Our last weekend in this home has come to a close. There has been plenty of packing happening as we send load after load off in my in-law’s truck. It’s starting to look laughably stark around here. It’s a strange thing after being packed to the gills in this space for so long.

These have been long days. Late bedtimes, late nights, paint rollers, garden digging, baseboards and plinths. Packing boxes, moving shelves, uncovering long lost marbles and dinky cars. Bike rides, little boys as race cars, painted toddlers, and shifting light. Friends with ice cream and a newborn, a friend with a paintbrush and work gloves, friends with offers of moving and meals.

So much goodness in these busy days.

Transformation, elbow grease, cold feet, and excitement – this is how we’ve spent our weekend.

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How did you spend yours? We’ve a got a showing today in our house that is pretty much torn apart – I’ve got lots of cleaning to do but stop by and distract me for a few minutes okay??

It began with an afternoon out with my hubby: lunch with the cutest baby, couch shopping, IKEA, and home for shepherd’s pie.

A morning of garage sale visits with my sis. How did I not know how much fun it is? Especially early in the day when the seasoned shoppers are out. So many finds, not the pitch fork and extra shovel I hoped for but a lawn mower and weed whacker. And more, much more – dropped conveniently at the new house.

Lots of garden work. New house and old house – digging a garden there and cleaning up the veggie patch here. Sadly, no veggies but cosmos and aster seeds for some happy colour. Finally the tulips are up.

My sister’s skills with a shovel – getting tanned and toned for her archaeological field season. A friend arriving on the scene with tools and full of energy. The dismal discovery of an invasive and persistent weed in the new space – just as my dad is trying his darndest to eradicate it from his 20 year old garden out east. Brainstorming our plan of attack – a second use for our torn out carpet.

Holding the scaffolding for hubby while he cut in for the paint in the two story foyer. Laughing at my afraid-of-heights hubby who is far too pedantic to let me paint the edging for him.

Siblings who love, love, love dirt. And the sister who loves bugs just as much. Washing dirty feet, then quick showers and hair brushing before heading out the door.

Out the door for the magic school finale – the much anticipated class show. Eager siblings awaiting a peek of big sister. Big sister grinning and full of excitement over her debut. Glowing parents. Sweet magicians, impressive sleight of hand, and many supportive cheerers. The highlight for a certain boy – a balloon penguin – a must have in Elizabeth’s bag of tricks. And a note-to-self on that Thunderchild Crabapple that smelled so pretty.

Topped off with ice cream and another day of weekend left to enjoy. Three cheers for long weekends!

Happy Victoria Day!

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Good deals, hard work, fears conquered, and big accomplishments – this is how we’ve spent our weekend.

How about you? I hope you’re grabbing an extra day, too!

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joining Amanda for weekending

A frappuccino with a friend, the same friend who kindly helped clean the kitchen and wrangle the six into bed.

A Saturday snowday, a first weekend in May tradition, and special bonus for Dan who was helping friends move (and for the friends, I’m sure); hot chocolate, E’s melty butter toast, and PBS for the rest of us. Huge, fluffy, clusters of snow. Dizzying, beautiful, and so ineffectually captured by camera.

An afternoon of roller-coaster emotions, cravings for pudding, surfing for light fixtures, and packing boxes. Dan and many helpers learning (via YouTube) how to skim coat a ceiling while I chuckle at the commentary, “He’s so tall.” “I think he’s tricking us.” “Is it a trick, Daddy?”

A morning lay-in, nail polish on patient toes, Skype chat with Grandpa S and his dog; then Daddy out with the three big littles for a girl’s magic class and reno shopping.

Meanwhile an hour of frantic cleaning for me – a last-minute showing. Thankfulness for the hypnotic power of television as I plop two kids down while I hide cloth diapers and sweep crumbs. Grabbing little sis from her nap and whisking us over to the playground across the alley.

An unexpected hour at the park, an eye out for the showing realtor, gratitude for the (mostly) dry grass after yesterday’s snowstorm. Four-year-old races, rocks in shoes, baby eating grass.

Home again for dinner by daddy, pudding and inevitably macaroons by mommy, and the bedtime marathon.

Finishing it off with a touch of knitting, a new Sherlock, and a cup of tea.

Busyness, full minds, sweet pleasures, full hearts – this is how we’ve spent our weekend.

How was yours?

Wishing you all a beautiful new week!

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joining Amanda for weekending

Paints decided, drawing with bunny nuggets, sunshine days, and rainy afternoons.

A whole lot of celebrating, birthday breakfast, sweetest gifts from the sweetest siblings, wonder at sparklers, and three incredible years.

Rosebuds mouth, sun-kissed cheeks, curly locks, and tangled tresses.

More planning, packing, strategies, excitement, anticipation, and the countdown – two days until we hold the keys to our new home.

Simple joys, great celebrations, dreams come true – this is how we spent our weekend.

How did you spend yours? 

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joining Amanda for weekending

Paint swatches, roasted veggies, sweet friends;

a favourite game with a new twist;

last year’s cherries in anticipation of this year’s bounty.

The neighbourhood and its children enjoying spring with picnics and water balloons;

chats with family and stolen moments at the sewing machine;

the best cinnamon rooibos.

Kids with kind friends for sandboxes and sunshine,

we shop for hardwood and check Energy Star ratings;

secret pretzels and pastries;

thrifting denied.

A chicken dinner for twelve, not early enough for sandy, sun-kissed kids;

visiting with mama and papa until bedtime has long since come and gone;

a late night so worth it.

Chicken stock a simmering, bread rising, granola baking;

Kids out all day, baby giggles, the boy tells jokes;

perhaps now a nap.

Laughter, sunshine, dreaming – this is how we’ve spent our weekend. 

How about you?

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joining Amanda for weekending