sunday morning

(air guitar)

loads of help

Teaching the girls how to fold laundry. Janie got hung up on the underpants.

the best way to get a bird to eat out of your hand...

... is to appear indifferent to having a bird eat out of your hand.

 

As for me, I'm basically a Disney princess with how I can communicate with my bird friends. 

And here's Annie. Birds were not bothered by Annie's enthusiasm.

recess

We're outside to play today, a bright bunch of pink in the snow. Until Janie's mitten came off. Frequent and number one reason for having to go inside. Thumbs are complicated.

things Catholics do

Today we stood in line for almost an hour to stand in front of St. Francis Xavier's right arm for ten seconds. Well that's weird, you might say. Okay, maybe, but also amazing. This incorrupt relic of St. Francis Xavier is presently on tour across Canada, thanks to CCO and the Jesuits of Canada, and we and 13,000 other people had the same idea that today would be a great day to see it. It's a long wait for something that last just seconds but it was a strangely powerful experience to bring our family toward a Saint and ask for his prayers, to honour his work and mission as a man 500 years ago, and to experience the extraordinary power he holds now as a Saint to bring us closer to Christ. David and I prayed specifically for our children's hearts to know and love Jesus, and we trust that this human person, now a Saint, can intercede for us from his heavenly home. (We know, too, that we can - and do! - bring our hearts and prayers straight to our Father in Heaven, but we are also glad for our saintly friends who are up there with Him, advocating for us as well.)

So, yup, weird as it may seem, placing our hands as a family on the glass encasing St. Francis Xavier's forearm is bringing us closer to Jesus. I am so grateful for it.

(I stole this picture from CCO's website...)

back on track

We went to check out a sweet little property today. Maybe looking for something new for the family. Turns out this place was just miniature and, frankly, too crowded. We'll just stay where we are.

lisel and co.

So happy to have a long overdue visit with Lisel and her people, and for our people to play together, and for us to chit and chat for so long, and for no one to nap. Happily happy.

(Just, for anyone who doesn't know my friend, she is, in fact, not a German freulein named Lisel but actually a French Canadian gal named Lise. I just call her Lisel. Because I don't know why.)

sundae fun day

With great big thanks to our neighbours for the fun sundae kit they gifted us at Christmas, complete with bowls, all the toppings, whipped cream, and even an envelope of money for ice cream. Thoughtful and very, very sweet (literally).

may the fort be with you

This is what happens when it's too cold to go outside.

2018

Here's to a new year filled with lots of cousin fun, but maybe a little less wind chill.