Baby Quill { 2019 }

Little Quill, you squishy. smoodgy little man. You are a champion little baby. Such a happy boy, full of fun and life and adventure. Things move so fast with babies. This year he has gone from our little babe in arms to a full on little toddler. He crawls rapidly, eats endlessly, loves sleep and sleeps so well, gives the best hugs and kisses, is patient and fun and so funny. 

Miss Prim { 2019 }

Our beautiful girl Primrose. She is a true source of light and love in our family and we are very lucky to have her. Her little personality has emerged even stronger this year. Her 'loves' are strong, she is passionate, loves having friends and finding fun in whatever she does.

Master Finley { 2019 }

Finley had a great year settling into life in Bungendore. Finley turned 7 this year and celebrated with a pokemon party with kids of different grades who love to play together. He participated in the Scouting program as a Joey all year, played soccer, went to run club and swim club, played basketball and went horse riding every Saturday. It's been an awesome year that has seen our little boy start looking more like a big one. 

The Year that Was { 2019 }

I've never felt more keenly the passing of time than in the last few years. Time seems to be whizzing past and all that it has given us, the joys, the trials, now belong to the realm of my memories and I feel a mixture of deep sadness, that I can't live in that space forever, and great excitement for all that is to come for me and my family. Every year is full for us, we always take on some new big adventure or task. This year is no different, but it has had a slower pace and we have most definitely had the chance to catch our breath.

Merry Surprises { Christmas 2019 }

We had such a wonderful Christmas season this year and a perfect day to wrap it all up. It was all pretty simple, we did some of our favourite things, like make gingerbread and deliver treats to neighbours and tried to keep our focus on the joy of the season and family. A true highlight was getting to use the beautiful advent calendar I purchased from America, using it to follow the Christmas story each day and having a fun Christmas activity to look forward to. 

Spring Beauties

The house of Mecca Lane has a beautiful weeping cherry blossom in the front yard. It went through the most gorgeous stages of bloom but it's white blossoms were the most spectacular. We thus named her the 'White Lady' and took any chance to breath in her beautiful scent and take a picture among her branches. These photo's capture Finley at 7 - excelling at reading, loving kicking a soccer ball and obsessed with all things Pokemon, Primrose at 4 - loving preschool, befriending everyone and almost mastering the handstand and Quill just turned 1 - always exploring, especially the garden, loves dogs and eating. The time goes so fast but I hope I'll always remember the White lady and the grass between our toes as we settled back in to life in Australia.

Return to the Bay { Spring School Holidays }

We love Nelson Bay. We spend a very happy 4 1/2 years there and made some very dear friends. Both Finley and Primrose were born at hospitals nearby and bought home to the two homes we had while we lived there. To us it is a paradise, where we spent some of the best years of our life. It's wonderful to visit and during the September school holidays I took the kids for a wonderful week there reconnecting with friends and having a wonderful time.

A Sea of Tulips

What better way to spend a fresh spring day than among the tulips? We had a beautiful few days when Mum and Aunty Bev came to visit with us and Floriade was at the top of our adventure list. It was lovely walking the grounds admiring the flower displays and perusing the markets, then taking a rest with lunch in the park while Quill went exploring himself. Primrose even got to go on the ferris wheel which she absolutely loved, following by some rocky road shared with Mum and Bev. A real highlight was finding a gorgeous little ceramic store and buying some fairy garden pieces for the kids and Bev finding some great colourful spinning wheels. It was a beautiful, colourful day together.

La Dame Blanche

There are some people who are written in the stars for you. I'm sure that somewhere up there, someone is in charge of aligning things just right, so that you are exactly where you need to be, to meet exactly the person you need to meet. The stars aligned just right for Blanche and I and now I can't imagine my life without her in it.

O N E

My baby boy is ONE! It seemed like overnight that he went from a baby to a boy and suddenly the last year feels like it all went by in a flash and our tiny little person has said goodbye. In his place though is a healthy, funny, happy boy ready to explore and who's eager find out all about life. 

I Heart Edinburgh

If Glasgow was excellent, Edinburgh was magical. We caught the train from Glasgow, with all our gear in tow for an overnight stay in Edinburgh. Walking out of that station was nothing short of amazing. It's like walking back in time into a place so steeped in history it's impossible to take it all in. The old city looked like a painting with the castle looming at it's edges, the backdrop to a bustling city already in full swing for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We were excited and ready for two days of fun and exploring together, me and my love.

Give it up for Glasgow

There's nothing like an impromptu trip to Scotland! Usually Levi and I are very planned with our holidays, we get flights at the best price, research accommodation down to the detail and line things all up just the way we like. But we had been saying for the last few years that if a really good work trip came up that I could tag along on we should take the opportunity and do it. So we did! Levi had a work trip to Scotland come up right after my 35th birthday, right in the height of summer and the perfect length of time for me to come along. What an amazing way to celebrate my birthday. There was no answer but yes and then getting to work to make it happen. Mum kindly agreed to mind the kids for the week, we booked my flights and then two weeks later we were off. 

