Murray to Murphy:

It was my divine pleasure to be involved in Simon and Narelle's wedding day..I have edited SO MANY of your photos already..I just had so many that I liked! I think I might have been a little biased towards a certain little page boy..belonging to my darling bestie..But seriously he was so freakin'cute! All the kids in this wedding were gorgeous..

Being quite averse to cold..I think the bride looked beautiful..and the bridesmaids..Well let me just say -  I avoided editing any photos that incorporated a pink tweety dressing gown! Simon and Narelle, you both has such loving families..You are so very lucky and I too hope to be photographing William's cousins in the near future:

Thank you too for allowing me to be a part of your festivities! I danced the night away and LOVED my cappuchino brulee..SERIOUSLY...

xxxx

Will she?

Will she always be this way?
Will she always roll her eyes at me when I say something she doesn't want to hear?
Will she sigh theatrically at every serious word I say?
Will she not meet my eye when she is grown?
Will she still sob quietly behind the couch where she she thinks I cant hear her?
Will she still sob loudly behind the couch so I can?
Will she always slam a door, a drawer anything -  to make her point?
Will she still sulk?
Will she still whine?
Will she?
Will she be like this at 13?
Will she be the same at 16?
Will she alway react to me this way?

Will she understand why I am consistently firm?
Will she run wild?
Will she rebel?
Will she confide in me?
Will she want to?

It's the conundrum of parenthood..It seems delightfully far away when they are tiny and small, snug in the safety of your arms...

But far to soon you are going head to head with your beautiful daughter.. Again and again..

And I worry...Will she  hate me for this? Will this look she gives me - will it mean much more in years to come?  She moves on each time..But I am left wondering what she hasd tucked away from each experience? Hurt? Anger? Resentment..Or maybe respect?? I can only hope..

Every argument, gentle discussion, rasied voice and subsequent consequence feels like a hurdle we are both jumping as we hurtle closer toward the teenage years..And I fear the teenage years..Always have..Perhaps I am overthinking this and allowing my own fears to cloud each situation with her?

I love her and want desperately to guide her into becoming a good adult..But it's not always a mapped out journey..And at times it's pretty darned full of potholes... But I am honest with her too..Expressing my fears and thoughts at her expressions and over reactions..Asking if she realises how her behaviour affects me and others?

Don't get me wrong though..She is otherwise a delightful and quirky child..Loving, cheeky and responsible..And although I fear it - I continue to dish out the same firm line..Not acceptable...

Whether or not her response is appropriate remains undetermined each time....And each time I am left wondering the same question...Which is at the heart of the matter really..

Will she?
Will she still love me?

xx


Note: Please if you are reading this - I am not sobbing hopelessly into my pillow...I am fine..We didn't even have a rough day..  This was just me pondering over our dinner preparations about my feelings about it..And I just wanted to get it down..

Oh my..He's 2:

 

 

 

 

I'm officially beat! After his birthday Thursday, I had a big day out in Melb with a wedding to photograph and then attend. I am always knackered after a wedding photoshoot..it's a busy, busy day..Sneak of these photos to come..

 

But before that I had to make the cake..He's crazy, mad for Thomas and Chuggington - like alot of little blokes his age - but when I googled Thoms cakes..I wasn't overly fussed with homemade results I was seeing. I think it is difficult to get clean lines needed for a train with either fondant of icing?

 

Then I stumbled across this 'no bake train cake'- and I loved it. Somehow it looked like a proper wooden type train. So I gave it a go. He LOVED it..To the point that when we dismantled the engine to serve it..He was most displeased - and desperately wanted to put the gingerbread drove back on!

 

He patiently waited all day for his presents and then waited while his Mama photographed him with the pile BEFORE ripping into them.. The Thomas track was a HIT and he quite liked little cookie monster and Elmo..All faves around here..

 

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY

My beautiful baby boy..

 

 

Results are in:

I can't say I totally worked my abs off during this Fitness Food and Style 3 week challenge. Don't get me wrong - I worked out. ALOT. But I found it difficult to fit the specific ab workout in when I was already doing bootcamp twice a week and running twice to three times a week. I think I completed the KCC workout 5 times in the three weeks? I also did a 21 ab challenge also devised by Crabtree Fitness Professionals..I did this 2 and 1/2 times..In between these I did mini ab workouts that I found here..Either on my own or with Jodie ..Mostly I did these when combined with cardio. I would run around the lap at the park (approx 1km) do an ab circuit, run etc..You get the idea...

My abs before the challenge can be viewed here...I am not sure there is a huge difference? And I didn't take my measurements..But you know what? I look at myself in the mirror in my bra and undies and hey - I like what I see..So I am happy. I don't think I am ever going to have a six pack..Not even sure it's something I want really? I like the little curve..A 4 pack..Someone I know has an awesome one...You know who you are...Jac...ooops..and she and I are working towards keeping and improving on mine:

I must add..That you really can't spot fix your core..A six pack comes from a strong core - and this comes from a variety of exercises..It also come from eating well. The change in my eating habits has ensured I got my tummy back in shape. Truly. 90% clean is the only way. 10% processed. If that.

