Project 365 - Week 16

May 21-28

1. Blowing bubbles on a Saturday while Jared cut grass for a friend. 

2. It had been a long week, the kind where little sleep happened and naps just didn't happen. I went for a walk and the girls fell asleep, so into Starbucks I went and had a wonderful refreshing time while they slept. Such a gift. 

3. We spent the long weekend out at Moshers and I tried out their bike trailer. It was quite fun although heavy with all three little ones squished in there. Khaira wasn't crazy about it but Kilmeny was thrilled. 

4. It was just one of those days to curl up on the couch, the girls weren't feeling tops so we just had a slow day. 

5. Introducing Khaira to avocado....a whole-hearted experience! She didn't eat it as much as experienced it. 

6. I love this picture of Khaira sleeping. Finally. It took a long time but oh, we both felt so much better after she slept. 

7. Shopping with my big girl, it was so fun to be out with just Kilmeny. She would not look at the camera but I think I love this picture more. It sums up so much of who she is at this age. 

 

Project 365 - Week 15

May 13- May 20

1. Just a moment with my happy girl and I. 

2. I was busy with Khaira and left Kilmo alone for several moments. I came in to check on her and saw  see her all quiet. The morning light was gentle and beautiful and she was totally absorbed in her books. I loved seeing it. 

3. A spontaneous invitation turned out to be the best of days. We walked, the girls played, we had a picnic lunch and then Nicole and I talked and talked while they all napped. Such a gift. 

4. My pretty girls on Mothers' Day. 

5. My sweet Khaira-baby, 9 months old. 

6. Kaden read Kilmeny a story one morning we were there. They were adorable, all cozy in the chair with the book and a doll. 

 
6. 

Project 365-Week 14

May 6- May 12

1. Khaira had been up for a long time before Kilmeny woke up. I decided to let the girls have breakfast in the living room since Khaira was already in there. Not one of my brightest ideas but they enjoyed it and the mess wasn't that hard to clean up afterwards.

2. Plane trails! Love the sight and sound of airplanes.

3. Khaira has been sick off and on for almost a month now, this day she was so cuddly and mellow. Just wanting to be held and have me comfort her. It was precious.

4. Kilmeny is all into coloring at the moment. I love this coloring book I picked up at the thrift store. Basically brand new Beatrix Potter! Kilmeny is also all into 'undressing' her crayons, she likes to take the paper off her crayons before using them.

5. We had a picnic at the park for supper and then Jared made Kilmeny's night by going on the slide with her. The picture's a little blurry but I love it.

6. We spent the day with Grandpa, it was so good to see him again and to see him enjoy the girls.

7. Jared took a family sick day one Wednesday when the girls had not been sleeping. I was a wreck emotionally. We packed up and drove to Elk Island National Park where we walked and walked and talked. It was beautiful and so soul-nourishing.

Project 365- Week 13

  

April 30- May 5

 1. Thomas and Alica moved the first weekend of May, most of the family was there to help. After the work was all done, we took our little family and walked around Chickakoo Lake. It was such a lovely day. Kilmeny ran all over the place, intrigued by the sounds of the frogs and the crunching of the dead leaves.

2. I went to the library to get in on the Sing, Sign and Learn story time with the girls. It was really busy with lots of kids but they had bubbles at the end and both girls loved that aspect. I love the little details of their hands and their names.

3. Kilmeny is actually getting the whole concept of blowing bubbles, Khaira was happy just to play with the lid.

4. A shot of the living room from where I was on the couch, feeding Khaira. Just a day in our life.

5. Introducing food to Khaira, she's not always sure about it but she likes playing with it.

6. We had a surprise girls' night for Rachelle with a tropical theme. It was really fun.

7. Tulips Jared brought home for me. He's so thoughtful like that.

Project 365- Week 12

April 23- April 29 

1. I finally put my one of my Pinterest ideas to work this week, the girls were quite fascinated by the reaction of baking soda and vinegar. I made it all the more interesting by dying the vinegar blue and green. Kilmeny's fine motor skills are quite advanced but not quite to the point of grasping the concept of an eye dropper. She tried her best and then just dropped little bits of soda into the colored vinegar. Khaira sat and watched it all, giggling at Kilmeny's reactions. I must do this more with them, its so good for all of us. 

2. Another brain-child born out of desperation to stimulate Kilmeny without any previous planning. Jared's giant whiteboard and dry erase crayons. Brilliant. 

