26/52 - our family's little happy place // in the garden

Lily

She has been eager to wear her new/old poncho this month and I can't help but remember having a cool retro poncho when I was around her age (I think it was a hand-me-down from my Aunties).

Although not super practicial, oh, how I loved to wear it. It's like a skirt for your top half - what's not to love?!! ;)

There are many joys of a daughter, one of which is seeing elements of your childhood come cycling through once more.

Eli

'The chicken cuddler'.

He loves our chooks, and best of all, he loves to cuddle them. 

They are mostly pretty accomodating to his requests, especially now he has improved his holding technique ;)

PS This sweet boy said to me onight after a giggle session with Miles 'I wanna keep that baby here with us forever'. Precious... plus a good thing as I'm pretty sure M is past the 12 month return warranty?! ;)

Miles 

I had to snap a shot of Bear playing his favourite game... throwing this simple little ping pong ball.

It always seems to be rolling around the house somewhere (I think we have a couple), and he love, love, loves to throw it. I gotta say, this kid has a pretty fierce over-arm throw too!!! It's the perfect size and weight to not do any damage, and gives a satisfying little pop as it tap, tap, taps across the floor. He scampers after it like an eager puppy, hunts it down (going under chairs and tables if required) then gleefully tosses it again. And again. Happy as can be.

Yeah, third kids are pretty good at entertaining themselves!!!!

Mark

Our happy place.

This scene warms my heart. It's my very favourite place to be these days. Pottering around our garden on a sunny winter afternoon - in that crucial hour before the sun drops and the fierce chill sets in. The chickens roam and peck the grass. Lily and I are planting seeds in our forlorn veggie patch (hope you enjoyed the kale, possums!!). Eli and Daddy are mulching all the shrub clippings and sticks. Miles is happily swinging, watching the family, tracking the chickens and only requiring a push and a chat every few minutes when the swing slows to a halt. We potter together... as a family. In the earth, in the garden, we work and chat and laugh and play. We dig and weed and mulch and nurture. Nurture our little country corner, and nurture each other. Quiet, simple days together. I know these 'every day' memories will be the most precious. 

There are contented sighs from the parents amidst the kids' stream of chatter. 'This is great' one of us says, and the other smiles and nods. A simple scene of family time. A sweet spot in domestic life, the kind of time I dreamed of while we slowly cleared the jungle from this back corner to make way for coops and veggie patches. Now, here we are.

I cannot help but survey this scene - a scene richer in blessings than I would ever have dared to hope and pray for - and thank God for this overflowing cup of goodness. Our family of five, just tinkering outside together. God has given us each other and come what may, we are journeying together. I am just so very grateful. I find it hard to even extract why this scene affects me so, but my eyes well every time I get to soak it up. In these little moments are the greatest treasures, I guess.

Thank you, Mark, for building this beautiful, simple, messy, currently often exhausting but always richly blessed life with me. What more could we ever ask for? I love that we get to journey through all of this together - you and me make quite a team, huh? Te amo xx

Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2014.

More highlights from the week that was...

Lily and I created a little nature scene to surprise Eli when he returned from grocery shopping with Dad.

He got right in there, with his animals exploring the jungle!

Eli's face after the chicken flutters out of his arms!!

Eli takes his stick gathering very seriously. The cheeky chooks scratch around near by!

Miles is always tracking the chookies, calling 'Dook dook dook!'

His gleeful face every time he throws the ball.

Sibling spotted

Oil pastel drawing time together with my little Tiger x

Yes, this is the Prince's preferred mode of transport around the home ;)

Ten minutes before it's time to leave for the school run, I love glancing over to find this scene! Kids happily reading together, all ready, and chores done. Hooray!!
(Please note this chilled out scene does not happen every morning, haha)

Half way through 2014, half way through another Project 52! 

'The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. 

My heart leaps for joy and with my songs I praise Him.'

Psalm 28:7

{lily's photography} through her eyes #2

I have been remiss in not uploading some more of Lily's photography... she has certainly not slowed down in her happy snapping! I have to say I have been so happy with this nifty little camera as a Christmas gift, she has used and enjoyed it so much (not always the case, we all have those present-fails, right?!). Again, these piccies might be charming only to the grandparents, so feel free to skim - I did edit them down a lot (there were about 1,356 selfies!!).

Whenever I download the quickly-filling memory card, I just laugh and laugh and laugh at her perspective on life. So many classic and quirky moments. So raw and unvarnished, she is the ultimate 'real life' documentarian. 

Filled with selfies and blurs, there are some beautiful shots too. Best of all are her videos. Wow - real life. Seven minutes of her parents shuffling around the kitchen preparing breakfast while her and Eli banter together. A twenty minute (not kidding!!!!!) solo of herself singing a made up heartfelt ballad in her bedroom during rest time. Seriously gold. Oh, Lily, I know I take a lot of photos but I think the bests  images from your childhood will be these ones! :)

PS You will note she somehow worked out how to add a few features to her photos (I had no idea her camera could even do this!?) - all sorts of borders and also some crazy-cool feature where she can select a colour such as red or blue and any pics she takes will only colourise that one colour?! Cool, huh? Well, as you can see, she certainly thought so, haha!)

Miles rolling around in her room while she 'babysits' (she loves to take him off to the room by herself on official duties!)

A portrait of her beloved Baby Rapunzel doll... with tricky reflection!

And why not?!? ;)

Noticing the colour seeping through

Admiring her school shoes while I do her hair

I think someone just woke up....

Cheeky girl snapped a pic during a prayer at church!

Ummmm... I am pretty sure she took this of herself 'praying'!!!!! Mmm, very spiritual ;) Lol....

School shoes, on the school run.

Storytime...

Selfie while her hairdresser (me) styles her for school ;)

Her first lot of sight words from school. Seems so long ago now!

She took this of me and my boy, from her view on the top bunk....

Then asked for one in return!

I think Eli took this one of his apple half-eaten on his lap (in the car)

Egg!

Now how is this for an action shot!! Watching the teen boys from church play Table Tennis... Eli was tracking the ball,
obviously!! ;)

Admiring her new shoes

Clearly needed a close up ;)

The look of love from youngest to oldest.

Overflowing dress up box by her window.

The kids were playing with blocks in their room and must have decided to document  their elaborate castle :)

Well done to Eli, budding photographer, on taking this beautiful portrait!!! :) Little bro loves to take snaps too.

Oh Lily, what a wonderful world it is... through your eyes.

**Photos taken on the Nikon CoolPix S31**

I highly recommend this camera - it is hardy, easy to use, shock proof, waterproof (you can take it under water!), takes video and has lots of fun little features that kids enjoy. The quality of the camera and the images is good too (as displayed above!). It's not a cheapie (which is what I wanted to get but Mark convinced me to get something that wouldn't break in two days - and I'm glad he did!). It is a good investment if it's something you think your child would really enjoy and get a lot of use from.