a 2011 recap

 Many people I talk to are commenting how fast this year has flown by, I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact nearly all of us in my homeplace revisit a certain day in back in February daily? For me when I think of the start of this year it begins there. I don't really remember much of 2011 before that.... but stuff did happen AND funnily that stuff actually does feel like a lifetime ago.

Seeing in the New Year at Caroline Bay carnival

In January we had a New years camping trip with my side of extended family.

I attempted and pretty much failed a two week sugar shock diet. I lost weight just as quickly as I put it back on again plus some...
Moral of the story eat properly and leave fad restrictive diets alone *yawn...

I read this book. Which upon reflection I have mixed feelings of.

The kids started a new school

Win. We are SOOOO pleased we made this change. It was a scary decision but it was very much the right choice. All our kids are doing very well there and it's so close to home. Bonus.



a short couple of weeks later this...

I dabbled in reluctant Homeschooling....



I fell in love with Adele

Love in a box arrived from you

I took up drinking from jugs bigger than my head.
Just kidding.
I already did that.

We rode a storm or two in our family life.

Hope was restored

More love from over the ocean

iphone obsession goodness took over my life

I fully quit Facebook. 

Our Church changed. Alot.
with the arrival of a new Pastor and our old one of 20 plus years retiring. He's cool. It's just different.


I met some local bloggers online and in real life.

I made some lovely new friends

After a turbulent ride we arrived at some answers and a diagnosis with our struggling boy

another big ups to our new school who picked it up right away and were able to offer so much help!

 

I took to listening to this over and over 

Greymouth

The amazing sunsets in Hokitika

A Kea. Native NZ bird in Arthurs Pass

We were blessed with a healing family holiday on the West Coast

When we got home it snowed.
Heaps.

More unscheduled time off school.
A big understated "Hooray".

I became the Mum of a 12 year old.

I finally became a coffee dependant adult. MUST. HAVE. AT. LEAST. 2. FIXES per day

My last baby went off to school.

and I replaced her with a dog...

 I joined back to facebook
haha
yeah




A perfect part time job landed itself right on my lap.
I pretty much couldn't have come up with anything more suitable myself.
Thanks God.

The year is wrapping itself up in the form of concerts and break-ups from sport and activities. Lot's of plates with food involved. Sparkly tinsel and songs about Pahutukawa. Ready to roll it all out again in a new shape next year. AND this is my 400th post I've just clocked up here.

I've changed a bit.  Relationships have shifted from what they were a year ago with some people in my life. My interests have wavered. It may have to do with all of a sudden being busy in new ways after a year or so having breathing space from activities. It's a new place and I'm still finding my footing but it's a happy place.

...amazing year this has been.

Happy Christmas and New Year to everyone if I don't get back here before then XO