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The other day, Leah and I walked to one of our favourite parks, stopping at a friend’s place so they could walk with us. Their apartment complex, which we used to live in, has beautiful trees in bloom. I couldn’t resist a few shots.

We both had a lot of fun. Leah has became more adventurous, even with other kids at the park. I loved watching her interact with the equipment as well as the kids while I talked and occasionally played, assisted and photographed.

It doesn’t take much to get her hair flying.

Leah loved being on the saucer swing with her buddy. I loved to watch her face erupt with excitement when she played.

What fun times!

Spring has seemed to arrive very early this year with cherry blossoms in beautiful bloom and hyacinths brightening up the drab soil.

Likewise, my gardening friend and I got into some action this weekend by planting our vegetable seeds. They need to be started early indoors where it is nice and warm so they can grow to be robust plants before being able to withstand the outside garden.

I’m tending to them as we have large windows where they can bathe in the sun rays while they grow. Some of the seeds are as small as sesame seeds so they need careful tending which I hope I can provide in order for them to flourish. It’s hard to believe they will be producing juicy tomatoes amongst other vegetables this summer from such a humble beginning.

Here is a sampling of what will be in our gardens this year.

I have also been busy this past week or two making room for these seedlings in the backyard. It used to be a gravel cover spot to park vehicles but with a lot of muscle and sweat, it will be transformed this spring. Unfortunately, once some of the gravel had been removed, all we saw was clay. It still can be a garden spot it just means more work to make it happen.

We have had amazing weather which has been very conducive to working outside. Though it is hard work, it is lovely being in the sunshine. Every time I’ve gone out to work, I’ve had to take off my jacket or sweatshirt as the sun shines.

This week calls for rain which will bring opportunities to get some of the indoor work off of my list. I hope to show you some progress in that neglected department soon.

Leah is growing up and expressing her independence in new ways as of late. She definitely is one determined little girl who cracks us up on a regular basis. Here are some of her new finds.

She is now designing her own jewelry.

Trying to make a hard hat look stylish with a dress by putting in on her head in every direction. Backwards won out.

Getting ready to go to the job site.

Cooking up some goodness.

Trying to help a friend by putting on his shoe.

After some convincing, Leah accepted that is was possible for her to own and use a jacket besides her brown winter coat. Now she goes out in her adorable, ladybug rain jacket when the weather is a bit warmer. On this particular day she picked out her hat as well. She loves to pick out what she wants to wear no matter the weather. I figure she is a smart girl and those gloves she is determined to wear in the warm sunshine will be off soon enough once we are outside. And if not, a little bit of sweat never hurt anybody.

Not everything is a choice though. If it is wet outside and we are going out to the yard, she needs to wear her rainpants, etc. I do try to jump ahead of her a bit when we are going out in public or when she doesn’t have a choice so then she only is given one option. Leah is a girl of opinions so we are continually trying to balance letting her make her own choices and what is best for her. I’m sure we will be still trying to find that balance as it gets readjusted so often for the rest of our lives.

I’m so happy to see signs of Spring this year, especially in my very own backyard. These bulbs have survived after being completely overgrown by weeds and other plants for a few years. Their resiliency brings joy to my heart.

Last week I ordered our seeds for our vegetable garden and am looking forward to picking fresh vegetables again.

There is something so soothing and peaceful about working in a garden and getting your hands dirty. A lot of life lessons to be taught while tending the soil. I’m grateful this year to enjoy the beauty of flowers I didn’t sow and am looking forward to sowing and tending more this season.

My mom came over to our house on Friday and baked some special cookies with Leah. Leah loved helping stamp all of the hearts. On Saturday, we visited my mom and sister to decorate the cookies.

Spreading the icing was a little tricky but Leah was a pro at putting on the heart sprinkles.

