Jean's Dress-up Cupboard

Jean is 5 years old and her absolute favourite thing is imaginative play...dressing up and pretending she is a princess, teacher, mommy, hairdresser, shopper. The list goes on and on.

For Christmas we decided that we would create a dress-up centre for her. As in kindergarten where there are many different "centres" to play, we thought having an area specifically for all of our costumes and accessories would be great and that Jean would LOVE it. The hunt was on for a cupboard and after a few weeks I found the most perfect thing!

It needed some tender loving care and a good coat of paint. It already had two large mirrors and a curtain rod inside and I added a few baskets to hold accessories. 

I wanted to have a pretty colour that would go well in our playroom and something bright. I used BeautyTone Alkyd Rustcoat in a robin's-egg blue. No primer was needed, went on really well but was a bit smelly. I wanted it to be durable because we hoped it would be well-used and it is!

All done and filled up!  We left it empty for Christmas morning and left a note on it for Jean but we knew it wasn't going to be the most exciting part of the day. All she wanted to do was open presents but on Boxing Day we worked together to put her dress-up things inside and she loves it. It looks pretty in the playroom, is very useful to keep all her things in one place and there is a bit of magic to it...more than once we have found little people hiding inside. Who knew it would become a magical wardrobe as well?

Saying Good-Bye

Ian's Grandpa Steve McGregor passed away peacefully on December 12, 2013.

We hold a very special bond with him as we live in "his home"... he was born here, raised here and lived here raising his own family with Grandma Noreen (Granny).  We were fortunate to buy their farm from them over 10 years ago but this always remains his home.  Ian was extremely close to him, working alongside him throughout his life.  It has only been a few years that Grandpa Steve has not been here to see the farm grow.  Ian has more memories of his precious Grandpa than could fill these pages and it was with a heavy heart that we laid him to rest this past weekend on Dec 15, 2013.

Ian's cousin, Hannah, spoke at the funeral and she read my own words:

I feel privileged to live in the home he loved so much.  His home.  I feel him all around here, outside on the farm and inside the house.  To our children and I, he is our Big Boppa; strong, funny, caring.  To Ian he is so much more.

Ian was fortunate to speak at the funeral as well:

Memories are simply moments that refuse to be ordinary.  The memories Grandpa has given us have shaped our lives in a special and unique way.  We remember Grandpa's strong hands, tanned dark by the sun and calloused from hard work; his shy smile when we was welcoming us to Glenroy Farm or to the Manse, his music, his joy in his children, his legendary ability in crokinole and softball, his quiet words of wisdom to help us get through a rough patch;  One of my favourites was when I would be chatting with him when something wasn't going my way, such as the weather during planting season, he would smile and say "the pleasures of farming!". And of course his love for our Grandmother.  I am thankful to be able to have worked alongside this great man and I am proud to be a McGregor.  He taught us about our history and where the McGregors orignated from.  He wasn't flashy and always made do with what he had, even if it took some baler twine, blackwire or duct tape to make it last.  I love what I do and I know he was a big part of the reason I chose to begin farming.  He was a steady and calming influence on all of us.  Good bye Grandpa and we all love you.


Grandpa Steve was "Big Boppa" to our children, named by Grace when she was just beginning to talk.  Grace and Alex are very lucky to have memories of him as the rest of his great-grandchildren may not as they are still so young.  Music was a big part of his life and his fiddle came out at numerous family events.

Big Boppa playing alongside wee Grace (Aunt Janie behind).

That smile is priceless.  He loved holding babies - here he is holding Alex at our church.  2007

Jean is mesmerized by Big Boppa's amazing hands... big, callused but gentle.  2009

This past Christmas season was a little bittersweet as our McGregor family had to say good bye to him but we all felt him in our hearts.

A Dose of Perspective

It has been a busy December.  I love the Christmas season but, but, but... I have huge expectations every year of giving our kids the BEST.  Of taking in as many festivities as we can, of skating, skiing, sledding, socializing, watching all the best Christmas movies... the list goes on and on.  Well guess what?  Life got in the way of all of my dreams and you know what, that's what they are - dreams.  Not reality.
My husband is much better with reality.  He loves the Christmas season but what he loves the most is connecting with family and friends and having some unplanned fun along the way.  He doesn't care that we need a new t.v., a new truck, that he needs a new winter coat, the presents are not wrapped perfectly, or that the tree isn't up by the middle of December.  Even our children don't care about all of that.  I think as moms we try too hard and then "life" happens and we experience a big let-down.  It has been a tough month with the death of Ian's beloved Grandpa and that definitely brought some reality to my month.  We basically put "pause" on any Christmas preparations but throughout the whole experience, within the sadness was so much love.  Love.  It was precious.
I have been scrambling to complete some projects for Christmas and in the midst of it all, I have come down with the flu.  I woke up with a funny feeling but I just "had" to get to the city to get some last-minute shopping done and while standing in the line to buy Grace a new snowsuit, it hit me and I had to get home.  I crawled into bed and my mother-in-law rescued the kids while Ian was working.  I slept the afternoon away but still feel achy.  My bed is calling me again so away I will go before 8pm.  Ian will finish the wrapping and put the finishing touches on our special Christmas project for Jean.  I have faith in him to try his best to make tomorrow a little easier for me but you know what?  It doesn't matter.  We have each other and three amazing kids... and a great family to spend time with throughout the holiday.  We are blessed and have so much while others do not.  The most important thing we need to do is talk about why we celebrate Christmas, about Jesus and God, about why Santa gives, about how important it is to pray for peace and to give love to everyone around us.
You know what it's called?  Perspective and I needed some.

