Great Day.........To Be Alive...

Oh where to start? Its been a great day! The kids and are so insinc  with each other. The weather was a beautiful +15C today, and we got to do things we luv! Ballet, a walk in the windy sunshine, hanging laundry, library, and pizza. Really, can it get any better for me or them?

i luv to wear her close to my heart, little feet dangling by my side

at the same time i luv it when she takes off after them...

i luv how they lead her to play, keep her safe, and luv her

the wind blew it across the yard!! more clothes pins the 2nd time around!!

Catch up on  March Photo a Day  (ohps)

5. A smile

6. 5 p.m. (or 5:01)

7. Something you wore

pj's - every night, yes, pink leopard, fleecy and warm

Check in - Weigh in

I was slightly disappointed to see the weight the same as last week, but I was able to shrug it off at the same time. Its become about more then the scale. It has to do with how I feel, and what I'm doing about it. It has been less about the food, and more about being active. Not just exercising, but moving. I like a good walk with the kids, or being in the yard hanging laundry, and dancing to my favorite song on the radio. I've also picked up and enjoyed running. Running with someone is FUN too!! Honest. It feels so good, the cold air hitting the lungs, the gasping for breath, and muscles screaming out to me. I ran with Shana this week, and Goran. And luved it!!

I have also entered a race. (with free food and beer at the end!) Its 5km, and I have done 5 km (with Shana) so I know I can, and I understand, from friends who have a done a 5 km race, that on race day, your adrenalin is pumping, and 5 km flies past! Race day is Saturday, and I am pumped!!

I will check in next Monday again, and update about the race.

Photo a day for the rest of the week!!

Bedside

March photo a day Day 4 - Bedside

Need I say more? They, my wee ones, are part of me. And although she doesn't sleep with me anymore, she still prefers this during the day. Right beside my bed. Sometimes I lay down in my bed, read a book, dose a bit, just to be close to where she is. Watch her chest rise and fall, hear her soft breathing, and hear her wake up, and be the first thing she see's when looks around, and says, "Mama?"

My Neighborhood

March photo a day Day 3 My neighborhood

Before I post my picture, I was thinking about 'my neighborhood' and wanted to include my thoughts here. We moved a year and half ago. I luved my neighborhood. I luved the quiet street, my neighbors, and the kids my kids played with. We had a little block , just a quick 10 minute walk, right outside the front door. It was amazing to just get the kids out quick, when things were harry, or my brain was fuzzy, or the dog needed a walk...you get the idea. I had a very good friend who's house I could see from my front door. I knew almost everyone, and would stop to talk to them. We looked at houses on the street as they came up, and we talked to someone who had planned to move about buying their house. We had worked out a verbal agreement, and I dreamed of raising my kids on that street....

And that fell through. It was spring weather, snow on the ground, but it was warm and there were puddles. The air was still nippy. (I think it was 2 years ago this time of year!)  I had bundled up the daycare kids and walked Angelina to school. We were walking home and she pulled up beside me in her van. She told me she was very sorry, but because of financial things on their end, they couldn't move. I was crushed. It was the biggest house on the street, and I had luved it. It had a nice yard, and we could have raised our growing family there. No other house on the street was big enough. I knew that. And we were quickly out-growing our small semi with wee Klara on the way.

I cried.

Goran and I began talking of house hunting (I really hate house hunting) and booked some appointments with the Realtor. We looked for awhile before we found one big enough, with a quiet neighborhood, and the bonus of a huge huge yard. It needed more work then I liked, but Goran promised we would work hard and make it a house we luved.

It didn't feel like home. Not for along time. You know when your out grocery shopping, and its late, and all you want to do is go home? I use to picture the old house. Driving around the corner, pulling into my street, and into the driveway beside my little semi. We worked hard to make that semi beautiful. It was. I brought 2 children into the world there.

But this home, this neighborhood is starting to feel like home. The neighbors were a little hard to warm up too, but they are. Slowly. They smile and wave, and stop to chat a minute as we walk by. I feel comforted to see the lights across the street when I know they are home. I feel safe somehow. And the house is becoming one I luv. We have and are working hard. Its paying off.

I think it might have to do with the seasons, and having been here for a spring already, I know what to expect, and I have all these great memories of last spring to associate with. The kids riding bikes around the block, (Grace learning to ride a 2 wheeler) the beautiful bush in the backyard, and my clothes line going up!

So now, when its late, and I'm out grocery shopping, I picture pulling into this street. My new neighborhood, which is feeling more and more like home.

i snapped this with my iphone while I was out for 2nights walk!!

Fruit

Day 2 marchphotoaday - Fruit

March Photo a Day

Here we go! March photo-a-day, inspired by,  made by and linked with Fat Mum Slim. Follow the link and find the rules and join the fun! I'm so excited for this!!

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March 1st. Prompt 'up'

Happy Leap Day!!

I home school for lots of reasons! I enjoy ALL the perks of it. No lunches to pack, teacher meet and greets, no pizza days lunch money to dig in the bottom of me purse for, and cold late afternoons pick ups to rush out the door for, freezing, standing with a bunch of other parents trying to make small talk with. Nope, not me!! These are the perks.

Except when I want to. There is this one little girl, that me and me wee ones luv. We are happy to rush out the door, drive an hour, and rush around the corner, through the cat walk, and across the school yard for. Someone my kids wait eagerly at the door to see. Someone they greet with smiles and hugs.

rushing

freezing

O the joy! It makes me smile, and so happy to choose to stand out there with frozen fingers and wet socks. The joy and the smiles make it so so so worth it!

And they play. I listened to made-up of games of Harry Potter, Hermonie, and Jack and Annie mixed together.

And my weeist one and I sit close by, snacking on those chips, and she is going to get the very last one!

big bag, small girl, i luv u so!

And my best friend comes home, and we talk, and throw our heads back and laugh. The topic gets serious, and our voices becoming urgent and strong. Its so important make the other see the point we have to explain.

Salmon, rice,  carrots, coconut pie, strawberries and the many children disappear off the table as the sky gets dark, and stars twinkle and its time for us to go home.

Thank you my friend! For the chance to pick up your precious daughter. For the chance to have supper with you. For chance to listen to the new words your sweet boy says. ( I heard them!) For the chance for all our 6  kids play together. For the chance to talk, to share, to listen, to clean up, and leave a wee bit to late! Have a great night, and yes, thank you for a wonderful Leap Year Day!


What did u do with your extra day?

Days Like These

O I luv days like this. Everyone gets time to do their things, we get things done, and I get a few other things knocked off the list. I get to talk with them, hear there thoughts, and take it all at the pace that works. That might be a fast one for kids with lots of energy, or a slower one for small ones. Depends on who and when.

It been a day of this.

i luv to listen to my self taught reader reading to her brother

And this.

I watch her tiny fingers grasp the crayon and color vivaciously. 

Smiling so proud. "Mama?" she questions, looking up at my face. My heart melts.

I have been settled, moving slow, enjoying the time. No rushing, or shushing. Letting the baby fall asleep at the breast and slipping her into bed for an early nap. A mix matched lunch, sitting at the new counter with them all, listening to the sillies, and giggles.

As they scooted off to play, I got a few minutes to do a few of my things!! I got to organize some of my kitchen cupboards. I have 5 bins of stuff to be replaced in the kitchen. I'm honestly dreading it, but looking forward to it at the same time. Maybe Friday......

I also got to this ever messy school book cupboard.

Such a feeling of satisfaction every time I clean it up.

Lets see how long it lasts!!