Joy of Love: Day 10

Day 10 Prompt: Space - where they are comfortable

The kids are most comfortable in our family room. This afternoon, Miss Madelyn fell asleep on the couch... Odd for a little girl who quit napping well before the age of 2. She said she wasn't feeling well, and then suddenly, she was asleep. Mason sat on the couch with her, while doing his home reading. In this space we watch TV or movies, play games [mostly it's them doing the game playing, in all honesty] we read, play Lego, play little ponies, or just plain hang out. It's bright during the morning and early afternoon [it faces east] I'm trying to figure out my camera [which is over whelming to say the least] These pictures were taken without using a flash. The lighting was not good, it was late afternoon, about 5 pm. So the fact that they're not totally blurry is a bonus.

Joy of Love: Days 8 & 9

Day 8 Prompt: What they have said, done, promised or given.

2 years ago, for our 10th wedding anniversary, Barry took me to Greece. It was wonderful... We had a little over 2 weeks with out kids. At the time, Mason was just starting Grade One, and was 6 years old. Madelyn was only 3. We'd never done anything longer than a weekend away without the kids [don't get me wrong, we were grateful for the weekends away] But to go away, just the two of us, and enjoy ourselves, and re-connect, and most importantly, remember what it was we liked about each other, before the stress of a family came along. Now, if I get crabby [never happens] or short tempered [unheard of], or he does, or we both are, I can just think back to the time we went away, and remembered what it was we liked about each other. It was the most wonderful gift...


Day 9 Prompt: passions and hobbies

Barry loves to golf. He loves to golf the same way I love to scrapbook, take pictures, fiddle in photoshop and blog. Unfortunately, we live in a very hostile climate for golf. These babies don't get the work out I know he'd like to give them. So they sit in the garage for months at a time. I know he looks at them longingly on occasion. There are a few indoor golf places he can head to, when the situation becomes dire. There's the yearly trip to Arizona with the boys, to get the golf season started off right. But that white stuff in the background... Yeah, that's called snow. Snow puts a damper on his love for sure...

Valentine's Day Decor

I decorated our mantle with Valentine's Day in mind. I thought perhaps after decorating for Halloween and Christmas, I would be done... But it just seemed so darn bare. I love that it doesn't look bare any longer. Maybe after Valentine's is over, I'll try to come up with something that won't look quite so bare until at least October...

I found the printables in a number of different places, all blogs of course and all for free, thanks gals! This one on less cake {more frosting} [I totally love the yellow and grey version of the hearts she has as a download, LOVE it. A possible new color theme for next year perhaps]



At eighteen25, I found another awesome poster download, did the cute little heart pictures I showed a few weeks ago, I did the kids valentine's, the template is here... [Supa cute! I thought I'd attach a little itty-bitty baggie of candy hearts to the back of the valentine. Like the candies they're holding] I'm also planning on doing the larger valentines for teacher treats. So cute and personal. I adore their website.




The other prints, I can't remember where I came across them... Hate it when I do that, but thought they were lovely too. I'm particularly fond of I love you a bushel and a peck because it's a song we've been singing around here since Mason was born.

Joy of Love: Day 7

Today's Prompt: Generations

Let's be honest, I'm pretty sure that a chip and dip bowl wasn't quite what Kelly had in mind when she posted today's prompt, generations. But this chip and dip bowl was handed down to me from my Grandmother, who used it a TON. Since I've had it, I too have used it a ton. [And yes, people kinda made fun of my retro bowl, but I didn't care, I've always loved it]

One day [October 31st, 2010 @ about 2:30 pm to be exact] I was sitting in my kitchen with my Mum and these girls: [I had a house full of kids, for a Halloween Party, and I was quietening them down with the Charlie Brown Halloween dvd] Come to think of it, it was eerily quiet, with a dozen kids in the house...

and I heard a PING sound... I think we all looked up towards the cupboard, because that's where the sound came from... But to be honest, I didn't think too much about it. Then, one day I went to the cupboard to get my beloved bowl, and this is how I found it. Split in two... A total clean break.

I felt really bad about losing this piece, but I did throw it away... As luck would have it, my Mum had an exact match [well, different color] and gifted it to me! Thanks Mum! I do have a silly sentimental attachment to it!

So, considering that my Mum & Dad are wintering in Arizona, and Barry's Mum & Dad have no plans to come over in the next week or so, I really wanted keep on track, so that's my generation story! [And I do love that chip bowl]

Joy of Love: Day 6

Today's Prompt: What they love

This one was easy-peasy. They both have stuffies they've had since they were itty-bitty babies. Mason has had Sandy since he was 4 months old, and Madelyn has had Girafee since she was brand new. Both are nearly thread-bare, and can barely take another washing. [Unfortunately both need to be washed on a regular basis] They are never to far from view. Mason does pretty good, leaving Sandy in his room most of the time. While Girafee is usually tagging along with Madelyn, where ever they happen to be in the house. They are a pretty darn important part of these kids lives. They LOVE their special friends.

Joy of Love: Day 5

Prompt: What do you love to hate about your loved one?

Look at those poor little lips... SO chapped. They were actually bleeding on Thursday. And yes, we try to keep her covered in lip balm or Vaseline. But she can't leave her lips alone. [And yes, I sneak into her room when she's asleep, and lather those little lips up] Because her lips are so very chapped right now, she's got this dreadful habit of stretching her mouth open... If you've seen it, you'll know EXACTLY what it is I'm speaking about, right Mum? I'm sure she's doing it, because the skin is so chapped and tight, and she's constantly feeling her sore lips trying to heal. But I can barely stand to watch it. It drives me insane. Anyone who doesn't know her and glances at her while she's doing this 'mouth thing' must FOR SURE think there is something wrong with her. That breaks my heart, that while she's at school, her little classmates are noticing her doing this [and how could they not be] I'm sure at some point someone will say something to her about it. We try to keep lip balm handy, and we try not to mention it too much, because that just seems to make it worse.

Little girl, you seem to have one little idiosyncrasy after another. I hope they don't get worse than this one...

Joy of Love: Day 4

Prompt: What they wear

My little boy requested 'skinny jeans' sometime in October. I searched and searched, but they were out of stock every time I looked. Then, a few weeks ago, there they were, a whole wall full of skinny jeans at Old Navy! I bought 2 pairs, and it's been hard to get the jeans off him to wash. He LOVES them, and will wear them every day. [Good thing there are 2 pairs] I'm sure everyone at school thinks he never washes them, but believe me, they get washed quite regularly. I try to mix them up with a pair of cords or khaki pants, but he LOVES these jeans!