Thankful on Thursday - Its September 1st!

September comes in with a whirl of heat. One most blast of summer. Thankful. I can't believe its September and wonder where the summer has gone. But with September comes the routine of school work, work on the bathroom, and soon the kitchen with skylight and dishwasher.

Today being Thursday I have been thinking all day of my post and things I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for things to come. Routine, bright colored leaves, and a trip to Great Wolf Lodge with the family. But I always think its cheating to look forward to whats not here yet. I want to be thankful for the hear and now. Things that happened yesterday and today. I've gotten on the floor to take some pics, stood on beds, and racked my brain to come up with my list. Its not that I'm not thankful, its just hard to remember for what on days like this.

I must admit I finish this hours later then I started. After dinner, kitchen is clean, a good brisk walk and 1/2 the kids are cleaned and tucked in for the night. It feels good to get things done, move my body, and watch the kids play and interact with each other.

So now my list comes easy, and each one, as my brain turns the days memories over, brings a smile to my face.

Thankful for

1. that desire to walk, now has her cruising furniture, and risking the tippy dolly stroller. And the fact the she had to put the baby in it!

2. a great find. Been thinking and looking for the girls bedroom, saw it and knew it was what I had been searching for. $2.99. OOOOOOh yay babe'!

3. a project to finish for the bathroom being refinished over the weekend. A touch of red to bring a pop! Can't wait to see it come together.

4. this thing we still have. I cherish. Over and over again.

i luv the way she signs milk,  looks at me, plays with my necklace, and always finds the one mole on my right arm..

5. quiet moments through a day like this (and new library books that allow the quiet times...)

6. a evening walk. The air fresh, but warm, a breeze blowing, kids laughing and biking and stopping before we cross the road....

I am thankful.

Blessings

Oh, I have been neglectful this week. *sigh* A reason. What can I give you for a reason? I have no reason, and 100 reasons. Any worth listing, I don't think so. Its been a great week of enjoying, friends, little luvs of mine, naps, family, walks, routine, and weather. I have things on the mind...but mulling over how to share, how to write, that kind of thing. I will keep thinking, and today share the blessings I am so so thankful for.

First I will start with the sad news that just over a week ago my Uncle Andy passed away.

It was hard. Uncle Andy went in for a surgery, and was suppose to be home in just a few days. Uncle Andy was such a happy man! I will always remember that. He greeted everyone with a smile, never forgot my name (one tends to in large families...) a twinkle literally in his eye. He had curly dark hair that had greyed over time. He was fit and healthy, making time for his family, and spending time with those he loved. He was always encouraging, and happy to pass on words of wisdom, and help someone. No one thought this would happen. The family, my aunt and cousins are crushed and broken. He is the first of my dads brothers to pass away. This was a first for my dad. It was hard to see him hurting, but I was proud if him. My dad is a man of few words and doesn't share his feelings well. But he did through this. He shared his feelings, and made his needs known. He is grieving, and doing it well. My heart griefs for everyone. We gathered together, some who knew him well, some who didn't know him as well, hugged, talked, shared memories, cried and held each other. We saw  family we hadn't seen in awhile, and greeted each other like old friends catching up, with promises of more visit's and time together.
But the blessings are there. Supporting, seeing more distant family, sharing, and growing. It is there.

And the promise of more family time is there. Blessings

bee beard demonstration!  she did great, and the family spent the day together

what a brave girl I have

slung up with momma

Blessings. Time with cousins.

Blessings. Trying so hard to walk.....

Blessings. Wrapping and decorating a gift for a friend. 

Blessings. A day a the beach with 11 kids, and 2 friends. 

she was a streaker....all afternoon!

luv the sun glittering off the water

luv the sun shining through the clouds

 The week has been full. My heart is full and thankful.

And now the night has fallen, the stars twinkle as Uncles Andy's eyes always did, it is time for me to crawl into bed and hold my baby close to me. Blessings!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by Soulemama

 

 

Do I Look Like Paka?

He put his glasses and hat on this morning.

"do i look like paka?' he asked grace.

Thankful on Thursday

So much to be thankful for. Life is a blessing. In our family each person is a blessing, a wonderful addition that we celebrate.

We've tried hard to get into routine this week. Although my small tired son refused to nap, he is quiet in his room for an hour allowing momma some quiet time to purge a closet, blog a post, do the dishes, or catch a cat nap if I need. The baby has fallen into a better sleeping pattern as well, so we keep working towards it. Small steps.

The weather is changing. It is cooler in the evenings and morning. Sometimes causing me to slip on a pair of socks, or grab a sweater. I'm sorry to see summer coming to a close. The long days are getting shorter, and talk of kids going back to school is everywhere. Swimming season is coming to a close, as the pool is cooler, and they are only in it for short bursts. My thoughts have turned to changing leaves and orange pumpkins. Big red apples hanging off the tree...and apple sauce simmering in the crock pot. Kids playing in the straw at the pumpkin patch dressed in warm fall sweaters, with bits of straw stuck in their hair.

But thankful for remnants of summer to enjoy today.

1. Picnic and a splash as the park with my local Le Leche League group

 

happy for momma's talking and connecting(grace is the little momma:)

baby hands, and sweet homemade hats!

 

grace luvs her

2. a quiet morning cuddle with my little man

just the 2 of u

3. and a cavity free visit for these 2. They also got a lesson on brushing their teeth and some free dental stuff. Perfect!

4. and making plans, dreaming and talking together for a kitchen make over...to be done for Christmas!!

 My list for the week. Its been good, and finding the happy in the small things is a goal I'm reaching for always. Tiny hands holding a muffin, Klara saying 'Hi', and...all the little things that make me smile.

Whats your thankful list? It would make me smile to see it!

Monday Memories - August 15 2011

My memories. August in Ontario.

watch for the theme

took her awhile, but she totally gets it!

She is frequently climbing the stools and reaching into drawers and shelves not meant for her. She climbs so proud, and gets into the drawer with the hair things in the bathroom, and plays with my little radio in the kitchen. She is very careful getting down, and neve falls.

and she is sporting itty bitty pig tails...

and she is very proud to be up on the stool!

These memories are not mine, but my kids. I missed out on the beach trip today, for babysitting, but am so glad to have these!!

cousins!!

My night draws to a close. Its been busy tidying and cleaning for a friends visit tomorrow, and Goran has returned to afternoons, so the routine has gone out the window.....

Hope your weekend was wonderful!

{this moment}

As inspired by Soule Mama:
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.