A not-so-Rocky visit

It had been 18 months since I’d been to Rockhampton. I had planned to drive up with the kids mid last year for the school holidays, but realised about a month before I was due to go, that it wasn’t a great idea, and that even though I had said I would do it, I was allowed to change my mind. So again, this year for the mid-year holidays, I’d planned to drive the kids up for a visit. But it just didn’t sit well. Every time I thought about taking the kids back, and the emotions it might stir up, I just felt ill.

So again, I canned the trip. For them, anyway. Instead, I got some cheap (ish) mid-week flights and headed up one Tuesday morning, and home Wednesday night.

I was still dreading it. I had no idea how I would feel, seeing the house again; seeing other people in our house; seeing friends again who I hadn’t seen in ages. But thankfully, the house looked amazing and the tenants who had just moved in a few months ago really love living there. How could you not love a house with a huge deck and this view…

Our view for three amazing years. I really do miss it some days.

I caught up with some friends and got a great night sleep, which really is what it’s all about when I go away. I feel like I got a good mix of catch ups and rest, and didn’t cram too much in. It actually wasn’t as emotional as I thought it might have been, and now that I’ve been back on my own, I’m much more confident to take the kids with me next time.

Until next time Rocky.

I’m just not ready

It’s been a really hard decision, but I’ve decided to postpone our trip to Rocky. I had planned to drive up and stay from the 4th to the 11th of July, but I have been feeling anxious and uneasy about it and once I gave myself permission to postpone it, I felt a weight lifted off my heart.

I’m just not ready to go back. And that’s okay. One day I will be ready, and I will know, and it will be for the right reasons.

I realised that a big part of my trip back was for other people; to let my Rockhampton “family” know that we are doing okay. But with Jules still so young, Darby so energetic, Quinn so fickle with her moods and Chance so aware of Frith’s death and it’s relation to Rockhampton, I just wasn’t ready to face it all.

I know everyone understands, and I know that I just have to work through the guilt of disappointing people, and I know the kids will be a bit sad, but there are plenty of things happening down and around here that I can now say yes to.

So if you’re around Brizzy for the school holidays, I have plenty of days free for a catch up! Let’s book something in 🙂

Made it!

Only a nine hour drive today!

We made it to Woody pt just in time for tacos for dinner.

I’m ready to fall into a heap but my to do list needs some attention.

Actually I just saw the time. It can wait until the morning. Darby is still awake downstairs with me and Chance and Quinn are still awake upstairs. The only clever one is Jules, sound asleep.

Tomorrow is when the real fun begins!

Final Fit Mums

So hard to say goodbye today! Thanks for the memories! And toned arms! ?

Michelle and I started around the same time when our boys (Darby) were 6 months old. We’ve since had another baby each and always came back. Best boxing partner! Thanks Michelle ❤

Ben, the best trainer around. He can kid wrangle, carry babies, all while making sure we’re working hard. Thanks for everything!

I got to choose the workout today. We did a chipper in groups of three  then a boxing tabata. So awesome. (The boxing workout has been mostly rubbed it by the kids!)

You all know how much this group has meant to me – I bang on about it all the time. Keep working hard ladies. Keep having those beautiful babies. And think of me when “Boom shake the room” comes on. Love you all xxx

Jules’ baptism

Just all the feels today! Our last official event at our place before packing week commences tomorrow.

My gorgeous little man of the moment was an absolute angel.

With the beautiful Hayley, his fairy Godmother ?

And with Gran and Grumpy and below with Ouma.

I’m honestly so exhausted and have just had the best couple of weeks.

The thought of starting to pack tomorrow kind of sucks but it has to be done. I’m glad I’ve got some wonderful memories of this time to cherish.

Happy birthday Darby

How are you three????

I feel like all of a sudden he’s grown up. A uke was the obvious choice for a present. He loves his bittaaar.

He was a bit unwell yesterday and still recovering today. We had a belated party down at the park with Chance’s school friends and he kind of fell asleep like this.

After that party (more on that later) we headed home to continue the celebrations with some of our nearest and dearest. Which included his Minions cake!

I’m not going to lie guys. I’m pretty damn happy with my efforts on this one.

And he loved it too if course. Gosh there’s so much to say about such a little guy with such a huge personality. We just adore this kid beyond words. He is kind and generous and curious. So curious. And we encourage that wonder and joy of discovering new things as much as possible.

