Kiwi Feet

No, not the three toed, sharp clawed feet of New Zealand's most famous flightless bird, but the disgusting, dirty extremities attached to the legs of my oldest, shoeless son, Kip. (I recommend that you double click the photo in order to fully appreciate your viewing experience.)

Home Sweet Home

After 6 months of looking, we have finally bought a home. The six months were worth the wait as house prices fell and the US dollar strengthened against the New Zealand dollar. We take possession of our new home on the 15th of December. We'll move in that week and leave for our Christmas beach holiday a few days later. The house isn't the quaint country home that I envisioned we'd buy. In fact, it's more Scottsdale than New Zealand. However, the view is a totally different story. For the first time, we will have enough bedrooms for Reid and Quinn to each have their own. Richard has about 2 acres of lawn to mow (he might have to get a few sheep to help with that endeavour). And we have a blank slate to landscape. We can't wait to be in and settled. This will be our 5th and final house of 2008 and we hope to make it home for many years to come.