Day Fifty Five...Girl Time..

Today I got to go to my friends 40th birthday party. It was held at another friends house and as always so beautiful planned.

It was Tuscan flavored, with gorgeous place settings and a delicious meal.

I love how these amazing women all came together, pulling together this party - various dishes were brought, others whipped up things in the kitchen. Everyone busy doing something - a hub of activity. At this point in our lives we are all so comfortable and at ease with one another - we know what needs to be done, and its not all left on one person.

I just love this great group of gals that are now my friends - and as I sat in the sun enjoying my meal, I took in the different conversations around me.

I love that we were able to take some time off from our busy lives and just be together, enjoying each others company. Laughing and sharing stories, catching up.

I think as women we can never have too much girl time - its so important to our well being. Whether its a sister or a really good friend, these relationships are necessary. No matter how old we get or how grown up we are supposed to be, girlfriend time, giggles and a glass of wine thrown in for good measure is good for the soul!

I'm grateful for these girls, some I am closer to than others but all play a part in my life in some way. And today just reminded me how much I need them and how I look forward to our next get together.

Day Fifty Four....Caw-fee....

ahhhhh....I love Starbucks Cappuccinos...

Today I am sitting at my son's baseball practice, enjoying a chat with the team mom and drinking a yummy cap thanks to her hubby who made a coffee run.

The sun is shining, in fact its getting hot!

I'm really enjoying these early morning Saturdays. I should be making more use of my time, or at least taking a walk around the park - but I decide to sit on my tooshy and enjoy the sun, chat and my cappuccino.

Day Fifty Three..Belle of the Ball

Tonight is the Daddy/Daughter Dance at school. I'm so grateful that Grace is well enough to go. She's been excited about this for weeks.

My heart skips a beat when I look at her all dressed up - pink eye shadow and glitter dusting her shoulders. She's getting so grown up and I wonder where the heck the last ten years went.

My whole life I dreamt of the day I might have a daughter. These are the moments I had hoped for - the girly girl moments. I want to embrace this moment, still a little girl, not quite a teenager yet. Still silly and full of giggles and wanting me to do her hair. Like a baby giraffe with those long legs in little heels.

I love that my husband thought to buy her a gorgeous corsage - and I know one day it will be a boy loving my girl, buying her a corsage for a dance. Makes me want to cry because its right around the next corner.

I'm so proud of my girl - my every dream came true when she entered my life. I am blessed.

Day Fifty Two..We've turned the corner..

Yeah!! Grace has finally turned the corner!

Tonight she finally ate something more than a bit of bread. Granted, it wasn't a whole dinner, but I'll take a few mouthfuls of pasta and a 1/4 piece of bread stick!

Her cheeks are pink and she has her a smile in her voice. My girl is back.

She even wants to go back to school tomorrow. Selfishly I want her home one more day - I'd like to get her strength back and I've totally enjoyed being her nurse and getting to baby her a bit, but she's ready.

I'm grateful for my girl, that it wasn't anything major and she is almost back to normal. I love my Beetle!

Day Foury Nine thru Fifty One...

I feel like I have lived a million days in the last two.

Nothing worse than the feeling of helplessness when one of your kids is sick.
Grace started feeling not good early Monday and went down hill quickly. After spending almost 12 hours of throwing up until there was absolutely nothing left in her poor little body I decided enough was enough and drove her at 3am to urgent care. There she received a shot in her backside ( poor bubs has a nasty black bruise that is still hurting her today ) to stop the vomiting, some antibiotics and the warning to watch for appendicitis.
We came home but around 10am after taking a tiny bit of food and her meds, started throwing up again.
So off to the hospital we go.
In my mind I was praying please don't be the appendix. I didn't want her to have to go through that.
After an ultra sound, some blood and urine work and a cat scan, they found an infection in her bladder. She was given antibiotics and fluids through an IV and after about 7 hours we were allowed to come home.

I'm relived there is nothing major wrong with her and that a couple days on the couch watching TV and some meds will get her back to new. I'm grateful that it wasn't appendicitis.
 I know that what happened is nothing compared to what some parents are going through, or what have gone through with sick kids - and kids that wont be coming home like Anthony, the little boy who recently passed away after a freak accident.
But it does make me stop and think about how fragile life can be - and to be grateful for each passing day, to embrace each moment and not sweat the small stuff. To hug my kids more, to take more time, to have more patience. to be grateful for what we have right now.

