Last day of vacation

Today the girls and I decided to celebrate the last day of Isabel's summer vacation with a little road trip. Our plan had been to go to the Children's Museum, but when we arrived it was closed... so we moved on to Maloka: a fabulous science museum. The girls and I had a fantastic time.

We spent an hour in the sensory room walking up a musical ladder with lights, creating our own gym, and making all sorts of science experiments (including 'witches boogers' and 'crazy bouncing balls'). Then we moved on to the electricity section and learned about mazes. We 'crash tested' cars. We spoke across the long hallway via an 'old fashioned' phone. We explored the inside of the brain. And then the highlight was definitely digging for dinosaur bones. The museum was completely empty as most activities only begin in the late afternoon... but one of the animators made an exception and opened up the dinosaur pit just for the girls. I did not get too many photos (as I only had my phone)... but the images make me smile so here they are. Most definitely a perfect way to wrap up our summer vacation where we go to enjoy so much beautiful time together as a family... even though Joshua was ridiculously busy, we had sunshine and the kids and I spent all our time out in the parks. Pure bliss.

isabel in the circle tree

Anaïs in the circle tree

reflections

crash test cars

inside the brain train

digging for dinosaur bones

In the rain forest

Sweet memories...

A dear friend of mine sent us a beautiful new hat for Anaïs (thanks wave kaia)!! As soon as Anaïs opened it she decided she would give her 'old' hat to Leo (thank goodness it's a white bunny hat so it can be passed along without too much sensation). And what followed was mama getting to enjoy a little photo shoot with two of my munchkins. I just love their smiles, their connection, and the way the 'pose'.

Leo trying on his new hat

Anaïs trying on her new hat

posing for the camera... love the way Ana is looking at her brother

a true 'pose' smile by Anaïs

Look of love between brother and sister

hey, that's my eye... Anaïs LOVES this photo!!

love my little bugs 

Ana is so patient with her little brother

lovin' it!!!

Seriously...  she is only 2!!

Healing Chai Tea

This is positively one of my favourite liquid escapes... a warm chai tea with steamed milk (of any variety) and a touch of maple syrup. Simply preparing it fills the entire home with a scent of warmth and goodness... like a delicious hug for the senses. It is a recipe that I acquired from a dear friend, true inspiration, and phenomenal ayurvedic nutritionist and yoga leader... Christine of Fearless Cooking and Shunnya Yoga Centre. Christine calls this drink "mental clarity and energy all in one cup."

Ingredients:
2 litres Water
15 Whole Cloves
20 Green Cardamom Pods (cracked slightly)
20 Black Peppercorns
3   Cinnamon Sticks
8   Slices Gingerroot (peeled; fresh ginger can be easily peeled with a  small spoon)
1/2 tsp Black Tea (or green tea or herbal, or your very own blend... as you prefer)
Splash of Milk, any variety


Instructions:
Bring water to a boil, add the cloves and continue boiling for one minute. Add cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, ginger and tea. Cover, and continue boiling for 20-30 minutes.  Strain.

Serve with steamed/frothed milk and sweeten with maple syrup, honey or agave (if desired... i usually drink it with a little steamed almond milk: delicious).

Each of the ingredients adds their own health benefits...
Black Tea provides antioxidants which are known to lower cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure.
Cloves invigorate and help generate heat in the body, making them useful during cold and flu season.
Ginger strengthens and heals the digestive and respiratory systems, removes congestion, soothes sore throat, and relieves body aches.
Cinnamon acts as a stimulant to the other herbs and spices enabling them to work faster. It is also great for the bones.
Black pepper adds warmth to the body.
Cardamom stimulates the mind and gives clarity. It also acts as an antidote to caffeine.
Boiled Milk eases the assimilation of the herbs and prevents irritation of the colon and stomach.

When each of my babies were just born, I added star of anise (to ease their tummy's) and used chamomile flowers (instead of tea) to relax both me and my little angels. It's always fun to experiment and try to add new flavours... the aroma and the heat of this concoction is so soothing for my soul.

children are miraculous

I positively adore SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy). I am inspired by her creativity, her honesty, her ability to put her feelings on paper with so much charm, her willingness to dream... and she will always remind me of one of my dearest friends with whom I shared my initial love affair with her first books when we started reading them over a decade ago.

