BIRTHDAY FUN

To celebrate Josephine's birthday on Monday, we headed out to breakfast at our new favourite café (the new Boston Tea Rooms - such a beautiful space) and then went for a birthday walk around the Royal Crescent. It was absolutely freezing, so a much shorter walk than we had planned, but it gave Josephine the chance to try out her new binoculars that Coralie had given her for her birthday, and me to snap some birthday portraits. I never get any good pictures at their parties - sure, it's always so busy but largely I like to be there in the moment rather than behind the camera - so I always make sure I get some great shots at another point in the day.

I can't believe our girl is four. She looks so happy in these pictures, and so does Coralie, and that's all that matters in the world. Plus I got in on the photo action again (debuting my amazing new Ace & Jig dress - thank you Ben!)

Happy birthday darling Josephine, we love you xxxxx

WATCHING THE RAIN

My other favourite shots of the girl's watching the rain a few days ago. I love how spontaneous moments like these often produce the best photographs. So real. And looking out of the window is a serious fascination for both Josephine and Coralie. So much wonder in the world, waiting just on the doorstep.

FOUR

Happy happy day to our beautiful Josephine. Four today! What a brilliant, funny, intelligent, fierce and joyous girl you are. I'm so proud to be your Mama little one, it's such an honour. Here's to a year filled with the best adventures. We all love you so much darling xxxx

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Josephine: Watching the rain drops race down the window.

Coralie: Phiney's little shadow. Also watching the rain.

These are the only photos I took all week on my big camera, but they were pretty good ones. I may have to post more to have them all here in our journal.

WHAT PHINEY WORE

WEARING: Next dress and cardigan // La Coqueta coat, hair bow and tights // Clarks Originals boots.

Off to her little friends birthday party, and happily letting me take her picture while she shelters from the rain. She's not the biggest fan of having her photo taken right now, so when she agrees to smile and stand still for one second, I grab the opportunity and the camera. She's laughing so much because I was getting soaked, and I crouched down to take a photo and basically sat in a puddle!

I bought this beautiful coat (the same as her brown one, which she grew out of last winter) in the sale nearly a year ago. It's finally about fitting - although the sleeves need turning up a lot! - and we both love it. So classic and timeless. Josephine loves the velvet buttons most :)

This outfit is the perfect mix of high street and investment pieces. I know this coat will be passed down to Coralie, and is likely to be worn by Josephine for at least another winter if not two. Totally worth it (and a steal at half price in the sale).

Those last two are iPhone captures you may have seen on IG, but I just adore them. Sometimes you get the best shot once you've put the big camera away and are snapping on your phone!

BACK

Today Ben went back to work, and so back to our normal routines us girls go. It's been such a wonderful few weeks with Ben at home and we've crammed in so many walks, park trips, scooter practices and food dates. The simple things, and the best things. Time just us four, and time with our friends and family. Things I want more and more of this year.

These photos are from a very muddy trip to the meadow last week. I grabbed my camera at the last second and I'm so happy I did. Not only did I get the sweetest photos of my little family playing football and on the swings and slide, but I captured the most beautiful image for the girl's monthly portrait and Ben got some lovely captures of me and my babies too.

So many happy memories made already in 2016. Have a lovely week everyone x

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Josephine: This capture represents so much to me. Josephine in her princess crown (her must-have accessory right now) in her mud-splatted waterproofs, climbing the rope ladder at the meadow after playing footie with Daddy. She can be girly and strong and brave and messy and a princess and a footballer. She can be whatever she wants to be.

Coralie: So small on the big slide. And such a daredevil - nothing scares this kid.

WHAT PHINEY SAID

The Christmas holidays provided us with plenty of amazing quotes from Josephine...

"Mama, what animals do Party Rings come from?!"

Josephine: "Oh Coralie, I was going to tell you an important truth."
Mama: "What was it?"
Josephine: "For when you build towers."

"It was the biggest bug in the whole wildlife world."

"That's the funniest thing I heard in my whole wide life."

"Coralie, we're going to get married soon."

After watching her best friend Oliver jump off the stairs...
"That was so funny!"
Then seeing me watching...
"But also very dangerous!"

As I'm opening the shutters one morning...
Josephine: "What a beautiful day!"
Mama: "I hope it's going to be like this tomorrow for our walk."
Josephine: "But luckily it's nice today, remember Mama."

"You're the best sister, Coralie."

"My wee is made of glitter."

"Oh Coralie, Coralie Joe!"

Mama: "What do you think you'd like to be when you grow up?"
Josephine: "I'm too small to know that, Mama. I need more years."

"I love our conversations in the morning, Coralie. You're hilarious!"

Said very loudly in the middle of a very quiet Co-op...
"Mama, my trumps smell like I need a poo."

Josephine to Coralie: "If you ask me you're being very silly and messing me around."

On why she likes playing hospitals...
"I want to check people's hearts and be kind."

Josephine: "Where's my bombastic?"
Mama: "What's a bombastic?"
Josephine: "The stick bit on the hoover."

Daddy: "Coralie, are you going to eat some more carrot?"
Coralie: "Sssshhhh" putting her finger to her mouth.
Daddy: "No, not quiet! Carrot!"
Coralie: "Sssshhhh!"

There are a few things I don't want to forget Coralie saying too. As her speech develops more everyday, it's an amazing stage and so cute.

Coralie: "Story" meaning books
              "Mirror?" when she gets dressed or puts something from the dressing up box on
              "Where's Phiney?" the first thing she says after every nap
              "What that noise?" to any noise at all
              "Oh!" in response to everything!

As always, these posts are some of my most favourite. Several of those had be laughing out loud as I typed them up. So happy we're in the habit of writing down these treasures!