A birthday boy and four years rich with joy and memories;
breakfast waffles with Grandparents Jay;
gift opening and playtime;
finally weather that feels like spring;
a welcome nap for mama;
a stolen visit to my favourite neighbour for a pan and a chat with her sweet people;
cake baking – my favourite and the bday boy’s choice;
tacos for dinner and whipped cream dolloped cake for dessert;
candles blown out;
essential oils for bedtime sniffles, sore throats, and restlessness;
a good, quiet morning;
Sunday afternoon date with my best man;
a farmer’s market visit for two;
pastry from my very favourite bakery – pear & cheddar croissant;
celebrating the sunshine and the date with a wheat treat – pizza;
then home to children happy with grandparents and dinner prepped by grandpa;
children settled, some helped to sleep easily wit a hot bath and mommy’s magic sleepytime rub;
now quiet time with inlaws, a growing sweater (so close to the bottom ribbing!!), and little BBC favourite.

A delicious and joyful weekend of celebration and blessing!

::

How was your weekend? Wishing you a gentle slide into Monday! xoR

:: joining Amanda for weekending:: 

:: giving thanks with Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for Gratitude Sunday ::

Breakfast out with mama talk, a dear friend, and huevos rancheros;

a quick peek at a wool shop (my stash firmly held in mind) and a little fabric shopping;

sewing plans for red pjs for an upcoming birthday boy;

remembering (not without strain) how beautiful snow is despite being more welcome in December than April;

Saturday chores mostly completed by children and finished by mommy;

dinner made by a very proud and independent nine-year-old – complete with two salads, home baked potato and carrots chips, and various sauces (and this photo of the first course);

washing up with hubby while kids had a wild dance party in the basement;

a long hot bath which revived me enough to scrub the floors after bedtime (I really am thankful for that last one);

an unexpected late-morning in bed;

a sick babe quick recovered;

popcorn and veggie juice for lunch;

a crafting afternoon with a kind (and patient) friend who uttered no complaint when crafting became the inevitable snack providing, kitchen cleaning, broken dish reality of life;

a wee bit of sewing time despite the distractions;

laundry washed, hung (albeit indoors), and folded;

and the most precious moment of all – all eight of us snuggled tight on the couch, a sweet smelling head under each arm, another dear child on my lap, my heart swelling with the joy and wonder and blessing of this great big love.

::

How was your weekend? Hoping your Monday is shining joyful and bright!

:: joining Amanda for weekending:: 

:: giving thanks with Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for Gratitude Sunday ::

A quiet weekend in this house of jays.

Beginning with a batch of caramel for lattes (and apple slices, and chocolate cake, and spoons);
a friend’s visit with rambunctious kiddos, then sneaking out for a quiet dinner;
finally sampling a Canadian classic – I will return for more;
home again to the first dust of snow;
Saturday morning slow becoming April’s taxes and snow;
too many hours with receipts and numbers but she kept me company;
rewarding (and cheating in my case) with hubby’s always yummy mac & cheese (at least the noodles were brown rice?);
he made me a gluten-free chocolate cake for later, no one makes me cake, it was perfect;
another snowy morning in spring;
fresh juice in our new Breville – no leftovers in this house;
german pancake, sans gluten, and an excuse for more caramel;
taxes submitted (hooray!);
garden planning, plotting, and dreaming;
a few rows, then a few more;
and now quiet settles in as children drift to dreaming and I listen and type.

Good night or good day. Wherever this finds you, I wish you peace.

::

Where did you find gratitude in April’s first weekend? 

:: joining Amanda for weekending:: 

:: giving thanks with Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for Gratitude Sunday ::

This weekend was plans changed then changed again.

Plans for a birthday were postponed when the mystery flu moved to another host (darn it), and snow came gorgeous but cold.

It all gave way to a weekend of peace and celebration. Quietly enjoyed, gathered close, often snuggling.

And while my soul found gratitude in the delight of a gentle weekend, our thankfulness most keenly celebrated our newly minted seven old.

So, this weekend was about a first son, gentle and sweet;

his energy which leaves us breathless, his individuality, his depth;

his weeks long plans postponed with kind understanding;

joyful celebrations by parents and siblings;

special waffle breakfast, the requested carrot cake, his favourite tomato basil pasta, all fit around gift opening and LOTS of play;

then tucked to bed with one last birthday wish and blessing.

::

It was a special weekend of celebration despite the unexpected curveballs. How was your weekend? Where did you find gratitude?

Have a beautiful new week!

:: joining Amanda for weekending:: 

:: giving thanks with Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for Gratitude Sunday ::

This weekend was a spectacular drive home through freshly powdered mountains;
the blessing of a random act of kindness as the customer ahead of us paid our drive thru bill;
the joy of arriving home this year to a larger space (until our new home we always downsized after our winter getaway);
clean floors which my dearest sis had scrubbed before we left;
a last minute optometry appointment and new glasses before closing to fix this;
waking up to the sun shining in our very own rooms;

haircuts for two of the six – they are trusting children;
lunch out with my best guy at my favourite restaurant;
cheese and salad and pastries;
the first meal out just the two of us in longer than we can remember (thanks to my sister’s childminding) ;
an evening of chatting, laughing, and cards with lovelies;
hardly noticing daylight savings’ stolen hour thanks to hubby up for the breakfast rush;
thrifting date with my sister;
hiding for a quick nap before dinner;
then sun shining still as we ate.
Now blueberry-banana ice cream (without the cream) and the call of my knitting needles.

::

How was your weekend? I hope it found you well!
Wishing your new week rises peaceful and bright.

:: joining Amanda for weekending:: 

:: giving thanks with Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for Gratitude Sunday ::