Preparation

Construction of box and toys to be seen tomorrow...

and the putting together of cards and pictures that have finally arrived. Better late than never?

Our little helper

Izzie has been very busy helping us around the house. She helps with dishes, (meaning she throws, plunks or dunks them into the sink the asks "More?") she helps with putting her dirty clothes away at the end of the day, she helps me sweep....or just holds the broom for me. And here she helps Phil feed the kitties.

She's the best little helper we could ask for!

Happy Winter Solstice

May your day be full of warmth and light and love.

Also, FYI, it is super hard to take a picture while a kitty is in need of love and keeps snuggling your picture taking arm. (Not the kitty in the picture, obviously.)

Staying Warm

(Trying to Get) Back to Normal

Last week was a hard one, but I think you already know that. Travelling, late nights, early mornings, lack of caffeine and a motel room that I'm pretty sure I was allergic to. On top of that, grief so thick that my tears started to hurt my cheeks. A sense of relief that confused and made me feel guilty.

And through it all, Izzie was a trooper. With everythingt she went though and saw last week, we expected her to have more than one well deserved melt down. But she only started to get upset when she knew we were heading home....because she wanted HOME NOW!

We were all happy and sad when we arrived home. We all missed my stepmother (who Izzie took a great loving to, and for whom she still asks about) and my brother R. and his girlfriend K. I enjoyed hearing stories about my dad from his friends, old and new. I hated leaving so soon, but life doesn't wait for you to get over things.

(And boy oh boy did we pick a crappy time to come back! It's frigging cold out there! So cold that Izzie and I didn't leave the house for two days. Phil didn't even bike to work, he took the bus. And he biked almost all winter last year, except for one week.)

So now we are home, and getting back into our routine. Early nights, early mornings, cups of tea, tea parties, puzzles, colouring, more veggies than chicken strips, less giving in to crying and temper tantrums and more standing firm, dancing and Christmas songs playing all day. Breathing and allowing myself to cry when I need to.

...and stopping little kitties who have developed bad habits in our absence. Bad kitties!

Dad

My Father with Izzie last April

On December 8th in the early morning, my father lost his battle with cancer.

Dad, I'm angry that you were sick, but glad you didn't suffer any longer. I'm glad you got to meet Izzie and were an amazing Grandpa, I'm sad that you only met her twice. I'm sorry and feel guilty that I lived so far from you but know that if I didn't I would never have met Phil or had Izzie.

Thank you for walking me down the aisle. Thank you for telling me how to handle and take care of my car. Thank you for showing me the heavens through your beloved telescope. Thank you for being there whenever I needed you.

There are too many things to apologize and thank you for. I love you and miss you and wish you were still here.

Trooper

He's a trooper.

It's -12 degrees Celsius (9 Fahrenheit) but -20 (-4 Fahrenheit) with the wind chill.

And he loves it.

Bike safely my dear.