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"A portrait of my children, once a week every week in 2013"


Sophie: After breakfast at one of our favourite cafes, the girls had a play across the road at the local playground. Sophie was ever fearless, by-passing the smaller slide for the high, spiral one... launching herself down before I even had a chance to call out "be careful".

Grace: Our gentle animal lover carried around her praying mantis friend all afternoon, letting it crawl up her arm and into her hair and showing it around the backyard before releasing it into the fairy garden when it was time to come indoors.

Joining in with Jodi

Sweet Zoe, carefree Jessica and these two adorable siblings snoozing side by side were my favourites from last week...

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"A portrait of my children, once a week every week in 2013"


Sophie:  My blue eyed girl with her head of curly ringlets.  She has become such a lovely little companion on the days her big sister is at kindy... following me about like a little shadow and chatting away incessantly.

Grace: A common sight - boots on the wrong feet and something to draw with in hand.  Hair clips positioned awkwardly in her fringe reminiscent of earlier in the week when I collected her from kindy. Having done her hair neatly in the morning with green clips to match her uniform, I was surprised to be greeted by a hot pink clip hanging across her forehead... she had snuck it into her pocket and 'prettied up her hairstyle' at school.

Joining in with Jodi

It was two black and white portraits that caught my eye last week - Alice perched on the windowsill and Otto gazing out between billowy curtains.

Fathering Two Little Girls

When I first met Paul over twelve and a half years ago, he was without a doubt a 'boys' boy' with interests including dirt bikes, car racing, cricket, fishing and camping.  A weekend ride through the bush was a common occurrence in the wetter months, usually followed by camping overnight with mates.  He owned a rally car and competed in events, attended the speedway regularly and had a definite adventurous streak.

With Paul as their Dad, my girls were always going to grow up with a love of the outdoors and getting dirty. Grace has a ball going for rides on the family boat, will happily tag along with Paul to have a look at planes taking off at the local airport and excitedly joins him for the occasional bike ride around the local streets.

Having two girls however, has definitely seen me witness a previously unknown side of my husband in the past four years.  Surrounded by fairy dresses, dolls and glitter, it has been so lovely to see his softer side come out.  He comments to Grace and Sophie how pretty they look when they dress up as princesses or butterflies, gives cuddles and comfort when tears appear and has become an expert in all things Peppa Pig or Tinkerbell related.  Early the other morning, Grace tip-toed into our bedroom. Thinking I was still asleep, she crept around to Paul's side of the bed.

"Daddy, can you please help me put this dress on my Barbie?" she asked him.

I couldn't help but smile, thinking of how Paul's world has changed so much since he has become a Daddy to two little girls.

I'm so proud of the wonderful job my husband does with our little ones, for the hands on way he helps with parenting and for his ability to whole-heartedly embrace all things 'pink and pretty'...

Father's Day in our family is always tinged with a slight sense of sadness .. after morning cuddles in bed and enjoying breakfast out as a little family of four, we stopped by the cemetery to leave a camellia from our garden for my dear Dad and then found a spot by the river to let a bloom for Paul's Dad be carried out on the waves... keeping in mind as we did, all of the many special memories we have of our two precious fathers...

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"A portrait of my children, once a week every week in 2013"


A perfect morning spent at our favourite riverside location while the winter sun was shining and its warmth enticed us outdoors.  I look forward to many more days like this with my girls as the days become hotter...

Sophie:  She carted bucket after bucket of water to the pool she was creating on the sand. I whipped off her leggings when they became wet... not long after, she was saturated from head to toe... but grinning from ear to ear.

Grace: Watching her grow has been tugging at my heart strings lately... as the months edge closer and closer towards the end of the year, I've felt sad thinking about her starting full time school in only six months time.

Joining in with Jodi

Wee little Alma snoozing on the couch was my favourite shot from the week just gone...

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"A portrait of my children, once a week every week in 2013"


Grace:  I was trying to capture her giggling with her little sister in an attempt to portray her joyful, playful side.  Instead, this simple shot of the 'every day Grace' was the one that stood out for me this week.

Sophie: At a cousin's first birthday party today... I had to have eyes in the back of my head, guarding her from sneakily stealing treats from the food table.  Here she is, mouth filled with Burger Rings, having a ball on the play equipment.

Joining in with Jodi

Bo helping her mama with a renovation project and Evita walking along the beach were among my favourite photos last week.