The other day, I received a special treat... a friend sent me a copy of this wonderful poem. It reminded me again of how very blessed I am to be with my children every single day. I am smitten by the colourful way in which this poem dances between the challenges and joy that parenting offers. It is, no doubt, hard work to raise a child and to 'really' love a child. Though I am most certain that every parent loves their child the best way they can... parenthood pushes us to experience ourselves as we truly are, and challenges us to grow into the people we most want to be... in the eyes of our children and in our own hearts. In this way, children really are miraculous. So often we think that we are here to teach them (as their parents, their teachers), and yet many of my most humbling and greatest learning moments have come from the lessons taught by my kids... as little as they are. Their ability to be present, their ability to engage with the world, their ability to play without boundaries... it is magic.

I think my favourite line (at this moment, for as time changes my thoughts may too) is about finding elephants... because Anaïs adores elephants, and because we always tell Isabel she has a memory like an elephant, and because the girls and i have a song about all the different animals and we all like the elephants. Makes me want to wake them both up right now and give each one a kiss. Perhaps a better plan is to join them in dreamland and look forward to hugs and giggles and sillies tomorrow.
Hmmmm... I also love the one about reading books out loud... with joy; and imagining yourself magic; and encouraging silly; and... well, i like it all... ha, ha!!! And so wanted to share it and place it somewhere to remind me in a simple, colourful way just how much magic there is in every single day. And when I forget and falter in my ways, I can come back here, regain perspective and always try again.

Copyright SARK 

Oooooo, we can even add a little melody to the words as we read them... singing always makes everything even brighter... at least in our house!!! I think that my girls (and boy) might grow up one day thinking that they grew up in a musical... and wondering why the rest of the world does not put a melody to everything they say and do?!? But hey, what would the world be without music? We certainly love to sing... and dance and play.

{Postscript (July 26th): Today I shared this SARK poem 'out loud' with Isabel. She giggled all the way through... and said her favourite lines are: "Encourage silly" and "Say yes as often as possible". She laughed out loud and shook her head at the thought of banging on pots and pans... perhaps a little too much noise for my little talker. And she insisted that kids are NOT small: "we are all big" she said.}

this moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

7 months

oh those lips...

Today Leo turns seven months and the time feels like it has passed in the blink of an eye. He is simply delicious. He fits into our family unit like he has always been here... except somehow it is even better. The girls adore him... and they shower him with affection every chance they get. He returns their love without hesitation and no one makes him giggle like Isabel and Anaïs. His papa also gets a fantastic greeting each time he comes home from work. We are usually sitting at the table eating dinner and the moment Leo hears papa's voice his arms start to flap up and down, he gets a grin that spreads from ear to ear, and he starts to squeal with joy. And he is still the cuddliest little guy happy to rest in the sling and watch the world go by around him... and every once in a  while, he falls asleep. Scrumptious. I know I won't get to do this forever, so I am truly savouring each moment I get.

lovin' the hand dimples

In the last month, Leo popped his two bottom teeth... he did it with such ease, like an old pro. So, he can now officially chew pieces off of celery and carrot sticks (rather than just gumming them). He loves sitting on his own and really taking in the world around him. I think he likes the sense of freedom that comes with sitting up straight, and the entirely new perspective he has within his own control.

This is the face he started to make days before his first tooth showed itself... little tongue coming out. It has stopped, but was so adorable for the short time.

Devouring Sophie the Giraffe (this is still the one we had from when Isabel was little... amazing)!!

Some loving' from Isabel... first thing in the morning.

No shortage of affection from big sister Anaïs... but what is she saying?

Life is good.

swing, swing, swing

It's such a simple, ordinary thing... a mere repetitive movement, a swing. Yet it is also full of potential, taking flight with a little push... inspiring imagination. 

The girls can spend hours engaging their bodies in the to and fro momentum... whether fast or slow, eyes open or eyes closed, voices singing or voices silent, legs straight and legs bent... touching the sky with a feeling of freedom, lightness and surrender to the possibilities. 

Anaïs adores swinging with her eyes closed these days

The Swing

by Robert Louis Stevenson

How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

River and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside–

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown–

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!