Our first snow-shoe of the season proved to be even too much for our leader, daddy.  The snow was extremely deep.

The kids each got a pair of skiis and boots this year (all previously-loved) and have already had so much fun outside wearing them.  We have some lessons planned early in the New Year.

An Amazing Hockey Experience

Last Thursday Alex and his hockey team, the Arnprior Green Dragons, had the opportunity to play on the Ottawa Senator's ice again a team from Gananoque.  We were treated to amazing seats to watch this action-packed game!  They had a blast and even won!  We had dinner at Boston Pizza, as a team with their families, and then back to the Canadian Tire Centre for a Sens game.  What a day!

Peace

Today has been the most peaceful day.  After my hour working in our school's library this morning, I came home got caught up on things around the house and now I am in the middle of packing for our weekend getaway to Lake George, NY. Ian has been working at getting straw on the berry plants for the winter so I haven't seen much of him lately. I love days like this....just peaceful.

It will all end quickly by 4pm when the little rascals get off the school bus and we race around this evening...hockey game in Petawawa, a birthday party and a drama workshop.  Everyone has something really fun to do tonight!  Then we are off on our road trip tomorrow - just to give us some time together as a family.

Our First Sign of the Magic of the Season

All is right in the world when a 9 year old still believes...

Today was a snow day - the first of the school year and certainly one of many.  We ALL love snow days and this one was very enjoyable due to mild temperatures, beautiful, fresh snow and good road conditions despite the cancellation of buses.  We baked cookies, the kids watched a movie, played in the snow, went to the dentist, visited some friends and then, while I made dinner, they began writing their letters to Santa Claus.  Alex and Jean didn't put a lot of thought into their letter and we will be helping them complete their letters some time this week but Grace, at 9 years of age, put a lot of thought into her letter.  We have recently wondered if she still believes in Santa Claus and we got our answer tonight.

When she finished her letter, she put it directly into an envelope and sealed it up.  She would not let me read it or tell me what it said.... so I opened it tonight after she went to bed!  Shame on me but I need to know!!!

Low and behold I was brought to tears by the end of the letter.  Not only does our little girl believe in Santa and the magic of Christmas but she loves her family so much (her daddy) that she wants him to be happy to and for Santa to bring him a much-needed new truck.

She always amazes us with her beautiful spirit.  This is one of the many reasons why I love the Christmas season.  I hope you all can find some magic in yours as well.

Running the Roads

This morning I was inspired (I love being inspired and it happens all the time) by an article I read:

The Last Ride


Ian and I are just at the beginning of our careers running the roads with our kids.  Grace has been dancing on the competitive team for over 2 years, the kids have played soccer for a few years and Alex just began playing minor hockey this fall, among the other activities the kids have done...

Before they were old enough to participate in organized sports (activities), we had this idea that they would take one activity at a time.  We would not spend most of our evenings driving our kids to town...

Little did we know what reality looks like.  This is a choice we have made.  An active choice and we are LOVING almost every moment!

We live 20 minutes from town.  Our typical day consists of sending the kids off to school, taking them off the bus, eating supper and heading off to dance, hockey, swimming, soccer...
We adjust our supper time to accommodate the time we need to leave and we eat supper together most nights.  There is no doubt that as much as the kids love their activities, they love evenings at home with no plan in sight but despite that, they rarely (and I mean rarely) argue about where we are going and what they are fortunate to participate in.  We happily pile into our minivan and away we go!  Weekends are similar with a bit more breathing room but rare is a day without somewhere to go and someone having a game or practice.

We wouldn't trade it for anything.  Recently my friend told me that her favourite part of taking her kids to their practices and games is the drive.  No screens are allowed and they TALK.  They communicate with each other.  I love that idea - this is the time you can really connect with your child and learn about what's happening in their life and how they feel.  Those moments are irreplaceable.  Grace has been know to chat nonstop about her day for the 20 minute drive to Arnprior - imagine how valuable that is to both of us!

Ian has been supportive in all of our kids endeavors right from the beginning.  He has always held a strong ethic when it comes to team sports and he feels that if you sign up for a team (or are asked to join and you accept) that you need to be committed and he is passing his philosophy on to our children.  I also think he secretly loves being a hockey and soccer dad (and a dance dad)...

I have heard over and over again from parents of "grown-ups now" that they don't regret anything when it comes to how busy their child was.  They loved the early morning practices, many evenings out, weekends filled with games and performances and feel that the money they spent was very well spent.  They knew where their children were and trusted the people they were with.  Their kids were hanging out with like-minded people and there were excellent role models everywhere.  I can already see that with our daughter.  Her dance group is filled with older girls that are great kids: responsible, passionate and hard-working.

The article in the Globe and Mail pulled on my heartstrings.  I don't want these moments to ever end.  Even when it feels like I want to get off this crazy ride, all I really need is a little break and I want to get right back on.  Ian and I will always remember these years with happiness and pride and no matter what kind of vehicle we are driving down the road, how many kids are with us, where we are going, how early in the morning it is, we will be content that we are giving our kids some of the best experiences money can buy.