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

Giddy For Spring

"Mommy, come see!"

They know how to get me up out of my chair. Admittedly, I can get lost in my reading or conversation with a friend and ignore my children's attempts to get my attention when I'm needing a break. However, they've got it figured out that pointing out a new bird or fresh evidence of spring makes me giddy and so they use that ploy. Sometimes it's real and sometimes it's devised, but I'll give them points just for trying. ;)  My children also know it doesn't take much to convince me that we should all pile into the truck, loaded with bikes and scooters and head to the woods or park. Schoolwork completed first, of course :)

 

Since spring is the long-awaited sigh of relief after a very cold, seemingly eternal winter, every sign of it is like one more blossom in our basket of spring hopefulness. Every still-cool day and every rainy one causes us to long even more for the predictably warm and balmy weeks ahead. Nevertheless, we've taken our chances and ventured to our favourite spots to gather more hope. 

When the snow was teasing us with its melting and then returned once more.

Mama watches with joy as her swing-set is being used once again.

Tufted titmouse at my mom's. LOVE seeing new birds (to us) when it seems we've exhausted all our learning about the regular visitors there.

Sliding into the creek at "Auntie" Sandee's and their new puppy trying to rescue him.

 Favourite pastime, if you hadn't noticed :)

What we tend to ignore all summer and fall is like a gem in the spring when you're anxiously looking for signs that winter is over.

Happy to wave at the caterpillar but doesn't want to touch. We'll train her soon enough :)

God's handiwork draws me to worship at every turn.

This killdeer fakes a broken wing to lure us away from his wife who stands over their nest of eggs.

First two eggs, the next day three, and a couple days later, we counted four!

We try not to bother them (too much).

 Night Heron. A couple of trees full of fourteen of them! A wow factor indeed, for all of us.

 My first brown creeper. LOVE that Emily pointed him out. She catches things quicker than anyone.

 LOVE the kind birdwatchers who came to find us just to show us this Eastern Screech Owl. Another first!

Cute little menace :)

 

I cannot express my giddiness over the exploratory adventures we will encounter in the coming days.

   Happy Spring! XO 

Bring It On

Oh, Summer, how long we've waited for you!

 

Gratitude:

1612. laughter at weddings--my sister and her husband crack each other up

1613. and these two... seriously?

1614. picnics in the woods

1615. hammocking with friends

1616. sharing our favourite spots with some favourite people

1617, for the best two sisters in the world

1618. swinging from willow branches

 

1619. same aged cousins always want to have the same kind of fun

1620. finding a gazillion tadpoles in Mama and Papa's pond

1621. actually getting to take them home to our own :)

1622. how Molly helped the boys scoop them all out 

1623. reuniting with my dear, childhood friend and learning we both have Mollys :)

1624. how precious her little Molly is and how she loves my Emily so much

1625. how hot, sweat-dripping days are better with cousins

1626. the way Caleb retrieved his sister's pen from under the bridge

1627. witnessing the union of two great people under a perfect, blue sky, backdropped against the escarpment

 

Happy first day of Summer!

Bring it on!