Santa Drop-Off

Obviously the most important part of Christmas, is writing a letter to Santa.  So yesterday, I sat down with Moo and we got down to business.

She dictated, I wrote.....

and then she decided that she was too interested in cutting the paper to make paper chains. May I add, since when did my baby become so clever with scissors? Seriously, I was freaking out - blurting out random "Watch your fingers"...."Are you sure you don't want Mummy to do it?"...."Please be careful"......and she stopped....grabbed my face with her tiny hands and looked me in the eyes. She said very slowly and very careful "Mum - I.can.do.it". Enough said.

So today, while Macie played at Daycare and William didn't know what was going on, Santa came to visit to decorate our house and deliver a very special "someone" for our darling children.

He placed a wreath on the door, put the Christmas tree up, decorated and made the cottage feel very festive.

He left a special present under the tree.....a book explaining all about his special someone....

and I wonder who that special "someone" will be???

And for now....we are off to town to pick up Macie.  I am beyond excitement....and I know that she will be too!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.....

If I had to choose one of my happiest childhood memories - it is without fail, Christmas.  Each and every year. 

My parents used to create this magical, mystical and amazing Christmas for my sister and I every single year.  Everything we did was so happy, so fun and most importantly, memorable.

If there is anything I want to do as a parent - it is to create these same memories for my babies.  Obviously Willsy is a little young for all the hype but Macie is sooo excited.  We only have to see Santa in the catalogues and she goes all goo-goo!  It makes my heart warm and fuzzy to see her innocence in full force.

So, this year - I've decided to create what I always talk about.  I'm going to create MAGIC for my children each and every day of Advent.

Instead of just an Advent Calendar from the shops - we've created an Advent Calendar box. 

It will sit proudly in the house with a new activity, gift and note from Santa every single day for Macie and William.....and I've got a good 2 days to get organised before the 1st of December dawns on me.  I'm talking Christmas Craft, Gingerbread Houses, Paper Chains, Candy Cane Treasure Hunts, Santa Sightings.....and yes my husbo is rolling his eyes at me but then reassures me "The kids are so lucky to have you Han!". 

Not only will it create magic.  But it will also force me to step away from the hussle and bussle of life - and enjoy my darling children.

It's starting to feel a bit like Christmas here.....how about you? 

The end product.....a bit of mod podge and a few ripped up magazines and VOILA.  Lots & Lots of Fun. 

Wondalli Carnival

I have been meaning to write about Macie's Third Carnival Birthday Party but this past few months have just run away from me. 

We always said that we would always do a party for my darling babies every two years.....she had such a wonderful time - even with the heat and flies (I'm talking thousands of flies).....and lots of memories were made.

Here is a little visual of the day...

 

 

Each and every child went home with a lolly box filled with toys and goodies.  There was also popcorn for the kids and the lolly jars were there for the big adults kids to take for the roadtrip home. 

 

 

Macie is so very lucky to have so many amazing people in her life. Her Godfather and his wife dressed as clowns for the day and Macie's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw them. They even went above and beyond as they learnt to make balloon animals for every single child. It was magical.

 

 

We also organised Macie's very devoted Pa (and clever photographer) to take photos of everyone in a Photo Booth!  The photos are classic!

I had huge plans of having the desserts table, food table, etc like all the parties on the gorgeous blogs....but the reality of living on a farm in the heat with the flies and all the other elements made this not happen!  I always stress about entertaining.  I wonder what people will think of our humble little cottage (which should be treated like any human..."Its who lives on the inside that counts!") and it makes me all stressy!

But for some reason, all the stress disappeared and I just took a step back to appreciate everything around us.  People travelled so far and wide just for the afternoon.  Our backyard was filled with people who love us, support us and most importantly, adore our little girl who has the biggest heart and personality.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped us on this special day for Macie.  Heaths parents were so fantastic and managed to capture all of these photos for us.  We had friends and family travel out early to help with putting up the marquee, jumping castle and all the final finishes. 

It was a massive day filled with many laughs, flies and overflowing champagne! 

Hopefully it was a day that Macie will remember as she grows into a beautiful young lady.

Love you to the moon & back Moo.

X

Three

Dear Macie

I can't quite believe that you are now three.  Where have those years gone?

It doesn't feel like three years ago, I held you in my arms for the first time and cried about how utterly beautiful you were.  You cry sounded like a snort and we laughed and marvelled over you and your beauty.  You were ours and I declared on that day that I would protect you until the end of my days. 

The past three years have been such an amazing ride.  You have taught me love that I didn't even know existed.  You have shown me a side of life that I didn't even know was there.  You have made me realise what life is really about and I can never thank you for that.  You have made your Daddy and I closer than we have ever been.  Our love has grown, strengthened and blossomed since you arrived three years ago. 

Every single hurdle that is placed in your way, you just take it with a grain of salt.  You don't even question why you have to wear your hearing aids and it has never ever worried you (except for when you are being cheeky at Daycare!).  For all your tests, you sit there unperturbed and make your audiologists laugh with your antics.  You are funny, vivacious and beautiful. 

