nine

Gosh.

In April my baby turned nine (I'm still catching up)

There was a chocolate fudge cake for school...

and a small party celebration at home with her two best buds.

A poodle cake for home...

Goodness. Nine. Wow.

She seems so grown up this year. Grade 4 and just blossoming all the time.

(She's so independent, this daughter of ours.)

I walk her to school but I'm not really allowed up to the classroom. That's her zone.

At home she engages herself endlessly in creative and constructive activities. 

Or I'll find her, bent into the armchair in the lounge, nose in a book.

She might be cartwheeling in the garden, or practising new tricks on the trampoline.

She'll be hanging with Smokey, on the back steps, snack in hand.

There might be a home-made activity book for me to complete.

Maybe she's collected the ripe tomatoes from the garden and put them on the bench for me

She may even have washed up, set the table and made a salad for dinner.

Every day is awesome with this little person in our lives. The laughter, the silliness, the crazy endless chatter, the hugs and love-words, the smiles and the dancing... all of it is a journey in love and life.

Happy birthday Ruby. 

You're a very special person who sees the joy in everything. May you always encourage me to do the same. xxxx

eleven

Stella turned eleven back in October. And it's been bothering me for a long time that I neglected to blog it. Time just got away, then it seemed a bit silly, then I felt I couldn't really go on until I'd put some photos and memories down here. I was stuck. 

I realised I have to backward in order to go forward. I got caught up thinking that I was writing this blog for other people, when in fact it started life as a journal record for me; my family and our story. 

So...

She turned eleven.

We celebrated like we always do. Presents in our bed, early morning. Breakfast of her choice; then off to school with homemake cupcakes (chocolate with popping topping.. crackle crackle).

She didn't want a "party". She's an interesting insular little personality sometimes, my girl. Not keen on being the centre of attention. All she wanted was her best friend to come and hang out for the day.  She was happy for Ruby to have a friend over too. 

Then she just wanted to organise some easy-peasy games for the four of them. 

We made a piñata; so, so simple; unpainted, sturdy and filled with treats.

They played Pass the Parcel, the Chocolate Game, Memory and of course Musical Statues, trampoline-style. There was a bucket of prizes, chosen by her and wrapped by us.

They were busy all afternoon; these four girls. And even though it wasn't officially a party, it just felt festive and fun and easy and stress free for me. 

And afterwards, there was some chill out time in the garden, with Smokey.

My girl is growing up. My sweet, sensitive, complicated, sometimes prickly, amazing daughter that I love to the moon and back. 

Happy birthday sweetheart. 

(May you always know we are forever here for you.)

(There's a couple more retrograde posts to follow. Bear with me!)

eight

our baby turned eight this week.

there was a cake for her class...

lots of presents. 

The much anticipated magnetic whiteboard for her teaching, books, 

games and a handmade dress, a soft toy, a jigsaw card...

and a small family cake to round off the day.

I know most people say gosh, eight, where did the time go? But for me, I feel like Ruby has been with us forever. Our days and weeks and years have been filled with the sound of her chatter and laughter and just general hubbub. 

Boy, this one can talk. She is here and she will be heard. 

She fills us with joy and love and hope and yes, sometimes frustration. Her personality is big, she loves with all her heart and she knows her rights.

my baby. 

But as she constantly tells me, she's not a baby any more. And as I look over these photos, I can see she's right. 

(But she'll always be my baby)

Happy birthday, darling girl xxx

seven

This week, the day after Easter, my baby turned seven.

She was thrilled to be awoken consecutive days with chocolate and gifts.

I didn't take many photos, because I just wanted to be in the moment, enjoy the ritual of present unwrapping in our bed without looking at it from behind a lens. 

But after we were done, cup of tea in hand, I snapped off a couple.

discarded wrapping..

 birthday jumper,

 A much anticipated white fluffy toy cat and a beautiful old thrifted mirror from a local op shop..

new sparkly footwear...

Dinner with family. A make-your own pizza frenzy, followed by birthday cake and bubble blowing with the cousins...

Happy birthday, my sweetheart. You have brought so much joy, love and happiness into our world. xoxo