7. A pretty great number.

7 years of this kid, what a treat. I love him more with each year, though that doesn't seem possible. I love how his smile starts in his eyes, and how he is so often aware of how people are feeling. 

Happy birthday Daniel, it's a joy to be your mum.

Opening presents...

A new desk...

...turns into a group event. Fun!

Taking me by surprise

This boy is growing fast, as they all do, I know... but he has a favourite colour, and it's from inside his own mind, not copied from anyone. It's just adorable, to me, of course. "Me like green. And blue. But green my favourite, I love it." And he loves to move. Moving to kick anything, or moving to music. He loves doing air guitar and air drums. He loves air hugs and air kisses. No more babies. Just 3 kids who play cafe together, a big sister who can help the little brother get dressed, and a big brother who makes toast for them all, on a school morning, and even on Saturdays! These are the days I remember as a kid, parents who stay in bed on Saturday and kids who get their own brekky and watch cartoons. Bummer about the lack of good cartoons, but that's another story altogether... 

Sunrise from my bedroom window

I think I posted a very similar picture last winter, but it never seems to grow old for me...

It's sad, I know

The kids have gone their whole life until now without experiencing aerosol whipped cream shot directly into the mouth. 

It's almost as bad as not ever experiencing a Tim Tam Slam. 

Result: 1 kid not impressed, 2 kids couldn't get enough, and 1 adult who chose the whipped cream over the dessert it was meant to be on top of. 

Thanks for the fun Terri!!

The Dad

When you're 2 you kinda see things differently. Like when Andrew walks out the door and Nick says to me, in a really sad, sorta whiney voice,
"Mum, me miss Dad so many times."

Poor Dad gets a bad rap for 'going away' so much.
Like on a run.
And to work everyday... 

We love you Dad!

5 is the new 4.

It's so much cooler to be 5 now than it is to be 4.
A 4-year old girl left our house and a 5-year old girl came to take her place.
Laura insists that it's still her, but we're not so sure.

Laura we are all over you like Nutella on fresh white bread (which you love!). Yummy!! Thank you for your smile in the morning (when you do decide get up), your love for your brothers (and they love you!), your ability to dance anywhere, anytime, and your love for learning (and trying and trying and persisting in doing it yourself).
You make us proud and we love you beautiful girl, from the inside out!

Happy 5th Birthday Laura

"A heart-shaped cake with strawberries please mum"

A little excited with the knife!

Birthday party with friends

 "5" birthday cake for the party. 

Now there's a natural smile from my girl!

Fun to see siblings so excited by each others' birthdays. 

Daniel was so excited about it all, and helped with all the decorations and the cake, although Nick wasn't as convinced... his catch phrase for the day: "my birthday now please?!"

The five years that have flown past:

Birth (ish)

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

 5 years old

Photo Albums 3

My recurring theme of walking down memory lane and comparing kids. 

Can't help myself I guess.

Each of the kids at just over 2 years old:

Beanbags

Lots of reasons not to like them:
They're old, we've had them forever.
Faded. Badly.
Bulky and Arrogant. I get so tired of the space they consume and how they can't just quietly sit in a corner!
There's now 3 of them. Thanks Uncle Luke.
But seriously, how could a mum possibly get rid of them when they are the source of this kind of fun!!

Adoption

I'm currently enthralled with the process of adoption that our friends are going through. They are in Ethiopia right now picking up their 3 year old daughter. Within 3 days she is calling them mum and dad and more. Long journey to come, but what a beautiful start.

This girl gives me joy

"I had the best day mum. 

We walked to the park and we all got to collect leaves."

I just love that. And her.