March 2010

The big news this month was our trip to the UK. It feels like years ago already. My lasting thoughts are it was sooo great to see everyone, and it was way, way to short! Just over two weeks, after that much travelling, is a ridiculous exercise and I have already told hubby that unless it's closer to a month next time we won't be going! Although to be honest, the next time we go the kids will be that much older that the travelling itself won't feel like such hard work.

Molly was beside herself with excitement about the whole thing. From 28 hours on a plane '('my own TV! awesome!'), to the busy, busy roads ('where did all these people come from Mum?'). But most of all the family, of course. Her cousins, especially Maisie and Mimy, her new best friends in the world. Being the centre of attention with everyone sits very well with our little princess. So much so in fact that she didn't even seem to mind sharing some of the limelight with Flynn - luckily, as he did have his own cheering section too!

Here are the Morgan children -

Molly is so like her cousin Rhiannon, and Ria is such a lovely girl, growing into a beautiful young woman. The thing I was most blown away with was how well they all got on and how they just seemed to like each other straight away. Its not like you can really explain to a 4 year old why these people are special and 'family' is a kind of abstract concept to explain, but they just get it, and they just connected straight away, it was lovely to see.

Another wonderful moment that sticks in my head is our wee man cuddling up with the oldest member of the family, Pops. Flynn instantly took to Pops (and I think the feeling was mutual!). Molly loves Grandma so much, and chewed her ear off about just about everything, from dinosaurs to knitting and cats! Grandma has the patience of a saint - and has proved it now!

A big family party (with some extra guests - expats from NZ that came along to join us - it was so great to see them and reconfirmed Molly's plans to marry Mr Hunter as soon as he gets back home!) was another highlight, lots of extended relatives we'd never met before plus all the ones we knew of course. Nanny did a wonderful job organising it all at the hotel that hubby and I were married in, and that Molly and Maisie had their first birthday party in. Such a special place, with such lovely memories, and now another to add on.

Coming back to NZ was simultaneously fabulous and heartwrenching, we don't want to be in the UK, NZ is our home and we love it endlessly, I just wish we could ship all the relatives out here and have the best of both worlds.