live.laugh.love.

I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. - Oscar Wilde

2012-02-09T16:11:00.001+11:00

Even a nothing sunrise makes for a beautiful start to the day... The Entrance, January 2012.

2012-02-06T08:46:00.001+11:00

Done! January's photo a day 2012.

So the holiday month has finished, the weather wasn't exactly 'beachy' but with a newborn and temps in the low-mid 20s most of the month, I wasn't complaining - much easier to get a bub off to sleep when it's not stinking hot!! Josh was a winter baby so it was all about warm and fluffy blankies, snuggles by the fire and cute matching sox and beanies... Sam is kicking round in singlets and nappies and not much else!

I must admit, the photo a day challenge wasn't as difficult this year as I'd imagined.. I was kind of dreading jiggling baby needs and five year old demands, and day trips and rain and crowds and sleep-deprived lack of motivation, but the month was over before I knew it!

So, to finalise the month officially, here's the rest of the daily shots from where I left off in the last post! Have a great month, can you believe it's FEBRUARY already (and grrrrrr easter eggs have been in the shops since Australia Day!!! Can we not get a break for a week or so between festive, yet expensive, events.... Josh is already deciding what the Easter Bunny might bring and it's not even Valentines Day!)

Day 17 - never wake a sleeping baby.... except when 8.15am and he's still going, and daddy needs to go to work but we need two people to get his medication into him (it's complicated lol). lol love this photo, makes me smile

Day 18 - a trade-off day. He (very begrudgingly lol) let me rattle off three shots (ordinary) last night and then declared we were done. I had to agree to today's shot being whatever he wanted - which is apparently dinosaurs in the jungle (naturally) so stay tuned...

Day 19 - so, after hours of planning and a few acting lessons for his co-star, Josh was finally ready for his photo. Apparently this is all about Ice Age 3 and some little possum dude who tames some big dinosaur (i really should pay more attention to the movies...). Presenting Buck & Rudy!

Day 20 - today we had a long overdue catch-up with one of josh's great mates from playschool.. haven't seen them all school holidays, and the boys played and played (while we talked and talked!) These two have been thick as thieves since they met when they were (I guessing..) three year old, maybe even two. And they're peas in a pod, same height, same colouring, same cheeky disposition... no wonder they teamed up... I also found a wonderful friend in his mum, so it was a win-win for us!

Day 21 - only ten days til BIG SCHOOL (deep breaths.....). Today we ticked another box in the readiness program. Big school haircut. OMG he's as cute now as he was when he got his very first haircut

Day 22 - (Yet another) visit to the Reptile Park. It's a great place to spend a few hours, always something to touch/pat/run screaming from....

Day 23 - the big boys went fishing, leaving me alone with this funny lookin' fella... (lol, it's ok, even through mummy goggles, I can admit he's a bit funny lookin'... he'll grow into his face, eventually lol)

Day 24 - not interested. that's the lovin' I got from the family today so they ignored me while I shot them anyway.

Day 25 - to hell with perfection. I went, along with many of my friends and colleagues, to the funeral of a man who, but for a moment in time in the wrong place, should still be here to laugh, sing, enjoy life and hug his wife and child. It was a wonderful celebration of his achievements and his joys but it was a terrible reminder to hold close what we cherish and don't sweat the small stuff.

Day 26 - Australia Day! Despite the ordinary weather, the kids spent the day in the cold pool (note blue tinge to the outer edges of said children lol) while the littlest aussie chilled poolside instead.

Day 27 - the karate kid. We put Josh into martial arts this year so he could learn some skills, grow more
confident in himself and start to develop levels of discipline, control and strength (and to have a good time, of course!). He has graduated through from white, to yellow and now orange belt... and he loves it. I just love his 'karate face' lol...

Day 28 - I don't know what's more disturbing... the position he's chosen to watch a bit of television or the fact that he's watching Dukes of Hazzard.........

Dday 29 - blue suede shoes... well, ok, black leather school shoes but he's almost cool enough for a song. He and I did the grocery shop today (tres exciting) and he wore his new school shoes and socks to break them in. That ticked the final item on my 'to do' list and now we're ready. Except for the nerves (all mine) and the excitment (all his)... oh and the checking that we have enough devon and sauce for his first week of school lunches (lol, his choice! Well, that and a little piece of mummy's caramel slice for a snack!)

Day 30 - meet Special Bear. I had no idea what to do for today's photo... josh did construction work out the back with his daddy and gramps, I spent most of the day wandering aimlessly around erina fair with sam to avoid the noise and the heat. Then, as I watched my 'big boy' sit enthralled by a 'kiddie' tv show late this afternoon, it struck me that Special Bear was indeed special... he was a catalyst between my 'baby' and my 'big boy' (see more at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=334283943270586&set=a.109226419109674.9330.105782792787370&type=1&ref=nf)

Day 31 - probably needs no introduction given I've bashed on about it for days (ok, weeks..). Today was Josh's first day of BIG school... and I think he thoroughly enjoyed it. Me, not so much... it was the longest six hours of my life, I think...

So that's the end of January's photo a day... head to my FB page for more! https://www.facebook.com/janellerobertsonphotography

2012-01-16T15:30:00.002+11:00

So the Photo A Day continues to roll on... already halfway through the month! It's great not knowing what each day is going to bring, and what memory we'll be keeping for the future. Some days are obvious, some we have to dig a little, other days we just grab whatever is in front of us and make it special...

Day ten - the boys all went for a walk to the beach, josh ran the whole way there and the whole way home, he's got more energy than I've ever had..!

Day eleven... just 'hanging around' on a lazy, rainy day.

Day twelve - building a dinosaur city and having a breakdown when i suggested we take a different photo for the day. So this is his and hers...

Day thirteen - family snap. It was an emotional day for many reasons, made me refocus on what really matters.

Day fourteen - we have this great creek and lake outside our house. Great for fishing, exploring, catching little lizards, hanging out with big lizards (and the odd snake). Wonderful spot, boys love this sort of thing.. me too!

Day 15 - total snapshot moment, not sure what sam is thinking lol

Day sixteen - josh has gone for a getaway to my parents house and to Luna Park today, so just me and the small one home, relaxing, doing a few jobs and looking at each other ;-)

More here: https://www.facebook.com/janellerobertsonphotography

Memories are a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.

2012-01-10T10:31:00.000+11:00

Creating memories, even just for our little family, is my favourite part of photography. I like that some day we'll look back through old photos and laugh about the moments we remember, the fun we had and the silly things we did together. That's why the photo a day project is important to me. The photos are nothing special... the memories we're making are priceless.

Day three - my father and my son. Josh thinks his Gramps is just about the greatest guy in the world and he loves spending time with him.

Day four - Star Wars. Science fiction is probably my least favourite book/movie genre EVER. sigh.. both husband and now child are hooked. This is apparently his scary Star Wars face - took over 60 shots for him to approve of one scary enough lol....

