Time with Milayla

In February Milayla was in need of a few new clothing items. So I promised her that it would be just a mommy and milayla outing. We picked a date on the calendar that we could sneak away once Jason was home and Milayla counted down the days. I love getting to take her on dates. I love the focus on time together that we have established in our home. It makes a big difference for everyone. You can tell how much better off we all are when we get some solid connection time with each other. Sometimes it is outings, sometimes it's just a matter of playing together or cuddling up to read a book together, or helping in the kitchen together. Since I am at home with the kids I get to spend a lot of time with them each and every day but I try my best to make sure that they are each getting multiple times a day where they are connecting with me on an individual basis. Sometimes it is only for a few minutes, sometimes longer. But I have really seen how it is starting to build conversational dialogue with them. Milayla delighted in telling me everything about her day (even though I had been with her all day) on the way to the mall and told me all about her preferences of colors and how she likes bright colors. Once we had our needed clothing we shared a smoothie which Milayla was over the moon about and Milayla finally got to check out all those little coin operated cars. She was spilling over with excitement about the time together when we got home to the boys. I love her passion, her smile and her overall enthusiasm about life and getting to have the time with her to really set the foundation for the years ahead. And then there is my favorite part of every day when I get to tuck my kids into bed one at a time and ask them questions about their day or thoughts on various topics. It's a special time, and some times I am a little tired for it but I push forward anyway and I am always glad that I did. It's a great finish to the day. So grateful for the time I get to spend with Milayla each and every day.

We Love to be a Family Day (aka Valentine's Day)

We celebrated our annual version of Valentine's Day this past weekend. These pictures make me smile. From the home depot stickers that Atticus used on his surprise valentines for everyone, to Phinny's big smile and sparkly blue eyes, to Milayla's excitement that she got to eat her chocolate before breakfast and just all the love that spilled over into this day. 

The kids began the day by running into our room with excitement that you would think was for Christmas. Actually, a few days earlier when the kids woke up to our kitchen decorated in all the hearts that we wrote for each other Atticus proclaimed it was a surprise as lovely as Christmas. Atticus had made some surprise valentines for us. And he and Milayla had made one together that was a proposal for Milayla to sleep on the top bunk. Very cute and very tempting to give in to their plea but Milayla is just a tad too young yet. Love notes from my children will never lose their place in my heart. Special beyond words. In fact, I am sure they will only get sweeter with time as our love and bond grows deeper and stands the test of time. 

From our bedroom it was off to find the first puzzle piece to place on our heart. The kids saw their valentine buckets brimming with love notes. So we took our buckets to the heart filled kitchen to enjoy a waffle breakfast together as our first task of the day. 

The tasks continued on from there. We made cookies, delivered cookies, heart attacked our neighbours and a couple sisters from church that we admire. Delivered flowers. Made pizza. Picked out a selection of fruit for fruit salad. And cuddled up for a family movie night. 

The kids loved getting to draw on the table at breakfast (I had put paper over the table the night before). And (Jason and) I loved hearing the children read all the love notes on the kitchen walls during the week leading up to the day. My heart seriously spills over with joy about it all. When we wrote the hearts for a family home evening I had suggested that we all write one for each person in our family, but everyone just kept going and going. We would have kept going, of that I am sure, had the time not begun getting late. 

It was just a happy day and I am so grateful for all these smiling faces. I loved it all and I get the feeling that everyone else was pretty happy with it all as well. At bed time the kids gushed that they loved the whole day because we spent it together as a family. Now that is a wonderful sentiment from my children to end the day on. 

Milayla opening her valentine from Atticus

Note to everyone from Atticus

Atticus works really hard to sound out words and I love reading his notes

That face. Heart melting.

Pyjamas - yes!

Valentine buckets filled, table ready for waffles, wall covered in hearts (all 4 walls had hearts on them, more than what you see) - ready!

looks like he may keep those blue eyes.

this is what our basement looks like - awesome, right? we decorated our neighbours basement door to keep the cookies out of the -35 temperatures. 

the river on a chilly day. It was breathtaking when we came upon it. the iphone picture just really doesn't do it justice. Beauty in winter is God's mercy, I'm sure. That, and warm homes and clothing and good people to spend the time with. Really, life is just full of God's mercy - that's a topic for another day though.

excited to make her own pizza

no movies for this little guy yet, so he gets to play with Me and Jason (trading off) in the background during family movies. I don't think he minds with a smile like that.

Atticus likes to take pictures for us. Take one.

take two

Yep, we do love to be a family.