Bright at Spring

Only two days in Wandiligong and we notice Milla seems older. Everytime we head away there is a leap. She is talking in a more sophisticated manner, she looks tall. She is so incredibly good at puzzles, keen to sound out words: the toilet block at Mount Buffalo 'w-o-m-e-n'!! So fast and confident in snowshoes and then infuriatingly stops. Maybe she just wants to play. Five years and two months old.

Milla at 5

Milla at five is great company.

Five years old 

Confident with other people
Still generous
Seems to be getting taller everyday. Definitely looking long.
Great generosity of spirit
Starting to enjoy trying, and can take direction
No interest in cycling
Great architectural drawings with increasing detail
Still loves camping and the outdoors
Love love loving learning to read
Puzzle champion.

Literacy at nearly five

And just like that, she's all about reading, writing, letters and spelling.

Reading everywhere. 

Over summer she gained the ability to listen to chapter books.

Over the past few weeks, a hunger to understand words.And remembering more and more.

She could write our names. Then 'love'. I started getting love letters last year 'Milla love Mum'.

Now birthday cards she can write, mostly unassisted, save for 'from': 'happy birthday Grandma, love from Milla'.

Reading my copy of the BFG, she's keen to pick out 'snozzcumber' on the page, and will find 'Sophie' very quickly.

What an electric time.

Pretty rapt to receive this card. 

Oxfam Trailwalker 2019

I'm feeling pretty much myself now. Two and a half days after finishing Oxfam Trailwalker. My first time, after a few years of aspiration, I finally did it.

One hundred kilometres walked, in twenty five hours.

It's hard to own it and figure out what made me successful. The text Charlie sent me saying 'full grit' totally resonates.

I was in pain from early on, blisters appearing on both feet. My muscles were better than I feared, quads getting achy in the final quarter. When it was cold.

We chatted. We remembered the trail. Just two small sections we'd never walked. We worried about the rain. We talked about the times. When support crew was coming. We ate heaps of sugar. We thought about Jen and how to keep her going and if she was going to make it.

I jogged up hills, it was easier on my body. I fell asleep and kept on walking. I couldn't think of anything.

I think I felt euphoric for the final 5-10km as I knew it was going to happen, I would complete.

Books at four and a half

Christmas booked devouring daily: 

• Georgia O'Keeffe
• Tintin The Black Island
• Rosie Revere chapter book
• Fantastic Mr Fox
• Reader's digest trees and shrubs (!!)