Chew dat gum, chew dem bones

For Halloween this year, Emmett's parents thumb their noses at all the suffocation warnings, wrap Emmett in plastic and balloons, and call him a gumball machine. Then they do the same thing to themselves.

Trick or treating doesn't amount to much, but Emmett shows great interest in the graveyard on Cousin Rod's front lawn. He is particularly fond of the bones strewn among the headstones (clearly, his parents should have opted for the blood-smeared zombie costume).

Originally disconcerted by his behaviour, Emmett's mom fesses up that she vaguely recalls maybe introducing a 7 month-old Emmett to skeletal gorging at a BBQ ribfest in New Zealand.

Tubs of New Zealand

Emmett didn't see, let alone experience, a single proper bathtub while in New Zealand. Fortunately, after several weeks of retraining Emmett has been brought back up to speed with his toddler tub-bathing demographic.

News from the animal kingdom

Emmett's dad has been aching for an excuse to share a couple of his favourite news stories from New Zealand, and finally found one.

Big news in early April from Alexandra: the Great Easter Bunny Hunt, giving nightmares to chocolate-loving Kiwi children since 1991.

Then, a week later in New Plymouth, a story about a spraypainted goat. Believe it or not, this made national headlines.

And right here at home, just today, Emmettilius stranmccannii has at long last cut his first tooth. Not bad for a creature who started showing symptoms of teething, like, three months ago.

Thanks to Shawzanne for the video evidence, recorded while Emmett's parents abandoned him to watch the women's semi-final hockey game back in February.

Pre-toddler angst

Emmett's parents graciously acknowledge that, by the time Emmett turns 2, outbursts like these will long since have ceased to be funny. For the moment, though, they're enjoying the show as Emmett channels his inner pro wrestler.

Post New Zealand Blues, Remedy #3

No blue skies in Emmett's neighbourhood today. The temperature plummeted and the snow continues to fall. This snow storm in May is great for the farmers, but brutal for those who want to play outside in the spring sunshine. Each member of StranMcCann tries to find a way to deal with the winter weather and PNZB. Emmett's dad bakes banana bread, while Emmett and his mom discover the wonders of Baby Einstein and look at their travel photos. It doesn't seem like that long ago they were walking along the wharf in Wellington...

playing on Piha Beach, just outside of Auckland...

...hiking up to the centre of New Zeland in Nelson...

and checking out the sights near Takaka.

"If this storm continues", Emmett's mom was heard to say today, "we'll have to plan another holiday". Emmett thought that was a great idea.

Post New Zealand Blues, Remedy #2

Another winter storm has kept Emmett and his mom housebound today. Sigh. Going through their over 600 photos and videos helps them to deal with the weather and the post travel blues. It's hard to believe that four weeks ago today, they were driving to Milford Sound...

hiking through rainforests in the land of hobbits...

and hanging out on the beaches of Queenstown and Wanaka.

However, as depressing as the winter storm is, Emmett was quick to point out that at least they weren't dealing with a flood watch, like the residents of Queenstown are.

Kiwi relationship with coffee

It took Emmett's parents a while to warm up to coffee in New Zealand. It's not that the java down there is significantly different, it's just that mom and dad were altogether unsure of what to expect from a culture in which it is fairly difficult to find a cup of plain ol' coffee.

Emmett's folks were naive. Now, of course, they're missing their daily flat white.

Evidently, so is Emmett, who hasn't boinged like this since his parents curtailed his coffee intake back in Fox Glacier, like, three weeks ago.

Post New Zealand Blues, Remedy #1

There is a winter storm warning on today, and Emmett and his mom are trapped inside as the snow falls. This does not help Emmett's post New Zealand blues. In an effort to pull themselves out of it, Emmett and his mom played a new game...for several hours.

Post New Zealand Blues

Emmett's dad had to return to work today after a month off. Leaving for work was pretty tough, especially after having a great adventure and getting to spend so much time together.

Last night, Emmett offered to accompany his dad to work, to make the transition a little easier, but this morning, he was still asleep at 8:00am when dad had to leave. (Jet lag can be brutal).

When he did finally get up, it was obvious that Emmett is going through some withdrawal too...he woke up babbling "da da da da da da da".

Kiwi fate temptation

Material to add to Emmett's list of death-defying feats in New Zealand:

Driving the craziest road yet, Queen Charlotte Drive coming into the Picton ferry terminal. The only photo that does it justice is the map. And the map doesn't lie. High five, still alive.

The closest he's come to scaling a cliff -- getting pushed up a particularly steep path to the Dominion Observatory in Wellington.

Shortly thereafter, lollygagging around the muzzle of the Krupp Gun. Knowing the potential wrath of Gramma, this is likely a riskier activity for Emmett's dad. It's okay, Gramma, he's wearing protective eye wear.

And the riskiest activity yet, introducing Emmett to New Zealand's national sport. Here he is with his mom in his first-ever scrum on the rugby pitch at Hari Hari. Perhaps Grandpa can teach Emmett the safe way to play rugby. If that exists.

Ban 1080

On New Zealand's South Island, the government's use of a pesticide known as 1080 is contentious. Like, really contentious. Seeking to contribute to a less controversial solution, Emmett's mom tried desperately to nail a possum or two with the car on the drive back to Nelson from Takaka last night. Alas, she was not successful.

Incidentally, Emmett discovered that prior to the implementation of 1080, the NZ Department of Conservation used a deterrent known as 'Farex'.

While ineffective against possums, it has an undeniable negative effect on Emmettilius stranmccannii.



Hoping the dust in the northern hemisphere settles in the next week or so, StranMcCann catches the interisland ferry from Picton to Wellington on Saturday morning.

White knuckle-pa-looza

After driving the road to Arthur's Pass, Milford Road, and the road across Cardrona Summit (and everything in between), Emmett's parents are in agreement: the folks in the New Zealand highway design department either have a great sense of humour, or they're completely insane. Either way, driving in New Zealand is a treat.

Fiddling with the radio or a cup of flat white doesn't help. Rabbits and possums who aren't afraid of cars are further obstacles to safe driving. What does help? Both hands firmly gripping the wheel at all times, a Toyota Corolla with a 6-speed manual transmission, and arrows reminding tourists like us that yes, you're still correct driving on the left side of the road.

Leaving Wanaka today for the west coast and Fox Glacier. Oh yeah, and Emmett's tiger-in-the-grass routine is good to go. Take a peek.

Emmett's Kiwi Adventure

Taking advantage of his dad's heap of vacation time, his mom's maternity leave, and free airfare for himself, Emmett has dragged his family to New Zealand. While his parents were thrilled by the service on their 14-hour Air New Zealand flight, they couldn't help but note the irony of the most comfortable seat on the plane going to the passenger who paid, like, nothing.

The weather in Christchurch has been spectacular, sufficient to assist Emmett in crossing a few things off his Kiwi Things-To-Do list.

Drive the Summit Road above Dyer's Pass. Check.

Fish and chips in Akaroa. Check.

Act like a tiger at the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. Check.