All DONE

It has been over 72 hours since Will last nursed.  Sadly, I think my baby is all done with what we around here, affectionately call "num nums".  

Sigh.  My heart hurts a little tonight.

Although, when this fresh baby came over for a visit yesterday, Will did seem like a big giant standing next to her.  A big, walking, stinky, busy, messy, noisy toddler....

...who also still needs his mommy. 

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...it is raining.  It doesn't feel like summer, but it is cozy in our home and my flowers and the lawn at Pasley probably could use a drink.

I am wondering...how the toothbrush got into the bottom of the milk carton? and why this post is all double spaced?

I am thankful for...my family and my kids.  My husband too who is clear across the continent in New York (wish I was there with him eating good food and shopping).
From the kitchen...my latte is getting cold, breakfast aftermath (egg in the hole with ketchup and fruit shakes) is on the counter and on the floor.
I am wearing...my sloppy ROOTS track pants and an oversized tee I slept in last night
I am creating...a photo book for Will, lots of lists and sketches of some ideas I have to sell on Etsy?
I am going...to meet up with the George Gong after Will's nap and then to Playland with friends tonight...in the rain.
I am reading..."Stuart Little" with Clara, otherwise the same book I started a few months ago called "France, A Love Story."
I am hoping...for sunshine next weekend for the 6th Annual P.I.G.S (Pasley Island Gong Show).
I am hearing...the kids playing downstairs in the playroom.  Clara is having a Birthday party for Jesus and Sam is playing the accordian and making his elephant noise.  Laundry and dishwasher is on.  Will is thumping the wall with his foot while laying in his bed.
Around the house...it looks as though someone burglarized us last night while we were sleeping.  Laundry that needs to be folded is in the hallway, beds are unmade, toys all over, and thanks to Will, an entire bookshelf and a box of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios have been emptied onto the floor. 
One of my favorite things...cozy days inside wearing jammies, laying on the couch, playing games and not feeling guilty about things undone.
A few plans for the rest of the week: IKEA tomorrow to pick up mosquito nets, inexpensive curtains and hooks for Pasley (anyone care to babysit Will?) and then packing up and moving my family up to the island for the summer on Friday morning.
Here are some pictures I am sharing (carnival with the George Gong last week)...

cinnamon donut hands

best friends, just like their daddies (although they don't hold hands)

"For Today" came from the Simple Woman's Daybook.  Go here, to do your own.  I think this may become a weekly feature.

99 BALLOONS

I saw this video for the first time today and was so touched by their story.  Apparently is was re-aired on Oprah recently, but my Oprah watching days are long gone.  This video inspires me to stop for a moment and see the joy and wonder in every moment, even when Sam is making his elephant noise (the latest).  I really am proud to my kid's mommy and am so thankful for them.  They truly are such a gift.

WALKING DOWN THE STAIRS

Another Will milestone.  

He is walking down the stairs and he thinks he doesn't need to hold on to anything.  He does OK if there are 4 or less stairs and if he focusses instead of looking up to see who is watching.

DAD'S DAY

Father's Day Highlights

(from the mommy's POV)

• Laid in bed for an extra hour in the morning
• Bacon & eggs and french press coffee served on a tray in bed
• A ride in Sam's Gator to watch Clara's "show" on the swing
• A walk to the Point and then to Driftwood Graveyard with the family
• A nap on the couch
• BBQ back "in town" which involved 7 layer dip, champagne and key lime pie and some time with my Daddy

We love you Daddy!

I LOVE DAD

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

I LIKEY: SOME SUMMERY THINGS

A bottle opener, mounted outdoors, with a container to collect the lids (perfect for Pasley)

I would like one of these drink dispensers too (POTTERY BARN)

Some interiors that make me feel calm and happy (REAL SIMPLE) 

A simple (and inexpensive) display using found objects (TONYA GOODWIN)

PAPA BEAR & YAYA FROG

After the brothers went to bed tonight, Clara and I had some creative time together.  She wanted to work on a Father's Day project for my Dad (her Papa). 

