Thank you

When I was a child the one task I can honestly say I dreaded with the purest of childhood dread, was writing my annual after-holiday thank you cards. I can remember sitting in our guest room...bellied up to the desk {that I believe was only ever used for writing after-holiday thank you cards} desperately thinking of the fastest way to fill the entire note....like writing the word 'thank you' really, really big then signing off with an equally big...if not bigger, 'love, peg'. Expressing gratefulness was clearly not my forte. But fortunately, with my mother's consistency, determination and gentle nudges, she taught me not only the enjoyment and art of letter writing, but also the significance of a simple, thank you. So with a little help from ink pads, glue sticks, yarn, scissors, markers and very delicious, strong coffee, we managed to pump out three...that's right...1. 2. 3. cards for people and two cards for machines. {Because apparently we just can't do anything without somehow incorporating heavy machinery} We still have many more letters to create, but for today we are feeling very well accomplished. And amidst it all, I am certain I felt a small pat on my back from my 10 year old self.
xo

Cool Tricks

The Clap...ooh, let's rephrase...shall we?
The Clapping of Hands.Cool Tricks
xo

Wish

Be gone stuffy nose.
Be gone watery eyes.
Be gone croaking chest.
My wish for Arlo is sleep...healthy, cleansing, soothing sleep.
Sweet dreams my love.
xo

Family Amour

It is not lost on me how lucky I am to love my family. I love the family created with David. I love the family created for me. And there is no time better to be reminded of this good fortune than at the holidays. Some of us drove kilometers while others drove miles to come together for our annual winter reunion...in a knotty pine nest...at The Cottage. Don't get me wrong, cabin fever was never far off and a much needed cocktail hour often began at 4:59pm...especially the afternoon when the 3 1/2 year old family member's seat-cushion-ramp trick came crashing down resulting in a fat lip and a bloody nose...but really, thank goodness for those moments because otherwise it may have just been a little too dreamy.
Christmas decoratingChristmas treatsChristmas trainsChristmas pageantsChristmas craftingChristmas presentsand most of all, the cherished Christmas moments in each other's embrace. Family.xo

Welcome

Here's the thing...as much as I would love to love New Year's Eve...as much as I would love to have the When Harry Met Sally New Year's moment...as much as I would love to stand in the middle of Time's Square with Dick Clark {Wait, it's still Dick Clark, yes?}...in reality it's just not me. I don't ever think it has been. In fact I've always felt a little sorry for the year leaving us. It all just feels a little sad to me. Poor year...did it feel appreciated? Were 365 days really enough time to prove itself? Perhaps this is the reason why I am much more comfortable with the New Year's Day celebration. No goodbyes...no late nights...just comfortable greetings. Ah yes...much more my style. To honour the day...the new day...the first day, we invited our neighbours to feast upon Ham and Black Eyed Peas. Because where I am from...and according to our guests, only where I am from...this is the traditional January 1st meal representing good luck and fortune.
So with gratitude to 2009, we bid farewell. And with bubbling anticipation, we raise our sparkling apple juice real-live-champagne-glasses...carefully...ever so carefully...to all the loveliness that awaits.
Welcome Two Thousand and Ten.
xo

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Me: Hugh. Do you have any New Year's resolutions? You know...like goals. For instance, I am going with the same goal as last year. My resolution is to make all the beds every morning.
Hugh: Sure I do. My New Year's resssolsooluti...uh, goal, is to sled down really, REALLY fast on the big hill with my eyes closed.
Me: But you already did that...today.
Hugh: I know. Aren't I so brave?
We're back at it again...
Happy New Year friends.
Our daily updates have resumed...xo

3rd Sunday

5 days and counting...This will be our last update until after the Holidays as we are packing the car and heading to the cottage. Until then...
Merry Christmas!
xo