beauty, an extra day off, and thanks Chris!

1 

2 It's Victoria Day so it's a statutory holiday in Canada. Lots of activities went on this weekend, like the car show and farmer's markets and parades etc. We chose this day to stay at home and just be together, puttering, sittings, talking, and enjoying the moment.
3 Chris is a salesman. Man, is he ever! This afternoon he took the time to go over some things with me by looking at my work emails, discussing plans for future marketing strategies, home party ideas, and then he wrote out some do's and don'ts for me. So grateful.

up and down, ouch, and singing it out loud

1 Our day is filled with mishaps. Chris needs medical attention and after we leave the hospital I misstep off of the sidewalk and land right side down on the pavement. No hospital visit for me thank you.
2 The hot tub soothes the aches and pains and the full moon soothes the soul.
3 Mr P is on his way home tomorrow. I'd do the happy day if I wasn't so beat up, so instead I'll just sign the happy song.

grateful, view, Izzy, and good news

1 Some days I just have one of those moments and when I do I are so grateful for those that care, that help and that there's an amazing team behind me. 
2 Tula has a new view from her scratching post that let's her keep an eye on the outside when it's dark, cold and rainy or she's just tired. 
3 Izzy calls to tell me that she's had a great day! I love how she wants to share all the little details and her enthusiasm overflows and I can't help but smile as we talk.
3a Chris was offered full time starting April 1! So happy for him.

the last six days

1 Mr P is packed up and ready to head home. It's a long drive. Sixteen hours, so he'll do it in two days.
2 We chit chat over the phone and find him the perfect out of the way place to stay. It's plain and simple, but clean and with a continental breakfast.
3 I make a big dent on my Christmas gift wrapping and gift making!
4 The idealistic me wants to make all sorts of things for everyone, but the practical side of me tells me to think real. I narrow down my selections and feel relief instantly.
5 Making a gingerbread house with Izzy. I love how she says, "I just love Grampa so much."

6 While we are making the gingerbread house, Kesler has found the train Christmas tree ornament along with little village we've put up. He meticulously checks each one out, carefully put one away before taking a new one.
7 It's time for a kitty. We have mice in our basement and they are not welcome!
8 The grandkidlets have a sleepover and in the morning are bursting with energy. Soon the hats, coats, gloves and boots are on and they're exploring the front yard.
9 Izzy finds the sand pile and soon both kids are wielding shovels and pails.
10 I'm glad there's no snow. It's nice to enjoy warmer weather after the long bitter cold snap we just had.
11 Grampa and Izzy get busy making pine cones for the birds. Lots of effort goes into getting the right amount of peanut butter and seeds as well as choosing the perfect length of string for hanging.
12 Mr P has patience. He hasn't been around kids a lot, never had any of his own, so it's a new and sometimes overwhelming experience for him. Still, he has patience.
13 Kes does really quite well despite being overwhelmed with sights and sounds from the busy Christmas morning. He's not ready to face the world yet, and hides his face in mommy and then daddy's shoulders.
14 Our Christmas dinner, well the turkey part is created and boned and served by the one and only Mr P. He follows the directions perfectly and it's a lovely golden brown and the stuffing - delicious!
15 Santa brought Izzy and Kes a few things in their stockings at our home. They each got a battery operated guitar! Kes loves music. Kesler carefully touches each button to hear the sounds. Izzy touches them all at once and dances all over the living room in complete abandon.
15a Chris had taken Izzy to the Dollar Store for Christmas shopping. She was so excited for each gift that she had chosen and each gift was perfect for the person. I'm amazed at the perceptiveness for a four and a half year old.
16 Izzy catches us smooching, grins and says, "You're married. Come on over here and dance. Rock it you guys."
16a Bath time for the little ones after dinner brings the energy level down a notch or two. At least for a little bit. Soon it's time for pumpkin pie and topping and we ride the sugar high.

17 After dinner we talk online with Nick and Sara. They look amazing, happy, cozy and we all get nostalgic. We show them the old home videos of Nick and Chris as toddlers and everyone has a good laugh.
18 Sara and Izzy sing songs to each other. Izzy chose a song from Frozen and Sara sang a Chinese lullaby to her.I look at the screen when Izzy is singing and see tears streaming down Sara's face and she's biting her bottom lip. They are lovely together.
19 The house is slowly being set to normal. The boxes are being filled with ornaments, gifts put away and baking goes into the freezer. All we have left are lights on the house and some turkey in the refrigerator.
20 Mr P likes his wifi weather station. He's putting it up and having fun playing with the install and putting the app on his phone.
21 It's quiet here. Just the sounds of the birds, the whirring of a washing machine down the hall and the sound of the keyboard.

good times, what we did, and who sleeps that long?

1 BBQ chicken, garlic scapes, sauteed mushrooms and rice is the menu for our dinner tonight. Chris, the kids and Kuma (baby corgi) came for a visit and dinner. We played out on the deck and the plants are thoroughly, and I stress the word thoroughly, watered. Kes hasn't quite mastered pouring water. He usually turns the pail towards himself and then dumps it on himself!
2 Time for a motorbike ride so Mr P and I check out the Farmer's Market, take some photos while we walk, stop and watch some slow pitch and then take a back road to home. The road leads to a place called Tabletop Mountain. One section is especially steep so I hike up. No slips or slides and soon we're back on track.
3 We came home from our excursion tuckered out and napped in the middle of the day. Mr P slept for over 2 hours! Even after he woke up he was groggy but managed to give our Izzy a motorbike ride. She's so eager it's hard to say no.

getting creative, opportunity knocks, and peony

1 Chris, Isabelle and I spend some time this afternoon making Mother's day and birthday cards for Izzy's mom and Lola (other Grandma). We draw, cut, colour, write letters and put on stickers. What fun! Izzy and Daddy make the cards for Kesler because he's sawing logs (sleeping!)
2 A surprise phone call this afternoon leads to a job interview. It's set for this coming Monday morning. I'm excited that there's suddenly an opening at a local hospital. I'm thinking of a list of questions to ask at the interview. I've worked in healthcare before in a job almost identical so those are coming easily to me.
3 The peonies are so big that they need peony rings to hold them up. This surprises me because I dug them up in February to move them and they're still in pots. Apparently they don't like being moved but these ones are all happy and have blooms on them!