A month is a long time to be cramped in a small bedroom, to share a bathroom with three messy children, to be surrounded by noise and toys and mess, to live in a climate that is harsh and extreme in its heat and humidity and to be constantly helping a busy family of 6.
Mum and Dad never complained as they served our family through February and as the weeks went by and the countdown to their departure began, I became increasingly nervous about them leaving us! They were so helpful I began to doubt whether I would be able to cope without them. I am "coping" now that they are gone, but it was much easier with them here! I miss dinner being prepared every night by Mum, I miss Dad hanging out the washing and bringing it in before I even got to it, I miss Dad taking the bin out for me and filling up the water filter, I miss them both holding a fussy baby at all different times of the day (and night) so I could get things done and sleep! I miss them entertaining a busy, chatty 3 year old during the day and helping the older kids with their homework. I also miss Dad driving kids around to after school activities and picking kids up from school occasionally. I miss being able to go to appointments and the shops on my own and even having some catch ups with friends child free! Sufficeth to say they are sorely missed by us all...especially me!
Clinton usually baths the baby late at night to relax her ready for sleep but the kids wanted to watch her being bathed so one night we did it earlier for them.
Clinton has bathed all our newborn babies and I have so appreciated him doing that for me. It's been a special bonding time for him and each of the babies too.
Papa and Grammie often made the kids cooked breakfasts (a real treat as I only give them cereal on busy school mornings), they loved it!
Sienna got to take home the "math's bag" for a week and got to do mathematics games and activities. As she was doing this shapes activity, Alissa wanted to do it too - luckily we had this one at home so I got that set out for her.
Special moments with Papa...
Zara started smiling around 4 to 5 weeks and we kept joking that as soon as I got the camera out she'd stop smiling! She is a happy little baby the majority of the time and loves people talking to her. I waste heaps of time just looking at her and basking in her smiles!
Zara loves her Grammie
Every night I would feed Zara around 9 -10pm and then pass her to Papa and go to bed. Papa would pat her and get her wind out until the early hours of the morning...sometimes even staying up until 2am! Then once I heard her crying again I would get up and feed her. This was such a huge help to me, I was able to get a good chunk of sleep. I now think Zara and Papa are bonded for life thanks to their late night cuddles! Grammie would then get up early every morning and cuddle Zara while I got the kids breakfast, made lunches, got kids dressed and had my shower. Again, this was another huge help to me! She would then hold the baby the while I took the kids to school...you can see why I didn't want these two to leave!
Sitting up with the aid of my feeding pillow - Zara has such a strong little neck
Sienna adores Zara
The last weekend before Grammie and Papa were leaving, we realised we hadn't taken them anywhere! The weather was unbearably hot every weekend and our boat was being fixed the whole time they stayed with us! We decided to take them to Point Samson for lunch but after driving all the way there we found out the restaurant we wanted to take them to was closed. We drove all the way back to Karratha and went to Blanche Bar for lunch instead. It was a pleasant drive and Grammie taught Harrison the 4 times tables during the drive too! Alissa all ready for lunch...
There was a lot of backlight in the restaurant so these photos are a bit blurry but I love Alissa and Papa's facial expressions. These two get along so well!
Harrison loves Grammie and Papa and was dreading the day they were going to leave Karratha...
Nice to have a photo together for once...even though we are looking a bit tired! haha!
Zara relaxing while we ate our lunch
Zara having a break from her "tummy time"
Smiling at Grammie...
I love this photo...
Don't leave me Grammie!
Some iPhone photos...me and all my daughters! What a blessing to have three gorgeous girls.
Alissa "feeding" her teddy...
Sienna and Zara
We just loved having Grammie and Papa staying with us and told them we'd pay them a wage if they'd stay (I think they thought we were joking??!! haha!). We are so grateful for everything they did for us and the bond they have built with their grandchildren. Hopefully it won't be too long until we see them again!
