A Work In Progress

Last weekend we had the final of Grace's birthday celebrations. We headed to Rainbows End with 7 of her friends for an epic four hour party!  Grace had an absolute blast!  I didn't get to see a lot of the park this time as I was organisation the party room and the food (Wonder Woman theme for both!!).  However,  I have been with Grace a number of times to Rainbows End, I know how much fun she would have had with both Chad and her friends. The one bitter sweet part of the party is that all these lovely girls are heading off to different schools. I have really enjoyed watching Grace's friendship with them grow, and I adore the Mums too (which makes play dates so much more bearable!!) Apologies for only having two pictures!!! I know Chad has some better photos which I will upload when I can get them off his camera. We are now heading into our last week at Penguins day care. Another milestone that I have mixed feelings about! I have to say I am incredibly...

Things that make my heart sing: listening to Grace giggling as she spends another night sleeping in the tent with her Dad. The same Dad who will get no sleep as the air bed is so uncomfortable but won't let his little girl down.

I have just finished my first week back at work after our lovely holiday. The week has been spent trying to get used to not having an afternoon nape, but ultimately thankful that I am in air conditioning on these incredibly hot days. We had a very successful family BBQ on Saturday with the extended Mclaren clan, celebrating Grace turning five. Grace was so excited and it was lovely seeing her having such fun with her cousins. This week, Chad and I have also spent a lot of time talking about what needs to be done over the next three months. I have lists and more lists to help keep track of the different things we have to do. It is quite overwhelming, particularly as we are struggling to keep our house tidy when we are also trying to pack and sort through the junk that we need to get rid of before we move. I have been watching a show on Netflix which is all about organizing your house and it both delights and terrifies me! Right now we have two much stuff for the size of our house....

We have just come home from a wonderful holiday at Lake Taupo. Taupo holds such special memories for me that it fills my heart that I can share it with Chad and Grace. We packed in lots of fun, from Christmas with Mum and Dad, to adventures at the park and the beach and topped off with an amazing present from Mum and Dad of a rail adventure in Taumarui. It was so wonderful to have a complete escape from things, although now we are back in Auckland, our busy lives are kicking back in with a family BBQ to host tomorrow and the need to ramp up our house move preparations! I am trying not to get overwhelmed. I know that we get everything done, just taking one day at a time. In other news, our little girl turns five tomorrow. I know every parent says "where does the time go" but it is amazing looking back at photos and feeling that some of them happened only yesterday. It is amazing to see how she has blossomed over the years, her kind nature, her cheeky sense of humo...