Mont Tremblant

We just got back from a few days in the mountain region of Quebec. I cannot even begin to describe the breadth of emotions and feelings that I have about our little vacation away. It was exactly what we needed. We left electronics at home (so grateful to have left the house hunting behind us for a bit), printed off some maps, packed our warm clothes and headed off. We planned it all under the radar. Meaning, we didn't tell the kids what we were up to. I let on that we had planned a surprise but they had no idea what it was at all. When they woke up Monday morning and Atticus saw a suitcase in the hallway he started jumping up and down and when we asked him what was up Atticus replied, "We're MOVING!!!". Then he ran to inform Milayla about the impending move (which Atticus had decided was to Germany) and they held hands and jumped around in a circle proclaiming their excitement. There was a little bit of inner questioning to myself about why we are trying to look for a house when there were two children jumping for joy at the thought of moving - and they were certain, because of the suitcase, that it would be somewhere far away. Yet, we look for a house. Back on topic though...

The trip was fantastic. I had suggested it to Jason as an attempt to give winter one last hurrah. Seeing that Jason only had a couple days available off work until his vacation renews later this year, we did not have a lot of time to work with (or funds seeing that we are trying to buy a house). But we were able to make it work to go to Mont Tremblant. I was a little unsure how it would be seeing that we don't ski. And despite my enthusiasm about us taking up skiing, I knew this was not the trip to make it happen. I was set on just heading out to the mountains and letting us absorb winter and we did it more than I thought we would.

Among our activities were ice skating; it was both Atticus and Milayla's FIRST time and they let that awesome determination reign supreme as they picked themselves back up after each tumble; tubing, snow man building, swimming, gondola rides, mountain climbing, card games and a sugar shack.

I am so proud of the kids; they conquered some big stuff. Milayla was only on the ice a few minutes when she proclaimed she was ready to skate solo and she wanted to trek down the little ice hill that connected the two skating ponds. Then Atticus was next and no matter how many times they took a tumble they kept getting back up. They have both expressed a desire to continue with skating.

They also, very bravely, took on the huge tubing hill that was set up. I loved going down the hill with them. Milayla volunteered first and when we got to the top of the hill the momentum from her excitement dwindled away quickly when she saw just how high up we were. Yet, with the help of lots of supportive people at the top of the hill and some prayers from family at the bottom of the hill she felt ready (she had the option to walk down the walk way if she wanted) and she giggled the entire way down the hill then went down two more times the next night. Atticus ventured down once on the tube and twice on these great sled things with a steering stick that are like the ones they use in "It's a Wonderful Life".

It was a pretty big treat to enjoy some meals out as well. The kids were originally enthused by the bland offerings on the kids' menu but both had a hard time actually eating it - the desserts were much more heartily eaten, that's for sure. And when we needed a little bit of down time we played a round or two of our new Book of Mormon Go Fish cards that the kids got from G.Bob and G.Wen (that's how Atticus writes their names in shortened form).

It was a really great trip. Great enough that the kids voiced that they wanted to stay there longer - well, actually, they asked for forever. Though, with Phineas having developed a cough and having not slept very well in new surroundings he was pleased as punch when we drove into our garage at home. We made it home in time to unpack everything, get the laundry well underway and read books with the kids before it was time for dinner and choir. Future self: thats a good time of day to get back from a trip - mid afternoon (and beat traffic, too).

Loved spending some time with these incredible, wonderful people, getting some time away, being outdoors, loving winter, seeing just how bright and crisp and sparkly snow can be (I never realized just how dingy even the fresh stuff in the city is), and I even loved the over the top excitement that kept our little ones from falling asleep the first night. I've written some more personal and special elements and thoughts that I have processed of the trip in my journal but suffice it to say - the trip was fantastic. And I have hopes of another little trip out of town once things thaw out a little bit more. We've been spending way too much time in the city.

Enjoy the pictures!

