2019 My Life Project - Week 9

And we now officially have our second teenager in the house! This beauty turned thirteen last Thursday; it was an incredibly busy work week with daddy leaving on the evening of her birthday to go to a conference. We did a very quick morning opening of a gift before school, I raced to pick them up after school to shorten their journey home (which is normally by bus) then she opened the rest of her gifts and we had a fast dinner before heading off to youth club.

She did get to go shopping at the weekend with friends though, who then stayed for a sleepover (that didn't involve much sleep) and her second pavlova (birthday cake of choice as she doesn't like frosting/icing) as well as a family day yesterday. These years are passing by so quickly!

2019 My Life Project - Week 6

Our eldest turned 15 this weekend...how did we go from toddler to towering above me? I just don't know where the time goes! He is such a great kid and I couldn't love him any more than I do. We had a fun family day together: did our first Escape Room and went out for Pho and he was so genuinely grateful. There weren't a lot of gifts this time as the big gift (for Christmas and birthday) is to get to go back to the States with his sister for a couple of weeks this Summer, which is all he really wants anyway...well actually he might prefer to move back but a visit back is the strongest runner up.

2018 Lifestyle Project - Week 48

You can read the introduction to this project by clicking here.

The shared birthday...for James it was a big one, it should really have been a big celebration but most of the people he would have wanted to celebrate with were across an ocean, so we just kept it a family day. The number didn't bother him, but it was a bummer to be far from loved ones. 

We always start birthdays with opening presents in bed together and normally end the day with cake.

2018 Lifestyle Project - Week 9

You can read the introduction to this project by clicking here.

We got to celebrate another birthday in our house this week;

This is my sweet spunky girl who does nothing by halves. She gets things done...all the time. She is creative and doesn't shy from new things. I love that I still get morning cuddles from her and that she listens to her body and knows when she's tired and it's time to stop. She is amazing in so many ways and I can't believe she's becoming a grown up before my eyes! She is a challenge and a joy and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

She's not a fan of cake, mainly because she doesn't enjoy icing or frosting, so her usual request is for pavlova, which works perfectly well too.
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  Love you my Bryttain Sage and everything about you 😘 

  
  
  
  
  ...and one more, just because...
  
  

  

  
  

Photo Project February 2017 - Photo A Day - Day 28

Another day, another birthday. This crazy little girl just turned eleven! She has an enthusiasm and zest for life that is hard to keep up with, at least for me. She is incredibly motivated and loves accomplishing whatever is put before her. She is still all about the extremes and that means wonderful, amazing highs and oh so difficult lows. She is sweet, kind and caring and loves to help others, she's my little right-hand and I know I can count on her. We are the same and yet so different and I love her fiercely, excited and nervous for her to grow up in this sometimes scary world.

Here she was early this morning, very ready to open some presents, classic Bryttain...while we were desperately trying to get up to speed...

She's not very into cakes and once again requested a pavlova for her birthday dessert, fine by me...yum!

And just like that the months is over. Thanks for following along, see you again next year.

*As in years past, I am once again doing a February photo project and will post a photo a day. It may only be one month of the year, but I love to look back on these photos and it never hurts to have a bit of discipline. No real rules, just our life documented a little. Maybe there'll be captions, maybe not, there could be the occasional phone photo thrown in on busier days and sometimes it may be hard to narrow things down and there could be bonus photos.

 I'd love for you to follow along, or even join in. Let me know!

February Photo Project 2017 - Photo A Day - Day 10

Oh my goodness, just like that we have a teenager! This amazing boy turned thirteen today and he has more than likely caught up to me in height, we haven't checked in a few days but he's excited to overtake me. He is, and has been, visibly changing before our eyes. We can see him growing up. The little boy is vanishing and being replaced by a much bigger boy. Of course he will always be my little boy, but we are no longer at the beginning of the journey, we are well on our way...

He is such a great kid; he is a thinker, he is kind and compassionate and feels deeply. He is funny and intelligent and remembers details and facts and notices the little things. He is grateful for so much and speaks his gratitude, it is such a blessing to me that he doesn't take things for granted, that he'll thank me for cooking meals or driving him to his activities.

He had simple requests for his birthday: for daddy to make a spicy Thai curry and for me to make (my first) ice cream cake...and of course, time with his cousin, arguably his favorite friend in the whole world. Happy birthday you incredible boy!


*As in years past, I am once again doing a February photo project and will post a photo a day. It may only be one month of the year, but I love to look back on these photos and it never hurts to have a bit of discipline. No real rules, just our life documented a little. Maybe there'll be captions, maybe not, there could be the occasional phone photo thrown in on busier days and sometimes it may be hard to narrow things down and there could be bonus photos.

 I'd love for you to follow along, or even join in. Let me know!

February Photo Project - Photo A Day - Day 28

As of today this little girl is officially 10; double digits, a decade. It is hard to believe she has been in our lives for ten years, but we are so grateful she has. She brings her own unique craziness to our family (from her daddy's side :P ) and we love her to bits. I cannot even begin to imagine what her life will look like in another ten years but I can't wait to follow along and support her along the way...don't think it will be boring.

(As in years past, I've decided to do the February photo project and take a photo a day. It never hurts to have a bit of discipline and with all our transitions my creativity has been sorely lacking, so I'm looking forward to jumping back in. No real rules, just our life documented a little. Maybe there'll be captions, maybe not, there could be the occasional phone photo thrown in on busier days and sometimes it may be hard to narrow things down and there could be bonus photos. I'd love for you to follow along, or even join in. Let me know!)

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 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.

52 Week Project - Week 9

My little girl turned five this week. It is so bittersweet to watch our children grow. More often than not I wish I could stop time and keep them as these sweet children, yet with each new accomplishment I burst with pride at who they are becoming. I cannot stop time, no-one can, and this is one of the many reasons I love photography. All the little details that I could not possibly remember, probably even by next week, can at least be captured and looked back on again and again.

Before I had children I did not fully understand how precious each and every moment was. Our life, our time is a gift, not to be squandered. That minute, hour, day, week that has passed, we will never have it back again, it is gone forever. Let's make it all count.