She's This Many.....

How can it be?  Five years have passed since we first met our little American girl.  It seems as though it was just a few weeks ago, that she was placed in my arms all swaddled up like a burrito and desperately trying to focus on me through the anti-bacterial gel that they put on babies eyes in the US.
The most unusual birth I've ever had.  The first and only epidural, and with about 10 midwives and doctors in the room at the same time - quite full on and slightly comical when I look back.   Not quite as funny though when they left me in the room alone with my newborn on the bottom of the bed, which then collapsed because it hadn't been put back together properly.  Still unable to move my legs, I just about managed to catch the edge of the blanket she was wrapped in and grab hold of my little bundle before we both went crashing to the floor....  Did I mention that it was a training hospital? ;)

But, we both lived to tell the tale...and it hasn't fazed her one bit..

Poppy, Gabs and bear-bear, still inseparable...just as they were all those years ago.  Most mornings I still find Poppy curled up in the same bed as her sister, they seem to sleep better when in each others arms, it's the sweetest thing.

This year, something a little different and quirky was called for.  We've had so many cupcakes lately and Poppy is one very original little girl...so we ditched the cutesy cakes, and went for a bizarre doughnut pyramid, complete with coloured Mermaids..  It made me chuckle as I was balancing them all, but it kinda worked I think!

Her time at Kindy is coming to an end, just a few more weeks together with her and her friends, until it's the end of another era.  Some of them will be going onto Prep together, but the rest, onto different schools...which made her party all the more important.  One of the last times outside of Kindy that we'd see them all together.  15 little princes and princess arrived...and opened presents...

and created...

They ran around like little royal loonies..

threw some moves on the dance floor...

and blew out sparkling candles on a crazy doughnut cake...

Another wonderful year has flown by watching this sweet little curly princess grow.  This special girl who probably tells me that she loves her Mama about 50 times a day.  Wishing for many more years like this, because I feel exactly the same about her.

My Little Light

Just dreamy the garden was this afternoon.  The shards of soft light appearing through the tree's - laying a dappled effect on my girls face.  Obviously not the best light for photography but the golden warmth enticed us and drew us into it's midst and we sought out the shade where we could.

 There is nothing hard about this child (and my heart skips a beat when I use the word child, because I know that I won't be saying it for much longer), approaching 16, she's just as she looks......sweet and ethereal.

And extremely capable.  I would trust this little one with my heart in her hands - her very caring, loving, small but strong little hands.

Oh she can be determined and unmovable.  When she thinks she's right, she's not easily swayed.  A stubborn little mule, who can hold a grudge like nobody else I know - so very loyal to all she loves.  I'd certainly rather have her in my corner, where she'd fight until she couldn't breath anymore.  I've just realised, she's more like her Mama then she knows...:)

But, oh please let there be so many more golden warm happy days like these, where the weather makes me feel I am capable of anything and everything.  Where beauty and nature surrounds me. Where I can see that the brightest lights in the garden, are the ones standing right in front of me.

To a Young Lady Sweet stream that winds through yonder glade, Apt emblem of a virtuous maid Silent and chaste she steals along, Far from the world's gay busy throng: With gentle yet prevailing force, Intent upon her destined course; Graceful and useful all she does, Blessing and blest where'er she goes; Pure-bosom'd as that watery glass, And Heaven reflected in her face. William Cowper

Almost 19 Months

Nothing screams summer in Oz like a brand new hat.  With temperatures rising and those golden rays hitting my babys new pale skin, I have to do what I can to keep her healthy.  Try as I might, for as long as I've known her,  I could not get anything resting on those blond curls for longer then a few seconds...so on to plan B.  A hat with a very secure fastening under the chin.

OK, it doesn't completely stop her from whipping it off and Frisbee-ing it across the garden, but it does make her think twice about it, and sometimes she doesn't attempt bonnet discus at all.

Oh, the trials and tribulations of living in sub-tropical climates...sigh!  If my lovely Husband wasn't constantly going away, I wasn't looking after a netball team of children on my own, (now that Auntie Ginny has gone back home to Kansas), and I wasn't thousands of miles away from my family, I'd almost have nothing to complain about....

Well I had to make you all feel better somehow! :)

Also..I don't know if you can get the general vibe from this one...but she's kinda naughty, in a very nice, decadent and wicked sort of way...

And yes, I might have 'had' to get a new frock to go with it...but I what else could I do when it was just staring at me from the rack...  Lucy wouldn't let me leave without it anyway.  She would have totally punished me and made me get up in the night with her, 3 times instead of the usual 2 - no way was I chancing that!

Yep, extremely naughty!

Learning Curve

Just a couple of pictures that I took of Poppy today, they're not particularly special, (well they are to me obviously).  But I'm a 'little' bit proud of them, even though they aren't the worlds best pictures. You see, they are my very first attempt at shooting RAW on a manual setting.  I loved doing it, and I know that I'll look back and think them very rough, but I wanted them in here to compare for reference, just in case I get good one day!

And a few more of my crazy curly girl...bouncing away like a Tigger.  These next ones are not RAW but they are all manual.

Still a long way to go, and so much to learn, but I'm having the best fun discovering new things every day.

Girls can be Scary too!

Nothing gets you in the Halloween mood like hanging out with friends, sharing a few laughs and watching your little one gut the insides out of the middle of a pumpkin.   Yesterday was a day like this.  And of course, it did make a difference that my lovely friend is American, born and bred....and had all the pumpkin carving equipment....

Start off with one HUGE pumpkin... Preferably one that your Auntie has bought in town then carted all the way home on the bus, along with enmormous cushions and bagfulls of halloween sweeties - which then result in her arms being stretched so long they're almost dragging on the ground.  We love you Auntie Ginny - you are good to us!

Find one of your (many) daughters to cut the top into a lid, at an angle of course so the whole thing doesn't collapse into the middle!

And then find another one of your (many) Daughters, preferably not a squeamish one, to pull out all the pumpkin pulp and seeds!

Checking carefully that you've got every last bit out...

Of course, some of them might not be so keen to get themselves dirty, and just might need a bit of convincing.

Choosing the pattern and stenciling it on comes next.  It's a good idea to pick your more artistic Daughters for this part..

Or even your friends Daughters...

And after much eating of roasted salted pumpkin seeds, playing and creating.. 

You might end up with something like this...

Ok, it's hardly a masterpiece - but not too shabby for a first attempt! :)

Happy Halloween Everyone!