Our Home Among the Gumtrees

When Levi told me the golden ticket home had come and he had been offered a position back in Australia - Where?, was always going to be the first question. I knew that Adelaide was very likely so when he said Canberra, I was surprised and a little hesitant. I'd lived in Canberra before of course when I was at uni, it's where Levi and I met, where we left on our missions from ... and where I said I didn't want to live again.

Thirty Eight is Looking Great

I keep going to write 28, but it's 38. Levi is 38. How did that happen? I imagine this is how I'm going to feel for the rest of my life. Nothing about life right now makes me feel old. I equate old with quiet and paced and leisurely. We on the other hand are right in the thick of it. Children and work and fun and falling in bed at the end of the day, only to wake up and do it all over again. 

Big as a Whale { Quill 9 Months }

This treasure of ours is 9 months old. What a 9 months! It feels short and long all at the same time. But what is for sure is that this little man it's growing bigger and more capable one day to the next. The last 6 months has seen him progressing at an incredible rate. He says dadda and bye (not mumma yet). He loves munching on basically anything and is trying all sorts of solids and loving them that I can't say he even really has a favourite, maybe anything he can feed himself. We do know that he hates banana, much to my dismay as it's the best on the go food, but maybe he will come around one day. He is by far the biggest of the three kids, we think Uncle Edward may have a contender in height and food consumption one day! 

Family of Mine

Country life is definitely slower. There's still all the regular things, but the pace has felt calm and it's made for some moments to catch our breath and just be. I like that I've had moments to reflect on life, our journey and where we are headed together. It's a gift really to have the space in my mind to ponder the important things and nothing is more important than this family of mine. 

Party like a Unicorn

The day finally came and not a moment too soon for our little girl who had been dreaming of her party for months. Primrose had seven little friends come to share in her magical unicorn birthday party, complete with 'unicorn for a day', Shetland pony Porridge from across the road. Miss Rose had her dress, her pony, her friends and was ready to party.

Miss Prim Turns Four

I love watching this girl grow. But every birthday I want to time travel and visit with her at every age and stage since I first held her as a tiny baby in my arms. The petite and inquisitive little baby, the one year old who melted hearts, the two year old who made us laugh, the three year old who turned into a little lady. She has been so lovely and such a joy at every stage and I'm so grateful those memories of her are mine to hold in my heart and she is mine to hold in my arms always. 

My Darling Sister

After years away it is so lovely to have my sister only 3 hours up the road. She has been wonderful at coming to visit and we always try to have a little adventure while she is here. One weekend we went and explored the beautiful historic town of Braidwood, full of darling little shops and something delicious or wonderful at every turn. We walked the main street up and down and had some sister time talking of plans, life and love. I feel very lucky to have a sister. 

Hop to it Little Bunnies

Oh Easter, how I love you. You're the best holiday. We are used to Easter being in Spring now (sort of), well at least being able to get tulips for the table. I was a little stumped when there wasn't any at the store and then I had a 'where am I moment?' and settled for roses instead. What was cool was that despite it being fall I was able to make a little posy from my garden and we were able to have the Easter hunt outside which was just perfect. 

A Trip on the Train { Easter School Holidays }

Bungendore is lucky enough to have it's own historic train station, which still has trains run through it travelling from Sydney to Canberra and return. Four trains a day pass through and it has been a point of excitement for the kids who ask it we can ride it every time is passes by. So when the Easter holidays arrived and Grandma and Grandpa were visiting we decided to take the train in and meet Levi for afternoon tea in the park.

Lollies for the Ride { Easter School Holidays }

Bungendore has a little sister town Braidwood thirty minutes drive away. It is such a sweet, quaint town, closer to the coast and really right on the spot where the dry NSW countryside begins to transform into the green rolling hills of the coast. It's main street slopes down the hill and there are treasures to be found walking up and down in antique stores, bakeries, cafes and the famous lolly shop. On this visit we gathered some lunch at the bakery and a bag of lollies all set for an adventure horse ride at the saddle camp not far away. 

Turning Seven in Pokemon Heaven

Seven years old. It someways it feels like yesterday that he was born and in others like a million miles and years ago. Either way we are here, with a little boy, now a big boy and certainly on his way to growing up. 

Halfway to One Little Guy

Our little baby is growing up fast. Today he is 6 months old and I look at him and feel sad his newborn tiny days are past (he was just so small and gorgeous) but also so excited for all that is to come for him. He is still our little baby in so many ways, and probably will be for a long time. He loves snuggles. When he gets sleepy he burrows into my shoulder and sucks on his little hands. He leans in and with wide arms gives these gentle sweet hugs. It's then that I really want to hold onto the baby in him, it's a beautiful feeling to be loved and depended on so completely.

Road Trip to Uncle Edward

One of the first things we wanted to do when we got back to Australia was visit Edward in his new home in Geelong. This house was the prize at the end of a very long road for Edward, almost 10 years of waiting and hoping and dreaming and we are so happy he got there!

Forever Friends

Finding fast friends is one of the true highlights of moving. It reminds you that your people exist the world over and that wonderful people truly are everywhere. I can't help feeling though that some relationships are meant to be. That there are just some people that are meant to come into your life. I felt that time and time again in Canada and it was such a beautiful experience.