Late afternoon walks

Afternoon walks

This was one of those cool summer afternoons. We meandered through kirstenbosch Gardens, mum the girls and I, feeding ducks, climbing statues and chasing each other along the way. Ella is intent on learning and asking questions, I love it! Long may their love for nature and the outdoors last.

Enjoying my girls

My girls

 

I am enjoying sharing life with you so much. I LOVE being a mum to you two. I am loving this summer season – where we get to hang out loads with Cath and Ollie at Nona’s pool and spend loads of time swimming. Ella you are growing up so quickly. You say the funniest things at times – like ‘mum I don’t have a wink of a hand’ and ‘I’m boiling cold’. You sing beautiful songs about Jesus and how much you love him! You make these up as you go...I love listening to you. You are such a sensitive little one. You care for people and animals. You include everyone in your games because ‘it’s unkind to leave people out’. You love to play imaginary games and regularly have the bumpy dog hat on. You adore Kate and you are just incredibly kind to your sister. The other day you sung her to sleep! You know how to calm her down and make her laugh. You play brilliantly together. I cannot believe my girls are such good friends. In the last month you have learnt to ride your bike and swim without arm bands. You have settled so well into your new school UPP. Kate misses you so much at little squirrels and every day when I leave her she now cries. I really think that this has something to do with missing you. One of our favourite things to do at the moment is to cook together. You love to be included – to feel big. You put chopped potatoes into the pot, you stir ingredients together, you hold the bowl while I beat...you love time with me alone. We call it ‘Ella and mama date time’. You have started ballet in the last month and I try so hard to peep into your classes to watch the cutest little people get swept up into imaginary worlds of princesses and fairies. I love listening to you and your sister talk when you got to bed. You love talk time with Katie – just after the lights go out. Sometimes – against my instruction you invite Katie into your bed for a sleepover. Recently we had a babysitter over to look after you – you girls were incredible! You were so well mannered, and even made up a bed in your room for Amy! When we have friends over you take the job of welcoming people into our home very seriously. I love the way you run up our Rondebosch house path to the little picket fence and welcome people to our house. You know many of the Jesus story book bible stories now and I think your relationship with God s growing – time will tell. God has given you an incredible ability to draw. I hope we continue to encourage you in this gift – it’s really amazing! You draw at the level of a 7 year old – even though you’re just 4.5 years old. You make my world so sunny and bright – and I just love to start my day with you creeping into my bed for a cuddle. These cuddles are one of my most precious things in the world. And as you would say to me ‘I love you more than an infinity’.  

 

My Katie – at 2.5 you are cuteness personified. Just like when your sister was 2 – you can not say ‘l’. Instead you say ‘y’. So you call Ella ‘eya beya’. You adore ella and want to be just like her. You have very specific dress sense – and at the moment you only wear dresses. You have the most incredible curly locks and blue eyes. I absolutely love cuddling you – you’re still tiny and fit into ‘my nest’. One of my favourite things is quality time with you. Last yea we did jolly tots which was one of your weeks highlights. You LOVED jolly bear. You’re such an easy going kid and I can honestly say you have never been a ‘terrible two’. Incredibly you swam the width of the pool today. You talk so well, and I love our giggles and games. You have style when you dance – you wiggle your hips and groove! In the last few weeks since Ella started ballet youinsist on wearing your own leotard daily – that is when you’re not ‘maked’ your most favourite state! At the moment I am struggling to know whether or not I am doing the right thing sending you to school 4 mornings a week. Is one date morning enough with mama? How do I fit work and quality time in? Its a contsance balancing act and one that never seems to result in perfect equilibrium. I love our date days to the aquarium, the green point park, Thomas train, coffee shops for brownies and milkshakes. You are ridiculously adorable and everywhere we go, people stop and want to talk to you!

 

Both of you are such daddy’s girls. You love to play fairies and imaginary games with dad. You play in the garden, jump on the trampoline...ride your bikes.

 

I feel so privileged to be your mama girls. And I am doing my best to appreciate every minute I get to spend with you.

 

You are precious beyond words. I am so proud of you.

Love mama

 

Sarah Binos

C: +27 (0)83 2737584 | skype: sarahbinos

 

hello father xmas from Kate

Dear Father Xmas

Thank you for my video and thank you for having me

Please can you bring me a pink and purple bike.

 

(Ella takes over)...

Father Xmas please can you make sure that Kate eats her food and pleeeease can you watch Kate her food and if she eats it all up say yipeeee and if she doesn’t say oh nooo!

 

Good bye

Thank you for having me

Love Ella and Kate

 

Sarah Binos

C: +27 (0)83 2737584 | skype: sarahbinos

 

dear father xmas

Dear Father Xmas/santa claus

Thank you for the video email.

Why did you not say ‘be a good girl to ella’ in Kates good girl movie?

Have a lovely time in south pole with all your kids and family and everything there in the south pole

Have a nice time with your reindeers and friends

Goodbye

Thank you for having me

Love ella

 

Sarah Binos

C: +27 (0)83 2737584 | skype: sarahbinos

 

Remembering...

Tonight Ella asked me to sing the ‘Ella song’ as she was going to sleep. A memory came flooding back. The ella song is a little tune with simple lyrics about Ella Bella being a princess, a beautiful and lovely girl. Steve sang it to her when she was a few days old. And I used to sing it to her in front of the bathroom mirror after I lifted her out of the bath. I don’t know when I stopped singing it, but the memory of dancing with her in front of the bathroom mirror in Plumstead and twirling around, whilst singing (!) came flooding back. My little treasure. Now so big at the small age of 3.74 years old!

 

Sarah Binos

C: +27 (0)83 2737584 | skype: sarahbinos