She loved eating the cookies before they were iced but wouldn’t touch them after. If she knew what exactly she was putting on the cookies, I’m sure it would be a different story.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Look where mommy and daddy took me last weekend.
I loved looking out the windows at the skating rink as well as skiers and snowboarders but my all time favourite was saying bye to each yellow gondola as it passed by the window. I also soaked up all the attention from Grandpa, Grandma and my aunts and my uncles the whole long weekend.

Since it was my first time on a ski mountain, a few new experiences were in order. My mom told me how much fun riding on a sled would be but it is way overrated in my opinion. The moose was alright. With a name like Loose Moose, wouldn’t you be a little afraid too? I did the obligatory high five then sled it out of there fast.

Sitting on a snowmobile was okay but skating is where it is at. My mom put these funny things on my boots that make you able to glide on the ice. I wanted to go off on my own but mommy had someone hold on to me saying something about lack of safety equipment. I still had lots of fun anyways.

My favourite part of the weekend was hanging out with my family. I even got to have my first sleepover with my grandparents the first weekend after we went away. Life is good with the parents but the grandparents take it to a whole new level.

Thank you Mama and Bampa for all the good times.

Introducing goop to Leah and co. Goop is simply a combination on cornstarch and water but it has some out of the ordinary principles. When you hold it, it hardens and once you let you it liquefies.

My neat girl refused to interact with the goop as it might get her hands dirty. She loved watching me play with the goop but I wanted her to interact on her own as well so I gave out spoons. I was glad I didn’t do my weekly, deep kitchen cleaning yesterday as planned as goop was spread far and wide.

After sitting for so long, I wanted to let them run outside to burn off some energy. I asked the girls to hold hands while we were walking outside and they continued to do so as they meandered over to the playground.

The girls just wanted to sit in the wagon for the most part which give me a chance to take a few shots. I tried to entice them to play ball or go in the playground but I wasn’t very successful. Maybe that is why naps were a little shorter today which means Leah will go to bed a little earlier tonight.

I’m so glad we have been blessed with this beautiful weather. I was pulling off toques when we got into the wonderful sunshine. Spring is a coming and we are looking forward to it.

Leah and Gabby love to wave goodbye to Morgan as he rides off to work as well as watch the garage/recycling truck atop of the book bench. Once they get down, it is back to work. Though Leah can’t identify her colours verbally, she knows how to match them up.

Funky tights, funky hoodie, funky face, fun girls.

Who knew hanging out in boxes and baskets in the kitchen could be so much fun? These best buddies can make fun out of anything.

Leah loves to have her fingers traced and has attempted to do it herself as well.

Ready to paint.

A few things about Leah that I don’t want to forget
-she is 26 lbs and 31.5 inches tall
-knows lots of animal sounds
-says yes please and no thank you
-she adores her friends, especially Gabby who receives many hugs, kisses and shrieks of joy upon her arrival
-can identify head, eyes, eyebrow, cheeks, ears etc.
-loves to give her friends their sippy cups
-is a picky eater, would eat bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner if we let her
-loves cinnamon
-very determined
-will say ‘two’ after you say one
-does not like ponytails or clips in her hair
-loves bath time
-has had a few colds but overall been really healthy
-sleeps 8:00/30 till 7:30/8 most nights, sometimes wakes up for a soother, esp when under the weather
-takes a two and a half hour nap at noon
-identifies mommy’s and daddy’s things and will deliver them if she can (jackets, shoes)
-loves to go outside and doesn’t appreciate staying at home when she sees someone leaving
-can say grandma (mama) and grandpa (bampa)
-plays really well on her own as well as with friends

This is what has been keeping me busy lately.

Notice all the little pieces on the floor and the lack of large, intact panels. I’m beginning to think that wallpaper should be illegal. Not that all wallpaper is as bad as our lovely caveman drawings with a horse border but maybe people should be required to remove a large wall of wallpaper before they are allowed to apply it. It hasn’t been that bad but it hasn’t been fun either. At least I know I will never regret taking it off the walls. My mom came over today and the last of it is gone! Now for plastering, sanding and painting. Don’t be looking for a reveal anytime too soon… though I would love to get it done sooner rather than later.