wordful wednesday and why time waits for no man (or woman!)

when i look at this photo, i'm reminded that time marches on

it marches on oblivious to how resistant or hesitant you might be to change, or the advancing years as your children grow up right before your very eyes

some days you look back and go - 'was that my children's childhood?'

did they enjoy it?

what will they remember?

with my 2nd eldest set to leave home - leaving 2 [from 4] at home

and all bedrooms either getting makeovers or new residents

i'm struggling to maintain my equilibrium, and at the same time knowing that the sun will set and rise, and like the weather - what will happen, will happen with or without you - and it's only your perspective or response that you can change.

i can still remember the day this child leapt from the car telling me that i could 'stay there mum - i'll be fine' and wondering how i'd feel 8 years later when she started college (high school).

well, THAT time has come and gone, and my baby started her SECOND year of college today.

it was a very quiet 8 days without her while she was at summer rowing camp - i can't even imagine the day when she leaves home for good!

    

photostory friday and the busy birthday

mr scrappy's birthday was on wednesday
no - that's no him doing zumba in a local park
but that's me in the pink bottoms, lime top and dora the explorer hat
why a dora explorer hat you ask?
well, i DID bring my own age appropriate cap, but my 15 year old did not
and it was frikkin hot and sunny
so i did what all good parents do
and wore the too small pink hat that belongs to a 4 year old
(her mum had 2 for her don't panic) 

the zumba demo was part of the local council 'push play' promotion designed to get people active

works for me!

our fabulous instructors

they sure can move!

then later in the day it was onto mr scrappy's birthday dinner

check out my seafood risotto - YUM!!!

from dinner it was onto the botanical gardens for the summer twilight movie

you can't get much for free these days = but this movie was

kaikohe demolition

a good ole' kiwi movie

in fact - they don't make 'em much more kiwi than this!

although it was an absolutely gorgeous night, we still brought blankets

(and low chairs) - we know how to get comfy!

like i said - comfy...

happy friday!


Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

how 2012 is keeping me on my toes

at this time every year, we'd normally be doing this

but for the first time in 10 years - we didn't.

we went here instead!

(fiji)

and it was gooooooood

because this child was going to be doing this

for 9 days (leaving on her birthday)

we had her birthday 3 days earlier

man overboard!!!

this was taken on her ACTUAL birthday

(at 6.50AM!!!!)

waiting to leave for summer rowing camp

 not camping has given us the opportunity to lots of different things in and around wellington that we wouldn't normally do

like winery days

and going to the RACES!

ok - we haven't actually BEEN yet, but come saturday - i'll be wearing this!!!

my first fascinator!  very exciting

oh, and this child is leaving home in 3 weeks

personally i think she's a little YOUNG to be leaving home, but that's how she looked to me yesterday, but then i blinked and...

she grew up

damn her

so she's moving out:

the younger 2 girls start their 2nd and 3rd years at college (high school)

there's major room swaps happening

furniture being purchased

carpets being cleaned

rooms being painted

trips to australia (me and miss 22)

weekends away

plus all the usual stuff that fills our weeks and weekends

like i said

2012 is keeping me on my toes

wordful wednesday and how life goes on

some of the moments i feel truly blessed, are when opportunities arise to spend time with my girls (particularly the older ones) that i know i wouldn't have if i was in paid employment

such an opportunity occurred yesterday

miss 20 and her 2 best friends had been to the funeral of a girl they went to college (high school) with.

their friend was 19 and an absolute light.  she was one of those rare human beings that ACTUALLY would have changed the world.

the girls had dinner at our house after the funeral and i suggested that we all go out for brunch the next day

(my brunch - yuuum!)

the day was an absolute stunner

after breakfast we went for a walk along the beachfront

having just eaten - it was a little too soon for 'jumpy pics', so they just waved instead!

i hope they know how precious they are

    

photostory friday: cool things to do on a sunday afternoon

book tickets to see this

which is playing here

with this gorgeous blogger

NYC - here i come

AGAIN!!!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli