Tis the Season to be Creative...

Dudley's Haircut!

"It has been said that every child should have two things - a dog and a Mother that will allow him to have one!"

Emma always showers Dudley with affection after he's been groomed as if we've brought home a new puppy or something.... Very cute - she often involves Dudley in her play now as if he's a little sibling!! Thankfully Dudley is a big goof and is usually very happy to comply!

Christmas in Emma's Room!

Last week - Emma & I put up her wee Christmas tree... A little lopsided due to missing legs and needing to use a pot full of sand instead! While I was looking for the missing legs - Emma was looking at some decorations and she found some fake little presents which of course she unwrapped not just one or two but the whole lot - good determination to find a present I guess!! I had put all Christmas toys, books, CD's away so she really thought it was Christmas when they came out! So cute... She still can't get enough of Jingle Bells! Roll on Christmas....

Bugs Party!

Our little angel is now three! We had a great day celebrating yesterday - Daddy had the day off work and we went to the Zoo. And then Emma chose to have a picnic for tea but it had to be 'curry!'

And then today we had Em's Bugs Party! Which was lots of fun! Twelve of Em's friends came dressed as little bugs - they all looked adorable. Emma was a beautiful lady bug. We started the morning with a bugs hunt and then a friend from Playgroup did a few 'bugs songs' with the kids - which went really well and the kids did some great dancing! After that it was time for morning tea - which was of course bug food - spider lollypop, cheerio butterfly, grape caterpillar, ladybug cupcake etc.. My friend Gillian made the amazing Ladybug cake - she is one talented lady. We held the party in the Lighthouse - which is a little house linked to the church and playgroup so it meant we had access to the sandpits and playground. My pretend niece Laura whose 13 was great at entertaining the kids managing to get them to fly round the playground like butterflies!

I had great fun with decorations - I love parties and planning so I thought of the theme a long time ago and have been buying things since... Bugs was a fun and easy theme to do and the internet is great for inspiration. Some sites I love are www.familyfun.com and www.littlies.co.nz.

All Em's friends took home a packet of swan plant seeds (I did try to grow some but there still little!) And a lady bug/beetle plant stake. Emma receieved beautiful presents and was truly blessed! All in all it was a perfect day! And then tonight we went out and celebrated that my brother Dale has been given the all clear from Cancer! What a great day!

Where have I been?

Two words really.. Light Party! Let me start from the beginning.. About five weeks ago I stood up in church (a miracle in itself...) And said I was keen to do a Light Party - but was only going to do it if I got the helpers. For those who don't know a Light Party - is a positive alternative to Halloween - meaning the kids come to the church for a massive party instead of going trick or treating. The Light Party celebrates life and all the good things so no nasty costumes are allowed. Well after my annoucement in church I had masses of people willing to help and donate money, stuff or time. So my time has been spent looking after all the little details in regards to this - and I have loved it. On Friday night during a boogie with the kids at the start of the night I almost felt a little choked up to see 150 kids just having pure fun!! They all had party trumpets so the noise at the start was spectucular! The night was run with different game stations and the kids moved round the stations in teams. Some of the stations were a bouncy castle, messy food station, a box maze (the youth group did this and it was beyond incredible!), inside games, outdoor games and a glow stick lolly hunt room. And of course a parents cafe for coffee and cake for parents. It was a perfect night weatherwise after a very rainy week. I think I'm still a little tired from the whole planning thing - but I am also still buzzing too - just every little detail worked out and I give all the credit to the guy upstairs who looked after everything... Yesterday when I was at playgroup someone said to me that there child had said they wished everyday was a light party day - so I think it was a success to the ones who matter most too! Now for next year... I think next year we'll start planning in June instead of 5 weeks before though... I was running around like a headless chicken on the night so no time for taking photos - but here's a photo of Emma in her cowgirl outfit!!

Afternoon Tea!

Anyone for a few sprinkles on their yoghurt? This is what happens when you turn aound!

Snow Bunny!

We took Emma to the snow for the first time this last weekend. When we arrived on the mountain it was perfect timing as it was actually snowing - and Emma tried catching snowflakes! She had a great natural knack for making snowballs and yes she knew to throw them at people too! She decided she must have her bucket and spade so many snow castles and sculptures were made. We also had lots of fun sliding down the mountain, making snow angels, eating brownie and drinking fluffies! When asked what Em liked best she said it was simply the 'swing' - which was the chair lift ride she went on with Daddy.

A Part of my Story...

