the Sorensen Gang

Jens in Action

2009-02-02T09:12:00.001-08:00

Here are the latest photos of Jens in Action. It looks cold there and I know he is ready to come home...It won't be long - then he can enjoy sunny CA and AZ with his sisters and mom.

Lisette has Braces

2009-02-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

Lisette has Braces - yes it is true. She also got her wisdom teeth pulled but I used her camera to take the photo and she deleted it :( So I used my camera this time and got it. The whole wisdom teeth pulling experience was fun. I went with her to the office and when she came out she was crying and looked like a bus had hit her. The nurse said the anesthesia sometimes made people emotional and she was right. I asked Lyse if she was in pain and she no - she just couldn't quit crying. She came back to my house to recoop - she was fine and didn't really have a bad time of it - except for the fact that her mouth was tingly and numb for about a week - haha. So now she has braces and I am sure she is tired of answereing the kids silly questions, and listening to them and their ideas for what color rubberbands she needs to get when she goes back for a tightening. We love her and she is starting to open her mouth a little more:)

Rachael's a Quitter

2009-01-14T19:29:00.000-08:00

Yeah Rachael - she has quit smoking cold turkey - Last check she was at 5 days with no smokes. Keep it up Rachael - we are pulling for you :)

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T13:54:00.001-08:00

Happy 2009 to all. Lisette and Kylie spent New Years together this year. Lisette and Devin had a party - a Rockband party - and invited a few friends over...it was great - We know Svend and Laura had a quiet evening at home...we spoke with them on facebook...Jens hd a quiet one too we are sure...and hear that Nicole spent New Years with Pricilla and had a great time also.

Svend and Laura

2008-12-25T16:58:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple photos of the house when it was snowing - it is getting pretty chilly now. Laura and I also went up to Paris for 1 night with our friend Richard. Laura had a work conference there so we met her and a friend. We are at her brother Alexs apartment being silly just after having some nice food. We also went to the Arc D'triumph, which was something I hadn't seen. We went to the top and it was a great view but very cold.

McGee kids go to Camp

2008-12-25T16:54:00.000-08:00

Dakota and Dredin went away to camp with School...I think it left Nicole with a short break and just the 2 little girls. I am no sure what all they got to do..maybe Nic can fill us in when she gets a chance :) Here are pics though of the kids.

Svend's travels

2008-11-06T06:14:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos of the wedding I attended which was in the south of Spain in a city called El Cuervo - one hour south of Sevilla. It was my friend John's (kiwi) wedding and his partner Rosa,(it's Rosa's village) I also went to Gibraltar which is at the bottom of Spain and is English run (pounds etc and you must have a passport to enter. They have monkeys on the top of the rocks and you can also see Morocco and the tip of Africa in the distance. It was very clear and beautiful. I will post a couple more of Spain. I was in Madrid before that also - there was also a Ferria going on in the village, which is basically a week of eating and drinking every night and dancing in these tents. It was a lot of fun - this happens every year and basically the villiage stops and parties - not a lot gets done.

Svend's knee operation

2008-11-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

Here are photos before my operation - it was on October 15th. Still not better but probably will be in about 1 more week.

Jens is doing the haka

2008-11-02T12:22:00.000-08:00

We just got photos of Jens doing the Haka with his mates when they first arrived in Afghanistan. You can see him at the back standing in front of the guy in the blue uniform. He is looking good - he's been busy trying to bulk up so we should see something resembling Arnold Schwarzenegger stepping off the plane when he returns!!! j/k Jens - we love you - keep up the good work :)

Here is some of his last email -

"yeah I have thermals, had heaps of them issued to us - so I'm fine for clothes warmth. Most times I am on watch by myself. I
was on sentry last night and it was snowing - but i don't think its quite cold enough for the snow to set - but it's on its way. It was really gray and yucky this morning but the sun has popped up. I can't wait to get off today so I can relax. I had a real busy day yesterday. They suck. The days go fast, I just get run down from lack of sleep. It's already November, I think this month will go fast. I'm doing Movember this month for prostate cancer, we just have to not shave and grow a mustache for the month. Just doing it to kill time."

Letters from Jens

2008-10-27T15:34:00.001-07:00

Thought I'd insert a few lines from some of Jens' emails..that way everyone gets updated :) If you want to email him his email address is JENS-HOLGER.SORENSEN@nzdf.mil.nz

" haven't been up to much. had to go over and provide security for the opening of a medical clinic. so that killed half the day. got the day off tomorrow. have to wake up at 2 in the morning to do sentry. so im definitly goin to sleep in for a bit on my day off. didnt get to sleep in on my last one cause i had to go on a little patrol. dinner time soon. havnt been impressed with the food since ive been here. hopefully i finish early tonight so i can go straight to bed before i have to get up."

