Cool Tricks

That hand.Not mine, his. That hand kept Arlo awake for most of the night because it can do a very cool new trick. It can open and close on Arlo's command. It can wave to me. It can wave to you. But most of all it prefers to wave to Arlo. Open and Shut. Open and Shut.
Cool Tricks.
xo

Guest Starring Miles

I am about to do something very Un-Canadian...so for the Canadian readers, you may need to brace yourselves, for I am about to praise the weather. I'll give you a second to pull yourself together ::

The sun has been shining for the past twelve days! Our brilliant blue sky is filled with birds singing their way towards Nana and Grandaddy's house. On the ground, our jackets are lying in the green grass as only our lightest sweaters are needed. It is November in Canada on its very best behaviour.
REJOICE!
Today, we found ourselves basking in all of Mother Nature's glories out at McCully's farm. Miles and Hugh ran through the fields, tackled hay bales and Arlo and when the warmth from the setting sun began to move further away, the boys took comfort in the greenhouse among the scarecrows. Oh November in Canada, you please us so!
xo

Vive La Violin

It is always during Hugh's violin lesson when I notice the dirt ground into his finger nails, the spots on his shirt, leftover lunch on his cheeks and mismatched socks on his feet. In his teacher's sophisticated living room, where his lessons take place, we are surrounded by a grand piano, a pump organ, violins, cellos and countless music books from the likes of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. And there, lying flat out on the posh wool rug, our own masterpiece, Hugh. I try to gracefully lift his limp body off the floor whispering encouraging thoughts in his ear like, "Santa is watching...get up and play the violin." {such award winning parenting moments} I then smile, make an excuse, "Wow. Must be tired today!" and silently shrink while hearing the words of David. And that has been the scene for the past 4 lessons. But today, my friends, today...we had a breakthrough. Just as I was about to throw the bow and strings in, Hugh had a remarkable lesson. He listened. He sat. He stood. He participated. But most miraculously, his finger nails were clean, his shirt...spotless, his cheeks...shiny and his socks...a perfect pair. And tonight just before bed, Hugh played a little tune {not sure what...but don't care} for his biggest fan.
xo

Full Circle

BC...before children....we may or may not have mocked houses with old, rotting pumpkins on their front porch. Who am I kidding? We mocked and we mocked hard. "Shame on them" we would tsk, "It's the middle of November!" or "Man, they are laaaaazy!". BC...yes, we remember those naive days well. And although now happily AC...after children...it is also the moment when innocence packed its bags and fled. Our understanding of perished pumpkin porches has changed...dramatically. When carving a pumpkin with a child, not only is a jack-o-lantern created...but also a person...or in our case, a family. A family of jacks with names...none other than our own: Daddy. Mommy. Hugh. Arlo.We underestimated how heartbreaking a 3 year old would take it when told to throw away said family. He sees beyond the sunken mouths and the moldy eye sockets. He scolds the hungry squirrels as they gnaw away at his 'Hugh'. He protects and cherishes with such significance, that we have now met our own mockery face to rotting face. And it ain't pretty...
xo

7 Months

Dearest Arlo,
Today you are 7 months.
And while our garden may be withered, you are quietly...unassumingly blooming. A chubby flower with beautiful rosy cheeks budding right before our very eyes.
You have genuine preferences :: choosing to chew on the stick made for honey jars...but not the stick made especially for teething babies.
You have heartfelt desires :: lamb with sweet potatoes...avacado...and your very favourite, the magnificent mango.
You have specific rules :: 1. sweet and savoury foods must be served together. 2. it's okay to say 'boo' and pretend to scare you but it mustn't be said too loud or with too much gusto. 3. same goes with tickling. 4. there shall be no snow blowers started up anywhere near your presence...5. time spent in the Exersaucer must be for emergency purposes only and even then it must be kept to a bare minimum. 6. the same cannot be said for the jolly jumper....and lastly, 7. Hugh must share his machine toys with you because you've decided you like machinery too...especially the wheels....and Hugh must also try not to wake you up when you are sleeping.{Okay, maybe #7 is our rule...but it's a good one!}
You have blossomed :: into a real live person...and how very proud we are of you!! Happy 7 Months Arlo!
xo

Saturday Afternoon

Simple Pleasures ::
Improvised backyard hot tubs.Thanks for the inspiration Hank.
xo

Saturday Morning

Simple Pleasures ::
Buttonsxo