Friday, May 30, 2008

Catch a Raindrop

Have you ever tried to do that? Catch a raindrop or snowflake on your tongue. Bet you did when you were a kid. How long has it been since you found so much joy in something so little?



As AC says in this video Smudge is living in the now, and what joy she is finding there.

Smudge Lesson for this week - Reach out and capture all the joy life has to offer you. A raindrop on your tongue, water spray on your fingers, sunshine on your face. Turn off that voice in your head that gets you going around and around about past hurts or future stresses. Live in the now and enjoy.

Have a great weekend. I will talk to you all again on Monday.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Fun in the Sun

After a few cold rainy days, we were finally treated to some sunshine so the first thing we did was head out onto the deck for some fresh air. Care Bear was there waiting for Smudge and they had a little chat.

Then it was time to call Mommy at work and tell her about all the fun we were having outside.

Are you listening to my conversation with Mommy Grandma? I think Care Bear is listening too.

After lunch we took a walk to the park and found Evan there playing in the sand box. Smudge joined him for some rather messy fun.




Before heading home it was time for a swing. What fun we had in the sun.
Hope you had a sunshiny fun day too.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Steppin' Out

Smudge seems to be rarin' to go doesn't she? She loves to walk and could do it on her own, but is still very tentative if she doesn't have a hand to hold onto.

She has taken a few steps unaided, but if she has to go more than a step or two it is down on her hands and knees to crawl. Sooner than soon I know, she will not only be stepping, but running, jumping and skipping into the rest of her life. I don't mind making this "please hold my hand Grandma" phase last as long as possible.

The other morning AC/Grandpa was giving Smudge a bottle, and as Daddy was rushing around to leave for work he said, "she can do that on her own now you know. Just prop her up in the corner of the couch and give her the bottle, she can hold it just fine." I said that we would hold her and snuggle her for as many bottles as she would allow us to. Far too soon, she will be past this phase, and want to "do it myself Grandma!"

As parents it seems that each phase takes so long, but as grandparents we know that it goes by too too quickly so we will savor every day of "babyhood" for as long as we can.

When I put her down for her morning nap, we have a snuggle in the rocking chair for a few minutes to quiet down and get ready for sleep. If she drifts off in my arms I cherish the few minutes I have to gaze down at her sleeping face. Nothing quite like holding a sleeping baby in your arms. Awesome!

If you have a small baby at home now, take a minute to really look at them and savor this moment. You will make a memory to tuck away in your heart and be glad you did on some distant day. If you are a grandma like me, and your babies are now adults with babies of their own, take out a memory or two, dust them off and let them warm your heart and soul.

Memories are not glass treasures to be kept locked in a box. They are bright ribbons to be hung in the wind.
Leah Shamara

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The Latest

The latest action going on at our house these days.



Now where did I put those ear plugs?

For the Kids in SK

Some pictures of Mother's Day weekend that I thought you might like to see. For the rest of you, let me explain who these people are. We have Uncle Brian holding the camera, cousin Sarah holding the baby, and Sarah's friend Joon looking on.
More fun with the cousins
Sisters on Mother's Day
Hope you are feeling better Ben, and the girls are taking good care of you.

Love and hugs from all of us in this corner of the world

Monday, May 26, 2008

Typical Day

It is a happy garden day here in our corner of the county - in other words it is raining. A perfect day for reading, writing, and contemplating life. Oh, I do love a Rainy Day. As I sit here by the living room window gazing out on the fresh green world I feel like my soul is getting a drink too. Ah, refreshing.

I have some odds and ends of pictures to share with you today, so thought I would put them together outlining a typical day with the Wee One.

Time to rise and shine! Do you notice what is in her hand? Yes, her comb. I think she is resting up so she will have the energy to figure out what to do with her free-spirited hair today.

After breakfast it is time for a walk with Grandpa. She does love her walk and usually picks a dandelion or two for Grandma. She manages to look very cute in Grandpa's doesn't she? Ah, what sweet memories we are making with her.

On a sunny day, we visit the local park for a ride on a swing. Smudge is not quite sure what she thinks of the swing though. We have to be very gentle with her and not push her too high just yet. I am sure in no time flat she will be saying "Higher Grandpa, Higher!"
In the afternoon we might spend time on the deck.
Or on a rainy day we might visit the library to check out the toys there.

