milestones and every day life

Two Saturdays ago this little girl learnt to ride her bike without stabilisers!

She's pretty pleased about it. Hence why she now feels that she can ride in whatever attire she likes. 

I am, of course, thrilled that she is able to ride her bike. It's a huge milestone for a five year old. (so much better than her mum who was double digits...)

But what I loved the most was that on the day we took that security from her riding she over came her worries. In fact there was a point when I could tell she wanted to give up. 

She was tired, had fallen a few times and was frustrated. But I told her she was close and that in two more tries I bet she'd be able to get it. 

She got it right after that very next push. 

I was the most proud that she had kept going, even though it was tough.

Today she mastered turning and rolling-down-the-drive-starting. Pretty impressive. 

While Andy and I were stood watching Izzy ride and Ethan scoot Andy noticed that we had an uneven paving slab...

...which needed to be fixed right away. 

He doesn't like to have his hands idle. 

I absolutely loved that it turned into a whole family event. The kids eager as ever to be useful and like their dad. 

In fact Andy turned to me as I snapped this shot and asked why I was taking photos of this?

From my slightly set back position I just relished seeing my little family all working together to fix that one little thing that wasn't quite right. 

And then my boy turned and gave me this smile. 

I pretty sure he likes working with his daddy. 

summer

Oh summer how I've missed you. 

Watching my kids run, dig and explore until the moment where I absolutely must go inside and cook something for us to eat. 

One of my guilty pleasures, though it really shouldn't be, is to sit on their swing and just watch them play. 

I say it's a guilty pleasure because while doing so I am constantly reminded of the laundry which needs putting away, or the weeds that need to be pulled, or even the people I need to call. But I love to take that time, and am learning to make the the time, to be with them. 

I'm not as good at interacting with their play now that they're older and more independent. But when I'm sat watching for twenty minutes I just become the background and can hear their sweet thoughts and see their imaginations making whole new worlds. 

Oh and this boy. He loves to totter over and sit on my knee and swing. One of his, and my, favourite ways to snuggle is to touch cheeks. Just side by side. It's our special way of saying I love you. 

And so we sit and swing, watching Izzy dig in her plastic noisy heels and silently saying "I love you" as the sun beats down. 

I do love the way the sun insists that you slow down.

I've been talking to Andy recently about being less stressed around the kids and soaking up these precious years. 

Trying not to worry about the toys flung from organised baskets and smears on the windows. Because I'm all too aware that there will be a day when I will ache for these days. 

I'll miss the ridiculous insults ("you're a poopy bum-bum"), the endless picking up of cushions from the floor and demands of wrestles just when I've sat down.

I'm trying very hard to have that hindsight, even when it's the most difficult. Because let's face it; 5.30am wake-ups don't always get me appreciating this age, but summer days like today absolutely will.

fostering independence

There's a wood near our home that is small enough that it's a near impossibility to get lost. 

We like to let our children lead us when we go walking there.

Ethan, in particular, loves the freedom and independence.

And we take joy in watching them explore and relish the outdoors. I just love seeing them lead.

One thing I've learnt as a parent is how important I feel it is for children to be given the freedom to choose. To let them know that we trust their judgement and to see that confidence grow in them as we let them make choices watched by us.

One day they'll be without us and will need to make those same kinds of decisions, and I want them to feel equipped to do so. 

I love that when I've been looking back at these photos that they demonstrate some of the fundamental values that I want them to feel as our children. 

That we trust them. That we are there to guide them. And that when they're too tired to carry on, that we'll always be there for them.

Sometimes I feel like there's not enough time to teach them all that I want them to know. That something major will be left out. But luckily I still have a lot of days to try and let them know the ways I love them and my hopes for them.

Oh, and that I'll still carry them without complaint even when dandelion clocks get pushed into my hair.

Good thing I have a sweet husband who would rather not be embarrassed by his wife :)

And MAN, have I missed the sun. That and barefoot, carefree kids.

Summer is here. And I'm going to enjoy all those minutes spent with my independent, free-spirited, dandelion-clock-loving children.

Izzy's fifth

I'm close to a month after the fact, but I couldn't miss the opportunity to relive her special half-decade celebration.

We began her birthday with presents, which were just as eagerly anticipated by her brother. (apologies for the few phone photos, I remembered to glue hundreds of butterflies on her wrapping paper, but not to charge my camera.)

She ended up with mostly home made gifts this year. She really is so fun to create for.

Among the slides, bag, cape and nappies I also diy-ed a barbie house for her. Though I have to admit now that she probably would have loved it even more had we worked on it together. She is her momma's girl. Luckily, friends and family also brought her art sets, painting and beads. (phew!)

We then dug into pancakes. I firm family favourite. Though we recently discovered Izzy has a strawberry allergy, so these photos don't paint me as such a great parent. When you read this Izzy remember the butterflies glued onto your paper, not the fact that I poisoned you on your birthday, okay?

I love this shot of her. It is SO her. Silly and sweet. In fact I feel like I'm learning even more about her recently. About who my little girl is and what she needs from me. She has her own way that she needs to be loved, and though I don't always get it right first time, I am learning what she needs.

I know that she wants to be independent, but needs support and to know we are there while she tests those boundaries. 

She adores her friends, yet is not so keen on being the centre of attention.

She is maternal and caring to her core, but learns how to do this through observation; mainly from me. Which means that if she's being overbearing in her attention to her brother, maybe I need to show her how to take a step back, not just tell her. If she shouts and angers easily I have to look at myself and decide how I want her to deal with frustration and work on that in my own life first.

This girl? This girl thinks she's a lot older than she is. She knows more than her parents now that she's in school, but is happy to let us call most of the shots. 

Though she did get cross with me the other day when I was asking her to tidy her room.

"Mummy you are making me be Cinderella and I do not want to be Cinderella!"

She is a little person. I know that sometimes I don't realise the depths of her thought at this young age. She struggles with me leaving her. This is in part to do with her understanding of the world. She knows and comprehends more than most at her age, and sometimes that worries her. Because she needs me to answer her questions. 

I'm trying to accept that she may not be happy for me to leave her at school for a long time. But you know, that's okay. She is Izzy. She can be fragile and unsure and sweet and independent. But that is who she is, and I love her. I love her for all of that. It's part of who she is. 

We had a party with her friends and family at church.

She adored her cake. (phew)

Fortunately I was able to let go of a few party things and left the obstacle course construction to Andy and Izzy's uncles. 

It was far better than I could have done, the kids talked about this part for a while after the party.

It was a little too much for one boy, who dropped off on his dad's shoulder and slept at the side of the hall as nearly thirty children ran, shouted and poked all around him. That boy can sleep though anything. 

Of course post-party clean up turned into fun and play fights. 

And Izzy lapped up the attention of her doting aunts and uncles. I'm not sure how they'll both react when they're not the only niece and nephew for nine aunts and uncles, but I have a feeling that they'll be more than happy to give the same kind of attention they recieve to their cousins. 

They learn so much from their extended family who show them how to love unconditionally and selflessly. I must admit that when both our families all come together that my heart really does feel full. I feel incredibly lucky to have come from such a big family who remain close. To have married into a family who adore our children and treat me as their daughter. And selfishly I'm thrilled that my two married brothers have wives who I'd chose as friends.

Needless to say though, that when that combination of people are together that there will be nerf gun battles.

Izzy later named this as her favourite moment of her birthday. 

That and the sea of pink and glitter she recieved.

Then this birthday girl handed out gifts to other people. 

Happy birthday sweet girl.