unplugging.

Well, lately I have been pretty unplugged from everyone - online and in person, alike.  I've been working hard at getting our company taxes done so that we could go on our family vacation.  And here we FINALLY are!  Book work done and handed off to the accountant, house cleaned (after a messy couple of weeks), tent trailer packed...I'm officially ready to be "checked out" from everything for the next couple of weeks.

Hope you all are finding fresh ways to enjoy the summer (in the northern hemisphere; winter in the southern hemisphere!) and I'll be back soon rejuvenated and ready to be plugged in again.

bisous xo

pic pix: highway driving from Alberta to Idaho, 30.Jul.2014, on the road

30/52

Judah West: It was fun to watch you interact at this wedding ... you were so intrigued by dancing, yet, didn't want to break it down (as you have in the past).  You were quite the observer, either way.

Hunter Elias: The whole wedding, you were such a trooper and easy to have with us.  It seemed you didn't want to miss a single minute of the party!  As you danced with Papa, you fell into a pretty deep sleep and still, didn't miss a beat.

29/52

Judah West: You, my boy, will do anything for a laugh.  

Hunter Elias: You, my boy, love your food in any shape or form or place.

colorboard / no.31

color: chartreuse/blush/navy

word of inspiration: BLissss [perfect happiness; great joy]
source of word: If I were to have a favorite color combo right now, this would be it.  Each color compliments the other, they are all every season colors, there's something quirky yet feminine about each of them and the fusing of them all together.  They are just BLissss together.

/1. now if I could only find this for the wedding we are going to next weekend...  /2. rose gold lamp  /3. Hunter would love holding onto this one & it would go with everything I own /4. love these hampers  /5. you can never have too many of these  /6. I'm still debating between a black or blue pair /7. a tunic for my girl, if I ever did have one  /8. mmmhhmmmmm  /9. me and my thing with couches  /10. never really drawn to any other pink except this blush tone, LOVE  /11. if there is one water bottle I am happy to have invested in, it's these  /12. well, I need a motorcycle helmet if the hubby's got a bike, right?  /13. this company. their stationary. j'adore.  /14. you could use this pillow in any room

summer loving.

Though this is where I would like to be any time of the year, I must say, summers here are pretty nice.  It's not too too hot, no humidity (a good and bad thing), days last until 11pm with the sunlight, and well ... it seems you couldn't ask for it to be better unless we had summer here all year!

I know it's already the middle of July, but I decided that I needed to write a list (Allison, you'll love this!) of all my summer lofty goals/things that I love about summer.  I'm curious to see how it'll all play out with the little amount of time we have left, but it'll be fun to work on.  It's probably better my chalkboard was only so big...!

How about you?  What's on the agenda for the next month?!

Oh ... and this is a cute list to fill in with summer plans.

pic pix: chalkboard wall in the kitchen, Jul.2014, at home

28/52

Judah West: I never need to ask you to pose, you just naturally have a coolness about you.
Hunter Elias: I never need to wonder how you feel, as your face shares it all (and I love it when you smile).

river hangs.

It has been so gorgeous here lately and ok, lets admit it - so very warm!  I've been making trips down to the river (as well as the lake and splash parks) and not only have I loved it, but these boys have been too.  Judah just plunks down on his rear and lets the water move around him as he plays in the river rock.  Whereas, Hunter just barely likes his toes dipped in but is content to finally feel cool.

Saturday night we went down and had a bbq at "our spot" with some friends.  Throwing rocks was a hit (though no one got hit ... ha!), baseball, kite flying, football tossing, and good chats filled our time.  And the cooled down feet were a bonus!  It was a great time and I'm just all the more convinced that river hangs are the best.

pic pix: Saturday night's fun, 12.Jul.2014, Stanley Park, Calgary

27/52

Officially in the second half of the year ... wow.  Time really doesn't seem to hand out slow down packages!  Here's a glimpse of the boys from last week.judah west: chewing on grass like the little cowboy you are.

hunter elias: my darling, second, wild west boy ... I am in love with you and those eyes.

God created good.

Summer. 

One of my favorite seasons.  Have I mentioned I have four favorites?!  There is a beauty to every season that if you don't choose to enjoy, you'll miss it.  In the summer division of the year, one thing I need to take in is these peonies.  Many find the ants annoying (and usually, crawling ants drive me up the wall too) but I'm able to see past them when I get to clip some for my dining room table and get a whiff of these beauties!

I wish for every kind of season - not just the "term in the year" type of season - I could know what fragrant flower I needed to be ready for.  So I could gear up to enjoy it's spell.  But life doesn't work like that.  Predictability isn't a reality when it comes to relationships or circumstances.  Or, simple day to day life.  

What does exist though, in both of these cases, is the anticipation.  The wonder and excitement for what could/can potentially happen.  The expectation that God really does give us wonderful gifts, in every life season.

"...everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected 

if it is received with thanksgiving." 1 timothy 4:4

I have so much to be grateful for ... so, so much.  But in the moments my gratitude starts to fade, that is when I begin to see/focus on the "blemishes" of my life.  That which is so minuscule in the grand scheme of things, ends up eating away my time/energy/thoughts.  When...EVERYTHING that God created - every single season - is good.

