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early morning perfection

There really is magic in that early-morning time.

Usually I just want more sleep. 

But this was a get-up-early-and-go kinda morning. 

So we did. Straight down to the beach. 

With the puppy.

And the stuffed black cat.

Laughing kids splashing each other in the rock pools.

Happy kids playing with the puppy.

Chilled out kids enjoying a calm and easy sunday morning.

Why on earth do we not do exactly this more often?!

a little boy makes a boat

After lots of paper airplanes he was inspired. And determined. To build a paper boat.
Some paper, some colours, lots of tape & a little help.
The initial pool test wasn't brilliant. The second was better.
Ballast stones this time & no accidental splashing from friends.

and then we were crazy

In the car waiting for Alek's piano lesson to end.
I had just finished reading a story about a mother of 6 who sadly lost her life in childbirth & how important it is to not always be the one taking pictures of the kids, but to also be in some of the pictures of the kids. This isn't new news, but it never hurts to be reminded of the little but important things.
I am terrible at being in the pictures. My comfort zone is most definitely on the other side of the camera - seeing life through the lens & not being captured by the lens. And the reality for my kids is that there really are very few photos of me in our pictures. And while that may not change drastically, I will try hard to make a far better effort to, at the very least, change that a little bit.
And we got started immediately, clowning around with the iphone.

wet

It was a lovely, overcast, cool late afternoon so we took Maddy down to the beach for a play. The kids were in the water and Maddy was very curious indeed as the waves washed up. She wasn't quite brave enough to jump in ... but she swam like a pro when an unexpected wave washed her off the sand! We're hoping that we do have a water-loving dog and that there are many more happy beach adventures to be had with our furry little friend.

the doll weekend

We did it. Girls weekend away to Miami ... specifically, to the American Girl store. Hard to believe a doll warrants a trip to Miami, but there you have it. 
Rachel, Livia, Siena & I set off early one Saturday morning for 2 nights of fun in Miami. There was shopping for the big people, delicious food & great company for all ... and a good few hours spent at the American Girl store. 
How does one spend a few hours at a toy store? First, choosing a hair style for the doll. With so many hair styles to choose from, this took some time. The doll then gets booked into the salon. We skipped the facial and hand/foot scrub. It's a doll!! A small wait + 15 minutes in the doll-sized salon chair, the new hairstyle was complete. Then there was ooohing and aaahing and shopping to be done. And all that before lunch - with dolls - in the AG cafe. Oh my! It's a crazy world, that American Girl world, but we had 2 very happy little girls. And ultimately, 2 very happy (& exhausted!) mummies. 

the puppy

While the tears were free-flowing at the farewell to Papi, there was already another super-little girl making herself at home in our house. 
Madeleine Spots (Maddy) joined our family on Mother's Day weekend. 11 weeks old. Papillon poodle mix. Super, super cute!
Funny how having a puppy isn't so far off having a baby ... what on earth was I thinking! The potty training and the teething-biting look to be fair challenges for us. 
She was loved instantly and has definitely found her way into all our hearts.