Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Last Week of 2009....in Pictures

Opening presents....

Riding on presents...

Present aftermath....and tickle trunk from Nana.... (for those of you who don't know what a tickle trunk is, it is from a popular Canadian children's show named Mr. Dressup.)

Enjoying her new dress up clothes and accessories...


A new doll sling made by Mamma....which turned out to be a little to small, so....
another was whipped together. Now she can carry several stuffed animals or her new doll(s)...

Tree down, more space for toys.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

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?



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

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!

Monday, December 21, 2009

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.)

Friday, December 18, 2009

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

(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!


Monday, December 14, 2009

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.

Friday, December 4, 2009

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.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Travelling Toddler

While driving to and from the US last weekend, Phil and I had an education. How To Entertain Your Exhausted Toddler Because She Doesn't Want To Sleep and She Hasn't Slept For 8 Hours Straight.

Ouch.
None of us are used to travelling in cars, which could be the reason Izzie was unable to fall asleep around her normal nap time. But we tried everything, and I mean everything. Including stopping for over an hour at a mall so she could play in the indoor playground. Surely that would tire her out? Normally, yes. But alas....
Feeding the backseat beast seemed to appease her. Playing with puzzles (ugh, puzzles while travelling) and reading stories over and over again also helped. And then, once the sun had set after the 8th hour of being awake, our backseat beast would quietly slip into slumber. We would sigh with relief....and then reach our destination 10 - 30 minutes later.

Moving on to my purpose of telling you this. Yesterday, Izzie, and I went to the Museum for some fun away from the house. Along came my friend and Izzie's Auntie. And her car. We strapped Izzie in and away we went.

Fun was had, slides were slid, stairs were climbed and we called it a day. Plunked Izzie into the seat and headed home. Two minutes into the drive, we look back....

Seriously?!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Say Cheese

(Here is what comes from teaching your child one, two, three, CHEESE!)





Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Best Way

To welcome December...
is with a Santa hat....
and shiny shoes.