Or just stay at home and play rough and tumble with Grandpa. What fun!
Whew, the Wee One is worn out now, time for a nap before Mom and Dad get home from work.
That was last week, now it is time get busy with this week. If it is raining where you are this morning, take time to enjoy it and let its beauty soak into your soul.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Spring Beauty

AC and I took a drive in the country yesterday and were amazed at the size of the lilac bushes everywhere. The bushes in Thesha's back yard are beautiful but only a couple of years old so they haven't reached their full glory yet. The mature ones along the highways and byways in the country however are magnificent.

In a little town north of us we passed this one old house that had this most magical entrance way. I just had to stop and take a picture of it. Pretty huh? Now take a deep breath in, and imagine the fragrance. Out of this world! Wouldn't you love to drive along this lane on your way home every night? This is aroma therapy as only Mother Nature can do it.
While we were oohing and ahhhing over the flowering bushes and shrubs Smudge seemed quite unimpressed by them. She tapped her feet, clapped her hands and giggled a lot to the sounds of Raffi singing , but I think her favorite part of the excursion was our stop at Tim's for coffee and a Timbit or two. Yum!

So ends another week of babysitting. Smudge is cutting teeth, and also had two needles at the doctor's office this week, but she seems to be taking everything in her stride and is keeping her cheery disposition. What a kid!

We had lots of rain this week, but the weekend promises to be full of sunshine and blue skies. Yahoo! We hope to get our garden planted and then sit back and enjoy the colour all summer. I hope you have a weekend full of sunshine too, and are able to walk in it every chance you get.

Smudge lesson this week - Don't let the little things bug you. Keep your cheery disposition no matter what pains come your way and brighten the world around you with your smile.

Talk to you again on Monday.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Morning coffee

The May long weekend started off warm and sunny, so AC and I decided to go out for breakfast on Saturday morning, then take our coffee to the park. Great idea right? Wrong? Looks like a beautiful spot. Right?
Wrong! Well actually it is quite beautiful, with lots of trees, green grass, blue water, picnic tables, benches...but... on this day, a kazillion black flies, fish flies and mosquitoes took over the park. I took these pictures from inside the car, and we couldn't even sit there for long because the car was too warm to sit in with all the windows up. Sheesh! We couldn't even open the windows a crack because the car was being swarmed with the nasty biting blighters!
After about five minutes, we gave up and high-tailed it for home. We sat in our screened in porch and enjoyed our coffee out there in peace. No water within sight, but no bugs either. Ah, now that's better.

In about two weeks the black flies and fish flies should be history and the mosquitoes should calm down a bit. In the meantime it will be coffee on the porch for us.

Hope you enjoyed a relaxing holiday weekend and you didn't let anything bug you.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Funky

Someone is cutting teeth at our house, so not much spare time has been spent at the computer for the past couple of days. Little Miss Rosy Cheeks has demanded a lot of lap time, so the computer has been put on the shelf and is getting NO laptime. Hence no fresh pictures for the blogs.

We have a lot of pictures on the camera that have yet to be uploaded to the laptop, so once the let me sit on your lap stage has eased up a bit, more pics will be coming your way. Hang on!

While we are awaiting some new pics I thought I would post this old one for your enjoyment. I do have trouble getting Smudge dressed some days, because the weather keeps changing and Smudge is growing like a weed.

On this particular day, Smudge started out wearing a sun dress. The sun went in and I thought she needed a sweater. I picked one out of the drawer and it was far too small, but after I fought to get it on her, I wasn't about the fight to take it off just at that moment.
She was sitting on the floor, and I thought her little legs were getting cold, so I went hunting for a cute little pair of pants to add to the outfit. Well, little was the operative word this day. They were too short, too tight and far to hard to get on, but once on, they were staying put until the next diaper change.

She sure looked funky and I thought it was worth a picture. Her mom is going to deny me dressing privileges if I keep this up. I think it is time to clean out her closet and pack some of these little trouble makers away.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Contemplation

I think Smudge might be doing some quiet meditation before tackling a rather difficult task...

...deciding what hair-do to go with today. Is she looking to her animal friends to give her some ideas? Looks like it doesn't it?
There is no doubt about it, we girls do have troubles with our hair some days. I think Smudge's hair looks cute every day, but she needs some quiet time today to decide whether to flip it up or under. Hmmm? What to do?

Friday, May 16, 2008

Alien?

