The end of 52

There were a lot of photo's in the last few weeks... just not terribly nicely framed and focussed ones! These round out the last few weeks of 2015.

What a full and fun few weeks you all had.  L performed as a "wise woman" in the reception Nativity performance.  We could not wipe the grins of our faces for days.  You sang the loudest, spoke loud and clear and were an absolute star (and hilarious natural performer!).  H and L both had Christmas school trips that you enjoyed.  There was the school Christmas fayre, a birthday party to which all three of you were kindly invited, and more vaccinations.  A finally saved up enough dosh to buy a much desired Lego set... the face was pure joy.

We had a day trip to London to soak up the Christmas lights and atmosphere and fun.  We rounded out a super day with some ice-skating and again, our faces hurt from smiling and laughing so much.  We had a lovely evening out visiting the German Christmas Markets here in Birmingham - it was a month of hot chocolate consumption : )

School term ended for the winter holidays and your days were a little slower.  We made a gingerbread house, built puzzles, coloured, played, baked biscuits for our street and had a wonderful Christmas day.   On the last day of the year we set off on our next weekend adventure away - you three had been asking when we were having another trip away, which shows us again how much you love our family expeditions.

How much you've all grown and changed this year.  Our precious girls -  you delight us endlessly xxxxx

Forty Seven, Eight & Nine/52

Where the time goes no one knows.  The last three weeks have been full of things!  A had a school trip to the Leicester Space Station one week and came home buzzing about the things she saw.  L went to a pizza restaurant one morning and got to watch and assist the chefs in action.  She loved every minute and enjoyed coming home with the pizza she made, to share with her sisters.  The following week we also had a teacher meeting for L where we heard about how enthusiastic she was about learning and how sweet and motherly she was toward any new/shy/quiet classmates.  Awwww!  We had a workshop with H and her year group too, that proved more great fun and was very informative.

A and H also went to a surprise evening out with Mum to their very first ballet - The Nutcracker!  It was a special night and A in particular was absolutely enraptured with it.  She cannot wait to go to her next ballet!  L attended her first birthday party here and had a ball.  We all also had a couple of marshmallow toasting sessions over our fireplace over the last few weeks... and there will be many more in our future ;)

L xx

Forty Six/52

It's cooled down significantly this week but the leaves continue to be fun. Our brisk walks to and from school are still a great time for some interesting conversations. Hearing about the details from your days at school is such fun. You've made me laugh so much this week... I just wish I can remember even half of the things you three have come out with!
Lxx

Forty Five/52

Bonfire week. Our street had a get together on Friday night and let off lots of fireworks. How you enjoyed it being dark enough to experience this! The delight of sparklers :) H went on a school trip to a transport museum at the beginning of the week and buzzed about it every day since. And on Saturday L and mum went to the open stitching day. You were absolutely determined to do back-stitching like your sisters even though many of the other ladies thought you would be better off with something simpler :) But you know your mind and you did beautiful back-stitching.

L xx

Forty Four/52

A great mid-term break. A playdate, reading, chilling, the odd movie, baking. And a lot of playing! We had great fun also working on a rap video for a homework project for A - we laughed and laughed and laughed. A backyard filled with gorgeous autumn leaves and light - made for some wonderful play and lots of laughter.

I often feel a bit gushie when it comes to you three - but my goodness... I look at those faces and I watch you going about your day-to-day's... pieces of my heart walking around outside my body, and it is full and bursting with love and joy.
L xx

Forty Three/52

Playing with the kids in our street. So happily - so many smiles, so much laughter. It was the last week of school before mid-term break and we are looking forward to down-time. H's year had a small production of school to demonstrate some of the things they learned at topic during the term. H spoke loud and clearly when it came to her part... Another proud motherly moment :) Other mothers even came to me to comment about the top-notch projection ;) SA played NZ in the world cup Semi's - we had a divided and passionate household. H siding with Mum, L and A siding with Dad... but at the end we could all pat each other on the back. Love seeing how enthusiastic you all are and hope we continue to have such great sporting spirit.
L xx

Forty One & Two/52

Two more weeks that absolutely flew by. There were various workshops at school with both A and H and then there were also parent meetings. Our A is a "diamond" and if only there were more H's in class! Proud and delighted mummy :) It is such a joy to hear how well you both are doing and how happy you are at school. This school year is off to a great start and you are both fully engaged, involved and thriving.

We also had some familial visitors stay for a couple of nights... we had such a lovely time and you girls especially loved having them here. Lots of reading, chatting, "look at me!" There was choir, football, homework, a lot of rugby watching(!) and life in general - life and it's knack for absolutely zooming by.

L xx

Forty/52

A: Apple collecting/picking from a neighbour down the street. Such fun :) During the week we finally had some friends around after school for a baking/play session. All 7 of you had such a great time - tearing around the place, climbing trees, baking, decorating, eating and playing games. It is really so lovely to see some of the gorgeous friends you've made and being able to have these occasions.

H: You and I went to the monthly embroidery get together over the weekend. You loved stitching and I was hugely impressed with how beautiful your work was. We had a lovely sushi lunch in which you devoured your food - much to my amuzement :) A special one-on-one time for us.

