R’s birthday conveniently falls within the WA Day long weekend so there’s always extra time to have a special celebration. This year I booked us a family staycation in Mandurah. The weather was terrible during the long weekend, but thankfully it didn’t hit until our last night there.
Making memories with my little girls who are not so little anymore. I wonder whether they will look back at our little trips and staycations around Perth with fondness when they grow up. My parents brought my siblings and I around the world when we were kids, and I think we are all the better for having travelled the world at a young age and understanding there is a world outside of Kuching. These little trips for us are not far away, not even a plane trip away and mostly a short car ride away, but there are golden memories for me, time to get away from technology, work and the hum drum of everyday life. I really needed this trip to be a kind mum to my kids again, because I’ve been sick, I’ve been so cranky, grumpy and impatient with them. My poor suffering children.
Amazingly they are very forgiving and love me regardless. How I wonder? Will they stay this pure and sweet forever?
The pool is always a highlight during our staycations, this one was heated but not hot enough for the cold weather that struck this weekend. I think they still had fun regardless but I was glad to get out 🙂
A memorable dinner at the Italian next door, the food was delicious, the service even better. The girls ate really well and finished all their dinner and dessert. I was glad that the restaurant was noisy enough to mask any coughing fits. It’s a slow road to recovery.
Waking up the birthday papa with their cards and cuddles. Surely that’s the best way to wake up on your birthday? Happy birthday R. My mum had cooked him the traditional birthday meal of long life noodles and chicken soup the day before, I’m grateful for my mother who continues the birthday tradition and generously extends it to her son-in-laws.
The sun was out but so was the chilly wind. Playground time by the foreshore.
They were delighted to be reunited with their cousin and also happy to be indulging in marshmallow monsters.
A day of shopping later, we braved the rain for R’s birthday dinner. The steak was stupendous and so was the wine and sides. I think R enjoyed his birthday dinner, the kids and I sure did! The heavy rain added adventure to the dinner.
Always some kind of noodles for this girl who is a noodle monster.
I knew she would miss rice after a few days and I was right. But Saitaoha’s favourite food is pizza, maybe she was an Italian in her past life?
Wonder what was his birthday wish?
The best way to spend a birthday with your children in your arms. I hope he felt loved and celebrated.
It’s been hard to get out of this downward spiral. I think we are generally a family of worrywarts and we have lots of anxiety. I was worried about not being able to be in the office, when I was in the office, I was worried about coughing at work. I was worried about juggling work and family commitments, not being there for my father when he goes for his medical procedures and appointments. I was worried about my father being worried about coughing during his procedure, then was worried that he would be disappointed when his procedure got cancelled. I am anxious that it is taking me so long to recover, concerned about my overall health and long term health condition.
It just feels like ‘adulting’ is just filled with anxiety all the time and because I’m caught up in fearing for the worst, I can’t move a step forward and I’m just anxious and grumpy and guilty all the time. Why is being an adult so difficult sometimes?
Hopefully this bout of illness is over soon and this wave of stormy weather passes over soon.
daitaoha 