Christmas @ the Zoo

This is a bit different from the things some of you will be doing in the UK! Going to a special Christmas celebration at the zoo - complete with a very summery pacific Santa (Samoan and wearing a lavalava). We had a lovely picnic with the rest of Auckland and with a very cheeky Pukeko who wanted to try my not very tasty quiche! Emma had her first experience on a bouncy castle which lasted 30 seconds or so! As well as Christmas carols and entertainment. And then of course we had to visit the animals while we were there - the monkeys were especially entertaining tonight and the hippo (who Emma has named Harry) always puts on a good show tonight showing us his teeth! When we asked what she liked best she stated it was the elves & mice (people dressed up as...) We've recently purchased a Friends of the Zoo pass (thanks to UK birthday money) so we have lots of Summer zoo trips planned. Last week we went with Jo, Alex and Hamish - so thats when the gorgeous photo of Em and Alex having a cuddle was taken!

Christmas Angel!

Last week we went to Mainly Music for the first time with Jo, Alex & Hamish - Emma had a great time. Although there's one song that she cries in every time - it's a song we do at playgroup too not sure what the association is with it or whether she just doesn't like it! Anyway we went along again today for the last one of the year which was a Christmas Party. Here's our wee angel dressed as an angel. My cousin Lianne makes these gorgeous smocked dresses and I don't get the chance to dress Emma in them too often - so dressing as an angel was the perfect excuse...

Christmas in Emma's Room...

I once watched Dr Phils wife suggest that it's a good idea to decorate a child's room for the holidays as it helps them to understand what the holiday is about... I thought that sounded great and I've tried to do this for Emma. And then my friend Gillian let me know that the Warehouse had bargain fake small trees and she was getting one for each of her kids - and I thought Super! This morning we started the decoration process - some of the decorations Emma has made (and then she pulled some to bits this morning too...) But we had lots of fun with Christmas Carols on in the background. Here's some photos before the tree gets pulled to bits...(All part of the fun!)

I'm also loving some Christmas ideas from other peoples' blogs this year. This is one that I got from bestlife - it's an advent calendar.... Which is a row of numbered socks each with a few hidden stickers inside. Bring on Christmas!!

Sticker Girl!

Thought I should share this one! Whenever Emma gets a sticker she puts it on her cheek - so when she got hold of Daddy's sticky labels they ended up all over her face. Also Emma is now sleeping in the cot without a side - so far there's only been one tumble out... It makes stealing kisses when she's sleeping a lot easier!

Emma's Teddy Bear Picnic

Teddy Invites Emmy having a play pre party


Today we had Emma's 2nd birthday party which was a teddy bear's picnic. Above is an example of the invitations that were sent out to four of her favourite wee friends, Aunty Janelle, Uncle Skip and Grandma.

Thankfully it was a gorgeous sunny morning so we could have most of the party out on the deck. The obvious decorations were teddy bears - thanks to Grandma and Aunty Janelle we had heaps round the place. I also did little paw prints made out of brown card leading people to the front door. Emma's bedroom is right near the deck so I did a teddy bears picnic scene in there that the kids could see through the window.

Food glorious food! Party favours

The children all had indvidual picnic baskets of party food - which they then got to take home with bubbles, stickers and tiny teddy biscuits. They also got to take home the calico bears they had decorated with buttons and bows. The cake of course was a teddy bear. Emma seemed over whelmed when everyone sang her Happy Birthday! We did try to do a group photo with all the kids and their teddies however Sophie was the only one willing by this time!

Emma's favourite word for the last week has been 'party!' And she loved having all her friends here. Everyone seemed to have a good time and happy memories were made!



Teddy Birthday cake & Calico Bears



Sophie waiting for a group photo! & Grace



Favourite photo of the day with Aunty Janelle.

Claire's 2cents Worth!

Last week our car was towed! Yep $180 later - more than just a slap on the hand for parking in the wrong spot (all my fault...) but an almighty whack that hurt! The thing that hurt that most was the pleasure the towing company seemed to gain from me turning up flustered with a toddler on my hip! (How do they sleep at night?) Anyway.... I have been meaning for a couple of months' to start a gratitude journal - or at least to write at least three things in my diary each day that I'm thankful for. Simply to try and be a little more positive... On the day my car was towed I was very happy - Emma and I had visited a toy shop which was full of very grumpy, very flustered, very unhappy staff. Didn't really suit the beauty of the shop - so Emma and I made up for it by being very happy and playing with lots of toys for over an hour... However, my mood soon changed when after visiting the next shop to come out and find my car had been towed. I went from happy go-lucky -nothing -can -bother -me to a very angry crazed woman within minutes! Which kinda got me thinking... Anyway my gratitude comments are under way in my diary - but here's three real easy one's to think of straight away...

1. Emma - the joy and sunshine of our lives. No one makes me laugh as much!

2. Rob - I've been mostly a grumpy wife this last weekend - full of a cold and sick of being sick and sick of working... I'm grateful to Rob for the things he does round the house - like water blasting the deck this last weekend. I'm grateful he's a fantastic Dad and a wonderful provider.

3. I forgot to mention in my towing story - there were some fantastic workman close by who took pity on me - and one guy drove me to the towing yard. If he hadn't of done this I would probably still by wandering how to get to New Lynn from Mt Eden! Also I'm grateful that I could easily make up for the fine by doing an extra shift at work - made it easier to tell Rob too!!

Play, Book & Park

If during our morning snuggle I ask Emma what she wants to do today she'll generally say one of three things which are: 'Play, Book or Park!' Sometimes she'll mention someone's name too as if she wants to see that person - not always easy when it might be cousin Maia in England that she suggests! Above are some pics of her doing some of her favourite things...