Matthews Family: Te Arai and Emily's Wedding

So just to back track a little bit. A week before we left on holiday Ammon and I made a quick dash back to New Zealand for Te Arai and Emily's wedding. And by quick I mean quick. Aarahi dropped us off at the Airport at 4am Friday on his way to work and we got home Sunday night. I wish we could have all come but A) we aren't that rich and B) I'm really not that crazy to want to take all the kids on trip that short with so much travelling involved.

Travelling with one kid is ridiculously easy, once you have been used to travelling with 2 or more by yourself. We sat and had breakfast at the airport and I managed to catch up on some good movies on the plane. Wonderful.

Once we arrived into Auckland the airport had lost my pram and it took them a good hour to find it. That was kind of annoying but I secretly hoped that they had lost it and they would buy me a replacement. The same pram got damaged on our flight from LA to Melbourne and I got a replacement then so I thought I might have a chance.

We got back to my sisters house and relaxed until my parents arrived from Palmy and then enjoyed a bbq dinner for Kevin's birthday.

The next morning we set out for the next leg of the trip driving up to Kerikeri. I've never been much further north than the Waiwera hot pools so it was pretty neat to see some more of the country. The trip took about 4 hours. We dumped our bags at the motel and got changed before driving another hour or so to the wedding venue....in the middle of nowhere. By now it was pouring with rain.

Can I just say that the last 5 weddings I have been to it has rained, including my own. What's with that? I hope it's good luck.

It was so nice to see everyone again! You really don't realise how much you miss people until you see them again. I wish it could have been so much longer. Everyone is growing up. My little Mei has gone off to uni in a different city! This is the kid who would follow me around like a little puppy and slept in my bed until she was almost 11 and too big to fit...and then she slept on the floor in my room. When did she grow up!

I digress. The wind knocked down the arch thing they had made to get married under. The boys tried to fix it before giving up and throwing to the side. Te Arai bawled his eyes out during his vows...fairly predictable. The food was good. The company wonderful and it was a beautiful night finished off with fireworks. I am really blessed to be a part of such a wonderful mixed up family that no one understands.

After a few teary goodbyes, we drove back to the motel and promptly fell into bed at about 1am. Up again at 8am to head back to Auckland. We stopped along the way and Orewa (I think that's where it was anyway) For fish n chips. BEST FISH I HAVE EVER HAD. Fish n chip in Australia are gross. Ammon had a paddle in the water. We spent a couple of hours at Ellies again before heading back to the airport at 4pm. It was so busy at the airport that the line for immigration was right out the doors and into the departure hall. It took close to 2 hours to get through, we only waited 5 mins before boarding though.

I got on the plane with no spare nappies because I couldnt justify spending more money on a pack of nappies when I had some at home. I figured I changed Ammon just before we boarded, the flight is only 4 hours and he had already pooped for the day so I should be right. Of course he thought it was a good time to poo mid flight. So what do you do? Empty the contents of the nappy into the toilet and try wash the nappy out as best you can. Put a paper hand-towel down as a liner in the nappy and put it back on. Then to disguise any smell that may be left liberally apply hand soap to the outside of the nappy before putting pants back on. He was fine we all survived.

We arrived home eventually at midnight, It was worth every minute.

I forgot my camera and my phone was flat so my photos are somewhat lacking.