Cutting corners.

This is a boy who needs something to do.

So he was set to work mowing the lawn.

He was almost done when Peter came inside and said "You should see our lawn.  It looks like it was cut by a drunk zamboni driver."

It totally did.

There were islands of long grass surrounded by the freshly mowed stuff.

Look at that long stuff in the foreground:

So Peter set out to show his son the error of his ways.

Except that Sheldon realized that the more he looked puzzled, the more his father mowed.

It was about now that they realized that I was out taking photos.  And for what possible reason?

I'm busted!

(Sorry Sheldon, but even the hand can't cover that crazy mowing job.)

Family weekends.

I could get used to this.

It seems like we were just in Ottawa visiting Susan and Chris at Easter and now we've just enjoyed another long weekend with them at our house.

Blue Rodeo brought us together this time.  We headed up to a small town arena to see their annual Blue Rodeo concert on Friday night - Blue Rodeo truly are my comfort food of music. This year we had the added bonus of a built-in babysitter - Sheldon supervised an evening of basketball, popcorn, and movies for the kids.

Saturday was made for chilling out.  The predicted rainy weather never showed up so we had coffee on the back deck in the sun and lazed the morning away.  Chris treated the kids to a visit to the bookstore and the bakery while Susan and I spent the afternoon shopping.  We had Peter's delicious dinner, celebrated Sheldon and Jillian's birthdays with ice cream cake and then spent the evening having a sing-a-long.

Mom brought a friend up Sunday morning for a family breakfast and later we had a fabulous evening out with friends.

I remember spending time with my cousins when I was a kid.  We were always excited for our next visit and we made the most of every second that we had together.  I'm glad that with Susan and Chris living so close, I can give the same gift to my children.

As always though, Monday morning arrived too soon.

It marked the end of a great weekend filled with good food, drink, songs, and lots of sunny weather.

Nothing to do now but count down the days until our visit with ALL the cousins in July...

Making memories.

It was an evening like we used to have when we were young.

A band-family jam night on the long weekend.

While the adults visited and enjoyed the music, all ages of kids were thrown out in the yard to play.  They broke into smaller groups, came up with strategies, battled one another, and generally figured out how to make it all work.

The younger boys tormented the girls with pirate swords and toy guns. The girls escaped out into the pond in a paddle boat - safe from the battle.  When they finally docked, the big boys abandoned their stakeout at the horseshoe pit and took the boat.  For what felt like forever, we watched the big boys taunt the girls who wanted the boat back and the big boys having nothing of it.  Those girls ran around the pond one way.  And then chased them back the other way.  On and on it went.  (Shocking, really, that we only ended up with one wet child!)

At dark, the sparklers came out.

I watched as Juliana and Jillian took on the babysitter role for the littlest boy in the bunch - I'm not sure who had more fun.

All the while, the open air sing-along continued.

We left a little later with full bellies, tired children and the music playing in our heads.

It was an evening of freedom, fresh air, and adventure that the kids will remember fondly.

A great start to a summer tradition?

I hope so.

*my only regret is that I didn't bring my camera so my iPhone pics will have to do.....

Our weekend in pictures.

Happy #14, kiddo!

Juliana's dance recital - after the show!

Sheldon racing in the 1500m - check out his cheering section (Juliana is wearing blue coat)!

Cheering dads!

Juliana's 200m race.

Spot the proud dad!

Great job you guys!

You can pack a lot into four days.

Friday at the office

dropping Juliana at her dance dress rehearsal

a weekend visit by Grandma and Grandpa

a planning meeting for Sheldon's grade 8 graduation

baking a cake

a Saturday morning (sort of) run with Peter

the matinee performance

dinner (made by my visiting mother-in-law)

Sheldon's birthday celebration and cake

Juliana's dance recital with Grandma and Grandpa, Grandma Kathy and Auntie Sarah

out for breakfast

read a book and snooze while it's cold and rainy outside

take Grandpa and the kids bowling

Sunday family dinner

watch the Survivor finale

Monday morning at the kid's school track meet

coffee with a friend

cat nap on the couch while Peter makes dinner

and, just now, a clean up after Juliana throws up.

