Life lessons from a 2 yr old..

So this morning, on my very early morning run, I got to thinking. I decided that if I could be any age again, I would want to be two:) After spending the last two weeks with my little nephew Micah, I have come to realize that two year olds have life figured out. They play, eat, play, eat, sleep a little, and then repeat the cycle. It is not a bad life. I am also envious of the fact that the word "calorie" has no meaning in Micah's world. He doesn't think twice about eating a double chocolate donut from Dunkin Donuts. The biggest concern in his life is leaving his cars unmanned while Chloe is on the prowl because she is NOT allowed to touch his cars. He only has 1,000 cars...obviously not enough to go around (He will honestly walk around picking up every car in Chloe's path to ensure that she does not end up with one).

But, on a serious note, you really can learn great lessons from observing little kids. They have that "no worries" attitude that makes life a lot more fun. Micah was not worried about rejection at the park yesterday when he followed a little girl around like he was her shadow. He had a job to do, and that was to find a new friend to play with. He wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to get the job done.

In all honesty, being two again is not something I would really want. I enjoy drinking coffee way too much to go back to an age where it is not allowed;) However, I would like to steal some of Micah's zest for life, and I would also like to adopt his practice of asking lots of questions. Curiosity is a beautiful thing.

Two years later..

It has been two years since I have blogged, and here I am, still living the life of a gypsy, but only for a few months. People always say the best part about teaching is that you have the summer off. I disagree with that statement, because teaching is truly a wonderful job, but, with that said, having two months off to "defrag" is much needed.

I have taken up residence in Branford CT for a few weeks. My brother is digging holes in Mongolia, and in his absence, I am helping out my sister-in-law with the kids. They are a joy to be around. I don't get to see them much, so I am really excited to have this time with them. Micah is a ball of energy. He always has something to say, and most of the time his words put a smile on my face. Every now and then, when he is ornery and tired he will say to me "leave me alone auntie Emma," and that makes me rather sad. But most of the time he is saying things like "Please play with me Auntie Emma," or the popular two-year old question, "Why?"

Chloe is equally enjoyable. She is the happiest little baby. I am the worst dresser in the world, and yet she still forgives me when I forget to unbutton her shirt, and it gets stuck on her head. She poops a lot, and that took some getting used to. She is a very squirmy baby, and that forces me to be very creative while changing her.

I am missing my island, and my Hawaii Ohana. I miss getting in the Canoe, and paddling out into the Pacific Ocean. Being away from home reminds me of how thankful I am that I can call the Big Island my home. I sometimes wonder if the Big Island will be the end of Emmathegypsy. I have moments when I think that I could call that volcanic, black rock my home for forever. But then I remember my dream of living on another island in the Pacific. This one a bit larger, and a lot farther away. Who knows where I will end up. For now I am perfectly content sitting on the couch with little Micah man and watching Chloe crawl around looking for a foreign object to put in her mouth.

New Zealand, part one

Afoot and lighthearted I take to the open road
Healthy, free, the world before me
The long brown path leading wherever I choose.
-Walt Whitman

So, here I am in New Zealand, experiencing a southern hemisphere winter. I thought that I had escaped the cold of winter, but May in Wellington is comparable to November in Wyoming, minus the snow. Everywhere I go, people complain about the wind, but the wind makes me feel at home.

I have been in New Zealand for four days, and I have fallen in love with the city of Wellington and the people in New Zealand. They are welcoming and warm; always willing to direct a lost foreigner. The city of Wellington is located on the southern most tip of the north Island. The city is situated between the mountains, and the ocean. The downtown is vibrant, and the city has a lot to offer the students who attend Union(what they call college) here.

Yesterday I took a ferry to Days Bay and I immediately fell in love with the quaint little village. The houses were all very unique, no two the same. The village was spread out along the coast, and the views of Wellington from the village were quite breath taking. Everyone who knows me will not be surprised when I say that one day, I hope to live here. That is not a rare statement coming from me, but I really mean that about New Zealand. I love the diverse population, and the "no worries" attitude of the people here. I also enjoy the flat white coffee (New Zealand's version of the latte). I have not braved the short black yet, I hear it is quite strong.

I will be in Wellington for five more days, then I am off to Christchurch on the south Island. I will meet my dad down there, and will continue my New Zealand adventure from there.

That is all for now. Cheers!!