Dinner at Carol and Paul's

While James was away, as I said it was a bit of a hard time. The first week I was going well, felt ontop of things and was feeling good. The 2nd week motivation was lacking, I was using all my energy to do the home learning and just wasn't able to invest as much in the mum things like cooking, cleaning up and packing away, etc. It was just too much. Fortunately I had beautiful friends and family around me who were able to help out. 

Cathy dropped around a gorgeous bunch of flowers and a cookie to say that they were thinking of us and of me during this time. Lani dropped around a couple of letters for the kids, some chocolates for them and for me and a lovely card of encouragement. 

Kelly was amazing and dropped around a lasagna for dinner one night so I didn't have to cook. 
We went around to Mum and Dad's place both Thursday nights for dinner - again 1 less meal to cook just freed up my mental space, especially on the last Thursday.

And Carol invited us around to her place for dinner as well. Really, the slight lifting of isolation came at the perfect time!
As the sun went down we set up a little bonfire in the backyard. Daniel helped Carol (well, more Carol helped Daniel) light the fire. He was a bit nervous about doing it but I am proud of him for doing it.

The kids were a bit mesmerized by the fire at the start.

They then went and got chairs so they could sit beside the fire and warm up.

That lasted maybe 5 seconds before they wanted to run around, play on the swing and just be crazy kiddies together. Tamika and Pippa had also come over so it was nice to see them.
We enjoyed dinner of hamburgers by the fire.

And then Byron gave us a little fire twirling show. Pretty cool! 

He offered Tamika a go and she had fun rowing the boat and doing a little bit.Then he offered me a go. Sure, why not. I felt a bit nervous, after all it was fire, but it was fun to do something different. And I was safe. Byron was guiding me.

I loved Eliza's encouragement in the video to me.
Then it was marshmellow toasting time. It was the first time that our kids had done this so I was a bit excited for them. They were much more keen to just have the marshmallow straight without toasting it but we got there. Eliza would hold it over until it was gooey, Daniel's was barely warm and Alexander's hardly touched the fire but they still had a lot of fun doing it! The laughed a lot as Pippa's ones kept falling into the fire before she could eat it.

The kids were quite tired at the end of the night after a full day of school and then a dinner out but it was so worth it. So lovely to spend time with others again and to feel supported but those around us. Thanks Carol and Byron! (and Paul who was still at work)