Mermaids can play football.

Grab a cuppa and a biscuit - it's a long one today!

We're back from holiday, feeling both happy that we had some good time away as a family and also to be back home.   I missed my bed and home cooked meals.  I didn't miss looking up from my work and noticing the ridiculously messy house or the cold weather.  Taipa was beautifully warm, which allowed for dinner on the beach at sunset and (shock horror) a bikini.  

When life is slowed down, without the pressures of everyday life we find ourselves spending more time thinking.  Rather than staggering through our days, triggered into action by our long lists of what we need to get done, we take the opportunity to pause and reflect.  To reset our thoughts.  I've recently been reading "Buddhism for mothers" which was loaned to me by a friend.  One of my favourite things I've taken out of it is the need to be still.  When we are still we can see the beauty of the moment in front of us.  When the kids and I were exploring rock pools at the beach, life provided with me of another reminder to do just this.   We first 'attacked' the pools with purpose - to find something out of the ordinary.  We blundered through, finding nothing.  It wasn't until we stopped searching, and stood still that the glass shrimp started to swim around our feet.  The little crustaceans lifted their shell and started shuffling about.    We were still and magic happened.

                                                                            *******

I don't remember the last time I actually wore a bikini.  Except for the times where I've tried one on and said to myself I would never wear one in public without a cover up of sorts.  The idea of bearing that much flesh when I don't have a 'bikini body' was terrifying.  People would judge me.
But when I was lying on the golden sand during a moment to myself I had an epiphany.  Who the fuck cares?  I certainly don't give a crap about what other people look like in their bathers.  Except for models of course.  I hate them a little bit.
But normal people?  Yay for them.  And even if they are judging me, why should I care?  I mean, yes, we all do care what other people think to some degree.  Consumerism wouldn't be destroying the world if we didn't, but I decided then and there to not let being self conscience stop me and I de-robed.   And I felt FREE.  And naked.  But mostly free!  I want my girls to not be embarrassed about having a 'normal' body.  To not be ashamed, and to own it.  We're all different and we're all awesome.  Next up - nudist beach!
Okay, maybe not.  But I will wear a bikini again damn it.

Seeing family was a definite highlight.  The girls got to see aunties and uncles and cousins that they only see once every few years.  I love that after 5 minutes of awkwardness cousins become good friends and play for hours on end.   The same goes for us adults.  There is always a few moments of shyness that comes with not seeing someone all the time.  After an hour it's just like old times.

Now for a word about facing your fears.

I know that having a fear of moths and the like is a bizarre and pointless fear.  When I think of it logically, I know that such a fear is ridiculous.  This doesn't stop me from freaking out when a small, fluttering insect enters my home at night time.  God help me when I walk into the bathroom in the morning and the window has been open and the light has been on.  I'm afraid and I admit it.

So you think that I wouldn't be silly enough to suggest  Butterfly creek to the girls.  A place where hundreds of moths and butterfly's float harmlessly around your head and land on you if you are still for a second or two.  That would be a stupid idea.

I guess I'm stupid.  I knew I'd have a little trouble.  I thought I'd suck it up for the girls though.  I mean what kid wouldn't love it?    And love it they did.  They were stoked.  I, on the other hand could not hold back the shrieks.  I ducked, yelped, sweated and could barely breathe.  My hands shook and my heart raced.
And I have no doubt that I'd do the same if I went in again.  Facing my fear didn't work.  I guess with irrational fears are a little different to the standard 'fear of heights etc'.  I have a friend who is terrified of anchors.  Even pictures of anchors freak her out.  So I doubt standing on an anchor as it's thrown overboard would cure her.

Oh well. My girls had a great time and there was a super cute monkey that made up for it.  You know how I'm a sucker for tiny monkeys.

Butterfly creek is a great place for kids.  Not only does it have butterfly's but it has reptiles, a petting zoo and life size mechanical dinosaurs.

Oh and a train ride that Caitlyn was sooooooo excited to go on.  Yet when we took her on the train to Onehunga she was not that impressed.

 On to my new favourite place - Kelly Tarltons.  I now want a penguin and an octopus for pets.

I freaking loved the penguins.  Who knew?  Until now I didn't give two hoots about them.  Yet when I saw them I could have watched those suckers all day.

 Okay, I've been online long enough.  Now for a few more pics before signing out.

Taryn lost her first tooth.  She didn't even notice that she'd spat it out in the sink.
The toothfairy only had $1.10 so that's all she got.  

I could write more about how at the art gallery I was overwhelmed with the talent I saw - Edmund Blair Leighton is the shit.  That guy was ridiculously awesome.  Or I could tell you in detail how I enjoyed seeing things through my kids eyes, staring in wonderment at the dinosaurs. Or how I left the museum in tears after visiting the holocaust room and hearing some of the millions of horrific stories of humans treating each other with such hatred.

But it's Friday night.  Matilda is being read to the girls and I want to join my family on the couch.  So I bid you adieu.

Happy weekend.