My girlie girl Emma

Decided to take some photos yesterday when wee Emma was dressed in a way I've always dreamed about dressing my little girl... Yep the tights, the clip in the hair, the little jean skirt and then the ultra cute jumper (which I'm pretending still fits from last Winter). And then seeing her like this made me realise just how quickly she's growing up - it seems like only yesterday that we were wandering if she would get any hair and now she has enough for a clip! This photo was taken while she happily sat on her change table with me right there putting some make up on before heading out - Emma loves my make up and is quite content to sit there playing with it - trying to copy me as I put it on - it's very cute. I think I may be raising a girlie girl - nothing wrong with that I say!

Super Sonic Aunty Returns!

This is my dear friend Laura (Laws). She has been working in Afganistan - not a place many would chose to live, but then Laws is a super amazing gal! Willing to make all kinds of sacrifices for other people. I've called her the super sonic woman for years - just cause she's the kind of person who knows how to sew a fancy dress - but she also knows how to catch and gut a fish! We joke that one day she'll have to teach Em to fish. Laws is back in the country for a month and yesterday we caught up for lunch followed by a walk in Cornwall Park. I appreciate our friendship heaps - and I love that when we do see each other it's like we saw each other just yesterday. Looking forward to spending more time with Laws before the end of the month.

A Chilling Walk in the Rain!

Hopefully for those in the UK the sun is starting to shine... Because over here it's beginning to get cold and raining heaps... Of course Dudley needs walking despite the weather - here's a photo of Em as we set out to get wet. She's wearing her brand new raincoat - just needs the umbrella and gumboots to match! Talking of walking - Emma is doing really well now and has been finally favouring walking over crawling for about the last two weeks.


We got soaked in the rain - So here's the after... Emma was all snuggling under the storm cover while Dudley and me were completely soaked through.

And then last night we went to watch the Blues (Auckland) rugby team loose. And guess what it was raining! Thankfully my clever sister in law Nell got us tickets under cover. It was fun being there anyway - can't remember the last time we went to a game...

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone who reads this! We've had a fairly quiet weekend with Janet leaving on Friday (previous post..) and I have to work tonight (boo hoo!) But hopefully you're having lots of fun. This is an example of the easter treats I've made for family this year - copied from the latest Treasures Magazine. Emma enjoyed her marshmallow egg - and guess what she said when she held her very first easter egg?? "Hot" - thats one of her favourite words at the moment. Have a good one and remember the reason....

See ya later Grandma Janet...

Three weeks has gone very fast - Janet has left for the UK tonight. It's been great having her here. And it's been wonderful to see Emma & her develop a close bond - Grandma Janet has helped teach Emma - to roar like a lion, patty cake patty cake to name just two examples. It's been an active three weeks (see previous blog..) with lots of walks (Dudley has had two a day and I'm expecting serious withdrawls - he's even taken to sleeping outside Janet's door!) Lots of sunshine, a bit of shopping but lots of precious family time. Thank you Janet - please come again soon we miss you already! (The photo was taken after feeding the ducks in Auckland Domain.)

Road Trip '07

Last week we went on a bit of a road trip with Janet. We started our week in the Coromandel. I love this photo of Rob and Emma - it shows how little she is! We had a couple of lovely days enjoying the beach & sunshine in the Coromandel.

From there we travelled onto the Mount - one of my all time fav places - trying to convince Rob that we need to live there! Here we are after an energetic walk up the Mount (about an hour all up hill!) Em wasn't so happy in her back pack - and I had forgotton her dummy - so she need carrying and lots of songs on the way down! Grandma Janet has learnt all her songs very quickly!

From there the road trip really begun as Rob drove (what a star) round the East Coast/Cape. It was amazing all the desserted wild beaches and very very rural. This photo is only one example of the many wild animals that were wandering about - much to Emma's delight. Our destination was Gisbourne - where we enjoyed a couple of rainy days (not as bad as Auckland though!) We stayed right on the beach again. I also had the chance to catch up with Rach - a nursing buddy who is loving the life in Gizzy!

And then lastly we went onto to Taupo to catch up with Dale & Nell. And of course you can't visit Taupo without going to the Huka Falls and the Honey hive (shop and bees making honey..)

All in all we had a fantastic week. A big thank you to Skip for swapping cars with us - so we could travel with space! And also to Karen, Mike & Ava (and Martha the dog) for looking after the house and Dudley (who has just turned two!)