christmas eve // park trio

'Twas the night before Christmas, and we decided to take the kids for a quick viewing of some Christmas lights, for a little extra Christmas magic (and to burn off a little Christmas Eve excitement too!). With a big day ahead, we didn't want to keep them up till it got dark at 9pm so we headed out at 7pm figuring they would still love the lights even if it wasn't actually dark yet ;) However, we were so keen we got there a little toooo early - the lights didn't start twinkling till 7.30! We decided to stroll down to a nearby park to pass the time. 

There we had the most lovely little summer's evening play and I even got some pretty sweet impromptu group shots of my trio. I consider that my Christmas gift!!!

This time of year, this age.... simply the best, I tell ya! 

Magic, joy, family, thankfulness, all wrapped up in Christmas :)

Whenever Miles sees the older two race ahead, he begs to get down and run after them. He doesn't want to be carried, he does't want a helping hand, he wants to race after them on his own two feet. Seeing him huff and puff as he trundles away is just so adorable... always trying to keep up with his siblings!

Coming! Coming!

'I made it'

Miles discovered the way he felt most confident to cross the rocky bridge

Not the safest swinging method, but well intentioned...

Do you mind? You dont need to hold me like I'm a baby!

It's a winner?! All sort of looking and sort of smiling? :)

May they always cling to each other so tightly, no matter what the future holds.

Three blessings, they bring me such joy. A lot of work too ;) but mostly joy xx

Shrieks of laughter, like music to my heart x

I'll wait for you to catch up, little buddy xx

Off they go again, all together this time xx

My clan... off and running to see the Christmas lights. Time for me to put my camera away and catch up! 

blogging plans for 2015 // watching our highlights reel

I've been thinking about my little hobby, this here blog, and all the words and images within.

What to do with it in 2015?

In 2012 it all began with Project 366 (a photo a day for a year!)
In 2013 and 2014 I did Project 52 (a weekly portrait of each of my family members).

2015?

I have to admit after two years I am a wee bit tired of the weekly portraits. Especially after the challenge of trying to capture my hubby each week, lol. Hard when he ever so inconveniently has a full time  job ;) I'd often get to the end of the week and realise I didn't have a portrait of a family member then quickly have to rustle one up. So, I think I'm ready to set aside that particular project this year (though I am considering doing Project 365 again next year, just for old times sake?! We shall see. Am I crazy??).

Although I am a planner (very much so!!) I think I am ready to shake off the blogging shackles and just see what unfolds this year. Though I am a little nervous I will slack off on photo taking (or at least organising/editing), I am also keen to have less structure. After three years of intensive photography, I am pleased to say I have actually learnt a little bit along the way. But (surprisingly?!) I am also keen to put the camera down a little bit more. I often leave the house without it these days, preferring to enjoy family outings without the need to record them (my soft spot has always been capturing the tiny sweet everyday moments of home life anyway). But even those home-life moments, I sometimes prefer to just savour in my heart rather than through my lens. But then... ain't it great to have those photographic memories. Mmmm, much torn, very balance, etc etc ;)

I am also getting a hankering to just write more - on topics close to my heart, and just generally about family life. Which, after all the photo editing, I am often too short on time and energy to do. So we shall see??

My vague plan is to post a 'Weekly Highlights Reel'...or ahem, maybe sometimes a Fortnightly Reel ;) Just downloading my favourite photos of the week, whatever I happen to capture. Less of Lily - now she is getting older I feel like she needs a little less blog-time. Less of dear Mark, 'cos it's hard to capture the guy while he is at work, let's be honest ;) Less structure, more freely captured moments as the photography-spirit moves me. I hope to keep regular postings as the end result is so very precious to me, but also welcome a little less (self imposed) structure and posting pressure. This year already has a lot going on it, so I feel like this plan is best for right now.

And why am I calling it the Highlights Reel? Mostly because of this quote...

This little blog of mine is a positive space. It's where my sentimentality and nostalgia get to unleash. It's where I dig up moments of joy and reflect on their blessing. It's where I tap tap tap away at nights when all the children are tucked up in bed, peacefully sleeping (at long last?!). I commented to a friend the other day that it probably wouldn't be such a sweet little blog if I was trying to write it 30 minutes before dinner time when Mark is working late!!! ;) Ha! But I would hate for anyone to think our life is all sunshine and roses. It sure ain't. We have struggles, challenges, mess, heartbreaks, cranky parents and wild children. But it's not what I want to focus on here, and for my children's privacy, I don't really want to get into the nitty gritty of my kid's challenging days (or let's be honest, mine either!) to be recorded for all eternity on the interwebz. This blog is my little happy place and perhaps a place for you to enjoy reading too. Just please don't read it thinking our life is all cute and cosy moments. No. But here is where I collate the treasured moments, the ones that make me smile even through the hum-drum, painful, challenging and exhausted times. Perhaps it brings you a speck of happy too? No matter what life throws at us, we can always find moments of joy, of thankfulness, of peace. This I know now more than ever, and I thank God for it.

So, this is our highlights reel. Proceed, assuming real life is also going on behind the scenes ;)

Thanks for reading, my lovelies xx

52/52 - and so this is...

