Phase 2 of our little vacation was traveling to Doubtful Sound. One neat thing about Doubtful sound is that you can only get their by boat. So we headed to Manapouri where we would get on a boat that would take us across Lake Manapouri to the road that we could travel on to get to the Sound. The road that you take is called the Wilmot Pass. It was built to transport equipment needed to build the massive power station on Lake Manapoui and is basically a 20 km road winding up a huge mountain and through rainforest. I couldn't imagine having to build it. It's really only used for taking people to the sound for fishing, cruising, or kayaking now. After our trip to the sound, we arrived in Deep Cove. From there we traveled through the Fiords. It was SPECTACULAR!!!! At first in the main "arm" it was really windy and wavy but as we traveled we went into some of the smaller arms which were much calmer. We could sit on the deck or go into the observation lounge and just view from inside the ship. I will post pictures below. 

One neat thing about the Fiordlands (sorry, Doubtful Sound is in the Fiordlands) is the amount of rain they get every year. In some areas they average over 7 meters a year, where in the higher parts it's closer to 10 meters. It's crazy, but that is what makes the area so beautiful. All around is moss covered trees, huge ferns, and green EVERYTHING! It's beautiful!!!!  (here is a link to a map of the Fiordlands, just click on "doubtful sound" MAP )
Anyway, back to the cruise. It was a lovely cruise and we were able to go kayaking while we were on the ship which was really fun. I didn't dare take my camera with me, as it's my only one here, so unfortunately we couldn't get any pictures of that. The cruise also had spectacular food. It really seemed to just keep coming, which was nice. :) 
We weaved through the Sound and made our way to the Tasman Sea. There we saw a fur seal colony and also a very rare penguin called the "fiordland crested penguin." It was extremely wavy in the Tasman Sea so my pictures are a big blurry, but I'll try to post my best ones below! From there we headed back into one of the smaller "arms" of the sound and stayed the night. You couldn't even tell we were on water it was so still.
 During the night we were able to converse with a couple of people on the cruise and they became our "cruise buddies." Two were 2 older guy friends from San Francisco and our cabin mates were a young couple from the U.K. We had some pretty "in depth" conversations with all of them, lots of political discussions but also religious ones as well. (many were involving farming practices...imagine that!?!!) It's funny how ones view of who God is influences their entire outlook on life, politics, and others. No wonder we were so different and thought so differently on things! It actually started to become a joke with us all because we all disagreed on sooo much, so we had plenty of laughter (along with the longest game of backgammon in my life) for the night. For all my prayer warriors out there, add Reynaldo and Favio to your prayers. (one an atheist, the other an agnostic) Yes, the joking around was fun, but the unfortunately as we left the boat, I couldn't help but thinking; why couldn't they accept the gift of Christ? It's a free gift, a man, God, sacrificed himself for them yet they blatantly chose to disregard it. Hopefully the Holy Spirit is not done with those two men yet, and I will continue to pray for them. 

 The next day we toured around the sounds, saw a bottlenose dolphin, drank some water from a waterfall coming down the side of the mountain, and at one point in the trip sat in complete silence (no motor, no generator, no talking, no cameras...just rain and waterfalls) The cruise line (RealJourney's) did a fantastic job and we really enjoyed the cruise. Well I think that's all for Doubtful sound for now, I'm sure I'll think of things and add them later or Paul will remind me of something, but anyway. Just know that the Fiorlands is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand (in my opinion...I know I haven't seen it all, but right now, this one holds the top) I wish that the pictures could portray the hugeness of the whole place along with it's beauty--but you'll just have to come and see for yourself someday :) 

Traveling down to Te Anau was quite the trip. We drove along the coast in a torrential downpour with very high winds, but that didn't stop us from running on the beach and seeing the Moeraki Boulders. It basically is a beach filled with these giant spherical boulders. I'm not really sure of the story of the boulders....we didn't go to the info place (Paul had our destination in mind) so we may just have to google it to figure out the mystery. Unfortunately because of the rain, I didn't take my camera, but still, seeing them was well worth the soaked jeans and shoes and being sand blasted :)  The pictures below are from Paul's trip here a few years ago, I just wanted to show you what they are like, the boulders haven't changed much since then! 

