As you get older and perhaps a little wiser (or in my Dad’s case, sillier, much, much sillier-it can go both ways) you start to realise what really matters in life.
I think having kids can do that to you, that whirlwind of new love for the kid you made merged with the mammoth overwhelming weight of responsibility (no more spontaneity in life is pretty sobering) and puts everything that came before, and after it, into sharp perspective.
You don’t need to have a kid for this I should add. Yay for being wiser without having to borne offspring.
Life experience, travel, pets, nurturing plants, charity work, whatever it is that takes you out of yourself, can be enlightening.
I must add kids have released my inner child again too and I quite possibly have the most fun I’ve ever had in my life now I’ve procreated (hello licence to play on playground swings once more).
My child-free friends vouch that nephews and nieces work equally well for playground fun.
This all got me thinking about all the tiny touching moments that make up the bigger picture, the intricately woven happy-making little things I reflect on right before I go to sleep or if I’m away from the kids, missing them madly, or my zone-out thoughts to more joyous times when I find the children fighting over toys/films/my affection and I need a happy place pronto.
So here, in one small space are those sweet tender moments I want to saviour, to look back on and never forget-
The smell of my childrens’ sweet honey blossom scented skin, the look of wonder in my youngest’s eye as he sees birds sweep overhead.
The love they’ve had for one another from day one.
The taste of mint chocolate gelati from my brother’s Italian restaurant, sharp and sweet all at once, and relived through my youngest, Alexander’s smile.
Or slurping homemade soup making me feel like a Michelin starred chef…
Oliver’s joy at candy floss melting in his mouth at a fairground for the first time. The excitement to discover something so cloud-like to hold and sweet to eat.
The fact Xander never gets bored of playing with crockery and culinary tools! Spatulas beat footballs and trains any day.
The warmth of winter sun on cold noses, desperate for its rays, as we trudge through muddy hills to find white, yellow and purple snowdrops, heads down, in clusters by a lake.
Or beach walks, whatever the weather, waves crashing, footprints in the sand. The glorious Yorkshire coast renews us all.
Hot, almost too hot, decaf cappuccino dusted in dark chocolate cocoa ready and waiting for ceremonious dunking of thick, crumbly oat biscuits and little teaspoons desperate for the hot frothy top.
Bath time, warm white towels fresh from the radiator covering cute olive limbs, and Xander,2 bounds towards his older brother, with these three words, ‘You’re beautiful Oliver’.
Cooking, baking, eating, messing, the moments we create, taste and experiment, the boys on chairs reaching up to the kitchen counter, I and/or Daddy maestros in charge of our miniature sous chefs.
Reading and devouring Julia Donaldson’s every word, now Roald Dahl, and films, so many films I want them to see, starting with those I cherished as a kid, the blueprint of my childhood passed on to my own two sons.
Cushion-cuddling, bouncing, lounging…
Those happy faces
Parklife fun- always the biggest joy at the park I loved myself as a child in Ilkley, by the very same river I played pooh sticks in, the bridge I would dart across gripping my mum’s hand, scared a goblin lay beneath, arriving out of breath at the ice cream van- today one too stands in that same spot.
Retracing my childhood steps through my two boys.
Coming full circle from London to Bristol to Leeds.
Silliness with the man I love, a shared appreciation for ‘Suits’, ‘Family Guy’ and Will Ferrell movies (we recently watched Anchorman again for the 50th time).
Date night, so rare it might need to be renamed as ‘date bi-annual night’ but wonderful when it happens, to be us again, just me and he for a few hours, to eat and talk and remember who we were.
Connecting with girlfriends, laughter, dinner, wine. Support, solidarity, just being ourselves.
Work, this blog and all it brings to my little family, the joy, the experience, the flexible career that works for us all. The shared creative love we have for writing, filming, photographing and documenting our little lives.
Stargazing, the promise of such a big, big world full of possibility made up of tiny, tiny things.
The wonder of it all through new, young eyes, yearning. Always yearning.
These are just some of the happy-making little things of our lives right now.
Linking up to Bod For Tea’s #sharethejoylinky and Aby and Hannah’s The List #26.
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What a lovely list Vicki, so many fantastic things to be grateful, happy and alive for! I am LOVING A and his spatula, bless him! Hope you’re well lady, am in the middle of major blog catching up right now, illness has meant I’ve missed so many great blogs and blog posts xx
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Oh no hun so sorry to hear that, I didn’t know you were unwell, January meant us all being unwell for the whole month, I had a water infection that wouldn’t budge. I really need to catch up with yours and so many other blogs too, much love to you darling and hope you are well now xx
This is just one post filled with so much love it’s beautiful!!!!
So many special things to treasure!
I love how much your boys love cooking it’s so great! And of course his much they love each other too…gorgeous!!!
