I’ve long wanted to use a Wonderland title for a post about Alice and I think after our weekend adventures, it’s fitting. At last.

After months of waiting and planning and talking, we took our Best Girl Alice away for her first holiday with us. Her parents agreed to the idea earlier this year, thinking it was a wonderful opportunity for all of us. They weren’t wrong. We talked for months with her about going on a plane, about the friends we’d visit and what we’d do there. When the day arrived, she was about as fully prepared as a little girl could be. We were nervous and excited. So excited. Toys, snacks, books all packed for the journey, we set off for Queensland.

We had talked all about how the houses down below would look very little. We explained about going up high above the clouds. She took it all in with great enthusiasm and joy.

Once we arrived in Brisbane and had to wait to collect our hire car, it all took its toll on the weary traveller who paused for a nap.

At our friends’ house in Brisbane there was a special sign on the door for her. It stayed there all weekend and she loved knowing her name was in bright shiny letters each time we opened the door.

Before we went away, i spent an afternoon making two matching dresses for Alice and her new friend. Don’t they look lovely!

And as an aside, because we all know that no holiday would be complete without a bit of addiction feeding, my friend and I spent the morning at Tangled Yarns, a shop I was SO excited to see. I’ve bought from Kelly, who owns the shop, many times but had yet to go there. It was so, so pretty and bright and light and inviting. I shopped. I talked knitting with other addicts. Then I shopped some more. I bought great stuff. I’ll save that for later.

On Sunday we visited the Gold Coast, where we have some family. We oversold it perhaps, with Alice longing for the beach. I’m afraid she was a bit disappointed with the bleak, grey day.

All the same, we had a lovely time there, with chasing birds, eating in a cafe, hanging out with family and counting many, many palm trees. By the end, we were all tired, but pleased.

We flew home on Monday, terribly happy with our first venture out into the world beyond the simple day trips we’ve done. It had gone so well. Very few hiccups and a wonderful sense of something we’d all shared.

Alice had stories to tell Mummy and Daddy and was bursting with new experiences and words and a promise from us that we’d do it again some day.

We can’t wait.

Bells