Too big. Too fast.

Last night we spent a short while at the playground for some fun before the sun went down. The lighting was perfect for subject shots, so I clicked away.

Lovin' these sweet smiles.

Mama's pretty and happy girl.

And the first lady, always cheesin' for the camera!

No more baby swings for these girlies!

Don't be fooled by the smile. She's a spicy one.

Shot, on self-timer.

I'm thinking they're growing up way too fast.

It kinda hit me watching them at the playground last night. Dominating the monkey bars. Hanging upside down hands-free. Fearlessly diving and sliding down the fireman's pole. Swinging high, without the help of mama's under-duck.

Love them, with all of the ups and downs that are part of our journey.

But sometimes I wish that these precious moments could linger just a little longer.

Goodbye. Hello.

Goodbye Summer.
To the lazy days of swimming, and suntanning, and sleeping in late.

Hello Fall.
To the frosty days of blowing your breath, wearing a coat and warming your toes at the fire.

And if you drop in on our doorstep, here's the friendly little scarecrow who will welcome you in from the rain and cold of the chilly outdoors, to the comfort and warmth of our humble abode.

Come, I'll have the tea on.

Twisted.

Well, would you look what I ran into at Willy Walmart today!

This addicted cream-egg-lover could not believe her luck!

Delectable, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth Cadbury's Twisted chocolate bars, imported right from the British Isles! Woohoo.



I bought one.

Actually, if the truth be known... more than, huh-hem, one.

I'll leave it at that.

A Budding Photographer?

The leading princess in our house has taken a real shine to photography.

And like the camera in her hand, this little lady is always very FOCUSsed when it comes to doing things she particularly enjoys.

Like Art. She enjoys Art. And will draw the most charming, detailed PICTURES you've ever seen.

And although she doesn't particularly enjoy doing chores around the house, she often LENS a helping hand.

She's a fiesty one, yup, and she sometimes SNAPS and makes a SCENE, but then she tries to ZOOM in on her self-control, and work towards a RESOLUTION. (She's getting better at this, honestly!)

The IMAGE of her big, brother CAM(era)... we often comment how she's a lot like him in many ways. For one, they each have an incredible MEMORY.

She is generally well-known for her ability in the VISUAL NOISE department, and often sings so loudly that it's a real challenge to SHUTTER down.

In her own little VIEWFINDER of life, the most important things to her are animals and nature.

Oh yeah, she'll push my BUTTONS at times, and is often guilty of ABERRATION in the good behaviour department. But whenever she FLASHes me one of her sweet 'I-love-you-mommy' smiles, it melts me. And I rest assured that she really adores me from the DEPTHs of her precious little heart.

And I adore her too.

Goats On Campus.

Can hardly believe there's been two weeks of school down already. Crazy. School routine is good, though, girls are adjusting pretty well to getting up with the alarm at 7:00 am, and, as soon as we get home in the afternoon, are mostly following through with the rules for shoes, backpacks and homework. Being back to work is exciting for me too... the joy that comes with meeting new faces and  facing new challenges in a new school year. And looking forward to the sense of reward that comes with progress and accomplishment in the months ahead.

Apart from the normalcy of school routine this week, one event of note was some unexpected visitors in our back yard. As most know, we have some lovely European neighbours on the other side of our fence, who have a little family of goats grazing on their half-acre lot. Some how or other on Thursday, the three little kids found a hole in the wire fence, and managed to squeeze through onto our property. They were having a hayday on the apple trees when Alana discovered them, and what a stir it caused!

A few of the neighbourhood kids dropped by to see the excitement firsthand, as I frantically tried to keep these curious four-legged friends away from our vegetable patch! They certainly are playful little creatures, very tame, and seemed to love the game of the girls chasing them!



Stew arrived home from work, and was immediately assigned the task of blocking their escape route in the fence. With the help of another kind neighbour, we eventually managed to capture the three fugitives and return them, one by one, to their bleating mother.

I've must admit I've done a few back yard checks since, making sure the little goats are staying right where they're supposed to be. I much prefer them on the OTHER side of the fence. There's plenty enough kids for me on OUR OWN side.

Mondays.

A few years ago, I had an blatant dislike for Mondays. Why did a perfectly delightful weekend that had brimmed over with friends and fun have to abruptly end with the obligation to rise with the birds, rush madly out the door, and return to that dreary, mundane workplace?

But times have changed in recent years. The dreamy weekends are still charged with family, friends and fun, but Mondays I now L.O.V.E. Daddie goes off to work, the kiddies go off to school... and Mrs Merry Monday is free to play! Free as a bird. The birds are much nicer now.

What to do, what to do, what to do.

Launder the bedsheets. Check.
Review emails and updates on Facebook. Check and check.
Update the blog. Check.
Clean the house. Huh?

Guess I better go clean the house.

Created BY Him and FOR Him.

At All-School Chapel yesterday, our new Head of School spoke from 2 Timothy 1:9 about the believer's royal (holy) calling. He stressed that each of us need to be saved and then as christians, we each have a duty to "fulfill the works of Christ" in our lives. He said that we each have been created unique, and emphasized that if we could get a hold of the fact that I have been created EXACTLY the way God intended, then I would no longer wish to be like anyone else. How startlingly true that we so often wish and try to be like others.

Part of my daily reading this morning was Proverbs 8. The first few verses paint a beautiful picture of Christ, as Wisdom, speaking to us. Having Wisdom is much more precious than having gold and silver. Then verse 22 begins:

"The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: when he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth.
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men."

In the beginning, the Lord's delights were with the sons of men. Before the earth was created... before the light was separated from the darkness... before the seas and the dry land... before the mountains and hills were established... the Lord rejoiced in saving ME. ME, just the way that I am. He endured the cross and despised the shame, all for the joy of MY salvation. I was in His plan. In the beginning.

How beautiful, that the One who was Creator of the world would become the Saviour of it!

And if He delighted in saving "me", should not "I" delight in loving and living for Him?

Hello School.

School supplies labelled.
Lunches bagged.
Backpacks stuffed.
Uniforms donned.
And off they headed... into another year of school. Grades 3 and 4 this year. Where did the time go? Seems like it was just yesterday that I was wiping spit and changing diapers. Now I'm SL (shaving legs) and BB (buying bras).

The girlies were up early, obviously excited for the first day back. Eager to see familar faces and re-establish friendships. And the happy smiles from this morning were still lingering at the 3 o'clock dismissal bell this afternoon. So I'd say a good first day.

And for Yours Truly this year... work schedule is only three days, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Which leaves Mondays and Tuesdays open for coffee appointments. Lovin' that.

Canning. Because We Can.

It's peach season in the Okanagan, so we picked up a few pounds of the fresh fruit while up in Westbank this past weekend. Nothing quite like a sweet, juicy peach to charge your taste buds in the summertime.

And nothing quite like a bowl of mouth-watering home-canned peaches and ice cream, sitting by the fire, right in the middle of winter.

So, the peaches are canned, patiently waiting to cheer up the cold, dreary, winter days ahead. Just got to remember to pick up the ice cream.