Who is this? Turtle girl from the planet Barclay?

Nope. It is Smudge playing tricks on Grandma. These glass tables sure are fun.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Cuteness on the deck

I posted a video of water play yesterday, but thought this pic was worth posting too. She was having so much fun with that little bowl of water.
This picture was taken just before she decided to do the table dance AC posted on his blog yesterday. She seems quite pleased with her performance of pat-a-cake doesn't she?

I love watching her look at her fingers with wonder. Fingers are absolutely amazing when you stop to think about them. Let's learn another lesson from Smudge and look at ours in a whole new way today.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Onesies Painsies

Grandpa said he would get Smudge dressed for the day yesterday, and as I sat out in the living room with my morning coffee I could hear him muttering about something in the nursery. After a few minutes they came walking down the hall all set for the day. Well, almost all set for the day.
As you can see from this picture Smudge's onesie is all askew. A onesie is a body suit that goes on over the head and snaps closed between the legs. We didn't have such an invention when our kids were little, but it is all the rage now. Grandpa can't quite get the hang of it though. He gets it caught going on and off over the head, and runs into trouble with the snaps too. He has posted a cute picture on his blog this morning - here.
He also wrote about onesie-painsie here

Water Play

Yesterday was the first day warm enough to let Smudge play in some water outside. She had lots of fun and made a royal mess, but that's the beauty of playing outside - we just don't care about the mess! Splash that water around with abandon Smudge, we don't care!


She was dripping wet but happy when it was time to go into the house.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Mother's Day

For all you Smudge fans out there, things were kind of up-side-down after all our company and celebrations on the weekend, so I wasn't quite on my game yesterday. Sorry I didn't get anything posted for you.

Mother's Day was celebrated in grand and glorious style in our little corner of the country and a good time was had by all. The Tucker's arrived on Saturday morning, and we had a short visit with them before they took Sarah and her latest beau Joon, from South Korea, to tour our nation's capital.

AC and I started the celebrations early with a Grandmother's day lunch on Friday. What fun! We don't go near restaurants on Mother's Day Sunday because they are all too crowded, but AC always makes a point of taking me out for a meal a few days early. This year Smudge joined us and was as good as gold in the restaurant. It was our first solo trip to a restaurant with her and we managed just fine. Our meal wasn't quite as relaxing as it usually is, but much more fun. Smudge was quite taken with all the people and "festivities" going on all around her. Here she is tasting some of Grandma's apple juice and thought it was quite unique drinking out of a little plastic glass like this. No sippy cup would do for this big girl at lunch that day!

After lunch it was time to go back home and catch some sun on the deck.
This is a new game Smudge likes to play. It is called "Let's see how cute I look in Grandpa's hat!"

Pretty darn cute I'd say!

Saturday was a quiet day for us, but we all gathered at Thesha's house on Sunday for a Mother's Day brunch. Aunties and Uncles joined us for the celebrations, and Smudge entertained us all. She is more fun to watch than any movie.

The sun shone for the whole weekend and we spent lots of time outdoors. Here , Thesha and Smudge enjoy time in the garden so Smudge can inspect the lilac bushes. She wasn't sure what she thought of them. Can you tell from this picture that she is cutting more teeth and is constantly grinding the few that she already has.
After the garden inspection she was ready to head into the house and chow down on some ice cream. I think she had more fun biting down on the spoon though.

While Smudge played "let's make a mess with the ice cream", Grandma enjoyed her favorite cup of coffee before opening some presents. Something happened to the camera, and most of the "present" pictures were all blurry, Sigh! The cutest present was a little tea set for Smudge and I to share. I do love my cup of tea, and I plan on having lots of tea parties with the Wee One when she gets a bit older. I will try to take a picture of the set and post a picture of Smudge with it later this week.
Thank goodness some of the pictures turned out though. I love this one of Auntie Sarah and Smudge?
Sarah is heading back to South Korea next week to resume her teaching position there, so it was extra special to have her here to share some time with us this weekend.

Take care Auntie Sarah. We love you!

Friday, May 09, 2008

Starlings in Winter

I know I have posted this Mary Oliver poem before, but it is a favorite of mine and worth posting again. Daffy made a comment on my Morning Walk blog this morning that brought this poem to mind, so this is for her. You can enjoy it again too if you like.

