End of year dance concert and kindy concert

Dear Matthew, Toby and Josie

I love this time of year because it's we have your end of year concerts! They always make my heart smile and although I'm sad another year is over, I am just so proud of watching you in them. 

Matt, as usual we had your final dance concert in the big auditorium at a local high school, and your class did a dance to John Farnham's 'You're the Voice'. It was awesome to see you all dressed up in a tie dye top out there performing the routine you'd put together. At the end of the concert the whole school also performed a song together, as there's a change happening in your school next year and it was the last time everyone was performing together, and you farewelled your lovely principal. As we sat in the audience, maskless, we also knew it may be one of the last times that we were able to safely gather in such big numbers, as the borders would be open some time next year, so we didn't know what the next year's dance concert would look like. It made us savour the night so much more. 

Tobes, you had two end of year concerts this year as your kindy holds one for each day that students attend. Your grandparents came along and we all watched you sing (ever so quietly!) a few Christmas carols and you got given your graduation certificate and final report. You have absolutely thrived at your kindy Tobes, and I will forever be indebted to your beautiful teachers (see them in the photo below!) who have helped get you ready for big school so well. I can't wait until Josie comes back to the centre in a few years. We had a some yummy shared food with your class at the end of the concerts and I may have shed a tear or two saying goodbye to the centre and your wonderful teachers. 

Love you all, 

Mum xxx

 

9th Wedding Anniversary

Dear Matthew, Toby and Josie

Well, it's the end of November and that means it's time to celebrate our wedding anniversary! As usual we headed down to Fremantle to celebrate at The Esplanade where we got married nine years ago. You all came with us and we had a yummy (albeit quick!) lunch filled with milkshakes and chips. It was lovely to celebrate with you three given you are the best things to come from your mum and dad falling in love sixteen years ago. It baffles my mind to think  that we have been married for almost a decade. We have absolutely had our ups and downs, really good seasons and really crappy ones, but at the end of the day we choose to love each other through it all. I'm grateful that we especially survived through the last few very stressful years - I never expected to have to navigate a pandemic in our lifetimes but I would have been so lost navigating it without your dad. I know we aren't the best example of married life, but I hope you all remember the times when we worked as a team, practiced patience and kept our common goal in sight - to raise three beautiful kids into three beautiful adults, together. 

Love you all,

 

Mum xxx

 

Losing Pepper

 Dear Matthew, Toby and Josie,

We recently we said goodbye to our beautiful Pepper. We adopted Peppy at 12 weeks old and had 12 wonderful years with her. As a kitten she was always climbing the curtains, the Christmas tree, you name it- I think it was the bengal in her. She was a peace-maker, never getting into fights, rarely even going outside, instead she spent most of her days curled up on a bed or in a wardrobe somewhere. This will be what I miss the most, her constant companionship, especially when I was so very lonely in the early day of parenting or inevitably anytime I’ve been stuck with a baby asleep on me. She was always my study buddy late into the night as I worked with a laptop on my lap in bed, surrounded by sleeping kids. When it was cold she would always find her way under the covers at night to cuddle in close or scare us to death during the day by sleeping under a mound of blankets that we’d suddenly see moving. She let you all ‘play’ with her as toddlers and you loved her dearly, as did we all. Josie, she was even your first word. She showed her love by head-butting us and had a way of meowing without even opening her mouth. I always said she smelt like magic and her fur was the softest I’ve ever felt, especially behind her ears. We will miss you so much Peppercorn, thank you for loving on us and we hope you know how much we loved you too 💕

I have really struggled losing Pepper and I hope you have all seen my grief. It is so important to hold space for people grieving, no matter whether they lose a loved one, a pet, a relationship, a home, a job etc. Grief is grief and it shouldn't be hidden. It should be welcomed and sat with. For it is only through being with grief are you able to fully grieve. Little by little things will feel a tiny bit easier (although the grief will never ever fully go away). I hope you all ask people how they are going with their grief, while looking them in the eye. Please don't shy away from it - the greatest gift you can give someone is to sit with them during this time. Trying to forget it happened won't make it go away. Please don't be afraid to 'go there' with people in their time of need. Matt you asked me why I was crying and I told you it's because I missed Pepper and you seemed satisfied with that - I hope you remember that it's always ok to cry when you miss someone you love.

The saying goes that grief is just love with no where to go, and that is exactly how I feel about losing our beautiful Pepper. Josie you continue to use her name to describe any cat you see and I will never correct you, because I want to remember her forever. 

Love you all, 

Mum xxx

P.S. See my Instagram for photos of you all as babies with beautiful Pep Pep. 

Catch up with Mother's Group

Dear Matthew, Toby and Josie

Last weekend we hosted the lovely two families that help make up our Mother's group. We have been trying to have a catch up at our place for a few months but for one reason or another it didn't happen but finally the stars aligned on a sunny Saturday and we had everyone over to see our new house. All nine of you kids ran around having a great time while us parents chatted over drinks and nibbles for hours on end. As usual, we had the customary photo on the Dr Seuss blanket of you Matt, with Charlotte and Chloe, the original babies, then another will the rest of the gang! So grateful to have maintained this friendship with these family friends for eight years now!

Love you all,

Mum xxx

Halloween

Dear Matthew, Toby and Josie

As time goes on, I am verrryy slowly finding that I have more capacity to do more things with you all. One of the things I wanted to do this year was decorate a tiny bit for Halloween. Decorating for Halloween isn't a big deal in Australia like it is in the US, however it's fun to get into the spirit of things (see what I did there?!) and dress the house/you all up for trick or treaters. So this year you all wore costumes and we decorated the front yard a little with candles, pumpkins, monster posters, a hanging witch and orange tinsel (see my Instagram for photos) and we registered our house on the new website that tells people they are welcome to come trick or treating. We ended up having quite a number of groups come by which was great. I also put Hocus Pocus for you to watch as this was one of my favourites as a kid (I love the witches, they're hilarious) but you all weren't quite ready for it, maybe next year!

Tobes and Josie, we also had a little Halloween themed day at playgroup where you got to dress up (Josie how cute are you in your pumpkin) and do Halloween-themed sensory play. 

Hopefully we can build on this every year and have a spooktacular Halloween in the future!

Love you all, 

Mum xxx

P.S. I couldn't help but include the photos of Josie below with ice cream all over her face!