October: The moments in between

I take hundreds of photos every month, and most of them don’t get shared with anyone, let alone online. And yet the moments in time that those photos capture are just as important a part of our story as the other images that I do choose to share.

I created this blog as a way of documenting our lives, a way of watching the girls grow into who they’re going to be and a way of remembering who they once were. It’s something I want them to be able to look back on as they get older, because memories fade but (digital) photographs don’t.

It’s easy (and tempting) to only focus on sharing the fun bits, the memorable parts, the highlights and the celebrations. But I’m learning more and more as I continue through this crazy journey of motherhood that it’s really important to me that I capture the ordinary, everyday times that we spend together as well. The bits of the jigsaw that fill in the gaps to complete the picture. The tantalising glimpses into who our girls are becoming.

The chaos, the calm and all the moments in between.

This monthly feature – The Moments In Between – is a space for me to share all of those magical bits that would otherwise just stay in a folder on my laptop, never to see the light of day.

OCTOBER

I don’t know about you but it really doesn’t feel like it’s the end of October already. Christmas, much as I’m trying very hard to pretend there’s still ages to go, is actually really only just around the corner and I know that the next few weeks are going to fly by. The first half term of the new school year is over and done with even though it feels like the girls only went back to school a fortnight ago. They were absolutely ready for a break at half term and we managed to spontaneously escape to Dorset for a few days to house-sit for a friend, which was lovely and a very welcome change of scenery. More about our little mini-break in a blog-post or two in the next few days.

Here are all the moments in between the chaos of school and work and parenting that I managed to capture…

Pretty Autumn flowers

Concentrating on counting how much pocket money she’d saved up

Stunning sunset

Realising just how big the ocean is

Singing in the car on an early morning road trip

Beautiful dappled light streaming through the trees on Cannock Chase

A cuddle with her Daddy

Peaceful sunset

Holding hands in the car

“Mummy! Quick! Take a picture of me! My hair is all sparkly in the sun!”

Autumnal tunnel of leaves

“Cheeeeeeese!”

This was actually a test shot to check the light, but I kept it because she looked so mischievous and happy

Sleepy, stretched-out cat

“Daddy! I want a cuddle!” she exclaimed as she ran up to him and enveloped him in her arms

October has certainly spoiled us with these pretty skies

Eldest and youngest snuggling on the sofa

“I’ll hold the rope for you Ella, so you can get on without getting hurt”

All four busily scooping out the insides of their pumpkins

A bit of freestyle dancing on the way down to Durdle Door in Dorset. Because, why not?

Thoughtful

She was showing us her Halloween costume (Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad) and was messing around making faces when she thought I’d turned the camera off!