the swish and curl of her hair…..

love my holi tea and it’s little notes

TV time

donning a hat to pop out to the shop

toe tapping

Get well drawings for a sick cousin…

attempt at a self portrait – Mummies can’t get any alone time! 

apron tied for some baking

puppet show

time to make dinner

Now please do follow on our circle to go see a lady who always inspires me… Val from the Red Balloon Photography and her beautiful family next… and if you’d like to learn more about this fab project with 10 other photographers from around the world go here and go here to see last months when my girls and I were in Istanbul, Turkey..

Until next month, Kirsty xx

Aren’t they just the most loving and adorable family? And isn’t he just such a gorgeous big brother?

And so sweet and caring? Honestly, he took being gentle with baby to a whole new level of big brother protectiveness…

I’m so glad you guys are doing well – and I’ve loved that it gave me a kick to look back on some pictures Kirsty xx

Now head over to see my wonderful photographer friend Val Spring of the The red balloon photography | Seattle photographer to see her inspiring pictures, and letter to her beautiful daughters….

Kirsty x

I hope to share my dreams, hopes and fears, my pride and my worries and my observations on the young women they will become. I want to see how their, and my past shapes them, and where their future will take them… I want to focus more on taking photos of them… which really captures the essence of them… sometimes the letters will be to one daughter, sometimes both.. sometimes I’ll have lots of photos, and sometimes I’m sure a single image will speak volumes on its own… I’m not sure if I’ll ramble on (I fear that’s what I’m doing right now) or if the letters will be more concise and direct but I’m excited… this is important…

I hope you’ll follow along, with us as we start this journey later this week…. in the meantime here’s the beautiful group so you can go check out their own amazing photography and stories….

Amy Lockheart | Jess Sandager | Sarah Lynn Cornish | Valeria Spring | Emma Wood | Julia Rodgers Stotlar  

Jody McKitrick | Rashmi Pappu | Stephanie Beaty

Kirsty xx

It’s tough to be eco conscious in Abu Dhabi – a city where not much grows and so much is imported, with such a heavy reliance on oil, and with such dramatic shortages of water… but we do reasonably well in our family – possibly because I worked in the environmental field for so long pre-kids!  

My kids are pretty eco aware and these are just a small number of things off the top of their heads of what we do to care for Mother Earth – they love to hear me tell stories about her and about how they can help look after her… 

In the spirit of the day I decided to update my own company Eco-Statement and post it here under the “Details” tab for all to see. It may not be much, but it’s my own little baby steps to reduce my own footprint and that of my work…..

What are you doing for Earth Day? I’d love to hear… Kirsty x

Puddle jumping is something of an annual tradition for us now (see here and here!) and I’ve really been making an effort recently to capture the small things, the every day details, and the big celebrations… so much as puddle jumping in other parts of the world is no big deal I’m so happy I have this record of that one day each year when we get to do it here

I guess that’s it until next year now!! Kirsty xx

I kid you not… this session was just a delight – from the first time I met them, to our telephone and email exchanges, I just knew they were one of those families on my wavelength….

And the girls – oh, these girls… they are such a credit to what a fun and loving home they’ve been raised in..

they’re not only beautiful, but polite, and kind, and funny, and loving and caring and smart, and chatty and sassy… and all the things I want for my own girls when they become teenagers..

So Mum, I’m keeping your number… and I’ll be in touch in about 8 years… but I’d love to see you again before that to relive this fabulous fun session again – thank you, to all of you, for one of my best shoots, ever… Kirsty xx

PS and yes, that is a filthy old car they’re sitting on – they were fun and up for anything – and I loved it!!!

The day started with a little walk from our hotel to the Blue Mosque – past some random street grafitti – I have no idea what the mushrooms mean but we saw quite a few of them around town!
Spring was in bloom in Istanbul – the girls stopped at every flower they saw – we don’t get flowers here in the desertThe Basilica Cisterns – the girls found them a bit spooky!!Then off for our 2nd trip to the Grand BazaarWe indulged in LOTS of street snacks – fresh juices squeezed right in front of us and the most honey drenched baklava here! The Aya Sofya was amazing – busy with tourists but huge enough that you could still find tranquillity in there – and some kind man offered to take a photo of us when he saw me randomly trying to do the self portrait thing, which was made all the more complicated as Indy’s in the carrier on my back!!!! Yes it’s a total tourist picture but as it’s pretty much the only one of me on holiday with the girls I’ll say yay for getting myself in a photo this month!!!More snacks – ice cream, despite how cold it was, but in a picture perfect spot with the Blue mosque in the backgroundFollowed up with a sugar rush fuelled dancing show for all the fellow tourists walking through Sultanahmet Park!!!!And the stunning Blue Mosque itself

I have to give a HUGE shoutout to all the people who gave me tips via my Facebook page – not only did it turn out two of my clients had lived in Turkey, but so many others gave us tips for the city – I love that this love of travel is shared not only with my kids, but with so many others too – it just makes me smile….

Now you must head on over to see what my gorgeous friend Val at the Red Balloon photography got upto this month, and follow the circle round…

Until next month, Kirsty x

(If you want to learn more about this fab project with 10 other photographers from around the world go here and go here to see last months)

I’d been wanting to do a shoot out there with my girls for ages – but getting them to cooperate together doesn’t always work!!! So one afternoon when we were out Indy and I left Saffy and T and headed off across the dunes on our own…. just to explore and do our own thing as the sun went down..

I live for moments like this with my girls – a bit of alone time – time to let their own personalities shine (yes, she chose the hat herself!) and a chance to capture photos of not only this little soul that I love, but a place that we love too….

Thanks to the ever fabulous Courtneycourtney for this dress that just worked so perfectly in this amazing scenery…. 

I LOVE the fringing, absolutely love it… and the strawberry screen print is just the perfect icing on a set of pictures that just melt me….

So welcome, I hope you enjoyed seeing a little tiny corner of the world we live in…. Kirsty x

Oh Peta, you beautiful bride….She rocked the short dress and killer heels – R.O.C.K.E.D it!!!!! 

Moments during the church ceremony – everyone was smiling – but especially these two…

These two were such a joy to be around – they smiled and laughed and hung out and smiled and laughed more – that was the way the whole day was – but I’m sure anyone who knows them knows how much they make each other happy…

Peta and Scott, it was such an honour to be part of the very intimate gathering to celebrate your love and your wedding – I know when you get to celebrate with your families those permanent smiles will be there too, on your faces, and on the faces of all those who love you too…. thank you for a wonderful day, with love, Kirsty xx