We're here....

We're here, we're here...
A little bleary eyed & worse for wear at the moment, but we're here in the UK.

It's all so familiar but foreign to me at the same time.
And so very picturesque and GREEN compared to the sandy dry of Western Australia.

We shall not talk much about our flight over...
Only a few small facts which I'm sure will set the scene enough:
Abbie had 3 hysterical meltdowns before we were even on our first plane.
I lost count after that.
I guestimate that it was about four hundred and fourty four.

She also decided to set a new record for how long a toddler can stay awake.
At 21 hours she finally cried herself into a coma for an hour.
1 stinking hour the whole journey!
This made me "sad".
Or simply want to poke a pencil in my eye.
Enough said!
Lets just say I'm really excited about the journey home!!! HA.

But the main thing is that we both made it here alive.
It's great to see everyone and we are having a wonderful time.
{Despite the fact Abbie is still trying to set records for surviving on no sleep. So far today it's going on 4pm and we've been up since 2.30am with only a 20 minute nap in the car. Fun.}

On a brighter note - the weather here is glorious!
We packed a suitcase full of winter clothes and layers since up to this week it's been apparently freezing.
But the sun has come out for our arrival and it's been lovely.
Yesterday our mercury soared to 29 degrees C.
Today 26 & sunshine predicted all week.
Love!

We have just arrived in Nottingham for a long weekend to celebrate my nephew's 3rd birthday and introduce Abbie to her 3 cousins. It's wonderful to see her getting on with them like a house on fire.
She is LOVING having small people to play with again.

I'll try and update again in a few days when there's more {other than sleep deprived grumbles} to report.

Tuesday Tidbits...

**  Panic stations are GO...

** 1 MORE {short} SLEEP until Abbie & I jump on a plane to the UK. Followed by another even longer plane. Followed by a drive.

**  About 27 hours or so of travelling.

**  I have been mostly packed since last week but still have my hand luggage to pack.
That of course is probably the most important...

**  I weighed my bag this morning.... 20kgs!
That includes all my clothes & toiletries, all Abbie's clothes and toiletries, about 4kg or more of chocolate for the in-laws & about another 3-4 kg of fabric sales to hand deliver to people.
Then all my sewing & embroidery supplies for the FQ retreat.

**  I have plenty of room to spare & I'm actually allowed 30kg.
It's a proud moment people!

**  Neil wasn't that impressed when I pointed out that it gave me lots of room for shopping.
Lucky I was joking.
Mostly ;)

**  I have had a knot of dread in my stomach about the trip for the last 3 days...
I literally feel a bit sick.

**  Travelling with Abbie is never easy - it's not a case of IF she'll lose it and turn hysterical on me, more a case of how MANY times she will. And she can pack a mean punch now that she's nearly 2.

**  For example we took her for an hour drive into the city yesterday and she lost the plot for the rest of the day. Neil and I ended up joining her in her tears and tantrums. It wasn't pretty!

**  Today we just bought a little DVD player for her though.
That should help a little - at least until the battery goes flat.

**  I know that there is built in entertainment on the plane but Abbie has very specific tastes. As in there are 2 DVDs that will capture her attention... She loves the Wiggles & she loves Dougi Dug.
That is all.
Needless to say those 2 DVDs are the most well used DVDs on the planet.
I know every word off by heart.

**  Another reason that I'm dreading this trip is that I hate crowds of people.
I'm a small town girl at heart.
So aeroplanes, big cities & international airports don't exactly excite me.

**  It's also going to be a very emotional trip for other reasons which I won't go into.
With the distinct possibility of last minute schedule & location changes.

**  Lets just say that I'm hoping our trip will be a positive distraction & not really bad timing/a nuisance.

**  Then of course there's my mothers heart about what & who I'm leaving behind. I've only ever been away from Hannah for a few nights in her short life. We are both going to feel the distance.
Lucky I know she's in the best hands ever!

**  BUT even though I feel sick about going I am excited.
I can't wait to introduce Abbie to Mr Flutter's side of the family! I can't wait to meet one of my nephews (now 2!). Last time we went back he was still in-utero. I can't wait to see one of my best friends from school. And I can't wait to meet many of my awesome online friends in real life!

**  I also can't wait to learn some really cool skills at the retreat. I think I'm most excited about my embroidery class with Aneela Hoey, but I'm looking forward to all my classes.

**  Socks... check. Undies... check. Warm clothes... check. Nappies... check. Snacks... check. Itinerary... check...

**  Please excuse me while I go and finish the rest of my packing.
I'll try and check in a few times while I'm away, but it will depend how much internet I can get access to.

Miss Four....

Today was a special day in our house...
A certain Flutter girl had her birthday...

Note the "Mummy-made" new hat...

What a fun day!
And what a super duper blessing this girl is on our household!
Hannah took great joy in telling people all day that it was her birthday and that she has turned four, making sure that she had four fingers held up each time and all.

We immensely enjoyed celebrating her today.
And it is fair to say that she revelled in being celebrated!

6.30am this was the picture that greeted her...

It looks a bit more impressive than it is - the dolls house was actually a Christmas present, but it has been confiscated for the last month due to the girls not looking after it very well. But it made the perfect backdrop for Hannah's new birthday Barbies, and it was time to allow them to have it back. They have been warned though - if I see any water in the bathtub or toilet then away it goes to the shed again so that they don't completely wreck it... (who can blame them though - I'm sure I would have done the same thing!...)

They were both SO thrilled to have it back. It kept littlest Flutter wonderfully entertained while her sister opened her new toys, and she didn't feel left out at all...

That Ken in the background is a "vintage" one from my childhood collection.

Helium balloons have become a bit of a birthday tradition in our house. They are a great & inexpensive way to set a birthday mood in the house.
This year Daddy decided to get 4 - 1 for each year of her age. I did point out to him that it probably wasn't a good idea to actively tell her that. She will otherwise expect the same from now on. That could get expensive fast and one day we might have an "up" situation on our hands. LOL

Hannah was very specific with her birthday requests this year. Every time I asked her what she'd like for her birthday she kept saying she'd like flowers. She does so love flowers and regularly asks for them when we're at the shops, or out in the garden, so today we went to the florist and allowed her to pick her very own bunch...

When I asked her what her favourite meal is that Mummy cooks, that she'd like to have for her birthday dinner she chose sausages. I thought she meant a barbecue, but no - she was quick to correct me that she wanted "potatoes (mashed), broccoli, carrots & corn."
No one can ever criticise Hannah for not knowing what she wants that's for sure!

She also requested a "white cake with black".
It took me a little while to work out that she meant a white chocolate mud-cake which is about the only cake she really likes. I'm not quite sure why it took me so long to click!

I just love how happy she looks in that photo above!!

What a wonderful relaxing family day we had today. Not doing anything super exciting to write home about, just an easy day enjoying each others company and giving the girls time to play with the new toys.

We just put one very tired but content girl to bed and I suspect she will sleep extremely well tonight!

Love you Miss Four!

Now we get to do it all over again in 2 sleeps for Mr Flutter's birthday. He has rather significantly more candles on his cake though ;)