Tuesday 31 December 2013

51 and 52 of 52

"A portrait of A & J, once a week, every week, in 2013"
 



My final portraits of the year, I have loved this project as it has given me the focus to photograph my children, to watch them more and capture those moments which are meaningful to us.

I wanted to finish the project with a shot of all three of us, my little men still smaller than me, knowing this won't last long

I am so excited to continue this project in 2014 with some changes too

Saturday 21 December 2013

Bloggers meet.......Bristol

 



Last weekend a group of women gathered, all bloggers, all inspiring, all individual, all friends. Lou had organised a pretty much perfect day, Christmas market, lunch, wreath making.

We all chatted over the dirty burgers we had all ordered, some pork, some beef, mine lamb.

We all hot footed back to Lottie's home through the heavy rain to spend two hours making beautiful wreaths. My eyes went straight to the pink peppercorns and guinea fowl feathers, heaven

Such generous and wonderful women, Cathy, Lou, Lottie, Kat, Bethan and Laura. Looking forward to the next time



Wednesday 18 December 2013

Christmas card OH Christmas card



 
I was inspired to make my Christmas cards this year, I wanted something sustainable and found these brilliant recycled paper cards and envelopes on eBay, they were £10 for 50.

I used a tree stamp, silver and black pens for the design, simple but festive. I love the idea of putting a photo inside Christmas cards, it makes them so personal and with young children our families are always asking for updated photos of them. I managed to get a shot taken on a recent trip to visit Father Christmas at the GWSR railway in Cheltenham. If you register to snap fish you can order up to 40 prints for.....FREE!!! I paid just over £1 for postage, bargain!

So here they are, I am so pleased with them and hope they make our friends and family smile when they open them


A Christmas wreath - Nature in the home



A Christmas wreath made on Sunday with some amazing blogger friends, more on that later. I used damp moss, heavenly scented pines, soft pink peppercorns and guinea fowl feathers all supplied by Xanthe from Ivory Flowers.

Thank you Lou for organising such a wonderful day and Lottie for hosting in your handsome home. I felt a sense of belonging in this strange world of the Internet, such encouraging and supportive women to be around.

I have hung it on my kitchen door, I can smell it's sweet scent every time I walk past it



Monday 16 December 2013

50/52

"A portrait of A & J, once a week, every week, in 2013"
 

 
J - A joker just like his Mum
A - Through his birthday balloon
 
 
 
 

Nature in the home - a garland





My parents surprised me with a visit this past week, they came carrying the leathery-leaved beauty, mistletoe, a big bunch picked from their friends apple tree. Much happiness ensued while I made lattes and we chatted over what they have been doing of late and Christmas preparations.

I spent the next day pondering what to do with all the twigs we had. I hung an obligatory bunch by the door, pushed two springs into a large glass bottle and then I remember Lou's garland idea. With some festive bakers twine I knotted and hung my now favourite decoration of the year.

Kisses all round

Natalie

Saturday 14 December 2013

6!







My oldest boy, now six years old. I can barely believe it

You asked to visit a pizza restaurant with your friends, we played parse the parcel and had a make a plasticine model competition. We spent Sunday with Daddy's family visiting the church and listening to the Christdingle service.

You had not asked for gifts just that you wanted to have lots of time with your friends, we had fun walking home after school hand in hand with your best buddies. Playing Lego and pretending we had a library where you were the chief giver of books!

We gave you a bag of mobilo and a build the human body book. You spent your birthday at home with us building Lego cars and horse drawn carriages.
 
My boy, now six and what a boy you are.




Monday 9 December 2013

49/52

"A portrait of A & J, once a week, every week, in 2013"
 

 
We visited Father Christmas this past weekend, as we ran down to the station to catch the steam train I felt so happy that we are experiencing the magic of Christmas through our children's eyes. They were both so excited to go on the train. I had bought them reindeer gingerbread biscuits for the journey, they loved them.
 
J sat next to Mr C and had a chat, he asked for some action figures, A was a little nervous but had the courage to ask a few questions and for a name collar for this doggy, such sweetness
 
Natalie
 

Monday 2 December 2013

48/52

"A portrait of A & J, once a week, every week, in 2013"
 
 
Boys in their PJ's
 
For the annual children in need fundraising event at school the children were asked to donate money to be able to wear their pyjamas to school. What excited boys I had that morning, as they walked downstairs their Daddy said "come on boys, you really need to get ready for school" a joke I think most of the parents played that morning!

The school playground was full of colour, oh how I long for the grey and boring uniform to be more child friendly and vibrant

Natalie
 

47/52

"A portrait of A & J, once a week, every week, in 2013"
 
 
A family day at Cotswold wildlife park
 
We were given tickets by my parents to visit the park, we had such a lovely day, it was a day where everything seemed to be funny, we all were in such good spirits. With four of us those days where one of us is not tired, slightly grumpy or stressed are rarer than we'd like.
 
I loved the rhinos, Barry the snakes and the boys....penguins every time
 
Joining in with the 52 project
 
Natalie

Saturday 16 November 2013

46/52

 
"A portrait of A & J, once a week, every week, in 2013"
 


Time away from the pressures of school, doing what my boys do best, playing

J -sat on a wall watching and listening to the waves, wrapped in my coat to keep warm

A - having fun at the arboretum

Joining in with the 52 project

Natalie


Thursday 14 November 2013

45/52

 
"A portrait of A & J, once a week, every week, in 2013"
 

 
Half term with Mummy and Grandma
 
A - Looking so handsome in his wet suit, one tooth missing and his summer holiday blond hair still not cut!
 
J - He loves my sisters horses and we all think he will be up riding with her soon
 
Joining in with the 52 project
 
Natalie
 

A collection of trees






Last weekend we visited Westonbirt arboretum, we were all excited to see the autumnal colours and have hot chocolate and marshmallows in the woods. Thankfully it was a beautiful bright sunny day and only started raining as we were heading home.

There were bright red, pops of yellow, browns and still the brightest greens coming from the pines, which also gave off the most fragrant scent. The boys did laugh at me though, saying it is one thing to hug trees but was I really going round smelling them? So funny!

If you have an arboretum near you head off today, tomorrow or at the weekend to catch the last of the beauty of autumn.

Natalie
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