Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Big Day














It was a big day today. The Kids went back to School with the Twins starting Prep - their first year of full time School.

I've been thinking about this day ever since they were born 5 and a half years ago when I had 4 little ones at home full time. Not looking forward to this day or anything like that, just wondering how it would be when all 4 of them would be heading off to School and how it would feel to say good-bye to 2 kids at once and then walk back inside to an empty house.

It was such a surreal experience let me tell you, even though I still have Flynn, the gorgeous ball of fun that he is. There's just been a huge build-up of emotions. Only Motherhood would have you doing a happy dance in the living room relishing in the teeny bit of freedom and peace and quiet while simultaneously lifting the sunglasses off your face to wipe the tears away. I'm just so proud of them. To be honest I was quite OK until I downloaded the photos I took this morning. The Kids look like giants, especially when standing next to Flynn. Childhood is so fleeting isn't it? And it just seems to whizz by particularly fast when they start full-time School. I haven't missed any of it and School finishes at 2.40, still plenty of time together but I'm really going to miss my little buddies during the day.

After settling the Kids into their classrooms, I didn't quite know what to do with myself - coffee with the Girls, lunch with Daniel, throw myself a little celebratory party for getting the Kids to this point in life or hop back into bed myself when Flynn has his big nap and catch up on years of sleep deprivation? Well after playing with Flynn, doing some laundry and chopping up vegetables for dinner, I wandered around the house aimlessly and then took the advice of Pippa on Instagram who suggested I "revel in the good work I had done with my humans...and then start making!". And so with that, the knitting needles came out for about an hour before the Kids arrived home. 

As far as the Kids were concerned, it was indeed a very good day. They were so excited. George appeared at our bedside at 6am with his little voice "so, how do I look?" They were all dressed, had eaten breakfast and were ready by 7.30. I gave myself an extra 5 minutes to do Eleanor's hair, a style she requested after being inspired by Elsa's Coronation in the movie "Frozen". It's one of those styles that looks tricky but really only takes a couple of minutes. Eleanor helpfully pulled up a youtube tutorial for me. She wants me to replicate Elsa's sister's Anna's hair tomorrow which may be above my pay grade but I'll give it a go as no doubt the novelty will wear off for her and it will be ponytails for the rest of the year.

They all had a great day, love their new Teachers and were especially happy to see all their friends again. I think I'll just take it easy for the next few days while I get my head around the new 'normal' before I work out how I'm going to best spend my days with Flynn. I have lots of ideas and plans for this new chapter and of course I need to see how much knitting I can get sone during Flynn's nap time. For now, though, I have books to cover, socks to fold and a dress that needs to be lengthened - someone has had an unexpected growth spurt over the past 8 weeks!

Some things remain the same however, like the morning ritual of capturing and releasing the cheeky possums that make their way into the veggie patch.

First Day of School last year
First Day of School 2 years ago







35 comments :

  1. Oh the ups and downs of emotions with wee ones starting school. My Cohen started Prep last wee, and tonight I said to hubby the novelty has worn off for me I miss my boy. It's such a huge chunk of time to not be with your child when they head off to school. But in all seriousness despite feeling that way I'd never get anytnug done if he didn't go to school.

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  2. Yes childhood is certainly fleeting, something I am really realising with little ones. My 4 month old had very bad colic up until 3 weeks ago and in the thick of it I fervently wished time would pass quickly. Now he's 17 weeks old tomorrow and no longer a tiny baby and I can't believe I wished away his 'newbornhood', however difficult it was.
    Lovely photos of your children as always. You're so lucky to have twins! Wishing your gang a great school year!

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  3. They're in!! I'm so glad it went so well, Mel. They all look so shiny. Beautiful kids. x

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  4. You have some cheeky possums! Some in school uniforms and some in the veggie garden!

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  5. What a gorgeous family shot of your school kids, all looking so very grown up Mel!! I too felt lost on Monday when I returned home after Grace's first drop off, having put Soph down for a nap and had lunch and prepped dinner, I wandered about aimlessly for a bit :) Your family is just so gorgeous, I always love seeing the photos you share of them. And Eleanor's hair do is AMAZING!! I need some lessons off you!! Grace would be mighty impressed :) I hope the rest of the week goes smoothly for you all and that you get lots of knitting done xx

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  6. Dear Mel,

    I feel your pride/joy/sorrow all rolled into one. Which mother wouldn't? And look at them all! Splendid, vibrant, happy chlldren; even at thousands of miles away I can see that. Keep your sunglasses on dear Mel. The path of motherhood is a beautiful, rocky one.

    ps Naughty possum :-)

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  7. Yes, only Motherhood can have one being so ecstatically happy and sentimentally sad at the same time. I loved this post, and the picture of you with your four school-age children is wonderful. I think you should get it framed and put it in a place of prominence in your house as a reminder of the wonderful job you are doing as a mom. And Eleanor's hair is beautiful - you did a great job as a stylist!

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  8. A day to remember, that's for sure. They look like great kids. I hope they all have a great year at school.

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  9. Pleased to see you have entertained yourself some more knitting now that you have an almost empty house!! x

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  10. Such a lovely photo of all of them together, looking very grown up! I hope you & Flynn have some fun together.

