Heat seekers

Each morning of these holidays we have found these two set up in front of the heater busying themselves. We've been able to revel in a lie in on these cold winter mornings, waking an hour later to find these self sufficient bunnies colouring or reading or playing happily till their tummies start to grumble for breakfast.

On Ice

One of the things I loved most about travelling in Europe in winter was skating outdoors in front of a gorgeous old building. These last few winters have seen a few rinks pop up around Sydney and for the past few years Missy and I have been skating outside Parramatta Town Hall as part of their Winterlight Festival. Our girl is getting pretty good and was dead keen to have a go on her own without her little penguin. She is just getting the gist of pushing back with her feet rather than shuffling along on the ice as if she is walking. She loved helping her little friend who was a first timer and felt a sense of accomplishment each time she completed a circuit without falling down. 

The Shed: Day 2

The building of the man cave continues. Floor down and poles up for the veranda. Today we also had an interview for Missy at big school. I can NOT believe that it is time to send our littliest chick off to school but she is oh so ready to go. There really is no holding her back. This is the mugshot that went off with her school application. So sweet.

Leaping

Our courageous boy is always ready for an adrenalin rush. At 6 and a half he doesn't yet have the words to describe accurately the fear of standing on the edge, the exhilaration of jumping and the pure joy when popping back up on top of the water.

Our little Missy who pushes the boundaries in almost every other aspect of her life does not take these risks easily. She thought she could do it (because she thinks she can do anything her brother can!) but she let her fear hold her back. She says she will jump next year when she is 5. In your sweet time you will catch up little one.

Saying goodbye

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The last two days, there has been lots of intense, uninterrupted play for these three. Swimming in a new pool, playing with toy sets that haven't been out for year. It is as though they are saturating their memories with their little playmate. There have been many quarrels as each of my children felt a little left out and overly emotional. They are feeling the loss of their friend.

When they saw him boarding his Granny's motor-home, the following conversation took place.

The Rooster: I didn't know that you could drive to Melbourne.

Mum: Yes, you can but its a long drive. We might drive down with our own camper van to visit.

The Rooster: But you can fly, can't you? We will fly, won't we (demand not a question here).

I think the only good thing coming out of losing his best friend is the opportunity to fly (and only fly!) down to see him.

Self portrait

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Daddy got a new camera for Christmas, a point and shoot that must feel a whole lot more accessible to Ellie than my DSLR. She can't keep her hands off it and I have just downloaded a bunch of photos of her day. I love this self portrait taken lying down on the ground. I think a little camera just the gift this girl needs when her birthday comes around in February.

First day of 2012

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I wanted to capture my girl on the first day of the year. Full of energy and ideas and imagination, you are curious and full of insight as you move through your day. We are always blown away by your expressions and your sophisticated way of describing things. You are fiery and passionate and take tremendous offence when things do not go your way. You are tenacious and fiercely competitive believing you are your brother's equal despite the two and a half year gap. You are sensitive and generous and you will always think of others before yourself. You love to draw and write and if you are sitting still you will have pen to paper illustrating your little world and all who are in it. Happy new year my little darling.

It would be remiss of me not to post Ellie's Ballerina High Tea. Oh my, the pink! In all shades from fairy floss to hot pink (and of course it's derivative purple), the cult of pink was very apparent. I have tried so very hard to avoid the influx of this hue into our lives, but I admit defeat.

It is indeed innate, this desire and love of all things rosy. My resistance has been to no avail and after all the red and green and navy and yellow, what I have is a 3 year old who loves pink.

I have a sense that the princess phenomena is on it's way but for now my girl lovingly puts her bubbas to bed and will potter endlessly within the walls of her sweet doll's house.

Can I bottle this sweet phase and release it when I have a cranky hormonal teenage girl?

From little things big things grow

March 2008

February 2011

I always knew that this babe of mine would be born on Valentines Day. A Valentine cynic, I had bah-humbugged this day since I was a girl. Now our day is consumed with her celebrations and there is little time to think about ourselves and what this day might mean if we didn't have a child born today.

For our first Valentines, Tools posted me an enormous banner with the words "Joy of my Joyfulness". I have it stashed in a box somewhere in our roof. I sometimes think I should dig it out, along with all those other mementos tucked away and long forgotten. However, I don't need to look far to evoke that memory.

This girl is the joy of our joyfulness. She is kind and thinks of others before herself. She is generous and loyal. Confident and yet very shy. Missy wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. She is a best friend to her brother, the Lola to his Charlie and we often think how lucky he is to have a pal like her. She is the greatest companion to her peers and her elders.

Her chatter and inquisitiveness exhaust me but I will never yearn for quiet. Her day runs at high speed, always engrossed in whatever has captured her imagination. She paints and draws and loves to listen to music. And, when she is satisfied that she has squeezed every drop of goodness from the day, when she finally allows herself to be still, our Missy drops off exhausted to recharge her senses for what will come the next day.

