Happy Father's Day - 2015

Many of our traditions have had to go with our international move, but I'm not letting go of this one any time soon. Each year for Father's Day, since our youngest was about 18 months, I have taken this shot of the three of them. I love to see documentation of them changing and it is one of my favourite traditions.

These kids adore their Daddy and I do too! He is a wonderful man who knows how to love well. Not just us, his family, he loves everyone. Nobody is beneath him and no one is more deserving of his love than another. You could be the Queen of England, or a homeless man on the street and he would still show you love and have time for you.

I am so grateful to share my life with the man who passed down the 'crazy' in these kiddos, because they certainly don't get that from me! Happy Father's Day James, I am so very proud of the father you are and we are blessed to be your family.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 28

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

And just like that the month is over. Thanks for following along.

Even crazier, nine years have flown by. This girl brings joy and energy to our family and today was a day to celebrate her.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 27

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

There were specific ideas regarding the 'birthday cake' and a strong desire to help make it.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 26

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 25

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

The sister.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 24

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 23

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Some days you need to find your own sunshine.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 22

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 21

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

British Museum

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 20

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 19

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 18

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 17

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 16

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Our nearest stop. (Just a phone camera shot this one)

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 15

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Somebody went to a birthday party and got her face painted.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 14

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 13

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 12

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Sometimes you have to be home all morning (potentially all day) just waiting for the postman. Not the most fun, but it leaves you time for taking selfies :P

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 11

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Ah technology.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 10

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Eleven. What he wanted more than anything was to fly back to America to hang out with his cousin and go to Ping's for his favourite Chinese Food. 

If only it was that easy. Sigh. 

Thankfully he has a great attitude and loved that it was his special day. He is such a great kid and makes it hard to be around him as happy as he is without being impacted. Just as he requested, he did get a homemade chocolate cake. Hoping and praying for a great year ahead of him.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 9

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

It's been ten years since we lost our Mum. Ten years today. That's a long time. A long time for memories to still feel fresh and pain to still feel raw. It's easier to just push it aside most of the time, but as the anniversary draws closer, it always gets harder...so I keep pushing, until the day, and then I have a little fall apart. 

This year is different than the years before. Before I was far away, I could pretend, because I wouldn't have the opportunity to see her anyway, but now I am back in my old home country, where she was, faced with the very stark reality that she is not here with us. It is just so very sad. I know that she would have been overjoyed at our return, to get to spend time with her grand-kids, to have us all together again. 

I feel like there aren't many ways to remember her. I don't know if she had a favourite food, or something that she loved to do, because she was always about serving everybody else. The only way I have to remember and celebrate her is to buy freesias, so that is what I do every year.

But this year, after dropping the kids at school, in this new place where we live, I could not find a single florist open. So I traipsed the streets alone, feeling sad, then came home and texted my brothers and sister. The date is easy for me to remember, because it is the day before my son's birthday, but I don't know if others have chosen to remember it or not...it's delicate ground.

I went out again, later in the day and found one florist open, but no freesias and no suggestion of where I might find some. Two other florists were closed for the day. It just added to the hopelessness of it all. So I had to settle for a little bouquet with roses instead. Simple (and it was on sale, which Mum would have appreciated) but roses are my favourite, not hers and it wasn't what I wanted for today.

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 8

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

 Stuffie Choir

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 7

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Adventures on The Heath

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 6

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

Used these in the kitchen today. Do YOU know what they are?

Photo A Day February 2015 - Day 5

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

When you move to a new country, you have to leave all your wonderful friends behind. It can be a little heartbreaking, especially when you've had such special friends from birth. If you then end up living in temporary housing for three months, with your toys and Lego not available to you and not much space so it's hard to have people over, it doesn't help you make friends awfully quickly. Add to that the fact that most of the girls in your class have already been together for the last five years and have solid friendships...and it can be really slow going. 

Sometimes there are quiet tears that you try to hide from your parents, who desperately need to know so they can comfort you and help to make things better, any way they can. Because a little girl shouldn't have to be that strong all on her own. It takes time and it takes effort. Today there was a long awaited play date and there was Lego and snacks and hide-and-seek and playing with the dog. 

Best of all there were lots of smiles. Hoping our future will hold many more of those.

Photo A Day February 2015 - Day 4

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

A visit from this little cutie today (and her Mama). I miss my kids being this little!

Photo a Day February 2015 - Day 3

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

It's a hard life.

Photo A Day February 2015 - 2

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

He doesn't play as much as he used to...but it's still a love.

Photo A Day February 2015 - 1

This is a personal kick start project, a photo a day for the month of February.

She and I were both under the weather this weekend. My usually busy girl spent all day yesterday in bed and most of today. We cuddled and read together and as sad as I was to see her not herself, I loved the extra moments. They just don't happen quite as much anymore.

And I just couldn't stick to one photo, I wanted to be in one with her, because we spent so much time together this weekend and she may not remember.

 

Photo A Day for February 2015

This move half way across the world has not been the easiest. Dealing with emotions and kids' emotions and trying to figure out what our new life looks like and what I am supposed to do with MY life, has not left a lot of motivation to pick up my camera. We are not outdoors as often as we used to be, because it's either freezing or wet here, or often both at the same time. I don't feel as inspired or as motivated. So it's time to get ruthless.

It's been a while since I have done a photo a day, a few years even, but I need a new kickstart, so for February that is exactly what I plan to do. Force myself to pick up my camera, force myself to shoot something, anything, because now that I've posted it here on the blog, even if only one person reads it, there is an accountability.

There's no theme, unless one develops, no promises of beauty or extreme creativity, but there WILL be a photo each day. I can't promise writing or captions each day even but there will be a photo, even if it kills me!

Feel free to follow along, or check in occasionally and I'd love any encouragement along the way :)