Giving In and Going With the Flow

 Well it certainly is busy around here... it is inevitable... the middle of May arrives and we are swamped with things to do for the business and kids activities and then trying to find time to just be together.  As my title indicates, my goal this for right now is to go with the flow, give in to the busy time and just take it day by day. 
As Grace and Alex were walking from the bus they found two huge sticks and decided to have a sword fight... a little crazy looking so I had to take a picture!
Below, Jean is sitting pretty.  I just LOVE my porch off the side of the house.  I'm having fun adding planters with flowers and herbs... it makes it look even better and I like having easy access to my herbs when I'm cooking.

I like to attempt new things in my kitchen... so here is my first batch of pickled asparagus.  Doesn't it look pretty?

Another Warm May Evening

   

Today we enjoyed another beautiful May evening.  We had supper on our porch (isn't it nice?) and the kids just played and played... there was no arguing or pestering just the three of them enjoying eachother's company playing "Mom, Dad and Baby".  This time Grace was the baby, Jean was the mommy and Alex was the daddy.  They used every inch of their playing area: the playhouse, garage, porch, playstructure and surrounding yard.  I love watching them play and using their imagination.  I often worry during the colder months that they spend too much time watching t.v., especially after school but these days I am sending them back outside after a snack and one t.v. show and they might complain for a minute and then once they are outside they completely enjoy themselves.  I remember as a child that same rule.  I also grew up on a farm and enjoyed a huge playing area with a sandbox, playhouse and so many other spots to use our imagination to the fullest.  I am going to savour this evening... it was lovely and I hope it will be repeated
hundreds of times.  Enjoy this beautiful May Long Weekend.

Procrastinating but Connecting

Guess what I should be doing!  Making supper, organizing school bags and putting on presentable clothing so we can hit the road and go to our haircuts BUT no, I'm on my laptop!  I love checking my blog list - it is my new favourite hobby and today I found a new one!  Someone I used to teach with also writes and I can't wait to catch up on what she is writing about her life.  I am notorious for procrastinating!  Oh well, time to heat up some leftover pizza, make myself a salad and rush us out the door.  No wonder my kids ask me about my "craziness" as we tear out the laneway to appointments and classes.  I hope as they become adults they don't remember that about me!

My Mother's Day Wish

Just a sample of what I recieved.

I love the crafts the kids make at school, especially Mother's Day crafts and this year was no exception.  Alex came home on Friday with huge excitment.  He threw open his school bag and gave his crafts to me right away and watched me take in every detail.  Grace told me NOT to touch her school bag until Sunday and Jean didn't really show any enthusiasm about her crafts at all.  Her Montessori teacher gave them to me without her even passing a glance my way.   I love the painted handprints, the pipecleaner flowers and the handmade cards with love spilled out all over them.  It gives me giggles and tears all in the same moment. 
This year was a very special Mother's Day because I was able to spend it with my own mom, which hasn't happened since before I became a mommy myself.  We live very far apart and this year my mom, my stepdad and my brother all came to visit us for the weekend (planned so they could attend Grace's dance recital) and that was so special.  Another reason why it was so special was that Ian was able to spend the whole day with  me as well.  In my world I am usually on my own with the kids at this time of year.  Ian is very busy with field work in May and he is usually planting one of our many crops on Mother's Day so I spend the day as I please with our children.  Ian makes me a great breakfast and then he is off and the kids and I head out on an adventure.  One year I lost Alex at Chapters on Mother's Day - that was not an enjoyable adventure and to this day is still a bad memory but generally the kids and I have a lot of fun.
This year we had a delicious brunch, a trip to our new farm and then a hike through the fields to a cave that we love to visit.  The day ended with a delicious bbq meal with Ian's parents.  My day was complete and I feel so blessed to be able to spend it as I wished!

More Gratitude... Keeping it Going

I'm pulling myself out of this funk... slowly but surely.  I am actively appreciating the wonderful things in my life, I am making the most of some of the precious moments (hanging out with my big girl at her dance competition, holding Jean when she asks me to - it could all change in an instant) and consiously feeling joy.  After last week's post (Feeling Sorry), there was a rush of warmth from some new friends of mine.  Reaching out is sometimes really hard and no doubt I felt self-consious about my candor but afterwards I felt relief.  I also recieved some very encouraging words helping me to see that I'm not alone. 


summertime on our yard



Continuing on my gratitude journal is also a way for me to acknowledge the precious parts of my life... today I am thankful for:

• getting my "to-do list" done for the day.  I have an overall list but everyday I make a mini-list JUST for the current day and sometimes I complete it and sometimes I don't - TODAY was a productive day!
• Jean and her imagination.  Recently I have noticed she is really enjoying play-time on her own.  It mostly involves a purse, her kitchen toys, her baby stroller and some babies of her own.  It is nice to be working away at something and hear her little voice in the background.
• being a SAHM (stay-at-home mom)... it works really well for us, especially on days like today
• dinner on the table when I returned with the kids from Grace's dance class.  It is a really nice feeling to walk into the kitchen and just have to sit down to dinner. 

Jean at 4 months old

Alex and Ian on Mother's Day 2007

Grace celebrating spring with bubbles!

This is my beautiful little sister, Carollyn.  Actually we are only 13 months apart so for most of our life, it feels as though we are the same age.  She lives with her husband and 2 little girls very far away from me.  When I moved 6 hours away from my hometown to be Ian, I left a lot of people I loved and it was hard but moving so far from Carollyn was extremely hard.  I knew we were going to have some pretty big milestones ahead of us, such as each of our marriages, career changes, new homes and CHILDREN and having her nearby would have been so wonderful.  Amidst our busy lives though, we always take time for eachother.  Thankfully she is only a phone call, email or text away and despite how time keeps on going, we make time to keep in touch.  Also, thankfully we can drive to see eachother and our families. 
Every time we part though, I am so sad.  Our kids are close in age and have so much fun together and our husbands enjoy eachother's company as well - business and sports being their main conversation!  I wish we could just go our for dinner together, or go to the movies, or babysit eachother's children... so many times we could share if distance wasn't in the way.  The bright side is that when we do see eachother it is always fun and lots of bonding happens.  She came here a couple of weeks ago with her girls and it was so much fun (I posted about that with lots of pictures). 
I'm missing her this week.

I'm going to add her to my Gratitude Jounal:

• I am so thankful for my sister, Carollyn. 
• I am also thankful for her husband Matt and my nieces, Clare and Alison.

Continuing With My Gratitude Journal

I re-started my Gratitude Journal again yesterday... here is a continuation of what I am thankful for:

• Grace (again) - She takes things in stride, is easily proud of herself and not too hard on herself.  Today she performed at the Renfrew Music Festival and was judged on her piano-playing ability and she did amazing.  We are so proud of her.
• For evenings when the kids can entertain and play with eachother AND  get-along.  It was a peaceful evening while making dinner tonight and I am so thankful for that.
• Ian's patience and support of me.  No matter what I say or how I act, he is calm during the storm.
• My brother's new-found strength... keep it up!
• My comfy bed and a good book to read.



Alex, Grace and Jean - on one of our many hikes in the bush and fields surrounding our home.