Tuesday, 28 May 2013

#81- Snails: An education

I remember a hundred lovely lakes, and recall the fragrant breath of pine and fir and cedar and poplar trees.  The trail has strung upon it, as upon a thread of silk, opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets.  It has given me blessed release from care and worry and the troubled thinking of our modern day.  It has been a return to the primitive and the peaceful.  Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and benumbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the coyote wailing to the yellow dawn, my cares fall from me - I am happy.  ~Hamlin Garland, McClure's, February 1899

















Monday, 20 May 2013

#80- Let the summer begin!!

Balloon flights!
...and falls!?


Friends patio visits! (Hillary!)
Water fun!


"Hey YOU!!! You sprayed me!"
Isaac gets his revenge



Garden planted!
And also to mention; Rosalie and Oliver have been hanging out and BOTH enjoying it! Hurray for sibling love!

Stay cool! Stay outside!

Wednesday, 1 May 2013

#79- Isaac is 3!

On the 28th Isaac finally had his THIRD BIRTHDAY!!!!
I'd just been talking it up for weeks, and by the time the actual day rolled around the poor kid was so sick of hearing about it he didn't seem quite as enthused as we were.
But we sure did a lot of celebrating over the weekend!
We had a visit with Eric's dad and step-mom where he got some late Christmas presents, had a sleepover with his cousins, a party in the park the next day with ALL of his cousins and my family, and then the next day, his actual birthday, we had a pancake lunch with lots of fruit and some friends!

And then Monday came...

Needless to say, next year, I think a little less hype would be appreciated by the big guy. Though we had SOO much fun over the weekend, until Monday. haha.

So My dear firstborn is 3. This past year feels like a giant accomplishment; Isaac is potty trained, dressing himself, brushing his teeth, having conversations with us, telling 'jokes', reasoning, praying, climbing trees, singing, helping, sharing, making friends, learning how to ride a bike, asking questions about Jesus, telling us when we've been too harsh, and goodness gracious, is he tall!! He's keeping up pretty well with kids older than him, but still plays the 'shy baby card' around larger groups of people. He just loves his little brother and is so gentle with him, Oliver loves Isaac and he always gets him laughing.
Isaac and Rosalie are becoming even better friends and have a (usually) jolly old time together, as much as siblings do:) Isaac and his dad have such a wonderful bond it just melts my heart to see them playing together or `regrouping`.
Also; look, we made it through the 'terrible two's'!!! Man, it was definitely a challenge, but now that Isaac is able to communicate better, we all understand better how to go about with discipline, things have really improved so much.
I always love my 'special Isaac time' and hope he continues to develop a positive relationship with me as he grows up, and oooh, but it is fast!
Happy Birthday Isaac T B! You're the man!!
birthday presents; nothing to be silly about, this is serious man-stuff!!