And last but not least, my personal favorite part of our New Zealand adventures

The Green Dragon Inn.

So for our last and final trip, we ventured back to Hobbiton. I've already shared pictures of what our experience looked like from the last time we visited, but this year was a real treat solely because of:
1. Our cute little old tour guide, and
2. The Green Dragon Inn.

 (Samwise Gamgee's cute little hobbit house!)

The Green Dragon Inn 

The Green Dragon Inn was just finished in December 2012, so if anyone is planning on a trip to the Shire any time soon... You're in for a real treat. After the tour, you actually get to go have drinks (on the house!) at the Green Dragon Inn for some real honest-to-goodness (nonalcoholic :) ginger beer. I honestly felt like I was in a LOTR movie, as we sat around the table as our tour guide told us stories of Middle-earth. It was never on my bucket list before visiting, but it definitely felt like a once in a lifetime sort-of experience. (And truth be told, the pictures hardly do it justice)

Cathedral Cove, Coromandel

 (photo quality courtesy of my father)

Cathedral Cove: blue skies, blue sea, and the magnificent archway that everyone should see (or have their significant other carry them through) at least once in their lifetime. This is where The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe movie was filmed, (ps. I couldn't remember it either) And yes, for those of you wondering, to get here requires a hike through the mountains that my mom claims will kill an old soul (we deserve a medal. where is our medal?)

It's beautiful.

leaving the country.

It will come as no surprise to anyone that I was clearly disappointed Governor Romney did not win the election last night, (disappointed is an understatement, and for those of you more optimistic than I, I am genuinely glad that there are people like you out there!) At the very least, we got to throw somewhat of a mini party with our friends last night, who, when the tides had turned, helped keep things somewhat cheery :) (thanks guys).

As for leaving the country, no, we're not leaving because I didn't vote for the President who won, but it is because our tickets are all booked, and we are officially ready to spend the last few weeks of 2012 in sunny and glorious New Zealand! This will be our last trip out to the country for quite some time, (perhaps our last trip out there as an entire family, ever) since my parents move home in February, and will be on to new adventures elsewhere; so I've already started my checklist! Day trips to Devonport, my all-time favorite, Bay of Islands, even a 13 hour plane ride with hobbits (genius)-- yes, it is no secret that Max and I are holding out to meet Bilbo Baggins. 

Bon voyage, mon amour!

disneyland!

Unfortunately, I took maybe four pictures while we were in Disneyland for the remainder of the weekend; too many fun things to do, and I made zero time to capture all of our memories (regretted)... So what I do have to say, is that out of all the many trips out there with family and friends before, my trip with Max had to be my all-time favorite. He hadn't been since he was a little, so it was like going with a seven-year old version of Max. 14 hour marathon days park hopping (even though we were both exhausted by the end of the trip!) was the best.

And just for future reference: Mickey's Halloween party was like, the best Halloween party ever. They give you handfuls (handfuls!) of candy (and only the good kind!) at all 390,483 candy stations throughout the park. Plus all the rides have zero lines because everyone else is excited about the trick-or-treating. After stopping at only two of the stations, Max and I ran around the park like crazy getting on as many rides as possible (completing 21 rides in four hours!) eating two bags worth of candy! I had to stop at one point and just jump up and down. Not a joke. I was just so excited! This felt like every kids dream come true! And even though we had had enough of a sugar high to last us a month, we made sure to stop for some pineapple dole whips - theyrethebest.

Thesis statement: Disneyland is the happiest place on earth.
Add candy, costumes and no lines? Happiest-est place ever.

PS. Radiator Springs is totally worth the wait.

huntington beach.

California is great. I love, love, love the feeling I get when I see the flashing signs: "freeway stops here" and you know you've reached the very end of the West Coast. I just love it. Max and I arrived just in time to watch the sunset on Huntington beach, too - following up with dinner at everyone's favorite: Ruby's Diner. We even split a brownie sundae and snagged a few penny gumballs. This place is always a favorite.

napkin notes.

Max started leaving 'napkin notes' lying around the apartment once we got married, (closest thing to a post-it note I think he could find,) and it's been one of my many favorite parts about our newlywed days. I usually pride myself in being "the clever one," but if I'm honest, Max certainly takes the cake - especially when it comes to these.

Today's napkin note was taped on my bathroom mirror when I woke up, and I nearly squealed with joy when I saw it! Max knows I never take anything Disney-related lightly, which is why I have a Disneyland fact sheet, Disneyland playlist, and Disney fruit snacks all waiting for us in the car. I'm absolutely convinced that Max will be the best Splash Mountain buddy I could ask for, so if only I could get him to wear this costume (he refuses), I'm pretty convinced we'd make a great Mickey and Minnie pair at the Disneyland Halloween party, too :)

So we're off to sunny California and the happiest place on earth! Hope you have a wonderful week!

ryan lochte and michael phelps in vegas.

