What's New Around Here!?

Well, since I last wrote....

1) we sold and moved house.

We live in a home now that we had only dreamed of. Twice the size, beautiful, and better than we could have hoped for. Its a whole story in itself about how it came to be!

2) my miracle baby boy turned one, and then two!!

I was just cuddling him earlier today and remembering how much we are blessed to have him, hold him and love him.

3) Miss Adelaide is now 5 and at school!!

And loving life in her delightful and joyful way as always.

4) Mr A is 3 and loving kindy.

He is still full of fire and fun and testing the waters and boundaries of every and anything. He's amazing.

5) I started and finished my study in Beauty Therapy - one of my life long ambitions.

6) I started working part time

In admin. Its fun :)

7) we worked through all the crazy emotions and grief of the past few years and decided we would risk again.

Im now 14 weeks pregnant with number 4!!

 8) We overcame some serious health issues - refusing medication, by prayer, by nutrition, reducing stressors and using essential oils....

I havent been a hospital patient since March 2013. Thats a massive victory in my house!!!!

Anyway, more about some of the above another time!!

Happy house party

Sometimes you just need a little family fun.

Dave brought home a pack of balloons on the weekend and the kids proceeded to have them all blown up.

We promised if they would wait until Monday, we would blow up the whole packet and have a 'happy house party' that night.

We had party friendly food- chicken nuggets, sausage rolls, watermelon and salad as well as pink milk... all followed by icecream sundaes. Complete with chocolate cracking sauce and sprinkles.

I think suddenly I remembered family should be fun and we must do this again soon!! (Maybe not the sundae bit).

Life's little indulgences

I did it. I went for my first decent walk in a LONG while yesterday...

In the heat of the sun, wondering if I'd get sunburnt, pushing my boys and thoroughly enjoying it.

I always get that exercise optimism, like 'oh I could set my alarm for 6am and go every morning before the kids wake up!!' but I'm sure the optimism would drown with the 6am alarm. Besides I am getting up in the night so I should cut myself some slack ;-)

I'm hoping to go most weekdays. We'll see whether that develops into a new habit.

Alas here are a few pics from my place...

Saturday night picnics and play at the park

 

 

a wee indulgence

 

vacuum cleaner fun.  It was funnier when Mr A was sucking his lips into the vacuum!

 

my cheeky faced little man

 

one word #lattesonthedeck and another #addictedtocoffee

 

I'd just finished my walk... this is my surprised face.  See the 'glow' hehehe

 

Spontaneous hand holds

 

Strong necks from a boy who has JUST about outgrown NB size!!

 

good fun!

 

 

Things I'm Loving

A short post - after all my long ramblings about in-laws this week!

I am totally loving this -

These are my cousins kiddies.  Princess "Shae" (nicknamed for protection) was born this week - a natural breach birth. 

I love the story, and how beautiful it is - you just don't hear these things now-a-days because the pressure comes on to have a c-section.  I am so proud of my cousin for standing up for herself and insisting she wanted to give it a go.  They tried everything to turn baby but it just didn't happen.  Baby was born after 6 hours, safely and at home - with MINIMAL damage to mummy.  What a star!

Am totally looking forward to snuggies!  Aside from that, it makes me feel just a wee bit closer to delivering my own little one soon!

Enjoy your weekend!
x

Festival of Lights

So, if you want a holiday in an amazing city - where over summer they run a 6 week long festival - with family friendly entertainment EVERY NIGHT, activities for kids, an amazing park, friendly people and nearly everything is FREE - FREE - I kid not.... I do recommend New Plymouth. 

[caption id="attachment_231" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="the girls danced to the excellent singers...."][/caption]

My brother and his family relocated there a year ago - and to sum it up - apart from being away from their family (her's are in Ireland, his are north NZ), they LOVE it!  I was told of free sausage sizzles, free entertainment, free parties for kids with face painting, the free zoo...... lots to do!

[caption id="attachment_232" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="the beautiful changing colours waterfall - amazing"][/caption]

Each summer from mid December to end of Jan, they host a 'Festival of Lights' - where the features of their main Pukekura park are lit up. 

[caption id="attachment_233" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="dragonflies on the bridge..."][/caption]

It means a late night, because it's only dark enough around 9.20pm, but it's definitely worth it.  Even miss 1 and miss 2 got a good time out of it.

[caption id="attachment_234" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="punga tree..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_235" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="this had these pirate birds, making a heck of a noise, good times..."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_236" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="wow"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_237" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="this is the reflection in the lake of the actual feature - hanging above"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_238" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="palms and ferns..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_239" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="and my favourite - the 3D balls and ultra violet lights"][/caption]

Holiday adventures....

We went away for a week recently, for a wedding and to catch up with family who live far away. 

[caption id="attachment_220" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="practising for her big day ;-)"][/caption]

Here are some highlights (haha) for all you mums out there......

It was a typical family holiday.... it rained with the remnants of cyclone Wilma the first weekend.  The wedding day it just poured, so it was quickly changed from a beach wedding to indoors.  There was flooding and slips and major roadworks along the road on our way to Hamilton then New Plmouth.  Lily vomited all over herself, her blankey and her carseat.  It was a beautiful day the next day, and she was sick... ALL DAY.  She was better the following day - it RAINED all day.  We left for home on Friday, got stuck in rush hour traffic which took 2 hours to get from South Auckland to Albany.  We left for Whangarei, another cyclone was making its presence well known, so we turned back.  We turned back again on Saturday morning, when thousands of others were trying to make the same trip north and the main part of State Highway 1 north was closed.  We finally got home at 9pm that night after a long detoured drive north.

Thankfully, our animals were all alive and well fed.   Our house was intact and tidy (thanks to my epic cleaning spree the day before we left) and our car made the trip!

We really did have a good time.  A sense of humour on holiday meant that we found most of the above chaotic things funny.  Here are some real highlights....

I got to play/dance/read-to and hang out with this princess....

[caption id="attachment_221" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="my beautiful niece"][/caption]

 

I met for the first time, and got cuddles and loads of grins from this handsome little man...

[caption id="attachment_223" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="gorgeous nephew!"][/caption]

watching cousins play...

[caption id="attachment_222" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="People actually thought they were both mine.... and that I was crazy! (they're 8 months apart)"][/caption]

we killed some time on Saturday at Auckland Zoo...

[caption id="attachment_224" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="the zoo! oh, the Harris' - at the zoo"][/caption]

 

We got a visual treat at New Plymouth's festival of lights...

[caption id="attachment_225" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="waterfall - it changed colours...."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_226" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="ultra-violet lights and 3D balls!"][/caption]

 

That's all for now... stay tuned for highlights of the zoo and the lights over the next couple of days - got some awesome pics!

Hope you're all good out there!