Remembering when, with family

Sun sets on the horizon, and I settle my brain down in the home that I was raised, with my babes sleeping soundly in the next room.  It's a comforting feeling being back in the home that I spent so much time in and grew up in.  It fits like a well worn slipper, with all the grooves marked out inside for your individual toes.  The stairs creak in the same spots that they used to, and I instinctively avoid the areas that I know cause the most noise.  I could climb those stairs in my sleep.  Oh, the memories built around a simple set of plain oak wood stairs.  First days of high school, coming home from long work shifts, university, dates, weddings, pregnancy and carrying new born babes in arms...if those stairs could talk...They could tell a lot of stories. And, we make new ones everyday.

Ordinary & Extraordinary {Giveaway}

We enjoyed a family vacation shared with close friends last week.  While the drive up (and down) and life in a cottage with two other families, including three more children was at times exhausting, the memories that were made, were well worth the work.

Friday Photo Post and Time to Enjoy App

Here are a few shots of my big three year old boy.  I just love these mommy and me moments.  Times when the girls are fast asleep in bed, and I get to just soak up some time with my spirited green eyed boy...watch those sparkling green eyes flicker with the excitement of discovery in the everyday. Away from all the distractions of electronics, we make our own little play zone in the front yard.  Simple ingredients, really, chalk + blank slate of pavement + little boy in pyjamas and mom = great memories.

Sweet Grace

You know those days, when the day seems to be slowly rolling by?

So slow in fact, that the clock seems to be your worst enemy because every time you look at it, only 33 seconds have passed by and the minute hand hasn't even moved at all. Could it possibly be going backwards?  So, you resolve not to look at the clock anymore, because it’s not changing anything anyways, and only making you frustrated.  Secretly you peek at it every now and then, thinking, surely it must be close to lunch time.  These are the days that I’ve been up since 5:30, and at 8:47 the thought of another coffee seems quite enticing.

Celebrations and Thanks

We celebrated a friends baby girls first birthday this weekend.  I just love birthdays, and not only because of the cake...

The first birthday is particularly special.  This means it's been a year since this woman entered into motherhood, welcomed the pain, endured labor knowing that a sweet reward laid around the corner. And how sweet she is.

Old and New

I adore when Dale has a day off. Gives us time to spend as a family, regroup, relax, reconnect and sometimes cram in a project, though the latter rarely happens.  I try to think of it as a day off for myself too and let things slide around the house a little more than normal, letting some toys scatter and dishes pile up.  Dale's day off landed on tuesday, so we made a long overdue visit to Dale's grandparents in Bolton.  The whole affair was about a three hour journey, but oh so worth it to see their smiling faces.

Time has taken it's tole on them, wrinkled their once smooth faces, faded their once sharp memories and weathered their once nimble and lively bodies.  Quite the opposite of the young sprites that we brought with us.  Yet, the gathering of the old and the new is a great reminder of this circle of life. They were once our age, with five beaming children running around the house.  There was laundry, cleaning, diapers, dishes, stress, some sleep and repeat.  Here they are, 80+ years in this world, having seen & experienced all that they have, and still ever grateful for the fresh reminder of newness of life.

At one point, she looked at me, her piercing blue eyes looking into mine.
"They sure do keep you young don't they" she said.
"Yes they sure do" I respond.
"Maybe, this is what I need, to pull me out of this sickness, the young ones keeping me going" she answers back, holding on with her hand while Levi pulls the other hand, urging her to come along.

By sickness, I think she meant the sickness of being old; weary bones and growing tired.  Or perhaps there is more that she doesn't want to share.

We sipped juice, and caught up, as much as we could, whilst wrangling children back from the stairs, and away from the ornaments and statues on the coffee table. When it was time to pack up the kids, they didn't want us to leave.  She showed us out to the car, carefully making her way down the concrete front steps.  When we were done snapping in car seats and fastening seat belts, she took me by the arm, grasping it with her frail hand and said: "Love each other"
I automatically respond " yes, of course, we will"
Dale comes around the corner, and still holding on to my arm, and reaching for his she says again: "Love each other" her eyes piercing deeper into mine, nodding her head.  As if the first time she knew that I would just instinctively respond with a "yes", and that it needed repeating, so that I could really take in the seriousness of her request.  No need for the third time to do the charm, I had it at the second.  In all her years she knew it came down to that, just love each other.  Simple words of wisdom.

On the way home we stopped at one of those ole fashioned burger joints, the kind with fresh greasy fries, melt in your mouth hamburger and over watered fountain pop.  I love the entertainment at these types of places.  There is always the news on the T.V paired with easy rock playing in the background, old couples sipping on coffee in those old cream colored china mugs, and someone in the corner reading a newspaper.  Now that I type this, it doesn't sound that entertaining, but because of my love for people watching, it was for me at the time.  

