Flying With Kids in Queenstown, New Zealand

I've been mellow for too long. My 2010 staycation lifestyle just isn't cutting it for programs like Trekaroo's Spotlight Thursday or Delicious Baby's Photo Friday. I needed to do something special this week and blow it out. Backtracking to one of our biggest highlights in my family travel history: New Zealand by Air!

Above is the first shot of landing in Queenstown. Just the view from the tarmac was enough to make my eyes pop out of my head. Little did I know what else would be in store for us that day...

Heading out to our plane with Captain Mike

Boarding for our propeller adventure

Co-pilot in action

Might as well throw in a 007 helicopter, just for kicks

And here is me thinking, "Will she EVER remember this?"

Well, even if she does forget, I know I certainly won't. Unforgettable, unbelievable, untouchable - New Zealand.

Playgrounds of New Zealand

Nelson, South Island

Picton, South Island



Wellington, North Island

The spinning seat video - in action.


An elaboration on our trip to New Zealand lives on Ciao Bambino. I'm linking this post up with Photo Friday at Delicious Baby - go give them a whirl!

Do You See What I See?

Within 24 hours we'll be boarding a plane for our first big trip since January. My kids did great then, but how will they do this time? I'm pondering what keeps them motivated, and came up with a few clues...


Here we are flying over breathtaking landscape near Queenstown New Zealand on a single engine propeller plane...


Here is my daughter flying in that same plane, with her pony.


Here we are at Cape Kidnappers on the north island of New Zealand feeling like we are at the edge of the world.


Here are my daughter's ponies, happy to be at the edge of a rock.


Here we are at Abel Tasman National Park on the south island of New Zealand, stunned by the beauty of the beach and happy to be there enjoying it with the kids.


Oh yeah, and here are the ponies, parading around the beach.

Ah hem...time to finish packing and schelp these kiddos off on another adventure. But before we leave, I'd better go pack up those ponies. I'll be sure to take plenty of photos of where we're going, so we can share them over at Photo Friday in the weeks to come!

Toy Boats!

Cheers to Delicious Baby's Photo Friday for sparking memories of our recent trip to New Zealand. Here we are in Picton, the south island destination for the ferry crossing over to Wellington on the north island. Like every great New Zealand town, there was a fun playground to pass the time. This one was special because of the boat pond, which the girls delighted in for the morning.

What Keeps Us Smiling?

Almost two years ago, my friend and business partner called me from the road while on family vacation, full of inspiration from traveling to Mexico with her husband and three children. That inspiration helped start our company, My Busy Kit. Since then we've distributed over 2000 activity kits to keep children smiling while out and about.

But it's not all about the kids, it's about keeping the grown-ups smiling too! By posting this, I'm hoping to create a 'virtual' busy kit, one that we can read for helpful hints and inpsiring ideas.

I've got a few ideas of my own, but I'm hoping you'll join in too - because the more ideas, the better. I'll start by sharing this video of our recent trip to New Zealand. We've traveled with our kids before, but now at ages 3 and 5, they are much more independent and fun to be around. As I get older and more persnicketty, my kids seem to get mellower and more flexible. Imagine that! So all you need to do is take a couple of 13 hour flights, combine them with some fantastic scenery, helicopter rides, vineyards, ice cream cones, and a few playgrounds - and you come up with one very, happy family. Really? Check it out!