Day five - petrolheads, all of us. Josh and Daddy got to practise their Top Gear stunts on the track.

Day six - dinosaurs and digging. Another obsession....

Day seven - our annual trip to the zoo with friends. It's a favourite day out for all of us...

Day eight - lol, cake face. You'd think he'd look happier given he'd just scoffed fresh homemake chocolate cake. Guess he wanted another piece hahahahhaa.....

Day nine - some Lightning McQueen ink to keep him amused on a day when a crying baby took up more time than we'd have liked... hard keeping one occupied (and feeling loved) while trying to get another to actually sleep longer than ten minutes so he's happy as well... but we laughed and laughed taking these fierce shots, so it was worth the wait.

It's that time of year again.....

2012-01-02T17:27:00.000+11:00

January is Photo A Day time. Each day in January each year, I take a photo a day of (usually not that exciting, we are on chill out holidays afterall....) whatever we're doing. It's a great project for summer each year, the photos don't have to be anything special, just a bit of fun and some memories captured. We've been looking back today through previous years and having a giggle, which makes all the snapping and the "no more photos mum, seriously..." all worthwhile. It's also a quick distraction from the continuous screaming of our poor reflux baby... six weeks old and hasn't had a good day in his little life yet (I know the feeling lol!)

So, for the next month, we'll be shooting our exciting and our dreary bits. I'll post them in here every now and then to blow out the cobwebs... :-)

day one.. "you're such a great swimmer, josh" "that's cause I'm actually a fish, don't you know"... um, no I didn't but if I had to say what type of fish, it would be a talking-all-the-time one lol

day two.. we're digging up the backyard to make way for a deck, leaving plenty of a boy's favourite thing... dirt. Rally racing is a priority, naturally.

“Absences are a good influence in love and keep it bright and delicate.” Robert Louis Stevenson

2011-12-29T12:03:00.000+11:00

.. so my recent blog absence has been good for us, right...? :-)

a few snaps taken this morning waiting (with much thanks, waiting is a pleasure in some instances) for my baby to wake up.

No excuses...

2011-12-28T09:41:00.000+11:00

There really is no excuse for me not to have been in here since JUNE (!! can't believe it's been that long!).. well, no excuse other than being pregnant and exhausted, and now having a newborn and being exhausted lol... oh and Christmas, work, my five year old, renovating and just life in general... yeah, exhausted... :-)

So a few weeks before our new arrival showed up, I helped out some great people who found themselves unexpectedly 'without photographer' a week before their wedding... it had been raining for days, the morning of the wedding was stormy and the ceremony was on a beach. Bit of stress for everyone lol but the clouds parted like a miracle and the sun shone all afternoon.. it was a beautiful day and a truly gorgeous wedding. Loved the detail, the sentiment, the people... so glad I could be part of it all xx

love and marriage...

2011-06-15T22:05:00.001+10:00

Shot this wonderful, wonderful wedding way back in early April but with so much on I've barely held my camera since and have spent all my time (and all my mind) occupied with other things...

Having said that, this Newcastle wedding was filled with much of my favourite things.. life, laughter and love.. and it was an absolute pleasure the spend some time with such fabulous folks who were determined to have a great time, even with all the challenges of a wedding day.

this one below is a personal fav....

and this one....

another fav....

the groom was just fantastic, love a bloke that can laugh....

The order of the shots was a bit random, wasn't it..? oh well, you get the idea!

And cause I love a good soppy quote, particularly about love and other mushy stuff...
I dreamed of a wedding of elaborate elegance,
A church filled with family and friends.
I asked him what kind of a wedding he wished for,
He said one that would make me his wife.
(author unknown)

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." - George Eliot

2011-05-21T21:16:00.000+10:00

Oh that quote is so very true!!! Autumn is the most wonderful and beautiful time of the year, the sunlight is golden, the breeze is cool enough to remind me I should have worn a singlet (yeah right mum, no matter how many times you've said that to me, i will never, in this lifetime, wear a singlet.. let it go....)

So, on autumn's most perfect afternoon (well so far, I hold high hopes for tomorrow..!), I feel asleep in the sun for a while in a most ungraceful fashion... Outdoor furniture is just not comfortable and the neighbours surely heard a quiet snore lol...

Then as the light faded, we dashed up the road and had five minutes more of the perfect autumn afternoon....

You can probably tell my subject wasn't the happiest of campers but after a few minutes, the sunshine and the giggling as we trekked all over the hillside won him over... i just didn't get any shots of that (doh) x

top of the morning...

2011-03-17T09:12:00.001+11:00

Well, I'm not Irish, not even close (well that's not true, there's Scottish blood in there which is just up the road, right..?) but 'Green Day' is a big hit in this house and a great excuse to get dressed up!

So in the spirit of St Patrick, I wish you a grand day and leave you with an Irish blessing that I love:

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

“The best things in life come in threes, like friends, dreams, and memories.”

2011-03-08T21:53:00.000+11:00

No idea who said that, but geez I like it...!

And what more could you ask for on a wedding day...? Friends, dreams and memories... perfect.

This wedding had all of this and more. It was a very special day for everyone, me included. I've known the bride since she was a girl (ahhhh we were all young way back then!) and to be part of her day, and see her wonderful family so happy, was a gift.

It was also one of those days when some of my favourite shots weren't the ones that were posed, or considered or even noticed by anyone else. They were just 'moments'... and I loved it!

To Emma and Jason, congratulations... I wish you love and lots of laughter. To Lozz, Gazz, Tiff and Aprille, how great to see you all together... may we see lots more of you all in the future! x x x

beautiful day

2011-02-09T22:31:00.000+11:00

It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out

It was a beautiful day
Don't let it get away

(U2 Beautiful Day)

If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun. -- Katharine Hepburn

2011-01-02T21:53:00.000+11:00

My last session for 2010 was F U N! Gorgeous kids with shining personalities, just great adults in the making...!

I thoroughly enjoyed being with them, laughing and chatting and holding hands as we wandered through the park and beyond.

It was a gorgeous afternoon in the sun, thank you Suzanne so much for sharing your family with me for just a little while..! x

beauty in the 'burbs...

2010-12-18T20:51:00.001+11:00

well... this afternoon I asked a family I'd never met to meet me in a dead end road, near a huge and busy highway and take a walk in the bush... they probably thought i was nuts, raving on about the flowers and the trees and never mind the snakes, we'll work round them !!

thankfully Kate, the mum, got it right from the start... she could see it, and to make the vision even better, she brought her own prop.. an outrageously gorgeous old chair, which we plonked in amongst all the weeds, and flowers and butterflies and let some magic happen...

seriously beautiful (inside and out) children, a threatening sky that held off the rain, some laughter and a couple of friends thrown in to the mix and this is the result. thank you kate, will and family (and friends!), i hope you love your session as much as i do.. i think it's one of my all-time favs.... x

If I am not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there. Martin Luther

2010-12-03T20:59:00.000+11:00

My final mini-session, deferred from a couple of week ago, was this afternoon with four outrageously wonderful kids. Two I knew already, two I met for the first time. All of them were funny, interesting, confident and just a pleasure to photograph...

