Monday, 31 December 2012

To the New Year

We've had a good Christmas, full of family, food, gift giving and visiting. I'm totally burnt out and exhausted of course, but Jake has had the time of his life over the last two weeks, so it's all been worth it just to give him that experience. It's what I want for him, a childhood filled with happy Christmas memories and lots of tradition, and I'm ready to work for it. But tonight, on New Year's Eve as I look both backward and forward, I feel truly tired. My body, my mind, and my spirit are ready to let go of this year and eager to embrace the new one to come with all it's promise and potential.

It's time to flip the page on 2012 and start a new chapter, and we Boyds wish you and everyone you love much happiness, sweetness, health, love, joy and everything else that makes life good in 2013!


Happy New Year!

Sunday, 23 December 2012

Making Something

When it comes to creativity in my family I definitely swim in the shallow end of the gene pool.
I am not exactly sure where it all went wrong, since I am surrounded by art and creativity on all sides.  My mother is a home economics teacher coming up with unique ideas daily, my father lives and breathes creativity and design through wood both in his work and in his life. My sister basically makes it her business to create art (literally), and what my brother creates in the kitchen is nothing short of a masterpiece. But I... well, let's say when I put some stickers all over my store bought Christmas cards I thought I was being creative.

But this week, I made this:


It looks like nothing special, I know. But I saw it on Pinterest a few weeks ago, and wanted to make it immediately, so I went to Fabricland and I made it. All by myself (more or less, husband had a small part in it - very small). It's nothing really. Totally easy and a bit silly, but Jake loves it and it reminds me of something I made all by myself in my mom's Stitch 'n' Sew class years ago when being creative didn't intimidate me as much.

I was in grade 5, and my mom helps me A LOT.

 So for all of you who think you can't do it, find a project no matter how small, easy or silly it seems, and bring it to life. You'll impress yourself, if no one else.



Thursday, 20 December 2012

Donner, Blitzen and Vixen: accounted for

We found them grazing outside our kitchen window this morning, stuffing themselves furiously in preparation for their great journey around the world and back on Monday night.  To Jake these were a trio of Santa's fiercest and fastest reindeer, eating breakfast in his front yard!  The sparkle in his eye shone from his imagination alone and reminded me what this season is all about.


My baby believes that Christmas reindeer not only exist, but dine in our front yard. It was better than seeing Santa himself.  It was the wake up call I needed after these last hectic days of shopping and running around.  With the move and traveling about this Christmas season has gotten away from me more than any other year past. Husband and I have felt stressed. So sharing this simple moment with my boy in our new kitchen this morning was the perfect grounding moment. 


Throw in an afternoon with three great children and friends decorating sugar cookies and gingerbread cutouts and my day was complete.  I am looking forward to Christmas with the joy the season deserves.

 

The final product: 

 
Ho ho ho ho!

Friday, 14 December 2012

November Recap

Oh November, where did you go?

What can I say, Fall fell away and suddenly we are starring down the nose at Christmas.  But we Boyds been nothing if not productive.

We've baked cookies...


... and ate them.

 
 We've kept tabs on this year's salmon run (this process is a true miracle of nature by the way),



 and have taken many nature discovery walks.

 
We've made art.




 






Played trains.


And watched them.


But most importantly we have moved. Finally. For the third time in under a year, we have moved. We are happy in our new digs, happy more than anything because we are finally in a home where we know we will stay for several years to come. There is something so comforting in knowing that you are grounded, that you have a home base, and that finally roots can be dug down deep. 

It feels good to be home.

Now then, back to baking Christmas cookies!