Most days I make sure we leave the house – it’s pretty necessary with two active kids (and one adult) with cabin fever. But some days I like to prove to myself that we can manage one full day at home. Every minute feels like an hour, every hour like a day but despite that I dig in my heels. Oscar’s bike has resided inside lately and I found him peddling away, drumming a tune on his bike bell and dreaming of the outside world. Indoor life isn’t for everyone it seems.
Archives for July 2015
Day 210 ‘The Playground Pt II’
The playground is a new frontier for Lola now that she is walking full time. Unlike her brother she is much happier to sit and savour the moments. When Oscar was this size I always wished he would sit still long enough for me to push him on the swings but now that I have a child who does exactly that I often find myself wishing she would want to try something else. It’s so funny how different they are. I took these photos when the sun was getting lower in the sky. The golden afternoon sun illuminated her blonde hair. Aside from the technical aspects I just loved watching the way she watches her Daddy as he pushed her. The last photo in this sequence was when she was told we were leaving – a very typical face of displeasure for our little Lola bear – I see it at least ten times a day.
Day 209 ‘The Playground Pt I’
We spent the last hours of the afternoon at the playground down the road – in my opinion they are the best hours for play and the best for photography too. The golden sunlight, the gorgeous long shadows and the brightly coloured equipment really caught my eye. To add to the photographer’s dream conditions recent rain had left large puddles reflecting images of excited little people who, of course, just had to wade through them. I’m part way through editing a few more so will post a second instalment tomorrow.
Day 208 ‘The camp out’
Tim, the enthusiastic camper of the family, has been talking about taking a camping holiday for some time. Oscar has been getting increasingly excited about the idea but not being the weather for it he took a camping trip of a different kind. The destination was our lounge room but Oscar loved it all the same. Both kids ‘helped’ set up the tent before enthusiastically jumping around in it until the static electricity caused their hair to stand on end. Oscar had two nights of lounge room camping and for now it has satiated his desire for the great outdoors.
Day 207 ‘Pure joy’
Is there anything more infectious than a grin from ear to ear?! Lola’s first turn on our backyard swing was a display of pure and unbridled joy. Her face swallowed up her eyes and every tooth was on display – which was a welcome distraction from the little bug she’d been suffering.
Day 206 ‘Trail blazers’
We are lucky to live in close proximity to the beach and the bush. We went on a big walk down the nearby Mountain. It was a big walk for four year old legs and at one point Tim resembled a packhorse with one child in the backpack and another clinging to his front. The tree canopy was very tall and dense so it was very dark as we descended with just small bursts of light poking through the trees. Needing both hands to hold on I didn’t get to make too much use of the camera but did catch a few snaps here and there.
Day 204-205 ‘Saturday morning Pt ii’
I haven’t been very proactive with my Self Portraits this month and I certainly hadn’t envisioned a self portrait in our jammies last Saturday morning but as we sat talking, answering texts, building Meccano and trying to decide what we should do that day I realised we were all, for a change, in the same room. I quickly set up my camera and just for fun took a few snaps. I’ve shot from this perspective before as we seem to naturally congregate in Oscar’s room quite a bit and I quite like the use of the negative space.
Day 203 ‘Everybody needs a kitty for a pillow’
Lola’s affinity with our cat Tiger has reached epic proportions. She finally understands the word ‘gently’ and can adjust her hand strength accordingly. She is surprisingly tender in his presence. Tiger is also extremely patient and isn’t too bothered with being used as a pillow for Lola’s spontaneous ‘naps’.
Day 201-202 ‘Walking in the bush’
Tim comes from ‘walking’ people but I have to say that I do not. I come from eaters and drinkers and couchers – definitely not walkers or campers. But after eight years together, and maybe helped by my love of photography, I’m coming around to the idea of the occasional bushwalk.
Day 200 ‘Found’
Day 200 and we are still playing hide and seek – it must be a favourite in our house as I think this might be the third game featured on the blog. I love playing with a four year old though. He hides but forgets that if he talks (which is something he never stops doing) that we will find him quicker. Sometimes he will even call out when we’re in the same room “Mum you have to look for me! Are you looking??!!”. I play along and pretend I don’t know where he is checking under the bed and behind the bookshelf before going to his inevitable hiding place – inside the wardrobe. Day 200 feels like quite the milestone – a nice round number – and I breathe a happy sigh and reflect that we’ve passed the halfway point in this 365 day journey.