It was relatively quiet when we came in, besides the hum of the t.v, there wasn't much excitement going on.  And cue Chapman family of five entering the scene.  The old couple look away from the t.v, weathered china cup in hand and the man in the corner wearing his slippers, folds down the corner of his paper to see the tornado that just blew in to the restaurant.  This is the way I feel when we enter a lot of places, entering as a hurling whirlwind with babies on hips, toddler in tow, and the sweet smell of pampers encircling us.  It tends to catch a bit of attention sometimes.  Though I love being entertained by watching those around me, I'm beginning to think that they had quite the show from us too.  After feasting on their famous "Tower Burger" and a shawarma, we blew that Popsicle stand, and packed up for home.  It's great to be able to chat in the car. I like to think of these times as car dates.

And when the day couldn't have gotten any better, I took an  hour for myself to check out a new fabric shop downtown that my neighbor had told me about.

Oh be still my heart, there are so many beautiful fabrics and patterns to choose from, I most certainly need another visit to take it all in.

The store carries a variety of sewing machines and notions, as well as a plethora of inspiration in every direction that you look.  I have to say that I was truly impressed with the service.  I showed up just a little over 20 mins before closing and the owner was more than happy to chat it up, and show me around the store and wasn't in a rush to sweep up, and close shop.

They have great sewing classes available, that I'm sure to take advantage of one day and hone my sewing skills.  Their cute shop is located downtown at 45 Dunlop St. East. Check out their website here.  Be sure to give them a visit when you are looking for something to do on the weekend, or when you have the next project brewing. When you go, ask about their re-usable bag program.  I purchased one for $5 and received 15% off my entire purchase and subsequent purchases. Can't wait to visit again, and bring mom for a visit.  She'll be in fabric heaven! 

Enjoy this time

Wow.  Can't believe it's been over a week since my last post.  I think I sat down three times in attempt to complete this post and between sick babies and prep for Bloom, I just haven't had the time until now.  Time has been literally flying by in this house lately.  It's quite amazing really how fast it does go.  I can't tell you how many times I have heard people say "Enjoy this time, it goes by too fast".  I have been thinking about that expression a lot lately.  It mainly came to my attention at a gas station of all places.  Dale was filling the tank, when a woman pulled up in the next lane.  Her beautiful face full of wrinkles and head adorned with silky grey locks.  I look at her, and envy for a moment, the ease of her circumstance.  I bet when she left the house, she didn't have to haul out two car seats, two babes, a toddler, diaper bag, extra underwear (umm...yah...for the toddler), mum mums, etc, etc, etc.

There will be a day perhaps, when I will enjoy her circumstance, her stage of life.  The ease of 'pick up & go', with nothing more than a simple purse with some essentials.  I often think about those days...it will be so nice when...I can't wait 'till...  Yes, it is exciting to dream about the days to come, when there will be more vacations perhaps, more time for just Dale and I, coffee dates with the girls, etc. but that being said, I do want to live in this moment.  Because I'm sure that older woman would tell me "enjoy this time, it goes by too fast".  And yet, I do struggle with that whole expression, thinking "well, she's not in it right now", or "yah, easy for her to say".  I guess that's where my completionist mentality comes into play.  That I need to enjoy the entirety of this time; every moment of every day. Yet, what I have realized is that it's not the case at all.  Each day will have it's enjoyable moments, and other moments not so much.  The whole idea of enjoying this time can be broken into enjoying each tiny moment like snuggles in the dark, or movie time with my boy, or walks in the park and dance parties in the living room.  Yet, I will not necessarily enjoy three crying kids at the same time, or food all over the floor for the sixth time, or washing and putting away the dishes for the umpteenth time.  There are many lessons to be learned in raising three under three during the hectic times, although I won't necessarily enjoy them.  So I will "enjoy this time", as much as I can, and one day, all wrinkle faced and grey haired, I'll look at someone in my circumstance and tell them "it goes by too fast!"

We enjoyed some sneak peaks of summer this week:

Levi ended up coming down with a weird bug causing him to be super sleepy, which is totally out of character for him.  You'd think I would have been able to get more done with him knocked out, but little man wanted lots of snuggles and I gladly obliged.

We're on the mend though...Kaela's face is healing well, and Levi's getting his normal energy back.

Saturday was a proud wife moment for me as I went to watch Dale participate in "History in the breaking" put on by over 300 Loblaws stores. They were attempting to break the record for the most wheels of parmigiano reggiano broken at the same time.  It takes some determination to cut through the thick rind of this 85 pound wheel of cheese, and I have to say that he did an incredible job.  

Oh, be still my heart, this is one good lookin' fella!  I loved watching him in his "professional" capacity, just made my knees shake.  I was thrilled to be able to taste the inside of the cheese.  Apparently, this was usually only served to kings.  I guess that makes me his queen...I know that's cheesy...ha even better.

Check out the news clip here. Scroll to around 11 mins to see Dale's first T.V debut.

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I'm getting very excited for the upcoming Bloom event.  To build on the excitement, the next post will be featuring all of the artisans that will be displaying their works this Saturday.  They have each prepared a little biography of themselves to give you a look into who they are and why they do what they do.  Look out for it on Thursday, as it will give you a better idea of what to expect at the open house.