Weekender

Oh. Dude.  Going away for the weekend just isn't what it used to be.

Four hour car trips become six hour car trips.  Nerves are frayed.  Words are spoken.  Sometimes babies don't sleep the whole way.  Sometimes they don't sleep any of the way.  And why does there have to be SO many roadworks?!  I've got a baby in the car, people!

I think I'm at a turning point in my life.  I'm not sure where I'm turning to, but I feel it.  The combination of that, and the intensity of traveling with two babes, it made for a dynamite mix.

Lion King, right?!

These kids, I love them so hard, too hard even.  They test all my limits.  They break all my boundaries. I love them to pieces, but sometimes I feel so worn down.

Our littlest sister (recovering from back surgery), keep speaking with admiration and encouragement about how big sis and I were coping.  I keep thinking, but oh, this is normal.  Now, normal.

 Meeting for the first time.  Pretty special... 

I intend to limit travel over the next few years (intend) because it's just so freakin' hard on everyone.  But this was an important trip.  A guy's gotta meet his Aunt!  His Godmum/Aunt even.  And a little sister has to have her big sisters keeping her company when she can do nought but recline on the couch.

We did some lovely things.  You know.  Lovely in print.  We caught the train into Britomart (which is kinda spectacular, may I just say), and I had one of those expectation vs. reality moments while aboard (it wasn't quite the Hogwart's Express, sadly).  

We walked along the Quay and down to the Wynyard Quarter.  I regret taking less photos, because it's very photo worthy.  I was too busy keeping an eye on my kid.  She doesn't stop.  There were six of us, three under three.  By the time we got home, all six were dead on our feet.  

"Expecto Patronum!" Yup. I'm a nerd.  What ov it?!

But fortunately I well know that when I look back, what I'll remember is the sculptures and architecture and seagulls and glinting ocean and happy squeals from my kiddo and movenpick ice-cream and pretty restaurants.  I'll remember hanging with my sisters and feeling that completeness that always accompanies our hanging outs.  I'll remember how sweet it was to watch our little girls really playing together, on the same level.  Cups of tea and toffee pops.  Sneaky cigarettes on the back steps.  Catching the pretty light of an en-route stop-over (to relieve a cranky baby). The immediacy of his relief.  The smiley cheeks and twinkly eyes that accompanied his feeds.  And this one.  The mischief of this kid.  Her joy.  It's all good, really.  Soon the adrenaline will fade, and we'll have a real cruisy week to make up for the mayhem. 

I pulled this post down for 24 hours since it's more personal than usual, but the internet seems to own it already, so back up it goes...  :-)