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A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.

Mahlia: Extremely proud moment today. She mastered riding her bike not long after getting it, pretty much straight away, but wasn't quite tall enough to start or stop herself. So hubby would run along next to her to get her going and stop her. When the rain subsided today, we went to Terrigal and she went off with daddy and came back shortly after and stopped, all by herself, in front of me. I then showed her how to start by herself, and after a few attempts off she went! She rode past me, tears running down her cheeks, saying 'I've got happy tears!'. She was so proud of herself, rightfully so. Round and round, for the next hour she went. I predicted a growth spurt was coming, and it would seem it has, as she can comfortably put her feet down now. Tonight she also read daddy a story in bed. Reading and bike riding all by herself—growing up way too fast.

Leila: We all had hair cuts this week. This is Leila's nervous/concentrating face. She woke with conjunctivitis this morning, so all 3 kids have now had it this week. On her balance bike, she has no fear and just goes, just not in a particularly straight line. A magpie kept swooping at her head, and I kept trying to get her to move along, but she didn't care.

Archer: He has been hit the hardest with conjunctivitis, waking each morning with his eyes glued shut, but still smiling. He's now come down with a cold. This winter has been horrendous for bugs for all of us. Thank goodness tomorrow is the last day of winter! Archer turned nine months this week, and also had his first haircut. He looks so much older now. He is getting closer to crawling, moving from sitting nearly onto all fours. Won't be long, and life will get busier!

Couldn't resist including the next two photos from the week too. Sibling love x

Off to a party!

Joining in with Jodi at Practising Simplicity.

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A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2013.

Mahlia: Looking so grown up in her new dress, catching the water dripping down the cliff at Terrigal Haven. Enjoying the afternoon sun.

Leila: A trip to the Hunter Valley, sitting in a knobbly old tree, holding on tight to her best friend's, Laura's, hand.

Little frog #3: My third little frog is cooking away nicely! 14 weeks, and it is going too fast! And yes, I am ridiculously large for 14 weeks—eekkkk!

I couldn't resist including the final photo. Exploring on the rocks at Terrigal, Mahlia holding Leila's hand and helping her climb up the rocks. I love the reflection.

Joining in with Jodi over at Che & Fidel.

My baby's 2

My baby girl has turned two today. I'm struggling with it a little if I'm honest. She's still my baby!!

We've had a lovely day together as a family. It started with a few presents, each one played with or read  or worn before moving on to the next.

We then took Mahlia off to school and Leila, daddy and I headed off to the dog park where Leila could ride her new balance bike! It will take some getting used to but she's enjoying it so far—I can't wait to see them both riding off together.

We made our way back home, where I decorated the cake I baked last night, and daddy took Leila out on the paddle board. Hubby is now teaching yoga every evening, so we decided to take Mahlia out of school early so we could have a birthday lunch celebration. One of our favourite places to go is Crave Sushi in Terrigal, and the girls love their Japanese cuisine. Leila devoured her soft shell crab, salmon and avocado sushi and the edemame.

The girls then had a ridiculous amount of fun at the water playground at The Entrance.

With two very tired girls, we headed home for the all-important birthday cake.

A jam-packed, fun-filled day and she loved every minute of it. She is so cheeky this one, but oh so gorgeous! I love her to pieces, and she amazes me every day with the things she learns, says and does. I feel so blessed to have her in our lives. I Uv Ooo Leila xxx

The week that was...

Since the rain subsided a week ago we have been desperately trying to spend as much time as possible outside, enjoying the return of the warming sun. We missed a third of the summer here, when we travelled back to the UK for Christmas, so I found it quite hard to adjust to summer having already ended when it felt like it had only just begun!

We are lucky enough to be able to walk to the beach, so as soon as the skies cleared last week, that is where we headed. It was still fairly gusty but it was so worth it! A salty, sticky foam had developed from the ocean and it was just so much fun for the girls.

We spent time in the park with friends, we enjoyed the garden sprinkler and began a new veggie patch, where we came across a new friend.

We've taken long walks in the morning sun. We (well, the girls) climbed trees and watched the local bats.

Helping her little sister over a fallen branch... bless.

Mahlia and Leila sitting in a tree
K I S S I N G

We spent an evening bathing in the rock pools, searching for crabs and watching a very enthusiastic Taiwanese fishing TV personality film his show. We spent this evening running down the sand banks at the beach and then chasing the waves in and out of the ocean. Both girls stripped down to their birthday suits, Leila's feet were constantly washed out from under her but each time her head popped up from the white wash with a big smile. Mahlia's lost her fear of the waves... she jogged home in the nude with hubby, while myself, Leila and the dogs drove home in the car.

We're not ready for summer to be over, we're holding onto its long, warm days for as long as we can. Are you still enjoying long summer days? If so, how are you spending them?