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  11. All of your children look so grown up and lovely! They also really look like you don't they!! Hope that you are able to enjoy the time without them and that you don't miss them too much! Glad that they are liking school so much too. xx p.s. I love the capturing the possum - or perhaps releasing it? - whilst wearing such a smart suit!

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  12. Such a heartwarming post! I'm sure Flynn will love having you all to himself ;-)

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  13. Glad you all survived the big day, that's a wonderful pictures to remember it by. You are so right those years of childhood fly by. Sarah x

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  14. Such a beautiful family Mel. Takes us Mums far longer to adjust to new 'normals' than the kids, but you will treasure these years you get to share with Flynn. My Sal still often talks about the adventures we got up to when it was only the two of us at home. I tell you, the first day I sat down to smoko on my own when she went to school though, there were tears aplenty. You've set me off now, my Jessie's birthday today at boarding school ... and I won't even get to see her. How I wish I could have frozen time.

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  15. Wow, what a big day. I'm so happy it went well for everyone. Your children are so beautiful, Mel. They look like children in a magazine. They must have been so excited to go off to school all together for the first time. Thanks for sharing this important day.

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  16. Mel I have loved sharing your day. Your photos remind me so keenly of some if the most precious days in my own life.
    So,thank you.

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  17. Gorgeous photos, it's such a mix of emotions, this motherhood thing.
    I'm sure you'll easilyfind things to fill your days. Glad they're all happy.

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  18. I know exactly how you felt today when they all trotted off to school together. I remember my youngest child's first day of school ... I dropped him off with big smiles & hugs, then I cried all the way back home! Routine kicks in quickly though. It is sad that they grow up so fast. Your kids are all so good looking! I imagine they'll all be breaking hearts this Valentine's Day ;) Wendy x

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  19. Gorgeous photos Mel ... your little ones are beautiful ... enjoy the time with Flynn ... Bee xx

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  20. Aww Mel - they all look so cute (and grown up too). What a mix of emotions you must have felt, and I think knitting was just the right choice to do. Time does fly by way too fast. All the best. cheers Wendy

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  21. Pretty sure both those hairstyles are way out of my league!!
    My baby started full time school on Wednesday - its the strangest feeling
    x

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  22. It is so emotional to see them all grow up so quickly, isn't it? I am often torn between wishing they would grow up quicker still or not grow up at all. You all look so wonderfully happy, it makes me happy, too. Cx

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  23. I remember those pics from two years ago, although it feels more like five minutes. Eleanor is looking so grown up now!

    Enjoy the chance for some R&R Mel, don't be in too much of a hurry to fill the spare hours x

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  24. Hi I just found your blog - how lovely it is to find a blog like yours - sharing without the palava and hoopla ! So very beautiful.

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  25. Great photos of your kiddos, they look happy! I think you're very wise to take it easy for a few days, I'm wiped out myself after a week and a half! Each child off to school (or high school) is a new stage to get used to and I've made the mistake of rushing into new things and later regretting it (trying not to think about running my first Tupperware party the day after my baby started school in 2005 ...) Hope you and Flynn have many lovely adventures and quiet times together.

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  26. What lovely photos you have of that big day, and yes they look like giants next to the little man. I can't imagine what having four kids at home full time would have been like, I have two, that's busy enough. My eldest started kinder this year, she could have gone last year but I didn't think she was ready. I'm glad I made that decision, but boy was she ready. She is loving her new found independence and time away from me and her little sister as much as we are, but of course we all pleased to see each other at the end of that four hours.

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  27. PS Laura is now also very keen to try that Elsa hairstyle. It looks lovely on your daughter, well done.

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  28. What an amazing job to be able to organise everyone and get them from point a to point b on time. I sometimes feel like I'm always chasing my tail with just a 9 month old! Great photographs, and you have a really nice blog!

    Lauren
    http://tasteslikelove.blogspot.com

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  29. It must be a very big change for you all indeed! I hope you all had a great first week! xx

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  30. All those lunch boxes made me smile! And how clever you are with hair...I can barely do a plait :)

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  31. Those top two photos are my favourite and of course the last one too. It is such a wave of emotions really however I did like the advice was to create, create, create and doing your knitting looks like a great idea. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia
    www.oureverydaylifeinpictures.blogspot.com
    www.oursimpleandmeaningfullife.blogspot.com

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  32. Little Flynn is so sweet in that pic with his siblings! I always feel happy-sad when my big one goes off to school after the holidays. The house just seems so boring when he's not about but then it is fab to have me-time. (Well, as much me-time as much as the little 10 month old will allow!) x

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  33. Mel, those pics are absolute treasures. I bet you're pinching yourself.
    That first photo is "heaven sent", and at the rate our little ones are growing up we have to be eternally grateful for the "now" because life is short. Heaven (hopefully) will be nest!

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  34. Oh how did I miss this post? I'm just having a long overdue catch up here Mel, don't mind me. ;-)

    Beautiful, beautiful photos, full of great light and happy children. I hope you're settling in to your new routines and enjoying your quieter days. I still miss Angus since he started school. i miss both of them to be honest, I'm such a sentimental old fool! x

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