Life lately

It's been a while between posts but we have been busy busy busy. Trips to Sydney to see friends, packing up our little flat to move back to our newly renovated house and having Nanny come to stay.

Kahu got his first taste of rugby mania hanging with his cuz Mana, Uncle Blair and Aunty Binnie- he's not really used to such displays of passion over sport but given his Kiwi background he probably should get used to it!

We showed Nanny the delights of Costco - where everything including the trolleys are over sized.

And moved back into our new house post Reno. Lovely new kitchen but still in a state of unpacking several weeks later. Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing and already I would make changes if I could have a do-over!  Loving our new entertainment area tho - wall mounted TV with no visible cords, yay!!

As an add on we decided to get the house rendered. I resisted but I'm glad Q won me over. I love the way it looks. We're going to pain it in the summer, not sure what colour as yet but I'm totally checking out other rendered houses for inspiration.

Part of the house makeover has my boy in a new 'big boys room' with very cool wallpaper. I'm quite proud of myself getting this world map up on the walls. Just don't look too closely at the names matching up in Africa.

Nanny love - that is all!

Sometimes it freaks me out just how quickly my baby is growing up- he totally looks older than 2and a half here! Clearly he was having an in depth conversation with his BFF Lolly and like his mama he likes to be quite expressive with his gestures.  That's my boy :-)

Busy busy busy

Beautiful but cold mornings as winter kicks in. We're still waiting for the green light on moving back to our newly renovated home but were keeping busy.

Market visits mean snacks from local producers - yum! Sausage sandwich & banana smoothie anyone?

Play dates with the little people, including the BFF Lola, makes for a happy monkey (and they double as a way to wear him out for Loooooong afternoon naps!)

Visits to Sydney to see gorgeous friends and family top off a busy few weeks. Loving it when the cuz cooks up a tasty brekky after a few vinos the night before.

Delish!

Long weekend love

A long weekend means trips to the park, playdates with besties, takeout coffees, cafes, walking Titus, eating outside, playing 'airplanes, copters & wrestling' with Papa, watching episodes of Newsroom with the hubby (loving this show), baking muffins, market shopping and lazing about.

Pretty perfect really.

Of course we did take advantage of all the sales and did a bunch of shopping for the newly renovated home,  (should be moving back in 2 weeks - yippee!!!), and were still deciding on white leather for a couch - are we mad to be thinking white?

To finish off the weekend I'm heading off to see Gatsby at Dendy Premium with Lu & Shirley tomorrow. 

Thanks for making your birthday a holiday Queenie!!

Coffee date

The monkey and I ventured out to the gym today. First Power class in months which I'm pretty much feeling all over my body now - ouch!

Caught up with Julia, Sebby & Frida (we love these guys!) and then the little dude and I headed off to 4th Seed for coffee and 'moo-shakes'. I'm loving this cafe in the hood, and they're extending so even more reason to hang out there.

Great coffee. Delish macarons. Awesome company. Perfect date.

Remembering Dad

Today marks 1 month since my Dad died.

One month, 31 days, some 245 hours since he took his last breath and drifted away.

And even though those last months and days were pretty tough on him, he remained stoic and conscious of us all to the end.

What a champion.

Heres some things about my Dad:

He cooked the best roast pork and crackling on the planet - no question!

He could feed the neighbourhood and one more to dinner was never a problem. No-one went hungry in our house and there was always a place at the table, and a bed if you needed it.

He thought he could sing like Elvis Presley, and loved to tinker on a guitar even though he didn't know that many notes.

He could fix almost anything and would spend hours tinkering in the garage on cars.  Right up till weeks before he died Dad was still my 'go to' person for any DIYQuestions. He knew all about our current renovation and gave me lots of advice.  I hate that he won't see the finished result.

He worked multiple jobs to give us everything, we never missed out on anything, played all sorts of sports, went on all sorts of trips, had all the right clothes and gear to keep up with all the other kids.  It's only now that I have my own family that I have some small understanding of the sacrifices Mum and Dad both made so we could have everything.

He loved being a Grandad.  And his grandkids all adored him. Without question.  My boy talks about his 'Grandy' all the time and I hate that Dad won't be around to see him grow up but he will,always know who his Grandad is, and he always know how much he loved him.

He adored Mum. No question. Loved up till the end - how great is that?!

I miss you Dad. I will miss you every day, every single day.

And I know that I didn't say it enough, but you were/are the best father ever.

I love you



Photos of Dad - wedding day, dad & the monkey, family, grand kids, hanging with Grandy

Hello June

It's the 1st of June.

Finally May 2013 is done.

In May I lost my beloved Dad, my gorgeous mother-in-law Joan 2 days later, and we miscarried a much wanted, already loved baby.

Complete and utter crappy month.

Rather than dwell on the when's, how's and whys -I'm choosing to look forward, strive for positivity & know that better days are coming.

I have an awesome family. No doubt! I have amazing friends, and a loving husband and son. I know I'm one of the lucky ones.  There is much to be thankful for.

Yet grief is tricky.

It creeps up on you when you're not looking, hits in unexpected places, and knocks the wind out of you.

I cry a lot. I rage even more. Quinton struggling with loss of his own mother bares a lot. Bless that man.

Good days and Bad days. 

May for all it's horror, also has many days of celebration. Mum, Dads, Qs and my sister Cynthia's birthdays, Mother's Day (yay!) and our wedding anniversary. 

So not so terrible usually.

A genuine thank you to the wonderful people in my life who are always checking up on me/us, who send messages of support, and offer an ear for when I need to vent - which is often.  Your value can never be measured.

I told you I am one of the lucky ones.

So today after a month away I'm blogging again. I'm saying goodbye to May - I'm moving forward with a smile.

Seriously!

Pics of the little people lighting up our lives - and one of Q and I on anniversary night.

Sydney trip

Hanging at Aunty Loressa's place in Sydney for the weekend. Weather has been great & we've caught up with a bunch of people (not everyone we wanted to tho - not enough time) and an awesome trip to the aquarium to see the sharks!

Lunch with the whanau & goss with the girls - perfect!