On Monday, Kora turned 2 years old. As I write that out, it still doesn’t make it seem real to me. My once teeny tiny 6lb 3oz baby girl is growing right before my eyes and I only wish time would slow down so that I could soak it all in that bit more.

To celebrate the birthday girl, she had a Blippi themed birthday party on the Sunday before her birthday with a Blippi bouncy castle, food, birthday cake and family and friends to help celebrate. This girl absolutely loves Blippi so it only seemed appropriate that she’d have a Blippi birthday.

Kora’s party was wonderful and we were lucky enough for the rain to hold off too. Although Kora slept for most of it and she was a little too afraid of the bouncy castle to even get on it at first, I’m proud of her for eventually getting on there and enjoying herself with her friends.

The next day was Kora’s 2nd birthday. Kory actually woke with what seemed to be a bit of a cold that morning so we gave him the day off school which meant that we all got to spend the day together. Kora was gifted with lots of lovely presents, cards and money from us and all her family and friends. She had a wonderful morning opening everything and enjoyed spending the rest of her day playing with all of her beautiful new toys and gifts.

She is a well loved, lucky little girl. She deserves the world and more.

I just want to take this time to wish you Kora, our beautiful, clever, funny, kind, loving, sassy and very much independent little girl who brings us so much joy and happiness every day and who is just so pleasant the most amazing day on your 2nd birthday and every day that follows. I don’t know where those two years have gone, to me it feels like it was just two minutes ago since you were placed in my arms but no matter what, you will always be our baby girl no matter how big you get. You are so special to us and we hope that you loved your birthday as much as we loved watching you.

We love you all the world, Kora Robyn. Here’s to celebrating you.

All my love,

Mum, xo

Last week Kory returned to school after what I think was actually a really good 6 weeks summer holidays. Does anyone else feel like some of the days throughout the holidays were really slow but the weeks were just so fast? I mean, how has it been 6 whole weeks since Kory was in reception class and now he’s beginning a brand new year in year 1.

It just blows my mind.

I was worried about how I’d fill so many days off together with things to do and places to go to avoid any boredom and being stuck in but we did go to some nice places and we even had a week away but the kids were quite good at entertaining themselves on those days when we were just at home too. Kory is a bit older now and he likes to play out with his friends and Kora is very much independent and will quite happily play with her toys by herself too so all of that helped make that worry quickly disappear. We did do so much together as a family during the summer and made so many new memories that I really feel that our summer was well spent, even when we were just at home, we were together and that’s what matters.

After a break away from school and learning, Kory was more than ready to return to school when September soon came around. I think a mental and physical break is crucial sometimes, even for kids. In fact, especially for kids. And I was actually on the ball with preparations this year too, no last minute rushing to the shops to find uniform for this mum! And it felt good knowing that everything was taken care of.

I actually thought Kory would have been a bit more reluctant to returning to school after being able to do pretty much whatever he liked (within reason of course) over the summer (I’m talking later bedtimes, staying in his pjs all day) but I was surprised at how excited he was to start back at school. Which of course is a good thing – no complaints here! Kory was excited to see all his friends again, to meet his new teachers and to begin his new adventure in year 1. And as much as I had not missed having to set an alarm in the morning (don’t worry, the kids still woke me early enough) or the mad morning rush trying to get everyone ready and out of the house for the school run and make it to school on time and as nice as it was just being able to take it day by day and not having to rush, I did miss having some sort of routine I’ll be honest.

It’s nice not having to do things but it’s also nice having to do things too if that makes sense? Of course I love when we’re all together as a family, I love a lazy day as much as the next person but the kids’ bedtimes were getting later and later despite them not sleeping in any later the following morning, which meant it was harder for me to find the time to do things that needed to be done, like the housework, which I try to do in the evenings so my days can be spent with the kids instead and the kids were getting grumpier simply through being tired. Everything just seems to run much more smoothly in our household when there’s a sense of order going on. But that break from the mundane every day is definitely appreciated, just every so often.

But yeah, back to the original point of this post – I guess I rambled on a bit there, didn’t I. Kory’s back at school in a brand new year and he’s loving it and I’m happy to have some normality again.

Just you watch, in a few weeks I’ll be ready to do f%ck all (whatever that is when you’re a parent anyway!) again and feel like throwing any routine out of window. I just can’t win.

