Engagement Party at Luna

Chanel and Damon threw Aaron and I a wonderful engagement party. Last night, us and 60 of our closest friends (here in Dunedin!) met up at a bar that over looks the harbor and the beautiful lights of the city.

Chanel did such a great job coordinating the details of the party.... she even hired a magician for the event and he was a HIT! Super funny and very smart. Added such a unique spin to the party and a fun talking point afterward.

As with Kiwi weddings, when people can't attend in person, they will send "telegrams". Telegrams are just a written toast, but they add such heart to these parties. Chanel organized to have mom, dad, mel and Haley/Chris to send Telegrams... and that was such a nice touch for me who was not able to have any of my friends at the engagement party. It was so cute when Chanel was reading out the Telegrams, she couldn't say the word Yall and it came out more like "youuuul".

We are so lucky to have so many people supporting us and our upcoming marriage. Last night made me so excited for JUNE 4th!!!!


Aaron and me
Mr. Magician and Aaron
Me with the boys....Billy, John, Tim and Aaron
Me, Chanel, Daisy and Becs
Richard and Helen

Melbourne Cup Day at the Wingatui Races

Melbourne Cup Day is one of the biggest days in Dunedin.
Most work places have Christmas Functions and my work decided that the Wingatui Races would be our Christmas celebration. About 2.30 on Tuesday, we loaded up our entire office into a bus and headed out to Wingatui. It is called Melbourne Cup Day and as the name suggests it coincides with the actual races in Melbourne. Similarly to the Kentucky Derby, the girls get dressed up and wear hats... but here and in Melbourne they wear little hats called fascinators (I couldn't bring myself to wear one, but you can see them in the pictures below).

Dunedin had one of the prettiest days we have seen out of the whole year. I would say it was 75 degrees and perfect. We couldn't have asked for a better day and I was excited I could wear a real dress with out a jacket.

As part of the christmas function, the Radio Network had a tent with all you can drink champagne and beer. As would be expected, we left the races not nearly as polished as when we arrived!

View from our Radio Network Tent
The Races
General Admission tickets...
Aaron and Me all prettied up.
Aaron, Nick and Danny outside of our Tent
Me and Alana
Jane, Michelle and me by the ZM truck (one of our radio stations)
More work friends.
Aaron studying the bets

All the girls in our dresses enjoying the sun


Jayne, Aaron and Me toward the end of the day!

Pot of Gold???

The other day, we had such a pretty rainbow outside of our window. I made melanie Skype me so she could see it..

Chanel's 30th!

The weekend after Aaron and I returned from the States, Chanel had her 30th birthday party. Damon booked out the fabulous yacht Tiakina for Chanel and 50 of her closest friends to celebrate on the harbor of Dunedin. It was a fantastic night and a fun way to celebrate Chanel finally joining us oldies in our 30s! Good job Damon!

The birthday girl and me on the boat.
Damon and Chanel (and her beautiful b-day present diamond necklace!!!!!)
Me and Becs
Helen, me and Chanel
Me and the fishmonger!

A good couple of weeks.

Aaron and I had an amazing time back home. Who wouldn't want to hang out for a week at the lake then play with the family in New Orleans for another week, get engaged in Austin (yay!), see friends in Dallas, and then end the trip at the Golden Gate Bridge? Just a shame we couldn't stay longer or see more people. I am already missing home every day...

First night at the lake house. Note the whiteness.
The Randy and the Betty!
Mel and Lisa

Game of Darts with the family.

Aaron's favorite day at the lake. Shoot'n guns..

Mom, Mel and Dad in Nola



Pat O's and hurricanes!


Old Trolly in Nola thru Garden District

Cap'tain Reggie and Mel

After our fantastic airboat tour

Daddy and the Mary!

Ze famous Cafe Dumond

Mom and Aaron on the Creole Queen down the Mississippi

In Austin, night of "the engagement"

Last night in Dallas at Haley's

San Fran stop over... and then back to NZ.

Next Stop.... Texas!

Yay! Time for Texas!!!!

Aaron is currently in Hong Kong visiting Seafood Markets and then touring some of inland China. I am not at all jealous. At all. Nope, not jealous of the shopping or the 90 degree heat or traveling to a new country. Oh, who am I kidding... I am furious I am not with him. But he is having such a wonderful time, but he will be joining us soon in Dallas.

Tomorrow I jump on a plane to Auckland, LA, Dallas and I can not wait to look out of the window and see the lights of Dallas!

So, I guess I will see you guys on the other side of the world! Looking forward to a fun (good old American) day of watching College Football & drinking Miller Light and good friends/family!

Love yall.

Windy, Rainy, Wonderful Wellington

Beginning of August, me and aaron caught a flight up to Wellington (the capitol of NZ) to visit Aaron's sister. She moved to Wellington back in February (I think) and is doing her graduate work up there in Publishing. And absolutely loving it.

We got into Wellington on Friday night pretty late, checked into our hotel and then met Rachel at a trendy dark little bar downtown and then off to a wonderful italian restaurant called Floriditas. Afterward, we had a few more drinks out on the town, but overall had a very nice quiet first night in Wellington.

Saturday, Rach had to work, so Aaron and I walked around the city just enjoying being in a proper city.We had breakfast at Fidels... a very very austinish breakfast joint. Lots of hippy people in a hippy atmosphere. Loved it. Made me feel like I was home except everyone still talked funny!

After breakfast we walked around the city. Went into shops. Walked around Parliament and then drank beer in a pub by the beehive (their government building).

That night, Aaron had bought us tickets to see Chef Rick Stein do a stand-up cooking show as well as VIP tickets to a meet and greet with Rick. Aaron had hopes of wooing Rick Stein into visiting Dunedin when the English play at the World Cup in 2011 and inviting him to come on the Harbour Fish boats. Unfortunately at the Meet and Greet, Rick was overwhelmed by 50 year old house wives and poor Aaron never had a chance of talking with him. Aaron's was not a happy camper. All night talking about the house wives with such distain.

Sunday morning the sky was blue so we headed to the impressive Wellington market. AND who did aaron see there? RICK STEIN. So, aaron was able to go up to him with out the swarming women and give good old Rick his business card and life returned to being good for aaron.

Walked around Wellington Harbour with Rach and then it was time to go home!


BUT as walked around Wellington the Cooper family welcomed a new one in. Daisy Mae Cooper was born on Sunday, August 8th. The family visited sweet Daisy Mae the following night and she is just perfect. Very very big congratulations to Damon and Chanel.


Aaron the proud uncle!