I'm glad I didn't miss that - Laughing Levi

I often say that Asher is live entertainment for Levi, and today was no exception.  We got a bit of snow last night, and Asher really wanted to play with the shovel in it.  Levi watched out the back door forever, and when Asher tossed snow on the window, this is what happened...

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It's surprise moments of joy like this, that happen in the middle of every day life, in between tantrums and dirty diapers, that I live for.  I'm really glad I didn't miss that!

Thankful Thursday

I had heard of Pinterest in the past, but I just finally started my account this week and I am hooked!  Dude, this site rocks!  Basically it's an online site that let's you file, organize, and share anything you find on the web, or on other people's pinterest boards.  I can't tell you how many times I've found a recipe online, or an activity I wanted to do with the kids, and then couldn't find it again later when I needed it.

Not anymore, folks.  Not anymore.

This week I have spent way too much of my free time looking at other people's pinterest boards and pinning my favorite ideas to my board.  It's so exciting!  So far I have 13 boards, or different categories, with 162 pins, or ideas, and I'm just getting started.  There is soooo much out there on the web and it's fine to find exciting ideas. 

Like this?  Totally pinterest.

And just yesterday Asher worked for quite some time on this Montessori style activity, again a pinterest find:

I feel like pinterest has awakened this little creative junkie inside me.  It's sooo fun for me to plan and do learning and fun activities for the boys.  I got very excited tonight when I found a Cars preschool pack with a bunch of different Cars themed learning games in it.  There's also million of ideas for do-it-yourself crafts and projects that I've just barely started to explore.  Let's just say don't be surprised if you get a homemade Christmas gift from me this year :) 

So thankful for pinterest this week.  I've felt motivated, inspired, creative, curious, and have been having fun!

So check it out for yourself!  Here's a link to MY pinterest board (for those pinterest peeps out there, remember, I'm just getting started!) But while you're there look around, and see what else you may like. 

** You need an invitation to join pinterest.  You can request one on the website, or I can send you one if you'd like.  Just ask :)

Wordless Wednesday - FLASHBACK of Asher at 18 months edition

Family Pumpkins

Welcome to our house!  We decorated pumpkins this week, can you tell whose is whose??

Here's some photos of the process, and the answer:

Levi not too happy with the painting because I wouldn't let him put it in his mouth

Who says the paint needs to stay on the pumpkin??

Greg was pretty serious about this activity

Greg's finished product.  Do you know what it is?

Greg's inspiration, his Blackberry.  Are you surprised?

Whoo, whoo, whoo do you think did this beautiful owl?  It was me :)

Asher's masterpiece

Me being creative with my painting

Our pumpkins drying

It was interesting how each of our approaches to decorating our pumpkin really highlighted our personality. 

Asher picked his favorite colors, stayed focused for quite some time, painted everywhere with no real plan, of course added a few stickers to the mix, and then moved on to other things.

I did things that I thought would look pretty, or because I liked them.  I did have a bit of a plan in place, but not too much of one, and I just went with the process.  Since I couldn't decide on just one idea, I had to decorate 2 pumpkins.

Greg was very methodical and perfectionistic about it.  He drew an outline on paper first, cut out a template, and tried different coloring methods before getting the one he liked.  He was very technical in his approach and focused and worked very deliberately until his logo was just the way it was supposed to be.  It made me laugh.

And that is our family, and our pumpkins, who match our personalities perfectly!  Hopefully next year we'll get to include Levi in the process, and he won't want to just eat the paint :)

My birthday

I'm so thankful for my birthday - I do love that day, if you didn't already know.  I was so blessed this year!  I received...

... 3 bouquets of flowers delivered to my door

... a bottle of wine and fancy cupcakes

... spending $$

... a gift certificate to the movies, Second Cup, and Chapters

... a handmade neck warmer

... some of my favorite hand soap

... a book of poetry

... dinner at a Thai restaurant and an adventure to a local evening flashlight corn maze

... many cards, hugs, and well wishes

... a day off, during which I sat and read poetry in a coffee shop by myself, had lunch at Cora's with a friend, did some shopping, read in a park, went for a nice long walk, rearranged my closet and went to Zumba class.

