Date Weekend.

Last year was the first time in a long time that Peter and I took a night away to celebrate our anniversary.  We had so much fun that we decided to do it again this year.

We picked a new little town and headed north for a night.  The weather was chilly but beautifully sunny and we spent two days poking around and eating.

Seriously.

We started with a late breakfast in our favourite coffeeshop in town.  Then when we arrived at our hotel a few hours later we started looking for a lunch spot.  After lunch we decided we needed coffee.  Then we needed a sweet treat to go with it.  And then when the restaurant that was recommended for dinner turned out to be closed, we ordered take out chinese food and took it back to our hotel.

We laughed, we ate, we slept, we ate, we drank coffee, we ate, and we took selfies.  Lots of them.  Just for fun.

Oh, and we silly Facetimed with Juliana.  There is never really a vacation from Juliana.  :)

We did manage to find the neatest music shop with all these nooks and crannies filled with vinyl, old radios, and all kinds of old instruments.

Peter even found the drum set he had as a kid.

Another great weekend together?  I think this has now become a yearly must.  Right, Peter?

Happy belated anniversary.

xo

Looking Back: An 80's Hallowe'en.

Hallowe'en was a little quieter at our place this year - Sheldon was off at a friend's helping with a 'haunted house extravaganza' so the pumpkin carving was left to Juliana and her friend.  (It's hard to see it in this picture, but Juliana's tongue is stuck out while she focuses…it's a family thing!)

This was also the first year that she and her friends trick or treated without parents!  It was a cold, drizzly night but they still managed to blaze quite a path around the neighbourhood.

As always, Juliana's costume choice changed numerous times before the 31st, but, in the end, she pulled off 80's rocker glam:

Even Maggie (begrudgingly!) got in on the dress-up action:

We capped off the evening with a visit from my Mom, Aunt Carol and Uncle Bill and nice warm cup of tea before bed.  Oh, and a belly full of candy.  Of course.

Balance.

Finding balance is such give and take.

Finding balance as a mother is near impossible.  It's a constant struggle to make sure that everyone is taken care of.  That everyone is where they need to be, when they need to be there, with whatever they will need while they are there.  It is helping them be safe and happy while out in the world and then being their soft place to land when they are home.  It is smoothing their feathers, celebrating their accomplishments, drying their tears, and helping them find the right road to get where they want to go.

Which leaves very little time for me.

In the past, I've spent my time blogging and taking photos - things that make me happy out in the world.  Lately I've rediscovered my love of yoga.  But, right now, as a mother, I am finding it hard to make the time for both.  To find that balance.  Right now, I need yoga to ground me, to clear my head, to keep me centred, to keep me balanced.  To breathe.

Give and take.

I've taken more time to practice my yoga.  I'm finding life easier when I can bring some of that practice with me as I go about my day off my mat. But the trade off is that I haven't had the time to write as much as I would like and I haven't had my camera out as often as I would like.

This morning, while Peter is working out of town and both of my kids are still sleeping, I think I'll reflect a little on what has been happening since I last sat down here.  It's the last day of 2013 so maybe looking back on the last couple of months will help me remember what finding the balance actually looks like.

Taking a breather.

Sunday afternoon with my girl:

On the way out to the car Juliana said: "Mama, do you think that when I grow up I'm going to be the kind of girl that likes to hang out in coffeeshops every weekend?"

Given her mother and, lately, her father, I'd say the answer is likely a big fat yes.

There are worse ways to spend your time…..