Dad

Dad, Kim and I, waaaay back.

 Dad recently turned 60.  A few things happened....
 

Auntie Denise, Hodo, Chloe and Raff visited from to celebrate with us Australia and Lachy fell in love with Raffert.

There was a party and a great speech from Aunty Dee.

There was an AMAZING cake from Beth.

There were these thoughts I had about my Dad.

People haven't always believed in my Dad. They didn't think he'd come to much. One thing you can say for my Dad is he knows how to prove people wrong. He is hardworking, very successful and an extremely smart man. He is one of those rare people who haven't been taught much, but just somehow know how to do everything, and do it well.

Throughout my life, and I am sure some extremely trying situations he has always been kind and patient.

He is generous to a fault, he has a heart of gold and will do just about anything he can to help anybody.

He has given all of himself to make a great life for his family and still works tirelessly.  He's the kind of man who would run 10kms on a Sunday morning alongside me on my horse so I didn't have to go to Pony Club on my own. He's the kind of man who gives up his weekends to work on projects on our house and only asks for scones and cups of tea in payment. He's the kind of man who would drive 25kms to the city in the wee hours (often!) to pick me up when I didn't have money for a taxi. He's the kind of man who lets his grandkids crawl all over him, swing on his legs and jump on him when I know that he has a bad back and damaged knees and that it hurts him. He's the kind of man I am proud to have as my Dad, who cares so so deeply for his family, who loves his grandchildren to distraction and wants to give them the world.

He's a good man, a great Dad and a fantastic Grandad and we are so grateful to have him in our lives.

Isla Rose

Off to the disco.

Isla Rose is 6. I do not know how we got here, but I do know that we are so proud of our independent, headstrong, charismatic, bright, clever, sunny, funny girl.

It's been a year now since she started school and I am still surprised at her willingness and determination to learn and try new things. She's like a dog with a bone when she wants to figure something out and tries and tries (all day, all week long if need be!) til she gets it.

She has the capacity to be incredibly kind and caring. She loves to create, draw, write, read. To my joy, she still lloves to be in the elements, climbing trees and bouncing on the tramp with bare feet in the rain. She still loves bugs. LOVES bugs.

It also sometimes feels like she is so much older - since she started school her knowledge of the wider world, pop culture etc that we had obviously sheltered her from a little is really starting to emerge.

She absolutely loved her first disco at school a few weeks ago and before then had decided to have a disco party for her 6th birthday. She had such a great time with her classmates, loved having some children over that had not yet been to our house and got thoroughly spoiled. She absolutely loved her party and says she wishes it was her disco birthday every day.

Oh I love this kid with her big, big heart and her passion for life that I hope never fades, Happy Birthday kiddo xxx

Discovering pressies

Can 't forget Maxi turning 7 too!

Cake #1

Joy!

Mastered in less than 24 hours.

Cake #2 Inside Out.

Lachlan Gray

This champ is one of the most caring, sweet and loving children you are likely to come across. I'm not biased, people tell me this all the time. Some have even been non-family members!

He feels things so deeply, he is sometimes anxious and he is a worrier. BUT, without this side to his personality, he wouldn't be the sensitive, empathetic, sweet, sweet dude that he is.

At dinner the other night, out of the blue he pipes up with "Isla, I'm going to care about you forever". He makes my heart swell with these little outpourings of emotions.

We are so, so proud of the leaps and bounds he has taken lately in overcoming his fears. He's worked through his anxiety at starting pre-school and is settling into a Montessori school that seems to be the exact right fit for his personality. He has surprised me with the enthusiasm he has for kindy (not kindy mum, pre-school), given the struggles we have had previously, and although we still have a few tears he is already growing in leaps and bounds in independence.

Can I be so happy for him that he has reached this level of independence but also incredibly sad that he's taken his first large step away from me?!

Pre-school trip to Motat