Farewell December

So, a final round up of the last month of 2017. 

Gabe started spending the whole day at forest school, going in the mornings by himself (a very big deal for our ultra shy boy), and definitely brave considering that equates to almost 6 hours outside in the cold and wet!

There were a lot of these moments, which melt my heart and stop me from getting anything done.

My girls... Ayla wearing the dress Thea bought for her back when we were hoping she was a girl but still didn't know for sure. 

This one... happy now she has control over her hands.

These two and their naps when Dad comes home from a show. 

My christmas puzzle helper...

and new team member for card games.

Building dens when you're full of cold. 

And very late gingerbread houses!

This girl taking her first roll on the day of her 4 month photos.

Playing with the same button tin and probably some of the same buttons I've been playing with since I was little... we'll call it crawling incentive. 

And these two and their chats. 

It's been an incredible year for me... yes the obvious... 2017 gave us our Blackbird. But it also saw me  become a qualified yoga teacher, and finish my reiki training, becoming a reiki master. There have been many many other achievements along the way for everyone in my house... their kickboxing belts, grades in gymnastics, performances and hurdles overcome. But all the unseen work also. All we have learnt about ourselves and others, and our place in the world at this time. I have some ideas of were 2018 will take us but I know for sure we will keep building, keep achieving, doing it all side by side, supporting, learning from and loving each other.

Us

I saved the best till last which was supposed to be last night but work got in the way. 

I'm one of those women who find photographs hard to be in, there is always a disparity between what I imagine I look like and what I end up seeing. The eyes are conditioned by the society we live in and unfortunately in the west we have very confused ideas of feminine beauty. The plus side to this is that feelings are something I can trust, and thanks to yoga I feel great. My body is strong and flexible, it is capable of bringing life into the world and putting up with everything I ask of it. That is beautiful. 

When Jessica asked if there was anything I wanted, and a group picture was high on my list because it's the one thing we don't really have, until now... 

It goes without saying, she captured us perfectly.