It's beginning to look a lot like....umm...

I know that North America is having one of the worst winters in recent memory, so I'll try to keep my weather-bragging to a minimum, but I just have to say - the weather the last few weeks here has been the nicest weather I've ever experienced. Consistently mid-70s, mostly sunny, and always with a slight breeze. The only problem is that weather like this makes it a little difficult to get into a Christmas mentality. One  American friend who has been in New Zealand for four years said she feels like she hasn't had a real Christmas since she moved.  It seems that along with accepting a new world without Octobers, we may have to give up Christmas as we know it as well.

Even though it doesn't feel like Christmas to me, I am more than happy to take advantage of everyone else's Christmas spirit.  We have been to Christmas festivals and parties and - best of all - yesterday marked the beginning of Christmas break at work (not holiday break - we are not PC). The entire office is closed until January 13th. That's three weeks off - an entire 23 days! I thought I'd have to give birth if I wanted to take off that much time at once!  And our Christmas party last night was pretty epic - it was at a winery/brewery on Waiheke Island that has all kinds of activities, including archery, laser skeet shooting, volleyball and barrel races!

We have a lot of adventures planned over the next three weeks, and I'll try to update whenever we have internet access.  We kick things off on Tuesday with a Christmas trip to the wineries and beaches of Waiheke Island with a couple of friends coming over from the States, then we're exploring Auckland, doing a 3-day/2-night hike in Tongariro National Park, ringing in 2014 at Lake Taupo, camping outside Wellington, drinking wine in Martinborough and maybe zorbing in Rotorua.  

But for now, here's a look back at the Christmas season so far....

Christmas decorations around the city - as well as our awesome Christmas tea towel!

A last night with some American friends before they all go back to the States for Christmas; the view from our building during a particularly stunning sunset after a stormy afternoon.

A lazy afternoon in the park next to home followed by an evening Christmas concert in another park.

My work team's Christmas outing and a Christmas prank someone played on one of the more ornery partners. We got Mexican after mini-golf and no one understood what they were eating. "It looks like this is all just the same few things mixed together in different ways.  What's the big deal?"

Katniss Powers and Robert Hood showing off some archery skills at the work Christmas party.

Work Christmas party. From top left: intense game of giant chess; laser skeet shooting; relaxing before dinner; Rob bringing all the ladies drinks; waiting for the ferry to take us back to Auckland.