~ santa always brings bubbles ~

Jack's eyes shone* as he delved deep into his Santa sack - he pulled out cars, Lego, a kite and bubbles - and declared that it was the "BEST day ever"
(and then in that wise way of the four year old - "why does Santa always bring bubbles?")

I hope your Christmas has been as joyful as ours

  
♥







* he actually shone** ALL day
**shone is now sounding really weird in my head even as I type it

~ moments ~

Noticing that the sun has bleached the poppies and taking a moment to find the camera and record the fleeting beauty.

Wrapping my arms around that little boy and holding on extra tight, extra long when he demands yet another "cuttle".

Picking a handful of raspberries and eating them, still with the warmth from the sun in them,  right there and then.

Consciously pulling my shoulders down and taking those deep belly breaths before I tackle another task.

Really listening to another story of who-did-what-to-who-and-what-they-said-next in the afternoons.

Sipping that peppermint tea just a little more slowly.

 

These moments are helping with my sanity this week.
How are you faring?

 ♥

~ on having realised there's only 2 weeks until the man with the big red suit arrives ~

I'm floundering a little this year.
I haven't bought all my presents (or even most.  I really should write a list instead of just buying more for my kids and ignoring all the others who should be on my list if it existed)

I haven't sent any cards (and I love sending the cards.  I'm a total Christmas card fan...no surprises there given my love of snail mail)

I have made white rocky road, rumless rum balls and gingerbread (but we've eaten them all)

But back to the cards.  I love getting them and sending them.  I do a letter (only for certain people - I don't subject everyone to that!) and I really enjoy the process of sitting down and writing our news and love across the oceans.

I was super organised  (earlier) this year and ordered cards from Moo* (of these photos) months ago.
I love them - they're very me and they feel nice too ( I like that in a card).
But... (big problem)...they're still blank.

I can feel some late nights coming on this week... list making, restocking the treats and writing those cards. 

How are you faring this December?
Are you a card sender?

*Its probably too late to order now but I think you get a 10% discount on your first order if you click here (and if 10000000 people click I might earn some free stickers or something)

~ snap it ...wrapped up ~

I love a nicely wrapped present.

It makes the whole experience nicer I think

Here are some of my recent wrapping efforts as shared on IG

I'm joining in the last snap-it game for the year here ...with a huge thank you to Sarah... its been lots of fun.

 

♥

~ birthday season ends and the season of jolly begins ~

We have so many birthdays in Spring (and heading into summer) that it's become our rule not to start Christmas planning/decorating until they're all over.

Last  weekend saw the final birthday of the year (for us - we still have 3 parties to go to in the next fortnight) - a bowling party with afternoon tea at our house for Gracie.  Easy party (for us) and then they ran round in the back yard until it was home time....perfect!
On request I made Donna's Hays chocolate cake - with choc icing, kit kats and m&ms  - easy and yum!

I resurrected last year's advent calendar  and we've put the tree up (we've gone fake for the last few years - I got all green about it).  I also made a washi tape tree for a bare wall and hung some recycled card garlands on it just for fun.

 

Its a total trip down memory lane unpacking all the decorations and finding the handmade treasures from years ago. We've exchanged the first presents, started the baking and already (much to the Doc's horror) the Christmas carols are on repeat on the ipod. 

I'm getting excited.  I'm such a  big kid at this time of year ... I really want to pass that sense of excitement and joy onto my kids.

Have you started your Christmas preparations yet?

Do you love it?  Or is it overwhelming?  Or a bit of both?!

♥

~ garden mood board - November ~

 

 

 

It's been hot and windy as we move into summer and my garden has really suffered in the last few days.
These are some of the survivors.
The next few weeks should bring masses of raspberries, cosmos, more roses and more lupins - I can't wait.

For more garden mood boards visit Karin's beautiful blog

♥

~ our garden - the late spring version ~

 

 

 

I had a wander round our garden today with my phone (I really should reach for the D80 more often... sigh).  We were lucky to inherit a garden with lots of the work already done...although we seem to be heading towards a more messy, random cottagey look than was originally intended (neglect will do that!)

We have big plans to grow more food but at the moment all we seem to manage are loads of raspberries, some spinach, some herbs and a few tomatoes.  The poppies have overtaken the raised bed and there are raspberries everywhere else that there aren't flowers.

I just love this time of year - the warmer weather and longer daylight means we're all spending more time outside - playing, weeding, eating, sitting... 

How does your garden grow?
Are you growing food for your family?

 ♥

~ snap it ... spiky ~

Our intrepid ballerina/gymnast/chaser of boys/tennis player/rollerblader* has a badly sprained ankle this week.  

We've been strapping it each day...and boy do those spiky little clip thingies hurt if you grab them the wrong way (tape is much better and safer).

I'm playing snap-it over here with Sarah where there are other spiky things to see.

♥

* of course it was the chasing of the boys that caused the injury and not all that intense sporty stuff

~ a decade of Lily ~

My big girl turned 10 today.

That's 10 years of marvelling at just how clever we are to have made such a gorgeous little person.
10 years of finding new things to worry about almost every single day.
10 years of pride and joy.
10 years since the whole path of my life changed (for the better). 

We had a sleepover party here on the weekend - 4 friends for pizza at the beach, games in the garden and then a movie and bed.  The next morning we made pancakes and painted nails.  There was a mexican sombrero cake, balloons and posies of fresh flowers from our garden.  It was beautiful.  And so very Lily.

 

Lily's a dreamer and a thinker.
She is brave and resilient, sporty and smart.
Books and music are like breath to her. 
She's calm, quiet and just the loveliest company.

Her song goes a bit like this:

when I see your face

there's not a thing that I would change

'cause you're amazing

just the way you are

and when you smile

the whole worlds stops and stares for a while 

'cause girl you're amazing

just the way you are 

(Bruno Mars)

I can't even begin to imagine how the next decade is going to look
... I know I've got good company for the journey though.

♥

~ snap it ... bling ~

There's been some magic in our garden this week
Self -seeded violas popping up amongst the grass
Like jewels (or, if you will, garden bling)

I'm playing snap-it (with a very loose interpretation of the theme word this week) over here
♥