Thoughts travel:

I opened my bedroom blinds this morning to see a clear blue sky, the promise of a gorgeously sunny day, and 2 jet-streams heading off over Mt.Cheam.

The first thought that popped into my mind were the lyrics “I’m leaving on a jet plane.”   …And then I thought of Liam.  My dear, tender-hearted little guy who, at the age of two or so, would cry every. single. time. that’d I’d sing that song.  I’d only have to sing those 6 words, and huge tears would pop into his chocolate brown eyes and his lip would begin to quiver.  I think it was the “not knowing when I’ll be back again” that really got to him.  Kind of mean, I know…but it was actually kind of funny too….poor kid always thought I was leaving him.  Hope my singing that to him didn’t do any lasting psychological damage! :)

And then…then I thought of how we too hope dv to leave and head south in 5 weeks (from today) and thought of how my time to diet and drop a few extra pounds is really dwindling down to the wire. ;)

I got out into the sunshine today, and my travels just happened to take me to Winners (who knew?!?) where I just happened to find some fab cheap swim suits for the aforementioned trips. {First one is the completely free Buckwold trip (to Punta Cana DR), that we hadn’t counted on going on but they called to say that our tickets were purchased for us!  The second is one that we’d planned ages ago with our kids, my sister, her husband and their kids to Indio CA for a few days.  Basically free too, thanks to my bro-in-law’s dad’s Worldmark membership and HSBC points for flights.  Sweet! :)}

Hard to believe with this sunshine we’re having, that I’m looking forward to going elsewhere, I know. ;)

Pictured below are my kids eating breakfast, just out of bath; all clean and shiny.  Well, ok I’ll admit that Liam’s pants weren’t actually clean this morning, since he only has 2 pairs and I didn’t do laundry yesterday, and these days he and his friends have taken to rolling on the ground in the mud, and both pairs were actually kind of dirty.  Oh well, only 2.5 hours till recess time when they’ll get all muddy again anyway.

Happy weekend! :)

crack me up | fill me with joy | are so loved | look like me and my husband | are so soft and smooth | are frequently kissed | are the cutest in the world. xox

Jade’s birthday party was this afternoon…with the snow swirling once again outside. 

A group of drowned rats, and one boy on the diving board who refused to go on the group picture.  :)

Not exactly award-winning images, I confess.  Next week better. ;)

Cheers

My baby girl turned 9 this week – and I have no idea how that happened.  It seems like overnight she’s been transformed from a little girl to a little lady. 

Her birthday on Wednesday was kind of quiet, peaceful and cold to say the least!  School’s been out all week, the roads have been super treacherous, the drifts in the yard several feet deep, the wind has been howling.  I’m glad that she’s at an age where postponing her birthday party to next week wasn’t too big of a deal for her. 

We gave her a bike.  It’d been 3 years since her last new bike and I’m pretty sure she’s grown about 3 feet since then.  High time.  I wish this super cute Schwinn cruiser fit me!! :)  She was delighed with it – even if she hasn’t been able to take it for a spin yet outside.

We had a mini-party for her in the afternoon.  Hot apple pie with whipping cream wan’t quite as exciting as a girly cake with hot pink icing but, being house-bound, we made do.  Six of my lovely family members braved the elements and trudged through the snow to celebrate with us.

What an unexpectedly cozy, lazy and relaxing week it’s been!

You though I wasn’t going to make it this week didn’t you?  Fall off this project’s bandwagon already in the second week! :) 

What a gorgeous, peaceful, snowy Saturday morning!  Just had to go out there in my pj’s to shoot a few pictures before the kids or the rain destroyed that perfect 7″ thick blanket.  |  On the agenda for today was car shopping.  We’ve had my Jeep for almost 9 years (can’t believe it!) but it’s definitely time.  Liam is going through a growth-spurt and he’s eating like crazy these days, and exhasted all the time.  Jade devoured that entire book from start to finish on the drive to and from Langley.  |  Flipping through some glossy car magazines.  That roof of virtually all glass in the Ford Edge pretty much has me sold!  |  Back home, getting rid of some pent-up energy outside.  |  Buster keeping me company by the fireplace while the kids had their baths.  I’m about this >  < close to being convinced that he needs to be an inside cat. :)

Enjoy this snow!

The dream lives on: it reveals itself in endless equestrian tales, and tears of passionate longing. 

What is it about these furry creatures that captures the hearts of most little girls at some point or another? 

Seeing the twinkle in her eye and the little smile on her face as she fed the neighbor’s horses apples and hay today, made braving the biting winds worth it.  It’s really the least I can do – and far cheaper than buying one for ourselves. ;)

I’ve decided to do a weekly photography project.  Every year I debate starting a photo-a-day project…but I know that I won’t be able to stick with that for a whole year, however, I love the dedication that a project like this requires.  It forces me to pick up my camera and photograph things otherwise overlooked, and watch out for the little moments that make up our life. 

And so begins week 1. 

Jaedah just can read these Mandie books fast enough.  She loves them, and I love the fact that they are mine from when I was her age…and I soaked them up just as quickly as they were published, back then 20 years ago, as she is now.  Liam’s favorite new games website is…www.americangirl.com.  (Shh, don’t tell the boys in his class.)  He loves the soccer game best, and will spend as much time as I let him on my computer. 

A blissful, peaceful Saturday morning:

The kids were so excited to open their Christmas gifts from us tonight.  They’d been hovering over that pile of presents for hours with giddy anticipation…trying to guess what might be inside; shaking the odd box from time to time, even though I’d told them not to (kind of hard to disguise the sound of Lego)!  :)

As for me, I felt full.  Not turkey and stuffing kind of full.  Not the opposite of glass-half-empty kind of full…but the glass brimming – spilling over – kind of full.  Thanksgiving was still such a busy time for me this year, and so I’m thankful for this down-time spent with family and friends at Christmas, as 2011 winds to a close; time to reflect, unwind and relax. 

I’m so thankful for the countless, undeserved blessings this past year…and thankful and appreciative of you; your caring, your support…and your business! :)

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones. xox

I came home from this morning’s photoshoot to find this laying on the living room side table:

I thought shells couldn’t get any prettier than their natural colors…but apparently I was wrong.  Jade and Liam managed to improve perfection.  I am a huge new fan of rainbow colored sea shells…and delighted with their creativity! :)

Bold and Bright really is Beautiful.

It begs. 

“Build forts, throw snowballs, make snow angels and snowmen…play in me!” 

And so, of course, the kids after school just had to heed the call…even if it only did last 20 minutes untill they were soaked (since sadly it’s already melting).  Just enough time to muss up the pristine landscape, and just enough time to grab some pics as proof of our first snow of the season – pics which just begged to be edited and blogged…

…because they simply can not co-exist in my “to be edited” folder with the likes of my sunny Osoyoos pictures that are still languishing there. ;)  

Yup, I’m a little behind, but I AM getting there. 

I know I said it already earlier today in the last post, but have a fab weekend! :)