simple pleasures

Simple Pleasures…

Waking up before everyone else and enjoying a hot cup of coffee and magazine in complete silence.  Watching birds frolic at the feeder.  Getting dressed for your day not including socks in the outfit.  Entering a room to find this….

I've always had a difficult time just relaxing and not doing anything at all.  When the sun in out, I feel like I should be outside enjoying the sun… doing something productive.  Especially on a weekend.  When it's snowing, I think I should be outside enjoying the snow… shovelling or making a fort.  I think it's gotten worse since having kids because I want to make sure they're doing something too.  And, let's face it, there's never a shortage of chores on the list. 

Last weekend, the sun was out and I had my usual guilt on about everyone not being out there enjoying the much anticipated warmer weather.  "We should be riding out bikes… going on a hike in the woods… playing at a park" were the thoughts in my head.  Then I turned the corner and found both kids having a fabulous time reading a book with Ryan.  They were captivated and in complete silence.  Ruby, of course, was dressed in princess attire and Leo, our snuggle bug, was cuddled up on Ryan's back.  It was beautiful.

Truth is, the kids don't want to be on the go all the time and reading a book with their dad is doing something.  Looking back, I can remember several instances where I struggled to get the kids dressed and outside to do something or go somewhere.  When it takes 2 hours to convince a child to get ready (and practically gives me a nervous breakdown in the process), I gotta think it's not worth it.  I'll remember that next time.  It may be a challenge but I'm going to go with the flow enjoy not having to be anywhere or do anything at all.  

Hey… you can learn a lot from kids!  

Thanks Ruby and Leo.  

I love you more than a million ice creams!  

Mom  oxox

the Easter Mommy missed

I just put away the Easter paraphernalia and cleared the tulip petals from the mantle.  I completely missed Easter this year.  From Thursday after work to the crack of dawn on Tuesday, I was in bed with the Energizer Bunny of fevers!  It just wouldn't give up!

I missed my mom's Easter Dinner on Friday, which was also Auntie Robin's birthday celebration.  The kids and Ryan did go and enjoyed the games, fun and food.  I got a doggy bag which included the most delicious piece of birthday cake…. lemony coconut and whip cream… YUM!  It was divine!  Perhaps it was extra delicious because I've been avoiding carbohydrates as of late…. so that little blast of sugar was super fine.  Mmm…. just thinking about it makes me salivate.

Before heading to the Dr.'s office on Saturday, I managed to muster the energy to get some eggs decorated.  We did pretty good!

This garland was a project from a week or so ago…

I had almost given up on Easter arriving on schedule this year, so with much regret, we sent Ruby to my parent's house on Saturday night for a sleepover.  I was feeling so awful that I just couldn't imagine hiding eggs and having any fun with the kids the next day finding them.  I figured we would do the Easter Bunny thing on Monday, hoping the kids would never know the difference……

This is the breakfast that I finagled for Leo…. although he didn't much appreciate it.  I thought it was ok.  ?

Mostly out of guilt, I think, by bedtime Saturday night I decided that the Easter Bunny just couldn't be late so we got Ruby home first thing Sunday morning and they kids had their egg hunt with the rest of the nation.  I watched from the couch and took a few photos…..

For the second year in a row, we noticed a drastic change in Leo's behaviour after eating chocolate eggs (basically for breakfast).  The bad behaviour continued into the day, so… next year, the chocolate is gone.  We're going to get creative around here on Easter and start a new tradition that doesn't include chocolate.   I think we'll all be happier as a result.

So… after cleaning up the tulip petals and pollen….. I'm glad to say this Easter is over.  Let's move on to Spring now please.