Even when you split your eyebrow open, you were the one that reassured me that everything was going to be ok.  You wiped your tears away and you walked into the hospital confident that the doctor was going to fix you.  Only very few things scare you.  You put your trust in everyone and everything.  You get concerned when people are sad - even if you don't know them and they are just simply doing their shopping in Bi-Lo.  If something does scare you, you run to us for reassurance - and when we tell you that "It's going to be OK" - you find that smile and your sparkle and you go off confidently again.  You have taught me to be more like you.  To not be so afraid of the "What Ifs" and instead to jump in head first and see where it may take me.  To trust that my support network will be there to reassure me if things go pear-shaped.  How can such a little girl teach me such a huge life lesson?  You amaze me. 

You make me laugh every.single.day - and yes there are days where things aren't always rosey - but the majority rule out the minority. 

I love your whispy thin hair that goes into tiny little pigtails.  I love that you want me to do your hair and always go to the mirror to check out my handiwork and then tell me "It's beautiful Mummy".

I love that you grab my face for kisses when I am busy.  It's like you remind me to not sweat the small stuff.

I love that you are busy, fun and cheeky.  It is what life is all about.

I love that you want to talk to me.  That you want me to read you books for hours on end and that you snuggle into me when you are feeling tired.  That we can share moments where our favourite books take us on an adventure and we get consumed in another world.

I love those eyes that bore into my heart every single day. Those eyes that sparkle before the smile even reaches your mouth.

I love that you love with all of your heart.  That you are such a doting Big Sister that wants to teach Willsy all that life has to offer. 

I love your giggle - it comes from deep in your belly and screams I AM HAPPY!

I love that intricate little brain of yours that never stops wanting to learn.  I love that you say to me "Teach me a new song Mum" and that you are slowly learning the words to "Jeremiah was a Bullfrog" with me.

I can't wait for what the future holds with you.  As your mum, I know that you will be happy and successful in anything that you do - whatever that may be. 

Just never ever forget in the years to come when you are a grown up beautiful woman, that even though I may not be holding your hand....

I will always be holding your heart.....for the rest of my days. 

Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl. 

I love you to the Moon and Back....and always will.

xxx

Bush Christmas Mini-Shoots

It was months of organising. 

But an afternoon of success.

A huge thank you to all the families who travelled to be part of Dalli's "Bush Christmas" Mini-Sessions.  You all fought the flies, battled the heat and endured the prickles.

The photos really speak for themselves.

 

Thank you all so much.  X

Overflowing....

Sharing some photos with you from our beautiful weekend last weekend to celebrate the Carnival of Flowers in Toowoomba and also getting William baptised.

Looking at these photos my cup is overflowing....

Life is grand.

Rewind.Pause.Fast-forward.

Today is Macie's "school" day.  Each Friday she wakes up and literally screams "I'M GOOOOING TO DAYCARE TOOOODAY!" and then proceeds to sit at the window and wait for her Ma to come and pick her up (a little Dalli Cottage tradition for Macie & her Ma to share). 

I usually relish in the joy of having a day to spend some quality time with William but today I felt all emotional.  Every single day my little girl is growing up.  She is funny, intelligent, stubborn, cheeky, sometimes naughty and she is growing up. 

The last few weeks have been like a rollercoaster with my girl.  Tantrums are in full swing and can erupt at any given time.  The threat of crocodiles coming to bite off her toes while crying are wearing thin and to top it all off - I accidently scratched her face on Monday and now she declares - very loud and very clearly may I add - that "Mummy scratched my face" while I die of embarrassment in the corner and recite my "I promise it was an accident - and look - I cut my fingernails all off now!" speech!  If that wasn't enough, I had to go into battle with Australian Hearing regarding her delays with testing due to their short-staffing issues....and with that always brings up a tsunami of emotions for me.  My mum likens me to a Lioness protecting her cub.....and it's true - I am woman, hear me roar!

Next year will be my last 'full' year with her before she toddles off to Kindy and that kinda makes me sad.  I am notorious for wishing away the time - but today, time just slapped me in the face as I watched her hand-in-hand with her Ma, smiling and confidently walking off to daycare - with not a worry in the world. 

I know that in a blink of an eye - she will a schoolgirl, a teenager, a woman, a wife, a mother. 

And I now know why on Monday (my birthday), my mum said to me "How did my baby become a woman that is now twenty-seven years old?".....just like she says to me every.single.year. 

I used to roll my eyes every single year when she said this to me - but this year, I understood the question.  Time rolls on so quickly.  We get caught up in the mundane - the life that makes the days go quickly, and the weeks disappear and before we know it - the words "Where did that year go" come flying out of our mouths. 

As much as I wish the time away - today, I just wanted to press pause.  I wanted to kiss her delicious cheeks just one more time and tell her I loved her with more passion - so she never ever has a doubt that her Mummy will always be there for her. 

Sometimes I want to press rewind to fix the things I have done wrong or the things that I would have done differently. 

And sometimes I want to press fast-forward - in hope that our relationship is still forged on love, respect and friendship. 

But instead of wishing - I am going to ensure that I am always living in the moment.  Enjoying my delightful babies for as long as I can.  Reminding myself that my messy house will always be there and that the e-mails that need replying can wait until my babies are tucked safely into bed.

I am going to live now.  Before it's too late.

Are you?