She has become quite interested in First Nations art and culture and loves the idea that each person has their own animal Totem with it's own unique personality traits.  

While wondering aloud what her totem is, she asked if we could go to Tomahawk restaurant for breakfast on the weekend so she could ask one of the waiters.  I guess she figures they are experts since, after all, there are 2 Totem poles beside the front entrance and the Tomahawk's decor is largely made up of West Coast Indian artifacts.  

You have to live on the North Shore to think this is particularly funny.  I do think their Yukon-Style breakfast, however, is delicious.

Anyway, she painted a lovely picture of a "Papa Bear Totem" for my Dad, and she dictated a story to go along with it...

PAPA BEAR & THE YAYA FROG

One day there was a bear walking in the forest.  He was sad because he really wanted to marry someone.  No one wanted to marry him because all the animals were scared of him. One day, when he woke up in the Spring, he saw a frog...a YaYa frog.  And the frog was not scared of him.  And the frog said "I always wanted to marry a bear."  So they got together. And they they had a happy time together,  forever.  THE END.

I do love happy endings.

BACKYARD DAY

Though I love our home, I do dream about a big, grassy, fenced, backyard of our own.  

Today we visited Auntie Juli and Maddy and Sebby and played all afternoon in their big, grassy, fenced backyard.  The kids set up an obstacle course that involved climbing, a water slide, a merry go round and jumping into a pool of water.  Sam ended up with a black and bloody eye after colliding with Clara's head, but other than that, they loved playing with their cousins.  

 

LESSON FROM MY KIDS (ROBIN'S NEST)

On our walk Saturday morning, Clara found a cracked Robin's egg on the path.  She oohed and awed about how beautiful and special it was, then placed it carefully on her lap in the jogger. When it was time to go home, I stuffed Will in the jogger as well, on Clara's lap, and on top of the Robin's egg.  Needless to say it cracked to bits and Clara was hysterical.

Back at home, Clara finally calmed down and was on a mission to re-create a Robin's nest, complete with eggs and a mommy bird.  She wanted to do it now and with whatever materials were available.   

Me...well, I probably would of waited to make a nest until I had the "perfect" materials all lined up in front of me, and I would have probably spent money at Michaels getting those materials, and most likely, I wouldn't even of got the project done.  

Clara is more doing and less dreaming.

And so, today I'm inspired.  To be more spontaneous and less of a creative perfectionist. Besides, I think her nest turned out to be quite perfect.

GRADUATION DAY

This is Clara the morning of her first day of preschool in 2006.  

I remember this day clearly. She chose her outfit with much thought the night before, down to the pumpkin charm necklace and Dora the Explorer socks.  She had Life cereal for breakfast and a fruit shake to wash it down.  I cried in my car after I dropped her off even though I picked her up 20 minutes later (gradual entry).  

And here she is looking all grown up and confident, on her first day of Kindergarten (I still get a chuckle at Sam in the background).  

Today was the last day of school for Clara and Sam, and it was also Clara's "Graduation from Kindergarten" ceremony.  It was her third and final year at her lovely Montessori school. 

Her class performed a play about Canada.  Clara was a farmer on the prairies...

There was some singing...

And some more singing...

And finally, Clara got to sing "Land of the Silver Birch," a song she has been singing around the house for months now.  She was very confident with the lyrics on this one.  

I love all the picture taking going on...

My graduate...

I love this picture of Daddy telling Clara how proud he is of her...

And I had to include a picture of Clara with "Miss Tulips."  Her name is not Tulips, but something Greek and totally different.  Geez...I don't even know what her real name is.  I call her Miss Tulips too.

Will was just dying to get to those chairs...

Clara showing Sam some of her gifts.

Clara and her teachers.

I am so proud of my little (big) girl.  And I must say my heart felt a little heavy all day.  Grade 1 seems so big and scary to me.  I think Clara will cope better than me.  In the past year, especially, she has gained so much confidence and has become so outgoing.  She amazes me daily with her curiosity, her thoughtful questions, her passion, her creativity, her sense of humour, her gentle character and kindness and her love of learning.  

I sure do love you, my favourite, most beautiful girl!