WAY overdue post!!!!!

Hello everyone,

I am SO SORRY it has been so long since we posted something.  I have made myself a promise that I will get better at it again.  I do have a confession though.  This blog was always meant to be a travel blog and not to be an update on our lives.  After our Christmas holiday last year we spent the rest of teh year saving up for our trip back to Canada.  So we really didn't do much travelling to report on.  But, I will now post about our FABULOUS trip home!!!! (and then some).

So here it goes...

It was really nice to come home for a visit.  I must have been the most annoying colleague because I only talked about home for the month leading up to it.  Our flights started well with an all you can eat and drink buffet in the Koru lounge.  That was delicious.  Our flight was delayed out of Auckland, but thankfully so was the Vancouver one so we made it in time with only a small sprint through the airport.  I would like to take a minute to thank the Vancouver security guards for the VERY thorough search of our duty free. It almost made us miss our flight, last two to board!!!! Talk about giving us evils, those other passengers were not impressed.  It didn't help that we stunk pretty bad at that point.  Oh well, we made it home safely!Chris's family picked us up from Toronto with lovely flowers for me! We stopped at Tim Hortons on the way home.  First Honey Crueller of the trip!!! Way sweeter than either of us remembered, but soooooooo yummy.

It was really nice to spend some time and catch up with family and friends.  We tried to see as many people as we could as often as we could.  I am sorry if we never got to spend as much time with you as we would have liked.  Three weeks really isn't enough time but it was all we could manage.  If only money grew on trees.

We had a large Johnson/Buchholz family reunion Mum hosted at Wildwood.  It turned out fabulously with so many blueberry pies (my favourite).  The Fischers got the chance to meet my entire family, and I mean the entire family but they fit in so well! You would never have known we weren't all blood relatives.  Also the Parks Blueberry pie was voted the best! With the others coming very close.  Writing this now I just wish I could be eating blueberry pie.  I thought I had enough for a lifetime but I must have been wrong.

Well we had smoked pork chops, went sailing, kayaking, and talking.  It was a lively evening, I wish it could have lasted longer and I could have spent more time talking with everyone who was able to attend.  I have missed you all so much you wouldn't believe it, but I really missed all of you.  Being so far from family is hard and having everyone in one spot.  I was in heaven.

Some of the family, Buchholz side (Aunt Andrea took the picture)

Special thank you to Omi for lending me her shoes.  I was so efficient in packing that I forgot sandals.  I know, stupid, but Omi's red ones were so awesome!!

Aunt Andrea and myself, thanks for lending me your shoes Omi!

I got to hang out with Rachel (the best new doctor EVER) for an afternoon.  She was so sweet, she drove me up to Lake Huron to check another must go place off my list.  We had a blast.  I forgot how wonderful fresh water is to swim in.  Salt water is nice but you can get out of fresh water and not feel salty! I think we sent over an hour in the water talking, it was just so wonderful and warm.

Awesome summer afternoon, wish we had more of them!

Also, shout out to Rachel and Tyler for being such wonderful cooks, I really enjoyed our dinners together and finally getting to meet Marvin.  It was so cruel how you brought him home a week after I moved to NZ.  He was such a sweetie, he almost convinced me that maybe I could waver my strict no dog stance.

Got to protect yourself from those sun rays

One of the trip highlights was when Beeks took Chris flying (and I weaseled my way into the back seat...not so sneaky).  I love flying with Dad, I always feel safe and secure when he is in control.

Getting ready to fly!

 Beeks tooks us on his Waterfalls and Whale Watching tour.  Seeing the falls from the air is truly something amazing.  You get to see the awe inspiring beauty of them without the tacky tourist nature of the town.  We circles a few times and got plenty of pictures.  It was a trip I will never forgot.  Thank you Dad, it was very kind of you to take us up.  Such a lively flight!

Cruising with Beeks

 Wow, just wow.  Wish I could go back again.

Not another place like it on Earth

Chris and I headed up to the Bruce Peninsula for a family get away with our two families (sorry Wes, it would have been nice it you could have joined us).  We were on the west side at a gorgeous circular cottage!! Dad and I went swimming the first day just off the dock.  There really is nothing nicer than the water up there.

