Magic Moments

The children thanking Nanny for all the work she put into hanging (and making) their new curtains. 

My Magic Moment for this week.

Silent Sunday

Where do the years go?

One day, not so long ago, a baby was born.

They named her Amy and I went to the hospital to meet her.

I watched Eastenders on a television, somewhere.

I don't remember much else.

21 years have since passed, and there is now another sister of mine.

She will be 20 in November.

Eight cousins arrived, also.

And my own two children.
























I have cuddled them all as tiny newborns and thought, each time, that they would be small forever.

But it is never true.

I now find myself wondering, where do the years go?

I remember hearing it so many times that children grow so fast.

I was - I am - prepared.

I make the most of every day and yet the years still seem to fly by.

I remember walking with Jasmine as a newborn, being told by a stranger that she wouldn't stay little for long.

That could have been yesterday.

It is though there is no space between that day and now.

Yet Jasmine, my baby girl, will be at school come September.

Daddy said today that "It's hard to imagine her out of nappies and not needing a pushchair.  Uniform is mind blowing!"

Yes.

Uniform is mind blowing.

She is our baby.

Our rose-lipped, almond-eyed, sweet-smelling newborn.

But when September comes, she will be clothed in tiny uniform and polished shoes and taken from our arms into the big wide school world.

Weeks later, I shall be 26.

Where do the years go?

Days like these

Today, we had no plans.

I thought I'd probably crack on with the housework.

Maybe.

We didn't open our newly-fitted curtains for a long time this morning.

When we did, it was raining.

And then we got the email.

The one that told us that Jasmine will be starting school in September at our first choice school.

The one she has wanted ever since she came with me to look around.

Meanwhile, Sonny discarded his nappy and decided to use his potty.

I've left it up to him to decide when he is ready, and today he showed me that he is.

Then the sun came out. 

We made a plan to go for an ice cream with friends.

What's better than celebratory ice cream?

 

Later, we headed over the road to the beach.

It was warm and sunshiney.  The children ran around; up, down and over piles of pebbles. 

It was a lovely sight.

 

I took them down to the water and they threw pebbles into the sea.

 

They watched the foam lap towards them and squealed as it inched closer, before running away at the last second.

Jasmine even braved the water!

 

We have been waiting for a day like this to come along for a while now.

One of those days where everything just fits.

Maybe the secret is to simply not make plans.

Today, we had no plans and the good times came to us.

I love days like these.

Beach

This afternoon, we headed to the beach where the sun shone and the wind blustered.

Whilst there, we hatched a plan to create our very own beach back at home.  For this plan to work, we decided we would need to collect treasures from the beach - pebbles, shells, sea weed.

 

If you would like to make your very own beach, here is the recipe:

 

Add one bottle of baby oil to one bag of flour and mix well.

Create sandy island and decorate with shells, driftwood, pebbles and a crab claw.

Add seaweed, water, children and bath toys, sit back and watch the fun (and mess!) unfold.

 

Happy memories.