April 11. 2011

fresh breezes

Posted by   Published in kids, out of doors, photography

What a beautiful change a week can make. Last weekend the snow wouldn’t stop falling, Dan and I were sick and our plans were drastically changed.

This weekend was a breath of fresh air. A heart swelling, getting things done, breathing deep of spring kind of weekend. We were spoiled by visits with dear friends, great food (which may have included cupcakes), knitting (almost finished my little pullover), fresh air, muddy (not snowy) boots and even a few checkmarks on our to-do list. After a rather long week it was just the type of weekend to lift my spirits and set me up nicely for the week ahead.

The kids enjoyed most of both days out in the sunshine, watching the snow piles shrink drastically, trading winter coats for t-shirts and woollen hats for sunburns (oops…). I mostly watched them through the window while surrounded by piles of paperwork but managed to get most of the tax work done and steal a few minutes outside…although Dan’s business taxes will be a challenge for another weekend.

Here’s a few of the things I saw this weekend.

Adventure

Sweet faces

Fun friends

Creativity

New beginnings

Theatrics

Growth

Indulgence

How did you enjoy your weekend?

5 comments
March 28. 2011

delusions of spring

Posted by   Published in family, out of doors, photography

The arrival of spring, while always a sure thing (even if it isn’t until June), always keeps us guessing. I’ve enjoyed the journey to spring more and more over the last couple of years but this year the journey seems to be taking its sweet time.

The cold and snowy weather we’ve had this last week is nothing unusual or unexpected. There seems to be at least one May snowfall each year so we could have lots of this weather yet to come. I’m rather hoping not but we are trying to make the most of this lingering winter while dreaming of all the good things going on under the white stuff.

Despite the fresh snow and the snow that kept falling we spent both of our days outdoors this weekend.

You may not want to see this, you probably don’t…but here’s how our spring is shaping up.

Maybe the romance of winter is past but I can’t argue against its beauty.

7 comments
March 13. 2011

coming home

Posted by   Published in beautiful things, out of doors, photography

Are you all tired of mountain pictures yet? Obviously I am not but these will be the last for a little while, I promise.

We made it home without incident (my sister sighed with relief) from our lovely stay in the mountains. We had a wonderful time! It was relaxing, refreshing and peaceful. The three oldest littles loved their time on the ski hill – especially the big sisters and we loved watching their skill, courage and confidence develop. They have been so proud to tell everyone that they went up the chairlift and we’ve been so proud to see how they are growing more each day.

We were a little sad to leave but coming home is always so sweet. Be it from a week away or a trip to the grocery store, I love coming home. That feeling of peace and comfort that home holds is always welcoming even if it doesn’t quite appear welcoming (cranky children, messy floors, worn-out adults).

Goodbye, mountains.

Home, sweet home.

3 comments
March 10. 2011

adreneline

Posted by   Published in beautiful things, out of doors, photography, thoughts

I enjoyed a couple of days on the ski hill this week for the first time in eight years. I hadn’t skied since my first child was born and even then it had been minimal.

I started out feeling rather apprehensive about everything from the tow rope to the, er, terrifying height of the bunny hill. It only took a few minutes to remember what I’d learned all those years ago. My sweet husband waited behind me at the peak of every hill making me feel a little safer just by his presence and gave me many a head start. Once I’d descended to a plateau he would ski down behind me – taking five seconds to every minute of mine.

See that sign? I asked myself that same question…

As I was leisurely (and sometimes not so calmly) cutting back and forth across the hills I reflected on how I have changed in those eight years. Motherhood has changed me in ways I never imagined. This is reflected in so many aspects of my life but on the ski hill I discovered I am less fearful.

A deeper faith and a greater trust has moulded me from a once very fearful person in shyness, timidity and insecurity to a person who knows a little better who she is and who she was made to be (and I say a little because I still have a long way to go, fighting those previous tendencies much of the way).

Somehow my time on skis brought to light this change which I am thankful for (and which affects my daily life)  but which I have taken little time to acknowledge in gratitude. I wouldn’t go back for anything.

Having said all that, despite the fact that I’m a less fearful person, I still don’t get a thrill racing downhill or pushing my limits. I am not a relaxed skier and even with greater experience on skis I don’t think that would change. I get my kicks more with crafty endeavours and personal encounters than speed and exhilaration. I’m no adrenaline junkie – the fight-or-flight response – I’d use that to run.

So I enjoyed my quiet time on the hill, slowly carving wide S’s across the snow thinking of how effortless many of my fellow skiers made it all look while I held a firm grip on my poles like they were some sort of safety rope. And I thought how thankful I am to know my speed and enjoy its pace while happily (and rather tremulously) watching my two oldest children fly down those hills fearlessly at their own speed.

I had to add this shot because it actually makes me look like I sort of know what I am doing. I don’t know how my husband managed to capture such a deceptive angle of me but it makes me feel kinda special.
5 comments
March 8. 2011

quiet times

Posted by   Published in family, kids, out of doors

Yesterday Dan and my sister took the three older children for their first visit to the ski hill. They did very well and were very fortunate to have not one but two instructors to themselves for the 90 minute class. They are rather timid and generally cautious little people so these new experiences, while thrilling for them, can be rather anxious times for them. They persisted through tumbles, runaway skis (and skiers) and tow-rope frustrations, coming back to me full of the day’s excitement and ready to hit the slopes again.

While they were off adventuring I had a quiet afternoon with the two smallest jays. Simon had his nap while Sarah and I sat out on the deck in the cool, sunny air. She chattered, sang and involved me in one of her great imaginative games while I took pictures (mostly of her sweetness) and tackled a few minutes with my knitting.

We had a lovely visit together.

Enjoying this view.

And this view.

With so many people in this dear family these quiet times are treasured and while I was eagerly awaiting news from the ski hill, it was nice to dream, imagine and play with this sweet little gift.

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