Let the Reno begin

 

Coming home on a Wednesday, after my husband was home alone for the day, we walked into what was our bathroom...

Etian looked at me and said "Oh no mommy, the HULK smashed our potty! "  Yep as it is right now, our house is full of holes, dust and of course BIG dreams. We are finally moving forward and doing a major renovation, helping our little cabin grow up into a family home.

This means we are allowed to draw on ANYTHING, baseboards included ;)

It will be a long road full of mess, so I am very thankful for my one corner filled with art supplies that is still relatively dust free. A place I can escape to.

Oh and incase you were wondering, the kids like to give Daddy superhero masks to help him be strong!

peace

Look what I found coming downstairs. It has been -35 C today, so cuddling on the couch watching Iron man seemed the perfect thing to do :)

Summer time

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I can honestly say this has been one of our best summers yet! I'm not sure if it is the kids' ages or all the gatherings with friends and family, but I feel so at home this summer. 

We started off with a huge celebration for our little man - all in orange including orange hair (his favourite color). Then it was off camping with friends and family, but more importantly swimming! We swam day and night, in the sun and under the stars. It felt like a dream :) 

From the rustic country we quickly jumped into urban life for the Whyte Ave Art walk in Edmonton. A whole weekend filled with thousands of art lovers, and to my huge surprise - lots of sales. We left there so grateful and feeling overwhelmed with God's blessings. 

Sprinkle in country weddings surrounded by sun drenched yellow canola fields, lazy afternoons in a hammock and saskatoon picking the size of grapes, no wonder this is becoming one of my favourite seasons. I do hope your summer is as beautiful :) 

For PPF I'm submitting these two beach gals, made our of reclaimed wood, oil paint, leather and metal bits.

Dockside

It's funny how when you add the word "picnic" to a humble peanut butter and jelly lunch, the whole afternoon can turn magical!

 

Princess shoes optional

These days ::

             These two fight like crazy followed by being best of friends

we are reading - for me :: Cure for the common life by Max Lucado 
  
               - for them :: Flat Stanley - so cute

we are tasting - what else other than Chocolate bunnies the size of our heads

                we are hearing - geese returning home!

             we are finding - eggs in the funniest places

       
         we are feeling - hope and energy return after winter

               we are enjoying - friends and family and 
                        spring in the air!

Puddle jumping

When the sun finally shines there is only one thing to do - take our duckies for a walk of course!

Spring dresses

If you were to stop by unexpectantly, don't be surprised to see us in our summer dresses.

There comes a time in winter where enough is enough.No more boots, no more drabby colors, sweaters and scarves. Nope, just flowery flowing dresses in soft pinks and yellows will do. 

So we put them on early in the morning, wear them while doing laundry, making crafts and while throwing impromptu French picnics on the floor.

Sure it is freezing outside, but inside it feels like spring 

How are you coping with the winter blahs?

Tooth fairy mouse

First there was a wiggle, then after dad inspected it, there was a gap. 

But no one expected the answers to "what do we do with the tooth" to be so different!

Canadian dad said put it in an envelope for the tooth fairy. Cartoon watching girl said to put it under the pillow. And South-African mom said no way- put it in your slipper for the tooth mouse. You know he uses your teeth to build his ivory palace... weird I know, but that is what happened to my teeth after all...

So we covered all our bases. The tooth went into an envelope, into a slipper and under her pillow.

And wouldn't you know it, it worked - a tooth fairy mouse (I imagine her looking like Angelina Ballerina with wings) brought a note and 5 shiney loonies. - Lucky girl




I would love to hear your family traditions in regards to loosing teeth :)

Winter-Time

Robert Louis Stevenson (from A Child’s Garden of Verses, 1885)

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed, A frosty, fiery sleepy-head; Blinks but an hour or two; and then, A blood-red orange, sets again. Before the stars have left the skies, At morning in the dark I rise; And shivering in my nakedness, By the cold candle, bathe and dress. Close by the jolly fire I sit To warm my frozen bones a bit; Or with a reindeer-sled, explore The colder countries round the door. When to go out, my nurse doth wrap Me in my comforter and cap; The cold wind burns my face, and blows Its frosty pepper up my nose. Black are my steps on silver sod; Thick blows my frosty breath abroad; And tree and house, and hill and lake, Are frosted like a wedding-cake. We finally had snowman weather! Warm enough to stay outside and play most of the day. Unfortunately I ate the last carrot for lunch, which she was not very happy about - sorry Semay ;)

These days ::

 We are seeing - ice fishing tents pop up everywhere, some people simply bringing a bucket to sit on and enjoy the sunshine and a fresh catch.

We are tasting - roasted lemons and this amazingly simple soup

We are hearing - lots of talk about a wiggly tooth on a certain 6 year old

We are learning - about the arctic {It's always better to learn about places colder and darker than one's own home in the deep of winter}and finding this narwhal animal so cool!

We are watching - Downton Abbey...completely hooked

We are getting used to - a 2 year old fully taking on his role of being in his terrible twos !! Throwing rice everywhere for fun, stomping his feet,punching his sister and wanting to get in the car ALL by himself... thankfully we get these sweet and funny faces in between.

These days

We are making :: room in our small house, switching everything around, sleeping in completely different rooms. It is like moving...without moving ;)

we are reading :: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - this happens to be my first English book I ever heard. I remember sitting in English class, back in South Africa, and Mrs Clayton reading it out loud. Images of chocolate rivers and cotton candy floating through my mind -

We are hearing :: Imprompto songs by Etian - 'Jinges bells' being a favourite

We are tasting :: nothing - three weeks of taking turns being sick - not fun



we are crafting :: words out of pipe cleaners and wool for a very homespun Christmas feel

We are seeing :: Christmas stuff everywhere, spending hours in isles pressing buttons on stuffed animals. Oh I love this time of year!

I hope you are enjoying this Christmas season too. It is all in the little things isn't it?

our 'staycation'

Goodbye Summer 2012