We laughed and they giggled... at each other mostly... these four cousins just got on like a house on fire, watching out for each other, telling each other how to pose and smile and look over here lol... it was a great way to spend an hour, even in the driving wind and sunless sky.

So Morgan, Lara, Jack and Samantha... I thank you. To Karina and Dena.... here's a few shots of your wonderful kids, you should be so proud!

Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under a tree." ~ Charlotte Carpenter.

2010-11-27T22:43:00.000+11:00

28 days. So there's less than a month til Christmas. I'm not stressed. I'm NOT stressed (it's my newest mantra. it's not working)...

I've got a bit on my plate, as do we all, and if I make to the 'big day' with my marbles in my head and love in my heart it truly will be a Christmas miracle lol...

One day at a time, right?

Although the days are going so fast, I swear it's three days zipping by at a time! Five photo sessions to go (three this week!), plus work, plus social activities, plus parties, and a dance concert (not mine, phew!), a bunch of cooking, throw in at least a couple of full days shopping (dreading that!), Josh's christmas concert - he's playing santa so of course I've had to add some extra special furry touches to his little suit, he has to be the best santa ever of course, so add some sewing in there somewhere, meetings with clients, day trips to the city for work (nothing like a two hour commute each way to waste time i don't have!), my nan's 95th birthday bash, cooking dinners for our 'senior' aged neighbours for a few days as they're moving out and want to pack up the kitchen (masterchef, here I come!), wrapping, a couple of kid's birthday parties, a Wiggles concert (seriously what was I thinking - 3,000 screaming kids and mothers mobbing four blokes in skivvies a week before xmas..??? If a meltdown is going to happen, it's going to be there lol), heading back to the shops for gifts I'd forgotten for people I hadn't expected to buy for, and if at all possible a few quite moments to relax and crack a bottle of champagne (pul-eeze!). It's a rollercoaster month people, grab onto something secure!!!

In amongst all that, I really needed to get our Christmas cards done so I could tick that off the list and start sending them out. I do wonder how much longer this paper-based, rather antiquated ritual has to go on... each year we get less and less cards, each year I feel a little bit more silly sending them (to anyone under the age of 60!). Maybe just a bit longer, each year the card has a picture of josh on the front... would be a shame to end the tradition - although, given his dollar rates, I may not be able to afford his modelling services much longer hahahaah!

Anyway enough babble (or should that be bauble.. see? I'm loosing my mind already!)... this shot is one from the cutting room floor of the five minute 2010 Christmas Card Shoot while dinner was cooking tonight. Enjoy the slide into the holiday season!!! x x x

Sunday's child

2010-11-15T21:55:00.000+11:00

Actually I think he might have been born on a Tuesday but Asten and I met on Sunday... and it was wonderful. I was a bit worried about shooting a six week old... was expecting feisty and wide awake... i got sleepy and completely calm. Seriously, he barely cracked an eye to see what all the fuss was about!

And isn't he just divine...? It was a pleasure to spend a Sunday morning with the whole family, thanks guys! Here's a few of my favs from the day...! x

today's adventure

2010-11-13T21:33:00.001+11:00

Today i caught up with six lovely families... a few I know already, a few I didn't... twelve gorgeous children in total with an interest in being photographed that ranged from 'not a chance you crazy woman, stop following me' to 'hey, take my picture, check me out'... lol, it was certainly an interesting, challenging and FUN experience!

Thank you to all the mums and dads... I hope it wasn't too stressful, and the heat was just oppressive even early in the morning and late in the afternoon, so thank you for your smiling and dancing and waving and general encouragement for your kids.. they did a great job!!!!

For Jenni...

Lesley:

Louise:

Jax:

Angela:

and last one for the day, thanks Jennifer:

I'm kinda exhausted lol.... Amy, hope your darling gets better soon, we'll catch up another time and Karina, see you in two weeks...!!! Thanks again everyone, great day, beautiful company and hopefully you'll love the results.. x x x

trade-off

2010-11-10T12:59:00.001+11:00

I've already posted a few of these shots over at facebook Janelle-Robertson-Photography-LiveLaughLove but I just love how gorgeous our son is so I thought I'd share a few more here.

My son and I did a trade-off.. a photo shoot traded for $10....Granted his idea of earning that $10 was 'smile, click, we're done, can i have my money now' (cheeky brat!), but you've gotta love the kid... his smile can honestly light you up from the inside!

Don't let him fool you, he wasn't sad for a minute in these photos, just doing his 'no face' for mummy...hahahah supermodel, much? I didn't get the variety I'd usually like but the thought of money (which was spent five minutes later at the toy shop) was burning a hole in his attention span.. so I'll take what I can get in 15 minutes, eh?

Loved this location too, just a vacant block of land in the middle of industrial/shopping area... and the mud was just a bonus lol...

Enjoy! Thanks for visiting! (and I won't tell you how many days left til Christmas because if you're like me, it will just send you into a wild panic lol) x

only two left!!

2010-10-29T07:27:00.000+11:00

Just about to head off on our weekend away - bring on the boat, the fishing, the photos, the sunshine (well, hopefully, it's all cloudy at home now!!! fingers crossed!) and the Coronas with lemon and bbqs on the beach!

If you're interested in a quick and painless photo session of your kids for christmas, email me asap! I'll be back on Sunday night to book you in!

Have a wonderful weekend!! x

christmas shopping

2010-10-24T22:18:00.002+11:00

despite my outrageously organised mind, i usually leave christmas shopping til the last minute...like the day-before-the-shops-shut-if-i-don't-get-it-right-i'm-stuffed last minute. I think it's an adrenalin thing for me lol.. i can live in denial about the whole event until time is running out and then (just like a bandaid) it's all over before it's really had a chance to hurt hahahahahahahaha

anyway, if you're looking for something cute to send to aunty abc, here's the answer:

It's quick... it's painless (relatively pending how the kids cooperate!) and you've got a few shots to share the love with everyone showing off your gorgeous babies!

I'll be throwing a few baubles round to get into the spirit, all that's lacking is.... well.. you!!! Email me!! x

Busy

2010-10-11T20:50:00.000+11:00

I've been busy, I've neglected this little space.. a whole month has passed.. more, infact. I've done so much, yet not much at all..!

But I've been busy.. with this (insert my melting heart...!) so forgive me.

