All Blacks Rugby

Us

So the last two days have been really fun and eventful! I've remembered to take lots of photos too! Yesterday we went into Wellington to visit some family friends and scope out the city sites. While we were visiting Chris's family J enjoyed playing with her kiddos. J used to watch her oldest, Emerson, and so it was fun to go back and see how much she had grown. The other kiddos Peighton and Timson where so much fun and we had fun playing with them and eating! (I tried corned beef for my very first time) afterwards, we went to Mt. Victoria which is a huge hill in the middle of the city and you can see EVERYTHING in EVERY direction. It was really neat! We got ice cream at McDonalds with "Flake" Chocolate in it. My very first. It's a stick of chocolate in the ice cream and the perfect touch to AMAZING NZ ice cream :) We stocked up on tons of junk food for the week (meat pies, L&P Soda, etc) and as we left Pack 'N Save-the grocery store, we ran into more family (surprise) and so we said hello and then left. As we left the parking lot, J went on to explain that the cousin we met was Rodney, AKA All Blacks Rugby player and sometimes CAPTAIN. Ever since we watched the movie Invictus, I am REALLY interested in rugby and I was SO excited that we are RELATED to Rodney Sooialo. So J's dad asked me if I wanted a picture...of COURSE! He said something about going to get one, and I thought he meant go up to the house, but no....as we were driving down the streets of Porirua, J's dad waved the cars around us as we drove until it was Rodney behind us. He then told him to pull over, where we pulled over on the side of the road. J's parents yelled out "J's wife wants a picture with you!" How EMBARRASSING! So we got out...and took a picture! :) He looks super tough! And I was so stoked about it! I really am glad that we got a picture.
Afterwards, we went home for movies and games. Today we went out to a fabric store where I was able to find tons of awesome fabrics for $1/meter. So I got tons of different kinds so I can work on some fun projects. We went to the mall and found some souvenirs and some other fabulous finds. I found a cute tote for $3 and we got J some shoes for cheap too! Now we are home enjoying games, movies and ramen. Awww the life of no school :)
That's all for now......more to come.....(J's birthday is TOMORROW!! :)

I didn't know this was a pub til AFTER the pic

J's second home...

New Zealand money...so colorful! Wish I were rich

Us with Emerson & Peighton

Me & the adorable girls

J takin' care of baby

J playin' "guess which hand" with Emerson

W is for Wellington!!

Straight up W

Mt. Victoria

Still Mt. Victoria

I dunno what J is doingCanon!

Tryin' to be a Maori

J succeeded

Up on top of Mt. Victoria

Mt. Victoria

My handsome hubby

Us with Rodney Sooialo-Captain of The All Blacks

They insisted I get a photo alone

Me & YUMMY New Zealand fish & chips

J representing his old work place

Us at the mall eating kebabs

Did I tell you we dry our clothes outside here?

So, here are pictures from the last few weeks....I wish I had taken more, but since I've been not feelin' good, I keep forgetting to take photos! But here are SOME!

This is when J & I had our own Christmas at home. I got a package from Alana too and she made me this FABULOUS stocking. J got a bunch of things for Christmas including a digital drawing pad for the upcoming amazing graphic designer..I got a wonderful sonicare toothbrush perfect for the upcoming dental hygienist.

So when J & I got to our gate to leave for Wellington, there was a party, and we got these awesome bags since we were on the first flight to Nadi, Fiji

Us with the Mayor of Honolulu. (I saw that he was a man of importance and so I wanted a picture with him...and THEN I found out he was the mayor...hahaha)

This was our AWFUL hotel room in Nadi. There were dead bugs all over the floor from having the light on, the bed was...ewww...and the bathroom was SO gross. I kept my shoes on the entire time we were there....

Me & J waiting in Fiji for our flight...

This is when we landed in Auckland...it was FREEZING

Flying over Wellington...SO beautiful and GREEN!

Dad & Mom Scanlan...out for lunch at the mall

My first meat pie!

I was able to meet with Zanj for lunch....she was one of my first friends in Hawaii....love her!

It's so GREEN!

Christmas Eve....

I look so sick...but I WAS excited for my present!

Joelita was SUPER stoked about her stocking :)

My turn to open a present!

My AWESOME new shades

My "C'mon John" Shirt....New Zealand humor

Dad likes his chocolates

J was SUPER stoked....a lil too much

Mom liked her bag

I found a TON of chocolate in my stocking...literally a TON

I don't know why J was so excited about everything...