Happy Birthday my Ellie Mooch. May this year be full of happiness and love and laughter and cuddles.

My girl is missing her brother and often asks how long until it is until we pick him up from school. She needed a new project, something to keep her busy in the time when he is gone. Missy can't stand being idle. She is always on the go; exploring, investigating, discovering with an endless narration in place.

Her new flower garden is her pride. She took the Rooster and Tools out and explained carefully the process she would take to water her new plants. Moving the stool to help her reach the higher shelves and filling her watering can from the bucket nearby. She finds the smell of mint intoxicating and loves to throw her face in its big green leaves and inhale deeply. She was mindful of the order of her flowers, choosing carefully where each bloom would go. She has adopted the larger plants in pots as her responsibility too, knowing full well that I am too busy to water them with any sort of frequency.

First day of Pre-school

There was a lot of excitement in our house this morning. As soon as she woke up Missy knew exactly where she was going. New lunch box, new bag, a full tube of sun-screen that was hers with her name on it. She was set to meet this new adventure head on.

As we turned into pre-school she noted that she had not yet turned three and would it be OK to go today. I assured her that she could go today being not quite three, that being 2 and a half is OK. No, she said, I am actually 2 and 3 quarters.

This conversation could have gone on and on if I explained that she is 1 month from three. This little girl of mine who needs an explanation for everything, who needs to understand the whys and where-forths of each concept she encounters. She exhausts me with her questions and conversation and cracks me up with her expressions many times each day.

Today was bittersweet as a dropped one child to her first day of pre-school and then took the other one shopping for school shoes and uniforms. We are a few weeks away from his first day. I know that his drop-off will be a little more difficult and that a few tears will be shed.

The time with my babes has flown. I know now that these will be my only two. I am holding dear these times, the unfaltering, unquestioning, unconditional, to the moon and back a billion times, love. The Rooster still holds my hand fiercely, and although he assures me that he will always want to hold my hand, I know that soon enough he will walk near to me and save that affection for the quiet times in our home. Sometimes I want to stop time just where it is, but I couldn't deny my children the adventures that lay ahead of them as they head off into their own little worlds.

Going on and coming off again.

How can it be that my children have never had their faces painted? The Rooster is almost five! I can promise you though, the opportunity has never come up.

I imagine the Rooster was a little anxious and Missy being the sweet little soul she is, sensed he was nervous. Look at her fussing over him making sure he was OK. How sweet is that kitty face?

Sticky Toes

It's been a very long, cold, wet week. We've been sick and very sad at the passing of a dear friend. But little discoveries like these can't help but make you smile.

To pee or not to pee

A funny thing happened today that I just need to get off my chest. And get clarification on. And stand corrected if need be.

Today we were at soccer watching Tools huff and puff around the paddock. 20 minutes from the end Missy called out that she needed to pee. I looked about and realised that the public loos were on the other side of the field. Newly toilet trained, I was unsure if a) we would make it or b) that this in fact was the real deal and not just a false alarm.

Giving her the benefit of the doubt I headed behind the spectators to a grassy patch and let her squat. As I stood in front of her I heard two things; the roar of a goal from the opposition and the squawk of a woman calling out that there were toilets across the road at McDonald's. I waved her off saying we were OK and thanks for the tip. Little did I know that it wasn't a tip but a reprimand to get myself and my little girl to the loo pronto, citing that it was indecent for her to pee in public in front of all these people.

I was a little taken aback and embarrassed that I had made such an error of judgment. I have toilet trained before and thought nothing of a bush pee if the moment necessitates. Mind you, my first was a boy. Is it inappropriate for a girl of two to squat and pee? Did I put my daughter in an indecent position as my commentator suggested? Do I need to reign myself in and flee to the public amenities?

What is the story? Can anyone help?

A day with my favourite girls

Mathilda's Market, turned into Paddington Markets, turned into Oxford Street shopping, turned into very late lunch here.

There was lots of chatter, giggles, eye rolling and shoe trying (the littliest one no less!). No tantrums, no "come on Mum", no bored husbands. Just lovely browsing, some smart buying, good coffee and our little Miss who loved every moment of her day with the girls.

Missy insisted that someone try this shoe on. Every time I chose a sensible flat she would push a brighter, flashier, more inappropriate for a busy mummy-ier, shoe towards me. She was not letting up on this multi-pastel stilleto and was relieved when it was slipped onto her very own foot. If her passion for shoes stays strong she just may inherit her Aunt's divine collection.

Who can deny a little girl her cupcake? Even if it was a very adult, orange polenta sweet treat.

Doing it for the laughs.