Starlings in Winter

Chunky and noisy,
but with stars in their black feathers,
they spring from the telephone wire
and instantly

they are acrobats
in the freezing wind.
And now, in the theatre of air,
they swing over buildings,

dipping and rising;
they float like one stippled star
that opens,
becomes for a moment fragmented,

then closes again;
and you watch
and you try
but you simply can't imagine

how they do it
with no articulated instruction, no pause,
only the silent confirmation
that they are this notable thing,

this wheel of many parts, that can rise and spin
over and over again,
full of gorgeous life.
Ah, world, what lessons you prepare for us,

even in the leafless winter,
even in the ashy city,
I am thinking now
of grief, and of getting past it;

I feel my boots
trying to leave the ground,
I feel my heart
pumping hard, I want

to think again of dangerous and noble things.
I want to be light and frolicsome.
I want to be improbable beautiful and afraid of nothing,
as though I had wings.

Morning Walk

The morning walk is getting to be a ritual that Smudge really likes. I get her coat on while Grandpa is getting his shoes on, and she waits for him anxiously at the door. There is a world out there to explore Grandpa. Let's get going.
She comes home from the walk all rosy cheeked and wind blown, with treasures clutched tightly in her little hands. Grandpa picks these "flowers" for her at the beginning of the walk and she holds them all the way there and back.
What exciting gifts the world has to give her every day, and she enjoys unwrapping each one of them. We sit at the front window and watch Robins hunt worms on the front lawn, and Crows bounce on hydro wires. The big yellow school bus always draws her attention, and the garbage truck coming down the street is an event she doesn't want to miss.

From quiet yellow dandelions to noisy yellow school buses she enjoys them all. Let's learn a lesson from her and take joy in unwrapping all the gifts of today.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

StoryTime

This seems to be one of Dani's favorite spots - her book shelf. It is just the right height for her and has a nice selection of cloth books, board books, touch and feel books and lift the flap books, in both English and French. She amuses herself for quite a while with these books, but before long...
...she wants a story read to her. Of course, we don't mind a bit.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Time on the deck

We enjoyed a sunny but cool day yesterday, and the Smudge and I spent lots out time out on the deck. I needed to soak some of the warm rays into the core of my being, and I think Smudge did too.

When we arrived at the Sha's in the morning we discovered that Smudge had been up since 4am and both she and mommy were more than a little tired. Oh dear, when babies are cutting teeth everyone's sleep is disturbed. We don't have babies cutting teeth at our house, but this cough is making sleep a tad difficult for me these days, so Smudge and I took our weary bodies out into the sunshine. I sat with my feet up, and a cup of hot lemon and honey in my hand while Smudge crawled around investigating nooks and crannies on the deck. A good time was had by all.



At one point during the morning she picked up this toy phone to play with and I told her to call Mommy to see how her days was going. I was quite surprised to see her put the phone to her ear. That was the first time I had seen her do that. What an amazingly smart little girl!

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Work, Work, Work

Getting ready to go out for a morning walk with Grandpa and it was cold enough this morning to need a wool hat and mittens. Don't I look cute in this sweater? That's my first job of the day, get the cuteness factor going.
After lunch we went out shopping for a new tree for Grandma and Grandpa's front yard and I helped pick out the best one in the nursery. Then it was time to admire the tulips, pose for a photo op, and spread some more cuteness around.

Shopping is all done, and now it is time for a walk before I go in for my afternoon nap. Come on Grandpa, can't we go a bit faster?A baby's work is never done.

Monday, May 05, 2008

Morning Sunshine

This is how Smudge wakes up most mornings. With smiles and chuckles and lots of energy to send her joyously into her day. Grandpa just lifted her out of the crib in this picture and she was quite happy to see him first thing in the morning.
When a girl can't do a thing with her hair the only way to handle it is with a good laugh. You will notice that she is holding a comb and a brush. I need three instruments to brush Smudge's hair these days. I have to keep rotating them, and seeing as she only has two hands, I need three instruments. I maybe get in two sweeps with the brush or comb before she reaches for it, so I hand it to her and grab the one she drops so I can go at the curly mop again. Round and round and round we go until her hair is all brushed. It lasts for about two minutes before it looks like it hasn't been touched for months again. What a head of hair she has. Makes me wonder what she will think of it when she is a teenager.

Hope you enjoyed the Smudge sunshine for today. I will send more your way tomorrow.