reflecting

Part of me dwells on the fact that I yelled at them. I get so angry when they fight, or don't listen. But I should focus on the stories we read by flashlight. The shadows we made, the games we played. But then I yelled again when he wouldn't brush his teeth, when he wanted to play in the water in the sink. I was exhausted, I wanted him to go to bed, and to go to bed quickly.

I just went in to check on him, I kissed his sleeping face in an attempt to offer him kindness and tenderness. Trying to erase all my mistakes (again) today.

sweater

I must take advantage of being able to dress them in sweaters like this while I can. Sorry my editing abilities are lacking a little. I forgot to take that Rye High course on editing photos of your own kids. I do get points for the fact that I took them with a real camera, edited them in Lightroom, and posted all within the same month. (Right?)

on the street

Image only

Friday night, spring

Waterplay bin turned pool. It was 15 degrees after all. Only in Canada.

And then, getting all cozied up and turning the patio heater on once the sun went down.

two!

Maeva turns 2! Five days after Anderson. They are born on eachother's due dates. I love having the great-grandparents and their smiles as a backdrop to Maeva and her cake. We kept this to a much smaller crowd, so they could really take it all in and enjoy her on her birthday.

it's my party

It's my party, I can sneak all the fruit that I want to!!

good morning, four!

My little boy on his birthday morning. Starting a tradition (since I did the same on his 3rd birthday), a muffin covered in blueberries. But this year we added a bowl of ice cream...yay! Look how happy he is. But then I found the email I sent to John that morning. I had a vague memory of this and went searching in my inbox.

"there were only a few more incidents after the fact that it wasn't a big cake. the blueberries all rolled off, then he tried to put them back angrily, smushing the whole thing. this was round two with PB holding the berries on instead of honey! Maeva ate the abused muffin out of a bowl with a spoon (the only way a two year old should eat a muffin, btw)."

birthday party

Catching up a little. The SLR photos always take a little while to get to. But I thought, I might as well post. I really want to avoid this blog becoming only camera phone posts, as easy and tempting that can be sometimes.

Here are more captures from the kids' birthday party (for some reason, I had only edited half of them back in January). We didn't plan any big themes or games. Just put a bunch of kids together and let the chaos begin. Auntie Sam and Uncle Ben brought a few balloons, which were a big hit. A bunch of kids running around and being crazy, not eating a bite of lunch, then stopping for a few minutes to eat some cake. That's what it's all about.

I remember being so exhausted after this party. But now I look back and don't really remember that part of it as much as the fun they had. Birthday parties and childbirth, you're meant to forget the hard parts!

warm today part 2

So Sunday morning started off with snow on the deck and ended with stocking feet on the deck. We were able to sit outside for hours. Eating outside reminded us of those spring/summer/fall days where the confines of the house extend to the deck and yard. When most of our "living" can be done under the sky and in full fresh air. I love the cycle of 4 seasons. If we had constant warmth, we wouldn't have even dared going outside on a day that was 10 degrees. But with 4 seasons, we take it in with full enthusiasm.

weekend

having breakfast wearing a backpack and superhero turtleneck. eating (lots of) snow. not cleaning up this mess - nap instead.