All Of The Senses

Visiting:  Rotorua for the weekend 

Eating :  Pulled Pork and Coleslaw, picnic on the side of the road in Huntly

Drinking :  Cups of tea from the thermos 
Reading:  Listening to audio stories of Famous Five as we road trip to Rotorua
Pondering: Crazy Crazy Friday afternoon peak hour traffic 

Buying:  Gondola Rides and Luge rides x20 

Enjoying:  Watching the childrens confidence grow with each ride down the track 

Yelling: At the idiots on the chair lift in front who stood up and rocked the chairs until the luge fell off, thus freaking my wee girl to the point of no return and not continuing her rides - ggrrr  

Making :  Picnic lunches to eat lake side inbetween adventures 

Deciding: Whilst Rotorua is incredibly expensive with its tourist prices, it can be done economically 

Wanting:  To do all the things with these 3 gorgeous kids 

Admiring:  His braveness after being stung by a bee, whilst watching for any reaction 

Remembering:  My first visit here as a child and the memories of holidays in Rotorua

Wondering:  What they are getting from this ...

Smelling:  Like sulphur

Wearing:  A Smile and Mud

Needing: Absolutely nothing at this particular time, but maybe a shower after this experience

Feeling:  Absolutely petrified of heights, however, going up anyway

 Waiting:  Until dusk to experience 'tree tops' so as to get day and night without the children staying up too late 

Marvelling:  At this wonderful feat of engineering

Looking:  At the faeries once the sun set and the lights were on  

Noticing:  How she LOVES motorbikes

Watching:  Her smile and run towards the bikes

Remembering: the days before children when Mr B and I would spend every weekend on our bike

Laughing: 2 adults, 3 children, 1 weekend ... so much gear  

Hoping:  They had a good weekend full of memories

Missing:  My Mr B ... We had planned (and paid) this weekend away before we knew he was heading to America for work
Thankful:  Sara and Max were able to join us and enjoy a weekend away   

Taking Stock - November

Playing:  With my children

Watching: My children laugh giggle and play with their friends . . . Our home is a hive of activity and an open door policy 

Giggling: With my children

Looking: Forward to Friday Fundays

Liking: A year on ... 22 kilos 

Feeling: Proud of my achievement 

Knowing: How hard I work, What I sacrificed, What I lost, What I gained

Needing:  New jeans 

Wishing and Hoping: He is feeling better soon xxx

Enjoying: Spending the day at home just the two of us

Making: Lunch:- Homemade chicken liver and bacon pate on life changing bread 

Loving: Ticking off the bucket list! 

Admiring: Him for sticking by me side by side as we cycled ... Knowing ... he could've gone further faster 

Waiting: For the last riders to come off the bridge so we can begin our journey back again 

Feeling: Grateful/Blessed/Thankful I have friends who share my passions in life 

Enjoying: Cycling ... 22km Bike The Bridge

Wearing: Active Wear ONLY whilst being active 

Following: Other cyclists, lots of other cyclists 

Marvelling: At how much growth / change there has been 

Noticing: How much exercise is part of my life now 

Thinking: Friends Fashion Fads and things like that 

Feeling: Strong Fit Healthy and Proud

Drinking : Coffee copious amounts of coffee .. .. .. Sharing coffee and conversation with friends 

Smelling: Coffee

Buying: Coffee

Wanting: A full nights sleep ... Oh how magical that would be ... 
Deciding: Growing pains are painful for both parent and child

Taking Stock - October

Enjoying: 10 amazing child free days with this guy --- My Mr B 

Buying: Shoes, Size 6 dresses, Pandora, 

Loving: Sunrises and Sunsets in the Australian outback

Riding: Bikes, Hot Air Balloons, Camels, Harleys

Giggling: At evening adventures on ferris wheels after a few ciders too many 

Feeling: Happy Relaxed Loved

Sitting: Final exams 
Collecting: Race packs for Sundays run

Celebrating: Goals and Dreams realised and compromised 

Drinking : Coffee with friends during the day and Champagne in the evening

Deciding: To Bike the Bridge in November

Looking: At two amazing friends, friends since their apprenticeships 
Laughing: With friends

Dancing: On upside down trampolines = Dancing on a stage
Reading: Mamas text books . . . So proud of how far she has come with her reading
Playing: On anything that resembles a monkey bar

Talking: to her class about Light Artefacts and our family special candle
Enjoying: Born To Move ... Kids Gym AND Mama gets to enjoy coffee with friends whilst the kids gym

Admiring: Baby bunnies ... Daddy says NO 

Flying: To Perth
Watching: Second Exotic Marigold Hotel
Watching: Far From The Madding Crowd

Deciding: Auckland - Sydney - Perth is a LONG way to fly

Driving: Perth - Mandurrah

Making: Sunday Shawl 

Sorting: The CD's into alphabetical order .. .. .. Best way to deal with pre dentist anxiety
Playing: His first game of football, it's only taken Mama a year of persuading him to give it a go

Watching: My big boy playing happily in the sandpit .. .. ..

