“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth”
Kahlil Gibran
New Years bring resolutions, bring the birth of new projects and the promises of new beginnings. This year I am taking part in the Living Arrows project. A weekly photography project focussing on your children. A moment captured in time, week on week, leading to a transformation over the year.
I start 2017 with a 4 year old and a 20 month old, I’ll end the year with a 5 year old and a 2 year old. Walking, talking, asking questions. The thing is, that it is so gradual, spending day after day with my boys I don’t see how they’ve grown until I look back at photographs. In my mind I still have the tiny newborn that I brought home from the hospital not a great hulking 4 year old. The changes are minute day by day, but they grow and go forth. I want to record the memories week by week and what better way to do it than via Living Arrows?
Park Life
This weeks photos come from our New Years Day trip to the park, less of the rain and drizzle of the UK but brilliant blue skies and sunshine of Doha. To be honest, neither of us wanted to head to the park, much less do the accompanying shopping trip to get PG Tips from the one shop that sells the pyramid bags here in Doha after a rough night. Normally a rough night would mean that I was up 3 or 4 times with the small one who still doesn’t sleep at 20 months old, yet last night he slept. Exhausted from an afternoon swimming and an exciting trip with friends for a late burger before heading home to bed. Yet the swimming that worked so well with the little one caused the big one untold havoc. Screaming through the night with ear ache. Trying desperately to sleep yet tossing and turning. Calpol not touching the sides. Fitful sleep from 2 until 4. Ibuprofen given and finally sinking into the sleep required in the middle of our bed at 5am. Which is when the small one got up for the day. It is safe to say this morning was sponsored by Peppa Pig and lots of coffee.
The thing is, sometimes the things you don’t want to do. The things that take so much effort, are the things that reward you the most. Children’s laughter in the park, a fear of slides conquered, my boys actually playing together. Taking it in turns to come down the slide.
Ready, Steady, Go
You can’t beat the park! I love it when they get brave and go head first, even if it does give me a few heart in mouth moments! Lovely photos of your boys X #Livingarrows
Author
It’s scary isn’t it! Though he’s so cautious he crept down the first few times!x
I absolutely love your reasoning for joining it. You’re so right the those individual days pass slowly, but the years go so quick! Such lovely captures – jealous of the sunny weather haha xx
Those are such lovely photos! Although I have to admit I’m glad mine hasn’t plucked up the courage to go down the slide head first yet! You’re so right, so many times I have to force myself to get us out of the house, and yet so many times it ends up being some of the best fun we have. #LivingArrows
Author
Thank you! It was heart in mouth moments the first time and then the baby tried to follow eep!
Gorgeous photos, look forward to seeing how they change through the year x #livingarrows
Author
This is one of the things I am so excited about! So pleased to be joining in this year.
We love going to the park and the slide is always great fun. Lovely photos x #livingarrows
Oh nooo earache is just the worst! My little girl has started to sleep with a hot water bottle every night because it’s the only thing that soothes her frequent earaches. I do hope he’s okay now. I look forward to reading your living arrows posts.
Nat.x
Author
We read about warmth helping but you know what I didn’t even think of the idea that we could use a hot water bottle as a warm pack.
These pictures are so wonderfully captured not to mention beautiful! Isn’t park life just grand. Happy New Year.xx #livingarrows
Author
Happy New Year! Can’t beat time at the park that’s for sure 🙂
I definitely agree that getting out even when you don’t want always makes everyone feel much better. The boys look like they are having a great time. #livingarrows
Author
That alone was worth the dragging ourselves out for!
That’s a nice sight to see in January. Shorts and Tshirt. You gotta love Dubai. Actually Ireland had a beautiful weekend. Full of sunshine and blue skies. #livingarrows
Author
It’s bizarre isn’t it! We’re actually in Qatar now but similar weather and we miss the cold sunshine still!
I love that you’re joining in this year – and can’t wait to see more about life on Doha. I’ve actually just followed you on Bloglovin too – I find it hard to remember who I follow and who I don’t! 🙂 Your children are going to change and grow so much this year, I can’t wait to see your photos each week. You cannot beat a day at the park – simple things x
Author
It’s the ordinary things in life that sometimes bring the most extraordinary amount of pleasure (I should so start joining with Ordinary Moments as well!) exciting to show Doha off as well x
Living Arrows is such a fab linky for capturing the ordinary moments and seeing how much your children change. These are lovely park shots – a bit different from the ones I took this week with my boys bundled up in warm coats and wooly hats!
Love these photos, that slide looks like loads of fun! #livingarrows x
That slide looks so much fun! #livingarrows
Bless them, they look so happy. Can’t wait until my baby girl is old enough to play at the park
Nothing worse than earache! I had about two years of it on and off a few years ago – was hell! Lovely photos x
Author
Oh no Katy – how did you get rid of it?