Here we are, wrapping up my 52nd portrait for the 52nd week in 2014. A teensy bit late, but we have been busy. The week of Christmas, it was a big one. I will write soon about plans for 2015 but for now.... here 'tis...

Lily

I had so much fun watching her create this gingerbread house - full of vision, determination and creativity, as always! 

A sweet little tradition.

Eli

In the midst of the wrapping paper tumbleweeds on Christmas morning, he is most thrilled to find that he and Lily were given the same 'magic plates' to draw on. 

'Matching!!' he proclaimed happily. 

Dear boy, he loves to do everything with his sister.

Miles

He looooved the unwrapping this year, taking time to carefully shred the paper even after the gift had been revealed. 

'Wow!!!' he bellowed, every time :)

Mark

He had several sweet gift ideas for the kids this year, one of which was to buy Eli a matching baseball cap to him, as Eli has always admired his. Needless to say, Mr E was so happy to be matching his adored Daddy :) 

Oh, and a small Daddy/Eli anecdote to record before I forget it. Driving in the car all together, Eli was commenting on his itchy mosquito bites, so Mark explained how Mosquitos bite/draw blood. At the end, Eli said sincerely 'Thank you, Daddy, for telling me all about mosquitos!' Just so sincere, so guileless, so appreciative. I love his tender heart. Moments like these are little treasures I carry through my days, giving me a small smile and a warm heart every time xx

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

More highlights from the week that was...

It was a wonderfully relaxed Christmas. Just the way we like it. This year was richer than ever, with both sets of parents here to celebrate with us! What a rarity (first time ever) and what a blessing. Christmas morning we had a lovely little brunch at Mark's parents home, with my parents there too. We then rolled home for naps/rest/break (mmm, so welcomed!) then in the afternoon cruised over to my auntie's home to hang out with the rest of the extended family till well into the evening. A beautiful day, feeling extra conscious and grateful this year for the rich blessing of our supportive family.

A few days before Christmas we ventured into the city to see camels and Xmas lights and all kinds of Christmas fun! A play in the fountain was required too, of course.

Enjoying the world's most chocolatey and decadent gelato

They spent quite some time trying to imitate these safe-road-crossers!

Under a sky of lights...

I heard an almighty shriek from the backyard and thought 'Well, someone has finally lost a leg out there' but no, it turned out the hysterical shrieking was because our first raspberry had finally ripened, lol!!!! Thanks for the heart attack, Lily!

Christmas Eve, after opening their traditional gift of new PJs and a book :)

Three very excited little treasures on Christmas Eve :)

We went out for a quick visit to see the lights before bed time on Christmas Eve (we also ended up going to the park earlier, but I will post those pics separately as this is already too long!). Miles got given a lollipop and he really thought all his Christmases had come at once!!! ;)

Walking through an enchanting tunnel of childhood lights and delights. Ok, so it wasn't dark yet (I didnt want to keep the kids up till 9pm on Xmas Eve) but we all still loved it. 

I'm not really into Santa photos, but Santa arrived just as we were about to leave the lights, and the kids were keen, so we went for it. Not too shabby? They were thrilled!

Scattering reindeer food before bed. Lily said 'I'm so excited!! I'm going to be awake at the first glimmer of dawn!!'
Ha! Where does she get this stuff??

Twas the night before Christmas.... stockings are filled, presents are piled up (note: not all of these are for the kids!!!!) and it's time for the parents to get a few zzzz's. This little scene makes my heart smile, These are precious days...

Our pile of Christmas books from our Book Advent on the left. Mark found this little wheelbarrow on the right at Aldi and couldn't resist getting it for Miles :)

The kids most requested gift was a snow globe and they were thrilled to get one!! I made sure to get plastic ones this year, so they weren't broken by the end of the day (ummm, unlike last year!!). 

Every year I make cinnamon scrolls to nibble while we open Christmas gifts but this year for the first time I made the dough myself (rather than using frozen puff pastry... thanks to the Tmx!!). Mmmm, just like the ones I loved in America :)

New clothes for the poor kid who mostly lives in hand me downs ;)

She got pink headphones for listening to audio books at bed time... but cheekily managed to get Papa's iPod so she could listen to a few tunes on Xmas day!

A best friend for her beloved Lottie - a School Girl Lottie.  She calls her new friend LuLu :)

He got given a small chocolate and gobbled it down eagerly. Then sat there for five minutes with this expression on his face. It was so sad/funny!! Yes, buddy, this is why Mama is such a meanie about limiting the sugar intake! ;)

Later he found a chocolate wrapper, then I watched him run to the other side of the yard, sit down alone and open it.... to find it empty. Sneaky and cheeky or what?!

Water pistols were the big highlight of the day, the kids shrieking with delight and getting drenched. Papa, just a big kid himself, had a blast with them. I just loved watching them :) Such fun!

'Ummm, do you mind? I have goldfish to stalk here!'

Nothing says Christmas magic like dangling macrame tealight candle holders and sparkly goldleaf trees. My artistic family make everything so beautiful and creative - love it :)

A cheesy wink and a thumbs up. Love these boys!

Taking a quiet moment.

The best bit... the day after Christmas. A quiet day with no plans, just a whole day free to play with their Christmas bounty. This Lego Creator Kit was a huge hit and has led to all kinds of new building!