Back to work...

That's right folks!

After more than 5 years at home with my boys I have taken the plunge and returned to work.  On a casual/part-time basis, of course, but 'work' nonetheless.

I am struggling just a little to adjust to my change in lifestyle.  

I started out very nervous and unsure of myself but the 'work' bit has turned out to be cinch.  It's the 'home' bit that I have been struggling with.

I miss the boys terribly, and I really really miss being the one to take them to and pick them up from school, but luckily the child care is being taken care of by our lovely grandmothers (my mum and MiL).

Dinner, which I expected to be a challenge, has been surprisingly simple as long as I stick to simple meals on those nights.

The hardest bit, I have found, is my boys' behaviour!

Because they are looked after by their wonderful grandmothers who love them more than anything in the whole wide world, they have been quite spoilt.  Well, spoilt rotten really!  

I have had tantrums, backchat, clinginess, night-waking and bed-wetting to deal with.  

Please, ladies, tell me this will all get better...

What do you do to make your life a little easier???

Stylish Blogger Award

Wow!  

Thank you Polly for my Stylish Blogger Award. 

 I certainly didn't expect that, being reasonably new (and lazy) to blogging.  I feel now that perhaps my little blog might need a makeover soon...  

I love reading Polly's blog over at A Working Mothers Chatter.  It's one of the few blogs that I can totally relate to.  Don't be fooled by the blog's title - there is more to Polly than just being a working mum, something I am beginning to learn about a little more.

So, part of my award is to share SEVEN things about myself.  

Here they are:

1.  I have a very, very sweet tooth.  Right about 2.30pm every day.

2.  I love having boys.  Despite what strangers on the street and at the shops may believe, I have no 'secret desire' for a baby girl.

3.  I have played the piano almost my entire life and I used to dream of being a concert pianist.  I'm just getting back into it after 'a little break' having and raising my babies.

4.  I love NZ!  And that's a good thing considering the MOTH is a Kiwi.  I am currently craving seeing those gorgeous lush, green hills and snow-capped mountain tops... Ahhh...

5.  I'm a reality TV junkie.  You name it; I love it!  I even used to organise an annual Survivor sweep at my work.  Sad, really.

6.  I'm not the sporty type at all.  I wish I was, I really do.  But I'm not.  I enjoy the gym, but I was always, ALWAYS the last girl picked for teams at school.

7.  I have always been attracted to tall men.  Like, really really tall men.  Funny, because I'm pretty short more like the diamond ring in the tiny box, sitting under the Christmas tree.  

Well, I hope you enjoyed learning a little something about me.  Please make sure to check out Polly's blog too.  

And now to spread the love.  

I would like to present the Stylish Blogger Award to the following blogs I enjoy.

Lisa of Lisa and Mini Ginger

Sarah of Sarahs Special Moments

Mrs KT of Taylor Made Baking

Claire of Scissors Paper Rock Designs

Now the rules are that you give the award to new blogs, but as I am new to blogging myself I have selected some of my favourites.  

I look forward to learning more about you lovely ladies and being introduced to some new blogs too.  

Rediscovering Public Transport

An eventful 24 hours in our home (and I don't mean that in a good way) means that we are rediscovering public transport for the next month or so.  

Our poor Big Blue Bill had to be towed last night after a prang that left him in pretty bad shape.  Luckily and most importantly, all passengers are fine!  In fact, Big Man slept through the whole thing: the crash and the post-crash fuss.  That probably had something to do with the fact that he was up the entire night before, vomiting....

Anyways, wish me luck!

Happy Birthday Month

2011 has been an exciting year for our Big Man.  

Not only did he turn 5 this month, but he also started Kindergarten.  We couldn't be prouder  or happier for him!

We celebrated the week by spending our last 'special day' together before he went off to 'big school'.  First up was fish and chips at Balmoral, followed by a swim and a play in the sand.  Just like the old days when it was just him and me.

 The next day was the first exciting day of many.  Kindergarten.  

So ready and so happy to learn and play, in the end it was him comforting me!

Only a few short weeks later, and with lots of old preschool friends and a few new Kindy friends, Big Man celebrated his 5th Birthday with a Pirate Party.

A far simpler dessert table than Little Man's was for his first birthday, but one of which I'm proud nonetheless.  

It consisted of 'Walk the Plank Jelly', "Pirate Ship Cupcakes', 'Spiced Rum apple juice' and the Pirate Cake.

But most importantly, it was a totally egg and dairy free party!

Happy Birthday Month Jeremy!

I'm back!

It has been too long since I last blogged.  

Time flew, life got hectic and so very much has happened.  

And every time I wanted to sit down and post something new I simply didn't know where to begin. 

So here it is: a new beginning. The best place to start.

Choc Mint Cupcakes

Ever on the search for dairy-free egg-free desserts for my special boys, I am about to embark on the gingerbread biscuit.  Big Man will be giving them to his friends at preschool and music lessons for Christmas this year.

But, before I do, I thought I'd share these gorgeous Choc Mint Cupcakes that are also dairy-free egg-free (except for the Mint Slice on top, of course).  I perfected them a few months ago and they have become a family favourite since.

Imagine Big Man's joy when I told him he could finally eat the icing!  Priceless!!!

Recharging the Batteries

I am still running on 'island time' so please forgive the late post.  

On Saturday we returned from 10 days in Heaven, otherwise known as Ratua Private Island in Vanuatu.  If you haven't heard of it then you MUST check out their website here.  

In the meantime, I will leave you with some pics of ours of this magical and unique resort that is really like no other we have come across before, neither in our research nor our travels.  

Arriving by night by boat: The Welcome House

Beachside dining area by night

Lounge area

Dining area: there's the MOTH feeding Little Man his dinner, and just behind them is Big Man playing with the Nespresso Capsules lol

View of the Lounge Area on left, Bar in the back, dining deck and dining area on right (not in photo)

Beachside dining area by day

Our Tiger Villa

Kid's bed

Little Man's cute cot

Looking down the hall towards the parents' room from the kids' room

Mum & Dad's verandah for night time wine and kicking the MOTH's butt at Scrabble

Our room

Kids' verandah

Looking into the bathroom

The waiting bench outside the bathroom, lol

View from the bathroom - bananas!

Looking down to the water from our villa

The MOTH relaxing

View of the Day Spa from our own private beach

Looking back at our villa from our own private beach

Our own private beach and deck

This was a once-in-a-lifetime holiday for us and we are so glad we did it.  We were a little nervous at first about the whole private-island thing and no kids club, etc but our boys were amazing!  Our days were filled with swimming, eating, sleeping, collecting hermit crabs, riding around the island with locals, chatting to people, fishing in the evenings, riding bikes... 

It was only on Day 9 that Middle Man suddenly stopped what he was doing and asked more out of curiosity than anything, "Why don't they have TVs in Ratua?"  

Now THAT, my blogging friends, is a sign of a great holiday!