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"A portrait of one of my children, once a week, every week, for 2014"

When he asked to play with is older brother's toy, I distractedly set it up for him. I expected him to get bored with it quickly, assuming his little fingers weren't quite ready for the tricky fumbling involved in placing the pins through the hole and hammering them in place. I got busy with the baby, as is always the case right now, and came back later to find him proudly displaying his work. My precious little boy, going through so much transition at the moment. Caught between wanting to be big and grown up, and longing for his place as the baby of the family, which he had held until a few short weeks ago. This was a proud moment for him, a big boy moment.

Linking up with Jodi here.

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I've decided to try and attempt this again, lets hope I last a bit longer than last year! I've decided to take one picture of any one of my children each week rather than trying to photograph all four of them every week. I think this makes it a little bit more achievable. I have a feeling this little guy may feature quite frequently though, he is changing and growing so much every day.

Linking up with Jodi here.

In our Garden - Summer

This is our first summer garden in this house and I've been surprised by how well things have been growing. We're already making plans for building new garden beds and expanding what we're growing for the next season. So far this is what's finding its home in our garden right now: 
3 different varieties of heirloom tomatoes, basil, parsley and thyme, rockmelon, passionfruit, an abundant lemon tree, an orange tree that's showing promise for the winter ahead, a lime tree and an almond tree that needs rescuing from the birds who are eating them all before we get a chance too. We also have a little man who is feasting on all the ripe tomatoes every chance he can get. But that I don't really mind!

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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

I had so many happy, smiling, "perfect" images to choose from this week and yet I felt compelled to select these three. I had a horrible migraine a few days ago. It put me completely out of action for almost 24 hours. I get them very rarely, probably once every few years, so my boys were quite taken aback seeing me so unwell. I was so touched by how concerned they were for me. Crawling into bed with me to give me a cuddle, popping their head in my room to see if I was okay. There is such a beautiful, gentleness about them I just adore, such sweetness in a less than perfect moment for me. I think I picked these images because they remind me of my boys in their less than perfect moments. Their grumpy, annoyed, tired, fed up moments. I want to remember them like this too. Because I feel like these moments are when I really come into my own as a mum. The listening, the soothing, the quiet concern. The love unconditional, just like what they show to me.

Julian: So much summer busyness, it's all too much

Ashton: A temper sits just below the surface, very rarely making an appearance but I know its there

Harry: Talking as we lay on the grass, so many little things to tell me but sometimes the shyness takes over


Linking up with Jodi this week. So incredibly flattered my portraits from last week were featured on her blog!

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 "A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Julian: He danced round in circles, so full of joy
Ashton: So aware, he watches, trying so hard to be grown
Harry: Gliding in and out on the waves, never still, always more to try.

Linking up with the lovely Jodi, my first of a year long project which I'm very excited about!

New Years Eve

We saw 2012 out down by the beach. 

The sky was heavy with clouds on a very hot evening. 

The sun peaked out just enough to bid us farewell for the year. 

Something in me feels compelled to return to blogging after quite a bit of a break. 

Ready for a new space, it feels like its time. 

I crave simple. I plan to keep this space just that.