Daddy day and mom go play!

I went to the West coast Women's show earlier this month.

 Chelsea's husband Ben called me and said " Chelsea needs a break so do you want to go with her

for the day to Abbostsford to this Women's show thing?

I thought hey not sure what a "thing" is but if it means that I have a day away from the everyday

I was GAME.

It was lovely and leisurely and needed.We had an uninterupted drive there free of me not having a repetitive strain kink in my back from contorting my body in a rather unusual way in order to to pick up a plastic horse ( or insert anyother random object here) that was purposely thrown. In order to stop the accelerated sing songy question like "uhoh?" that quickly evolves in to the more demanding"uh-u-huh-EEEEEE!"

We arrived after one little wrong turn... and it was seriously massive!

And oooooooh the Estrogen in that room!

Hi Chelsea!

And I couldn't resist this I am not a Young and the Restless fan but did get caught up in the

swooning of this actor from that show. I thought I can't pass up the opportunity to take a picture of  a real live star as blurry as it is!

We spent at least a couple hours there, we neandered through and time was on our side. As if it said you can stay here as long as you like...so we stopped to fill in all the give away trips. I have yet to gather up my winnings yet...they must be holding off till closer to Christmas till they let me know (: Charlotte is loving baking with me the last month

I found the perfect little cupcake apron!

Serious cuteness!

And I picked up these little gems from Boske kids!

Irresistable Legwarmers!

It was awesome and filled the void of changing it up a little.
We even went to East Side Mario's for dinner.
Oh yeah it was a serious day away kind of day and I milked it for what it was worth!
It was that much more refreshing to come home to start the week off right!

11680 Days

As of Oct 20th that is how many days I have been on this earth,that is how many sunsets, sleeps and daybreaks I have witnessed.

When I was a little girl I never ever thought me being 32 years old would ever come. I mean inevitably it would come, but at the time it seemed such a far, far off number into the land of adulthood.

I remember playing barbies in my basement and the "much older" , pant wearing, less makeup, much much more mature barbie that was in the mix was" in her 30's". Frankly,the reality was that chick wore pants which made her the "square"

But she was the "chosen one", the one who refrained from going out to the dances, or the parties, the married one and she always stayed home.

Because of course she was "that much older".

Now that I am 32

I truly don't stray too far from what I believed when I was 6.

I love to stay home

I love to wear pants

yoga, or leggings preferably.

Most days,I don't put on makeup - save a skif of mascara or gloss.

 Odd party I am game, but not if I don't know all the "w's"

But I don't feel 32.

But honestly?

I don't feel square and could not be happier!

Happy Birthday to me!

Favourite things this week

Splashing!

Reading ..

 I thought it was about time I pulled out an old "vintage" fave of mine. Richard Scary.  SHE loved it!There is nothing more nostalgic than a staple book from childhood.  I feel so lucky that I can give her a piece of the good ol' days. It is special that the exact book looked back at me when I was her age. My once tiny fingers poured through the same pages.  

Leaf pickin'

and sunny fall days, snackin' at the park with friends!

This little lady paid no mind to the wet slide.

Go big or go home !

Pumpkin Patch!

A
couple weeks back we went on a little trip to the pumpkin patch for Coley's birthday!

I forgot my camera, while a little on purpose actually... because having been at a pumpkin patch before it involves mud....alot of it!
That mixed with Charlotte who these days
 bounces from serious independance to wanting to be picked up. .faster than a ball can!
 So... Camera, mud and toddler in arms could be a juggling act that would not turn out well. I just did some phone pictures which never seem to work out. I would love to have been able to capture this...  a perfect representation of a pumpkin patch

Thank you pinterest!!

Instead it was a lot of this..

Hellooo Mud!

We schleped our way through the corn maze..Which way to go ? Please note proper foot attire was NOT worn - not for the sake of being forgetful. But,for the sheer fact that little missy wanted nothing to do with the act of walking in boots. ..it's been a work in progress and we now have success! This little girl frolicked to a birthday party in her footwear of choice - good ol' rubber boots - on Saturday . Bright sunny crisp fall day without a drop of puddles, mud in sight. New trend alert!

 party dress, and rubber boots.

Go figure!?

Peek a boo!

Charlotte veered directly to this pumpkin saying "pupde,pupde" a.k.a Pumpkin.

I guess this was the one- it's decided!!

Look at that still on the vine and in all her glory.

There is something so authentic about picking a pumpkin right off the vine. Cold, smooth, and full of mud...I felt like farmer Julie out there picking my crop! The vine is very prickly thou - Now I know why most patches already pick them for you - no liability (:

Why hello friends!

This one had some serious eyes for Char! It was to the point where I had to pick her up...

Happy Birthday Coley! You are Char's very special friend

Here's to muddy days of fun!

xoxoxo

Fall Calls

...More like beckoned me from the tallest rooftops..saying time to break out the crockpot, tart apples, casseroles, butternut squash and sweatshirts. I replaced my Scentsy warmer from 'sunkissed citrus' to 'sentimental cider.And that, in and of itself kicks my olfactory nerves right into motion. Which in turn triggers all the things feel good and cozy.

 I don't know what it is but the older I get the more that I crave the fresh, crispness of fall.

For me, the first few weeks of fall is the ONLY time blustery,grey, damp days are acceptable. Almost like a transitionary period where mother nature says you better start realizing that you are in store for many many many months of this so enjoy it now. And she, in turn she puts on a spectacular show.

