Damn, it was hot! So we all (including the dog) cooled off a few times when possible at the nearest beach, which was utter bliss.

Wedding season is here and I'm madly busy, so every minute spent with the family is fun as possible.

I know! I'm Early! Here we are, just outside King's Lynn, in a HUGE field of Tulips. They are about to be de-headed *eek* so that all the plants energy goes into making a bulb. It's a shame to us, but there it is. I'd just asked my son what his favourite colour was - we had just seen pinks, yellows, reds and even some purple ones in the distance.. but he was getting ready to point at his exact favourite in the entire field while we waited. (See his finger? ... we're waiting! The Tractor is coming!)

Now.. I'm encouraging all of you to get in the photo with your kids. I'll be the first to admit, I look awful here. I'm exhausted, I have a cold and have been rushing all day long with no make-up and 'dog-walk clothes'. We had 10 minutes here before rushing to a doctors appointment but my point is: if I can post this -  so can you.

The 25th March 2017 - Earth Hour. We turned off all non-essential electricity for over an hour this year, and read books by torch-light instead. I can't believe we are all in this picture ("we" includes the cat AND dog!)

My plans for photos outside on our free few days were scuppered by storm Doris. Though today we are going to feed lambs again at Snettisham Farm Park so I might get another golden opportunity there. This month I decided to keep it simple and just cuddle up with the wild ones for a close-up. The dog was walking in & out of shot which made them laugh, and they were permanently on edge as every so often I'd give them a tickle under the ribs!

I know! On time and fairly artistic to boot. Perhaps down to the help I had taking this photo - once I set it up I left my husband in charge of holding down the shutter as we ran, cycled and walked the opposite path.

Cutting it incredibly fine for the first month of my photography resolution - here is my morning routine. My son likes playing with the make-up brushes that I use, and often 'helps' me by brushing my cheek.. then his own!

This month, I had more time at home with my kids *yay*. Between teaching my daughter crochet, and helping them both make bread / cake at weekends I had many, many more photos to choose from. But I end up with this as a favourite. He took such a shine to it, and it's a glorious memory for us.

March.... ish: Yes, 3 months in and I'm late with my own deadline. But I've got a ton of great excuses! Although I think the main reason is - rather than photograph what comes naturally I end up getting an idea, and trying to make it happen. I wanted to be in a photograph with my daughter so ended up planning rather than letting it happen. Looking for a window to take something 'planned' with your kids isn't a great idea when you're a busy working mum.

Here's my boy, mid- 'mad five minutes', wriggling, kicking and laughing because I'm trying to button his pyjamas! I promise to do better for April, and to include my other child...

April was my busiest month so far - home schooling my little boy three mornings a week so he's ready for 'big school' soon, family in hospital, up-cycling old furniture as well as decorating the house, loads of photography work and visits to local places where the flowers are just leaping up to greet us! Our house is also a bit of a zoo - with two aquariums, one full of new life, a bowl of tadpoles and a live 'butterfly garden' full of caterpillars too... and a cat that we need to keep away from all of them... and a dog that we sometimes look after, who just wants to love my cat.

Now this month, I set up a connection between my Canon 6D and my phone app - greatest thing ever for our family photos from now on (I can actually get in them!) and I tested it out at the Foxley bluebell woodland a week or so ago. However .. somewhat unexpectedly, this photograph perfectly sums up our April - taken as I was picked up from work after a Christening, with my eldest being her usual self. I do keep forgetting to take photographs like this - just naturally as they occur. But I'm still hoping it pops into my mind more often as this project progresses.

May was a lot calmer by far, though just as busy on the work front. However I still had time to satisfy my inner seamstress by making myself a dress, and also a flower crown as practise for an upcoming shoot (which my daughter helped make). So here we are, in the park among the flowers wearing our creations!

A new Wild Thing. We've been looking at various rescues for the chance to foster or adopt a dog for a few months now, and earlier this month we met Mylo. He's a 9 month old Cocker Spaniel with bags of energy, affection and intelligence who has jumped into our lives with all four feet! We've all enjoyed training him, particularly the children. Here he is, mid-sit waiting for his reward *yum*

July has been pretty awesome for us but also insanely busy.. I've barely touched the camera, even on holiday when I thought it'd be constantly in use.. Anyway It's now the last day of July, a little grey and drizzly so we decided to start a dressmaking project for my daughter. First thing's first though - she has to learn to use the machine safely and accurately. We're using paper here with drawn lines that she has to slowly follow. After this, we constructed most of the bodice! She's gonna be a little expert before school's back!

I'm a little late posting this August entry, once again it occurred to me I hadn't taken a photograph yet whilst doing something essential rather than something fun. Here's my youngest trying on his first school uniform - which needed taking up by 2 inches! There's a dress half-made on the mannequin, frames on the floor as we were also decorating, and a massive pile of other things on the chair that needed labelling / altering. Gotta love August!

Yeah, ok.. I got a bit too busy to continue with this after summer. I'd LOVE to carry this forward into 2017 and hopefully get a photograph every month with proper planning, but as I learned this year; things don't always work out how you want them to and plans are easily changed with priorities. But stay tuned, you never know ;) I do love to share a small glimpse of home life in any case.

There were a LOT to choose from in December because it's the time of year I usually take extra time off specifically to be with family and make some memories. But I chose this photograph because it's relevant to everyone that's visited this year - for the first time, I was able to buy my children bicycles.

My daughter had a pretty pink bike with flowers on given to her aged four that she was still occasionally using at the park, with it's tiny frame and unreliable brakes. But my (nearly) 5 year old has never ridden a 'proper' bike, and It was always in the back of my mind - pushed to the front when he was given the opportunity to try one out at school, but didn't know how the pedals worked. Then got upset watching other children work it with ease. He's far behind other children in lots of ways due to partial deafness, but seeing his frustration at being physically unable to keep up and have fun really stuck with me.

Thankfully, with luck, hard work, and some lovely people that had faith in me and 'shopped small' - this year I was actually able to buy him a new bicycle. A gift that would really make him happy. And even update my daughter's ride, too! He grinned and laughed the whole time he was on it (pausing to gasp at hills and turns) and I can't wait to see him flying along on his own.

Thank you for shopping local in 2016. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to you.