Our First Christmas in New Zealand... or "It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas..." NOT!

With the 25th of December approaching (according to our calendar), X-mas carols played all over the place, and ads on TV and radio madly heralding the "giving" season... I felt no usual excitement associated with Christmas. It actually seemed quite bizarre to see X-mas trees sold in town, images of Santa bundled tightly in his big, red, warm suit displayed everywhere, and lights decorating streets and our neighbor's house... I felt NOTHING!

Thus, I chose not to cook the traditional Polish X-mas Eve supper or X-mas Day dinner. I chose even not to get a X-mas tree (all our decorations donated prior to leaving the US in March). I felt quite sad... Most of our friends, immigrants like ourselves, left town... We stayed home awaiting the arrival of Eric's parents.

On the morning of the 25th, we let E open a couple gifts and we left the majority to share with Grandma and Grandpa. E, oblivious to why he was getting a present on that particular "X-mas-tree-less" morning, really liked putting it together with Eric. I never knew that assembling a simple toy may require that much work.







When in Rome do like Romans do: after breakfast we hit the beach! It was a lovely morning.







The boys threw some rocks in the water





and I built a "sandman."



It survived long enough for me to take a few pics of it before E threw himself on it with passion and great satisfaction.





E chased some birds and slid down the sand dunes just as one would on snowy hills...







After a nap, we went hiking in a nearby Reserve. It was enjoyable enough: green, quiet and quite intimate with no one else around.





E surprised us with the amount of independent walking he did.











He was not shy to ask for help when he hit his limit. He looked a bit worried about Eric's ability carry out the task.





We spent the rest of the afternoon with a couple of Kiwi friends sitting on their porch, drinking beer and watching E making friends with their dog and cat.

The following day, unlike the Kiwis, we visited the recently-opened Luge.





It was hard for E to sit still for 8 minutes while the car was being drawn up the hill.





8 minutes may have been an eternity!





He loved the rides down though - especially the tunnels and curves.





After we exhausted E's enthusiasm for the luge, we introduced him to mini golf. He took to it like a fish to water.











With Christmas gone, we looked forward to the Grandparents' visit and our trip up north, to Ahipara.

"Think of the Kiwi this Christmas season!"