13 / 52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2015."

Anya: growing, not only in height but in other ways too.  I recently noticed that she won't hold my hand anymore when people are around (thankfully her brothers still do, phew) and I can't remember the last time I saw her play with once beloved dolls. Maybe it's just a phase, maybe it isn't. Bittersweet comes to mind, regularly. 

12 / 52

 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2015."

Joseph: thoughtful; a picture to take to his friend's birthday party.

Spring

 

 

 

11 / 52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2015."

Joseph: a large cardboard box plus a lollipop. Such joy.

10 / 52

  "A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2015."

Anya: away with the fairies.  I love the sunlight on her face and her unkept hair, gained from the many attempts at handstands and cartwheels.

An interesting article this week about shutterbug parenting something which I consciously make every effort not to do. Much better to be "engaged in experiences" rather than "collecting trophies".

 

Family

 

 

 

Oh my goodness.  I've mentioned before here just how important family is to me.  This past weekend I realised again just how grateful and lucky I am to have such loving people around me.  Yesterday, I turned forty.  I had told my husband for a long time that I didn't want a party to celebrate but we had planned a special weekend in Deauville with the children.  Unbeknown to me, he had organised with my mum and sister that they would secretly travel to France and meet us for the weekend.  Well, I couldn't have had a nicer birthday and it means so much that they made such an effort to be here.  I really have come away with the best memories of those two days.  

9 / 52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2015."

Raphaël and Joseph: my boys - fresh from a walk on the beach. One of them always finds dinosaur eggs on the sand.