A Good Man

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic today. Which is actually weird, when you think about it since the man that I love has only just stepped out of the door.  But I think it was watching him pack his cases again, as I have done for the 13 years that we've been together, that was making me think back to all the other times that he's had to leave his house and this family.   He's such a good man.  Such a good good man.  He's not perfect, but god knows (or someone does) that nobody is.  He has these annoying habits that drive me to distraction.  Not the sort of habits that grow over the years until you can't stand it, just the sort of habits that make you throw your arms up, sigh and roll your eyes, and try to hide the smile that you almost can't hide because it's just him.  It's just the way he is.

The first time I left him, we were just friends, close friends but friends nonetheless and we were both 17.  Neither of us guessed (he tells me he knew all along, but I think he must be kidding), that ten years later, we would fall in love.  I had been in such a lonely dark place, and was just coming out of it, finding myself, having fun being single with no intention of ever tying myself down again.  I took the longest to fully appreciate what I had found when this man walked into my life.  Slowly but very surely it dawned on me that this was the defining moment for me.  Not because I'm not my own person, not because I can't go it alone, I'm not afraid of that in the slightest.  But because, my life is a better one with this man in it and because whenever he walks out of that door, I still have the overwhelming urge to put my arms around him and beg him not to go.

This familiar sight made me sad this morning.  His case by the door, packed and waiting.

It's been around the world and back again so many times, beaten up, scratched and with his frequent flier tag to prove it.

Because he's a good man, and good men just do all this good stuff without even being asked, yesterday he did what he always does, and some.   He filled up my car with fuel to the brim.  He shopped then filled up the fridge and cupboard with groceries.  He took his daughter to town to exchange something.  He cleaned and checked the pool.  He ordered a last meal for all of us so I wouldn't have to cook.  He played with his kids.  He hugged his wife and he made sure that his long check list was all checked off so that we wouldn't have anything to worry about.  He's not the most demonstrative man in the world, but he shows me in a hundred little ways that he cares, and that makes me smile.

So does the way that he still looks at me.

I suppose that as much as I hate it, him leaving so often and for so long, has made me strong,  its has helped me become the woman that I am. I can cope without him and I do. I know that when he goes I miss him for the right reasons.  It's because I just want him here with me not because I can't be alone.  It's because he makes me happy and it's because he's absolutely my lobster.

So while the kids were playing....happy and oblivious..

he packed up the last of his stuff, including Puff the Magic Dragon....

until soon it was time to go...

and I watched my best friend leave our house, once again.

I'm not going to be sad, I'm not going to cry, (well maybe a little a bit later tonight when the kids are all in bed), and I'm not going to feel down.  I'm just going to count the freddo frogs.  Just one of the other things that my good man did yesterday, so that the kids can have one a day and count down the time until they see him again.  I'm going to count them too, and just think about the day that he walks back through that door again.

                        

A Year and a Half!

There really isn't much else to say on the matter.  So I'll just post a few pictures of my girl who is every bit as cute, naughty, cheeky, lovable, and mischievous as she looks...

Does my bum look big in this?

Even big bro thinks she's kind of cute, in an annoying sort of way!

Busy busy busy, is my little Bee.  She doesn't stop, from the moment she wakes up to the moment she finally decides to sleep....Zzzzzzz!  She's exhausting, but in the best way and I treasure every second that I spend with her.

I love you lil Lulie-Belle, my funny little boop boop de doops!

Two Little Twirls!

When did this happen?  When did my two little girls grow up so fast?  How did I miss this - the blonde one is almost the same height as the dark one.

 The gap has narrowed, in more ways then one and as I prepare for the youngest to join her sister at High School soon, I can't help but wonder where the years have gone. When did this sweet little goofy thing turn into this beauty?

 And when did this this little angel become such a wise and lovely young Woman?

 Some days, it just works.  Some days, it's the best feeling being a Mother, watching your children interact with eachother.   You have to grab these moments, especially with teens, because they come and go.

I spent yesterday afternoon watching these two....

Gabsie and Daisy.  They are so very different.  They are like chalk and cheese, rather then carrots and peas.  One is compassionate, intuitive and serious, the other is frivolous, cute and funny.  Some days they are like one of a half, that when put together, fits beautifully.  That was today.

I look at them together, and it makes me want to cry and laugh at the same time.  This was me and my sisters once.  My girls will always have eachother.  They will share memories, stories, laughter, heartache and sadness. They will be forever linked.  And if I'm very very lucky, I'll get to share some of their memories too, as I did today. 

This is the stuff that dreams are made of.  This is the stuff that I treasure, that I will never take for granted.

Thank you girls for being you, for making your Mama happy, and still being little once in a while!

Growing Stuff!

Summer has arrived and the sleeping garden is waking up.  It needs some work though, so David has been busy in it, pruning, cutting, tidying, gravelling, and sweating a LOT!  Hard work pays off though, it's starting to look really good and the grass is nice and green once again.

The girls are in their coop, they're loving it, and their cute little run...

 So again today, we found ourselves perusing the Garden Centres, dreaming of water features, mediterranean pots, fruit trees and exotic flowers.  And it's a funny thing, but you know you're really a grown up when you like going to places like this, instead of dragging around behind your parents..as you used to.

We ended up buying a few plants that swung both ways, which Daisy found highly amusing!

And Lucy took Auntie Ginny for a paddle in a pretty water fountain..

I think my favourite plants today were these - very Austin Power-esque! They totally floated my 'all things hippy' boat!

I wanted this - so it's firmly bookmarked for another time..

There was also enough time to view a few things small and furry, and a few more things, wet and swishy...

I could spend a long time in these places, and I really liked this little iron feathered guy..

Lucy wanted a colourful windmill...well, ok, maybe I did! ;)

Yes, I think I could work in a place like this...

Looking forward to many more days of perusing the garden centres and growing stuff...

Holidays continued......

The craziness continues at the Woods.  Poppys, 'best friend in the whole wide world' Tara, came over, and the kids couldn't care less if there was heavy downpour or just a few drops.  They still found their way outside, where they indulged in all sorts of funny games, including washing their hair in the rain...

Looking beautiful...

Loosing teeth...

Eating many lollies....

And where believe it or not, still wearing the t-shirt nightie that you woke up in, at tea-time!

Of course, there are the usual arts and crafts.  Finding them lying scattered all over the patio floor is always the sign of an excellent day!

Yep, definitely love this 'outside Art Centre', where no craft is too messy, and where pretty much anything goes..

Bye bye Tara, don't be sad, it's been a great day - and we'll see you again soon...