On a personal note.... I remember when I was pregnant with Em being very humbled by different peoples' stories about motherhood & starting a family. For example the lovely friendly cleaner at work that experienced miscarriage after miscarriage (she now has one though!) Or the lady at the supermarket who had been trying etc etc. Little did I know then that we would be one day struggling with secondary infertlity. It's no secret Rob & I have been trying for ages and we're now under a specialist. I had a dreadful scan (makes a smear seem like a picnic!) on Monday and it was discovered that I have an adhesion (joined scar tissue). This is only on my left side but it may be partially to blame. So our story continues - not sure what the plan will be - will not be seeing the specialist until November sometime.

It's an amazing the rollercoaster I feel like I'm riding - there are days when I'm not phased at all and then there's days when I feel like I could cry all day and then I usually feel guilty as if I'm not grateful for Em... crazy feelings really. But the below song summed it up on one particular hard day - I am still holding on and I know one day we will have a sibling for Em and there will be a happy ending....

Goodbye Sweet & Lovely Kitchen...

What a weekend! Rob has been amazing tearing our kitchen to pieces! Tomorrow the builders' are in and our first major home renovation project is started. So farewell kitchen it's been great cooking in you with your country kinda of style. But now we look forward to an english looking open plan style - and I'm looking forward to it! After pictures to follow...

Home Sweet Home..

We made it safe and sound back home. The flight back was ok - Emma and I slept beautifully for the first leg - while Rob wasn't so lucky. Singapore airport was a treat as usual we had a 12 hour stop over - the first part of that was spent in the airport swimming pool which was pure luxury to say the least and Emma loved it! We then had a hotel room - Emma only slept for four hours - so then I was up wandering round with her at 3am Singapore time but we found a Starbucks and did some cool drawing. We even stumbled across this sunflower garden, I was delighted to find my favourite flower. Emma & Rob slept well on the next flight I wasn't quite so lucky - oh well! In fact as I type this it's 5.30am NZ time and Emma has been awake since 3.30am and I've been struggling with sleep all night although I feel exhuasted... The joys of jet lag - I just have to remind myself it won't last for long...

A big thank you again to everyone in the UK. I feel really sad coming home this time knowing we leave so many family/friends that we love on the other side of the world... You all gave us an awesome holiday and lots of happy memories. Thank you especially for the love you all poured out on Emma - I know she'll be talking about England for ages... We promise to be back soon and we promise to keep in touch...

Last Week in the UK

Cornwall Our next house!!

We're still having a great time in the UK. The last few days have been incredibly hot and lovely up round 27-28 degrees - pure bliss.

Since I last blogged - we had a week in Cornwall with Jo, Pat, Maia and Janet & John came up for a couple of days too. We had a lovely week - taking the kids out for lots of fun entertainment including swimming pools, water slides, the sea-side and very large indoor playgrounds with somewhat scary slides! Cornwall was great - we stayed in Fowey which was a very quaint & posh town. The photo above that looks like a castle - is in fact a private house - amazing huh - we tried our best to get in for a tour!!

Eva, Louisa, Martha, Emma & Me Skegness

Don't worry Grandad I can drive!!

Then we had a few more days in London - including a great BBQ to catch up with family friends. We then headed to Lincoln for the week to spend time with Rob's Dad and wife Deborah. Which was great as well - we had one day in Skegness a typical English seaside place which was interesting to say the least! I won't go into great detail - but I'm thankful that our beaches at home are left as just beaches with maybe a park or too! We also spent a day in Harrogate catching up with some of Rob's Uni friends and meeting new babies.

Emma in Ely with Nan Goodbyes to Jo, Pat & Maia today..

We also caught up with Nan a couple more times on the way and on the way back from Lincoln. We're now at the horrible part of the trip that we have to say goodbyes or see you soon to people which is always very hard... If only we could be torn in two or encourage everyone to move to NZ!!...

10 Things I am Loving about this Holiday!

*1* Well of course first is seeing Rob's family. It's wonderful seeing everyone and catching up and having quality time with them. Time over here is limited so it makes it even more precious the time we spend together. Also feeling very grateful for family - thankful that Rob's Dad contributed on the plane fares to get here, thankful for Janet & John for letting us use there car etc etc...

*2* London - after living here for 14 months there's something wonderful and familiar about returning here. Yesterday Rob and I went into central London (while Grandma Janet babysat - you don't want to take a pushchair into central London if you don't have to!!) And it was great the complete craziness, squashed sardine kinda feeling you get when your in London. It's just so huge and busy that it makes you feel tiny and for some strange reason it's a feeling I like sometimes!

*3* Seeing Maia and Emma together - priceless! They're great little friends. On Saturday we head to Cornwall with Jo, Pat & Maia so it will be great to see Emma and Maia play together for a whole week. It is of course great for us to meet our little gorgeous neice Maia too.