I promise I'll be back sooner rather than later. I've got a few great family sessions booked in over the next few weeks which I'll share, and it's almost time for the annual official Christmas Card Photo Shoot, which I love and (depending on what I force, er encourage him to do) Josh loves too. Ca n't believe I'm saying this on the 12th day in October but bring on the Santa hats!!! xxxx

a few words to smile by

2010-08-31T21:24:00.002+10:00

sundays
kids
boats
sunshine
ice cream
love

“When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears” Anthony Robbins

2010-08-20T13:55:00.002+10:00

Today, I'm thinking about how grateful I am for so many wonderful things and people around me. Maybe it's just because I love Fridays.. no work, just Josh and I hanging out and doing mundane jobs like the grocery shopping, but we always find something fun to do or interesting to see and we rarely have plans bigger than 'play'.

I also had a phone call today that I'm grateful for.... from a lovely lady named Kim and I'm very excited about the opportunities that lay ahead.

Other things I'm grateful for:
My darling son
My long suffering husband lol (although I think he's got it pretty good between you and me hahahaha)
The sunshine... oh the beautiful sunshine!
The banana cake I just made for the elderly lady that lives next door. She's on crutches at the moment so I baked her a cake for afternoon tea - I'm grateful for that banana cake because it meant Josh and I could then make chocolate cupcakes to keep for OUR afternoon tea... yum!
My family's health
Spin classes (believe it or not lol, you certainly know you're alive at the end of one!)
Champagne - guilt free thanks to the above mentioned spin class hahahaha
The breeze drying my washing
Getting out of bed to photograph a jaw-dropping sunrise this week (thanks Daniel... a 5.45am text is not normally something I'd be grateful for, but this time I forgive you lol)
Comfortable shoes
Friends, can't have too many of 'em!
Thomas the Tank Engine - the half an hour of peace is blissful.
Cups of tea
My life... every day. It's not perfect, but it's pretty good.

Oh and did I mention Fridays!!!?? Yay! It's Friday! Have a smashing weekend, hope you find many things to be grateful for because there's plenty out there!!! x x x

memories and a red heart

2010-08-04T20:55:00.004+10:00

I remember when I was a child in primary school, we had a 'school song' which we sang with gusto at every school assembly. It mentioned something about 'the place where the flannel flowers grow' lol... I also remember singing a tune called "I love a sunburnt country", which when you're a kid sounded all windswept and interesting, and had me gazing out the classroom windows in awe of the beauty around me despite my small town landscape (ok ok, so I was a dramatic and on reflection, apparently very intense, ten year old hahahahahha).

Something I didn't know until much later was that 'that song' was a verse in a much longer, and very beautiful poem by Dorothea Mackellar, entitled "Core of my Heart" (later to be known as My Country). You can read it in full here: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/people_places/caergwrle/mycountry/index.html

So why all this 'wide brown land' talk and wisful notions of the beauty of our great country...? Well, last month, as many of you know, I spent a week on a photography expedition with a great bunch of mates including the master of capturing the stunning, unique and ever-changing landscape, photographer Ken Duncan. We had a fabulous time, saw many outstanding and amazing things and met people who's wonderful character will stay with me for a very long time.

Here are some of the shots from my adventure in the red heart of Australia, I hope you enjoy them... try singing along as you look at them, just for a bit of fun... nobody will think you're mad, surely!! Oh, and sorry for the outrageously long post (again....) oh and if you click on a photo, you can see it BIGGER... i think i need a new blog design to accommodate the non-click through fraternity ie me!) x x

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me.

needles

2010-07-27T20:45:00.001+10:00

Getting your 'big boy' four-year-old needles is hard enough.. going to the doctor every fortnight to see if you're ready for them (ie no grotty cold or cough etc) and all the build-up that it involves "yes, you can go to the toy store and pick ONE special toy for being so brave" SIX FORTNIGHTS IN A ROW is pretty tough for any kid.

Finally, last Friday, we were back in the doctor's surgery for yet another attempt at getting the jabs. Finally, we were given the all clear. Well, you'd have thought he'd been told he'd won the entire contents of a toy store.. "yay i get my needles!!!" he squealed and raced off to the nurse's quarters. He sat up, anticipating who knows what but I know it didn't include imminent pain... The vision of the new toy, promised for a total of 12 disappointing weeks now but ripped away with each 'not just yet' from the doctor, was too much to cope with.

"I want my needles" he exclaimed bravely, "and I won't cry".

So he got them.

And he cried. A bit. But he was brave. A lot. Poor little thing... the thought of that Thomas toy was clutched firmly in his mind and his head was buried firmly in my shirt but he got through it and now he's the bravest four-year-old in the whole world.

This was him the day after. The bandaid still stuck in place (actually, almost a week later, it's still there, the bravest kid in the world refuses to let me rip it off lol)

living.laughing.loving... a weekend with friends

2010-06-15T23:10:00.000+10:00

As with most weekends, this one flew by way too fast.

As with most weekends, we found something to laugh about, and some wonderful friends to share some time with.

As with most weekends, we loved every minute of it. Josh and his two 'best girls'... nothing makes him happier and it's easy to see why. They're all great kids and they all make the most of everything... including a 20 minute play in the late afternoon sunshine, just to make me happy. Ahhhh kids! x

" Once in a while, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale "

2010-06-01T21:18:00.000+10:00

... and this wedding was a fairy tale indeed! I don't think I've met two people more in love, seriously... I know people say that all the time, but you could just SEE it in them both... and it extended to their families, their friends and across their smiling faces all day long. What a glorious occasion! The bride was stunning, the groom was clearly chuffed with the whole affair and a certain two year old stole the whole show from them both!

It.was.perfect. And I was truly honoured to be there and capture it for them. (I'll apologise now for the long post, I couldn't narrow down the faves...!)

Zora and Matt, thank you so much for a wonderful day, it was an absolute pleasure to be there with you... wishing you a lifetime of happiness and good fortune!

I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show. ~Andrew Wyeth

2010-05-18T21:29:00.000+10:00

Love winter coming... I'm a fan of great boots, gorgeous coats and that no sweating thing is so much more appealing lol. These shots were taken last week at Terrigal NSW, while my son rode his new bike on the esplanade and my husband got a workout keeping up with him. We're very lucky to live next door to all this...! x

let them eat cake!

2010-05-03T20:56:00.001+10:00

the birthday boy... party with cake was last weekend, actual birthday with cake is this weekend, and squeezed in the middle is the celebratory cake at playschool... guess there's plenty to smile about!!! Turning four is a BIG deal! x

blowing away the blog cobwebs

2010-04-09T08:43:00.001+10:00

pfft pfft blowing away the cobwebs, I haven't been in here for a few weeks to add anything new! It's a busy time of year... family birthdays, easter, school dress up days, getting organised for a few big photography jobs, getting my favourite lens fixed because I stupidly dropped it at the beach, and generally trying to enjoy the gorgeous autumn weather before the gloom of winter arrives.

Enjoying that beautiful weather means getting up nice and early and heading to the beach for a great sunrise or two... here's a few from easter weekend, Avoca Beach NSW.

