Pretty Winter Morning Light

It's been a really, really strange winter here in Toronto--although I feel like we say that every year.  It's oscillated between frigid temperatures where mere minutes outside puts us in tears and balmy weather where you wonder if it's skipped spring altogether.  Remarkably there seems to be a lot of regular "flurries" that come and go and sometimes never amount to much.  And then there has been the occasional day that it snows and stays for awhile.

The rink has thawed and refrozen and so we have been out there enjoying it when we can, and cursing the amount of space it uses up when its a big soupy slushy pool of water too cold to step in and not cold enough to skate on.  But we are still happy we made it.

My parents were here for a week or so and the kids kept them busy with their high level of energy--everything from Gabriel's big birthday bash to a trip to see St. Jacob's Market in Waterloo.  We were sooo happy and relieved to have them around since both Jordan and I have been nose to the grindstone since September last year.  A lot of time spent around here with my parents--playing in the yard, hide-and-go-sneak, boink, hungry hippos, Paw Patrol, making amazing melt in your mouth valentine's day cookies and out for a couple of walks in the beautiful morning winter light.  Here are just a few of those shots.

Happy Birthday Gabriel!!

Whew!!  Just finished a great party for Gabriel who just turned FOUR this week!  Sometimes when I look at him, I think of him as a little little boy, those pictures from when he was two and three.  But he's a "big" guy now with real opinions, likes/dislikes, interests and passions and real friendships.

We are so proud of our little guy in so many ways.  He is such a vibrant, fun-loving, intense guy who has a really big heart for his friends and family, especially his little sister, his shadow and forever playmate.  All his spirited-ness and energy mean we collapse into bed at night and almost completely fall asleep the second our heads hit the pillow.  But we wouldn't have it any other way, really, for that joie to vie and enthusiasm for life is one of his best and personal favorite qualities about him.

So with all of his personally chosen closest friends filling the house, we celebrated as he turned 4, incorporating his long-time (3 year) love of "Lightning McQueen" into his birthday theme.  There was plenty of shrieking and running and jumping around, balloons and toys everywhere, kids running a-muck.  But it was the happy chaos of children having fun.  And for some reason, nothing makes me happier than having a houseful of happy, rambunctious little people having a good time.

Thanks again, Sophia's Sugar Rush, you continue to amaze us all.

And thank you to our wonderful group of friends who came and my parents (who traveled all this way to be here and spend time with us and who did almost all of the behind the scenes work for this party).  Thanks for celebrating with us.  We love you dearly and cherish the friendships we have with you.  Thank you for making our day special with your presence and conversation and generosity.  Gabriel told me, "Thanks for my party, mom!!  It was the best birthday ever!!!"   

Our 2nd Christmas back in Canada!

Back in Canada, with our feet firmly on the ground and back on schedule, we celebrated Christmas with family yet again!  The Christmas season hit an all-time record long season this year--starting in October and ending the middle of January.  My son Gabriel is so very confused.  First, we started opening presents before we even got on the plane, about five days before Christmas (with my parents and sister on the other end of a skype call) and then we left our Christmas tree at home to fly out of the country to slightly warmer place to spend Christmas in Rome.  There was no snow and that was even more confusing.  And then Christmas now that we are back at home.  I am pretty sure Gabriel will still be asking if there are more presents well into July (especially since birthdays are now upon us).  It's high time we start doing a little bit more educating about giving rather than receiving.

After our trip, we arrived back home in Toronto, the look on Gabriel's face was pure amazement to see snowflakes flying and twirling around as we walked the glass enclosed ramp back into the airport from the plane.  It was magical for the kids to see. Gabriel seems to have made this strong connection between Christmas and snow.  So it was fit to keep celebrating I guess, with snow on the ground. 

As family came to visit last weekend bearing presents and goodies, we had another Christmas meal and gift-opening.  Aunt Emma and Marc came to join us and ChouChou and Fizey for celebrations.   It was really fun to see Emma and Marc who we see every Christmas, and to experience the excitement with the kids now that everyone is feeling better.  Thank you ChouChou and Fizey and Emma and Marc for doing round two with us!!

And that's a wrap!!  Ok, no more Christmas until October.  I promise!

Happy Birthday Maggie!!

Today we had a beautiful birthday party for our sweet and sassy little Maggie who just turned 2!!  I am not entirely sure how she suddenly became 2 before my very eyes but we are crazy in love with her.  Anytime she does something really sweet and cute, Jordan's eyes meet mine and we quietly melt over whatever adorable thing she has just done--we stifle a quiet "awwwwwwww."  She is the sugar in the family to be sure.

Ps.  That is Maggie trying to eat the cake with her mouth...  She is such a rascal too.

We decided this year to have a party just for her.  When she turned one, we did a quiet family party, but now she has friends and opinions about things--like she loves doggies and the colour pink and she really wanted to wear her party dress--so we were happy to put together a party to celebrate.

The only person more excited than Maggie, was Gabriel who couldn't wait for balloons and cake and for his friends to come over too, since they share many of the same friends right now or many of Maggie's friends have older siblings.

Last night I had to pop out to pick up balloons...  For some reason it didn't even occur to me that I would have to fit all of the balloons in our small station wagon.  I was a little worried when I tried to get them in the car in the pouring rain....  It took a little bit of fancy maneuvering to fit in all the balloons, but eventually I was able to find a way to get them all to fit.  Sometimes... I am just a little over the top.  But balloons are my FAVORITE thing about parties.  And as you can see, everyone wanted a balloon and it caused hours of fun as they ran and ran and ran around the house with balloons, shrieking and laughing.

Puppy wanted some spaghetti too.

What?  Just chillin'!

Doggie cake!!!!!!!   

Big brother Gabriel has the honors of opening the presents for his little sister.  She actually doesn't protest even a little bit.  It's like her lot in life to have her brother do everything for her I guess.  Ohhhh... and she loved that Ken doll! 

I felt pretty lucky today to have such wonderful friends to come over and celebrate with us.  The kiddos and us are really really blessed to have such kind and warm people in our lives.  Anyone who meets them says so too--you guys are the best!

Thanks cousin Ginger for capturing some funny and precious moments with the kiddos today!  You are so talented! xo