Anyways, thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. I hope you’re all well. Have your kids returned to school yet after the summer? If so, how are them and yourself finding it? Please let me know by leaving a comment. Thank you!

Kirsti, xo

Yesterday marked mine and R’s 12 year anniversary and boy has that flown by.

Me and R have been together since the sweet age of 15 and we’ve been together ever since. We’ve basically grown up together, grown from teenagers to adults who are now responsible for our own little people who we made. Juggling work, home life and all other responsibilities. It’s crazy how much has changed over the years and how much we have changed as well. We don’t always get it right, we make mistakes but one thing that’s for sure is that we’re a team.

We have been through so much together. House moves, engagement, 2 kids later, our wedding being postponed (twice!) and many ups and downs over the years but the good has always out weighed the bad. Whatever challenges may have been thrown our way, we’ve got through them together and we always come out the other side stronger than we were before. We have always been there for one another and I really do believe that that’s why we are still together now, happily I’d like to add too and more in love than ever.

I never thought I could love R any more than I already did. He’s an amazing partner. He’s caring, he’s kind, he isn’t an asshole (ok, only sometimes… LOL Jk) he’s always there for me and he really is one of the good guys. He makes me laugh when I don’t even feel like I want to smile, he makes me feel beautiful and he’s my very best friend. I count my blessings every day that I get to call him mine and I love what we have together. I’m proud of the life we have built together. But then I watched him become a dad to our children, I seen the kind of dad he was and how good he is with our kids and I fell in love with him all over again and so much more.

The thing is, relationships aren’t always going to be easy. There are going to be disagreements and obstacles throughout but it’s how you face them together as a partnership that matters. Things aren’t always perfect but as long as you love and respect one another nothing else matters.

Looking through my pictures I realised that we don’t have many pictures together but that we have 1000s of pictures of the kids. It seems we don’t even have the time to even take a picture together these days and although life can feel a little hectic sometimes, I love R and the kids and our crazy but happy life we have built together and I wouldn’t change a thing.

There is no one else I would rather go through this crazy ride called life with.

Thank you for being in my life then, now and every day to come. Here’s to the next 12 years.

I love you.

Kirsti, xo

There’s just something about a rainy Sunday that I love. I love that time when everyone is at home all together which is a rarity in itself. When we spend time together just playing board games or watching movies. There’s something about the rain hitting the window while we’re all warm inside that I find so simple yet so peaceful.

The last day of the weekend before the mad Monday morning rush begins again.

Now don’t get me wrong, my house is not as tranquil as I might have made it sound in that first paragraph (one can wish though, right?) Some days we drive each other up the freaking wall. It can be quite hectic when both kids are running round, shouting, not listening and falling out. Add the dog jumping on the couch, the cat deciding to take a p!ss somewhere and the pots still being in the sink from the night before into the mix and you might get a clearer picture of what it’s actually like in our house the majority of the time but then we have days like today also. When the kids are sat nicely together, eating their dinners and watching the tv. When we’re all listening to each other and just being together. When the dog is calm in his bed, when the cat isn’t being an asshole and when there are pots in the sink but it doesn’t matter.

Although we haven’t gone anywhere, or done anything in particular today, days like today are rare but they are some of my favourites.

I love a rainy Sunday…

I was watching Kory and Kora play together this morning (nicely for a change!) and it got me thinking:

1. How amazing he is at being a big brother
2. How lucky Kora is to have such a caring big brother
3. How lucky they are to have each other
4. How blessed I am to have two beautiful children

Now don’t get me wrong, it isn’t always sunshine and rainbows in our house and I’d be lying if I said it was. Truthfully, it can be like world war 3’s begun sometimes and I often here ‘MUUUUM, she’s just touched me!’ MUUUUM, she wants to play with MY toys, tell her she can’t!’ Usually right before Kora starts to scream the house down and one pushes the other over. But seeing them in those moments when they are genuinely getting along and listening to them play nicely, it really is heartwarming to see and makes me so proud as a mum and so proud of them.

Especially Kory.