L: We made some hand puppets together one morning at school this week - you are so very clear on what you do/dont want and like and very good at giving "direction". You are loving school - everyday you come home full of beans and joy and stories and stickers. Tired but happy :)

L xx

Thirty Nine/52

A and H - sitting and having a conversation.  Ranging from imaginative to serious.  I could listen and watch this all day long.  L - you have such an adorable concentration face.  The little mouth with the wee tongue, working away to help the task at hand along.  The week comprised a lot of rugby watching, puppet-making for A at school, H attending a birthday party, and L having a massive collision with another kid at school resulting in lots of blood and a gorgeous shiner.  Another full but happy week.
L xx

Thirty Eight/52

A big week. L started school! Over here kids start school at the beginning of the school year in which they turn 5. So 8 months earlier than it would have been in NZ, our baby became a big school girl. Two utterly adorable and doting big sisters watching over her - three peas in a pod. L had a great first week and it finished off with a school trip with parents - involving a nature reserve and den building in the forest. A lovely day, though L felt terribly shortchanged that there was no "school" that day! We were all pretty shattered by the end of the week - three tired but very happy wee girls... big school girls!
L xx

Thirty Seven/52

Back to school this week for our two big girls. Great to start at the beginning of the school year and you two were rearing to go. Already both of you have signed up for "performing" club, and H is back into football. H was also recognized for good work and behaviour on multiple days, including a visit to the principal to show off her great work. It was a fantastic start back at school for you both. Mummy got to have one last week with her baby girl. On our last Friday together we went to a theme park with some of your new school friends, which was great fun. You had a ball and I had a ball watching you. On Sunday we went to visit a little local farm - kids and animals... so much joy :) A refreshing end to the week - new beginnings and endings all round.
L xx

Thirty Six/52

Last week of school holidays. A lovely quiet relaxing time for all of us - more bike-riding practice, reading, hanging out. Lovely. The way you help and encourage each other always brings me such joy. We had a lovely day together on Saturday going to the open stitching session for the Embroiders Guild - just Mummy and her big girl (with a lovely friend :) ). We hung out together and you loved stitching, getting a free donut and having your hair curled at a random free demonstration at the mall in town. You were absolutely buzzing when we got home. A lovely end to the holidays.
L xx

Thirty Five/52

A: You were thrilled that we finally busted out the "make your own" felt hairband kit that you received for a birthday a year or two ago. After what was a mixed session of trying to learn crochet you were happy to do do something more simple. Lately when we ask you to do something or about something, your initial response is almost always "Of course!" And for some reason you have also started saying "alrighteeeeeyyyy" quite a lot, often absentmindedly to yourself. We started watching some of the Star Wars movies over the long weekend with you all. You were not that keen but were by far the most emotionally invested when we started watching, even proclaiming that it was "much better than expected"!

H: I love your tenacity when learning new things. The crochet was tricky but you love having steps to follow. then we moved on to your birthday sewing kit and you are still talking about back-stitching and blanket stitches. Loved watching you and your sister enjoy crafting, making and learning. Given your recent interest in Star Wars it seemed appropriate to introduce you three to the movies. And you loved it - the ships, the sabers and all the different characters. You like to use the words "in fact" a lot when you're talking. You often "know/knew" things and now we have a lots of "in fact" to back it up. What a character.

L: You managed to find the box of Mummy and Daddy's old soft toys and the three of you proceeded to ask/claim them. It was a bit like Christmas for you it seemed! You weren't that keen on sitting still with the crochet and sewing so instead buzzed around and did your own thing... mostly test concentration levels :p Again I am noticing how big you are getting... it may just be that I am acutely aware of school starting soon too and then fitting school shoes and seeing you looking all grown up... In the meantime you are loving practicing writing numbers and letters and have taken at least one thing away from these sessions: "If you never try, you will never learn." You like to remind us all of this every opportunity you get whether applicable or not ;)

L xx

Thirty Four/52

Back to reality this week!  We had a lovely quiet time at home and resumed our daily writing and maths learning/practice, had some fun outside and replenished the books a few times.  You've all taken on different roles when we go to the supermarket.  H is the list reader, L likes to steer the trolley and A sometimes holds on to bags, but is mostly the cheerleader.  I love how we all fall into our natural rhythms and positions.   One super moment during the week was H encouraging L to learn to ride on the "big bike".  What a wonderful coach and encouraging teacher you were.  L loved, loved the attention and the challenge and managed a few spins unassisted.  Yet another milestone being reached.

L xx

Thirty Three/52

We exchanged the wonders of Paris for a small commune to the South of France this week.  A beautiful old house with a wonderful backyard.  You girls loved our "home" for the week and were always looking forward to getting back and being able to play outside.  Sunshine, sticks, fruit trees, snail shells, stones, water, plants and flowers.   They were your tools for fun and creativity, along with lots of room to run and play.  Je t'aime mes filles.

L xx

Thirty Two/52

What a week!  So much fun and you three have loved our family holiday so far.  Getting to do this with you girls... I cant begin to tell you how much joy it brings to feel your excitement, see your smiles, hear your giggles and see the wonder in your eyes.  My cup overflows.

In this collection you were captured:
- dancing on the glass floors of the Eiffel Tower
- enjoying a quiet moment at the Trocadero Fountains
- posing at the Louvre
- Disneyland!!!
- playing in the garden and getting soaked
- and finding, of course, Snails :)

L xx