Last minute trip & this past week.
Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 8:48PM The past week, looked a little something like this:
This afternoon, the kids & I got back from 4 days up North in Cairns. It was totally last minute and unplanned. The planning process went a little something like this: Chris's Brother Matty & Mother, Jen: "Hey, we're going to Cairns on Monday! You & the kids should come!" ME: "Ummm....ok!"
The 4 days away were the perfect mixture of crazy fun, and slowly quiet. I again questioned my impulsiveness of deciding to travel solo-parent with TWO young kids, but as always, we survived & had a great time. Traveling with kids is an overwhelming experience, and then there's traveling with kids as a single parent....it's a whole different ball game. Chris was away interstate for the past week, which is what made the invitation to head up to Cairns more desirable, as we were husband-less/daddy-less anyway! Thank goodness Ryder coped with his flights so well, perfectly in fact.....maybe another little adventure seeker on our hands? :) I did learn that I still hate flying though! And no matter how much I do it, it doesn't get any easier, or any more enjoyable. I HATE it! And if it wasn't for the fact that I had 2 little Souls to constantly entertain, talk to, feed, play with, assist, hold & cater for, I'd probably be a inconsolable mess. One little bump of turbulence and I am a hot, sticky mess. I'm not an anxious person normally.....but put me on a plane & I'm anxiety's number one friend! It's purely a means to an end. If I want to travel & explore....flying is part of it, so I just have to suck it up & go with it I guess.
Once we landed & hit Cairns' turf, I had family there to assist with the bags, transport & parenting. Thank golly goodness :) The 4 days rolled on by with some wining & dining, go-carting, relaxing, shopping, driving, catching up with family & lots of laughs :)
And everytime, I do something BIG like travel solo-parent style; I give myself secret high fives & fist pumps for making the effort....taking the plunge & proving my own capabilities. But at the same time, I miss Chris like crazy & question why the hell I would be stupid enough to tackle plane flights & hire cars & vacation planning without my number 1 support system - my husband. But sometimes in life, we're given opportunities......and I like to jump at them & seize them. No regrets baby!! But at the same time.....coming home today to OUR house, to OUR number one man, was PERFECTION and exactly what I needed to end an eventful & busy week.
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Rewinding back to the weekend......
With Chris away, I tried to balance our weekend with quiet time at home....just me & the kids - doing Mummy/Kid things.... along with finding time for friends & hanging out with them. So, on Saturday night, I entwined the "mother me" and the "friend me" and had the girls around for dinner & drinks.
It was nice! Just what I needed in fact. And whilst my babies slept safely in their rooms, us girls sat up to the wee hours of the morning doing what girlfriends do best - TALKING, laughing, talking some more & laughing some more. We chit chatted about recipes & movies & fashion as well as tackling big topics like relationships & motherhood & money & work & travel. We talked about our worries & fears as well as our loves & plans. And although I love being a Mum, and a wife. I also love being a friend. Friends truly do calm the Soul.
{red wine & baby monitor.....us Mumma's can have the best of both worlds....I guess it's just about finding that balance...and snippets of time to entwine the 2 worlds}
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And my favourite photo from the week:
Last Thursday night {the night before Chris went away for the week} we went out to dinner down the coast, while my Mum & Dad stayed over to watch Ella & Ryder. Not only was it the BEST food & dining experience I'VE EVER HAD....but it was a FUN FUN night. Naoko {a family friend visiting from Japan} had a Polaroid camera with her. We took this happy snap at the end of the evening. I love it. Me & my hunky hubby! I love him.
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So, in a nutshell....that was my week & where I've been these past few days of missing from the online world :)
Tomorrow is friday! Yikes, these weeeks roll around way toooo quickly!!!!!!
I'm off to snuggle with my man after a week without each other :)
Goodnight!
Reader Comments (2)
You are amazing Claire truly!! I hate when Paul's ever away and I have to single parent but manage and just 'go slow'. However, I don't know if I'd be brave enough to travel solo. Good one you for jumping at the opportunity and having a blast. Love the wine/baby monitor photo and the Polaroid xx
Sounds like a wonderful time away! Last minute plans are sometimes the best as you dont spend too mush time in the anticipation phase! Oh and high fives for travelling solo! It is certainly tricky!!!