Category: Poppy : James
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Off and …. Walking

James

James is on the move!  He has taken many tumbles and has numerous bruises to tell the tale, but he is now off and walking!  I love how he has such a look of determination and concentration on his face – shoulders up and tottering like he has had too many ales.  He he!

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IMG_1860On Saturday I drove to Launceston to celebrate my dear friend Megs’ 40th Birthday Party, at Mud Bar.  Nick stayed at home with Poppy and James and I enjoyed a seamless trip in the car for two hours.  I cranked up the music and let my thoughts wander with no interruptions.

I had such a fun night catching up with old friends Pete, Simon and Liv and chuckled as Megs enjoyed her birthday celebrations with her friends … and her cocktails!  Gorgeous.  Xx

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Monday, 20 October 2014 0 Comments Short URL, , , Poppy : James

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Dinner in 26 Seconds

Nick captured the craziness of all the cousins eating dinner on his Go-Pro during our recent trip to Marysville. Xx

I wish dinner did only take 26 seconds!

Friday, 10 October 2014 1 Comment Short URL, Poppy : James

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C’MONA

MONAI took Poppy and James out to MONA for the last day of the C’MONA Community Centre yesterday where we met Sam and Scarlett, who were also wearing stripes!

The kids loved playing in the Children’s play area and after we wore them out, we came up for air and had a cuppa with a stellar view.  Gotta love a stylish play-date!

The Stripey Girls

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MONA

Tuesday, 7 October 2014 0 Comments Short URL, Poppy : James

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Open Day + Birth Day

Opening Day Sail PastWe celebrated the mark of the Opening Day of the Yachting Season on Saturday with our friends Kate and Gus and their children.  We joined the fleet of more than 220 yachts and motor cruisers in the traditional Sail Past, where Poppy and Tom saluted Lieutenant Governor Alan Blow with pride!

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Opening DayOn Sunday I celebrated my 44th birthday!  Where do those years go?  44 sounds really old but I feel like I am still in my early 30’s (well most of the time).  I enjoyed my day – especially when Poppy said to Nick:

Daddy, are we giving Mummy Diamond Rings for her birthday?

Bless – no diamond rings but I was spoilt with a breakfast at Smolt and the Masini & Chern ‘Baby Blues’ pyjamas.

Birthday breakfast at Smolt

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Monday, 6 October 2014 0 Comments Short URL, , , Poppy : James

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Marysville Mini-Break

The Davies' ClanEvery year we have a Davies’ Long Weekend either in Tasmania or Victoria.  In previous years we have been to Phillip Island in Victoria in 2012 and Stewarts Bay on the Tasman Peninsula in 2013.  This year we went to Marysville in Victoria and rented a fabulous holiday house from Stayz.com.

Looking back over the photos from previous years there have been notable changes – pregnancies, new babies and growing toddlers!  There are now 6 beautiful children – 4 girls and 2 boys ranging in ages from 5 years to 4 months.

It is so wonderful seeing Poppy play with her cousins that she only sees a couple of times of year and this time was no exception.  They bounced, bounced, bounced on the in-ground trampoline; coloured in face masks; plaited their hair; rode their scooters; played in the playground;  dressed up as fairies, nurses and superheros;  went fishing;  splashed in the bath;  slept in bunk beds and had the odd little spat!  I just love seeing them play with each other.

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We ate beautiful food (thanks Tup), had many conversations, read magazines, had afternoon naps and just enjoyed each others company for three beautiful days.  Very special times.  Xx

Brothers and their little gems

Frizzy colouring-in

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James getting into the Grand Final

Watching the ducklings

Thursday, 2 October 2014 2 Comments Short URL, , , Poppy : James

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Until Tomorrow …

We have just had a wonderful trip away to Marysville in Victoria for four days and I had hoped to share our trip with you tonight, but it is now past my bedtime and I am sleepy.  Yawn!

So until tomorrow night, here is a little glimpse of us ‘on the road’ in Healesville:

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Tuesday, 30 September 2014 0 Comments Short URLPoppy : James

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Picnic with the Peeps

Picnic with the PeepsSuch stunning weather deserves a picnic on the newly manicured lawn … so that’s just what we did yesterday, fairy wings and all!

