(secret) girl business

My daughters are growing up. 

Another birthday gone by and Miss Elli is sweet 16! Where did the time go? 

Do all mothers have a tendency to recall each birth on that day, year after year? 

My children get a little embarrassed when I mention how they were born - "Oh you didn't want to be here, you cried and cried" or "You were so beautiful and rosy" and the like!! I spare them the grisly bits though and instead, recall feelings and first impressions. They still tell me to stop although I think secretly they quite enjoy the fact that I remember the specialness of their birthing day!! Anyway, I tell them, it's not all about you, I had a large part to play and I do so enjoy the memories! 

And so, there was another birthday to remember. This time with a little grand-daughter watching proceedings very closely....after all, it's her birthday soon too! 

  

Miss Elli, the newly minted Miss 16, is showing an interest in photography and keeps borrowing my camera for teen photo shoots. Together with her friend they spend hours outdoors setting up props and sorting clothes and she does quite a good job of them too...... though I did pick the funniest ones of them to show you! I couldn't resist!!  

And then there's my baby girl.

She has just played the good old Saucepan Man from The Faraway Tree, in her inaugural ballet concert. She loved it and wants to join the theatre now!! Yikes!!!
We had to paint her up, dress her up and spray her hair up until she didn't look like my little girl anymore, though she does make a good fairy tale character.

Once again, we made use of repurposed goods - the suit was cut down from an op shopped womens' business jacket and skirt, as was the blouse which is just the collar sewn onto the jacket.
 Saucepans were all op shopped or borrowed.
We made the papier mache saucepan hat, painted in acrylic kids paints.
Ballet shoe covers made from an old felted waistcoat.

I did have to buy makeup though as we don't have much of that!!

Not too many more years will go by and my last two girls will head off to venture along on their own journeys in life.
I hope I've given them the tools they need to be happy and content with what ever that life has in store for them.
I also hope they remember their childhood with fondness and many happy memories.


Meine Töchter. Die letzten zwei.
Elli war 16 Jahre alt vor ein paar tage und wir haben recht nett gefeiert mit kleine Lola auch dazu.
Elli mag gerne mit ihre Freundin fotografieren und sie sind öfter im garten Requisiten herrichten mit viel lachen! 
Und die jüngste war zum ersten mal auf der Bühne für ihr Ballett Konzert. Jetzt ist sie ganz theaterbegeistert!!