Becoming a big brother can be hard but from the minute we told Kory he was going to be a big brother, before Kora even entered the world, he already loved her so much. He would always talk to my tummy, cuddle my bump and ask all sorts of cute questions about her. He couldn’t wait to become a big brother! People often commented throughout my pregnancy with Kora and would make comments such as ‘you’ve spent so much time with Kory just the two of you, don’t you think he’s going to be really jealous once she’s born?’ And I wasn’t worried about that at all, not one single bit because no-one knows Kory better than I do and I knew he wouldn’t be jealous of her. I knew we had nothing to worry about and I knew he would be the best big brother to his little sister. And even IF he was jealous, that’s only natural and we’d deal with that situation as best as we could when the time come but he’s never been that way with her.

We did lots of things to prepare Kory for his new role as big brother. We spoke about it lots, we took him to pottery and got him to paint a unicorn for him to give to Kora once she’d been born, we continued to do the usual things he enjoyed with him, both me and dad spent a lot of time together with him and each on our own as well and once Kora was born, we involved him in as many ways as we could. We would ask him to help us change her nappy, dress her, fetch bottles and he loved being hand ons with her. Of course having a baby means a lot changes but we did try our best to keep everything as ‘normal’ as possible for Kory and I really think we did a good job of doing that. He’s never felt left out or less loved, he’s never not had as much attention as his sister, they are both spoilt. Not with material things (okay – maybe a bit!) but with love.

Kory is honestly Kora’s best friend, biggest protector and most loving big brother a girl could ever wish for. As their mum, it is a privilege to watch them grow up together and see how close they are, they really do have the most beautiful bond, they are so alike it’s crazy! I hope they always remain this close with each other even as they get older.

Kory, you are the best big brother to your little sister. You are both so lucky to have each other. You will always be my first born, my first love, you are the one who made me mama but my heart is big enough for the both of you always. Kora, you are equally as special as you are my last baby, my last baby love, which means I want you to stay my baby for even longer!

Mummy is so proud of you both. To the best big brother and to the best little sister I have the pleasure of raising. I love you both all the world.

Sometimes things don’t always go to plan and that’s okay. On Sunday it was Easter and I had lots of things planned for us to do, I had the day planned out exactly how I wanted it to go and I was ready for a fun filled day with my family. Except nothing turned out the way I imagined it would.

Every year on Easter we have our yearly Easter egg hunt at home and lots of other Easter traditions we usually follow. We had our Easter egg hunt on the morning of Easter Sunday as we always do, the kids were so excited to see that the Easter bunny had been and it was wonderful to see how happy they were finding all of their eggs that were hidden around the house. But everything else that followed that day all went a bit pear shaped after that…

We’ve all had a bit of a cold (just to clarify – not Covid! Tested negative) and it seems I was putting a lot of unnecessary pressure on myself for us to have the ‘perfect’ Easter despite feeling a bit sh!tty. After our Easter egg hunt, I’d usually make a start on the buffet we usually have for dinner, there’s usually lots of party food, cake and treats for the kids but I simply couldn’t find the motivation to make one this year so instead the kids just ended up having a lunchable to eat. After that we played some games and it was soon time for tea but instead of our usual Roast dinner I would normally make at Easter, I just ended up making the kids some frozen fish fingers and smileys faces for tea as I just felt I couldn’t be bothered going to all the effort of making a dinner when my head was banging.

At the end of the day when it was time for the kids to go to bed, I was kicking myself for only doing the bare minimum of what I had originally planned for the day until Kory turned and said to me ‘Haven’t me and Kora been really lucky today.’ And that’s when I realised that:

1.) My kids are amazing.

2.) That I did not need to hold myself to an unrealistic standard.

Since then I’ve had some time to reflect, things don’t always go to plan and that’s okay. I’m allowed to take a step back and cut myself some slack. And that’s what I’m here to tell you. Don’t be so hard on yourself. As parents, we already juggle enough without giving ourselves a hard time. We owe it to ourselves to stop comparing ourselves to others and what they may have/do and focus on our own lives.

It really did not matter that our day did not go exactly the way I planned. The kids had ate that much chocolate they weren’t arsed about the party food and Kory always complains about having to eat my roast dinners anyway. In fact, they probably preferred the fish fingers and smiley faces!

I guess what I’m trying to say is that sometimes we can only do what we can, we cannot pour from an empty cup, forgive yourself for being human, everything does not need to be accomplished all at once and sometimes when you think you’re failing, you might just actually be winning.

Things aren’t always going to go to plan and that’s okay.