And here's just a few of sunset last weekend at my 'local'... Terrigal Beach NSW

Well, that's me done for the weekend... with the cameras in the shop for a service, I'm a bit lost lol. Might have to go get myself a little point'n'shoot today and see what i can do with it instead! Back in a couple of weeks with what will be a stunning wedding at a local vineyard, can't wait for that!!

Sofia

2010-03-18T11:38:00.000+11:00

Last weekend, I got to meet Sofia - she was just under two weeks old and oh my, she's perfect. What a gorgeous little thing, and wonderful baby sister for Lilla.

Congratulations guys, it was wonderful to spend some time with you and your beautiful family.

finally managed an early start...

2010-02-14T23:07:00.000+11:00

... and it rained, and it was cloudy and the sky showed no promise at all... and then for a few minutes, I was given this....

just because...

2010-02-10T21:33:00.001+11:00

ohhhhh he's going to hate these when he's older... oh who cares, that's my mummy job, right???? ;-)

Heavenly

2010-01-18T21:39:00.001+11:00

Nicholas Jake arrived in this beautiful world eight days ago, creating more joy for two wonderful people than you can imagine.

He is divine, and it was so lovely to meet him yesterday. He turned on the model charm too... Congratulations Dan and Bec, he's stunning! x

no reason... just because he's gorgeous

2010-01-14T22:40:00.003+11:00

For Sam...

2009-12-28T18:07:00.001+11:00

*waves* These ones ready to go... x

Thanks again for showing Heidi around my little place here!
JR

too busy!!!!

2009-12-18T19:46:00.003+11:00

With Christmas looming and a million other things on the go, I've had no time for photos at all!!

Just so there's something new in here... my darling boy, quietly watching his favourite show in the world, Top Gear. He's been a fan since he was 12 months old, I am not joking! Fixated, obsessed, enamoured and able to recite in detail just about every episode ever made.. He re-creates scenes from the show with his hotwheels, speaks in "jeremy" talk, and when you play Top Gear with him, he's NEVER Captain Slow - someone else is always lumped with playing James lol.

Thank goodness I'm a huge fan too, or I'd have gone around the bend. While yes, we watch fairly regularly (we've got ALL the DVDs.......), it's certainly not been to his detriment. Today he told us the sailing boat we drove past had a very big mast, just like the one James had when the carboats blah blah blah blah etc blah etc... not many three year olds can regale you with how a mast works and why it's important to sail a boat across the English Channel. What a kid!

Have a wonderful Christmas, may laughter and love fill your home!

busy busy

2009-11-26T21:07:00.006+11:00

so much to do with christmas on the way, work still steaming ahead, and trying to squish a bit of living into the mix as well!

my little elf was happy to do some daggy dancing on the beach on the weekend:

And I managed to get out for a sunrise as well:

Hoping for a moonrise shoot next week if the weather behaves! In the meantime, all print orders need to be finalised asap to ensure xmas delivery, so send me an email or give me a call to confirm.

Enjoy!!! x

living dolls

2009-11-17T21:02:00.003+11:00

These two sweethearts made my day! It's so wonderful when I get the chance to photograph girls... they're so... so... girly lol!! I love my son, but I really do enjoy all the giggles and fun of girls! Thank you so much Karina and Michael for sharing your darling family with me. x

Time to get up and get out there!

2009-10-26T21:05:00.004+11:00

Haven't really surfaced early enough for sunrise shots since busting the moves with Ken D a month ago... on Saturday I threw off the doona, and braved the chill...

Turning point

2009-10-04T20:33:00.004+11:00

Meeting and spending four days with Ken Duncan was one of those moments in life you know you'll never forget and one you know might have changed you just a little bit...

I can't say enough about the man - his photography, his family, his beliefs, his determination and his amazing talent. I was in awe of him and yet felt like a best mate. His generosity of time and spirit was beyond any expectation.

Did I learn anything..? You betcha! I've got hundreds of photos to work through but I've pulled a few out to share. Hope you like them, it was an amazing experience just to shoot these!

big steps

2009-09-22T19:51:00.003+10:00

In a few days, I get to pack a bag (a camera bag lol) and go spend four days with Ken Duncan, international photographer (www.kenduncan.com) at a photography workshop. Seriously cool for a nerd like me.

On the upside, this is an adventure I never dreamed I'd get the chance to experience, but here it finally is... just days away.

On the downside, it's the first time ever I'll be away from my baby boy for more than about eight hours lol. And the thought of it is sickening... it's killing my Ken Buzz, big time. The crazy part is... because Ken D is a local, the whole event is being held at Crown Plaza Terrigal which is literally three minutes from home, so I'll be stressing to the eyeballs while Josh is just up the road with his dad.

Granted he'll probably cope a lot better than I'm going to (well, fingers crossed) but honestly, if I make it through the workshop without having a motherly panic attack AND actually learn some fabulous new skills from this great artist, it will be a miracle!

Wish me luck!!!

Here's a picture I took back in June... can't wait to come back and post some from the Ken experience!

And here's what I'll be missing...

treasured

2009-09-19T22:11:00.005+10:00

Today I met Sabastian. He's divine, he's soft, he has that wonderful baby smell... and he was supposed to be born today... But this little trooper joined the world at 27 weeks, and this weekend is when his fabulous parents should have been welcoming him to the world, but Sabastian couldn't wait and he arrived three months early.

He's gorgeous, and he also ruined my visions of a premmie baby that was sleepy and easy to work with lol, this guy is full of will - he will be going place when he gets a little older, the strength it has taken to get this far is testiment to that!

Thank you Alison and Joshua for having me in your home, you are a beautiful family.

A family gets married

2009-09-13T18:10:00.004+10:00

On Saturday a gorgeous couple and their darling one year old got married. It was a beautiful, colourful and casual affair. The weather was perfect. I haven't had a minute to stop and check out the photos we took, so I've only got one to start. There will be more lol!!!

Thanks James, Nicole and Matthew for sharing your special day with me!

(here's a couple more.... told you I'd be back lol!)

an affair to remember

2009-09-11T20:03:00.002+10:00

A wonderful, funny, beautiful friend of mine got married last week, and I was lucky enough to be her photographer. The whole event was gorgeous, the rain cleared for a perfect afternoon and together they make a fabulous couple!

roses

2009-09-11T10:29:00.002+10:00

Not a lot to say really, my husband brought home some beautiful roses the other day and I couldn't NOT take photos of them!

sisters

2009-08-30T22:30:00.011+10:00

I love my son, but whenever I spend time taking photos of gorgeous, little girls it's all I can do to hold myself back from squeezing them lol! All the frills, the giggles, the girly stuff I don't get at home hahahahaha!

Today I met these two adorable girls, Holly and Charli. They are both just so beautiful, as is their mum, so spending a bit of time with them was great - thanks guys, hope Daddy likes his Father's Day gift!

summer's on it's way!

