Today was Summer.

All photos taken on iPhone and used on Instagram. I'm @clairechadwick if you want to follow the feed.

Today was the epiphany of Summer.

The temperature lingered around the high 30's. The sky was blue and the air was thick. Your skin prickled in the heat causing rosy cheeks and sweat-laced foreheads.

So....Kirsty, Kim and I did what all good Mumma's do when the weather delivers this type of summery force - we ditched housework and commitments, left washing piles for later and ignored our holiday to-do lists..... and we headed to the pool!

Six kids, three Mummas and the perfect summer's day concocted a perfect mixture of fun. There was fresh seasonal fruit and Kirsty's famous chocolate coconut balls. Cold drinks and ham sandwiches. Presents and gift giving. Giggles and cuddles. And lots & lots of swimming.

Every school holidays, Kirsty and I load our tribes into her seven-seater car and head to the Northside to meet Kim and her two for a catch up. Hanging out with these two Mummas and their kids ALWAYS makes me happy. We bond over motherhood vents and general-life dramas. We listen to problems and lend a listening ear. But more importantly, we congratulate each other on the good things we do, and the goals we strive for as women and wives and Mothers. We laugh and relate and reassure. We discuss the disbelief we're feeling that our 'babies' are almost five - and it was those 'babies' who brought us together all those years ago at the local 'Mothers Group'. I love hanging out with these ladies. And today, was again - the perfect playdate.

Happy kids always equates to happy Mothers. And today was nothing but happiness.

Ending with ice creams and car naps, early dinners and more swimming at home - I truly do love summer!

Even after a frothy milk bath, my two babies still smelt like sunscreen and chlorine. And as I snuggled their sleepy bodies and rocked my baby boy to sleep, I breathed in deep......I could smell SUMMER. And all of that freedom that holidays and this time of year bring!

Cheers to that!

P.S. Can I make special note to Kirsty - today was the FIRST time we have driven somewhere together and NOT GOT LOST!!!!! Yahoooooo!!! Good job Kirst! We did it :))))

Happy Days.....{on holiday}

Yesterday, we arrived here..... one of my all-time favourite places in the world.....

Let me start by saying......I LOVE BEING ON HOLIDAYS!!!

After several weeks of overcast days, huge downpours, massive thunder storms & crazy flooding in Queensland....we've now been greeted with crystal clear blue skies & amazingly long sunny days! It's been BLISS! We've been swimming {with the choice of 2 pools & spas & the beach directly over the road, we've managed to do HOURS of swimming each day!!}, shopping, wining, dining, sunbaking, we enjoyed an early morning beach walk & we're loving that our skin is finally getting sun-kissed for the first time this summer :) The cafe's & restaurants here are amazing {even though my waistline may not agree!} and lunchtime cocktails are a MUST :) Ella {who rarely has a day sleep these days} passed out in the pram today 1 minute down the road as we browsed the shops :) The hours of swimming with our little water baby have definitely paid off....she stayed asleep in the pram throughout the whole of lunch today.....Chris & I felt like we were on a 'date', as we sipped our drinks & savoured the food, without chatting toddler talk, wiping up spilt messes & entertaining an active 2 year old. It was nice to enjoy that 'couple' time whilst our little Princess snoozed safely beside us!!

{above: our early morning walk}

{above: Chris enjoying an easy lunch}

{Above: me & my girl out & about}

Anyways, I better be off.....I've got some more pool-side lounging to do, a new magazine to buy & more holidaying to enjoy..... :) And I'm lapping it all up Baby....every second of it.....coz I know reality awaits us back at home on our return later this week & the steady flow of balancing working & family will have to be concentrated on again :)

HAPPY DAYS!!!

{All photos on this post taken on my iPhone.}



Shadow Shot Sunday {4}

These photos were taken yesterday at my parent-in-law's house! They live on a gorgeous big lake, and after we enjoyed a loooong swim in the pool which overlooks the lovely lake, I then got out the camera to snap up these shadowy shots:

And this one below isn't a shadow as such, but a reflection.... of me taking the photo into the glass bi-fold deck door. I love how you can see the lake & the resort apartments on the other side of the lake in the background.

I'm playing along with Hey Harriet and her weekly linky post ~ Shadow Shot Sunday!

Happy Sunday everyone!

See you later for week-a-boo!