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....