This is you.
Our gorgeous three sons! 2yrs, very nearly 5yrs, and 7.5yrs. We are in awe of you. Your energy and zest for life. Jumping out of bed far too early, as if today will be the most exciting thing you could ever do. The laughter and boisterous noise our home is filled with. And the mountain of spilt weetbix and muesli that our entire kitchen is filled with by 6:37am. The wondrous ways that your minds learn and grow through playing and experimenting and fighting and repairing and building. Loving you is our greatest privilege.
Every year, January promises time to connect. And this Jan was no exception. We holidayed with grandparents in Hawea and cousins in Invercargill. We hosted good friends from Christchurch. And all the days that had no specific plans were easily filled in at home... our favourite place to be. This was the year that you helped Dad to build you a climbing wall, and him a garden shed. I love seeing the different DIY projects he does each January through this Photo-A-Day project, with you pottering around with him. You adore him and his talents - I see you all watching him closely and learning not only his craft and handyman skills that translate to your own creations, but his attitude, his perseverance, the way he looks after me and you, and how he loves by serving others.
This January another tooth was lost, a gappy smile was gained, and you asked your tooth fairy 'Tooth Man' to set up elaborate clues to find your coin. We kayaked. We biked as a family. We got scrapes and bruises. We played the FIFA World Cup 'Dreamer' song on repeat. We made mistakes... all of us. We jumped in goo. You asked "why? why? why?" 1000 times a day. We had meltdowns. Our hearts melted with all the utterly adorable things that come out of your mouths. And we melted in the 30+ degree days too. We read books... so many books. We attempted to bake cookies in a homemade pizza box solar oven. We had satisfyingly good productive days at home. And some very unproductive days too, where I achieved absolutely nothing but supplying 1347 snacks. We longed for more sleep, but... that wasn't on your January plan. Climbing out of your cot constantly was a higher priority. You learnt what felt like a hundred new words a day. We randomly morning tea'd up in the ceiling together. Chess was the winner of the month. We prepped for a 5th birthday party and covered books for the very first day of school. We swam, we explored new places, and you spoiled us rotten on our wedding anniversary - sleeping in the lounge the night before so that you could set up an amazingly thoughtful extravaganza for us by the morning. You spent the month with your best friends... your brothers. I loved documenting all of it.
And each and every day... we were so blessed by you.
xoxoxo
Our gorgeous three sons! 2yrs, very nearly 5yrs, and 7.5yrs. We are in awe of you. Your energy and zest for life. Jumping out of bed far too early, as if today will be the most exciting thing you could ever do. The laughter and boisterous noise our home is filled with. And the mountain of spilt weetbix and muesli that our entire kitchen is filled with by 6:37am. The wondrous ways that your minds learn and grow through playing and experimenting and fighting and repairing and building. Loving you is our greatest privilege.
Every year, January promises time to connect. And this Jan was no exception. We holidayed with grandparents in Hawea and cousins in Invercargill. We hosted good friends from Christchurch. And all the days that had no specific plans were easily filled in at home... our favourite place to be. This was the year that you helped Dad to build you a climbing wall, and him a garden shed. I love seeing the different DIY projects he does each January through this Photo-A-Day project, with you pottering around with him. You adore him and his talents - I see you all watching him closely and learning not only his craft and handyman skills that translate to your own creations, but his attitude, his perseverance, the way he looks after me and you, and how he loves by serving others.
This January another tooth was lost, a gappy smile was gained, and you asked your tooth fairy 'Tooth Man' to set up elaborate clues to find your coin. We kayaked. We biked as a family. We got scrapes and bruises. We played the FIFA World Cup 'Dreamer' song on repeat. We made mistakes... all of us. We jumped in goo. You asked "why? why? why?" 1000 times a day. We had meltdowns. Our hearts melted with all the utterly adorable things that come out of your mouths. And we melted in the 30+ degree days too. We read books... so many books. We attempted to bake cookies in a homemade pizza box solar oven. We had satisfyingly good productive days at home. And some very unproductive days too, where I achieved absolutely nothing but supplying 1347 snacks. We longed for more sleep, but... that wasn't on your January plan. Climbing out of your cot constantly was a higher priority. You learnt what felt like a hundred new words a day. We randomly morning tea'd up in the ceiling together. Chess was the winner of the month. We prepped for a 5th birthday party and covered books for the very first day of school. We swam, we explored new places, and you spoiled us rotten on our wedding anniversary - sleeping in the lounge the night before so that you could set up an amazingly thoughtful extravaganza for us by the morning. You spent the month with your best friends... your brothers. I loved documenting all of it.
And each and every day... we were so blessed by you.
xoxoxo
