Everythings bigger in Texas... except for the hills!

A hill, a hill, my kingdom for a hill! Having spent the last eight years of my life nestled in valleys of one sort or another, it seems strange to me to track the sun through a full 180 degrees of horizon. I cannot climb the slopes to take in a view. Well, unless I want to stall on top of the beltway overpass. It bothers me. Why? I knew Houston was flat. I knew it was big. I knew it was hot. So I should have been ready to adjust. I'm an adaptable guy. So why does a little thing like no hills bug me?

I guess I just miss seeing something a bit prettier than the back of the neighbours house. The city spread below me with the sea sparkling beyond...

I also miss the supermarkets where I know what everything is. I miss easily identifiable currency denominations. I miss walking to town. I miss my own house. I miss New Zealand trees. I miss...

I know, my family too. but that would apply anywhere. I'm talking Houston. It's a nice place. What I've seen of it. Granted, that's mostly houses and strip malls, but they are nice houses. I'm sure we'll get to the more illustrious sights of Houston, and may even make it to the sea. We have plans. And I like it here. There's so much to do, once you get there. Stuff is cheaper. There are more people at church on a Sunday. I don't have to wear a jacket all winter long. Or ever.

Summer, well, we'll just have to wait and see on that one... I don't know I could settle in this city. We aren't planning to, so that's no problem. I can enjoy the ride until we end up somewhere with a view. There is so much to do before we decide where to live next. Follow the football. Watch all the channels on TV. Learn to drive our tank on the other side of the road. Figure out the conversion rate for 10 centimetres. Learn all the coins. Get used to streaky bacon. Totally adjust my life.

What is the pointof this blog, you ask? Point? Point... I'm sure I had a point. Maybe I didn't. But America sure is different. Not always in obvious ways. Not neccesarily in bad ways. But I like it here. I do miss hills though.

Waitangi Day Party

Last friday, Jon and I decided it was time to celebrate New Zealand. Waitangi Day in New Zealand marks the day that the Europeans and the Maori's signed a treaty, and is now basically New Zealand day. So we put up some New Zealand pictures and brought out books. We pulled out what we had to decorate, and flew the New Zealand flag... ok, well we flew it inside from the banister in the living room where we could all see it.

We made mini mince pies, two large bacon and egg pies, apple crumble, and tried our hand at making a pavlova. The pav fell quite a bit, I think we will need to work out making this one!

Our new friends from church came, and so did some of my older friends. We played pass the parcel, which is a common New Zealand kids game, but rather novel here as I haven't really seen it played here ever. And we played New Zealand slang balderdash, which was a lot of fun. The made up definitions were excellent and some guesses were remarkably close!

All in all, it was a good party. I think we may make this a tradition.

Pancake Eating Contest Anyone?

Last Saturday, Jon and I went to a friend's house for a pancake eating contest. Yes, thank you Sonja! It was a lot of fun. When we got there, Sonja and her cousin were still making pancakes... and you should have seen the stack of pancakes there was already!

Once the pancakes were all made, we started by 'sampling' the smaller sampler pancakes. These included breakfast pancakes (with egg and bacon in them), pina colada pancakes (with pineapple and coconut), pineapple pancakes, peach pancakes, apple strudel pancakes, banana pancakes, chocolate chip banana pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, and Reece's pancakes (consisting of peanut butter and chocolate).

I have to say that I think my favourite was the Reece's pancakes with ice cream and caramel syrup on them. Oh yes, that was good. Who would think to put ice cream on pancakes? Certainly not me until that day, but apparently in Australia, that is a common dessert, so our hostess informed us.

Sadly, mostly of us filled up on the fun sampler pancakes, and only a few officially competed in the competition. First prize was 12 pancakes by Greg, 2nd was 5 pancakes by someone I didn't know, and third prize was shared between Sonja and Steven for 4 pancakes.

It was good fun, and I really enjoyed the idea. It certainly made me think outside the box on making pancakes! I look forward to more pancake fun.

Sorry no pictures, unless I can get some off Sonja... forgot my camera. Doh!

2001 Ford Expedition

We have a car! Finally, transportation that is not borrowed! Houston is so not the city to be carless in. Everything is at least a half an hour away. I was very spoiled living in New Zealand where I could walk to town from my house or where a nice (and safe... yes, safe) bus ride would take me to town where I could then walk everywhere. Houston has its charms, but it is certainly a spread out city.

Last Friday, Jon and I visited Joe Myer's Ford and found a spectacular deal on a 2001 Ford Expedition. We were certainly not looking for something so big, but we needed a car and once we saw it, we really liked it. The previous owner took really good care of the car. Our mechanic passed the car off and said that it was great, minus a few things that needed to be fixed. So we went back to the dealership and before we signed the deal, they committed to fixing all the problems on the car.