For some reason J thought the chocolate was his too....so wrong

Lita and Me on Christmas

New Zealand

Well, I've been in New Zealand for a week now...absolutely amazing! So fun to see all these places where my husband has grown up, where he worked, went to church, see baby pictures, mission pictures, and meet all the people who adore him here. It has been so fun! He has introduced me to fish & chips (SO good), meat pies, hokey pokey ice cream, and much much more. It has been so fun. Lucky for me, J gave me his cold the DAY we got here, so I've been seeing everything through fuzziness and tissues. But it has still been fun. We have gone into Wellington, and to Upper Hutt. I was able to see a dear friend of mine, Zanj, who was one of the very first girls I met when I got to BYU-Hawaii. She is now home preparing to go on a mission and it was so fun to spend time with her.
I spent my very first Christmas away from home and snow. What a different experience! It was very hard for me, but I made it through and it was a pleasant day. We went from home to home eating. There was a small gift exchange on Christmas Eve, and it was nice. I was able to skype the family on my Christmas Day (their Christmas Eve). It was SO nice to see everyone's faces.
The day after Christmas, we went to "Boxing Day" which is like Black Friday. We went to the mall and everywhere looking for deals. They aren't that great of deals here, but I guess they do get paid more, but J and I got a few things :) It was fun to shop and look around. EVERYWHERE we go J runs into AT LEAST 4 people he knows. Which is so fun. I have met aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, etc. It is so fun to be around all of these people.
It's been quite cold here. J didn't explain to me that when he says it's summer here, he means, bring all your jackets, long pants, and scarves. I have been freezing! It's green tho, and so pretty. Rolling hills with sheep everywhere!
I have been opened up to alot of Samoan culture as I am now living in the home of the culture. I have never had these experiences before. It's good for me. It's very different. I have been indulging in Cocoa Samoa and Coconut Buns. It's been an adventure.
I am loving it, and trying to enjoy through my cold. We are road tripping it this week through the island to make our way to Auckland. J is so happy and I enjoy seeing him this way, and showing me everything. I'm so glad we were able to take this trip.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!!
(Pictures soon, I promise)

Fiji!

So we are currently waiting for our flight at the Nadi Fiji airport. And it's been so interesting so far. The flight here was okay. Seemed WAY longer than 6 hours tho! When we got to our gate at the Honolulu Airport, they were having a huge celebration because this is the first direct flight to Fiji for Continental Airlines. We were given leis, bags that said "FijiME), drinks, cookies, a band playing, a hula girl, and the mayor was there. There was a huge speech and a Hawaiian Priest came and blessed the flight. IT was pretty cool! Once we got to Fiji, we decided to get a room because it was only midnight and our flight wasn't until 5pm. We got the best hotel that they said they had around here...and it was AWFUL. I pretty much didn't want to use the bathroom and I didn't want my body on that bed. But it was okay...I survived, amazingly...(I'll just say it was an adventure) We had to check out at noon, but the shuttle didn't leave for the airport until 2, so I sat and read The CHristmas Jars to J (to get him in the spirit!). Once we got back to the airport, we found out that we had to get our luggage from customs because although our last airlines told us they were sending it all the way through to NZ and we couldn't pick it up..they were wrong. So we had to talk to a bunch of people to find our suitcase that I was praying was still here. WE found it at last after many prayers and checked in, went thru security, and now we are waiting for our flight! We got some butter chicken, but J swears it's not half as good as the butter chicken his neighbor from his mission made. lol. It's just been an adventure and DIFFERENT. Very different holiday for me..but I'll try my best to enjoy it! J and I are together and we are safe, and after every stressful moment, we laugh and can relax, and I think we will make it! Anyways...this is the update thus far! Bula!!
Pictures to come!

Ice Skating!

Me & My Prince Charming....

So last night night J and I went with Ash and Iasi out to town for some grub and skating to get in the holiday spirit. We went to Cheesecake Factory where J got some HUGE ribs that he proudly devoured. We went to Ice Palace to skate and it was hilarious. J and Iasi just wanted to go fast, and they ended up in the kiddie section where they could use the supporters to "go fast". Nothing could be better on a Fiday night than yummy dinner, ice skating, and delicious cheesecake with friends! So fun! I got some GREAT photos too. Check it out...

They are so cute! I'm sad this pic is blurry!

Me and J at the rink

Ash and her lover

Ash leading the way!

J was enjoying himself....

There really are no words for this one....hahahaha

Time to hit the kiddie section....

I think the lil girl was scared of these big guys that were taking over her turf

Look at these guys!

Ash & Me

What's with the foot pop??

The Lautahas

This one is for you Ash!

Wow! December is going fast!

All in Kahuku Red cheering for the team! J was getting really into it as you can see.....

