Eight.

And so, during the last hour of the last day of April, with 3% battery left on the iPad I am finally going to upload these pics of my beautiful girl on her special day. Technology failed us that day too, my big camera refused to turn on, so we had to rely on our phones. We still captured the moments but they are slightly dark and blurry in parts.

Our girl is 8.

When it is the last day ever that you will be 7 years old, you are allowed to do all sorts of great Things like eat an entire punnet of strawberries with a chocolate fondue , on the work top, wearing boots. 

Happy. 

This year Kirsten wasn't sure what she wanted for a birthday gift. There wasn't anything that she really really wanted.

Well there was something that she really did want but Daddy had said no.

But then he secretly said yes!

We were very sneaky and organised two new additions to our family.

Technically one is mine but these are gifts the whole family can share and enjoy.

 

I'll never forget her face when she walked in to the livingroom and saw the hutch.

"Are we going to get some guinea pigs??" she asked.

 

Look inside KP!

This is the moment Syrup joined our family.

 

She is so good to them. giving them lots of cuddles and making sure they have enough veggies and cosy hay.

 

Wee syrup was only 8 weeks old when she joined our family, she has grown so much!

 

This is Mabel. She is a few weeks older than Syrup and was much bigger, she is still a little bigger but Syrup is catching up!

 

During a girly day, getting their nails done, Kirsten spotted a cake in a magazine and told Lor that this is the

one she wanted for her Birthday cake.

And of course Lor delivered, again.

This is definitely one of my favourites. (Along with any other cake she has made for us! lol)

 

 

It was very strange to not be organising a birthday party this year. Kirsten chose a birthday treat instead, we went to the science centre with her best friend.

So a quiet birthday tea was enjoyed instead of a busy , noisy party.

 

 

Eight. Eight!!!

 

Happy Birthday to our sweet girl.

 

(love the joy on Joe's face and the banner that fell down. This is real life. :-) )

 

Hibernating.

One of my favourite things about the festive season are those precious days in between Christmas and New year where we hunker down and hibernate.

Those days where we play with new toys and wear our new clothes.

Enjoy post birthday , birthday treats with christmas pennies at our disposal.

And brunch with cousins.

Those oh so precious family moments.

Yes please 2013, I would like lots more of those xxx

And so it came.

Most Christmas mornings start with Murray and I waiting for the kids to wake up. We are always too excited to sleep.

This year as we woke up we became aware that Miss K hadn't been awake at all in the night. This is most unusual.

I squeaked the door, I flushed the toilet. Everything.

No hurrying footsteps to be heard.

Seeing as K had had a temperature at bedtime, I was really worried that she had worsened overnight,  so I sneaked in heart pounding to a dark and silent room.

I crouched down and kissed a very cool cheek and heard a beautiful deep sigh as our girl turned over and snuggled back in.

That moment, that precious sigh was my favourite gift this Christmas.

Finally those footsteps came hurrying to our room with hqnds clutching stockings stuffed to the brim.

Even Emmy's stocking was full

Miss K was so touched that Santa would bring a lovely snowglobe for Emmy.

and Emmy just loved it.

Getting to spend time with Joseph on Christmas day was another precious gift.

Look at that smiling relaxed lady! Enjoying spending time with her favourite people without ANY stress!

And Christmas dinner cooked by someone else?

Bliss.

Some of us may have eaten so much that we immediately crashed on the couch and snoozed for a whole hour.

Christmas Bliss.