50.52 Casting Stones, Lakeside

Our favourite spot in the summer.... by the lake (with fish & chips close by!).

It's as good as it gets when you don't have a beach here in Canberra (and fine with me... no sand to contend with, and plenty of shade!).

The kids skipping (ok, just throwing) stones into the water, racing around on the grass, scampering through the 'enchanted woods'.

Lazy, hazy days of summer... here we come!

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

43.52 family fun at the fete

We love fete season, how about you?

Fun, fair food, quirky activities, craft, community and all for a good cause...what's not to love? Especially as it signals the end of the year and warmer weather, hooray!

I took the kids to a local school fete and we had such a blast! 

Loved roaming around with them, seeing them explore, try new things, have a laugh and make a bundle of memories. And eat junk food of course ;) 

These crazy kids, I do love them xx

When you are trying so hard to be tall enough to ride the bumper cars.
Sadly, not yet, buddy x

Just a couple of cool dudes, kicking back and laughing their heads off in the whirling pink tea cups. These images make me smile because I had told the kids they could each choose one ride to go on. Miles really wanted to go on the tea cups but was nervous to go on his own. Even though they were a bit young for Eli, he said he would go on with Miles to keep him company. *Melt* They laughed and laughed as the cups spun around. Love to see them having fun and being there for each other, as brothers should be!

Lily chose the rock climbing wall. It was much harder than she expected but she still gave it her very all!

The boys passed out after their whirling tea cup ride, haha! A leeeeeettle bit dizzy!

I said the kids could choose something (anything! one thing!) to eat as a treat because, hey, it's a fete! And this crazy boy!? He chose a free banana from the Woolworths stand (yes, Woolies was there giving out fruit!? That's new!). Anyway, I could not stop laughing as he plopped down on the grass to cheerily and contentedly eat his banana. Then a mandarin that I had brought from home. Don't get me wrong, he usually loves a treat! But for some reason, he just decided in his own mind that this was what he wanted that day. Props for listening to your tummy and your own mind, kid. Meanwhile, the rest of us had those yummy twirly potato things, lol.

She is a non-stop-cartwheeling-handstanding-fanatic these days!

And then.... there was fairy floss.

And at the end of the day... turns out animal petting zoos, whirling tea cups and all the rest just can't compare with some good ol' fashioned playing in the dirt with sticks....

PS I just have to give a shout out to my fave kids clothes store Elves in the Wardrobe who kindly sent us these adorable Scandi t-shirts (in my favourite ever Duns Sweden prints.... like seriously, Wind in the Willows and Forest Animals? Be still my heart!!). Not to mention the cutest and comfiest Alba Baby jumpsuit. Lily looooved running around all day in that comfy, easy to move in, jump suit and I was seriously wishing for one in my size. Kid-friendly clothes, made for play while looking adorable.... just perfect! Thanks a million to Elves in the Wardrobe for gifting us these lovely clothes! :) 

40.52 Historic Mugga Mugga House // Making Water Wheels!

We spend a fascinating afternoon during the school holidays out at Canberra's historic and beautiful Mugga Mugga house. Only 15 minutes from my house but somehow we have never explored this beautiful historic homestead!?

It was the location of a wonderful hands-on holiday workshop run by ACT Historic Places. 

After a tour around the fascinating homestead, the children were led in a workshop by a local artist who showed them how to construct a water wheel. They discussed how water wheels were used back in the original homestead days and soon the kids were merrily (and noisily!) hammering away, constructing their own! It was the prettiest workshop background I ever did see too - that view?! No fingers were damaged, the kids had a blast and were so proud of their creations (that I forgot to photograph, oops!). But I loved seeing them work with their hands and with such industry. Such concentration and cuteness. Afterwards, they trialled the water wheels under running water and best of all, in the coming week they experimented with them at home too, using our garden tap and with a lot of splashing!! 

I love that we never cease to find new adventures and places to explore in our own backyard!

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

39.52 The Wall with Friends

A school holiday outing with friends to the National Museum to see the Towers of Tomorrow Lego Exhibition. 

Of course, an outing to the museum is never complete without a clamber along this big rock wall just outside. Over the years I have so many memories of the kids scaling the edges, walking the ledge, being ever so brave and generally making me bite my lip as I watch them from afar!

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

Christmas Wonderland // Family Photos

Christmas photos!!!! In October!!! Please don't kill me, haha!

It was such a wonderful treat to get Christmas photos this year.... I just had to share them.

Huge thanks to Mel and Mallie of Mel Hill Photography for having us as the guinea pigs for their Christmas mini-sessions. We have never had Christmas photos done before... not even Santa photos... so this was wonderful fun and a good excuse to get Christmas cards made this year! But how will I ever choose a favourite for our card!? #HELP!

Isn't this Christmas scene so magical.... like the Pottery Barn Christmas Catalogue of my dreaaaaaaams. We are not really this classy, lol. But the team worked magic on us, even with the kids tired and grubby coming straight from school. Amazing what some beautiful natural light and talented camera work can do!

And so... Christmas 2017, here we cooooooome!

There is always that one random kid licking the Christmas tree, haha!!!!!

But seriously.... so in love with these images. To be honest I never really considered a Christmas photo shoot before but now I am soooo glad I have them. So magical and precious and fun - and some plain family shots too which are good for all year around :)

Ok, I know it's only October but now I am soooooo in the mood for Christmas!

PS Definitely highly recommend Mel Hill Photography if you live around Canberra and are looking for a local photographer. Her studio is so gorgeous for all kinds of photography, I was dying over the cute newborn gear!