Three months gone in a blink. Didn’t I just post a two month update? We’ve had days that have floated by in sweet smiles and gurgles. We’ve had days that have been highlighted by sickness and frustrations. But through the highs and lows this smallest girl of ours has brought a bounty of peace to our household. Not just to this mama who soaks up the quiet moments nursing, snuggling or simply baby gazing. Mira is doted on by siblings who will interrupt the most energetic play to offer a kiss, tell her she’s cute or pull goofy faces in hopes of winning a smile.

We are blessed by this wonderful girl who so perfectly suits her name.

Ask a dramatic five-year-old for a superhero pose and you may get something like this.

This little hoot slept through all the excitement but her noggin was toasty warm.

Halloween was a blast this year.

I had great plans for costume making, most of what we needed was thrifted with some additions from the fabric store and I was going to be ahead of schedule…Then I got sick and only got myself back together (or almost) just in time for the big event. None of the costumes were too intensive but I was feeling the last minute push as I was sewing at 5:45pm on Monday.

Once the mad dash to finish costumes and feed hungry mouths was over (because candy does not a dinner make), costumes were donned (with layers upon layers upon layers) and Mira was snuggled in her ride (the Ergo). We headed out in the now dusky evening for trick-or-treating.

All five of the them got into the swing of things very quickly. The Cowboy, Peacock and Captain Underpants led the pack while the sweetest little Cupcake moved those little legs with unexpected vigour (even before candy sampling). The darling Sharky preferred to hang back with mama’s hand so we held a slower pace while he made such precious announcements as, “Me share, Mommy!” and exclaiming, “Weird” at every skeleton, jack-o-lantern or bat we passed.

Everyone carried their own bags (or dragged as the Shark preferred) all the way around the small loop.

Now here’s the deal. My children don’t eat much candy. They even still have candy from last year’s small haul. We limit sugar and especially food colouring so a bag full of what they call “junky treats” is a thrill they don’t take lightly. That being said, I think I may be more excited about the candy side of the day than they are. I can’t help it but I’m suddenly transported back to the joys of childhood Halloweens. My mind cries, “Candy! Free Candy!”. I want to visit one more cul-de-sac, one more house just as much as my eager children.

Until, that is, the candy gets strewn, piled and sorted and I wonder what we’re going to do with it all. (I won’t even get into how badly I start feeling about all the plastic waste, consumerism and greed the holiday encourages.) They ended the day on a high (it wasn’t just the sugar), the candy will soon be forgotten and next August will find us planning Halloween costumes once again.

*Confession on the outdoor photos: These were not taken on Halloween. We re-staged them a day late in brighter conditions (the only bright spot in my November yard being in the alley by our yellowed corn stalks). There may have been some bribery, note the suckers, but no one minded the costumes although Sharky rejected his grey sweats. In fact three of the costumes followed us to the chiropractor and a certain little shark is dreaming of fish in bed.

This mid-october weekend passed us by in a blur.

I’m feeling somewhat worn down and worn out thanks to letting myself get stressed by a lot of nothing. Forgetting truth and remembering truth. Hoping it’s nothing a day of letting myself off the hook can’t take care of. There were frustrations, stress and tears but mixed in with that was a whole lot of good.

And that is what I’m remembering now.

There was a whole lot of good in the shape of:

applesauce and apple pies

costume planning for my least favourite holiday but one the kids look forward to for months

enjoying lots of this album

five little people having so much fun in the simplest of ways

some sweet thrifted finds including costume additions and fabrics not to mention the $1.50 snow pants

a two-year-olds most wonderfully charming vocabulary

a fabric store and onion rings

baby sister so happy to be home and sleeping in her hammock again

a pie eating party with friends we’d missed

remembering this great song and this one

a market visit which sent us home with a beautiful box of apples and our kettlecorn treat

a special friend’s first birthday and the wonderful friends we celebrated with

early into pyjamas, pie and tea with hubby and snuggles on a chilly night

..and a little brother who is so good to his little sister.

:::

joining Amanda for weekending