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!