Hard Day at the Office

Beach + Nannying = Sweet Work Day

Max LOVES Ardjo (aka Liam,not sure how he gets Ardjo out of Liam but it cracks me up to hear him scream for him). We don't usually have Liam on Fridays but were lucky enough to have him today. I took the boys to the beach after giving Liam some of Max's clothes. It was still a bit cool but the boys had so much fun.

Dress Up

Kiwi's love any excuse for a dress up day! Max had his last music class for today and it was a dress up day. Which pretty much is a free for all like Halloween, come as anything you like. Ironically Kiwi's hate Halloween though. Go figure!

Max went as a surfer boy & I dressed up too! A surfer boy mom. I was the ONLY mom that even attempted. Ha! Poor Max.

We arrived at Liam's and he decided he needed to be a surfer too. He was supposed to be a lion but that didn't fly after he saw Max. Unfortunately didn't have board shorts but he so badly wanted to be a surfer and wear his swimsuit. So I layered him in thermals too and found a too small pair of flip flops, slapped some zinc on him and he was HAPPY!

True to form all the little girls were taken with these little surfer boys.

Birthday

I l❤ve my birthday! This year it fell in the middle of Sam's first Finals week. Oh well! We will celebrate next week. BUT Max and I had a fun day. We went to Starbucks. Walked around the mall, looked at his favorite fishies, I tried on dresses (haven't done that in forever!!), and went to lunch with Liam and his Mom Steph. Birthday miracle:: Steph found us a Mexican restaurant!!! A great one!! She had never tried it either and we are both so glad we did yesterday! I walked in & smelled this amazing aroma. Real authentic Mexican food. I feel liked a walked into a restaurant in CA! Max even drank horchata and loved it. Such a fun day! Sam and I definitely found our new date night place!

Then we ate dinner at home and I wend out with a friend for dessert. It was so great to be out with no kids for a little bit. I got some fun things in the mail and had lots of great message. All in all a great day!

I ❤ Bedtime again

Whew. 6 weeks later I finally can honestly say I don't dread bedtime. 6 weeks was not what I expected but I will say it was worth every minute, tear & fight. We read books, watch a video, saying our goodnights and out I go. A few "mommy?" to check to make sure that we didn't fly to Fiji or something while he has to go to bed. (Ahhh Fiji how nice that sounds, I digress).

I love seeing Max grow. I love seeing him empowered. I absolutely love seeing him conquer fear. Going to bed by himself after the move and the hotel was his Everest. And he did it!! I'm so proud to see him go to bed each night. But I just melt seeing him feel so proud of himself.

Life is Better in Board Shorts & Flip Flops

Plus sunshine & a cookie from Nanny & Pop helps too!

Boss

Sometimes Max thinks he is in charge at Starbucks.

Go ALL BLACKS

Pre All Black Cookie

 

 Waiting in line to see the All Blacks

 Piri Weepu was signing autographs and signed Max's rugby ball for him.

 We found our favorite Sam Cane outside one of the stores on a big poster so we had to take a picture.  Notice my grouchy 2 year old.  He was a bit overwhelmed by the end of it all.

 But he LOVED his Rugby ball being signed. 

 Very proud boy.

I secretly have been hoping to spot All Blacks in town but haven't!!!  UGH!  They are practicing at the stadium so Sam has seen them while he has been in class.  Dunedin is a GREAT town to live in for this kind of excitement.  It is small enough that it is easy to get to events and small enough that we eventually will run into them.  I have also been secretly hoping to have Sam Cane give us his family tickets for the game.  No such luck.  GUTTED.  One day though we will take Max to All Black games all the time!

First Visitors

 What a weekend!  Uncle Buncle (Sam's brother Tom) came a VERY VERY long way to see Max and us.  He was about 3 and 1/2 hours away visiting his girlfriend and drove down for the evening.  Max talked about Uncle Buncle ALL week.  It was pretty cute.  He is still so much more shy then when we lived at the Mount so it took him awhile to warm up.  He is very much a "time spent" kiddo.  He needs lots of time and feels very loved when he gets it.  Uncle Buncle and Nicky played with his toys and walked down to his favorite spot where he and daddy throw rocks and then played at the playground.  They had a quick dinner before they got in the car and headed back.  It was such a treat!  He is a great Uncle and wonderful boyfriend to watch and a pretty great brother!

We gave Max a nap so he would be able to stay up a bit with them.  He did SO great.  And he went down for the night like a champ!  I only sit outside his door now woo hoo!  Next week we will go to being able to just say goodnight.  He has been such a trooper relearning to go to sleep on his own.

AND THEN....

Our friend Hayley came to town for a medical training day at the Hospital.  It was WONDERFUL spending the morning at coffee with her.  I so wish as Max sat on her lap that I had Finn on mine.  I love spending time with Hayley.  We never lack things to talk about and laugh about.  I love the way she parents and love who she is as a woman and a mom.  She always encourages me and I leave feeling so inspired and loved.  Good friends that happen in the most random ways are the best!!!

Sunshine

Ahhhh.  We love being outside in the Sun.  We spent some time outside Thursday and Friday in the sun.  

 I LOVE WARM!

 We love our new beach.  

 It was a bit windy but SO wonderful to be in the sun and sand.

 Love.

Happy

Father's Day Weekend

Sam is a FANTASTIC Daddy.  He loves Max with a love that is inspiring.  Max loves being his kid.  It is so fun to watch them play, connect and do life together.

 Hanging out in caves we found at our new beach.

 So happy to have a some time with him away from his studies!!

 Best buddies

Family.

 Max and I made Sam special pancakes for breakfast.  Max was SO excited!

 Max gave Sam a new cup for hot drinks.  He was VERY excited to give it to him.

Father's day breakfast.

I wanted to make his Father's Day dinner special so I asked Max to go get things to make it special for daddy.  Rugby balls, his rugby dog and a candle.  Pretty cute!