someday….

                                                   …. a book by Alison Meghee and Peter H. Reynolds

One day I counted your fingers and kissed each one.
One day the first snowflakes fell, and I held you up and watched them melt on your baby skin.
One day we crossed the street, and you held my hand tight.
Then, you were my baby, and now you are my child.

Sometimes, when you sleep, I watch you dream, and I dream too…..
That someday you will dive into the cool, clear water of a lake.
Someday you will walk into a deep wood.
Someday your eyes will be filled with a joy so deep that they shine.
Someday you will run so fast and so far your heart will feel like fire.
Someday you will swing high - so high, higher than you ever dared to swing.
Someday you will hear something so sad that you will fold up with sorrow.
Someday you will call a song to the wind, and the wind will carry your song away.
Someday I will stand on this porch and watch your arms waving to me until I no longer see you.
Someday you will look at this house and wonder how something that feels so big can look so small.
Someday you will feel a small weight against your strong back.
Someday I will watch you brushing your child's hair.
Someday, a long time from now, you own hair will glow silver in the sun.
And when that day comes, love, you will remember me.

   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~           ~ ~ ~ ~ ~            ~ ~ ~ ~ ~         ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~        ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~           ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As I read these words to Ruby last night I was drawn to tears.  My emotion was palpable.  Her reaction to this was precious and a testament to how innocent and loving she is.  Through a shaky voice and teary eyes, I tried to continue.  Ruby pushed back, looked at me and said, "what's the matter mommy?"  what are you doing, crying?".  You could tell that she really didn't get it.  Why on earth did my mom break down in tears right now?  She was clearly perplexed but before I could answer she put her arm around me with a squeeze, kissed me so gently on the cheek and said, "it's ok mommy".  This of course brought on more tears and a little laughter as I tried to brush off my silly little breakdown.  Or, was it silly?  The words in that book touched me.  The truth is,  I find myself very often these days just trying to survive from one day to the next.  We've made it successfully though the parental death march of sippy cups and diapers, but we have so much further to go.  In that moment last night, I was reminded how important these early days are.  I want to make the most of them and not waste time being resentful for all the times I had wanted to go to the gym and couldn't.  All the runs and bike rides I missed.  For all the dates we didn't have.  All the places we couldn't go.  We're working on a very big project here and only get one kick at the can.  This isn't a dress rehearsal after all.  When Ruby sits down on her porch someday, wearing a pink scarf with the wind blowing her silver hair, how will she remember me?  

Happy Birthday my love.
You make me very proud.
I hope to return the favour.
ox

park it!

It's official - our kids like to park it.  And, now that they're getting older, taking them to parks is less stressful on the adults than it used to be, so we go a lot.  Almost every weekend, in fact.  You might say we're kind of on a mission to find new, awesome parks.  

The new park at Magnetic Hill Zoo is the best park in town, without a doubt.  Besides the fact that it costs $28 to get into the zoo to use the park, it's a very fun experience for everyone.   Technically, it's a bit advanced for Leo, but he did great.  No fear.  He's a climber and loves the big slides.  I love watching their faces on the way down.  So proud.  So happy.  

There are surprisingly a lot of pretty great parks around here and I guess we better suck up all the parking we can before, dare I say…. winter arrives.  

No.. winter's not coming for a long, long, long time.  We have quite a bit more parks to find before hanging up our sneakers.  I look forward to the next trip.  

the final days…. of summer?

Does it seem to anyone else that as soon as the calendar flipped from July to August the weather turned cool and poof - summer was over?  We've had a few warm days here and there, but seriously… August has been crap.   Mental note - ALWAYS take vacation in June or July.  

Even though the weather hasn't been very summery, the Grants have been soaking up what's left of the summer vibe, or trying to at least.  In between all the cranky-waking-up-too-earlies and the cranky-I-refuse-to-eat-anything-but-lollipops….. we try to keep busy.  (Yes, there seems to be a cranky theme going on here.  I won't dwell on it.  I'm praying that it's just a phase and I'll make it out alive.)