 

Our weekend in Vegas was a weekend well-spent. Cirque du Soleil was insane, (if you aren't a Beatles fan, this will convert you... Blackbird has to be a new favorite.) Eating at Senor Frogs deserves an entire post - like I was an 18 year old on Spring Break, (plus the food was amazing!) And sitting by the poolside watching Michael (Max) and Ryan (Austin) re-play the summer Olympics (Ashley and I being score keepers) we really had a blast. We napped, we ate, we dressed up, we talked for hours about politics (Romney'12) and walked around Louis Vuitton, as if we could afford the $410 sunglasses -- we forgot about home and and just had fun with our friends. We could travel anywhere in the world, but that's always good enough for me.

And lets just be honest: the best part about Vegas is the water show in front of the Bellagio.

(PS. Unbroken = Ended up being one of my favorite summer reads. Louis Zamperini's story is unreal.)

family vaca.

Diet cokes and paddle boats, dole whips at Russells, go-kart and mini golf tournaments... I could go on and on about this place and my last week there. I could kick myself for not taking more pictures!

What was really great, this year especially, was having no cell reception/or wifi connection during our stay. I felt so disconnected (in such a good way,) that I came home trying to think of other ways I could simplify my life. But for now, I'll just have to look at these pictures. Something about the prettiest lake in all the world, the family memories, and re-realizing my own priorities... those are at least a start.

call me maybe?

A night with a cabin full of cousins, inspiration from our favorite Disney Channel stars, and a bunch of bruised bananas equals one Walch family music video. These kids were out of control. There is no such thing as babysitting, because I have just as much fun with them as I do with any of my friends at home!

And to make it all even that much better, I don't think I had ever laughed as hard or as much as I did when our parents decided to join in on the fun, too.  My cheeks hurt, my wrinkles disappeared, five more years were added onto my life. Making the Grown Up version of the music video ended up turning into a PG rated dance party -- which was way more fun than anything I had ever seen or been to in Provo. (but I guess that might not be saying much :) so all I can say is what I said before: out of control.

This years' vacation proved to me that the Walch family reunions are the highlights of not only my summer, but probably my year. To be in my favorite place in the world, with all my favorite people, even if I'm listening to my not-so-favorite song on repeat... its the best.

wallowa lake.

Growing up, summers always meant Wallowa Lake. The long drive, the cinnamon bears ice cream stop, the final stretch of the trip, finally getting to see the most beautiful lake in all the world! I love it. And after the last few days (Thursday in the ER, Friday in bed, and Saturday still recovering...) nothing sounds better. Nothing at all.

This year is extra special though, since Max will be a part of it, and I get to spend my 23rd birthday with the entire Walch fam. Wallowa Lake is my home away from home; that place just grabs my heart.

TGFT

Thelma and Eleanor made a new friend before I left (a blue beach cruiser Sara so perfectly named Luna), and right now that is the only thing that makes me feel okay about having to leave New Zealand in the next little while. I didn't think that I'd be that sad to go, but I have a feeling I just might.

I have so (so, so, so) so many adventures that I want to write about, (like):
-The night I finally tried vegemite (it's awful)
-Gold Class Theaters. Watching a movie on a lazy boy recliner (seriously) and they serve you MnM's in a champagne glass? Why, thank you for changing my life.
-The fact that the pizza here is worth living for (not kidding). I have a new unhealthy addiction for pizza.
-The New Zealand International Film Festival. That deserves an entire post of its own.
-The fish market - which almost made me sick to my stomach. So many (ginormous) fish (on steroids).
-The cutest friends I've been able to make... I once believed the nicest people lived in Hawaii, but I changed my mind: they're in NZ.
-And going on the worlds best date (with yes, a boy who has an accent) traveling around to things like little quaint towns and the most beautiful beach I've ever seen... If I die tomorrow, I have lived a full life.

But I plan on writing more about all of that soon enough. In the meantime though: TGFT. Or in other words, Thank goodness for Thelma (and the friends at home who I miss oh so much!)
Because oh my, I will miss it here too.

PS.
Please listen to this song. He's kind of a big deal down here, and he should be at home too. #Love.

a vacation on vacation.

I've grown up hearing my dad never being able to quite fully put into words his love for Australia. Serving an LDS mission in Sydney years ago, I've heard all my life about the most beautiful city in the world and all of the incredible experiences he had as a 19 year old boy living in this country for two years.

I grew up dreaming about coming one day and seeing everything all for myself, (...and wanting to own my own baby koala. my first stuffed animal was a koala bear with velcro hands that I probably loved more than anything when I was little!) So needless to say, when I first found out that Australia would be a part of my summer plans, it was some of the most exciting news I've had in all 22 years of my life.

My pictures hardly do any justice, because truthfully, the city is so beautiful it could make you cry. The Sydney Harbor/Bridge/Opera House and everything surrounding the area is out of this world. And this is saying a lot, (especially for those of you who know me) but as much as I've loved and adored and have always wanted to live in Boston all my life, I'd trade it in a second to move to Sydney. It is by far the most spectacular/breathtaking/beautiful city in the world, and now I know why my dad didn't have enough words to describe it, because really, I don't either. It's unreal.

I'll write more about all the specific and exciting things we've been able to do, but in the meantime... change of plans everyone: I'm not ever coming home.