                                                          

of the deciduous kind..

                                            Somebody else is putting on a show for us lately.
                                                         

                                                    

                                             In all her domestic divaness                                                

                                                    And the literary tip of the day?
                                          The brain absorbs more if you read upside down..
   

 The clouds lifted mostly every afternoon last week and it called us all outdoors for a family walk.
                                                                 The WHOLE family.

So for now we must say..So long to late sunny warm summer nights and adorable summer dresses.

.

Farewell delicious drippy icecream

and beach days that I never want to end....

We will miss you ...

Welcome Fall!!

Desert resort, vineyards, and a wedding!

Equals a little slice of delicious summer pie!
 I have never been up to Penticton before, and the drive thou long with Char, was amazing and as a result of the length Char is now an IPAD master,  nimbling her little fingers around every nook and cranny of that thing!
  I found myself having to manually close my awestruck mouth, marveling at the serious beauty! Everyone NEEDS to do this drive... waterfalls, deer,lush evergreens on neverending mountain tops,  then ever so slowly I watched this transform into a desert scape. Truly and utterly amazing!

 We stayed at the Summerland resort and spa, It was our own little suite - as cute as can be. Every room had it's very own view of Lake Okanagon.
The next day after a lovely melt in the sun, and a swim in the pool. We went for a tour about the city.  Charlotte feel asleep on our way into town and she even transferred into her stroller chaching!! So we had a leisurely lunch at an indian buffet -  I know a wee bit random but we cannot turn down any Indian food even if it is in Penticton of all places!
  Time was of the essence so we were only able to get to one winery. Red Rooster was my pick - we had it with dinner the night before and was delish!! I tell you they sure have a fine plot of real estate !



Check that view!
Doesn't get much better than that !

The most important reason that we chose to head to the Okanagon in the first place is because it was Alexis' wedding, and more importantly Charlotte was walking down the aisle too! Flower girl extraordinaire Right here! What a little peach. I was so proud of her. She did so well - no tears for her or for me for that matter. Still my baby, but already so big. Independance. Can I please mix some molasses in this sand comprised of months, memories, life that is seeping thru my fingers. 18 months ............

                                                   One day she too will be a bride.

Home is your now...

Liam had a few days off and we filled each day to the brim to somehow maximize the first real taste of summer we have seen. There was day trips, eating out, a date night and I even got to go to the spa for a blissful facial! I even whiled away a naptime, napping in the backyard! I actually had a nap - I must have been relaxed!
I normally go home in either June or July and this year will not go back untill Vanessas wedding and I am not going to lie I am homesick more than ever right now and am pining to go back. Nothing beats Kincardine in the summer and I know it is solely nostalgic... because every year that I go back to refresh my dried up reserve of "home" and everything that it represents... and I leave feeling a little empty again. I suppose it is because it isn't what my home is now. Home to me is soo much more now... Liam, Charlotte, our very own adorable house,my amazing friends, Lucy, Irwin, my parents now grandparents. It has evolved - and it will continue to evolve.
Kincardine my small "big" town full of precious childhood memories, my parents, my sister, and teenage fanfare.. was home back then, our amazing house on Manorwood was home, was so comforting,secure, accepting and hearty, happy and calming all of the foundations of my life were formed there, it was vibrant, safe and so much fun, so many lessons and the memories that I have are truly amazing and unforgettable. I guess that it reins true when people say that home is your now.
But to me I feel that your first home is always a truly magical place. Something that can never be replaced in ones memory. Kincardine is really just a teeny tiny town but it was my home and it always will be in some sense. I yearn more than anything to walk once on the pier, to sit on the giant blue chairs at station beach, to trail behind the saturday nite pipe band, to devour Erie belle fish and chips, walk thru tiny tot park and to watch a gorgeous lake huron sunset. All landmarks now, all home to me still.




On saturday we rang in July by heading down to David Lan park to check out the Jazz festival. The music was good and Charlotte had an absolute ball playing in the park - she memorized a little slide by going on it over, over and over again, after all this was no ordinary slide- it had a little surprise bump in the middle just to change it up a bit...she whinied with delight as her little body cascaded over the hump which led her to end up all cockeyed at the bottom with enough unpredictable suspense. Only to look at me with sheer delight say "more?"
 It is days like this that truly represent a b.c summer. Basking in my surroundings. Placed smack dab in a valley of skyscraper condos on one side and ominous beasts of mountains on the other. Drinking in the vendor food carts of various amazingness ( there is a food cart solely for poutine - 12 different flavours!), enveloping a little suntanlotioned slippery warm baby, and holding little watermelon marinated sticky hands, days that you wish that kids hats came with a non removable velcro so you aren't putting your back out  from picking up the hat from the grass that has been ripped quite purposfully off a head - just one more time! 
Watching Charlotte more and more exercise her independance is making me feel so many mixed emotions sad that she is not my little baby anymore but glad that she feels confidant and safe enough to explore. I watched as she threw bouts of " you will not pick me up even if my life is in danger! and if you do I will perform the pencil ( a term I made up when I go to pick her up and she puts her hands above her head and there is no shoulder hook to pick her up with) . I watched as Liam chased her around the park as our wild horse ran. I took in the surroundings and thought you can't beat this city - Our Home.