On a positive note, Ruby's really enjoying her new daycare at the YMCA.  The staff and program is super and she's exhausted every day when I pick her up.  Some days she tells me I should have come earlier but other days she tells me I should wait until after gym to pick her up!  Go figure.  Will I ever get it right?  

Leo seems to have adjusted to his glasses at this point.  He's pretty good at wearing them but a pattern has developed when he gets, you guessed it, cranky.  When the crankies arrive, Leo pulls the glasses off.  He's done.  I think it's his way of telling us he is in control and we have none.  Little does he know that we basically feel out of control 80% of the time.  

At least we are in control of taking pictures…. so here's a glimpse of what we've been up to lately…. 

Ruby got her face painted at Crystal Palace.

Camping at Fundy.   Leo is LOVING his milk. 

Hike at Fundy Park

Playing at a random park.  I have no clue where… it's hard to keep track. 

We go to a LOT of parks… a new one every weekend.

This is our local hang-out.  Bessborough School Park.  

Ryan's birthday dinner in Sackville. 

Water fight.

Ryan's birthday dinner and family gathering. 

We are "considering" going camping one more time before the cold weather sets in.  Are we crazy?  Yes.  But I think you basically have to be crazy to have kids at our age.  I, for one,  admit that I am insane.  Probably always have been but I think the kids made it worse.  Just sayin'. 

Good night.  :)

summer is fun

You haven't heard from me in a while (again!!) but I'm finally here to report on the Grant's recent inaugural 5-night camping trip.  At a campground.  In a tent.  Four people in one tent.  Five days and five nights.  Three meals (and snacks) per day.  Yes… we did.

We packed the minivan, quite literally to capacity and headed over the big bridge to PEI for a fun-filled week tenting with friends.  Twin Shores campground here we come!

There - Full to capacity.  Organized and jam packed.

Back - Leo slept for the entire drive home.
Van is still full but quite unorganized. 

The weather during the week was perfect.  Once Ryan and I realized that camping bedtime was inevitably going to be much later than regular bedtime, the rest of it was perfect too.  Well... maybe perfect is too strong a word.  Manageable. Tolerable.  Fun.  Not bad.  All of these words work for me.

Chilling out on our first night. 

Leo and his best girlfriend, Sunny.  

First campfire of the season.  What a feeling. 

First roasted marshmallow of his life!  Wow.  History is made. 

The girls playing some kind of game with their feet.  

Ruby and Leo in a quite moment…. it was sweet.
(Did anyone notice he's wearing two hats?)

Distracted troops while the adults made supper. 

In true Leo style, our little guy woke up at 5:30 a.m. on the first morning there.  That was after just getting to sleep at 10 p.m. the night before.   The second day was better.  If I recall, it was 5:40 a.m.  The third day was MUCH better - a beautiful 6:30 a.m. start!   Our champ Ruby slept-in nicely every morning and I was the lucky one who got to sleep with her after Ryan fled the campground with Leo every morning as to not wake the rest of the many campers.  They drove to a nearby town every morning for breakfast, playgrounds, and even some vehicle maintenance.  Looking back, I think Ryan will always remember it as quite a nice bonding time with his little boy.  Right Ryan?

We really did have fun and having two other families with us made it even more awesome.  It was touch and go at times…. for example, by day two both kids were asking if it was another beach day... to which I replied "hell ya!".  (not really, I was thinking 'hell ya' but I actually probably said something gentle like, 'hm... you had fun at the beach yesterday, didn't you?'..... then I changed the subject and tricked them into going to the beach a couple hours later.)  In retrospect, the beach vacation was more for Ryan and I.  We've always loved the beach but the kids will need some more brainwashing... I mean maturity, before they grow to love the beach as much as their folks do.  In their defense, the water was much cooler than it is in NB.  I didn't even dunk and frolic once, which is strange for me.  I was planning on sneaking in a bit of swim training for the triathlon I intend to do later in August. The water was just too cold and I am just too wimpy for that nonsense.  I did manage to steal away for a run on the beach with Katherine and my new best dog friend Finnegan, which was definitely a highlight of the trip.