One year already?

It's the little things.

One year ago, I decided to stop and smell the flowers.  I decided to try something new.  I decided to take something that I enjoy doing and share it, just a little.  At the time I had no idea how much fun I would have or how many people would join me in my journey.  The added bonus, of course, is that I'm creating a written history for our family.

At the heart of it I know who I am as a person - I'm a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and a neighbour.  I try to give the best of who I am to everyone around me.  Some days I'm a little more successful than others.  There are days though, when I beat myself up - my to do's aren't done, I didn't make that phone call, I should have exercised, and dinner is a boxed pizza.

But the beauty of my blog is that I'm taking time to see things in a new way.  A way that makes me feel a little less guilty because I am able to see what I've created in the world around me.  I've got a clearer view of what's really important.

I'm always looking for little things to photograph - the wide open sky, red rosy faces, cartwheels, sleepy heads - and things to write about.  Amid the chaos of each day are the little moments that fill those spaces between the hours, the minutes, and even the seconds.  Before now I was missing those moments.  I never even thought about looking for them.  I lived my days putting one foot in front of the other with my eye on the prize:  getting through the day.  Now my eyes are open wider, watching out for the small stuff.  The stuff that takes a good life and makes it great.  More complete.

And so, Friday morning, at the crack of dawn while I was buzzing around getting ready for work, my boy saw my coffee sitting, freshly brewed on the counter, and he added my cream and sugar.  He put the lid on and put it on the table beside my purse.  A year ago I would have grabbed my stuff, given a hasty 'thanks' and run out the door.  This time though, I recognized his kindness.  I recognized that he made a choice to take seconds out of his morning to do something for me, without being asked.  I recognized that I needed to stop and truly acknowledge how grateful that I was for him.  And then I did something that I don't usually do.  I recognized that I made that boy.  That Peter and I are good parents and we deserve a pat on the back.  We're doing okay.

One year after taking my blogging leap, I'm feeling grateful.  Grateful to have a creative outlet.  Grateful to have family and friends that lift me up with their words of support and praise for the stories that I share.  And grateful to have readers that I don't even know about (because every time I discover one of you I feel like a giddy kid who got a gold star from the teacher!)

It's the little things.  I highly recommend looking for them in your life.

Life lessons.

My mother gave me life.  She also gave me a love of lists.  It's hard to say which came first - the list loving might have began in utero for all I know.  But breathing and making lists is how I survive.  Appropriate then, that I honour my mother with a living, breathing, list.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM MY MOM:

Work hard.  No project is too big or too small to tackle.  Just roll up your sleeves and do it.

Don't be afraid to create.  Just as important - find the time to do it.  The sense of accomplishment and pride in your work will make you happier in the long run.

In the bad times: take the time to cry, take the time to heal, and then take the time to live your life fully.

Give. To your family, to your friends, and to the community.

Never underestimate what a good nap can do for you.

Enjoy a treat now and again.

Find what you're good at and share it with the children around you.  They are going to grow up and carry your knowledge with them through life.

It's never too late to try something new.

When the pie is finished it's okay to squirt a little whipped cream directly into your kid's mouth.

* * *

I remember first meeting my mother-in-law years ago when I stopped by to visit my friend, Peter.  I was struck by how warm and welcoming she was - genuinely interested to talk to me and to listen to what I had to say.  All these years later and she still makes me feel just as important as she did then.  And when you spend so much time with someone, the good stuff can't help but rub off.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM MY OTHER MOM:

Volunteer.  The feeling you get from giving back is worth much more than the time you spend.

The best way to stay young is a morning walk.

Listen.  Our parents hold all the stories.  If we don't listen now, we'll be missing part of our history later.

Linger at the table after dinner.  Some of the best stories are told then.

Homemade chocolate chip cookies never fail to impress.

* * *

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and to Dawn.

Thank you for everything.

xoxo

A belated birthday thought.

For my lovely father-in-law.

We celebrated a little last weekend.  And your birthday officially happened yesterday.  

But today, when I was looking through some old photos, I came across this.  

Your wee grandson staring into your soul.

So, although it's belated, I wanted to give you the gift of a beautiful memory.

xo