Today

Phinny is teething. He's not handling it well. I have had very few moments of a free hand today. I love the cuddles. But poor kid. I can't remember what it feels like to get teeth, but it doesn't seem pleasant.

Today was a laundry processing day. Linens and all. When I went to change the laundry to the dryer, the little broom from our dust pan fell out of the washer. It had gone through the wash. The bristles had slightly melted together from the heat of the hot wash. Awesome. The dust pan fell out a few articles of clothing later. I laughed. The bigger kids heard me from upstairs and came running down to see what was so funny. At least the dustpan and broom are clean. Rewashed the load though - just in case.

When making dinner the oil in the pan for sautéing the vegetables overheated and started splattering all over the kitchen. I had to look for a long handled spoon to push the pot off the hot burner just to stop the splatters while Phineas voiced his displeasure with me about needing to be put in the activity centre. The stove, wall, side of fridge, table and floor were all slickly covered in oil. I threw all the ingredients for the soup in the pot at once. Forget sautéing today, the vegetables could cook together in the soup. I didn't really want to be bothering with it today anyway.

Jason came home and the kitchen looked like it has exploded in one giant mess. I laughed so hard I cried. He laughed. He knows how much I dislike a messy kitchen. Yet, there I was, ignoring it all as I sat at our table in the kitchen; cuddling Phineas with one arm and coloring with Milayla with the other while Atticus chatted to us both about the wonderful pinwheel he was making. The messy kitchen could wait. I was spending time with my kids how we all needed it at that moment.

If life were to read like a book, you would study and remember the things that you highlight/underline/mark. Today, I choose the highlight reading our new library books to the kids on the playroom carpet and getting to read one of our books twice because the kids liked it so much. I will also highlight Phineas cuddled up against my chest, snoozing soundly, during nap time. And the look on Milayla's face as she told me about all the things she was drawing on her sign for their bedroom door; she is so excited about all the letters she is learning to write. And the journal entry that Atticus wrote at nap time about our 'We Love to be a Family Day'; he loves spending time with our family and loves writing/telling about it all. And the laughter that Jason and I shared when he got home because in just an exchange of looks we could communicate our day. And the way the kids join in when we laugh, partly because they just love to laugh and partly because they follow suit is also worth highlighting

Just like many books where there are some pages that you want to highlight every single word, there are also pages that you struggle to see if there is anything important on that page to make note of; life isn't always easy to see the meaning and depth in. And while life is far from feeling like a perfectly edited, well executed novel - it's real - and that means it sometimes gets messy and is often unpredictable but it also means that it is better than any fictional book out there. So while I can't always control what's on the page of my day, I can control what I focus on and how I choose to live those moments. And I must admit, I feel pretty incredible blessed and fortunate to be doing what I am - raising incredibly unique, intelligent and incredible children whom I love more than words alone could ever convey.

Phineas 7 Months

I love this little boy. I love his faces. I love his determination. I love that he is on the move now. He has the army crawl perfected and bounces around on his hands and knees in eagerness and anticipation of the coordination that will come soon enough for crawling. The big kids and I crawl around the play room throughout the day to try and show him how it's done. We mostly look a little looney but have plenty of fun. 

Phin will follow after me when I put him down somewhere. Which is quite fun. And he smiles nonstop. Which is a bigger blessing than one might realize when it is taken into consideration how often this little guy has had some awful congestion. It's made for some long nights more frequent than we would like. My momma heart feels bad every time we have to use his nose drops and suck the snot out of his nose. He hates it. Can't say I blame him; it really doesn't seem like a pleasant thing to have done.

But, on all other accounts, he is doing fantastically. He loves to jump, loves to play, loves to interact, and loves to be close. Oh, and he hates his car seat. Thankfully, he loves singing and if we sing songs while we are driving then his love for singing tends to over ride his dislike for the car seat. Success. 

He loves cuddles and I sure do love giving them. The slow progression of solid foods is still underway - not a fan of peas but sure loves sweet potato. Happy 7 Months, Phineas!