Jam

It started strawberry picking with a friend and 7 kids this morning. Continued with a strawberry snack with whipped cream. 

A break in the day. 

The sun is sinking and I return to see the trays of berries on my counter. A flashback of hauling strawberries with my sister and my mom pop into my mind. It makes me smile. 

Samuel is still up. Munching on berries as I haul. He talks with his limited vocabulary  of grunts and gesters. 

The berries turn and roll as they boil. A vision of skimming the foam and eating it on fresh toast that same day with sisters and my mom return to my mind. 

I add cups and cups of sweet sugar and stir and stir. The steam pillows. 

Cool. Stir. Mix. Cool. Stir. Mix. 

Small boy hanging on my legs. 

Scoop, pour, lid. Scoop pour, lid.

10 jars of sweet sticky jam. Come a very cold February morning this will remind  me of this day. It will remind all of us that warm days are coming. 

But, right now I'm waiting for the sound of  popping lids so I know they sealed! 

DSLR Pictures From Family Party

A few pics from our Fathers Day party - by request! 

I think you can tell who's feeling a bit tipsy....

(me!)

i have the case of the giggles....

 A beautiful photo! Kurtis was say 'plane'!

 Julie Ron and Kurtis!

Hope you all enjoyed you weekend!

Happy Fathers/Mothers Day

My parents are strong parents.  I am proud of the strong values that I learned and by the strong people who taught them to me :)

They taught me to admit when I have made a mistake, and to say sorry. Sorry is a loaded word. They taught me that 'sorry' didn't just mean "I'm sorry for what I did," or "I'm sorry that I hurt you,". 'Sorry' also means "I will try everything in my power not to do it again."

They also taught me that when you commit to something, you are bound by your word. You don't 'decide' not to do it last minute because you don't 'feel' like it. You don't over book and cancel because something else more 'important' comes up. Before you commit, you check your dates, decide your limits, and make the decision. And you do your best to follow through,

I know I missed Mothers day, but here I combine both days in one post.

Happy Mothers Day Mom.

Happy Fathers Day Dad.

Thank you for strong values. Thank you for helping become strong and capable. For showing me how to be true to my word and dependable. Values I will continue to pass down to my wee ones.

Weekly Moments

Moments from iPhone photos. 

Hair cuts, wild hair, cousin sleepover, art, reading, and a double clothes line! 

I'll do a real post and post pics of my garden and the new shed! 

It's been a busy week! 

Moments I Treasure

Treasure moments from IPhone photos. 

This goes by so fast. Each day I vow to stop more, take a deep breath, watch more, teach more, help more, hold more...the more I try to hold onto it the faster it goes. Clichè, I know, but so true, and what my mind and heart comes back to over and over again. 

Happy Sunday! I'm off to do my best to live this day to the fullest I can! 

Working

We have been so very busy around here. I have new determination to accomplish so many things, it is some times frustrating how short the hours are in the day! but here is a few things we've gotten done.

Our amazing climber! Goran went all the way to Toronto to get it, and spent several days putting it up. The kids have already spent hours on it, and it was a great attraction at the party. I need to some how find the time to give it a coat of paint.

I I moved most of this triple mix into the garden! The rest I moved to naked areas in the yard and panted grass - but that is for the next post!

And I spent time planting!  

Things are growing as they should! We had to cover a few days because of frost, but I was able to protect them, and am already eating lettuce from the garden :)

I will post pics of the new shed and growing grass soon.

My Littlest Girl is Growing

We celebrated Klara's FIFTH birthday this month. 

Each day that goes by, her babyhood and toddlerhood and preschool years are slipping away like sand through my fingers. Its bittersweet. 

Watching her come into her own person is a gift. I treasure with every breath and heart beat. No matter how old they get, their arms around me, hugs and kisses I can't help but stop and breath in their scent. I can't help but brush the hair out of her face while she sleeps and kiss her forehead. 

She talks a lot. When we are all in the van she shouts from the back, (so everyone hears her!) and some times we ask her to whisper because its loud. When we leave the big kids at home she talks and talks from the back seat. She tells me her friends dads names, (I'm not kidding) she reminisces about things with "Do you remember when...?" She helps her baby brother every chance she gets. She wipes up her own messes, but only eats what she wants, and refuses the meal if she doesn't like it. She baths herself picks out her own clothes, and if you look really close, you'll see the earrings she picked out the day before when she got her ears pierced. And didn't cry a bit. 

Her determination spills over in her life in every way. A lot like mine :) She refused to wear that dress all year last year. And a week before her party she decided to wear it for her birthday. 

She has passion for the things she luvs. Things like, 100 kisses from her dad, fairies, her friends from the bus, clothes, sleep (she's the last one out of bed every day) purple and pink cupcakes (determined!) scootering, letters, reading, and swinging. 

i know its blurry but its beautiful

My girl also luvs to dance. She had he ballet recital this month too. She has practiced and worked hard since January. She has this way of sticking her tongue to the side of the mouth when she is watching her teacher and concentrating so very hard. It is so adorable. 

tongue!

tongue! 

Her lovely teacher Miss Sarah. She is so patient and kind, and unconditionally encouraging with every single girl.  

Miss Sarah made book marks for all the girls, and she made a monkey for Klara!

5 years since she had her 1st cry, since i reached for her and held her in my arms. I was in awe that I had another little girls, and so thankful the gift of her. 

Happy Birthday my Klara!