It's a Pleasant Thing...

Ah, Spring's coming! It really is. Right now it's snowing like crazy, but it's only a matter of time. Those flowers are coming out of the ground, and the bees are buzzing. Slowly but surely the grass is turning from brown to green. This morning we woke up and the bathroom floor was barely cold.
We are mentally preparing ourselves to do much of our living outside again. Planning gardens, and outdoor chores, as we load another log into the fire. And simultaneously amazed that it is nearly April already. Amazed that our little girl is growing so fast - she is already in 12month clothes, and stretching further by the day, in every way.

Kids change so fast, so how is it that they seem so timeless? So incredibly innocent and mercurial and busy, and then able to remind us that it is always, always worthwhile to just stop and enjoy the moment?

(I just love the word "mercurial")

Big thoughts...

Questing fingers...

Fascinating toes...

"It's a pleasant thing to be young, and have ten toes." -Robert Louis Stevenson

Our Holly is a girl who loves her toes. Quite often, if she's crying, stripping her of pants and socks, and allowing her to chew on her toes will quiet her down and bring back that beautiful smile. Ah, that's better...
Simply irresistible!

A Perfect Way to Spend a Day

Over Spring Break, we headed out to a cabin some friends were renting, and spent the day with excellent company, and a beautiful beach. It was still a little chilly (haven't actually visited this beach yet - ever - when we haven't needed Winter clothing, but hey, a beach is a beach.)

Yes, that's a little yellow boot. Floating away.

And rescued.

Lovely! And also, Happy Birthday to my Love. You are amazing.

Farch-ing

"Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children."

Kahlil Gibran

Ah, it's been a while since I had a quote to share, but sometimes inspiration comes at just the right time - just when everything is starting to feel... oh, a little monotonous. (Not uncommon for this time of year, when we start to feel that yearning for blue skies and green grass -a condition my friend Jo calls "Farch.")

Hmmm.... the perfect time to go for a Puddle Walk.

Or Build an Awesome Fort.

Or maybe just nap.

Making Fairies and Other Things

Hello! Here we are again, and I can't think of anything interesting to say. We've had a busy week, with trips to Halifax, play dates, craft club, breastfeeding group, story time at the library, family matters, and trips to the park. Whew! It's been go, go, go all week long. No wonder I just want to curl up in bed and lie down for a week.

Griffin and I were there when Holly laughed a real proper laugh for the first time. I got to tell him all about how she just made a fairy, and then about how he made a fairy too, when he was a baby (perhaps only major fans of Peter Pan will understand that reference - if you haven't read the book, I can only recommend it with my whole heart.)

And although Winter is definitely not over yet, we have been overjoyed to see the arrival of the first little signs of spring. The air is definitely smelling sweeter these days. (There is exactly one snowdrop currently blossoming in our yard.) It has left me dreaming, dreaming, dreaming of the beach. We were there last week, but only managed about five minutes before dashing madly back to the car to get out of the biting cold wind. Still, I say, with all the optimism of one in the depths of winter, 'not long now!'

Hearts and Hunting

Hello! Well, we've certainly been busy around here! Doing what? you ask? Good question, I say! And follow up with a big shrug. Dunno. A million little things. Griffin is 2-1/2. He's constantly busy, for a good, solid 13 hours a day.

We had Valentine's day (I'm a little behind, you might say!) Jai had to work late, so Griffin and I had dinner on our own. We bought one stem of flowers at the flower store in town, then made heart biscuits to go with our tomato soup, and had a candle-lit dinner. When Jai came home, he had a big bouquet of flowers, the exact same shade of purple as the ones Griffin had picked out. They looked lovely together!

But by far, the biggest hit of the day was the helium balloon we also picked up at the flower store. Two solid days of fun.

I have a few little projects on the go. I'm trying to finish my new photography web-site. Griffin got another new pair of pants (trains this time) and I'm knitting a little vest for Holly. We burnt some cookies this morning.

We had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa on Saturday, and then went to a birthday party on Saturday night. It was lovely to get out, although Griffin didn't like how the other kids were screaming. Can't say I blame him.

Sunday we had an epic Frenchy's trip, where we got a brand new Play-doh Fun Factory, four new Melissa and Doug wooden puzzles, and a Matchbox fold-up Fire Station, all for $5. That's my idea of fun.

Griffin was playing with his fire station this morning, and the play-by-play went something like this:

"They're driving around in the yard, Mommy!"

"Oh?"

"They're driving around and around. They're hunting!"

"They're hunting?"

"They're hunting and hunting. They're hunting for books!"

"Oh, for books?"

"For books! They're hunting around and around for books to go back to the library."

Etc, etc. If you're thinking my half of the conversation was somewhat lacking, you are no doubt right. These conversations go on all day long, generally when we are both busy doing our own things. During this particular conversation, I was also trying to eat breakfast, read the newspaper, and entertain Holly all at the same time. Luckily, Griffin can keep up a conversation well enough for the two of us. Still, this one made me smile.

My kids, I tell you, they are constantly breaking my heart, and rebuilding it bigger.