2009-08-23T07:58:00.002+10:00

Technically it's still winter here, not even spring, but cold, miserable winter. YEAH RIGHT!!!! The weather has been warm, sunny and reaching into the high 20s celcius! Everyone is at the beach, the summer clothes are being dragged out early, and spirits are lifting as the days get longer. If this is winter, bring it on... but I hate to think how hot that means summer is going to be. I'm just not a fan of 40+ degrees and bushfires but I thik it's going to be a long, very hot summer...

oh my baby no more!!

2009-08-02T21:45:00.004+10:00

my son and his 'girlfriend'.. I swear these two are like three year old soulmates!! They've met for playdates only a handful of times, but they are *magic* together. Makes my heart ache (in a good way!) What a great couple of kids...!

[re]location

2009-08-02T21:38:00.003+10:00

Soooo, we moved house last week. finally all the boxes are put away, most of my 'stuff' is in its place and we are adjusting to our new home and environment.

We are also taking advantage of our new location by visiting the beach as often as possible (well, as much as you can in the whole week we've lived here lol, inbetween work, playschool, chores, play dates etc!)

This was our sunset after a long week... Sunset Friday 31 July 2009.

one more time...

2009-07-16T22:11:00.002+10:00

Earlier this week I couldn't sleep (no surprises there unfortunately) so I decided to make the most of the (very) early morning and go watch the sunrise.

It was totally worth it....

I should be packing boxes...

2009-06-27T14:43:00.006+10:00

... but the boys have gone out for an hour or two. Technically I'm packing up the kitchen, but you can't pack while you drink tea so I guess I can sneak a moment in here, right? lol!

Here's a few images I took yesterday at the waterfront near where we live now.. in a few weeks we'll be minutes from the beach instead so no more waterfront.. but HELLO beach photos!!! Can't wait to have new places to visit and shoot, although I think I'll come back here more than once... it's a great spot, particularly in the winter.

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”

2009-06-23T22:47:00.003+10:00

Click on a pic to view big..... A few shots from a couple of weekends ago... just the local waterfront, but it always shows off its glory at sunset.

winter on the coast

2009-06-23T22:38:00.002+10:00

the beach isn't just about summer and sunshine... I love a cold, windy day and then a big, fat glass of red afterwards to warm me back up again!

golden child

2009-06-08T20:56:00.004+10:00

Bribed the boy for five minutes on the weekend... ahhhh it's love!!

2009-06-04T08:53:00.003+10:00

Well, I've clearly been slacking off around here... and in general too - haven't done any photography stuff for weeks! Ah, the life of a working mum, juggling a career, family, pets, selling our house, finding a new one, contemplating packing up (noooo!), sick kids, sick me.... the list goes on lol!!! I know I know, everyone is the same, just fun to complain about it all for a minute (not that anyone listens hahahah!)

Here's a few shots of my three year old, he was kind of playing nice and letting me snap away but mostly he was just wanting get on out of there...! You'd think it was difficult to sit still and look adorable!!!

sun rising on a special day

2009-05-09T20:03:00.004+10:00

Yesterday was my son's birthday. He was three. I continued a little tradition I started last year and got up to shoot the sunrise for his birthday - maybe I'll manage to do many years of them and he'll be able to look back as an adult at how the world woke up once a year to celebrate him.

real men...

2009-04-28T22:13:00.004+10:00

Don't get me wrong, I love taking photos of my little 'man'... but whoa it was great to take photos of real men lol (ok, to be honest, from my point of view these guys are still kids but there's plenty of young women out there who'd call me crazy!)

Oh to be young and gorgeous again!!! I only had ten minutes with these brothers - doing a shoot for their mum for mother's day awwwww - but they were great sports and lovely men.

"time marches on... and eventually you realise it's marching across your face"

2009-04-26T07:44:00.004+10:00

Steel Magnolias quote ... lol, I haven't watched that movie in years, it's a favourite!

Time marches on alright... my 'baby' will be three in a couple of weeks and while I've blocked most of his shocking baby days from my mind (lol, that's probably more about my coping skills than his newborn antics), three years has still disappeared right before my eyes!

Memories.....
First birthday:

Josh last year just after he turned two:

And almost three, going on 27....

sorry the randomness, just amazed at our 'creation' sometimes... lol, I need another cup of tea I think!

my [un]willing subject

2009-04-22T21:08:00.003+10:00

It must be painful to be the child of a photographer... rather than snapping off random shots of an unknowing subject, I make the poor kid sit and wait and pose and smile and do all sorts of things, much to his chagrin. He copes it sweet most of the time but the older he gets, the less simple the bribe lol!

Can't believe he'll be three next month. Where has the time gone....?

2009-04-20T07:06:00.003+10:00

Man, I've been slack in here....! So just before I have to rush off to work, here's a couple of shots from the park this weekend... it rained and rained but for a few brief moments, there was sunshine in our day!

mates

2009-03-23T19:44:00.002+11:00

After a big afternoon of playing, running, jumping, swinging, laughing and generally having a great time, Josh and his two best mates were ready for a bath... you can imagine the laughter and fun as three two-year-olds piled into the tub together! I think they'd agree it was substantially better than just having a rubber ducky for company!

lagoon sunrise

2009-03-23T19:39:00.001+11:00

Managed to drag my weary bones out of bed super-early last Friday and headed to the beach for a sunrise shoot before it gets too cold and dark for such adventures. It was great to be out in the still air, I love how dawn seems to happen around you without you really even noticing. You can never really pick the moment it goes from last night to this morning yet it happens right in front of you lol!!

This is Wamberal Lagoon and Wamberal Beach, NSW Central Coast.

strike a pose

2009-03-11T22:59:00.003+11:00

Bluesteel anyone..?

It's probably not often brides are willing to actually have some fun in their wedding photos, and genuinely have a laugh at the whole event.. this bride was the exception. She, and her wedding party, were just hilarious and made shooting their day pretty much just great fun...

A few more to add to the last post... we were serious sometimes!

2009-03-02T10:32:00.002+11:00

On the weekend, I helped out a friend at her wedding and took photos of her special day. She is the most beautiful person, both on the outside and the inside, truly one of a kind and a delight to work with.

I took lots and lots of photos but got a few done straight away to show her how gorgeous she was, and so she could share them with friends who didn't get to attend the wedding. Ah, the joy of digital photography!

Here's the sneak peak shots of the gorgeous bride...

Special Bear

2009-02-20T17:20:00.002+11:00

No time lately to take many photos of our dearest boy... although he shot me this look the other day. Not sure what that pout is all about - he's holding his friend 'Special Bear' who goes most places with us and sporting a new hat I found at a pre-loved shop for a dollar. He makes us laugh.

making friends

2009-02-13T20:24:00.003+11:00

We made a new friend on the weekend.... he's adorable, his parents are already wrapped tightly around his newborn finger (as it should be!), and I'm sure he'll be a heartbreaker when he grows up.... Meet Ryan!

february skies

2009-02-09T21:26:00.001+11:00

cuddle bear

2009-02-09T21:11:00.004+11:00

My son and his friend, Bear, enjoy each other's company and play really well together lol!

