Things I’m Loving – Birthday Weekend Chillaxing!

I have been counting my blessings indeed this weekend.

What more could I have possibly wished for – sunshine, a loving healthy family, a weekend away from the chores and the cooking (and the endless cleaning up), chocolate, bubbly, fun and laughter. It was everything I could have wished for and more (especially after the weekend from hell, last week – gastric tummy bug striking down Alice, Sophie and then me – all whilst the man of the house was away for four nights).

We headed off Friday lunch time and got back today, in time for a Sunday afternoon of chillaxing at Island Bay, visiting our rocky shore friends at the Marine Education Centre, and giving Dan some time on the paddle board.

Sigh! It’s great to be home sweet home, but it sure was soooo relaxing to be away and enjoy a buffet breakfast two mornings in a row, to toss the dirty towels on the floor without a second thought to the cleaning involved, to live out of a suitcase and not even hang one shirt, to leave the bed sheets crumpled and play with the children.

The Autumnal colours over the Wairarapa were stunning.

I just love the wide expanse of open countryside and mix of deciduous trees amongst the native evergreens. There were plenty of leaves for the girls to enjoy kicking up and tossing in the air too…

We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at Queen Elizabeth Park, in Masterton, where we rode the model train (screaming our heads off going through the wee tunnel) and hired a couple of pedalos for a ‘Swallows and Amazons’ type adventure – ambushing each other as we rounded the corner of each little island. The playground and mini-golf held Sophie and Alice’s attention too.

We stayed at the Copthorne Hotel – a first for us. We normally hire a holiday home (or ‘Bach’), but Dan got a good deal on hotel rooms with breakfast included and it was super relaxing. The children swam in the heated indoor pool several times, ran around on the rope course, jumped on the trampoline under a star lit night sky and enjoyed playing at the driving range (as did the big folk), whilst waiting for dinner to be served.

Oh, and I ate and drank a little too much on Friday night – oops – Birthday girl never learns – hee, hee! Hubbie treated me to bubbles and then a wonderful dessert dish… which was a little late in arriving – so Dan ordered me a Baileys on ice in the interim… ah, delicious. I was thoroughly spoilt.

What’s more my gorgeous family sent me so many amazing clothes and beautiful jewelry that I didn’t even have to ‘think’ what to pack for my weekend away! I simply put my Birthday treats straight into the suitcase on Friday morning, adding togs and change of undies (of course!), and I was all set to go!

Friends on Facebook sent through wonderful Birthday messages, which kept me smiling all day, and I felt very, very fortunate to have such fabulous people in my life – near and far. Thank you, thank you! My dearest Mum and Dad called on Skype on the morning of my Birthday and I could almost feel them giving me a squishy Birthday hug, such were their beautiful smiles flashing on the screen. Certainly so much to love and, what’s more, my big girl doesn’t have to go back to school till Thursday (teacher only day on Monday and Tuesday – and ANZAC Day on Wednesday) – hurray!

Now… erm, back to reality, washing and breakfast in the morning will be a little of a let down… c’est la vie!

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