Sabrina in the basket: Alanah Age 7

Charlie at a friends house: Alanah Age 7

Sabrina with a bucket on her head: Alanah Age 7

(I have a sneaking suspicion this is not a style Sabi came up with all on her own)

Alanah taking a photo of herself: Alanah Age 7

Happy Alanah: Alanah Age 7

I have recently discovered that Lani uses this little camera of hers for her own personal therapy sessions. I say go for it, let it all out girl and the little pink camera is certainly cheaper than paying some shrink to listen to your neurosis.

Daddy and Sabrina smiling: Alanah age 7

onion and potatoes in a bag: Alanah age 7

Sky writing:  Alanah age 7

Everybody needs cookies sometimes: Alanah age 7

Silly Alanah face: Alanah age 7

Ginger nuts on a plate with a drink

(must be said 7 times while marching around in a circle): Alanah age 7

Mummy taking a photo of Mackenzie the Kiwi: Alanah age 7

All we knew about the performance before we left was that it would be a showcase of many different musicals with songs from "Oliver" and "Sound of Music." I was involved in rehearsals for something like this when I was in primary school. I say rehearsals because the whole thing was canned just before the performances started because of a raging debate over the ethics of allowing children so young to sing "Gin and bear" in the song "Om pa pa" from "Oliver" (and no I’m not over it)

leaving at night : Alanah age 7

Green bubbly chocolate: Alanah age 7

Cousins foot and floor: Alanah age 7

that stage: Alanah age 7

Just before it started: Alanah age 7

She was so enthralled by what was going on in front of her that she didn’t take anymore photos for the rest of the night. Oh and the sweet little performance that I had envisioned, with rosy cheeked children singing verses from "Mary Poppins" was slightly skew if. Don’t get me wrong we had a blast and the performance by Lani’s cousin was outstanding, its just that I wasn’t expecting the innocent eyes of my 7 year old to be confronted with scenes that included the murder from “Chicago" or songs like "Sweet Transvestite" from Rocky Horror Picture Show. Luckily the adult references went over the top of her head, at least I hope they did, she hasn’t mentioned anything yet.

I would love to see the faces of those parents that took offence to songs that reference alcohol if someone had suggested that we add a fully grown adult male gyrating in his fish nets.

Photo of Lani by me after pinching her camera off her. I just had to capture that excited glow.

Self portrait with curly hair: Alanah age 7

Daddy with Father’s Day presents: Alanah age 7

Daddy with presents and his head: Alanah age 7

If you have been reading this blog you would know that this is usually the spot where my 7 year old daughter displays her photographic talents by posting the photos she took over the weekend. However his weekend the poor little pink camera was cast aside and forgotten. The little photographer was having way to much fun. So I decided to show a few of my snaps of what we all got up to instead.

My beautiful sister who lives so very far away was able to come with us as well. She gave up all hope of her little holiday being a nice relaxing break and through herself head first into entertaining my children.

   I am so very appreciative that even though the distance is great and the schedules are busy She still manages to get her exuberant face on all the special occasion photos, birthdays and Christmas and Dodgem cars. These are the memories that tie distant families together and leave a little achy spot in our hearts when they leave us once again.

Lilly (seen trying desperately to hang onto her smile on the far right of the photo) found the Dodgems a little much and the ride had to be stoped to let her off just after this photo was taken. But all in all considering every other year the Tea Cup ride has had to be stoped to remove petrified children we did quite well.

Eli even went on the Ferris wheel and wasn’t scared!

To top off an amazing day the people at the show ground were kind enough to supply us with a large grassy hill to roll down, just the bestest. What a great day.

Denny the Fluffy Dog : Alanah 2009 age 7

Lilly with Cedar walking: Alanah 2009 age 7

Nice Day: Alanah 2009 Age 7

Treezzees: Alanah 2009 Age 7

Elijah running: Alanah 2009 Age 7

River Falls: Alanah 2009 Age 7

River Walk : Alanah 2009

Eli behind a chair: Alanah 2009

Sabrina Smiling: Alanah 2009

River 2009: Alanah 2009

Last Christmas Alanah conspired with my sister to get her first very own camera. She was quite secretive about the whole thing. One day as Christmas was nearing she asked if she could talk to Jill on the phone. I agreed quite happy that my previously shy daughter was coming out of her shell and not only wanting to communicate with other human beings but was actually willing to initiate it. Lani didn’t want me to listen while she was on the phone and I thought fair enough I know I always hate people listening in to my conversations or looking over my shoulder or following me around…hum..getting a bit side tracked here. Anyhoo a few days later all the kiddies were in the family room treading water in the sea of junk mail catalogues that pour out of our letter box in the last few weeks before Christmas.

After brushing aside oh about a hundred requests for new toys I finally tell them that we already had their presents but if they see something that they really really have to have I could ring Jill and see if she needed any help with present choices. At that point Lani announces that she already knows what her aunty Jill is giving her.  Thinking it was a little strange that Jill would have told her what she had bought, especially because  Jill loves surprises so much , I ask Lani

" Why did she tell you what you were getting"

"She didn’t tell me"

"How do you know then?"

"Because I asked her for it"

"Really wow, so what is it?"

"What is what" (It often takes a bit to get a straight answer in this house)

"The present"

"Oh, I’m not telling"

and neither of them would and so in the last weeks before Christmas my head filled with images of gigantic hideously pink barbie castles. On Christmas day when the big secret was finally and very excitedly, but also very carefully so as not tot rip the paper, opened I was relived to see it was just a camera. Lani was still a little nervous and asked whether it was alright because Aunty Jill had said it was alright and I’m sure honey if you can sweet talk the expensive presents out of our relatives go for it.

So this little camera has become such a part of our lives, documenting every moment of every place we go to that I thought I would give the images it produces some space on here. So Lani is going to post a photo every weekend for as long as she can be bothered. So for all I know this is your one and only look at my daughters budding career in photography.

Eli at the park by Alanah age 7