My love & things.

One of my favourite things about Andrew is that he knows about things.  He knows about music things, book things, world things, just things in general.  I really like that about him, because when I reach the point where I feel I must be aware of all things, he suggests a song I should listen to, or a website I should check out, etc.  Just the other day he introduced me to the work of Banksy.  I am in love all over again... 

Thank you sweet pea, for sharing so many beautiful things.  Happy 6 Years.

jbxo

He knows too much.

Tonight before bed:

Julian:  "Mommy, I am growing a mustache, because I am a big boy."

Me:  "Really?"

Julian:  "Yes.  Mommy, why do boys grow mustaches?"

Me:  "Um, because they are boys, and boys grow hair on their face."

Julian:  "Mommy, why do you have a mustache?"

I have now realized it was not a good idea to bring Julian to my last waxing appointment.

jbxo

The thing about Nora is...

She is very fickle with her affection.  Although she doesn't speak much, if you ask her for a hug or a kiss she will always say, quite clearly:  "No." and will then continue about her business.  Today I was playing with Julian.  Nora was busy drawing on her own.  Out of nowhere she walked up to me, put her hands on either side of my face and kissed me.  Twice.  I was shocked and thrilled all at once.  She looked at me, smiled, turned and walked away.  I got greedy:  "Nora, can I have another kiss?"  Her answer:  "No."

jbxo

Tales from Heaven.

Driving with Julian last week:

Julian:  "Mommy, what is that?"

Me:  "A church."

Julian:  "I don't like church."

Me:  "I thought you liked church."

Julian:  "I like the singing, but not the talking."

Tonight before bed:

Julian:  "Remember before I was a baby, when I was in heaven?"

Me:  "You were?  What was it like?"

Julian:  "There was an office."

Then there is little Nora, she doesn't say much, but man, she's cute, even when she is hidden under a big hat.

jbxo

From your hands to mine...

As I have previously confessed, we rarely check our mail.  Once, maybe twice a week.  I hadn't checked it since Monday, and I thought I better go take a look tonight.  It was the regular haul:  one fashion magazine, three bills, two flyers... and tucked away at the bottom of the pile, a little treasure.  A pretty envelope, with unfamiliar handwriting, and an Air Mail sticker... my curiosity was peaked.  I opened the envelope, and what a treat.  It was a lovely card from a blog friend in Belgium who had the wonderful idea a few months ago, that a group of us girls who often comment on one another's blogs should exchange snail mail addresses, so that on birthdays and other special occasions we can send each other mail.  Well, she surprised me with a lovely card, and a handmade "Clinka's Apples" magnet!  I was actually in tears that someone I barely know, in another country took the time to make something for me!  Isn't it lovely?  It now has it's own little home on my (very cluttered) fridge.

Thank you Tania, you made me smile today!

jbxo

Now that is GOOD shopping...

From now on I am only shopping on Etsy.  Where else can you find a chocolate brown decal with all of your family's names to hang on the wall above your bed?  

Oh, and how about a family of "little people" custom made as your actual family.  Love Etsy. Thank you Elephannie and Gemmielou!  

jbxo

Oh, and thanks to Sheye for telling us about Gemmie's "little people"!

As is.

I like Ikea.  I LOVE Ikea showrooms.  I have come to a sad realization though.  The showroom is a lie.  The tidy, clean toddler room.  The immaculate kitchen.  The bathroom with no long hairs strewn about.  The laundry room that makes you WANT to iron something.  Everything looks "lived in" yet "perfect" - a combination that does not actually exist in real life.  I have decided that from now on instead of starting my Ikea shopping experience by lolling about dreamily through the showrooms, I am going to begin in the "As Is" section, since it is a far more accurate representation of reality, and how your furniture will look two months after bringing it home.

jbxo

Not fair.

I received wonderful news via email this week, that a lovely friend gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.  She included this photo in her email.  As happy as I am for her, I can't help but be rather perplexed that she looked this good just moments after giving birth.  I have reviewed photos of myself post-baby-birthing, and there was no such glow on my face.  My hair was a disaster... I think I was actually wearing my babushka for Nora's birth - poor girl.  I looked like I had been through a major battle... and lost.  I was pale, blotchy, shiny and altogether messy.  This must be why there were no photos included in my "welcome to the world" emails.

CONGRATULATIONS!

jbxo

Open.

I did it!  I finally went to the art supply store, purchased a pad of beautiful paper, and two proper drawing pens.  I sat at the dining room table.  I drew.

It felt really, really good.

Here it is.  This piece is called "Open".  I donated it to a silent auction at work.  Oddly enough, as good as it felt to draw it, it almost felt better to give it away.  I love the thought of something I created sitting in someone else's home.  A few more and I can open my Etsy shop.

jbxo

Ladybug.

I grew up on a farm in a small town. My dad is a farmer, he is now retired. My dad has the biggest hands you have ever seen. He is very social, and makes new friends wherever he goes. He once met a sweet couple at a coffee shop, and invited them back to our house for a visit. He couldn't understand why mom wasn't pleased. In the summer he makes trades from his garden with the local merchants for milk, bread and eggs. When I was 18 Canadian music legend Ronnie Hawkins was at our house to look at one of my dad's 1967 Chargers (for a period of time he collected them). Ronnie ended up at the kitchen table for a two hour visit. My dad worked hard his entire life, and even though he is now officially "retired" he has a full time job selling miscilaneous seed, because he likes to be out and about, talking to people. On the hottest, most awful days in the field when a truck would pull up dad would say: "Smile, everybody...". Dad wakes up every day happy, just because. Always has, and I hope he always will. He gets really embarrassed if you say: "I love you", and he won't say it back... but he hugs so tight it almost hurts. 

He doesn't like the city, or being in other peoples houses, so when they come for a visit he often leaves and goes for a drive. On one visit we went to a small town to look in some shops. My sister and I saw some ornamental ladybugs, and we fell in love with them. We left the store and continued on our way when out of nowhere dad presented us each with a tissue-wrapped surprise. He had bought us each a ladybug when we weren't looking. I keep that ladybug beside my bed, it is the first thing I see each morning. It reminds me to wake up every day happy, just because.

jbxo