20.52 Mother's Day Portraits // Me and my Three

Another lovely Mother's Day rolled around. 

As is our family way, we celebrated on the Saturday.... a long sleep in, brekkie in bed and then a parade of children bursting with excitement to show me their treasures carefully purchased at the Mother's Day stall. Those handmade cards never fail to bring me to tears! With huge props to my beloved husband for orchestrating and corralling the kids in order to bring the day all together. 

They love me well, and I am so very thankful.

In keeping with my other Mother's Day tradition, on our family outing, I made sure to get some photos with the kids. Now, let's be honest, some years the family photos are better than others. The focus, the dappled light, the sometimes awkward smiles (how they indulge me!) and poses this year may not always be 'perfect', but the memories of this day are still beyond precious. Them and me... together. Together, like we are for most of their childhood, yet so much of it undocumented. I want to make sure there is at least a record once a year of those little arms around me. Mark does a wonderful job capturing these while I try not to micromanage too much from the other side of the camera for a change, haha!

I will post our actual outing photos (to the National Gallery of Australia, it was fantastic!) in a separate post as otherwise there will be a zillion photos... instead there will be just half a million ;)

It was a beautiful day with my family in the stunning Autumn leaves. Every year I am so grateful to stop and reflect on how blessed I am to be the mother of this tribe! They may be crazy, but they are mine... ;) And they love me well, flaws and all. 

Me and my three....

I ask Eli to just sit in the centre so I can focus the camera and he lies down and gives me this smile.... little cutie pie!

I know this photo is out of focus but I just love it anyway!

Love, love, love them.

Happy Mother's Day to me.... how could it not be?

Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2017.

19.52 // Assembling Ikea like a Boss!

We bought an Ikea bedside table for Lily and she was thrilled not only to have one at last (very important book storage facility!), but also to try her hand at assembling it. She busied herself in her room, hammering away with full concentration and intention. While she couldn't quite get the whole thing completed on her own, she gave it an admirable attempt! 

I never cease to be amazed at how she throws herself into things, with full confidence, determination, vision. 

You teach me daily, little lady. Never cease your striving xx

Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2017. 

18.52 Building Cubbies at Calthorpe's House

During the school holidays we spent a lovely morning at historic Calthorpe's house for their cubby building workshop. The fun bit was they have a Fort Magic kit just like we do at home!

We explored the beautifully preserved 100 year old house, saw the bomb shelter out the back (!), the cubby where the children played a century ago, and went on a little bush walk.

The children then took their inspiration into designing cubbies, then they ate baked potatoes, explored the grounds and just generally had a 'jolly good time'!.

Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2017.

17.52 {with his headphones on}

Eli loves to listen to audio books and music, especially in the evenings when he is trying to wind his bouncing self down for sleep. I discovered him like this one evening - clearly sleep had over taken him mid-scroll for his next book selection!! Melt my heart, why don't you, kiddo?? 

For my own memory file, I want to record here that his favourite current audio books are Chronicles of Narnia, Veggietales stories, Where the Wild Things Are and Anne of Green Gables :) 

Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2017. 

16.52 cousins at the cape {easter}

Five days by the rugged Victorian coastline with my sister and her crew over the Easter long weekend.

The tribe of cousins played (how I love to see them play, bond, make memories together!), we ate a respectable amount of chocolate and pretty much just wandered from beach to home and back again, a couple times a day, each day.

It was perfect! x

Rolling on home. Memories made. It was lovely xx

{project 52: a portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2017}

Ok, this is a bit more than one!!!! But how could I narrow it down, I ask ya?!