A Work In Progress

I've recently been looking at vintage Barbies on the net. And by vintage, I mean dolls that I had when I was a kid. I'm feeling a rush of warm memories of favourite dolls, of playing dress up,  making up adventures and of hand made outfits carefully made by my Mum. I still have my Barbies and the clothes. They mean so much to me. They remind me of a wonderful childhood and a Mum who made it magical. I then think about how cross I get at Grace over stupid things, like mess and not tidying up. Why can't I be more supportive of who she is, instead of comparing her to other kids or wasting precious time in her childhood being a grump. Time is moving to fast. I want it all to slow down. More time with my parents and more time with my little girl. Maybe that's way I want to buy vintage Barbies, to try slow things down a bit and live more in those carefree days of childhood. Maybe instead I need to focus on moments as they happen now. More hugs, more chats, less grumpi...

A wonderful party, meeting some lovely parents and Grace had a blast. I'm shattered now but so happy that it went so well!

Awake. Again. And why?; 1. Small person appeared by my bed as cat tried to sit on her head. 2. Finished my time at Frucor and already missing the lovely people. 3. New job starts Monday. 4. Hosting party with 7 four year olds and their parents on Sat and then family party next Sat. I'm not a natural host and worry about the food, how tidy my house is and if people will havefun. 5. Have house guest which throughs out the rhythm of the family a bit. Wish my brain had an off button.

I'm slowly getting through my last week in my current job. It's a hard week, I'm really going to miss everyone, and equally I'm excited about the future. Combined with that, we have Graces birthday party on Sat and my new job starting Monday. It's a lot to deal with. But it will pass and I'm trying to focus on the positive rather than my desire to hide and my frustration with a messy house, oh and a four year old that is hard work at present (lots of tantrums as we settle into post holiday routine).  I wish I could navigate these types of weeks with more calm and less xanax! One day at a time.

We've just spent a lovely couple of days in Martinbourgh to celebrate one of my dear friends wedding. It is just so beautiful down there! The wedding was lovely. The weather was sooo hot! Grace managed to cope through the ceremony but the heat got to her. She had a huge melt down when I offered her a glass of lemonade. For some reason she thought it would taste horrible ?!? Anyway, Chad and I agreed the best approach was for me to drop them back to the hotel and the go back to the reception myself. Such a great day and I'm so happy for Fiona and her new husband Wes. Back to Auckland tomorrow, and then last 6 days at work and then a new job! 2018 is about new beginnings. About better balance, about family, putting me first a few more times and getting healthy. I'm really excited about what 2018 holds for me and my family.

1. Once a child gets into a ball pit, it's near on impossible to get them out. 2. Don't let your child take any toys onto the ball pit. 3. When child takes toys into ball pit, she will drop them. 4. When toy is dropped, as you can't go into the toy pit as an adult you must convince all kids to stop and look for the toy. 5. Try not to think of all the germs in the ball pit. 6. Try not to imagine the gastro that is likely to come because of playing in this pool of germs. 7. In summary, never let your child go in a ball pit.

So Grace has mastered climbing to the top of the large slide at Chipmunks! My first time at a Chipmunks (rainy outside so needed alternative entertainment). No words  Grace rocked at getting to the top of the slide (big climb for small legs) but she then was freaking out at the top, resulting in Chad having to go up and get her (Poor Dadda). Finally she nailed it! Of course now we can't get her off the bloody thing. Also, a random kid just wandered up and put a chewed marshmallow on my lap....wtf? 

I can't believe how time has flown. How this magical girl arrived in my already packed life and now I can't imagine what it was like without that glorious laugh. Time in Rotarua has been wonderful. Adventures at a farm (spoiler alert: real sheep smell) and then up the gondola for lunch. Today it is very wet, so we are heading to the mall and an indoor playground to try and keep dry (stupid mummy left the raincoats in Auckland so we are sharing an umbrella and embracing being damp!). Then we'll head back to motel for a spa and movie night. And more of those delicious giggles. Last night, Grace met another girl on the motel playground and I watched them play. It was so sweet. Grace was a year younger than the girl, and let the play be directed by the older girl. I could see her get a bit annoyed when the play was not the way she wanted her to be, and i was impressed by her confidenceat trying new things. She got a bit sad when another girl came along (both older girls w...

Our holiday has taken us to three days in Rotorua. After a magical time in Taupo (where Grace thrived spending time with her grand parents and cousins) we are having three days of just us time. We are staying in the most wonderful motel. Very family friendly and has on private spa pool per room and a very friendly resident cat! Grace is loving it! We are off to be tourists today and visit the Agrodome (and according to Grace, adopt a lamb). Happy times.