october was

the details are spotty, at best

wishful thinking

Though Sam didn't know it at the time, he actually gave me my Christmas present this summer ... you know, those presents you ask for but then buy yourself when you finally spy it in some random shopping trip? All I wanted was a new, sturdy pastry blender and boy, did I ever find a beaut! I know, I know, that's a rather simple and mundane request but if you'd seen the damage my previous bendy, useless one was inflicting then you'd understand. And so I am a happy girl.
But if I were to indulge myself in some wishful thinking, my mind certainly might wander to these ...


Henry and Walter's World to discover ... I love all the prints at MySweetPrints



For future family movies nights! - soft serve treats from Cuisinart



This gorgeous bamboo owl clock from Decoylab



I think I would commission a 'hello' or a 'read' sign from Oh Dier



Or an 'M' for our family from Edie's Lab



A spending spree here at Bake It Pretty



Oh, the special baking packages I would wrap with Divine Twine



And a sweet trinket for this Mum from Lisa Leonard Designs

i am a happy auntie again

My sister and brother in law welcomed their second gorgeous daughter into the world on Wednesday, October 13th. Eden Cate was born at 10:21 am, weighing 6 lbs 15 oz and she is perfectly perfect. Isla was so happy to finally meet this Little Sister she's been talking about for so long - the video I saw of their meeting was so, so wonderful. Bethany had such a difficult pregnancy again so she, and we, are so happy to be done and thankful that everything went smoothly in the end for both she and the baby.

Congratulations to your new Family of Four, Glen and Bethany .... I can't wait to come out soon for my own snuggles from both your girlies! xo

they are cute, but they wouldn't smile

We had our first professional photo shoot last month, just before the birthdays, with Tara from Random Eyesight Studio. I was prepped: the timing, they were well fed, just napped, I had extra clothes, bibs for spit. But wouldn't you know it ... our big smilers wouldn't smile! Well I clarify that to say, Walter did smile well for the second day's shots. For his balloon birthday photos, phew, those were important. But Henry, no. Not alone, not just with his brother, not either of them for any attempt at a family foursome. The Christmas card family photo that I really, really wanted. Henry was completely obsessed with any and every leaf from minute one and Walter would cry if we set him down. It was half comical and half so frustrating. Still you can see we do have some lovely photos to choose from, though I won't show our favorites as those will be revealed on our Christmas card this year. Coming to a postbox near you.

But don't expect all of us to be smiling. And I'm ok with that.

the party!

And was it ever a party!
This year we celebrated our one and two year olds ... with 9 of their friends and all their Mamas ... so yes, we had ourselves a good, good time. Many items were a carryover from Henry's party last year and I was determined to give the same sort of care and attention to Walter so I was up late the night before finishing up his own First Year photo mobile. A project I really loved doing as it gave me some quiet time to really think back over this year and to see so very clearly how much he has grown. From that squidgy-faced "fresh" photo on his very first Birth-Day to now. I used photos as well for gift tags on the goody bags, a way to identify each child's take-home treat. Though my plans for this party changed so much over the past year I stuck to this particular idea and it's really one of my most favorite. A fun, personalized surprise for our guests as they head out the door. There was chocolate cake for the Mums, homemade cupcakes for the kidlets, a taste of icing for Walter, and a full 5 minutes of sugar bliss for Henry! 30 helium balloons, more to play with, a perfectly sized kids table and lots of gifts and love and friends together for our birthday boys.
Thank so much for coming, everyone, and sharing in our special day!

two boys, two birthdays

Having two boys with birthdays two days apart, it's been a string of special morning wake-ups this week and three full days of birthday celebration. Each of the boys was given one special gift from us on their own Birth-Day ... Henry unwrapped a fire chief's hat and Walter was given a sweet lovey duck who was promptly named Darby. Then on their Middle Day it was everything else! Gifts from Aunties and Uncles and pressies from both Grandparents. Lots of wooden toys, stackers and puzzles and pull-dogs, and books and two perfectly sized reading chairs from Nana and Grandad. (I had been eyeing those up online for quite awhile and so their birthday money for the boys was very quickly and decidedly put to good use! Let's be honest, this Mumma loves them!!) Yet through it all, the gifts and the party, the helium balloons were really the most fun and enticing of all. And isn't that always the way?!