We Take Ourselves With Us

Somehow, Santa found us all--even though we were thousands of miles from home (8,678.1 miles as the crow flies to be exact).  The time shift meant that our NZ Christmas was the day before our friends and family were celebrating back home, leading to some Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter cognitive dissonance. Despite the change in scenery, Christmas morning in Rotorua was about the same as everywhere: too many gifts, lots of bed-head, early morning faces, and energetic children.  Some scenes from our NZ holiday: Beach towels ... because it is summer! Christmas hats, sweaters, and t-shirts in full effect. Many Trey and Cody gifts (bc we had an early Christmas in ROC already!) Curtains still closed from our star gazing on Christmas Eve :) So many Davii Make-up from NZ?  Yes, please. A stocking filled with NZ candy and trinkets?  Yes, please. A murderous shark beach toy?  Yes, please. Someone always goes one ...

Since the mid-90s, Ned's sister and her branch of the Davis family tree have lived in Auckland, New Zealand--land of extraordinary natural beauty, many hobbitses, Russell Crowe, and no visits from the Kress-Davis family.  But, this holiday season, we decided to change this last one and buckle in for the 24+ hours of travel to lovely NZ. We began with an overnight in Toronto, at a remarkably solicitous and comfy airport Hilton--with a great breakfast buffet--that allowed us to get to our cross-Canada flight with a bit less stress.  Check out our new hiking boots! Air Canada decided to get us back on stress-track, though.  For reasons no one at the airport could explain, the airline cancelled our long-booked, premium-paid exit row seats and scattered us around the plane for the five hour flight to Vancouver.  Sigh.  After considerable discussion, we eventually cobbled together two sets of paired seats about two dozen r...