days before and is in ICU. The good news is that he is making some good recovery and is now able to walk with some assistance. Please pray for him and his family, for a speedy recover.
We will post some pictures from our trip to Mississippi when we get over our jetlag. Thanks to all our family and friends for all the visits, meals, gifts, and time you invested in us while we were home. It was my favorite Christmas and I have many treasured memories!