A photographer is born...

Freya has decided she would like to make a photobook about the adventures of her plush toy dogs.  At the moment she is a little bit obsessed with dogs!  I asked her if she wanted to take all of the photos of the dogs so that it could be a book of her photos or if she wanted me to take them so that she was in the book with them.  She decided that she would like a mix of both.  So we went downstairs with our camera's to start her little project and before we knew it Eli had taken possession of the point and shoot camera while I was taking a photo of Freya and her dogs watering the strawberries.

It soon became apparent that Eli was not going to hand that camera back without a fight!

I think that I witnessed Eli fall in love with photography.  It was amazing how quickly he seemed to figure out how to get his subject into the frame and take a photo.  He was particularly fond of looking at his feet through the display screen.  He has also quickly taken to the ethos that the camera must go everywhere with you.  In moments that made me more than a little anxious about the safety of my camera he carted it onto the trampoline with him, down the backyard, up into their play fort.  Everywhere Eli went the camera went too.  Below are some of the photos he took.  The world as viewed by Eli!

Freya turns 5!

Freya decided that for her 5th birthday she wanted to go back to Walkabout Creek to visit a pair of sleepy cod whom on a previous visit she had taken a fancy to and named 'Bert & Bob'.  She also wanted to go to Hungry Jacks for dinner.  I was surprised that she didn't request a trip to one of the theme parks or a party however Freya often surprises me with her ideas so that is nothing new!

On the day Freya was excited to learn that friends Tom, Josie and their mum Georgina were going to meet us at Walkabout Creek.  Together we explored the Wildlife Centre, visiting Bert & Bob before heading back up to meet with Nana, Aunty Priya, Abby, Uncle Kenny & Michelle for morning tea.  After morning tea Tom, Josie and Georgina headed home and the rest of us went for a little bushwalk.  After all that walking a milkshake was in order when we returned!

Later that afternoon following a trip to Nana & Pop's we finally got around to having Freya's birthday cake... a dismal attempt by me at a Bert & Bob cake!  Freya was most gracious and told us that 'even though it didn't look the best, it tasted wonderful'.   Freya's friend Liva came over for the cake and so it was lovely that a different parts of the day she got to see her two best friends - Liva and Tom.

Finally it was time for dinner at Hungry Jacks with the birthday voucher Freya had received in the mail.   Freya bought her new baby doll 'Isabelle' with her which was one of her favourite presents from the day.

Krystal's Naming Day

Today we went to a beautiful naming day for baby Krystal.    It was particularly special to attend her naming day because Krystal wore our family gown.  Her mother Ashleigh is my mother's Goddaughter.  The gown was first worn by my mother for her Christening and has been subsequently worn by her siblings for their Christenings, my siblings and I for our Christenings, Ashleigh for her naming day, Freya and Keily for their naming days and now Krystal for hers.   We broke with tradition for Eli's naming day and he wore a suit. 

For the most part the day was truly lovely... until the cake came out and a very tired Eli decided that he wanted it straight away.  We offered up a cupcake to no avail, he wanted the cake!  Ashleigh quickly cut the cake and Eli was offered the very first piece but to the collective gasp of the entire party he swatted it away and nearly sent it flying.   After all of that and quite a few tears later he decided he wanted the cupcake afterall!