Day fourty Eight...Snuggle Buggle..

There is nothing better than nuzzling into my boys warm soft neck first thing in the morning.

Lucas is an early bird, wakes up happy and ready to go. So its not often he is still in bed when I come to his room in the morning.

I love how he loves to snuggle with me - he grabs my neck and pulls me into to him. I love that warmth from his body. I love breathing him in. If I could inhale my son and keep him within me forever, I would.

I love his happy go lucky nature, and that he's always ready for a conversation, sometimes fun, sometime serious. I love squishy hugs and nibbling on his ear, if he lets me! I love that he still wants me around.

I'm sure there will come a time that its not cool to snuggle with your mum, so I take as many of these moments as I can, I cherish each hug and each snuggle. I love these moments with my son, and hope it keeps us close.

Day Fourty Seven...Hot air rising...

I can't help but talk about another gorgeous morning here in Temecula.

Going to Lucas's baseball practice again. Love watching my boys be together, doing something they love.

The air is super crisp but there is no wind, so the sun actually feels good on my face and neck. I love taking deep breaths in - makes me feel alive. I love sitting for a couple hours and just zoning out - taking in the practice, and daydreaming. I love listening to the neighborhood sounds - garage doors opening, dogs barking, kids playing at the park. I love just being still.

I love our town, kinda country - with fields near us and  hot air balloons taking off each morning. I love the peacefulness of the morning.

Day Fourty Six..and the award goes to...

Sooooo incredibly proud of my girl - Honorable Mention Award for her project for the Science Fair.

There was some stiff competition this year - its amazing to see some of the work and creativity that these kids have. I felt pretty good about Grace's experiment but seeing all the other boards, and how many were there - well, you just never know how your kid is going to compare.

As a parent you want your kids to succeed - you want them to be winner. I know that's not real life and realistic to always be a winner - but sometimes you can't help wishing that "this time" they should.

I talk with my kids a lot about doing their best, that they should feel good about their work and if they know in their hearts they did their best and they put forward the effort then that's good with us.

Not everyone can get the trophy or 1st prize - that you aren't always a winner. That there is way more in life than just that.

I love helping my kids - I want them to be outstanding - but I also want them to learn how to do things on their own - to take ownership of anything they are working on. To have pride in what they do. To stand on their own two feet.

No, Grace didn't do this project on her own, I helped her. But the majority of the work was her - she performed the experiments on her own, she took all the notes and wrote her work up. She helped with putting the board together.  I enjoyed working with her on this but the ownership is all hers. And I am so glad she was recognized for that.

Day Fourty Five...see ya round like a rissole..

Today I needed some comfort food. Food my oma or mum would cook.

 So I decided to go with Chicken Rissoles. Can't get more comforting than that!

Chicken Rissoles are made from chicken mince, (ground chicken breast) - kinda like a meat ball but bigger, longer. I mix mine with salt, pepper, some finely chopped onion and bread crumbs. Shape them into a "patty" and fry them up. Once cooked I add some chicken stock to the pan, scrap up all the goodness on the bottom and then transfer the lot into a casserole dish to bake for a while. They are so moist and flavorful!! So yummy warm and just as good cold on a sandwich. They are also good with just about any side, mashed potato is the best but tonight I made fries and some veges.

I love that I had an oma and mum that were fabulous cooks with all these yummy delicious dishes they shared with me, and that my mum taught me how to cook. And I'm grateful that my family loves it all too.

Day Fourty Four...My cuppa tea...

I can't express how much I enjoy a good cuppa. Nothing like a freshly brewed pot of tea.

Most days though I settle for a tea bag in a mug. As long as its my Dilmah I'm good to go!

 Being an Aussie I was raised on tea, especially for breakfast. Its my steadfast tradition. I savor every sip.

I bring back boxes of tea, in my suitcase, all the way from Australia, and today I had to open my last precious box. Oh the aroma that comes out is divine! Makes me think of my mum's kitchen. I need my morning tea like a smoker needs their first drag. I also love a good cuppa in the evening when I finally sit down.

I miss my morning tea breaks and even afternoon tea breaks - the English/Aussies know how to do it right!  I love all the tea I get to drink when I go "home". I love how my Aussies love it as much as I do - I'm back with my own kind!

So I will enjoy my last box and I will be putting in a call to mum to mail me over some more quick smart!