3. A couple quiet hours at Starbucks to read, journal, and just.be.quiet. So good for the soul. 

4. Chocolate.Love.

5. My attempt at an artsy food picture. This may or may not be showing up in another post on another day with the recipe for the cookies. Seriously good cookies. 

6. On one of our traditional Sunday walks where we set out with no destination really in mind, just walk and talk. Each time we're a little more prepared for long distances and bring stuff like diapers, and nursing covers and money. We tried out a Pho place after talking about it forever. It was nice. Quite nice. 

7. An evening at the Muttart. I love that Khaira is getting old enough to be able to do more stuff with Kilmeny. Here they are watching the fishes. So Cute! 

 

Project 365- Week 11

April 16- April 22 

1. I love, love, love the children's library at the downtown library branch. It has the most delightful area for children to play and all sorts of interactive puzzles and games. There's even a fish tank built into the wall. We love going there. Kilmeny made herself right at home this last time we were there, took off her shoes and began playing with the farm animals. 

2. Snuggles on the couch. Love my girls so much. 

3.  First picnic of the year!! Food: Italian Centre, Place: Edmonton's River Valley, Date: April 22, Earth day. Not that we really celebrate Earth Day but it is good to be reminded that the earth is God's and He has placed us here to be stewards of it.

4. Chilling on the couch with my Khaira-baby. Her eyes are so big, so blue, and so expressive.

5. Orange julius with a movie at Moshers on a Saturday night.

6. It was a particularly rough day, the house seemed to be a huge mess, and I was trying to get us all ready to get out the door for Dad M.'s birthday. Kilmo who had been, well, two all day totally turned around and started putting the laundry away for me. I was shocked to tears. She grabbed a big stack of my clothes, and opened my drawers and started stuffing the clean clothes in, all with a big smile on her face. It was priceless and such an encouragement. One of those times where I really felt God leading me gently.

7. Kilmeny having her second cake pop of her life. We normally just get her water at Starbucks, I don't want to get in the habit of always getting her something so that it stays a special treat when we do get it. It is so fun sharing these moments with her, her eyes were so big and she kept saying 'special treat, Mummy, very special treat.'

Project 365- Week 10

April 10 - April 15

 

Obviously this project has a lot of grace woven into it. I need a lot of grace in my life.  I set off with a project like this thinking that it is going to transform my life and keep me up-to-date with everything and my tenth 'week' only has six days. I'm not consistent in my creating these little collages, my posting or when my weeks start and end. And I'm trying to be okay with that. I haven't made this a huge priority and so it is what is, when I have time for it. 

 

1. I've never been that big on bathtime pictures. I know they are adorable and all that when it's my naked children covered soap suds but I don't find everyone else's babies always that cute and so I don't post or take a lot of pictures of my babies in the tub. But I decided that Khaira was just too cute with her little hooded towel and the yellow duck so I captured a few moments. 

 

2. Kilmeny's very first time ever going bowling! 

 

3. We got our BoB Duallie stroller and I love it! It's so nice having the girls side by side and it is super easy to push or run with. 

 

4. Jared brought me home some tulips just because, I love them. 

 

5. Little shoots of new green grass amidst the old brown grass makes me very happy! 

 

6. And two bowling shots! We went with Byron and Becca, Josh and Ariana, Thomas, Alicia, Kaden and McKenna. It was great fun! 

 

7. Khaira, basking in the warm sunlight at the park one day.  

Project 365 - Week 9

April 2 - April 9

(sort of) 

This was an interesting week because halfway through Jared and I (and Khaira) flew to Vancouver. Kilmeny stayed with Josh and Ariana. And I didn't take that many pictures before we left so there's a little doubling up but hey, it's a journal of real life! 

1. All ready to go with Auntie Ariana, Kilmo cuddled her doll for a precious few seconds so I could get a non-blurry shot. 

2. MacLeods' Bookstore, one of our 'absolutely must visit' stops. We were able to buy a first edition Kilmeny of the Orchard for our Kilmo. Incredible! 

3. Blossoms and blue, blue sky!! Vancouver was such a gift!

4. Khaira, looking a little tired still while we wait for our breakfast. 

5. Our in-flight activities, giraffe for Khaira, coffee and a book for me. 

6. Kilmo is all into making faces for the camera now, especially since you can reverse the camera on my phone and see yourself. 

