Madd Max Hit Enchanted

A light show at the Descanso Gardens.

Walkway.

There were a group of these hanging from trees, all of which the kids were allowed to spin.  It was some impressive patterning.

As you stepped on the lights at the bottom of the trees, a chime would sound and the light would change.

Interactive pathway.

And Taisie's favorite - the Chinese lanterns.

Slappy Feels Grownup

Breakfast with Kearsley and Jess before 3 ear appointments in a row.  She also got a special lunch with Jess, told by her audiologist that she did better in the testing booth then most adults, and got to finish an entire season of a podcast of her choosing on the drive back.  Needless to say - this might be the only kid who looks forward to hours of doctors appointments.

Slappy Heads Up North

For an overnight with the Higgins-Vaziri clan.

Madd Max Celebrates The William's Girls

At their 3rd-Audrey and 6th-Isse, Bowling Birthday Party.

The Rainbow Unicorn Marissa cakes came with Rainbow Poop cupcakes.

Birthday Girl!

Madd Max Has A Happy Second Thanksgiving

Where Sam made a chocolate meringue pie.

And the appetizers included the traditional Williams' Pringles and squeeze cheese.

2nd Thanksgiving with our Urban Family.

All the solid leftovers, including a pumpkin soup that Sam sassed up with gravy?

Jess was also gifted her first pair of reading glasses from John.  

You only have to bring the butter this close to read the label.

Madd Max Has A Happy Last Day

The kids headed with Taisie and Aunt Rachel to Gwen's favorite store in Dunedin, Smiggle.

A last trip in the van to the beach.

Where the fam walked to the caves.

And Max made his last sandball.

The flight home was the icing on the cake when the fam accidentally ended up in Premium Economy.

Good bye, New Zealand!  Thanks for a fabulous time.

Madd Max Has A Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving dinner at Fleur's in Moeraki.  Could it be any more perfect?

Thankful for family.
BTW - you could write on the walls of the old barn/restaurant in sharpie.  

After that the fam headed to Otago to see the Little Blue Penguins (the third variety of penguin on the trip) come in to roost after a day at sea. About 200 of these little guys came ashore in groups of 50-70.  

Later, some of them wandered around at the property, hence the sign.

Madd Max Hit The Moeraki Boulders

Jess was a little surprised when she turned the corner and saw these.  After visiting Elephant Rocks, and hearing the hype on the boulders, it felt a little like when you mis-order off of amazon - a cute pasta strainer that, when it arrives, turns out to be only the size for a half pint of blueberries.  (Aunt Rachel's solid analogy).  Aunt Rachel did say when the tide was in, the boulders were much more mysterious.

And some looked like this.

Cool.

Maddie loved these little, pretty shells and the small blue jellyfish that the tide brought in. 

She also loves this girl.

Madd Max Hit The Katiki Point Lighthouse

Walk to the point.

Where we saw these.

Under this bush.

There are seals all over the rocks behind the fam.

Taisie.

And the walk back to the lighthouse.

Madd Max Head To The Organ Pipes

A super cool hike in the Mount Cargill Scenic Reserve.  It was steeper then this picture lets on - at points you were actually doing a close to 60 degree climb up the rocks.

Simon was the only kiddo who joined Aunt Rachel, Jess and Sam.

Crazy, right?

Pipes.

Madd Max Bond

Gwen and Maddie, making comic books together.

Max reading Captain Underpants to Simon.

Slappy Climbs The World's Steepest Residential Street

According to Dunedin, at least.

Baldwin Street from the side.

Madd Max Head To The West Side Of The Island

Where there was the Kea - the world's only Arctic parrot.

Waterfalls everywhere.

A stop at The Chasm.

Which was in the middle of Fiordland National Park

It's a rainforest - oh yes, it is.

A little stop at Mirror Lake.

Jess dug the sign meant to be read in the reflected water.