*4* Summer - there's been some gorgeous days and some hideous but this is my grateful list so I'll mention the good days! We've had some great days outside at places and Parks I never knew London had. On Tuesday Janet took us to Willows Farm - where you could feed the animals, go on rides as well as play on a big indoor playground. Emma went on her first ever ride and she couldn't stop smiling!

*5* Shopping! - It's got to be said! Even just to look - the shops are huge - and when I go in them I just want to inhale and absorb the whole experience! That may sound sick - but I know what I mean! I love going back to old favourites too - like NEXT, Monsoon, Ikea and the department stores over here are amazing. Marks & Spencers for example I am amazed looking round there food department - everything looks perfect - pricey but perfect! Yesterday we stood behind an obviously weathly lady as she easily spent 126 pounds (close to 300 NZ) on very little food!

*6* Playtime! I love standing back and just watching others play with Emma. Grandma Janet & John are loving playing with Emma - taking her to the park at every opportunity, Grandad also was great fun to play with in the Wendy House in Lincoln at the weekend. It melts my heart everytime I see Rob play with her too - just to see what a great & fun Dad he is.

*7* Seeing Nan especially! Rob's Nan wasn't very well round Christmas so we were a little worried before seeing her that she may appear older and frail - but I'm thankful to say that wasn't the case at all - she looks fantastic! After having a rough time with a bad leg - you wouldn't even know now!

*8* Catching up with friends! We still have more to see... But last night Rob saw some friends that he hasn't seen since he was 18! Courtesy of Facebook where they've all managed to make contact again - it was fun watching them all reconnecting and remembering the good old days!

*9* Meeting new babies! We still have more to meet. But tonight we meet Matteo now 11 months. Lovely to see so many families growing!

*10* Time together for us too! Rob especially has had a full on last 6 months - with directing a uni paper, doing 2 uni papers and working his usual 40+ hours a week!! It's nice being here together and not having to think about any of that. Or for me not having to be tired from jolly night shifts!

UK!!!

We made it!! And we're loving our holiday in England so far. Emma was fantastic on the plane - she wanted to sleep on me which made me uncomfortable but things could've been a lot worse. Our stop over in Singapore was a dream - swimming, sleeping and showering without leaving the airport - courtesy of an airport hotel.

We were greeted at the airport by Grandma Janet & John so first stop London. Janet has gone all out for Emma finding lots of cool retro toys up in the loft that Daddy use to play with as well as buying some other treasures like a tea-set and a dollies pushchair etc. Our first couple of days in London the weather was gorgeous so we enjoyed it by visiting parks, swimming, picnics etc. Aunty Jo and cousin Maia came to visit from Portsmouth on Monday - it was great finally meeting Maia. There's only 6 months between Maia and Emma and they've become great pals - copying each other and playing beautifully.

This last weekend we headed to Lincoln and caught up with Grandad and Aunty Deborah and Jo, Pat and Maia came too - so it was a great family time. Tim & Deborah live in the country and have a huge garden with a wendy house so the girls had a blast.

On the way to Lincoln we also called into Ely to visit Rob's Nan. We're always greeted there with a cup of tea, sandwiches and cakes. Emma loved meeting her Great Nan and they became friends very easily. We also visited Nan's sister Norma and son Rodney and crazy licky Suzy the dog.

So we're having a grand time - the weathers taken a turn for the worse but the thing I love about the rain is that it's just an excuse to go shopping!!! (Enough said... )

BIG Bed!

About a month ago we finally took down Emma's cot - after Emma sleeping in it for about 6 months without a side on it. Emma loves her new mattress that Daddy brought - the other one somewhat of an antique! So we went out and celebrated by buying a duvey - a special counting one that Emma calls her 'strawberry duvey!' We are now often hearing counting & numbers coming from Emma's bedroom. And the best thing is the extra space in Emma's room - a family corner has been created - which has meant being able to get some toys out of the lounge!

And good old Rob even discovered a good use for the old cot mattress it has been cut up and used as a cushion so Emma can ditch the Phil & Teds chair at the table and actually sit in the BIG chair! Oh my little girl is getting BIG!!

Queens Birthday Weekend

Just had a wonderful weekend away in Tarawera. The three of us went down to meet up with my dear friend Laura who has just come back home recently from Afganistan. We had great fun down there. We went to the real Hot Water Beach - wonderful natural hot water pouring into the beach - in fact parts of it were a little too hot! The photo above shows Laws was the only one who could brave the extreme heat! Emma loved the Pattersons' retro boat - especially when it was bumpy! It was a blessing to have some much needed fresh air and time outside enjoying the gorgeous views and sunshine. I have wonderful fond memories of times spent in Tarawera with Laura and others so it was great to be there again with Laura and to show Emma & Rob such a beautiful place.