It is so lovely to get those toes back out in the sunshine again. Xx

Summer loving

Tuesday, 23 September 2014 0 Comments Short URL, Poppy : James

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Boyhood

Boyhood

My sister and I went to see this film on Tuesday night and it definitely struck a chord with me:

Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, this film is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason, who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. This drama charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations and all the moments in between become transcendent, set to a soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay’s Yellow to Arcade Fire’s Deep Blue. The film is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting. It’s impossible not to watch Mason and his family without thinking about our own journey.

And that is exactly what I did!  I couldn’t help but think about the many amazing days ahead with both Poppy and James and to experience their constant change, their learning, their discovery and frustrations through every stage.

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Seeing Mason navigate his way through the tumultuous teenage years made me appreciate our little James just as he is now.  I know where he is each night – safe and snuggly in his cot, sleeping soundly!

Oh how I love going into his room each morning and seeing that big smile, those sparkling eyes with his arms up, ready for collection.  Xx

Boyhood Collage

Friday, 19 September 2014 0 Comments Short URLPoppy : James

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A Green Thumb

Green Thumb

I come from a long line of gardeners.  They are all tinged with that wonderful colour green, right down to their thumbs.  I like to think that I am also a gardener – where I am one with the earth and love getting my hands dirty amongst the worms and compost.  But to be honest, I just wasn’t blessed with a green thumb.  I have had numerous attempts over the years trying to beat the odds but alas, I have left a trail of abandoned lots, only growing weeds successfully.

When we moved into our home nearly 7 years ago we were blessed with a beautiful established garden that had been lovingly tended to by Nick’s grandparents.  A big oak tree providing shade on those hot Hobart days; fruit trees bearing apricots, pears and apples; evergreens, deciduous trees and blossoms – all bordered by beautiful sandstone paths, laid by hand.

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I tried, I really tried to keep up with it – even getting out there when James and Poppy were babes and propping them next to me in their capsule whilst I snipped away.  Nick even gave me the nick-name “Mrs Snippy“!  Mrs Snippy used to love ‘snipping’ but not necessarily cleaning away her cuttings!

It was time to call in the big guns and we now have a GARDENER!  Richie has come to save the day … and our garden!  He has spent four massive days bringing this beautiful garden back to its former glory and it now looks as though someone does live here.

I still like to think I have a green thumb somewhere deep inside me that will ‘flourish’ when I am not so consumed with young children, but who knows.  I will concentrate on my other strengths until then and hope that it skips a generation and Poppy and James learn all the wonders of gardens from their Grandmothers!  Xx

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Tuesday, 16 September 2014 1 Comment Short URL, , Poppy : James

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Doctors & Deadlines

I have had a mad week and I am really glad it is Friday today.  Nothing like a little bit of pressure to add to the mix!

Firstly, our team at work decided to enter our Tour Guide Training Program into the 2014 Tourism Awards in the Education and Training Category.  This submission – a mere 5 questions totaling 30 pages in length was due in at 3pm on Wednesday.  I had been working on it for the past three weeks in between my teaching commitments and part-time capacity, but we had left it rather late due to our team’s existing work demands.

On Tuesday morning, James woke up very upset and was too unwell to go to daycare.  Off we went to the doctors in South Hobart … might I add to the best designed doctors I have ever seen!  The General Practice Plus Mountain Retreat surgery has even won a National Award for Commercial Architecture.

Mountain Retreat

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Mountain Retreat

Unfortunately James was deemed unfit to go to care for the week as he had conjunctivitis.  I was quickly seeing our submission unraveling – ah the juggles of being a parent.  I stayed with him at home all morning with numerous phone calls bouncing between Nick, my sister, a babysitting agency and our godsend – Barb, James’ Grandmother.  She travelled down from Launceston to look after him for the next two days.

I whizzed into work and was overwhelmed by how much we still had to get done in less than 24 hours (and feeling guilty about leaving James).  My colleagues and I worked late on Tuesday night and then I continued at home until 11pm.  Wednesday was a very stressful day as I collated all the information received from our team – trying to get the formatting ‘just right’!  It was certainly down to the wire but we got it in … with 10 minutes to spare!  I don’t enjoy working under that amount of pressure – my perfectionist nature felt very compromised!  Ha ha!

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James is now on the mend and I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend at home, enjoying spring flowers and wine!  X

Flowers and Wine

Friday, 12 September 2014 0 Comments Short URL, , Poppy : James

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