RUGBY WORLD CUP

Oh WOW... I can't believe I haven't done any of this before but over the past couple of months things around the country have been a bit different... well a bit buzzy, a bit exciting, a bit... well... a bit victorious!!! We hosted a little tournament called the Rugby World Cup!!! And then we won it! Honestly the nation was in a state of perpetual excitement. The tournament itself lasted about six weeks, but with the lead up and everything the whole nation has been a bit on the edge of our seats. Hunter's Kindy had posters, name cards for each of the All Blacks players, kids making drawings, face-painting, they even made rugby ball shaped biscuits... so of course Hunter was super keen to watch some of the matches. Unfortunately, most of the games were played late at night (with us not having a TV didn't make much of a difference). But... we did get to watch a bit... Some of us more than others...

Yes, this is Tony with the trophy! Okay, is this guy favored or what!?! He 'happened' to be up in Auckland for work with MFAT. Those  meetings included a gala with the Prime Minister and a trip to the Stadium for the Opening Ceremony and first round match between the All Blacks and Tonga. Originally he was told he'd be taking a Chinese delegation to the game, but he'd be staying in a VIP room to just watch the match on a screen. Somehow he found himself not only in the stadium but in the stands as a cultural liaison to the Chinese diplomat - actually, the newspaper described him as "a rugby expert". So how cool is that?!? Tony was at the ceremony, at the game, all as part of his job! That's cool!!! We couldn't let the opening ceremony go by without us doing something - so I decided to throw the routine out the window and took the kids over the Mzila's house for a rugby party (which we didn't get home from until after 9pm!!! which is really late for my kids)!

We did get to watch a full match between the All Blacks and Canada while we had a TV at the cottage while on holiday! The kids were more interested in the snacks (I was so proud of myself for turning out a healthy spread), but it was fun to watch a day game. So... then... finally, the time came... the All Blacks in the final game!!! The big games were always played on a Sunday night so church had been broadcasting the games after the evening services. The final was no different - except it was FULL CAPACITY!!!

 The service started with our national anthem (which is actually very God-focused) and  itself was a great night with Pastor John! As soon as the service was over, I rushed home to where the kids had been sleeping and Tony'd been working on an assignment (I'd been in a parent helper with the kids in the morning so I got to go to the evening service - otherwise Tony usually gets to go). He got the kids up and I packed a few snacks, then along with our friends Sue and Ella we headed back into town for the big game!!! The streets were PACKED! People were everywhere! Imagine your home team in the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and Olympic finals all rolled into one event - downtown Wellington was buzzing! I dropped the rest of the gang off at the Michael Fowler Centre (where we have church most of the time) and went looking for a car park then made my way back. The room was absolutely chocker block full... but I did find the family in time to watch most of the game. The kids got into it eventually (remember they had been sleeping for about 2+ hours) and again were mostly concerned about snacks - thankfully the girls in the row behind us had plenty. But it was an amazing game - It was the All Blacks vs France and it was edge of your seat tight...

but in the end we were victorious 8 to 7!

Go the ABs

Oh and we took Flat Stanley along for the big game!!! He loved it!