Girl in chaos

This is my girl through and through. She lives in her own frenetically paced bubble. Yesterday when she jumped out of the car I just had to snap this pic - it's so her. In the seven minute drive from school to home she managed to pull everything out of her bag and then scramble…

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Reintroduction: Family

I don't for a second believe that family is only those we are tied to through shared genetics. I grew up with a step-father who is my dad in every way (aside from the obvious biological difference). So I knew from a young age what real family is. As far as my immediate - husband and children -…

Happy birthday baby

I love birthdays. Actually, I love gifts. Buying gifts, wrapping gifts, giving gifts. I absolutely adore watching people open gifts that I've given ... although it also makes me nervous as heck. I always want to make the right choice. Give a gift, no matter how small, that makes someone really happy, makes them feel like…

Grumpy celiac feeling better

The other day I drafted a post titled Grumpy Celiac. I'm glad I didn't publish as it was pretty wretched! To be fair, I was miserable. But this week, while acknowledging that it's not all roses, I'm back to being positive and in action mode. Last week I was feeling like, well, like I did before I was diagnosed Celiac.…

Not the last bullying post (Part 2)

Yesterday I was going to post an update on Nat after her hideous time last year being bullied, and how bullying is out of our lives. Sadly, bullying is not out of our lives. So yesterday I posted an update on Nat (yay, it's a happy story!) and now the stuff I'm not so happy…

True story

It was one of those if you don't laugh, you cry moments at 3 o'clock this morning. I heard PollyCat jump in the window and as soon as she ran into my room, I knew she'd brought me something. That meow, and psycho kitty dancing meant a cockroach, a bird, or a mouse. Oh yay,…

Not the last bullying post (Part One)

Background: For those of you who weren’t with me last year, we had quite the saga with our youngest child, Nat, being bullied at school. Long story short, she’s now at a different school. If you want to read the back story, you can read Bullying Sucks, and Bullying Still Sucks. Here I was, all…

Where I write

I always imagine other bloggers/writers/people working from home sitting in very glamorous home offices with all their modern conveniences around them. True? Although not glamorous, or even an office, I thought I'd share my space anyway. It's just a corner of a room - a corner of the upstairs lounge I share with a TV, xbox,…

Our technology take down

Have you ever noticed you were watching something on TV that you weren't really interested in ... but there wasn't anything else on? Or you get to bed only to think you'll just check your Facebook page ... one ... more ... time? Or get sick of the kids fighting over who has had a longer…

Full moon madness (nothing spooky here!)

Yesterday my good friend text me to remind me there's a full moon on Friday. That's two days from now. She always gets in touch early in the week to warn me it's coming up. Why? Yeah fair question. Do I have some strange moonlight dance ritual I need to fulfil each month? Oh no. So…

Why I’m exercising regularly

I found a quote from the always radiant Kate Hudson in Mindfood magazine last year which sums up beautifully for me, why I'm back exercising. With my recent diagnosis of Celiac Disease I've been prompted to not take my body for granted. So three mornings a week I'm back to pounding the pavement (walking). Which…

When 1 + 1 = 8

Earlier this month we went to one of the most beautiful weddings I think I have ever attended. The setting was gorgeous, outdoors under well established trees in a beautiful garden. We sat on hay bails covered with white taffeta as the sun dimpled through the trees. The groom was handsome, the bride was stunning.…

Where to start?! New adventures for a new year!

You know I've been away so long, I almost don't know where to start. There's so much busting to get out of me here that when I start writing, I can't be sure I'll be able to stop. Could be a long night! OK, let's just start with where we are. So it's February. Already!…

I will be back!

It’s been so long it’s a new year!

Hello hello hello my lovely blog world. Happy New Year!!! I have been so super busy since school finished for the summer on 12 December but I have constantly missed the world of blog. I've been away from home (still am) and traveling without a laptop which has forced some serious down time. What can…

Bullying still sucks

Regular readers of Abbie's Babble might be aware of our struggles this year with bullying (my seven-year old daughter has been bullied over the last few months). Unfortunately, things have hit an all-time low and I felt forced to remove my girl from school for the rest of the year (our school year finishes in 10…

When being yourself equals trouble

Over the weekend I had a great chat with my daughter, quite possibly, the best so far. We had a two-hour road trip and we talked. And we talked. The. whole. time. I can't speak for Nat, but for me, that was so good for my soul. I feel like we totally connected and were both…

To my strong-willed, passionate, very loved, almost-8-year-old daughter

Dear Nat You have had a rough time lately and I want to encourage you. I want to tell you that you are amazing. I want you to know that even though we do most definitely have our challenges, we are going to work it out. I want to tell you (again and forever) just how…

Just put the screen down

I'm really starting to annoy myself. Do you constantly find yourself checking for new activity on your blogs, tweetbooks, facetags, instapins and hashmails? 😉 I do. I can hardly wander past my phone without checking the notifications some days. If I'm sitting "watching" the kids at sport, you'll probably find me on my screen a lot. Over at…

Making Memories

While super-glue is one potential way to bond a family together, as parents, we firmly believe it's our job to come up with ways to create a lasting bond between our brood. This is especially important in a blended family context. As our family grows and they eventually leave home, we want the kids to want to come back…

On the happiness trail … why I quit my job

Last Monday I let my employer know I would not be accepting their offer to extend my contract to the end of 2015. And it felt great! Why would I give away a perfectly good job you may ask? A job that wasn't unpleasant, that offered good hours allowing me to drop my kids to…

Me and my girl

This weekend Nat and I had an action packed weekend as we headed down to the city (Wellington for those of you who know NZ) to see a show. The show was The Sound of Music - I was super excited to introduce Nat to the story and the songs. I was about the same age…

Seeing my little people smile

By 9am this morning I had already seen my two littlest people with the biggest smiles on their faces. And I know that happy vibe that will stay with them today. Seeing them happy, that's a great way for me to start a day for sure! Natty Nat asked me if I could write her a list of…

SPRING HAS SPRUNG (YAY!)

Yesterday was the first official day of spring. 1 September. Yippee! Spring is definitely one of my favourite seasons. Lambs, daffodils and blossoms. And hope. I always think Spring has a real sense of hope, more so than any other season. What's not to love?! On Sunday we hit the great outdoors and went for a…

IT’S AN INNIE THING

I have hit THE WALL. Not literally, no car crashes or broken fists or anything like that. But that metaphorical wall has come up and hit me in the face. Again. Before writing this I was sitting in my wardrobe staring at my shoes. For quite a while. Pretty much not having the physical or…