Next we toured through Dunedin, which is a really beautiful city. We didn't stop and tour around, but next time I go there I'm going to the Cadbury Chocolate Factory and I want to tour through the beautiful train station. Ok. Anyway, we finally made it to Te Anau, which is where the base of the Kepler Track was. The Kepler is a 60 km hike starting in Te Anau. We didn't want to do the whole thing, we just wanted to make it up to the Luxemore Hut. (by the way, there is a race in December where people actually run this hike, the whole THING.....we were passed frequently by trainees of the run...one was about 70....they made you feel really good....) From the Control Gates to the Luxemore Hut is only about 14 km. Making it up there was QUITE the chore for a preggo lady...well at least I had that as an excuse to take lots of breaks...even though I'm pretty sure I'm just out of shape :)  If any of you were or are Psalty fans while growing up, you would remember the song "One Step at a Time...I'm climbing my mountain...one step at a time!" well, that was my theme song while making it up there!!!! And boy did I sing it all the time! Once we made it to the hut, I had this burst of energy and wanted to try and make it to the summit. It was only another hour and a half of walking so we decided to make our way up the mountain. We soon realized that the trail to the summit was covered in snow, we looked further ahead and saw that the edge of the mountain had a TON of snow (from the storm the day before) on it, and we couldn't really see the trail, so instead of endangering our lives, we turned around. (I know sad ending...next time we'll be prepared to tramp in lots of snow!) This was pretty disappointing for me, as I really wanted to get up there (Paul summited before in 08 with his friends) but, we'll have to try it another time!! Even though we didn't make it to the summit, the views from the hut were BEAUTIFUL!!!! We had such awesome weather up there and could see for miles and miles. All around us were snow covered mountains, beautiful lakes, deep valleys and green rolling hills. It was breathtaking. The pictures just don't do it justice.  From there we headed back down the mountain. Now, I was surprised when I got to the hut how much energy I had, and I didn't think twice about the journey down the mountain because OBVIOUSLY it would be easier going down right?!?! WRONG! Maybe breathing and endurance wise going down is easier, however by the time we made it to flat ground (and still had another 5 km to walk) my legs had turned into rocks--hokey soreness. However, I sang my song and made it (barely) to the car. Paul did wonderful this whole treck, I'm sure if it wasn't for me he wouldn't have needed any breaks, but thankfully God gave me a patient husband and he allowed me frequent stops :) Here are a few pictures from the "tramp." 

Paul and I just got back from an AWESOME week of traveling around the South Island. Now that Calving is officially DONE (WOO HOO!) we wanted to take a break, do some fun things, see some amazing sights and relax a little. The trip was all of the above and way more. Instead of posting one GIANT post, I will probably post of the couple different places we went in separate entries...you know to be organized, cause that's what I'm all about. (that's a joke by the way)
Here's a bit of what's been happening lately...
1. my sheepies are growing like crazy!  Poor Tarzan is becoming a "Wether" as I type...poor guy :( 
2. THE ALL BLACKS WON THE RUGBY WORLD CUP!!!! Really, America should change their love of football to Rugby, it's way cooler. All of New Zealand is pretty much in LOVE with Rugby and the All Blacks, which is really neat to see. Imagine if each state only had one televised professional sports team, everyone would love it and rally together! (It's not exactly like that, they do have more teams...like net ball, I think, but thats the best analogy I got) You don't see New Zealand Flags around much, but you see a MILLION All Blacks flags. 
3. Paul has a slightly disgusting highly infected finger, Please pray the infection goes away
4. Baby is growing, rolling, and I think learning karate inside my tummy, it's pretty neat. ;)
5. All the trees pretty much have leaves on them now, which makes the farm so much more vibrant! 
6. I'm coming home for a visit in 16 days!!!!! :D 
7. Zara's first Birthday was on the 21st, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZARA!!!!!!! 
8. Random Fact... New Zealand doesn't celebrate Halloween! (Thankfully! It's nice not seeing skulls and orange and black everywhere along with disturbing and trashy costumes....although I do miss candycorn) 
9. I don't know what else is new, but I want to end on 10 so........
10. Thats all for now, I'll try to post the updates either tonight, or tomorrow! Thanks for reading! 

I just realized I never really told anyone on my blog the names of my newest cutest pets! The little lambs names are Tarzan and Jane, and yes, they really do match their names quite well. I'm pretty sure Paul is in love with little Jane (actually she's not little, she's really cute and fat) and Tarzan is well.....Tarzan. He probably should be swinging from trees somewhere, and if he could, I'm sure he would try it. He already broke my cat door, knocked me over, peed in my house (no, we do not intentionally allow them inside...they are smart), nibbled on the zucchini plants, and he ate paul's beautiful lettuce. But you gotta love em'.  Here are some pics! 

Hey All! 

Lincoln Wright DeKoster made his grand entrance into this family on September 30, and what a stud this kid is. Really, I think he may already be the coolest baby ever, he wears tie-dye and friendship bracelets and he is absolutely ADORABLE! ConGRATulATionS NICK AND KATIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  
Not being able to be at the hosptial was NO FUN for this Aunite, but I was still VERY thankful for Skype because I was able to Skype with the DeKoster family in the hospital, how cool is that!?! So, although its nothing like being there and feeling and holding their tiny little bodies, and tickling their fresh tiny toes and fingers and kissing their sweet soft little head...I was still thankful to be able to see and talk to them in "person." Here's a quick family picture...through the computer...don't they look great!!!! Congrats to you guys and may you cherish each precious moment God gives to you and your new little one :) Love you!!!!!
(You'll all have to check out facebook for more pictures of this little handsome baby)