7. I am all into her adorable flats and pink leggings. She loves them too. And so she wears them a lot. 

Project 365- Week 8

March 26- April 1

1. We spent a lot of time at Moshers over this week. It is so fun to see Benji interacting with Khaira, she brings out his tender side. 

2. I love how the girls are just chilling in the middle of the kitchen floor with lots of hub-bub all around them. Kilmeny was reading the book to Khaira before she stopped for a little drink. 

3. We spent part of an evening with Yvonne, Avery and Jaylynn delivering a care package and visiting with them. They are such an inspiration to me as they fight with courage and peace. 

4. I created a French dinner menu for Josiah's birthday and helped to plate the salads. It turned out quite well. 

5. Making free form apple tarts.

6. Khaira one night before bed, just before we read Olivia.

7. Making full use of the rotating camera on my phone to get a group shot. Sort of. But I love it. 

Project 365 -Week 7

March 18- 25


1. On the first day of spring, we made spring eggs! It was such a fun project to do with the girls, a cheap way to decorate for spring and a great hands on activity.

2. I bought the girls matching sandals at a consignment store. Kilmeny loves wearing them around the house and she also loves to include Khaira in her fun. I can't wait for summer for them to wear them all the time!

3. Lunch was going to be a hurried affair after a morning out but I decided to make it fun for the girls and serve it up picnic style in the living room. They loved it! Kilmo was so cute at sharing her apple slices for Khaira to nosh on.

4. This is probably my favorite picture of the girls this spring. I was trying to get a sister picture at the park with them both looking and smiling but I liked this one the best of all the ones I took. This was Khaira's first real park outing and she loved it!

5. I walked up one day and met Jared for chai at the new Remedy Cafe. Best.Chai. Ever.

6. French braids in Kilmo's hair! And her cute profile.

7. I love shopping at the Italian Centre, this sign made me smile.

Project 365- Week 6

March 10 -17

This was the week of prep for Weekend in the Word. A busy, crazy, adventurous week! 

1. Kilmo chowing down breakfast on the road. The scones that I had baked for the trip down got put on the roof of the van and so I just ordered some muffins with my morning coffee from Starbucks and we were both happy. 

2. Khaira is picking things up now and showing lots of expression and emotion in her play. It is so fun to sit back and observe her! 

3. A little reading in the Saturday afternoon sunlight, I am loving utilizing the library again and finding all sorts of lovely books to read. 

4. One of Kilmeny's favorite parts about visiting Papa and Nana: the cows! I love this picture of her, so innocent and iconic of her right now. 

5. Khaira was my little accompanist in all the shopping errands we did for Weekend in the Word. This is her first time in a shopping buggy and she loved it! 

6. Mr. and Mrs. Kembel were also staying at Mom and Dad's during WitW which made me happy. They were playing with Khaira, reading her stories and making her laugh with their antics. I just love them. The whole family is very special to me. 

7. The one and only picture I have of any of the food that I did at WitW. Friday night snacks. I took it to show Jared since he was driving down that night after work, and I was missing him. A lot. 

Project 365- Week 5

1. It was really special having Dad and the boys up for a quick overnight visit. Kilmeny warmed right up to Dad this time which was very special for him.

2. The boys went sledding and took Kilmeny with them so of course I made them hot chocolate when they came inside. 

3. Dad took us out for supper and ice-cream one night. Jared and I shared a banana split, so yum! 

4. Our latest way to teach Kilmeny and keep her focus, trace the alphabet on her hand. She loves it and retains the knowledge so well. This was at Starbucks after one of our famous long walks. 

5. Kilmeny was absolutely glued to the screen of the first few minutes of Eat, Pray, Love. And she kept munching popcorn. So cute. She's not being one for kids' movies at all, but this one kept her attention. 

6. Kilmeny loves to snuggle with Khaira in the mornings and Khaira loves it too! 

7. Khaira at the midwife moms' get together. 

Project 365 - Week 4

The Lovely Ordinary. Simple Beauty. Moments Captured. 

1. Khaira is such a sparkly baby, her big eyes are full of light and sparkles when she's happy which is most of the time. I feel blessed. 

2. I took some time to finally make Kilmeny's deepest wish (on that day) come true. We went sledding on the perfect sledding hill just across the street. She was delighted. 

3. Authors, the game of choice when my younger sisters in law come over. They baby sat for us on the weekend and spent the night so we could have some girl time of shopping, a tea party at which we ate tons of scones and giggled, and played Authors. It was a good day. 

