Our first Saturday in Christchurch

Our very first Saturday in Christchurch was full of lots of excitement.  Brady was busy working but had a few hours to spend with us in the morning.  We had been told that the Farmer's Market at the Riccarton Bush Park was great so we decided to check it out.  We were told we could walk there.  After the LONG walk, we decided that we were definitely not going to be walking there again.  It was a beautiful day for a walk, but walking there with all of us was less than a good time.  Luckily, our friends offered me and the girls a ride back home while Brady offered to just walk back to his office to work.  Thanks Aneta and Mishko

The Market was AMAZING.  So many stands selling delicious foods and baked goods.  Fresh fruits and veggies and lots of things to try out.

We found some great baked goods that we had to try.

The Juiceman was letting us taste his juices.  They were fresh squeezed.  Pink Lady Apple, Apple and Lime, and Pear were the ones we bought.  They were AMAZING.  

We had to buy a Christchurch FM bag to carry our goods in.  We stopped at this great table to eat some of our plums and the girls Macaroons. Brady had to go buy himself and lambburger.  It was another new food we had to try.  It was great and was served on a great bun with a slice of pear.  So unique and very tasty.

As always, they find a tree to climb in wherever we go.  I know for sure that when we go home they will miss all the good trees to climb in.  They are enormous and perfect for climbing in.  This one was growing out over the stream and fun to climb in over the water.

While at the Farmer's Market, our friend Aneta told us she would take us to the beach while Brady was working.  She had a dog, Ella, that loved to go to the beach and the girls were eager to have a furry friend along for the ride.  She took us to New Brighton beach just outside of Christchurch.  Aneta drove our van and brought Ella along for the fun.  She sat just behind me and whimpered the whole way as she was anxious and excited.  She knew we were headed to the beach and couldn't wait to get there.  She was calm and peaceful the whole ride home.  She had had her fun and was relaxed.

The girls were so excited to be by the ocean and feel the sand on their toes.  We walked under the pier and over to a spot where dogs could be off their leashes.  Ava kept stopping to dig her toes and heels in the sand.

It was a windy day and there were lots of kites flying.

I was content trying to keep my toes warm on the sand, but the girls couldn't wait to get their toes into the cold water.  It's amazing how they have no care as to the temperature of the water.  They will swim in just about anything.  Kayla continued to walk down the beach and want to look for treasures on the sand.  She found a bracelet in the sand that had a longhorn bull on it.  She has worn it everyday since.  Must be her good luck charm.  Funny girl, she even snuck a Texas flag in her backpack and hung it on her wall.  I guess she's a proud Texan.  ha ha

The sand was very fine and soft.  Felt very good in my hands and on my feet.  It was dark; like ash coloring.  Different from Lake Powell red sand or Texas gulf coast sand.

Alyssa had no problems getting in up to her neck....

Even Savannah went in pretty deep.

She needed a warm up in the hot sand after not too long.

Me however, stayed zipped up in my hoodie to stay warm.  If it weren't for the wind that day, it would have felt much warmer.

Now it was time to go home for a hot shower.  Aneta made me get in the drivers seat when we got back to the car.  I was TERRIFIED!!  Not only is it scary to drive in a different town you're not familiar with, it's another country.... but even worse than that is it's on the wrong side of the rode.  I survived and we all made it home safely, but not without some serious concentrations and coaching from Aneta.  One of the hardest things is having the blinker on the right side of the steering wheel.  You can spot foreign drivers when you see them with their windshield wipers on on a sunny day.  HA!!

The funny thing about Christchurch is that you can feel hot and warm for a few hours, then feel like you need several layers and a winter coat and hat the next.

We met up with some friends that we had met on the previous night for Sparks in the Park. They have 4 girls too.  It was a concert and then fireworks.  Brady dropped us off at their car and then we walked quite a distance to the park.  They were so kind to bring us chairs to sit on at the park.  We met them so we could help carry all the extra chairs. It was another long walk that day... and then we had to make that long walk again back to their car and find Brady.  3 long walks for that day... good practice for what lay ahead.

Kayla and her new friend Matilda.  They clicked like magic.  We laughed that teenage trends are universal... they both had on light colored skinny jeans and white converse shoes.  I don't think they stopped talking for 4 hours straight.  That's all in a day for Kayla though.  Her tongue is a non stop machine.

Trying to stay warm while the Symphony played

Pano view of the crowd.

A fun firework show at the end of the concert.  Now, back to the car a few miles away.

A super fun jam packed summer Saturday in Christchurch.