Loved reading this xx
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Aw thanks darling, one of my all time favourite posts x
Commenting again to say thanks for joining with #countluckystars. Thanks for the support. Xander in the white fluffy towel just kills me, gorgeous boys xx
Potty Mouthed Mummy recently posted…Count Your Lucky Stars | March
Thanks darling, fab, fab linky, aw nothing cuter than little ones in white towels is there xx
Such a wonderful post! I so love the wisdom that has come with age, enhanced by creating my own little family and bringing with it so much happiness. Every one of your moments made me smile, and gorgeous pictures as always too 🙂 xx
Sophie Lovett recently posted…Sunday photo: 8th March 2015
Oh thanks darling, I agree that accumulated wisdom is quite something isn’t it, so glad you liked this, thanks for your lovely words x
Such a gorgeous post! I love counting my blessings and taking stock of the simple things. Thanks for linking up to #TheList x
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Me too, so important isn’t it, these little things are the most important in life xx
Oh what a beautiful post and what treasured memories – accompanied by wonderful photos! It’s so nice to take the time to sit and think of these brilliant times – cheers me up no end 🙂 What you said about the boys loving each other from day 1 really struck a cord as I have #2 on the way – so so lovely. #TheList
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Oh it’s true, they do fight but they love one another madly too! Thanks for your lovely words x
Beautiful post. When you are waiting for that big moment to change your life, I think you will wait an entire life time. Treasure all the little bits that come along, they 30 Kershaw Street up to a BIG bit anyway.
The little things are the most important aren’t they, they biggest were having my kids x
Stunning photography and amazing words #Thelist
Mackenzie Glanville (reflectionsfromme.com) recently posted…You just have to put on lipgloss and pretend to be psyched
Thanks so much x
Nothing much to say apart from this is such a beautiful post and quite possibly my favourite one of yours. I quite simply love it and it really made me smile.
Xx
Franki ~ Little Luca & Me recently posted…The ‘Music’ Me
Oh that’s so lovely, thanks darling xx
Such a gorgeous post! Funny just reading that made me think of all the little things that make me happy that don’t necessarily stand out but when you put them all together they are just pure happiness.
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Oh that is so lovely, the little things really are the big ones when you think of them all x
Awe what a beautiful post! Love Xander telling Oliver he is beautiful 🙂 You – and your family – will treasure these words and beautiful pictures in years to come x
PS – We are big Will Ferrel fans too. CANNOT stop watching The Other Guys! #brilliantblogposts
Yvette @ Big Trouble in Little Nappies recently posted…For Today
Thanks darling, ooh not seen that! x
Aww Vicki this post brought a few tears to my eyes, such gorgeous pics & beautiful words. I always feel that life is a collection of small moments, and you’ve captured some lovely ones here 🙂
Oh thanks lovely, so pleased you liked it x
Awww Vix what an absolutely beautiful post! Just lovely. The sentiments and photos are perfect together!! xx #CountLuckyStars
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Thanks darling, one of my most favourite posts xx
It’s always good to count your blessings in life and be grateful for all that you have, even if those are the same things that can drive us insane from time to time. Great post as always x
Haha so true, thanks x
Lovely post – there are SO many wonderful things to be thankful for. Nearly everything in your post I was nodding my head in agreement too. I find that now I’ve had my baby I appreciate things so, so much more. They make us realise how lucky we are XX
They really do lovely, so glad you liked and related to this post x
Oh wow what a wonderfully happy post just brimming with love for your boys, your life and your man! As always your photography is stunning and I agree with you that it’s the little things in life that really matter at the end of the day. Every happy moment is a moment to be savoured and cherished! Thank you so much for linking this up at #sharethejoy this week x
So true darling, these little things are the biggest and most important, much love and thanks for having me xx
Beautiful happy post and lovely place to keep all of the things that make you happy xx
Thanks Caroline x
So nice to be able to capture all the memories in one place, kids grow too fast, you should treasure every moment
Thanks Alison x
These are such lovely words for such beautiful moments. Don’t you just want to bottle them up and keep them safe for all eternity? Thanks so much for sharing such a beautiful post!
I do, thanks so much Maria x
I love sunshine posts, and yours was great! Your photos are beautiful too!
Thanks very much Heather, husband takes amazing pictures x
How lovely that you’re sharing your old haunts with your boys. My children have a fascination about what I did when I was a child and they love it when we go back to where I grew up. Beautiful post and photos as always x
Thanks lovely Juliet, so lovely to retrace steps. They love looking at photos of my husband and I as children too, I remember being exactly the same with my parents x
Beautiful – so much love captured in one post #sharethejoylinky
Oh thanks so much Megan, was a joy writing it too x
love this post so so much, just gorgeous xxx
Aw thanks darling xxx
This is Lovely.
Thank you
Another absolutely beautiful post Vicki, and stunning photos as always! Sometimes life with small children gets the better of us, but it’s good to remember that there’s a lot to be thankful for… here’s to Spring time and all that it will bring! Much love xxx
Thank you darling Renee, you are so right, really important to stop and note all the little things that make life so wonderful with little ones. We all cannot wait for spring here too, lots of love x