From little things...

Seems not that long ago that I was stressing out about my little girl making friends on her first day of primary school and today as the bell rings for the last time, I'll be thinking about how sad it will be for her to say goodbye to all those friends she has made over the last seven years.

Today's last day of school not only marks the beginning of summer holidays for my girl, but the ending of Primary school. A time of transition into so many new things. High school...a whole new bunch of kids and teachers to meet, a whole new routine to greet each day... all whilst growing up from a child to a young adult.

She seems to be handling it all o.k. albeit with a touch of sadness in knowing, that only one other person she knows is going to the same high school as her. But with social media what it is today, mobiles and such it's so much easier to keep in touch with old friends, so we'll do our best to maintain old friendships whilst new ones are formed.

On Monday night the event was marked with graduation.

A night to reflect on old times, appreciate all they have achieved and receive there graduation certificates.

School had put together a touching video, showing footage of the kids as preppies interspersed with the class answering questions asked today about there highlights, challenges and hopes for the future.
So nice to see responses from 'I dunno' and 'I always wanted to be a garbage man' to 'I'll be a lawyer' or 'I want to go to university'

The children are our future ... and sometimes amidst making sure they are fed, clothed and arrive to school on time I sorta forget that they are growing up sooo quickly and forming there own opinions on the way this world works and there place in it. BIG STUFF.
Really big stuff.

So I'm so grateful for days like these, that bring it all home. Celebrate achievements and offer wishes for our kids future. Next year is gunna be huge and my little girl is sooo ready for it.

Me though, I sometimes think she's still such a little thing..

Jay xx

I want to be a hippie... Blogtoberfest day 20.

It's the time of year for school concerts, formals and wrapping it all up.
There is a mixture of happiness and sadness going on, the feelings we both share for the adventures to come and the ones left behind as my little big girl finishes off her last year of primary school.

The play for the end of year concert was 'Dear Prudence'.

A wonderful mix of Beatles songs alongside a story about a boy and a girl.

It was hard to hold back the tears when the preppy's came out to sing and dance, as my thoughts were on my grade sixer and how I'll never see her in another primary school play.
When did my little girl grow up? Seems only yesterday that we dropped her off for her first day, had her first camp and stuck her first piece of artwork on the fridge.

Gosh time flies when you have kids.

Emotions aside, end of year concert was awesome. Every song was played by the school band, every song was sung by the kids...and some of those kids, boy are they gunna be famous. Voices that make your hair stand on end. Amazing.

My baby, well suitably, her class sang revolution and ran about on stage with protest banners,
flares and lots of tie dye tee's.

Sorta reminds me of my 16th...so long ago now.
I had a hippie party and wore flowers in my hair too.
Ahh the old days.

Jay xx

Birthdays galore...

It's been party central round here of late with Ty, Finn and Kierah all celebrating the great feat of being another year older. They are all a week or so apart, so each weekend has been balloons, family, friends, presents and lots of cake...

The theme for Kierah's party was 'Gnomeo and Juliet' as we took her and her friends to see the movie in 3d.
The idea was to make cupcakes that looked like spotty mushrooms and top them with a little Gnomeo and Juliet.
Considering the movie was brought out by touchstone and Walt Disney I thought the merchandise would be out in full force and that finding figurines would be a no brainer.
Alas...it seems we were a bit too early for the merchandisers and had to make do with finding a boy gnome and a girl gnome that we could paint to look like the movie characters.
Luckily I did find a lovely pair and they came out looking quite cute once finished.

Mr Finn got a slide from us and an amazing handmade sandpit built by grandpa. Creating a nice little adventure playground in his own backyard. Everyday since he has been outside, digging, sliding, and really enjoying the great outdoors.
Such a nice change from his previous YoGabbaGabba obsession.

With Ty turning 30, Finn turning 3 and Kierah turning 11, it's some pretty big milestones we've hit.
I do think it's a great number for each of them. Becoming more of the person they were meant to be each day.

Although none of them were too grown up for sparklers...

Miss kizzy has also had a friends party thrown into the craziness of the last 4 weeks. With the theme of 'come as your favourite Tim Burton character'. She could have been Alice or corpse bride or any other female lead..but no, she chose Edward Scissorhands.
Must have been something about his masterful skill with scissors(like mum hehehehe) and his fragile gothic appeal.

The centre pic is a less gothic representation, the chosen outfit for her own party. Looking every bit like the 11 year old she is.

The actual birthday is today, yes...International Women's Day. So we'll be having the family party tonight.
Our last candle lit cake for a while.
My hips shall be grateful!

Hope you're all well.
Jay xx

There's no place like home...

After 3 weeks away, that felt like an eternity, Little miss has returned home from adventures abroad with her Yaya and Grandpa.

I don't think I had one nights slumber that was restful and complete. Not from worrying, just from knowing my house was incomplete. A little piece was missing.

But we are whole again and my little girl has had some amazing adventures.
Opened up her eyes to whole new cultures and ways of being.

and after weeks of exotic foods, fresh fish and hotel breakfast banquets....

What do you suppose was the number one request for the first meal at home...
Some Vegemite toast!

