I feel like these days I have a lot of pictures but not a lot of words. We are having such a wonderful time here. Relaxing (some of us, ahem, more than others), enjoying and exploring. I’ve been so blessed by the extra rest this time is offering me. My body feels so much better than it did when we first arrived, my mind has more opportunity to daydream about the little jumping bean we are all so anticipating and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to finish a small task and then sit down without the thoughts of a houseful of other tasks to complete first.

The kids are having the time of their lives, waking Grandma and Grandpa earlier each day in anticipation of the day’s events and going strong from dawn til dusk.

Tomorrow is a special day for a very special oldest sister. Birthday preparations have been happening all week and I almost have her birthday sweater ready…it may be missing its buttons and blocking but I’ll get the last button band finished tonight. She helped me make her cake today – her request was a vanilla cake with brown sugar fudge icing. It sort of makes my teeth crawl to think of all that sweet but we’re going to serve it with whipped cream and hope that softens the sugar blow.

We have a few other hopeful plans for the rest of the week- counting on the rain to stop first. There is a favourite dairy farm (with some milking for willing hands), strawberries that have just come ripe for picking at a local u-pick (hooray!!), a trip to visit the falls and a little more beach time.

Here’s a bit of how we’ve been spending our days…

trips around the house

baking with lemons and bananas in a kitchen so much roomier than mine at home

reconnecting with an old friend

building modern engineering marvels

hanging diapers to dry in the sun(!!!)

enjoying some familiar flavours

and some grandma and grandpa treats.

Oh yes, they have been special days.

Birthdays are a big deal in our house.

Not with big birthday parties or many presents (although we are certainly blessed with a very generous extended family). Instead we celebrate with special traditions and moments for the birthday boy or girl.

This year was the first that our little Simon really took in what this day was about with eyes full of wonder and laughter. In all the sibling hype of the upcoming birthday he didn’t suspect it was for him but he quickly caught on to the excitement when it came to candles and gifts.

Here are some peeks at our rather extended birthday celebrations – no one was complaining that we took an extra couple days to celebrate this little brother. (Note all the wardrobe changes – yep, we know how to keep a party going!)

Birthday breakfast served with the reserved-for-birthdays sprinkles.

Precious little curls which I can never resist.

Special moments shared with a sister over his favourite activity – reading. (Be still my heart.)

High fives in his new hand knits (which he wouldn’t be convinced to remove until he was well-overheated).

Trying out a new game from a grandma, grandpa and auntie.

Birthday cupcakes – coconut and lime, mmm.

Yummy bites.

Plain old two-year-old sweetness.

Looking forward to all the new wonder this year will bring and loving these days of beautiful innocence.

Happy birthday, little man.

When he sleeps he still curls up like he did as a baby not all sprawled out like his lanky siblings. He still wants Mommy to pick him up and hold him close. He still has a vocabulary made up predominately of grunts.

His hair is growing back with some of those baby curls. He still takes naps with his blankie. He still wakes from those naps with the best rosy checks and snuggly sleep face. He thinks animal sounds are the best thing going. And that most animals say, “Quack”.

So I know he is still my baby.

But every day he is learning more and getting bigger. He is doing things on his own and telling us he doesn’t need us for everything.

He is reaching light switches, picking out his own clothes and “arrr”s like any good pirate. He has a wonderful imagination and comes up with the best games to play with his next in size sister. He likes to be a baby monkey, a puppy or a monster.

It happened. He’s two.

But at least he still looks like this when he sleeps.

Celebrating a darling boy with sweet smiles and lovely curls who has brought so much love and joy into this full home.

We had lots of fun celebrating a five-year-old this weekend.

Although I already shared birthday wishes on the big day I couldn’t resist posting a quick peek at some of the fun, festivities and birthday traditions.

Breakfast smoothie.

Everyone’s favourite special breakfast, crepes by Daddy.

A favourite gift.

Dapper fellow sporting some new duds – shirt from a grandma and grandpa, thrifted sweater from Auntie and a mommy-made bow tie (tutorial here).

Lemon layer cake whose layers really wanted to slide apart.

And many happy wishes.

Thanks for all the birthday greetings last week – Liam was very pleased to receive them.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Liam!

Turning five is a big milestone. Babyhood remains only in memories and boyhood looms ahead. In some ways it seems hard to believe that this crazy, joyful, gentle child is only turning five but in the same thought hard to believe five years have passed since he entered this family. Such a spark, such adventure, such energy, laughter and, uh, lunacy this precious boy has brought into our life.

Gentleness is a trait I greatly admire and I love the measure I see of it in this beloved boy. His speed (and volume) are set a little higher than the rest of us but he’ll still slow down for a book, a snuggle or to care for a sibling. I have never heard an unkind word pass this boy’s lips. He is thoughtful and sweet. He will notice your new hair cut, new sweater or new recipe and compliment you on it with no realization that he is absolutely charming.

The kid practically has me swooning some days when he notices I brushed my hair!

He’s a treasure.

And a keeper.

And we all hope he stays this way forever.

Is that too much to ask?