And though I may not be experiencing it or have no idea what is getting ready to bloom and when, I can rest in the thought the God created good for me and I can anticipate how awesome those fragrances will be.

Will/do you?

pic pix: ma beloved peonies, at home, Jul.2014

thoughts. things.

c a n a d a  d a y

This year we decided to lay-low when it came to our nation's birthday.  Instead of fireworks, we made our own fire down in Fish Creek Park and hung out.  We brought some smokies, Canada Dry's & Nanaimo Bars (I used this recipe/idea but did a red-white-red layer instead) - Canadian, eh?!  Since his own birthday, Judah has been interested in "birthday" anything.  So to know it was Canada's birthday, made him quite happy.

v i n y l  p l a y i n g  f o r  d a y s

I was going to use my birthday money to buy a new Crosley turntable.  But before ordering one, I checked on kijiji, and found one for a fraction of the cost.  I haven't been able to play my records for quite a while (since we have a needle issue with our other turntable) so it's been fun to have a vinyl sound around here again.

m y  n e w  n e p h e w

I am an auntie once again!!  Our sweet baby Jaeger Benjamin was born on Sunday and I got to hold him Monday (can't wait for my sister-in-law to do some more newborn shots and I need to get some decent shots on my real camera - no iPhone).  His skin is the softest and he fits perfectly in my arms!  Please be praying for their family as on Tuesday (only 2 days old), he was diagnosed with (what they are assuming is) a brain infection and is currently being tested and treated.  Considering all he's been through in his little life so far, he seems to be doing alright at the hospital and each report has been coming back positive - praise God!  Though, there are still a lot of indefinite things at this point.  If you think about him (and his mama & daddy), please pray & trust for his complete healing and peace to overcome their family.

c a m p i n g

We took the tent trailer out for the first time last weekend and .... had an awesome time!  I wasn't even worried about it raining!  I was just so excited we were getting out!  We camped with 3 other families and my sister.  And though it did rain, it was great to spend time together.

26/52

Judah West: You are all boy.  Any moving machine/bike/car/you name it, you're on it.  I love that you and your little buddy "helped" each other out.
Hunter Elias: If there's one thing you love right now, it's food!  I seriously don't know how you can eat as much as you do and be so little!  Secondly, you just love watching people ... !!

seven and eight months ...

Choked that I've had to combine two months again, but as the age old saying says: Better late than never.  Here's my heart-stealing Hunter-bear.

7 months

Well folks, it's official ... I'm a crawler!  My mama can't seem to get over her excitement every time I go and reach for stuff, and actually move there.

I had my first camping trip the other weekend.  That fresh air was so good for sleeping, I'm wondering why we don't always sleep outside.  Even though it wasn't at our house, the rocks, dirt, and grass still tasted the same.  At least out there, I didn't get plunked in the tub before bed.

Speaking of baths, me and Judah have baths together all the time now.  While he does his thing, I play with the toys and try to stand up by holding the sides of the tub.  It sometimes worries mama, I think.

So, I'm not sure if you knew, but I'll share with you anyways.  Did you know, if you walk in front of a mirror, there is always someone there to talk to?!  It blew me away the other week, and now I just a find a mirror and talk to that guy.  He's a good listener and is very attentive to what I have to say.

Me and papa have had the chance to hang out a lot more lately, and I love it.  Now that I'm eating solids, mama has been getting out more without me.  I'm cool with that ... as long as it's papa to take care of me.  We always have a good time together, especially watching hockey.

This summer thing seems pretty amazing ... begin outside all the time helps me sleep better (my mama always says 'Hallelujah' when that happens).  When I get in that stroller and get moving, no stopping me from a nap time, scheduled or not!

8 months
This month, I've had the chance to REALLY get familiar with our new tent trailer.  Mama was doing some work in there and we had it popped up all month (due to the rain).  I've taken the liking to pulling myself up on all of the steps and ledges ... this must be what they call playgrounds!

My big brother turned 2 and I got to celebrate just as much as he did.  Well, minus that food that everyone said "yum" after they ate with sparkly lights on it [birthday cake].  Although I now get to eat food, I am noticing that Mama & Papa don't give me everything ... so much to learn about things and these silly rules.

I love my alone times with Mama when Judah is sleeping.  All the toys are free reign, and I get to play with whichever ones I want - big boy ones included!  Sometimes, even when Judah is awake, I get to ride on the car.  Right now, it. is. my. favorite.  And anything that makes the noise - vroom!

I've also given Papa and Mama some laughs with some of my sleeping patterns.  "Apparently" I do some funny things in my slumber.  For one, I have fallen asleep sitting up and eventually fall over with my rear in the air and face on the mattress (very comfortable I might add!).  They say I sometimes sleep talk and can't even tell if I am sleeping or awake in the middle of the night.  I'm taking their word for it, but I don't really know(!).

This month, I also went on my second camping trip ... in our tent trailer.  I think my parents were pretty proud of me, to say the least.  I love being outside.  Mama says I almost get as cranky as when I'm hungry (hungry+angry) when I don't get outside at least once in the day.  So I'm thinking camping is a good fit for me.  So far, they've continued to take me and I'm banking that as a good sign!

pic pix: some "clothed" shots, contrary to the typical month-by-month format, July.2014, on Mama's bed