There's no place like home.
Jay xx

New year, new adventures...

Another year over...what a blast it has been.
All the usual highs and lows designed to keep one on there toes, with a few major things ticked off the 'I'd like to achieve this year' list.
So it's been a great one.

Next year... I'd like to learn more, make new things and maybe I'll try and eat a few less cakey cakes and bready delights, my kryptonite!

But the focus at present is not about me and my adventures for the year to come, more so about my little girl, who's not so little any more.


Tomorrow, she'll be heading off to new adventures on a fabulous 3 week trip to Vietnam with her Yaya and Grandpa.


Ever since the tickets were booked she has been counting down the days, and we finally closed the lid on the bag yesterday, all packed and ready to go.

What will I do without my little girl,


No catching the train together,


no big sis to read bedtime books for mr.finny,


no-one intermittently posing zany questions, like..if you were trapped on island what book would you make sure to take!

But I know she'll have an amazing adventure with two of the most loving and caring people, who just adore everything that she is,

from her messy hair, unkempt fashion sense and desperate need to have a novel on hand in all situations, to her compassionate nature, her creative genius and her big ol' smile.

I will miss my big 'little girl'...but know we'll make some new year plans together when she gets back home.
xx

Wordless wednesdays....

See more great blogs playing along with wordless Wednesdays, over here.....

Sun, spooks and shopping...

The beautiful sun shone all weekend in Melbourne making it really feel like summer. Hot enough to remind me that I best get some of that winter weight off, if I want to fit into last summers clothes and definitely warm enough to sit on the back step with a sunny boy.

We made the trip over to Healesville to visit the markets at the race course. (formerly Yarra Glen market)
It was huge. I can't believe I hadn't been there before. Lots of foodie stalls, craft, clothes and jewellery, even a band and a little farm for the kiddies. Well worth the drive for a nice day out.

Miss Finki jnr had not one, but two Halloween parties, lucky duck. She has a busier social life than us, that's for sure. On the Friday it was dress ups and games at her friends girl guides club, then off for some trick or treating on the Saturday.
They only came across one anti - halloween person, who made a point of telling the parent in charge that she was very dissapointed that he was encouraging such behaviour! Hmmm......
Next year we'll have to remind him only to knock on the houses that have a pumpkin out.

Lots of lollies and a pussy cat tail = one happy girl.

(pardon the blurry photo's...bundle of cuteness in image one.... aka the terror, got his greasy mitts on my lens.....Thanks mstr Finn!)

Finally the wedding photo's are ready.......

A few weeks back Ben & Jess got married having Kierah as there flower girl.
I've been hanging out for the professional photo's to be ready to see how they captured my non posing, anti girly girl daughter.
The photographer Lizzy, was so nice to work with and I was mighty envious of her big, beautiful camera. We got to see a sneak preview of Lizzy's work with pics taken of Ben and Jess pre wedding. They were so natural, capturing such warmth and affection. We knew the wedding ones would be worth the wait.

What she does too, which I think is really clever, is present the portfolio of the days pictures as an online gallery. The bride and groom then give the special password for the gallery to there friends and family, so they can chose pics for themselves. That' s so good.
I'm sure you know the frustration of getting all dolled up to go out, just to be the one behind the camera taking pics of everyone else and never having nice ones to share of hubby and you. Usually in this instance the bride and groom might have a copy of all the pics for them selves, but you miss out.

So I was really excited to have the opportunity to buy some for myself.

I've chosen just enough to have a beautiful memento of the day, and the photo's...............they are just glorious. We couldn't have hoped for anything better. Here's one of Kierah pre wedding, at Jess's house. It's just so serene. Just beautiful.
I also chose one out of the shot's Jess and Ben had alone, as the one to frame for the house. It's just so quirky and cute, which really suits them to a tee. No cliches', no running through the beach and holding hands. Just them......so honest and so in love.

If you're looking for a photographer for any special event, I highly recommend Lizzy. Her professionalism, creativity, talent and ability to capture such natural and timeless images is paramount. So, so happy with the pics of our little girl.

I do, I do, I do, I do..........

Finally the wedding has come and gone.
It always seems as though the lead up to the special day is so long and winding, then the occasion passes in the blink of an eye, leaving you filled with a happy heart, and sore feet.

The wedding was for my new sister in law, Jessamy and her beau, Ben.
Kierah (my daughter) was their flower girl for the day. I had fears of her picking her nose whilst walking down the aisle, and surely playing chasey in the lovely park surrounds, wrecking her hair and dress.
She didn't though, she was the perfect little lady on the day. Kierah took great pride in handing out all the rice bags we made, stamped with 'wishes' and 'love', held on tight to her little bouquet and tried her best to keep her little brother from eating the rose bushes.
At night she changed into her party dress, read a story about the lovely other dinosaur to the entire reception without a worry, then proceeded to bust a groove on the dance floor with such boundless energy, well after all us olds wanted to go home.

I had whipped up a guest book for them amidst the craziness of packing ready for our holiday, using the image they had chosen for their invites. The pages inside were designed around the same theme and scattered throughout were some retro inspired color pictures of a wedding nature. It all came together smashingly.

Ain't love grand.......