Well, J and I have been very busy with school, work, and PLAY and trying to enjoy every bit of Christmas time! Our fun started Thursday when we got a package in the mail from mom..she sent us a lil penguin that counts down to Christmas! SO cute! The only place we have to put it is on the towel rack behind out door...but it's a decoration and I love it!!

Here it is! So cute!

Friday we went to the football game with Ash and Iasi. It was state championship and it was Kamehameha vs KAHUKU. Sadly, Kahuku didn't quite pull through, but it was still alot of fun! The guys about lost their voices and the crowd was INTENSE.Iasi and Ash were bummed that they weren't doing as well as 2002 team.....
Red Raiders, Red Raiders!!
Cheering is SO intense!!

Saturday I had to work at 6 in the morning, so I had to get up at 4, so when I came home I really was going to just sleep, but instead I made some cookies with Ash and went to some yard sales where I finally found some little ornaments for our little tree! It was so fun! While J was at work, I made him some Thai Peanut Chicken, put in Muppets Christmas Carol (Since J didn't even KNOW what A Christmas Carol WAS!!!), and set the cookies out where he'd find em! We spent the evening eating yummy food and (for me reminiscing) seeing a new movie about Christmas for J. It was so fun to just relax in our lil home and enjoy the Season.
Today we went to the broadcast of the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. It was SO good. I LOVE the holidays, AND President Monson. We heard some wonderful stories that made me so thankful for the Christmas I do get to have and the family I have. Afterwards, we played some games with Ash and Iasi, which was HiLARIOUS, and J and I came home to decorate our little tree!

The beginnings of decorating out tree!
Isn't it cute???

Our tree.
-Is shorter than the stool it sits on.
-Is pinned to the stool cushion so it will sit still.
-It too little to handle one package of mini bulb ornaments.
-We pinned our stockings to the stool so they hang under the tree..and they are larger than our tree!
-Presents won't actually fit on the cushion (tree) now....so they actually go under the STOOL.
-I almost cried with desperation from trying to get out tree to hold still and hang our stockings...but we will look back and enjoy our tiny Christmas...maybe in a few days I'll have a better appreciation!

Our lil stool of Christmas....stockings, tree, and all!!

I do love it tho. I love that I CAN have a Christmas, AND that J already has a present for me under the tree!! hehehe.
Merry Christmas! Enjoy the holidays!

It's Christmas Time

So Christmas seems to be RIGHT around the corner! And we are getting all ready for it at the Scanlan Box (My friend pointed out I live in more of a box than a house). We have bought a small tree that is place on the only stool we have, and the only ground place for it. I have placed a Christmas pillowcase under it that I brought with me a few years ago for a tree skirt, and used a red bow to tie around the stool. We don't have any lights for the tree, or ornaments. We just have a single snowflake I cut out taped to the cupboard. But I am determined to at LEAST make some more snowflakes! :) It seems so hard to take time out to enjoy the season, not just because you have to remind yourself it's December when it's warm outside, but because school is keeping us SO busy up until we are leaving. We have gotten ourselves some stockings (J's very first) and they are currently hung on a hanger on the towel rack on the back of our door. It seems this Christmas is sneaking up on us! I'm still trying to enjoy it though. I ONLY listen to Christmas music and I am constantly thinking of all the things I would like to do for all these people I ADORE! I am just hoping we have time for it all..
We leave for New Zealand on the 18th, and I realized that I'm going to have to get used to a whole other way of doing Christmas. I haven't ever had to do that before. In fact, I've never been away for Christmas. I am trying to not get homesick, but the thought of snow, hot chocolate, warm blankets, and mom's cooking is making it difficult. I told J today how I will have never gone this long without family! I have ALWAYS come home every few months! And we are hoping that if we are LUCKY we will make it back to the mainland next summer...GUH! This sure makes me thankful for phones, emails, packages, and skype! It is SO true that Christmas is all about family. I don't want anything for Christmas but family. But I am excited to come to love the new family that I have and spend this holiday time with them. J and I are saving and making all the arrangements to go, and I AM glad that he is SO excited. I cannot IMAGINE not being home for 3 years. Tough guy! We hope to do alot while we are there and enjoy being "home". I had to quit my job the other day because nobody is allowed to take the holidays off, but it is completely worth it. When it comes to family, it is amazing what we are willing to give. I am so grateful for all of my family and I cannot wait til I can see all of them again! I sure am thinking of them alot during this Holiday time.....projects and papers can't take that from my mind! Merry Christmas, Love you.

I thought this was funny....I tweaked the name and year to make it relate...haha