through the week

1 Tuesday and it's time for work. 6 am why do you come so soon?
2 The day is full of ups and downs, lots of changes, lots of learning and lots of laughs to offset all the craziness of the day.
3 Girls night out for dinner. We meet up for an early evening of drinks, food, and laughs all round. It was fun to surprise one co worker with a card for her birthday!
4 Mr P and I spend our evening in the hot tub. We soak away the stresses of the day and find comfort in just sitting there, holding hands and absorbing the serenity.
5 Miss Tula catches a bird! Mr P is looking down on her as she stalks her prey and we are both more than surprised that our fat cat can actually catch a bird. She takes it around the corner and when she looks up at me with her big green eyes looking for praise, she opens her mouth and whoosh, away goes her catch!
6 We have had a few visits from the neighbourhood bear but he's not finding much of anything to munch on these days so we're feeling comfortable leaving the front door open for Tula again.
7 Love, love, love being with my girls. Being at work is just the remedy I needed to make me smile and smile I do.
8 Enjoying a cold frap on the deck while listening to the Tragically HIp and feeling a gentle breeze on my skin.
9 The day is done. Time for dinner. 

inspired

Friday & Saturday

1 The roads are slick this morning and we see many cars unable to make it up various hills and exits along the route. Still we take time to drop off little chocolate advent calendars for the grandkidlets.
2 One last day of work then the weekend off. I am the only support staff in the office so it makes for a long but productive day. My final bit of work is arts and crafts. I make a lovely sign for the kidlets Christmas party.
3 Heading home the roads aren't much better. It was a night of freezing rain and very slick roads. Mr P likes to play in the snow so I bite my tongue when he uses the emergency brake to turn a corner here or there.
4 Breakfast with Santa

5 Izzy says to Santa, "I love you Santa," and he replies, "I love you too Isabelle, from the minute you were born." She suddenly is quiet and unsure of what to say next, but he quickly gives her a colouring book and chocolate and all is well again.
6 There was a magic show and she says her favourite part was when he put some ripped up paper into his mouth and pulled out this very long coloured paper. Kes liked the silver rings trick.

Friday and Saturday

1 A  freak snowstorm means we rush down to the store to get eggs and other ingredients for our cookie baking. But we didn't know about the scheduled power outage so we are again in the dark. This time it's 10 - 2, not too bad.
2 Their favourite show tonight is Justin Time. Very cute little cartoon with good stories and meanings.Justin Time

3 Our story tonight is Love You Forever. She likes me to sing the song to her and each time I do she snuggles in closer. Kesler misses it all, he's already asleep.
4 Sugar cookies with Isabelle and Kesler. They are both excellent at the icing part!

5 My oldest son comes for dinner. He's been on his own for a few days while the kids have been with me. He's greeted with big love.
6 A few minutes of quiet time to clean up and write this blog. I've been reminded of how valuable that can be.

I am grateful

1 Before we know it a week has gone by and it feels like he's barely had time to unpack and now he's packed and gone.
2 The grandkidlets have a busy afternoon playing in the mud! Mud pie soup was on the menu.
3 He has a rough night with a snuggly nose and by morning both grandkidlets are in bed with me.
4 They love being outside so we spend the morning on the deck making tents to lie about in, read books in and picnic in.
5 A trip to the park and it's swinging, playing with little girls and racing to get to the slide first.
6 They are good helpers. She sits in the front of the cart and piles each grocery item neatly in front of her; he holds the mini crisp bag and tries desperately to open it.
7 At bedtime they snuggle for stories then she shifts to a spot of her own. He's at the top of the bed and she's reverse at the bottom. Feet to feet! I remember doing the very same thing with my sister but with more angst!
8 It's time for baking and my helpers are the very best at pouring things, putting the cupcake holders into the tin, filling those tins and best of all eating the batter off of their spoons.
9 When it's time to decorate the cupcakes they put some candies on the cupcakes and more in their mouths. I give them each the choice of an iced and candied cupcake or plain. Surprisingly (or maybe not), they choose plain.
10 After work I go to Winners, just to look around, I tell myself. The bag is full of pjs, socks, underwear and a book or two.
11 Three days of work and I'm finished this particular rotation for a while. Everyone's holidays are over and the first temp gets priority for workload coverage.
12 A part time job posting has come up at the hospital switchboard. I apply and now it's the waiting game. It would be lovely to have a set schedule instead of being always on call.
13 Sometimes we need support, The kind of support that mom's give.
14 Sunrise
15 Feeling grateful for the day and the quiet.
16 What a joy to sit in the shade on the deck and just read.
17 Legos, doll houses, tea sets and umbrellas are fun to put away, for now.
18 He's strong and he can do this.
19 Winds blow the umbrella right out of its stand. I fiddle with it for a while and eventually it is snug and secure.
20 A sunny and warm weekend so far. The skies were blue and cloudless.
21 He likes what he hears and says he felt validated hearing it.

labour, beach ave, and pets

1 Labour Day in Canada is usually marked with days off for employees and with celebrating the union movement. From the people who brought us the weekend.. thanks!

2 Beach Avenue is my go to spot lately. I love walking and running down there. It's flat and paved and has the most amazing views. I can't seem to get enough...Maybe we'll have to move closer to the beach?!
3 Pet Playmates

tomorrow, missing you, and it is what it is

1 All I can do is be there, be a listener, and love him through the pain. Tomorrow is a new day.

2 I miss the grandkidlets. Izzy has fairy wings waiting for her, and Kes has a new helicopter waiting for him.

3 My friend tells me, "it will be as good as it can be."

Mr P, mindfulness, and hug for me

1. I'm grateful for my husband, Mr P, who is my best friend. He’s here for me, to listen, support, to push me when I need that extra bit of oomph, to give me space when I need that too and to love me through it all. Best love~ 
2. I am grateful that I am able to be more mindful. Mindfulness is good for bodies and minds, helps change the mind, encourages focus and compassion, and is grounding. 
3. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the lives of our grandchildren. They’re two very individual people who are learning about life, who are willing to sharing their ideas and feelings and they both give great hugs.