Washing: Mamas car 

Needing: Lots of Mamas cuddles after deciding to run away the night previous (Mamas longest 1/2 hour)
Learning: How to deal with this boy and his anxiety, teach him coping skills and how to be the best parent I can

Lifting: My personal best EVER

Enjoying: A bike ride with my boy

Loving: Tuesdays and Boxing

Wearing: Gumboots 

Feeling: Bittersweet,  Miss P sat her Ballet Exams in October, Mama had missed too many classes in term I and II and was not able to sit hers

Noticing: I am not as flexible as I was . . . Stronger, Fitter, Healthier YES ... Flexible NO

Taking Stock - September

Enjoying: Theatre, Plays, Ballet and Opera

Liking: Nights out with my girlfriends and my Mr B

Watching: local 'amateur' actors and actresses, daughter of a client

Feeling: Uncomfortable, Sore, Confused and Frustrated

Wishing: For pain free days ahead

Reading: Courage in relation to pleasure and pain

Making : Heartbreaking decisions

Wanting: Life to be slower with less stress

Deciding: What to do next
Opening: My emails 

Cooking : Japanese

Drinking : Water Water Water

Loving: These people .. .. .. #motherhoodcompletedme and my Mr B who accuses me of being strong willed but has shown some strength himself these past days

Waiting: For school holidays, everyone is in need of a break

Hoping: how hard I am working can be seen

Wearing: Flats and Heels . . . The summer sandals have made an appearance

Marvelling: At pink petals on a friends front lawn

Needing: My friends support 

Getting: Mama and Me pedicures

Remembering: 5 years ago

Pondering: What life would have been like

Considering: How fortunate I am to have such a beautiful family

Admiring: Magnolia . . . I love Magnolia

Noticing: The difference between size 16 and size 8

Wondering: Why I need to take a photo like this to 'see' it myself

Knowing:  I am stronger, fitter and healthier than I have ever been

Thinking: How far I have come, how much I have achieved, despite hurdles thrown in my way

Feeling: Worn down

Buying: Flowers and Lunch ~ waffles YUM

Looking: at 'our' special sacred spot

Visiting: Specialists

Loving: Snuggles with new born babies

Marvelling: At my amazing friend and her fourth son

Smelling: New born baby hmm

Taking Stock - August

Buying: Theatre tickets.  I LOVE the theatre.

Thinking: About the cruelness of Dementia, Alzheimer's and my darling Nana

Knowing: Whilst she didn't suffer, the cruelness was to us, her family

Admiring: Aristophanes and Micheal Hurst . . . Bringing a Greek play into modern times

Waiting: For appointments which hopefully will bring answers . . . 

Wearing: Shoes Shoes and more Shoes *this is not my entire shoe collection 

Noticing: I own a lot of shoes

Marvelling: Hail, Grapple, Snow what ever it was we loved it 

Giggling: With my children, outside playing in the Hail, Grapple, Snow

Drinking : Coffee is my addiction 

Smelling: Coffee 

Reading: Nicomachean Ethics

Bringing: Nicomachean Ethics into modern times and current situations

Loving: Exercise

Not Loving: The pain that follows Exercise

Pondering: Relationships, Friendships, Associations

Considering: My options 

Observing: How others are treated

Feeling: Blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful, kind, empowering, caring people

Visiting: Law Offices, City Waterfront, Museums, Massage Therapists, Art Gallery

Getting: Advice

Learning: The difference between ACC and WorkSafe,  Contracts vs Employees 

Knowing: I am fortunate to have friends offering their expertise for free

Needing: to make decisions

Looking: for answers

Making : Memories

Hoping: I'm getting it right 

Wanting/Needing/Deciding: To go back to Korea again next year

Knowing: Family is everything 

Enjoying: Moments with my Mama

Wishing: My Mama a very happy holiday of a lifetime