Slightly warmer weather makes...

... everyone happy.

Lack of a computer is...

Refreshing.

But when it's time to play catch up - it's an afternoon sitting down and sorting images.

Since the reno has started, I've been without a computer pretty much since. But not without my camera. After these last few weeks, I was able to finally get about 300 images on to my machine! Yikes.

So here is the beginning of a quick catch up...

The destruction

Growing up..

Today was one of those days when you realise how fast it all goes. Today was filled with questions being asked and actually answered. It's so odd.

"What would you like?" "Snack."

"Would you like some water?" "No."

Hendrik especially has begun to become this very adventurous, curious, independent little man. During playgroup, he wanted to go off and see what was over "there", he came back holding a hand of another mum, looking above the tops of the heads of other kids sitting on the floor, sees me waving to him and smiles his big smile with dimple and all, and comes trotting over. He came over, flung his arms around me and gave me a huge cuddle. It almost made me cry..

Then in the afternoon we went to the Lyall Bay playground. It was a stunning day, so it was a no brainer. As soon as they saw the water, "OSHN!!" Yep. Ocean. Hendrik decided he was going to walk on his own to the playground, looks out over the wall to the beach and the waves, and decides that's where he wants to be. He keeps walking past the swings and slides and down to the beach.

After finding their footing on the sand and finding a couple of shells for Dad, Hendrik sits himself down in the sand. He sits, quiet and calm, watching the ocean, the waves and the surfers. Quiet and calm. The seagulls and the airplanes, taking it all in. Willem cuddles my shoulders asking about passing surfers and pointing to them in the waves.

It makes me so proud on days like these. Some days, I'm happy just to have survived. But these are the days that make this journey truly amazing.

Have a happy weekend!

X

 

A family weekend away - Castlepoint

The boys have had their first overnight, New Zealand road trip! I had tried to plan the drive out around the boys naps and it worked like a charm! They were happy and chilled out most of the ride.

We met up with the some of the clan in Masterton and had a lovely walk around Queen Elizabeth Park, with some good playground time, and some lunch. It was the perfect point to stop.

 Such beautiful weather, such beautiful autumn colour. Swans, ducks, acorn whistles and apples.

Another hour or so driving, lead to this...

Photos do not do it all justice. The rest of the weekend was rainy and windy, but still fantastic.

I am so proud of our little men. I wasn't sure how they would go with the long drive like that. But they were so great. I can't wait until the next road trip!

Mondays aren't what they used to be...

I remember dreading Monday when I had the normal 9-5.

But when you have amazing weather like today, the sun shining, the northerly breeze keeping you cool, but not too cool, you slap on the SPF 50, pack up the nuggets and take a drive around the South Coast. I have been waiting for the perfect day to take the boys to the play area along Lyall Bay! I was probably more stoked than they were, but after a couple of snacks they got stuck into some good action!

Not too long after, we stopped for lunch, checked out the view and the boys made some new feathery friends. I love our new Mondays!
x

A nice day in Wellington..

... can be rare, but well worth taking advantage of.

Enjoy it all when you get the moment...

Christmas Love..

Finally some Christmas photos! 

We had a lovely time, our first Christmas in our new house... even with no furniture. 

Our fantastic little tree from the Aro Street Community Centre.

Peanut Butter Cookies for the Dog Park Party? Such a lovely time!!

Post Dog Park Sleepy.

Christmas Dinner. Go Jacob with his Manuka Honey and Orange Glazed Ham. Fantastic.

The new edition to the family. His name is Jerome. Thank you Ans!

Timmy's Christmas cracker and some good movie watching, White Christmas on the lappy.

Boxing Day Beach Trip to Petone... Such a gorgeous day...

*my mother's day slash birthday weekend

I guess I can count myself as a mum. I have two sons - Timmy (Timbly) and Bruce (Brewski). Right?

This weekend was so nice. Some lovely friends came down from Sydney, so there was a bit of dining and a bit of drinking and a bit of beaching to celebrate mine and Sarah's birthday.

A gorgeous afternoon in Port Melbourne.

Bruce's first time in the ocean... All was going well until J threw Timmy in and Bruce followed in after. 

Hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day!!

Bring on the 34th year tomorrow.

*I'm getting old!!*

xo

*watch hill, rhode island

I'm still going through a lot of my photos from the last trip to the US. 

I still have a whole other media card to go...

I love Watch Hill.

I used to spend a lot of time there when I was younger. I would go on these random drives and end up in another state. I would go down to the private beach at night, walk to the edge of the world and stare out into the mist. Some nights the fog would roll in and the mystery of what lay beyond that opaque veil was enough to send your heart racing.

*personality colour quiz

Mmmmm. Quizzes! Check out this colour quiz found via How about Orange (love her blog!!!!!)

Pales colours inside are for sure my thing. My lounge room at my last apartment before I moved in with my hubby, was mostly white, black, tan and reds. Black and white images framed with white matts and black frames, and another set of images in white frames....

The more I started putting my own images into my space, the more colour seems to creep in. Now I live in a house that is mostly beige and browns, but the lounge room has these bright cobalt blue couches and more colourful painting on the walls. I like to think that I am growing in my appreciation of colour.Bring it on!!!!