The Day before the big Day!

Mitchy was a bit off before the day of our flight, and when we arrived at the airport we discovered he had broken through a molar, missed at least a whole tooth and had grown a molar!  On the other side he had what looked like a big bruise under his gum where the second one was about to cut through.  So needless to say he was upset, clingy, unwell and just needed his Mummy the few days before the wedding.  Poor wee mite.

We spent Sunday at Akitua, the island on which the Lagoon resort and spa was built.  In this part of the lagoon the water is like an azure blue.  It surprises me though how manicured this setting is, and how they have altered the landscape to have the stereotypical white sands and blue water.  It is an incredible location that you can only get to by a 20 metre or so ferry ride.  When Craig and I visited back in 2004 or so there was a walk bridge to get there.  The cyclone of 2010 destroyed the bridge.  But there is something about the artificial-ness of this groomed environment that doesn't sit well with us.  I would have liked to have gone to Honeymoon island, it is very new.  A built up sand bar that is slowly growing new trees, covered in Hermit Crabs Craig tells me!

However at Akitua, Rochelle and Kurt tried stand up paddle boarding.  Rochelle had a mantaray try to climb on board her SUP.  There is a channel that runs along the beach, and it is just a short swim to get to a sandbar that is enormous and slightly submerged.  I think Steve and Dale managed to get some good photos on this day, so i look forward to seeing them.

Anyway, just a little bit at a time.  I have Craig in cadell's bed with a probable Dengue Fever diagnosis, and I'm at just after midnight to assess and observe and feed him water.  Cadell is in my bed recovering from a high temperature today, and I'm expecting it will rise again tonight.  Here is Sacha's brilliant photo she posted today

The Adventure begins

Me, the boys, Craig and Rochelle set off just after 6am to get to the airport.  In the excitement of unpacking the car at the airport, I left my phone in the car - the first and pretty much only mistake of the entire trip.

At our departure gate, Cadell went as white as a ghost and was shaking like a leaf.  he had talked himself into being sick on the plane again as he did when we came home from KL when he was 2.  By the time the plane taxied out to the runway he had settled down and being seated by the wing, Mitch was pretty excited too.  As we took off all anxiety was swept away from Cadell and he giggled excitedly as we lifted off.

There were about 9 couples on the plane going to get married in Rarotonga, we were the lucky party of 27 heading on to Aitutaki, and I'm pretty sure the only ones with an awesome wedding cake on board.

When we arrived at Raro the airport staff were trying to push several people through to get on an early flight.  But they wouldn't take Craig and I and the two boys so Scott, Mitchell and I boarded the early flight along with Sacha, Dale, Chris and Marco.

Fortunately our wedding planner happened to be at the airport to take us to our accommodation. It was wonderful to finally meet Annie and also to arrive at Are-tai our amazing accommodation.

Thanks to Scott he managed to settle Mitchell as a few hours later Annie and I set off to the airport again to meet the rest of the wedding party and Craig and I went to the justice department to fill out the wedding paper work.  Lucky Aitutaki is relaxed, because I clean forgot to arrange our birth certificates! 

Saturday; Gene had arranged an awesome day for the boys, they didn't get to have ALL the fun planned but still they all enjoyed swimming with the Giant Trevally at Honeymoon Island, a real treat.

Us girls spent the day at our house, having a few quiet drinks while Mitchy clung to me, and was not interested in anyone else but me and later the Lovely Olivia (thnak goodness for Livi!)  Our poor baby cut a molar before we left, and another while we were there, i suspect the bottom two won't be far away.

Sunday; our boys and I headed for Akitua.  We struck amazing weather there.  Rochelle, Craig, Kurt and a few others tried Stand Up Paddle Boarding, and we had a great lunch at the Flying Boat Bar where our reception would be held.

Which leads to Monday - Wedding day!  Which I will post about at another time because finally all the boys are asleep in the house and I should also sleep!

Aitutaki Wedding