running man...

this acknowledgment is long overdue

paul completed an EPIC running event a couple of months back

i'm still marvelling at the feat

(and in his typically humble way, he is quick to brush it off-as if it never happened)

months of preparation

running

resistance training

strength work

endurance exercises 

trialling different types of fuel; last year what he had made him physically ill

positivity in abundance

:: 100 kilometres ::

he came in to each checkpoint smiling

he looked fresh and excited

eleven hours of continuous running

right at the end he missed a turn and inadvertently added a few extra km's

but he came through the finish line grinning like the cheshire cat

i think you might call that a good day at the office

::

eats, shoots, leaves...

i like to eat and

i love to cook

if i make something that looks any good

i might even take a snap of it

just in case i never make it again

(i have a knack for picking ridiculously time consuming things to make)

which means i might also take the time to make it look a bit restaurant-y

and looking like its come off one of those posh foodie magazines.

in the messy muddle of motherhood

these passions were silenced

i used to think my interests had to wait

but now i feel differently

if i lose myself and forget those things which drive my creativity

then i am just a shell of who i am

SO

i took a small step towards re-igniting those fires.

thanks to the secret cake club and peggy saas

i went along to a workshop

to show me how to take mouthwatering photos of my culinary creations

i also tried my hand at a spot of cake decorating

not my forte

but i just enjoy having a crack at it

and meeting the lovely megan henry of littlesweet baking at last 

t'was a ruffle cake - three layers of old-school, moist and unctuous chocolate cake

sandwiched between layers of, and smothered in lovely (hers, not mine) ruffles of italian meringue buttercream

i watched megan carefully

confidently creating from the simplest of ingredients

for three hours all i had to think about were piping bags, spatulas, sugar and cake

i was clumsy

i was impatient 

and i was sweating

(because I just wanted to eat the damn thing)

i took a couple of requisite photos - just to prove i did actually do it

all i need to say is that

it was sublime

whats been cooking in YOUR kitchen?

slugs and snails and puppy dog's tails...

our middle child and only boy

was born seven years ago today.

clever, kind, generous and popular

rambunctious, argumentative, mischievous and stubborn

all rolled into one

chatterbox.

a fan of cars, butter chicken, maths and his new little sister

an elfin lad who isn't the quickest, or strongest 

but makes up for it with a bountiful supply of energy and endurance

happy birthday, seanie.
if the next seven years are anything like the last
we should be so lucky.

:::

blink of an eye...

you.

six months.

slow down will you?

it seems as though you are growing up too quickly already

:::

i still marvel at the lovely creature you are

with eyes that look like the sun rising over the horizon

the button nose

the impish smile that looks a lot like mine when i was your age

you're eating real food now

and loving it

you sat up on your own a few days ago

and changed your perspective of the world

i know the next new trick isn't far off

and i can't wait

love you long time, ivy moo

:::

five months on...

time is an abstract notion when you spend all your days 

loving and snuggling with your baby

she's been with us five months

but sometimes it feels as though she has always been here

i love the soft bit at the back of her neck 
the little cupid's bow lips
those big, shining eyes

she is placid, content and sweet
and she has bewitched us all

:::

sisters-in-arms...

:::

these two have something very special

 a unique closeness and affinity

it is magical

and almost tangible

:::

only 4 days till Christm….whaat??

at about the same time every year

i can be heard exclaiming

"..how the heck did that come around so quickly?!"

but it has and as always

there is a frantic, frazzled fug of 

last minute shopping

the shops only close for one day

but i stockpile food

like there is a famine

we try not to go overboard

when planning the menu

but who am i kidding?

paul likes to make an occasion of present wrapping

the kids are put to bed on time

we fix ourselves a pot of tea and a few slices of pannetone

put on some suitably festive muzak

and wrap away

carefully labelling and embellishing each parcel

before laying them under the tree

imagining the anticipation

and look of the children's faces 

on christmas morning

when all the gifts have been opened

when all our bellies are full

we'll sit down to watch a christmas movie together

drift in and out of sleep

cups of tea

fruit mince pies

maybe a splash in the pool

life is good here

and not just at christmas

we try not to forget that

i wish all of you

a restful christmas with everyone you hold dear;

and the gift of time to be still and enjoy being together

Merry Christmas!