Among some other highlights was Ruby's swimming for the first time ever!  I will never forget the moment that she realized she wasn't touching hands or feet.  So proud.  Both of us.

Our spot for five days!  Perfect. 

By beautiful boy.  

Ruby surfing and swimming!

I got several nice shots like this.  Nice.

With the van maxed out we didn't have room for our bikes.  That's a definite must for next year.


Can't wait!  It was so much fun we're doing it again.

I LOVE SUMMER!! SUMMER IS FUN!!

dear Leo, happy belated birthday my love

It's difficult to put into words just how much we love you, Leo.
I guess putting 'love' into words is just plain difficult so I'll try to capture some of the ways that you brighten my days and make each one special in some way...

You are a great hugger.  I hope you never stop hugging me... even when you're all grown up.  On graduation night, on prom night, after a big game... and in front of your friends.

I love it when you call me 'mom'.

You are a terrific shopping partner.  Sometimes I take you out just to pass time.   I enjoy watching you flirt with the ladies and it gives me pleasure to see how much joy you bring to random strangers with your friendly smile and sweet 'hello'.  Those dimples are going to take you very far young man.

You are almost potty trained.  Keep it up.

You're doing a great job wearing your glasses and I'm so proud of  you.  I know it must be a huge adjustment for someone so small.  I hope you don't get too many Skittles or Smarties as a result.

You are the most polite little young man I have ever come across and I thank you for that.  It makes me feel like I've done something right.

I could go on and on, but last, I want to tell you how much I adore you and look forward to growing up with you by my side.  You're a good friend.

Your second birthday was amazing.  You were, as usual, a perfect gentlemen and everyone had a terrific time.

Happy Birthday my Love.
-oxoxoxox mom.

these pictures are slightly out of order, but here you go….

Just like Dad. 

Helping me water the plants. 

Birthday Fire Truck Driver

His party with Papa and Nanlynn

Happy Canada Day 2014

Cutest bum on the planet. 

Canada Day pool time. 

Loving the sprinkler fun. 

Glasses.  Lollipop.  

First beach weekend of the year.

making progress

I know I said I'd backtrack from now until the beginning of June but something amazing happened today. Ruby went to the Y without any fuss.  She walked in with me, said good morning to everyone and let me go without running behind screaming!  I don't want to jinx anything but I would call this major progress.

Yup, Ruby's growing up fast, but still very much a little girl.  I try to remember that when she's having a freak out.  She knows what a rectangular prism is and that we live in the country Canada, in North America, but she also gets very upset when I flush the toilet for her or try to pee on top of her pee.  That's a no-no in our house.

She completed a full year at Montessori last month and was thrilled about her graduation ceremony.  I think she may have been scolded behind the scenes before the show because she came on stage looking like this…

Thank goodness Ryan managed to capture her true beauty after the diplomas and roses were handed out.

We are so proud of her.

She also participated in her first Ballet Recital last month.  The show was precious and I got it on video.  Unfortunately it's too long for this blog, but here's a picture of her driving home with her rose that we gave her.  Her reaction to being handed a rose was precious. She's definitely a good little dancer and will be continuing Ballet in September.  Which will be here before we know it.  This summer, like all others, is proving to be just as fast.  But, we don't want to think about that just yet.
Let's enjoy this beautiful weather while we can.

As you can see, Ruby's very passionate. 

Good job Ruby!

so June…. where did you go?

Since I've missed so much of June (and really do have a lot to report), how about we start with July and backtrack.

This lovely summer day, July 7th, had a rather sweet beginning.
Ruby quietly entered our room at 6:56 a.m. with her new sneakers on requesting that we go outside for a run so she could test them out.  So, we did!

Matching family shoes. 

Before the big race.

And we're off!

She's fast.  I think the Nike's work.

Leo is in Sackville today so it was an un-hectic morning (no offence Leo).  I was hoping that her good mood would transcend into a perfect farewell.  She started full time daycare at the YMCA last week and drop offs have been difficult.  Today was better than a few days last week, so we're making progress.  I guess that's better than going backwards, which is how I feel sometimes.

On that note…… see ya later!
Stay tuned for more adventures going backwards from now to the first of June.