Darby you are a treasure. Happy birthday nugget xxxxxx

Farewell BBQ

Even though we are not leaving for a couple more weeks (gosh that’s frighteningly soon) we had our farewell BBQ on Saturday and it went a little like this.

Quinn: “Mama, is our BBQ going to be epic?”
Me: “Yes darling. Yes it is.”

We hired a jumping castle for the 25+ kids and they had a ball! (This was early on in the piece when there were only a dozen or so kids)

And a little bit later on

There’s always a bit of a slow start to these events I find. By 1pm we had pretty much done all the chopping and preparing that we could do. We had decided to serve our much loved pulled pork with crunchy noodle salad on sliders, mini hamburgers with our homemade tasty BBQ sauce, and twice cooked lamb wraps with tzatziki and cous cous tabbouleh.

Turns out that at service time, I needed all hands on deck! Thankfully my gorgeous friends Sian, Sarah and Nadia were at the ready, with Hayles kindly refilling my Mimosas. Unfortunately the only photo of the production line I got is blurry and not great. So here’s one of me instead!

As if I did it all on my own! These girls are the absolute best if  you don’t mind me saying so.

Life will suck a little without them. Okay. A lot. Pretty much all the good times I have had over the last 2 and a bit years have involved one, more, or all of these ladies. They get me and they get my family and they love me and I’ll absolutely treasure the time I’ve had with them.

Leaving them is going to be hard.

Anyway, back to the party! The pulled pork sliders were incredible as always

And the lamb wraps were a massive hit, as were the burgers (no photo though!)

Desserts were a-plenty and a-mazing! (See what I did there?!)

Kate’s chocolate and berry cake was just the best!

The afternoon was leisurely, the evening stepped things up a notch, and fun was had into the night. We finally got to bed around 1am, happily exhausted. I would have liked more time just to sit and chat, but it’s often the way when you’re the host. Hubs outdid himself in the meat cooking department, and my crew upstairs really helped me not get too overwhelmed, and made my life a thousand times easier.

One of a few farewells coming up I’m sure. I’ll be sad to leave. That’s all.

Forgotten High Teas

I can’t believe I never got around to blogging about the other two St Joey’s High Teas I attended. Here’s the one from the first year we were here. So gorgeous!

Last year’s one was a bit more low-key but equally lovely with the added bonus of my dear friend Sian who had just moved to Rocky a few months before.

The usual suspects came along and there was so much yummy food on offer!

As I mentioned, this year was a smaller affair, but no less lovely. And a few new faces to boot! The lovely Hayley and Sarah.

A year on and still glamorous as ever!

(Side note, I bought this dress the day before at Salvos… and it has pockets!)

I even had myself a super cute date!

I’ll miss my yearly High Tea with these ladies! Thanks for the lovely memories xx

What a view

When we started talking about how to renovate this house two years ago, this is EXACTLY what I had in mind. Beautiful deck with our beautiful view that I can enjoy while preparing food for family and friends.

This is potato salad prepared in “Nanny’s potato salad bowl” and Nanny’s serving spoon with Quinn Maria pretending not to notice I was taking a photo.

I’m going to miss our beautiful house and neighbours more than you know. Pancakes on the deck with my world.

Sometimes “yes” is the only answer

Me: “What would you like for afternoon tea?”

Chance: “ummmmm ice cream?”

Me: “Yes!”

Chance: “seriously??”

Yes. Those three little letters make up one big word. I just got tired of saying no; of not being fun; tired of taking everything so seriously. So this afternoon I said yes to ice cream and yes to watching Captain Underpants”.

Quinn: (squealing) “It’s not even Friday and we get to have ice cream AND a movie!”

I think that’s the whole point of us limiting our kids treat food and screen time. It’s a really big deal that they get excited about and (hopefully) appreciate.

Hubs is working days as well as evenings at the moment to help pay for our new kitchen which has meant pretty much solo parenting for me. The kids have been mostly great but I’ve been mostly cranky. But not today. Today has been an easy, fun day. And right now I’m enjoying the cool breeze on our deck with a sleeping bubba in my arms while the kids watch their movie and Hubs has a much needed sleep before his next shift starts at 5.

Sometimes the most wonderful things can happen when you just say yes.