... A LOT of love


31 rocks!

Wordless Wednesday - birthday flowers edition

What Can I Say

For my birthday this year, my dear, sweet friend gave me a book of poetry.  I spent an hour and a half in a coffee shop by myself yesterday and devoured it, many times becoming teary, and, more importantly, becoming inspired.  Here is one of my favorite poems:

What Can I Say

What can I say that I have not said before?
So I'll say it again.

The leaf has a song in it.

Stone is the face of patience.

Inside the river there is an unfinishable story

   and you are somewhere in it

and it will never end until all ends.

Take your busy heart to the art museum and the

   chamber of commerce

but take it also to the forest.

The song you heard singing in the leaf when you

   were a child

is still singing.

I am of years lived, so far, seventy-four,

and the leaf is singing still.

Mary Oliver

only one Mama

I always say to Asher, when I'm running around trying to meet the needs of 2 boys, "I'm only one Mama!".  Sometimes I'll ask him about this when I'm working on something and he needs me - and he definitely knows the answer.

Last night as I was getting Asher ready for bed, he was being the rambunctious little boy that he is, and was play fighting with me, swatting at my face.  I told him I didn't like that and asked him to stop.  When he continued, I told him that he needed to be kind and gentle with me because "you only have one Mama, Asher".

Asher's response:

"No, Papa's my Mama, too!"

I couldn't help but laugh at that one.  I guess our roles are a little sketchy to him.  He often will say "I need a big person to come get me!".  Mama, Papa, whatever... it's all the same to him right now.  I guess I need to teach him the word parent, that may help clear this up.

But I'm really glad I didn't miss that one!

Thankful Thursday

I know leaves are supposed to fall off of trees in Autumn, but we have leaves growing on our Family Thankfulness Tree over here.  Take a look...

Wordless Wednesday - different boy, same age and interest edition

This weekend I...

... slept in for 2 mornings in a row (glorious!)

... received an awesome back and foot massage from my husband (also glorious!)

... watched a movie

... bought a box of wine

... had 2 Thanksgiving dinners, one with my favorite Holiday Nut and Lentil Loaf - yum

... inherited my sister-in-law's fat clothes.  Bonus = some free new items.  Downside = some of them either too short or too big for me.  I think this is both a good and bad thing.

... had my butt kicked at Zumba - now that was a workout!

... found Levi sitting up in his crib all by himself - a big accomplishment as we've been working on this move with his physiotherapist for 3-4 weeks now.

... took a mini road trip to my father-in-law's camp and peed in an out house

... put shorts on my boys in October - wow, that was a warm weekend!

... supported my friend from afar while she ran her first half-marathon in a neighboring province.

... was blessed beyond words for time with my incredible little family, and feeling super thankful for it!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thankful Thursday

I've been trying to help my family focus on the idea of expressing thankfulness, especially since it's almost Thanksgiving.  This year I decided to make our first Family Thankfulness Tree.  I cut out ions of little leaves, painted a tree (with Asher's help), and every day we've been adding new things that we're thankful for.  Each item we write on a new leaf, and place it on the tree.  Here is our Family Thankfulness Tree so far, and I hope to keep adding to it all fall.



"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows"  James 1:17

Wordless Wednesday - just wow edition

Here's a link to the story.  Just wow.

I'm desperate

There's something I'm desperate for.  And it's a boy.

Here he is, and he's captured my heart.

I love him!  It's overwhelming at times.  I grit my teeth because I have to hold myself back from swallowing him up.  Those big blue eyes, those blond curls - it's too much.

That warm rolly-poly chin and neck - I could kiss it forever.

Those busy hands, those drooly lips - they make me swoon.

That big goofy, toothy smile - it lights up my heart.

Those pointing fingers, those first, slurry words - I'm hooked.

That boy on the move, cruising and curious - I'm enamored.

That book-loving, busy, happy-go-lucky boy has me love struck.

He gets atleast 100 kisses and cuddles a day, I can't help myself. 

And he just leans in, smiles, and gives it right back.  Big open mouth, drooly kisses.  Sweet cuddles into my chest.

My baby - I'm in love, and I'm blessed   ;)