We have not taken pictures yet, but will do so shortly and post them. It is a very pretty blue on the outside and tan on the inside. (Amazing that the interior doesn't even have any stains or anything!)

Ok, rejoice!

Houston BBQ/Reception/Welcome Back Party

Yes, a party of many names! We couldn't really decide on if it would be called a Reception or not. It is almost past the point of calling any wedding celebration receptions since the wedding was almost a year ago. But to be fair, we didn't get back to the states to have a reception until now. So we combined the Reception and BBQ and added the Welcome Back part as well. In saying we, I need to point out that Mom was the one who all the credit goes to. We helped out some, but Mom organized most of it, and saw to all the food and most everything else. I am so greatful for everything she does for us!

The theme... Texas BBQ. Barry cooked brisket, which anyone who has had his brisket knows, is amazing! There was all the usual BBQ happenings, potato salad, baked beans, pasta salad, rolls, etc. Mom made a beautiful cake and put flowers on it.

The most amazing bit was all the people who showed up. We had new friends from the ward that we are just getting to know. Old friends from the ward from when I was young. People from my mother's work. People I grew up with... friends from college, high school, YSA, and work.

It was so amazing to be able to share with my friends and family, memories of my wedding. I look forward to being able to do that even more 'formally' (if you will) in March when we have our One Year Anniversary Party/New Orleans Reception.

Thank you everyone who was able to make it to the party to support us, and thank you for your thoughts and prayers for those who could not make it!

Jon and I cutting our cake.

Jon, Me, My grandfather, Ryan (my brother), and Mom

2008

January: Jon and I celebrated New Years and looked forward to the year that we would get married in.

February: Jon and I flew to New Orleans so that my father and the family could meet Jon properly before the wedding. We celebrated Mardi Gras while there and had excellent food. It was also my first Valentine's day being attached to someone.

March: We got married! Yay!

April: Jon and I moved to New Plymouth to be closer to Jon's family as we worked on getting my work visa renewed. Jon took a new job with Foreman's Insulation and I worked on getting everything set for my work visa.

May: I sent everything in and started waiting as patiently as I could about my work visa. Jon and I got our own apartment/flat not too far from Jon's parents or the city.

June: My birthday. Jon and I celebrated in true Gilmore Girl style a week long birthday extravaganza which ended with a lovely dinner at one of the nicest restaurants in town.

July: Jon's birthday. Again we celebrated in style. Another week long event ending on Jon's actual birthday with his birthday party - Mario Party style. The party was themed and fun. Following Jon's party we then went off to Ben's birthday party (Jon's twin) who had an airline themed party since he is working to be a pilot.

August: I started working at a temp agency who sent me to work mostly for Greymouth Petroleum answering phones and filling out reports. Jon and I began filling out and getting together everything for his greencard to come to the states.

September: We took a trip to Wellington somewhere around here to get his medicals done for the applications and stayed with friends.

October: Becca came to visit. Jon and I took time off our jobs, moved back in with his parents and we showed Becca around the North Island of New Zealand. We also had our interview with the US Consulate about Jon's greencard, which went really smoothly.

November: Jon and I got the last few things need for his greencard and mailed them to the Consulate. We also had a late Halloween in November with Jon's family and carved their very first pumpkin. A few weeks later we also had an early Christmas in New Zealand as we would be leaving soon.

December: Jon and I moved to the states. We spent December sorting out a spot for ourselves in the house, getting ready for Christmas and the New Year. We both got callings at church and celebrated the holidays first in Houston with my mother and then in New Orleans with my father.

This year has been wonderful. We were sad to leave New Zealand and miss it, but we are happy to be where we are as well. We are thankful for our family and our friends and look forward to a new year ahead of us.

Young Married Couples!

What a difference this ward is compared to our branch in New Zealand. Our ward here is not overly large, but is large compared to the branch. But there exist young married couples here! People our age that we can get to know and hang out with (hopefully).

I was so excited when Jon and I were invited over to another couples home last Sunday after church for games with other couples. It was a lot of fun and we got to know some of the other couples around our age much better. Not that we are best buddies or anything, but my fear of being in primary and not getting to know anyone is fading somewhat. Granted I will have to get to know people before or after church or outside of it all together, but that's ok.

I have to say though, it is so nice that my friends from before I left are still willing to hang out and get together, especially the ones that are single. I would hate not being able to see them because there were three of us instead of just me and my friend. I have seen that happen a lot when a couple gets married, they drop off the face of the earth or their single friends hate hanging out with them or don't want to interfere or something. So thank you my friends. I love you!