They jam together sometimes too.... this was the two of them practising their latest hit song lol

random life, love and laughter

2009-02-09T21:05:00.001+11:00

busy, busy, busy, work, work, work, play, play, play... some random shots of the past few weeks. Too much going on to focus on anything in particular and I won't even start about how I'm supposed to be on holiday at the moment but had to cancel because work is too busy!!! Oh well, at least I love what I do on weekends!

LIttle Aussie

2009-01-26T07:29:00.003+11:00

It's Australia Day, January 26, and it seems the country has gone a bit Aussie-mad this year (which is great, not complaining lol!). There are cars everywhere with flags on them, kids running around with Australia clothing and a general ambience of goodwill and kinship I haven't noticed before... but maybe it's just me. I've never really been actively involved in this date of historic importance but now with a small child, I feel the need to share it with him in some way, teach him what I can, and build a sense of pride in him about his country's past and his own future.

We're hosting an Australia Day BBQ today (again, never felt the urge to do this before lol!) and I invited a heap of people expecting some to say 'no thanks, we're busy' and thereby keeping the numbers down... but guess what!?! EVERYONE said yes, so we've got a big party on our hands, with lots of kids, and plenty of steaks for the barbie - can't wait!!!

Have a great day!

one evening

2009-01-09T08:04:00.003+11:00

Took a walk by the water one evening, turned into a gorgeous night. The fair is in town as well, you could hear the kids screaming on the rides from across the water!

family

2009-01-09T07:51:00.004+11:00

Well, our little holiday is almost over but we've had a great time doing very little... the beach (a lot, it's been really hot here this summer - which I guess shouldn't be a surprise lol!), picnics, visiting friends, hanging out, water pistols, water balloons, gardening, the park - holidaying at home is great!

Obviously we've been taking plenty of photos as well, all part of the fun...

on holiday

2008-12-29T08:40:00.002+11:00

I love the time between Christmas and New Year's... it's so 'holiday' and reminiscent of my childhood when the summer holidays seemed to stretch on for weeks and weeks (well, I guess it was only about six weeks but it felt like forever!)

Our little family is officially on holiday (at home) and we're doing things with our son that are simple good times - the beach, a ferry ride, playing with water pistols in the backyard, ice creams on a hot afternoon and a run under the sprinkler - hopefuly we're making memories for him!

calm thoughts...

2008-12-21T20:01:00.003+11:00

...thinking calm thoughts... breathe in, breathe out.. lol...

Isn't the leadup to Christmas supposed to be a wind-down? An easing of life's rushing to a slower meander? A time to reflect and review, to remember and revisit the year gone by as we turn to face the next one, full of promise and fortune untold....?

NOT IN THIS HOUSE!!!! Work is flat out, home is busy, everything is flying towards Christmas and the new year like a runaway train!!!! Thankfully, I think all the shopping is done, just need to wrap it all to make sure I've got everything... then maybe I can shut down for a bit and enjoy the two week break that is edging closer with much tedium - why are the weeks before a break the l o n g e s t ones of your life!!!???

Bring on the summer holiday!!!! Have a great one!

hazy days of summer

2008-12-07T19:46:00.003+11:00

One of the best parts of being a kid in Australia is summer. The long days, the sizzling heat, a bunch of kids and the HOSE! I have heaps of great memories as a kid that involve the sprinker, a Sunnyboy (oooooh remember them!?!?) and a sunburn.... ah, the 70s...!

This was our Saturday afternoon... it was a bit of a stinker heat-wise and we were invited to attend the second birthday of Josh's friend Noah. The kids had a great time, but once the hose came out to cool things down, they had even more fun! (Thanks again for the invite, guys, we had a wonderful time despite the hour-long tantrum we endured afterwards because someone didn't want to leave lol)

This shot is my fav from the day - Josh and one of his new friends - such pure joy to be found under a spray of water when you're young (truth be known, we've done this in our own backyard with Josh and it's still a hoot when you're an oldie!)

(note to self, find out how to get larger images.. click this one to see the joy BIG)

My Sunday morning

2008-12-03T16:22:00.004+11:00

As anyone who looks here regularly would know, I have a penchant for sunrises... this past Sunday morning was no exception. 5am is really a beautiful time of the day. This was what the first day of summer looked like in my world. (click on each image to enlarge... I WILL get a blog that has bigger images ONE day loL!)

I really should be up jogging or something at this hour, not standing still with coffee in hand, but it's difficult to run with thousands of dollars of camera equipment strapped to you and I just couldn't go past this view without taking a shot.. so, for now, the photography wins.

A boy and his Christmas bear

2008-12-03T10:40:00.002+11:00

Each year, I set up the Christmas photo shoot with my baby boy, so I can use the images on our Christmas card. This year, he wanted to use his Santa bear and he graciously gave me about ten minutes of his precious play time lol!!!

The Divine Miss A

2008-11-21T21:12:00.004+11:00

A few shots from a friend's newborn shoot. The whole family is just so beautiful, this is one lucky baby to have come into their world.

missed it by that much....

2008-11-09T22:29:00.006+11:00

i was five minutes late to the party last night. The most astounding sunset I've seen in months, and I didn't get there in time - it was all going on right when it was Josh's bedtime sigh....

Not only was the sunset spectacular, last night was the first time in two years I'd been out after dark to do something interesting (other than attend committee meetings for my son's daycare centre, which are hardly a thrill!) I was out for exactly 57 minutes and felt hugely guilty for 56 of them...

Anyway, I got a few last minute shots but these are nothing compared to the real thing.

summertime

2008-11-09T17:09:00.004+11:00

It's almost summer here (well, it's been lovely and warm for weeks but it's not official yet!)

I'm always amazed at the range of flowers that grow wild all over the place this time of year... beside the road, in gutters, behind broken down fences... and in all colours that can be imagined. Sure, half of them are probably noxious weeds but I just love the wildness of it all, the untamed messiness of flowers that dare to grow outside the tidy rows of tireless gardeners.

These flowers grow everywhere, and I mean everywhere (generally mostly where they're not invited) and I've loved them since I was a kid. I used to walk the sides of the roads, collecting them in a bucket. They're just so simple and so... happy. I heart them!

my kingdom

2008-10-31T20:26:00.002+11:00

my son, my world.

.

can't sleep

2008-10-09T19:52:00.001+11:00

If you can't sleep, might as well get up and do something useful...

blue eyes

2008-10-06T21:53:00.003+11:00

The early summer heatwave prompted a throwing of unnecessary clothing to the wind and the hilarious abandonment small children have when running around the backyard with nothing but sunscreen between them and the sky...

This was also the week our son figured it would be greatly amusing to be hurtled around the yard in his wheelbarrow, going hell for leather with his father as the horse-power. Almost killed the daddy, but the laughter was worth it!

fairground sunday

2008-08-28T19:50:00.002+10:00

everyone loves a merry-go-round, particularly one with a view!

total slacker...

