Tree planting

Look at my cute little farmer, doing his bit for arbor day. He loves being a part of all the action...especially if his aunty Lian is there.

Viva Las Vegas....(and Come, Come, Ye Saints...)

I love song/city combinations.  Some of favourites to date have been:

• Singing 'One night in Bangkok' when arriving in Bangkok (in my head ha ha)
• Singing and listening to 'Ferry 'cross the Mersey' whilst actually ferrying across the Mersey**
• Listening to Penny Lane ON Penny Lane

Paul and Nakita recently touched down in NYC and went through the airport singing "New York New York", and I always imagine Lian as she woke up in her Las Vegas hotel room and started jumping on the bed singing "That's what you get for waking up in Vegas". Now that I think about it, perhaps I should have walked like an Egyptian while at the pyramids??

Anyway it's time to add another song/city combo to our list....Viva Las Vegas baby.  Come September we will be heading to the US of A to see mum and dad, and the flight conveniently stops in Las Vegas.  We will have 4 nights at the MGM soaking up some (toddler friendly) sights, 30 degree weather by the pool, and food glorious food.  Then we head to Utah to see Wade's family, whichever Judds happen to be around, and of course mum and dad.  Oh and maybe we'll sing a hymn and add it to the song/city combo ha ha ha.

A little bit of me is excited.  A lot of me is terrified.  Preston..aeroplane....long haul....oh dear.  It is going to be one interesting journey for sure.

We are looking into a couple days at Yellowstone while we are there...anyone ever been??

Annnnd....what would be/has been your ultimate song/place combination??

**so glad i found out before going to Liverpool that the words to this song are "so ferry, 'cross the Mersey' and NOT "so Barry, crossed the Mersey".  No longer need I wonder who Barry is.

Play time with Jackie

Ended up at the park with Jackie and Bee this morning. It's a beautiful day to be out and about. Preston learnt some new playground tricks too, courtesy of Jackson who is older and wiser.  (Walking along the seesaw is now the cool thing to do).

I love how Jackson is suspiciously eyeing up Preston in the first shot, as they share a mandarin.  (Which, by the way, are one of the few good things about winter)

My boy

i've got this walking thing nailed

Mr Independent has decided that being pushed in the stroller is lame, and he much prefers to walk...the whole way...by myself!  Stop trying to hold my hand!  You are cramping my style!

Bar a few metres here and there, he walked all the way from our house to the Farthings.  He fell over about 20 times but did not seem phased, he was loving his freedom.

(our house to the farthings = 5 minutes in adult walking, about 25 minutes in Preston time)

p.s I have got to get me a life, I have turned into one of those boring bloggers who only posts about their kids.

this face

Look at this face.  Easter Sunday morning, pjs and dressing gown, chocolate bunny in hand from Aunty Lian.  This boy is too beautiful.  And also has a bad case of a very, very, sweet tooth.

With me as his mother, it was probably inevitable.

Waikato Museum, Crystal speaking

And just like that, I was back at my old desk, answering my old phone.  I went back to work today after 13 months away from the job.  It was very strange to say the least.

I know I said a few posts back that I was officially unemployed, but before I actually got round to resigning, Lian and I devised a little plan.  You see, I was broke.  And she was broke.  So if I could negotiate a few part time hours, I could pay her to look after my boy, and we'd both be a little better off.

And while I did have a few tears on my first drive to work, the day was ok.  (Even though it was the longest I had been away from Preston in A WHOLE YEAR!!)  The day was fine because my boy loves his aunty Lian.  So much so that he screams when anyone else tries to take him off her, and has been known to lunge at her car crying when she drives away.  When I left this morning he could not have cared less, he was more interested in Max.  And when I got home, 8 long hours later, I got a happy smile, but he had far more important things to do than cuddle me.  Like climb up and down the step.  Hmmmm.

So yep, I'm back at work.  Temporarily at least.  Monday's and Thursday's.

Bring on pay day!

The best exotic marigold hotel

What a fabulous movie!   My mother in law took me to see this tonight at the beautiful Lido, and I really enjoyed it.  So many great moments, and some really good laughs too.  I really enjoyed Maggie Smith's performance - and well Judi Dench is of course fantastic.  And I don't know what else Bill Nighy is off (tones of stuff probably) but he was great.

Highly recommended!

Night Glow

On Saturday night our little family headed out to the Night Glow to enjoy music, hot air balloons and fireworks.  It is the grand finale of the 5 day long "Balloons over Waikato" festival and I am glad we went along and enjoyed the atmosphere.  Now that I am home (and we are broke) I am increasingly keen to take take advantage of free things going on around the city!

We joined Lian, Elle and Ryan for a picnic, and then just enjoyed listening to the the music, and letting bubba roam around among the crowd as we waited for darkness to fall and the balloons to light up.  Preston really loves being part of a crowd, and also loves his new walking skills, so it was fun to tag behind his as he roamed around the fields full of people.

I will admit however that the light show was a little random...seemed to be quite off time and most of it was set to a strange medley of Auzzie hits??  The fireworks were good though, and regardless of my quibble - we were out of the house, doing something, for free - so that's all good for me!

I loved cuddling up with Preston and watching the wonder and joy spread across his little face.  Oh to see inside the mind of a baby.

Preston's new sippy cup from Aunty Lian which he can't get enough of

Waiting for darkness to arrive

Balloons!  Glowing!  At night!

Everyone bundled up enjoying the show

Pretty sky

Preston's first birthday

Our little baby boy is not such a baby anymore...he is a big one year old now!  We celebrated by inviting family and friends to a Cookie Monster party.  Admittedly Preston doesn't even know who the cookie monster is, but man does this kid love cookies, so it seemed a fitting theme.  

Sam had the day off work which was great because I got a bit (hmmmm maybe a lot) stressed out on party day.  But in the end it all worked out and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves eating party food, before we sang Happy Birthday to our boy, and moved onto the dessert table!  Cookie monster cupcakes, cream puffs, blue lamingtons, blue jelly jars, marshmallow pops, and of course COOKIES.  (Don't ask how much blue food colouring it took to dye all that coconut).

Preston completely devoured his cake - he was in heaven.  I couldn't believe he just kept eating and eating! But birthday's only come once a year right?

All during the day I kept thinking... "this time a year ago..." and thinking about which part of labour I was in, or that he had just been born, I had just gotten out of surgery etc etc.  It is hard to even imagine those early crazy days again with a tiny little baby.

Preston certainly has been the best thing to ever happen to us.  (Even though he really likes to bite me lately.  And scream.  Loudly.)

Happy Birthday my little boy! x

Good morning birthday boy!