The Fischers treated us to dinner the first night and wow they put on a feast! I have been waiting 2.5 years for Dianne's cannelloni and it was as wonderful as I remember.  Now if only I could convince Chris to make it...

We spent the next day hiking in Bruce Peninsula National Park.  This is my absolute favourite place in Canada besides home.  We introduced the Fischers to the Grotto, and the overhang rock.  It was a lot of hiking and there were lots of rocks but it was worth it for the visit and the views.

Horsing around

Can't take her anywhere

We saw 3 Garter Snakes and ONE RATTLE SNAKE!!!!! This was my 7th visit to the park and I FINALLY got to see one!!!!!!! Unfortunately we only saw it because we didn't have a camera on us.  We had gone back to Indian Cove after lunch for a swim and we saw it walking back.  The signs say to stay back and give the snake their space.  Not my family, we all inched closer trying to hear the rattle (it really had one that rattled).  So COOL!!!!!!
 

Garter SNAKE!!!

Swimming up there is really amazing.  I have't been at that time of year in ages and I couldn't believe how (relatively) warm the water was.  Mum and I were able to swim all the way out to the Grotto without getting hypothermia! (win!)

What a nice picture of the family!

I like natural holes in rocks...and birds.

That was such a lovely little get away (complete with butter tarts!).  It was nice to get away and spend time with both families together.  Next time, we will have to bring the bean bag game again!!

What happens when you leave your camera with your sister

I got to spend a bit of time with Wes while he was finishing his thesis. I tried to be as helpful as I could, I even helped write the first part of his introduction.  I was to proud to see Wes doing so well and almost done two years of such hard work.  Toronto was a fun place to visit but visiting Wesley was better.

Wes giving me a tour of his lab, such a proud sister!!!

 His apartment had the BEST view from the roof.  Such a beautiful city.

The view from Wesley's roof!

 There is no place like home! Hayley and Mum painted the red accents on the house, I think it just looks darling!

There is no place like home

No trip to London would be complete without a trip to Port Stanley with Omi.  We stopped my Mackies (turns out I am the only person in my family who LOVES the fry sauce, aren't they weirdos?) for some french fries and orangeade.  We even found lucky stones on the beach!

No trip to Port Stanley would be the same without Mackies

Our trip ended way too soon.  We both agreed that the first two weeks felt like we were visiting but the last one just felt like we had moved back home again.  It was so nice to see everyone again.  We have really missed you all.  Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to visit with us!

Thank you Mum, Dad and Schwester for making this trip home so special.  I am so lucky to have you guys making all the food I could have asked for (and making the house so wonderful).  Best hosts ever!!!!

When we got back to Auckland we focused on spending some time together. We had hardly seen each other the entire trip.  But we had other goals as well...our races.

Chris rode the K2 a few weeks ago.  This was 192km of mountains around the Coromandel Peninsula.  I was so proud to support him although all we saw was the start and the end.  Chris was a champ and finished in 8:25.  Who does that?

Before the race looking eager

The boys at the start line

The cool sign (with Chris in the background)

Chris psyched himself out a the start line and nearly fell as he crossed the official start.  But he made it through and this is him crossing the finish:

Here he comes!!!!

The next weekend was my turn.  I had my first Sprint Triathlon. It was a beautiful day and I am glad I did it.  I have been training hard. It started with a swim with everyone looking the same.

Looking eager, and nervous

I wasn't expecting Chris to find me after the swim but he did! Good official photographer.

Trying to look pro and take off my wet suit while running

Starting running, looking pro

 And then I was faster than expected so Chris lost me.  At least he caught me finishing!

Isn't that the look of a champion?

 It is over! 1:28:54 speedy Gonzalez 500m Swim, 20km ride, 5km run.

Taking November easy then getting back into it in December.  March here I come!!!!! Full Triathlon next time!!!!

Love you all, we are heading out this weekend. I will make sure to take pictures!

Love,
Chelsea
xoxoxo