I don't eat much bread these days. I tend to feel heavy and bloated. I try to eat very little carbs late in the day..I need some or I am starving by 8pm! But I fill myself with brown rice, quinoa and I have even tried pearl cous cous at lunch times..

I also eat LOTS of spinach. Seriously, you can throw that in ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. It's the best way to get a hit of veg..My girls are loving it now too and munch on it straight from the bag..

I am continuing to be as sugar free as possible. Still no sugar in my coffee..No sugar at brekky... None at lunch.. I have honey or maple syrup on or in our snacks.. Baking healthy too. Wholewheat all the way baby!

So there you have it..Congrats to everyone else who participated..I hope I can get to see some of your results..
Big thanks to  my friends, Dani for running with it when I thought we could give it a try..
To Jac for getting on board with KCC..You are awesome..4 pack and all!
And to Marita and Jodie for going along for the ab ride with me..We'll all be HOT come Summer girlies..We need a day at the beach and a shopping day to buy a bikini!

Signing off..A wedding to photograph tomorrow and I am pooped from all the birthday celebrations today!

Night peeps...

XXX


xx

Always a pleasure:

to capture this family. In fact they are one of the few families I have snapped at each stage... Pregnancy..Birth.. and now that gorgeous delightful six month mark.. They are happy to follow my lead during a shoot and for this I think the photos are truly natural and amazing.. Lucky me ..That they are my good friends as well!

I especially love the changes I get to witness in all members of the family unit.. Miss A has grown and changed so very much..She is such a sweet little dot.. A real little trooper..The only thing she protested to was the numerous outfit changes..And even then I still managed to capture a smile.. So close to sitting..I had a few shots where she seems a tad wobbly..But we always managed to catch her! Thank goodness.. Mum and Dad..Well during pregnancy there is that sweet anticipation that is evident in the shots...The birth photos they look blissful and a newly in love..And well now - they look like they're having fun..Happy to be doing this parenting thing:

 

 

Thanks guys.. Hope you like my quirky little mix..There are lots more to choose from..

xx

Not as planned:

Let me just preface this post by saying..I am in the back half of my cycle - if you know what I mean - and therefore my morning started in somewhat of an - eh? - frame of mind..

I was planning on simply dressing myself and kids and getting a coffee on the way to playgroup..Jumpstart definitely required.. I had no intentions of extending myself in anyway..Maybe a litle cruise around on the internet before leaving..Definitely relaxed and ignorant of chores that are always there to be done..

As I planted my feet on the ground from my warm and cozy bed, it struck me...After two days of celebrations..I had more to come..Rylan needed a cake for playgroup - in just two short freakin hours! There was no way my Mummy guilt would allow me to NOT do it...Milla having had THIS cake at playgroup only weeks before...

Needless to say, I hit the ground running.. Girls NOT so much.. It took them twenty-five solid minutes to emerge fully clothed from their bedrooms..Sheesh.. Lunches and healthy breakfasts made for ALL six of us and three lots of hair brushed and groomed..

I got them to school on time though - with no need to shove the out of the car still moving at 40km hour..Thankfully...

Back home I pulled the mixer from the cupboard and then paused to change a stinky bottom.. Sigh.. Moving on.. Packet cake ( leave me alone  I was on a time limit!) mixed and in the oven. Washing on..Bins emptied..Diswasher emptied and re-stacked.

Milla and Rylan dressed.. Cake out of oven and straight into freezer - if there ever was time I wish I had a Masterchef blast freezer - it was now....

Me in shower..Barely let water warm me and I'm out...Dressed and then quickly hang washing out in the sunshine..

Mix icing while drying hair - who knew it was possible??? Up end various toy tubs in search of Thomas...or Percy...Or James??? Freaking hell - I would settle for Coco, Brewster or Wilson too at this point - but none are anywhere to be found?? Seriously? On any given day I stand on, bath with, locate a freakin toy train in my undies draw...

Where the hell are they? Island of Sodor my arse.... Thankfully, Rod emerges from his sleep-in and locates them....

Cake decorated...Thomas in pride of place..Except the birthday boy is seemingly against his previously mislaid fave engine being coated in green icing..Wailing ensues....Sigh...

So, as is typical in my household..Nothing goes as you think..I left the house loaded up for birthday celebrations at playgroup..Having completed ALOT more than I anticipated and a little more too..
In my little world..That's cause for celebration..

Drive thru coffee here I come...

Just to ease your worried minds.. Thomas was not harmed and thoroughly cleaned for his efforts..
Much to a little fella's delight..

xx