am I three??

Something truly precious happened today.  I've been planning a visit with Ruby to her preschool for a while now and it was finally organized to happen today at 1 p.m.  She's been prepped and probed to the  max and finally today when it was time to go, she was rather aloof.

Thinking nothing of it, I picked her up and carried her to the van.  She was quiet for most of the walk from the back deck to the driveway and she finally spoke up and asked, "Mommy, am I three?"

It was the most precious thing she's said in a long, long time and it melted my heart.  For the entire drive there the she told me, "mommy, I don't want to go to school."  She seem scared and I tried to reassure her that it was going to be a fun place and this was just a visit to meet the teachers and see all the things she will be doing next year, when she IS three.

Oh Ruby.  You're not three yet but getting close.  You're strong-willed and stubborn and too smart for your own good.  You're sweet and silly and beautiful too and we love you more than words.  It's going to be difficult sending you off to school next year but it's all part of the process of growing up.

No, you're not three yet, but getting close.

(This video was taken two weeks ago at a family dinner in Sackville.  Ryan's sister was here from Ottawa with her two kids, Ruby's cousins.  That's Erin dancing up a storm with Leo and Ruby.  Trevor was also there, but he declined the dance.)

(Great.  Now I've got that stupid ABBA song in my head again!)

my mother warned me about this

The time has finally come.  Ruby is dressing herself and changing her outfit several times each day.  She insists on picking out her own clothes every morning and won't leave her bedroom until she is fully dressed.  Sadly for me, she doesn't seem at all interested in dresses.  I have to negotiate hard to get her into one.  Hopefully that's just a phase and she'll grow out of it.  

My mother warned me about this.  Apparently, I was quite fickle as a child and changed my outfit several times a day too.  I have vivid memories of a particular photo with Santa Claus..... I was not happy with the outfit my mother had picked for me and my face in the photo was not hiding anything.  It's funny how things have come full circle.  I hope I didn't cause you too much stress, mom.  And, if I did, I'm sorry.  I'm not letting Ruby's independence bother me.  I just hope she has the good sense to pick matching outfits at least some of the time AND I'm hoping that if she looks ridiculous, other mothers will laugh to themselves with the knowledge that my almost three-year old is growing up and expressing herself through clothing.  She's doing pretty good so far and I can see some favourites already.  :)

Leo on the other hand is almost impossible to dress.  He squirms and turns and rolls off the change table every single time he's up there.  I usually change him standing up.  

He can get his own shoes when he knows we're going out.  So cute.  He gets them from the basket and tries to put then on himself and bangs on the door when I say, "Who wants to go for a jog?",  or "Who wants to go for a wagon ride?".  He loves the wagon.  

He's almost potty trained.  :)  

Ya right.  Just kidding.  But.... this kid is going to get trained early.  I'm so sick of poop and diapers.  

And on that note.... Cheers! 

-Laurie oxox

ah.... summer vacation

The person who penned the phrase "time flies when you're having fun" must be a billionaire because how true it that?  I can't believe it's already August 5th.  For some reason it feels like summer is over even though we still have three weeks and then another family vacation in September.  We've been super busy this past two weeks with Ryan on vacation.  I have a lot to report so I had better get to it..... he's back to work tomorrow!  

Last Wednesday three of the Grants packed up and headed to Fundy National Park.  The decision was leave poor Leo at home was difficult... but it was definitely the right choice.  We had a super time with Ruby and I think she would agree.  It was her first time camping.  Her first time on a real hike.  Her first time seeing water falls.  Her first time having smores (mine too!).  And, her first time hiking up a 2.5 kilometre trail.  We were so proud.  Next year, we'll bring Leo and hope that he's ready.  :)

On the way to Fundy, I was once again drawn to the simplicity.  

Someone has the right idea here.  How beautiful.

The small town, country way of life has always appealed to me and every time I drive through places like Hillsborough, Riverside Albert and Alma, I long for a much simpler existence.  Raising chickens, chopping wood and tending my own crops...  Maybe someday..... Who knows?  It's a far cry from our current reality but being in the woods (even though it was a fully serviced campsite with a playground and bathroom) got me closer to nature than I've been in a while, so I was happy.  Very, very happy.  

It was refreshing to be dirty for two days.  

Ruby was a trooper and LOVED our first hike to Dickson Falls.  It was a 2.5 km loop and she partied the entire time.  

Smiles all around.

Tree hugger.

Supper time.  Experimenting with a head lamp.  

Camp Fire Smiles.

Day Two:  

On the way down to Laverty Falls.

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Hiking back up.... She hiked about 2 km, singing most of the way.



On the way home, we stopped at Broadleaf Farm to pet the horses.  I thought it would be fun.... never did I imagine that Ruby would want to ride one!  So... when she asked, I asked.... and in no time she was up top of a great big horse!  As she was getting seated my heart was dropping into my belly.  What on earth was I thinking???  Anyway, she survived and did great.  I was thoroughly impressed and quite shocked that she was so calm and cool about the whole thing.  She surprised me.  It was fun!  

So, there you have it.   Summer so far.  
Here's hoping we get a few more adventures in before, dare I say the word.... autumn.  ??  

Ciao.  
ox