Kirsten Dancing and Visiting Whanganui with Mom

For Mom's first weekend in New Zealand, we headed back to Whanganui to visit all my friends, who she met last time she was here - so they're her friends now as well. The consensus of everyone from the weekend is that we can't believe it's been almost an entire year since she was here last time!

The most exciting part of the weekend was FINALLY getting to see Kirsten dance in a competition! We have been trying to coordinate that for years, and it has never worked out, and it finally did - and it was completely perfect that my mom and Kirsten's mum could come as well, so the three of us made up a very respectable cheering section and had lovely chats between her dances.

This is Kirsten getting ready before her Latin Ballroom dances. She looks stunning! I have worn that dress to dance around the mansion, but Kirsten is more than six inches taller than me, so it didn't quite work. But I still felt fabulous in it!

This is Kirsten dancing with her dance partner Simon. Remember that Kirsten is 6 feet tall, plus heels, so thank goodness that Simon is very tall. They are an impressive couple!

I did Kirsten's hair for the competition - again, something we've been trying to coordinate for years, but it finally worked out! I was so proud and felt a bit like I had a part in all the beauty of her dancing, which was a great feeling.

Then Kirsten changed into her Ballroom gown, which is also stunning. Doesn't she look beautiful?

 This is a real-live action shot by a professional photographer who was there. How could they be so graceful and majestic while balancing and remembering the choreography and everything? Amazing!

We also had a wonderful dinner at the mansion with Kirsten and her mum, Margaret. After dinner, we had tea and cake (and carrots and wine) in the amazing china tea set that Kirsten inherited from her grandmother. The set is SO delicate and beautiful, and it was wonderful to use it. Also, you'll notice Bananagrams tiles in the middle - we played it all evening!

We also had picture-less but fantastic catch-ups with Jonny and his parents Ernie and Marie, and Belinda, and Jan, and Paula. It was a busy and completely wonderful weekend, made all the better by sharing it with Mom.