4. Jared's brother had a birthday and we got to share in the cake and well wishes. A late night but totally worth it. 

5. An unexpected gift-time at Starbucks without my girls. I had to deliver a food order and a friend was watching my sleeping girlies. I was early for the delivery and got to enjoy a salted caramel mocha and people watch. Lovely. 

6. Middle of the winter blahs are made much better by fun food. 

7. Khaira is definitely sitting up now, by herself and very happy to be doing so.

 Enjoy your weekend, friends! All the lovely, messy, and unexpected moments.

Project 365 -Week 3

It's been a busy week, in fact it feels like a bit of a blur. I've been working a lot in the kitchen this week preparing food for clients which is fun but rather exhausting at the end of it all. I'm just so grateful for a husband who helps me wash mounds of dishes and for the fact that some of that kitchen work results in meals in the freezer for us as well. 

 Can I just say I love my iPhone? I have it with me all the time and use it almost all the time now to take pictures. I love how handy it is for snapping moments. 

1. This is probably one of my favorite pictures from last weekend and perhaps of this winter. Kilmeny has gotten so many comments on her bright red coat that we picked up for a few dollars at a thrift store. She's my little bundle of energy but with quiet moments like this one when she's enthralled with something new. 

2. We just got given a bunch of basically new cloth diapers and here's my little Khaira baby modelling one of the diapers. I do get the girls dressed each day but this was just too cute. 

3. Play dough at the kitchen table has been a sanity-saver this week. 

4. I love seeing Khaira's personality come out more and more! 

5. Kilmeny and Khaira. Kilmo's going through 'that stage' of faces for the camera, this one just makes me laugh. 

6. My little 'hope of spring' plant from Grama Ardron. I'm hoping I don't kill it off since I love ivy plants. 

7. We love Olivia books here, I've already started the girls a collection of the books by Ian Falconer. The simple illustrations and witty text gets me every time. 

 

Project 365 - Week 2

We spent this past weekend in a little cabin in the mountains. It was lovely, refreshing, a literal breath of fresh air. Just what we needed. In all the bustle of getting everything together I didn't get a chance to put this post up before we left so I'm doing it now. 

Week 2: February 13- 20

1. Khaira sleeping with her little rosebud lips.

2. Kilmeny sleeping. The girls haven't been sleeping all that well lately during the night, colds and upset schedules seem to be affecting them. Naptime has been slightly hit and miss as well so on one of the days when they both slept at the same  time, I had to take pictures. To remind myself of these days and to remember just how precious they are. Even when we're all a little tired. 

3. Kilmeny loves to be 'just like Mummy' and so she had to read some magazines I picked up from my midwife. She loves to 'read' anything she can! 

4. In a quiet and contemplative mood. For about 5 minutes. I love my little spunky girl!

5. A community Valentines party provided the perfect excuse to wear my red shoes. I just love them, they make me feel like a well-dressed lady. ;-)

6. A little Valentine's inspiration along with my to-do list to make my dinner plans come together on time on the 14th. 

7.  We  were out and about last week with a couple different play dates which provided some new scenery and good conversation over coffee. Khaira's totally into these duplo blocks, I would be as well, the colors are fantastic. 

8. And a little shopping trip brought us to a store that had a beautiful display of jasmine plants which I had to take a picture since it's my niece's name. =)

Project 365 - Week 1

Project 365 is something I've been wanting to do for awhile and I just decided to jump in and start, right here in the middle of February. I tend to want everything 'just perfect' before embarking on a new adventure but that's kind of the point of adventures, you don't know how they're going to turn out. So here's to capturing 2012, one picture at a time! 

Here's a peek into this past week!

1. Kilmeny loves to run outside but she only likes it for about five minutes until she pulls her mittens off, eats some snow and realizes that is actually cold out. This is just after she started asking to go back inside.

2. Khaira has just started grabbing her toys, it is so fun to see her at this stage! 

3. We took an evening stroll through the Muttart Conservatory  Thursday evening and they had these gorgeous lanterns hanging amongst the trees. 

4. All dressed up and then bundled on the way to church.

5. Khaira-baby, cute, cuddly and wide awake at 10:15pm! I love these quiet evenings with her like this. 

6. Cousin time at Cafe O Play ! Kilmeny and her cousin, Kaden played so well together while their mums had some refreshing conversation about mum stuff, life, and all that good stuff. 

7. Kilmeny loves to help me whenever I'm busy in the kitchen so I try to be one step ahead of her and think of ways that she can help me. We both enjoy the process that way!