New Zealand (Coromandel)

So after a few days in Sydney we were off to New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud. How did we get around once there? Where did we stay? I'm glad you asked, and I can answer with one picture!

May I present our campervan, aka the wicked-wagon, aka the shaggin'-wagon, aka Fern (its actual name according to the key chain). Fern was equipped with 2 sun-roofs, 2 bucket seats, a table that breaks down into a double bed, a sink with pumped water (prime the pump!) and curtains for privacy. Campervans are definately the way to see New Zealand. I would say one out of four cars on the road are rented campervans.

Now the New Zealanders drive on the left side of the road and making it even more confusing is the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. It was disconcerting to say the least. I only drove into oncoming traffic a couple of times. After a while you kind of get used to it, but it was pretty awkward the whole time and I had to really pay attention. What was the hardest thing about driving? I'll tell you. Using the blinkers. Every time I went to make a turn I turned on the windshield wipers and Leah would laugh and laugh. The blinker is on the right side of the steering wheel and up is left signal and down is right signal (the total opposite of what we have).

After getting Fern gassed up and some groceries, our first couple days in New Zealand were spent in the Coromandel Peninsula.

This is after my first potty break along the way. Thanks for waiting until I was done before taking the picture Leah!

Leah carefully crossing the perilous stream to get to Hot Water Beach, a beach with a thermal hotspot directly underneath it causing the water to....well I guess you can figure it our from the name.

Leah enjoying the sand on Hot Water Beach. The hot area is by the rocks in the background.

Leah getting excited the water was hot!

On a hike to Cathedral Cove. It is summer in New Zealand and everything is in full bloom (including Leah's shirt).

I am about to enter a grove. No hobbits in there....this time.

What do Michael Jackson and I have in common? We both like zombies, we both like singing in falsetto and what else?....Oh yes, we both like to climb trees! No hobbits in there either:(

New Zealand has some of the most picturesque landscapes I have ever seen. Leah is pretty picturesque herself!

 I have always been a master of disguise. I have an uncanny ability to blend in with my surroundings. If you look at this picture closely you can see that there is actually only one curly plant. The other one is my finger.

Cathedral Cove. Probably the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. It is very remote with aqua blue water and cool rock formations. And like most beaches in New Zealand there is hardly anyone there if at all.

A rock off the beach in Cathedral Cove.

Inside of the Cove. There was a sign forbidding people to go inside, but we decided to live on the edge.

The other side of Cathedral Cove.

Leah enjoying the clear water at Stingray Bay and me enjoying Leah enjoying the water.

Up Next: The hot springs of Rotorua!

Sydney (Part I)

Leah and I decided to take a last minute trip (thanks to Seth and Maria) to Australia and New Zealand. We're actually still in Sydney now. We got a couple of bonus days here due to a cancelled flight...but there are worse places than Sydney to be stuck.

Leah riding a wave of sticks. She totally wiped out a second after this, but I didn't have the camera on.

(Manditory Opera House Photo) Leah and I at Farm Cove across from the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Leah looking cool in downtown Sydney when it was actually sooooo hot!

"Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?...Morons"

 Leah on the greens of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a downtown backdrop.

 Leah's favorite trees in the Royal Botanical Gardens were these purple ones. My favorite? Any tree with the giant bats (flying foxes) hanging upside down in them. They were seriously the size of Ginger with giant wings. I'll post a picture in Sydney Part Deux

Leah doing what she do standing on Mrs. Macquarie's Chair. 

So ya'all need to Hyde yo kids, Hyde yo wife and Hyde your husband cause Leah's climbin’ in your windows, she’s snatchin’ your people up tryin to get them in Hyde Park.

Leah in front of St Mary's Cathedral. Good eye!

Chinese fortune cookie say Leah find no new friends at Chinese Garden of Friendship. Maybe next time.

My darling in Darling Harbour.

Leah's manly man at Manly Beach.

Nothing Manly about this! (well, maybe the hair)

On the ferry ride home from Manly Beach. The wind kept on blowing this lady's blond hair in my face!

If you don't about Prince Albert you won't know about Prince Albert. (Warning: do not google Prince Albert)

Swimming is really big down under. I worked on my form (and accent) and I think I am pretty convincing as an Australian swimmer if I do say so myself.

Next: On to New Zealand!

San Diego

For my birthday Adam got us Taylor Swift tickets in San Diego.We drove to Whittier and stayed with our friends John and Darby, then drove together to San Diego for the concert. We don't have any pictures of the concert because they wouldn't let us bring our camera because it had a detachable lens :( But The concert was amazing. We got to visit the pretty impressive San Diego zoo..

Adam had some fun photo ideas..

The Girl had a blast and played in the zoo "toys"

Daddy loved spending time with his girl

It's hard to get a one year old to look @ the camera..

Love, LOVE, LOVE Elephants!

Chloe had no idea that the snakes were slithering by her. Yuck I hate snakes!

Daddy and Chlo on the sky tram

Chloe was naughty in the Hotel. She climbed on everything, Fell off the bed once and enjoyed the complimentary pastries :)

Naughty

10.24.11

Adam Chloe and I July 2011

                                                         The Baird family pictures

All of the babies born within a year of each other . 2 sets of twins boys, Abram and owen  Chloe and James and Ivan and Caleb. All not happy about this photo shoot.

Vintage

Okay so for a while now I have had an obsession with intricate vintage (old) furniture. My obsession doesn't stop there.. I have found that I really love vintage baby clothes. There is a shop near our house called "Room With A Past" that I have now (All thanks to my dear friend Fenima) become obsessed with. They sell furniture, dishes, baby clothes etc. all vintage or v inspired. Love love love. I am re-doing chloe's nursery into a little girl room and I am decorating it in all vintage inspired/ shabby chic. I am SO excited!!

 I transformed this neato ottoman to go in her room.

bought this cool intricate mirror that was a bronze color and spray painted it white.

These are a couple of vintage baby clothes I bought. The lady who sold these to me said she stored them in her hope chest and never used them. They are from the 60's and I think they are beautiful!

 
This white linen top is my favorite! It still has it's tags on!

I am going to put Chloe in this blue top tonight to go out to get Frozen yogurt with the youth in our church. I will pair it with some blue Janie and Jack shoes she has :)

 My model~

My vintage baby clothes model. I love you pretty baby!

My girl

Oh my little drooly sweetheart. How I love those little cheeks.

You are always so curious. You want to explore and play with everything.

We took you to the park to play in the sand and get dirty thus the play clothes. Someone gave us this onsie it says "shop till you nap - Nordstroms" Oh how I hate shirts with words or characters on them, and that is why you are in these clothes.. so you can ruin them and I won't care :) Oh and ps I love your belly in this picture!

Daddy love.

You have always loved the swing

And the sand.. You love to get dirty, and to eat sand, dirt, mud, sticks..

And to climb.. Last week at daycare (the gym) My class ended and I came back to get you and the girls were telling me how much you make them laugh and that you love to climb on things, and even on kids to get to what you want.

Here you are swinging, with a stick you found in the sand, that you wouldn't let go of.

Your daddy took this picture of you after your long day of playing. He thought you looked cute, and wanted you to see how naughty you can be when food is involved.