A Daughters Request

My little Poppy Princess, Poptart, Poopy, Pops, Poppy Doppy, she is a tender little flower sometimes.  Her Daddy has only been home a few weeks, and she is just beginning to centre her little self again, to get used to the idea that he's home. It's so hard on all the kids, but on a 4.5yr old, somehow it seems just downright cruel.  I watch her little face, big saucer eyes, and trembling lip whenever he leaves the house, and each time a little piece of my heart breaks with hers.  She runs around the house checking to see that he's still here, calling him and the panic on her little face if he's not there, is the saddest thing to see.  She's like a little fairy, so tiny, weightless, with her candy floss hair, husky voice and sweet heart shaped face.
She's had one request, before her Daddy leaves again this weekend.  She wanted a picture of them together, so that she could see him hugging her every day, even if she couldn't really hold him tight.  She gives the tightest, most passionate cuddles I've ever known a little girl to give, she puts all her might into crushing you with her tight, tiny little arms, and when you've been Poppy hugged - you know it!   I know that Poppy hugs are one of the things that her Daddy will miss the most.
So, yesterday, we made her request a reality and I did the best that I could to do them both justice.  They are framed and ready to be hung, Daddy's last 'todo' before he leaves us early tomorrow morning.

I've looked at these pictures over and over while editing them and choosing them, and I honestly don't think I'll ever be able to look at them enough, even though they'll be hanging on my wall.  And when Poppy feels extra sad, we'll look at them together,  while I'm giving her one of her Poppy hugs!

Warm Balmy Winter Days!

Winter in Oz is amazing, I think.  The weather is absolute perfection.  Think cool Mediterranean summer days, or warm English spring days, where the gentle rays of the sun feel as comforting on your skin as cupping your hands around  the perfect cup of tea. We wake up chilly, pull on our 'cooler weather gear', i.e. socks, and maybe a cardi over our usual Aussie winter uniform of Jeans and t-shirts, only to strip off the the extra layers as the day progresses...

David spent the day cleaning the carpets with a rented cleaner today and I took the opportunity of capturing a few moments of outside weather perfection, while the girls were wiling the day away..

Poppy is one of the most expressive little girls that I know....

And Lucy watches every single thing that her sister does, and emulates her....it's the sweetest thing to see, it just pulls at my heart strings......

I don't know how many more perfect Oz Winter weather days are left, but when they are gone, I'll be left with these two lovelies and a whole summer of poolside fun, and swimming lessons....bring it on!!

Birthdays and Besties

What a great idea to celebrate a Birthday Party during the week.  Few of us Mamas think to do it, and we have to organize and arrange party capers amid the usual weekend shenanigans, but my sweet friend Vanessa chose to celebrate her daughters on a Tuesday.  It was perfect.  And none of the fancy stuff either.  Just a fantastic circus style tent, a climbing frame and a bunch of princesses who see each other twice a week at Kindy for the whole day.  They frolicked, they laughed, they gave each other big old bear hugs, licked their sticky cupcake fingers and they played beautifully together... 

The Birthday girl in the middle, Annabel left, Kenzie right.

Ella, Annabel, Tara, Kenzie and Poppy

And as the excitement escalated, there were the inevitable tears...they didn't last long and Poppy was there to give her bestie a few birthday cuddles to help cheer her up..

Happy Birthday Tara - we think you're pretty special! xx

And Poppy wants you to know that she loves you, 'as much as bear-bear' :)

While Daddy Sleeps!

David arrived home this morning.  Lucy clung onto his neck for about an hour and wouldn't be out of his sight, until she realised that he wasn't going anywhere.  A month is a long time in her little life and, she can't quite believe that he's home!  A few hours later, and the jet lag set in...so we sent him to bed.  I took my happy little people to the park, so that they could run, shout jump and play without waking the sleeping beast...

Lucy loves the slide - she made Joey take her on it at least a dozen times, clapping like a crazy thing when they reached the bottom.

.Poppy loves it too....

Little lulie, so tired after running flat out for about two hours.....she fell over and didn't have the energy to pick her little self back up again for a few minutes...

Hometime...

We walked home singing 'she'll be coming round the mountain' all the way..and Lucy feel asleep in her cheerful Bugaboo with the bright orange canopy!

Winter in Oz

She's been so poorly, with a nasty cough and cold and streaming nose.  She wants 'uppy' all the time and extra reassurance.  I don't mind.  I mean, it's not easy cooking, cleaning with a little velcro-baby, and quite often I sling her into her Ergo or her wrap and just carry her around on my back while I'm running the household.  She's happy there, and apart from the biscuit crumbs in my hair and a bit of slobber on my neck...it's pretty much perfect. 
Today though, was just for us.  No housework, no cooking, no cleaning, no kids...just me and my baba hanging out.  I kissed her cold nose, I tickled her feet,  we read books together cuddled up on the sofa, played with her babies, played silly games and giggled.......Happy Days!

Tick Tock

Is it possible that this tiny little thing is now 14 months old. Surely she can't be already. I am barely able to keep track of the months as they flip by. Such a busy little lady she is too. Not for a second, can I turn my back before she's found some mischief to delve right into. Amazingly steady on her legs now, having had months to master this skill. She runs, jumps, dances and twirls with the best of them, constantly on the go. New words are learnt every day. Words that I had no idea she knew, like little surprises when you least expect them! 'Careful' was today's new one, said shyly to me, as she stood up on my bed. It made me smile, I guess it's one that she hears a lot from this Mama!
How I love this little girl with the serious expressions, so often a mirror of my own. Time ticks on, but I'm determined not to miss a moment of it.

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