We're here!

Hello family and friends!  Greetings from New Zealand!!

We left Milbank a week ago and what a week it has been.  We've travelled thousands of miles and the adjustment is going pretty well.  We've made progress on our to-do list, crossing off items such as getting cell phones, activating bank cards, stocking the kitchen with groceries, and GETTING WIFI AT THE HOUSE!  The McDonald's employees will probably miss our family and the time we've spent there lately.  Next on the list are school and ballet registration.  It's a big and intimidating process to move half-way around the world, but we are thankful for all of the friendly people we've encountered along the way.  Also, the clinic employees at WAM, have been especially kind and friendly, welcoming us with a traditional Maori ceremony called a Powhiri.

But first, we've had requests for pictures, so that's what this post will contain.  Lots and lots of pictures. 

 We left Milbank on Tuesday, July 9.  My brother's van was filled with six large suitcases to check, six wheeled carry-on bags, six backpacks, and of course, the six Webbs.

Our good friends met us with an awesome send off in Ortonville!

My brother dropped us off at MSP.

We flew to LAX first.  Then had to collect our luggage and check in again with Air New Zealand. 

The flight to Auckland was 13 hours.  Plenty of time to sleep, which we actually all did!

Arrived in Auckland at 6:30 AM local time.  Time for some wifi and hot chocolate from McD's at the airport while Cris arranges hotel transport.  Yes, those three carts are all of our luggage! 

Cris had an interview with the New Zealand medical board in Auckland on Thursday afternoon.  We had time to explore downtown Auckland before his appointment, though.  It's winter here and it's cold! So we found a Starbucks to warm up with hot beverages.

Some cool street art

We decided to check out Sky Tower

View through the floor

Ferris Bueller moment

Elevator ride down

Sidewalk cafe for lunch

Augie friends - recognise this statue? It was in a park behind our hotel!

Dinner by the harbour

We woke up super early Friday morning, so went out to find that only Dunkin Donuts was open.  The kids had never eaten there!

Sunrise at the harbour

Morning view of Sky Tower

Then we were off to the airport again for a quick one-hour ride from Auckland to Wanganui.

More on Wanganui and our home there on the next post!