And then by magic and/or miracle, he turned 5.

Every single day, I question how the hell no one has taken my children away from me yet. Mostly because my parenting skills are diabolical, and I shout a lot, and have been known to feed them crap, and sometimes I’m a smart mouth with them when they ask one too many questions (which, of course, is all the time). Yet however, they are still alive, and even more astonishing is the fact that Noah made it to his 5th birthday last week.

I confess I patted myself on the back by drinking a bottle of Champagne, amazed with the sheer fact that I have made it this far without major disaster.

Which I’m pretty sure is imminent.

So, happy birthday kiddo. I love you a whole shit load, and I know for a fact I should say it to you more often, but I guess that’s what comes with being a bit of a crap mom. But you already know it though, right? I think the very fact that, one of the biggest presents you wanted for your birthday, was a cake with a picture of your family on it (which I didn’t get to do, and even though you said it’s ok if it doesn’t work because at least I tried {I did try}, you made things even better by saying it was ok because I could just take a photo of the 4 of us anyway, and you could have it from my polaroid and keep it with you).

I did that for you, but I hope you don’t mind that I put it in a tiny little frame for you, because then you can keep it on the unit downstairs and see it all the time. And that’s cool too, because it’s right next to your favourite place to play.

I hope you had an ace birthday; opening presents at home, lunch at Grandma and Granddad’s house, and then the Sea Life Centre the next day (you asked to go to an aquarium, and Daddy and I were over the MOON because we’d already planned the day out when you asked to go).

I love you, Noah. x

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Out.

I haven’t understood much of this week at all.

Isaac started nursery, Noah is still at home, I’m running on crappy minimal sleep, I fell out spectacularly with one of my best friends, I’m seriously doubting my abilities as a professional photographer (again), and sweet baby Jesus, I would really like a PROPER holiday or maybe just some peace or something soon.

So after yet another tearful (Isaac’s tears, definitely NOT mine) nursery start, and a shitty rainy day, The Smalls and I walked a bit. With camera.

Clickem to biggem.

Camera play time. (For me.)

New camera. The Mr had to sell a kidney to help me afford it. It’s kinda nice, if I’m honest.

The camera, not the kidney. I never saw the kidney.

I’ve already done one wedding with it, and I’m hoping I did a Good Job. It’s bloody complicated, and I have a fuck ton of settings to learn about, but I LOVE that.

So I’ve been enjoying having a bit of play time with it! Nothing technical, nothing fancy. Just my fave 50mm f/1.4 lens and the camera. *Happy face*

CAT.BIG SMALL.LITTLE SMALL.

Obviously. Pics of The Smalls. Obviously.

Yes, Uggs and tartan pyjama bottoms. I am truly at the height of fashion.

 

The Day The Smalls Took On London Town

I don’t have much in the way of words at the moment, I think much of it is the same old whiny depression shit, which I’m dealing with, badly, but y’know, you just keep going.

However, in the midst of all the crap, The Mr and I took The Smalls to London. Started in a hideous, tiny, pokey little hotel, which quite literally served as our dumping ground and somewhere to attempt to sleep. The Smalls didn’t care, WE WERE IN LONDON!!!

It was only 2 days, but wow, it was brilliant. I mean, I’ve been to London a million times; I have family down there, I’ve shot weddings there, I’ve been to meetings and conferences there, but with The Smalls and The Mr, it was great. They were great.

Day 1: Ass-crack of dawn, travelled on the train, hotel, walk through Hyde Park, lunch at Wagamama in Kensington, underground to Buckingham Palace, walk across Westminster, 3pm Big Ben chimes, London Eye, Tower Bridge, dinner in Strada (where they were the most well-behaved, ridiculously exhausted kids I had ever seen), M&S for some sneaky vino/beer, pass out.

Day 2: Walk to Pret-a-Manger (for a decent healthy start of a bacon and egg roll, porridge and fruit), tube to Natural History Museum (since when did that place become a furnace?) back and forth to collect luggage from hotel, Euston, dinner from M&S (seriously, so easy to make an easy tea of chicken wraps and salad and fruit juice and muffins) train home, pass out.

Absolutely can’t wait to do it again.

The Smalls *cough* Outtakes

Everyone says they’re cute. In our house, cute = crazy.
(It’s a slideshow. There’s more.)