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Tom: Saying goodbye to Grandad, and a limetree overlay

Grace: Waiting for Tom in her mustard duffle coat; a floral overlay seemed to fit over this frame perfectly

This week I have been playing with the menu in my camera, particularly zoning in on the multiple exposure capabilities of the 5D MkIII. My first few attempts were very hit and miss, but I soon got my head around firstly over exposing my base photo, and under exposing my overlay to achieve a nice medium. I think I may do a series of these types of shots and have them framed for our house.

Playing along with Jodi -  "A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

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night light

 

 

We were on our way to bed when something caught my eye. Tom had been rummaging through the party cupboard looking for items for his mask he had been working on, and left a almost long forgotten packet of sparklers jammed in the doors. Now, normally I do not instigate this type of excitement at bed time, but my inner child wanted to play with those sparklers! And as natural progression would have it, the camera came out and we swirled and twirled and screamed and... accidently burnt the carpet. Oops.

growing like him

 

 

The boys in my life: Tom calls him Best Mate. Ian makes him pass the "tickle test".

Entering a new relationship with 2 children already in tow is challenging to say the least. Ian and I have been together since Tom turned 4. Over a period of months, I slowly introduced them to each other, the next meeting lasting longer than the one before. Soon Gracie and Tom began to ask when we would be seeing Ian again. Soon Ian began nick-naming them Gin and Tonic.

The way Ian has slipped into our lives has been so admirable. There have been many challenges, raising a little duo is already a tough gig in it's own right. But never has anything phased him, whenever I have felt overwhelmed or frustrated (which is inherent in co-parenting), Ian has always offered me soft words of strength, kept my mind open and centred me. 

Little Tom has grown like him in so many ways. Both with a love of anything caramel, fishing, surfing and morning coffee stops. Both gentle and considerate. Both comedians. Both mine to love.

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Tom: Flicking through a surfing mag at Pilgrims, he was super delighted to find an illustration of "Tommy the Surfer" (especially after a day of wipe outs on a 7ft soft board)

Grace: She can read and hold a conversation at the same time. Kudos.

Sunday. We snuck down the coast today to a beach tucked away from the world. Surrounded by clear turqoise water, we wandered up and down the sand, collecting shells and talking about issues that matter when you are six (friends allergies to white chocolate, the pending school play, whether fish feel the cold or not and why we can't take said collected items out of the National Park). Tom jumped out of the depths of our conversation and into that  of the ocean, the unseasonably warm water calling him to play. He was determined to stand up on my surfboard, Ian only a stone's throw away searching for lobsters and watching his efforts in between dives. I love Sundays.

Playing along with Jodi -  "A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

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Grace: Always the exuberant one - She is getting undressed at the beach in true zany fashion (it's the middle of August!)

Tom: He has asked all week if he can mow the lawn on Sunday - and man was he committed! Did the whole damn thang!

The weather this weekend has been absolutely amazing. It gave us the opportunity to swap jumpers for t-shirts, and get outside and tackle some jobs that have been needing to get done. Our little un-named fisherman's cottage is beginning to transform into something which we are becoming more attached to as time goes on. Gardens are being made with the future in mind.. beautiful big trees to frame the driveway, colour dotted throughout to welcome the different seasons. The bottom image of Tom is very special, I never thought my babes would be part of building this home as much as they are - and I love it.

Playing along with Jodi -  "A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

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Grace: Picking off the dead-heads of her daisies - our vegie patch turned into a flower garden this winter

Tom: His version of a birds-eye-view of our house - I have been sketching our renovations this week, he wanted to join in

For the majority of winter, I am longing for it to hurry up and be over. Our little home is an ice-box, a weathered fisherman's cottage with no insulation. Flannelette pajamas are the norm, as are hot cups of tea, roast dinner's and Mollie being allowed up on the lounge. We go to bed with hot-water bottles shoved down the bottom of our bed's to keep our feet warm and through the night, sleepy heads wander into the darkness and slip in between our sheets. Mornings are filled with giggles and wrestles before Mama bear pulls rank and begins the getting-ready-for-school rush.

For the majority of winter, I am longing for it to hurry up and be over. I think that statement has just now become the minority.

Playing along with Jodi -  "A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

A few of my favourite things

 

The Shady Fig: A little shop filled with the most wonderous of blooms, kitsch decorations, glassware and whimsy.

Oh me oh my. I LOVE this shop. Everytrip to town wouldnt be complete without a small mosey around Michelle's beautiful store. 

These are a few of my favourite things: Flowers, brown paper, jute, a card from someone beloved. Little pieces of nostalgia from the past, photo's from yester-year, Forget-me-knots and Dahlia's. Plush european pillows, my leather bag from Elk. Ian's Kingfish curry, salty air and a north east wind in the summertime. Grace, Tom and Ian. x