" just on watch now. woke up late. not to late though. We're in bamian province. its not to bad its near kabul."

" just waitin to get off watch. only an hour to go. but have to go to range for shooting so not much of an afternoon off. oh well have a sleep in tomorrow. pretty cold today, must mean the snow isnt to far away cause I've noticed the temperature dropping daily."

Svend's leg surgery

2008-10-18T20:48:00.000-07:00

Svend is a cripple right now :) He has had leg surgery and the French doctors have let him keep his leg....guess they aren't so bad after all!! Just kidding - he had some routine surgery on his Meniscus - I guess his jet setting around Europe caught up with him and he torn it. He is recuperating and trying to get better fast. He said he had some photos - so as soon as I get them I will post them.

Jens in Afghanistan

2008-10-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

Jens is in Afghanistan and getting settled in - his email address is finn_mccool_93@hotmail.com and would love emails but be warned that he can't give too many details on where he is or what he is doing.....I know - it's annoying.

Simone

2008-10-18T20:43:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Simone - she looks adorable and oh so grown up. This is Jens and Rachael's daughter and I think she is 2 or almost there.

Jens returns from Training

2008-09-19T21:04:00.000-07:00

Jens is back from his training - he is being deployed to Afghanistan October 5th and while we are scared and sad for him to go - we are proud of him and his service. The details are still a little shady - I think he is not telling us too much so we won't worry - but he will be in our prayers along with Trent, Simone and Rachael while he is away from them. We think he will be embedded with British troops, so this should be quite a change for him. The last time he was in the area he was on his ship - the Te Mana - and they boarded ships coming and going in the gulf. He got to spend some time in Dubai and it sounded like he was having a good time...this time not so much - he will be in the thick of it. Still we love him and can't wait to see him and the rest of the family next year around March / April. I think he is having a going away party at Nana's with the family next week.....I will have to post some pics when we get them...this one is old.

Nicole Graduates

2008-09-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

Nicole sent us photos of her recent graduation from Travel School - Congratulations Nick - we can't wait for you to work for an airline and then get us discount tickets so we can all visit again. We are proud of you and all the hard work you put into this - We (kylie - lisette doesn't have kids!!) know how hard it is to keep focused with 4 kiddies running around :)

Svend & Laura's vacation

2008-09-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

So I really don't have any background on this vacation Svend & Laura took. Svend was supposed to send DETAILS & photos but as you can see only the photos came. I guess they had a good time - we can only assume....... Lisette added that the dog in the photo is Venezia, Laura's dog...who she treats like a little baby. Svend is not as happy with the arrangement, he was raised like the rest of us - dogs should be outside....well...Laura lets Venezia sleep with them - haha - and Svend is not a happy camper about that!!!!! That's what you get when there are no details with the photos...Lisette and I add what we want...let that be a lesson to you all :)

Svend & Laura's digs

2008-07-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the house (or rather estate) that Svend and Laura live in. They have work being done on it at the moment so its a bit of a mess, but it looks lovely still the same. From what I (kylie) hear...Svend has a riding lawn mower that he uses to keep the grounds looking their best. Can't wait to get a picture of that!!. Anyways - its been really hot there so they have been enjoying the nice weather. They are taking off this weekend and next week so they should have some lovely photos when they return. We love them and miss them...but it doesn't look like they are suffering there in Toulouse.......

New Job

2008-07-22T00:57:00.000-07:00

Well this picture obviously works. I got a job. Although it is not in the travel industry, it fits my schedule with the kids. I will be working at Gymleader New Zealand Limited. They are a Sports Equipment Limited. Basiclly they do all gym, playground, gymnastics mats and stuff like that for schools. They actually do work for the church with the basketball nets and so forth. I am doing Office Administration for this company which is located in Otahuhu. I start work on the 4th August and i only work 9-3 Monday to Friday. So it is great that i will be home with the kids and able to still commit to Dredin's League. I will let you know how my first day of work is.

Reflections of Christ

2008-07-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

Stevan and I went to the Mesa Temple yesterday to the visitors center to look at an exhibit called "Reflections on Christ". The photographer Mark Mabry was called by the Mesa Temple Presidency to be the publicist for the Easter Pageant. He took these photos which are amazing. It was an amazing experience to see these in person. I have attached a link for you in the bottom right hand side of the blog to view them and hear the music - it will touch you. This depicts the life and ministry of Christ and is truly a testimony builder to see. He took models and placed them as they are then took the photos. I hope you enjoy

MIT graduation lunch

2008-07-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

After 6 months of hard work at Manukau Institute of Technology, I walked away with not only my Certificate in Travel and Tourism Services, I walked away with a great group of friends. Here we are at Bronco's in Manukau having our own little graduation lunch.

Our Blog

2008-07-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our blog. We have this to help stay in touch with each other and share photos and stories. Hopefully they will ALL participate and post things so this works :)