We’ve had a beautiful weekend here at the Jay home.

With plenty of time outdoors.

Lots of sunshine and dirt under fingernails (hair, clothes and everywhere else).

This little chef was busy making dinner for daddy.

It always helps to have a sous-chef.

Dinner was a paté of mud with sauteed rose hips and a sprinkling of sidewalk chalk.

Little brother took care of dessert.

And at the close of this sunny day…

we cuddled up for bedtime stories on the picnic blanket.

This felt like Mother’s Day weekend all over again for me. My lovely family was so generous to wait in the car during errands while I “popped” into not only my favourite thrift store but also a yarn store (it took great restraint to stick to my promise to only grab the needles I was looking for). I enjoyed not one but two dates out with beautiful friends (one of which included my annual trip to my very favourite used book sale – my finds will be another post…). And the icing on the cake? A nap – by myself, with not a snack to prepare, no calls from the bathroom, no peacemaking duties required.

What joy is mine!

How’d you spend your weekend? Hope you found a pocket of time to soak up some joy yourself.

One day recently in the middle of schoolwork we got a little distracted.

Scissors and stapler were out…er, along with half-eaten banana bread and porridge bowls…and one thing led to another.

Before I knew it we had many of these little books.

In different sizes.

Along with paper pouches…

…like this.

And they became books like this one (anyone else have trouble with those pesky “b”s wanting to be “d”s?)…

Somedays homeschooling has me wanting to pull my hair out but I’m always thankful for the opportunities and freedom it gives us – and for moments like these.

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.