Kate's baby shower

I know, I know...it's been too long since my last post, but I do have excuses: my kids, housework; sleeping; eating; entertaining...

So...last month we were invited to Kate's (my cousin and only other relative living in NZ apart from my wee brother and his wife) baby shower. These baby showers are still quite novel to me, only been to one other and that was here in NZ too. I'm always amazed by peoples' generosity as the recipient receives a huge array of baby gifts and not cheap ones either! It seems that this is the 'norm' over here and perhaps in America too? I must say it's a good way to get all set up for your firstborn. Kate's baby shower was lots of fun and it was great to meet more of Damian's family who are now our extended family too! Lots of kids running around and Damian's Mum (Sue) and his sister (Lisa) did an amazing job of serving up lots of delicious treats to keep us all going. Kate was looking radiant, still her trim self but with a beautiful bump! We all played a guessing game as to how big she was around her waist/bump. We were all given a piece of tape and asked to cut it to the appropriate size (without measuring her of course) and bizarrely, my measurement was the closest! You should be able to see my name on the tape around Kate's waist.

The girls...

Isabella helps Kate get started on the unwrapping!

Lisa (Damian's sister), Steve (Damian's brother), Sue (Damian's Mum), Helen and Kate



The night before we had Kate and Damian over for homemade pizza (a la Nick) and Jamie and Helen joined us too. It was great to be able to catch up with everyone without trying to shout over the noise of the kids and also be able to start and finish a conversation properly. It's a shame Kate and Damian live in Auckland as we would see them much more often if they were in Wellington (nudge, nudge Kate!) Maybe they'll think about a move down here when they return from Scotland!

Most folk who read this blog will know that I'm due to return to Scotland quite shortly, in three weeks in fact. It's going to be a big family reunion in Shetland...can't wait. I will be flying with Madeleine (Nick and Molly will stay here) to LA and Gudrun will be joining us on the second leg of the flight to Frankfurt and then onto Edinburgh. I think Gudrun and I will have no problem finding something to talk about whilst we're up in the air and Madeleine will no doubt have some tricks up her sleeve too. She has now sprouted another tooth (top right) and it has really changed the look of her face again. She and Molly play splashing contests in the bath now so Nick and I just stand back, outside of the door and let them get on with it.

Beth (sporting new short haircut) and Madeleine

Molly is well and enjoying kindergarten. She may start morning kindy by the end of the year but all depends on how things go over the next couple of months. I'm thinking more and more about a part-time job perhaps at Xmas if Madeleine can start in the local creche. I don't want to go full-time and I don't want Madeleine to go into care before she's one but I think I need to do something else soon for my own sanity!