2008-08-27T20:40:00.004+10:00

Ok, it's been over a month since i was here... there are no excuses worth writing down, I've just been drowning in 'life stuff' (aren't we all!!)... so rather than words, I'll throw up some random images from my month.

natives

2008-07-23T21:51:00.004+10:00

the natives... plants that is.... a couple of shot on the side of the road last weekend.

sunset walk

2008-07-06T21:15:00.002+10:00

a few shots from our little family walk on Saturday afternoon....

tagged

2008-07-01T20:02:00.003+10:00

I got tagged by the lovely and talented Sonia: www.bohemianartphotography.com/blog/

Truly gorgeous photographer... go check her out.

ok, so the game goes like this...

Link the person who tagged you
Mention the rules on your blog
Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them
Leave a comment on each of the tagged bloggers blogs letting them know they have been tagged.

Ok, so the six unspectacular things about myself... let's see...

1. I'm tall, really tall 5ft 10in tall and despite that fact, I only ever wear heels (well, I did until I had my baby and even now only own one pair of flat shoes which I begrudgingly wear when chasing small children is a requirement of the event). I love heels, the higher and thinner the better... generally, however, this has meant I've been over 6ft tall my whole life.

2. I like cleaning. I'm even having a flex day from work tomorrow while my son is in daycare specifically so I can clean properly, in peace, and without interruption.... oh all that fabulous 'unclean' stuff just waiting for me to rub it, remove it, wipe it, vacuum it, tidy it.... heaven (although that heaven status is increased exponentially if I get to watch Sex & The City DVDs at the same time.. .lol..)

3. I could live in a world without chocolate.

4. But not without champagne.

5. I have a photo phobia.. oh the irony... i detest being in photos more than anything in the whole big, wide world. I'm just not photogenic, I even loathe all my wedding photos (which remain on a CD, never to see the printed light of day). There are two photos of me with my son, one of which was taken in hospital before we left... two photos in over two years... I just can't be on 'that' side of the camera.

6. I've only ever had relationships with left handed men. WEIRD.. not that I seek them out, but all my long term (and the several very short term...eek!) relationships were with lefties. Now, given only 5% of the population are left-handed, what are the odds that I've never dated someone that holds their pen 'normally' !?!?!?! Oh, and I'm right handed....

Now, I'll have to return later to tag others... (mostly cause I'm not sure I have five cyber friends to tag.. oh the shame....!!!

Here's a pic to finish with... who knew bubbles held the world's reflection!!!!

A boy and his dog

2008-06-29T20:09:00.002+10:00

... just one more shot of probably the best lookin' child on the planet... oh ok, maybe close second after Brad & Angelia's Shiloh but it's a close call....

"The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorise" (Steel Magnolias, greatest movie ever)

2008-06-27T21:22:00.002+10:00

...well, one of the greatest movies ever, Top 5 for sure.

We acquired a new hat yesterday... how could I resist this bohemian ear warmer that goes all the way down past his butt???? Just tooo divine for words, so I'll stop now and just show the pics....

M.I.A

2008-06-06T20:30:00.004+10:00

wow, I've been ignoring myself here, haven't updated this thing in over a month! In fairness, we've had heaps on, been doing quite a few photo sessions, it was our son's 2nd birthday, and work has been hectic so phew.. finally remembered to come back here and add some more pics...

On Josh's birthday morning, I got up early to take some photos of the sunrise... this was how the 8th of May started....

and then some official birthday snaps: (not really, just an afternoon at the park!)

We've been spending a lot of time at the park, as you do when you have a spirited two year old and you're trying to wear him out....

Then it was Mother's Day and for some excitement we went to the Hunter Valley vineyards for the day - replenish our stocks, enjoy the world etc. Turns out we should have stayed home if we'd wanted excitement... the house next door to us burned down that morning - there was more action in our street than we'd ever seen and we missed it all...!!! Josh would have lurved all the fire trucks!!!!

Oh well... the stash of wine we brought home was worth missing out on the drama!!! This is Josh dancing around at Peppertree vineyard, next to The Convent - gorgeous hotel...!!!

More later.... x

son shine

2008-04-27T21:06:00.002+10:00

how could you not love autumn trees and falling leaves....

rainy days and mondays always get me down...

2008-04-17T13:33:00.000+10:00

..ahhh gotta love the Carpenters! Actually it's Thursday but it is rainy and miserable... and a challenge to keep an almost-two-year-old occupied! Spending time just hanging out with him, with nothing else calling to be done, is a rare opportunity to really get to know my son's growing personality. He can be such a joy, and such a test of my patience! But mostly he's just mine. x

afternoon delight

2008-04-12T22:12:00.001+10:00

Sunrise sunrise....

2008-03-20T13:23:00.000+11:00

Finally got up early one morning this week to see if I could get any decent sunrise pics.... i think they turned out ok, but perhaps a bit cliched I think... it feels very cool to be able to take an image of something so many people miss out on because they're still sleeping... it's like your own specially sent thank-you for getting up early to watch.

There's more in my flickr... flickr.com/photos/nellr

more beauty than I've known

2008-03-07T22:38:00.000+11:00

.... is captured in this child. Well... that is, except for the crusty bits of left-over snack so clearly visible on his shirt!

waiting out the storm

2008-03-07T22:31:00.000+11:00

.... it's about 11pm, should have been propped up in bed a while ago but there's a big storm raging outside and I can't sleep when there's thunder/lightning etc.... I never liked storms much to begin with but now we have a child, I freak out for him as well. I was petrified as a child so while I try really hard not to project that onto him, inside I'm screaming 'run for cover!!!' every time the sky lights up hahahhahahahah! Yes, stupid, I know but that doesn't change it....

So, given I've got some time to kill til this little cell passes - and quiet returns to my night - here's a few recent pics of more sunny times (ie only yesterday!)

Another world

2008-02-25T20:17:00.000+11:00

...isn't that the name of a soapie? Hahahaha... I'm back at work, my real job, the real world, my old life. It's been all new and scary and yet all same old and familiar at the same time. New people, new ways... I've become one of those old people that bites their tongue to avoid saying 'back in my day' (well most of the time...!). Can't let that slip out too much because (a) it makes you sound really old and (b) it's a sure giveaway that you're no longer the 'it' person, today is no longer 'your day'. Quite sobering really to be only in your mid-thirties yet be one of the 'oldies' that all the hip young things wish would just go away so they could run the ship.. NOT A CHANCE KIDS!!!

It's also been a huge bummer to not be able to whip out the camera and take photos as I please. I really didn't expect the urge to be so strong but it really was.. my fingers itched for something creative to do and I saw plenty of prime opportunities but alas, no camera nearby. We made up for it on the weekend.. trips to the beach and a quick stop at my fav place to take a few snaps... hope you like them.