Smidgies

Smidgies are my favourite. Big or little, I love kiddos and my life is full of them. Am I always the patient and ever-lovable momma? Nope. Man, has God got me learning life-altering lessons with small people. But, I do adore them. I've been called a "baby-licker". I think that's a compliment? :)

Here are a few of my smile-inducing photos that didn't quite make it on the blog yet. I don't know how I missed them because they're so very precious.

Gratitude: 

1977. standing back and watching them care for her

1978. these two and their shenanigans

1979. celebrating Ameen's first birthday!

1980. Parker is not far behind!

1981. my two Shifra girls

1982. swimming with the MacLarens

1983. when they just know what to do when she cries

1984. for how many times I actually get to type that big kids help little kids regularly

1985. jumps of all sorts

1986. that he was a baby just yesterday and is now leaping into a pool with no life-jacket--hardest to imagine with this sweet boy

1987. how she came along after those twin boys and made our world an even better place

1988. how Leanne and I birthed all these babies that look like a crowd of people! Oh yeah, they are!

1989. our built-in life-guard :)

1990. it bears repeating--biggers helping littles

1991. end of the walk exhaustion and the upcoming nap

Baking For Little Bits

Mixing cookie dough with these two "little bits" means a whole lot of mess, a whole lot of taste-testing, but memory-making that lasts :)

the calm, after fighting over who gets which cookie cutters

making silly faces for the camera

meticulous cutting

those chubby hands :)

yeah, that taste-testing...

caught! might as well show off!

turning cookies that flopped into mini muffins? yep, it happens.

 "Offie, you my best friend." -Ashanti 

Backyard Discovery

Molly came breathless, running into the mudroom, door slamming behind her "Mommy! There's a fox in the backyard!" In about four seconds, I'd grabbed my camera and ran barefoot in my pyjamas onto the deck. It was wet and cold and I shoved the camera at Meghan, who had followed her siblings and me. 

"Here! Try and get a photo if I miss him!" I scooted back inside for some boots and a coat. Who knew if I'd be tracking the little guy far from the yard. Oliver, Molly and cousin Sadie were crouched and pointing behind our thirty-foot spruce.

"He's just lying there all curled up!" 

"Aw, Mommy, he's so cute."

"Should we go up to him?" 

I turned my lens to zoom in and took a few steps toward the evergreen. The fox didn't move. In fact, he didn't seem to mind me coming closer and squatting near him at all. That concerned me a little but I really wanted a good photo :) I told the kids to stay back. The fox yawned and scratched himself. He was completely disinterested in us. I shot several more photos. It was as though he was posing, turning his head this way and that. Then he curled up a little tighter. 

The kids chattered behind me and I stood and told them to run and get Sadie's mom, who was working down at the nursery. As we all dispersed, I looked back and the fox was gone. "Nevermind," I called, "he left." I carefully and quickly strode in the only direction he could've gone and I spotted him sitting beside the horse paddock by the fence. He strolled along the pasture, perfect gait, no evident injuries. He didn't seem sick. He just seemed calm and quite used to city-life. Urban-sprawl having much to do with that, no doubt. Our woods across the road had been dwindling for years. 

I was taken with this sweet fox's beauty and am always amazed and grateful when God points out less common parts of His creation to us. He trotted off toward a small shed at our nursery and I headed back to the house. The kids mentioned later that they saw him again. Perhaps he'll hang around for a while. I'm glad my kiddos find just as much joy in wild creatures as I do. But, discovering them in your backyard while playing? Even more exciting!

Promise-Breaker

I'm a promise-breaker. I told the Lord last week that was it, I was going to quit being impatient, that I was going to make a real effort to practice self-control over that sugar addiction and rise early regularly to read my Bible. I failed in each of those areas, almost immediately. Thankfully, God is not a promise-breaker. He said that His Holy Spirit would complete the work that He started in us. He said we wouldn't have to do it on our own. In fact, going it alone often results in the exact opposite of what we're trying to accomplish. God desires that we depend on Him and recognize our weakness and need for Him. What a contrast to what the world tells us--that we are only successful when we are fully independent and strong. God, the Promise-Keeper, made a covenant with us specifically so we would rely on him and then we would know His great love and care for us. True success would derive from that powerful relationship.

 

 

When it comes to promises, I'm so thankful I don't have to be dependent on my own efforts. I would always get only so far before I would slide back into my previous habits. I see progress though. Slowly, but surely, He's moving me toward growth and change... because He's not finished with me yet!

 

(photos taken a few nights ago of a full-arched, double rainbow that blew us away for about half an hour)

Practice Makes Progress

It's our new philosophy, that practice makes progress. Perfection is impossible to strive for and progress is truly what we desire in each stage of learning, no matter what the skill. And so, my boys took to the field for some soccer skills and drills. 

My husband was a soccer star in highschool and also as he continued in a competitive church league for many years. I used to tell him I could barely see his legs as he ran; he was so fast!  

Our son is getting there... progress is sweet.

He loves to learn and that is his greatest asset.

 a little getaway

giggling when he gets a good kick in there :)

sideliners have fun together

Once in awhile, there's a sideline brawl :)

And this kid... she coaches little tykes... all by herself.

Progress happening everywhere.

Everybody Does Their Own Thing

It's a small window of time till those birds can no longer be spotted as easily and so we lay down the books and take advantage of the weather and the barely budding trees. As long as we bring along scooters, a bike, and snacks, everyone is happy. Everybody does their own thing and it makes for an enjoyable adventure!

 

Point Pelee is the birds' first landing place after a long and tiresome flight and so, my friends, Annie, Cathy and I cottaged there, hoping to catch them before they dispersed north. Two days of staring through binoculars brought me a little closer to the Creator as I stood many times, marveling over the intricate details of colours, lines and feathers. Breathing in the fresh air, walking for eighteen hours between the two days left us tired, peaceful and hopeful for what we'd soon be capturing in our binoculars at home.

This one likes to have her photo taken :)

Somehow, every little thing becomes a gun.

We received a sweet welcome from this Common Yellowthroat the other day.

Identifying the subtle differences between each Thrush keeps things interesting.

Aw, how cute is this Bay-breasted Warbler?

This Mourning Warbler flitted down beside me while the "professional birdwatchers" were looking for him at Pt. Pelee.

Sweet Redstart

Funny, how my friends were searching for this Wood Thrush and when we got home, we realized I had a photo of him on my camera :)

Tiny Yellow Warblers at Pt. Pelee were as plentiful as Robins are here.

Trying to view a flycatcher. We call this the "neck-breaker".

Friendly Chestnut-sided Warbler. He followed us around.

The little Loft Cottage we stayed in at Pt. Pelee. It overlooked Lake Erie.

I had never seen a Scarlet Tanager before!

This Northern Goshawk landed on my neighbour's roof the other day.

Picking flowers makes life lovely.

Loved hanging with this knowledgeable lady.

Funny Green Heron, oh, how you make me laugh!

Beautiful Bird-Nerd (Annie)

Married outdoors-ys :)

Mama-walks

I call this Cedar Wax-Wing, the Captain of the Guard.

My little birder. Oliver puts a sticker in his bird book on every bird he's spotted. He's my most interested kiddo.

Three of these Elegant Indigo Buntings in two days? My surprise from God.

Togetherness is the most important ingredient in all this nature-hiking we've been doing lately. I'm so thankful we can each enjoy our own thing while remaining within close proximity to each other and to the living, breathing creation. If you're not a nature-seeker, I encourage you to get a magnifying glass and binoculars and get out there! You'd be surprised what you're missing in your area!