Just a quick note to let you know that I am now officially on leave.  Holidays here we come.  I will be taking annual leave from 25 July - 15 August inclusive.

Tomorrow I fly out to Paris.  3 weeks in glorious France.

No computer, iphone, email, nothing to connect me to the world.  BUT, I will have my camera

I promise I will email you as soon as I return, jet-lagged or not - I thankyou for your patience in this regard.

au-revoir, time to kick my feet up.

Sometimes I feel so lucky.  I feel lucky that I have a job that enables me to meet such gorgeous people and share such a beautiful time of their lives.   This young family were no exception.  This young family have just welcomed their newest little man into the world.   He is truely the luckiest little boy.

Welcome to the world Eli.

I am taking some annual leave as of this Sunday.  France here I come.  Holiday of a lifetime, here I come.  I am excited beyond words.

I will be on leave from this Sunday 25th of July to the 15th of August inclusive.

Just a short post from me today because after finally getting the kids back to school after the break, I have come down with the dredded lurgy.  I am determined this lurgy is going to have it butt kicked out the door within the next couple of days, because I now have a trip to France to prepare for.

I have been working very long hours to ensure all of my lovely clients will receive their orders before I go (and so I can have a totally guilt free holiday).   I feel great, but the sore throat is taking grip at the moment.

So before I go, I wanted to share some images I snapped of my girls yesterday.   My beautiful girls.  They fight, but they just adore each other.

And now off to plonk myself on the couch with a hot cup of honey and lemon tea.  It’s time to catch a bit of the Tour De France on the off chance I might see Andy on the side of the road.  He rang me this evening with strict instructions to watch tonight.

When I was One, I had just begun.
When I was Two, I was nearly new.
When I was Three, I was hardly me.
When I was Four, I was not much more.
When I was Five, I was just alive.
But now I am Six, I’m as clever as clever,
So I think I’ll be six now for ever and ever.

AA.Milne

To my girl that dances to the beat of her own drum.   To my cheeky, cuddly, giggly girl.  To my big girl that turns 6 today.    There is no other like you.  I can’t help but adore you.

Ah Harriet, you are as clever as clever, I will love you for ever and ever.

No words

How could you not completely fall in love with 2 month old baby Ananya.  Her eyes, her chubby tummy, her beautiful skin, she is such a gloriously happy little girl.  I had such a lovely time getting to know Ananya’s mum as well.  I am reminded of the time when I brought my first baby home, only I wish I could have been as relaxed as both Pallavi and Tajinder are.

I have so many images that I would love to show, but I hope you enjoy what I have chosen.

One might be forgiven for thinking this was an add for converse sneakers - well Noodle is not wearing them.  No, it simply highlights the fact that there is someone missing from the family (I couldn’t get the chicken’s feet in here, phew, it was hard enough to get Noodles).

It is Andy’s feet.  The reason for this is because his feet are over in France at the moment.  For those of you that are crazy cyclists, you will know what a huge event the “Tour De France” is, and you will understand the attraction of travelling half way around the world to see it is.  So this is my 40th birthday present to my husband.  For me, the thought of going to France means, wandering the streets of Paris and finding quaint little cafes and shops, travelling through the countryside staying in little bed and breakfasts, eating  food food food and cheese, sipping wines, soaking in the history, marvelling at the cobbled streets, chateaux’s, and most of all finding that perfect room with a view in Provence.

On the 25th of July, this is exactly what I plan to do.  After 11 1/2 years of having our children by our sides every step of the way, it is time for Andy and I to reconnect.  It’s time for us to be us again - just Andy and I.

I really couldn’t be happier, although the thought of leaving the children is something I am finding a little, well a very emotional.  No doubt once I get on that plane, with a gin and tonic in my hand, movies at my disposal and just lil ole me to look after, the tears will dry up.

For us, this is also a celebration of our love.  It is not a special anniversay this year, but 13 years married to the most amazing person I know.  I have planned a surprise photoshoot in Paris for Andy.  A Love Shoot by one of my most favourite Euopean photographers.  Tineke from Spaghetti Photos is flying in from the Netherland to photograph our love story.  I have been following Tineke’s work from the beginning, before she was discovered.  I have admired her perfectly imperfect style from the beginning as well, and now her signature style is admired around the world.  I have been friends with her since we first met online many years ago now.  I simply cannot wait to meet her, sip coffee in a little Parisian cafe, and most of all, be on the other side of the camera.

I also cannot wait to see Andy, for this is the longest we have been apart since we met some 16 years now.

Will be home on 15 August.

Twins.  I know, I look at these two and am thinking exactly the same as you.  But who know what the gene pool does.  I look at my own children and wonder where the curly haired, blue eyed one came from - but she is definately ours I can assure you.

So these two gorgeous girls are big sisters now.  Big sisters to this little one.  Three perfectly beautiful little girls.

for the first time, I have completely missed my Mine on Monday blog post  :-(  I had a weekend so full, I simply could not fit another thing in.  From driving up to Sydney and back on Saturday, to my very first Matildas Markets on Sunday, there was very little time for me.  On the topic of Matildas Markets, I just wanted to say thankyou to everybody that stopped by to say hello.  I had such a blast, and I was just sooo happy that my images were so well received - it really means the world to me.

So on to these two, well what can I say.  I simply adored photographing them, and I can still here their infectious giggles.    How could they not be gorgeous with such a sweet and caring and gorgeous mum.