My Three

The scene.   Temperature cooling off.   Silly kids thinking it's spring in t-shirt and shorts.   Bribing them outside.   Owen standing on a foot stool.   Daddy holding the umbrella light so it wouldn't blow away.  Kids saying you have three shots that's all mom!   So this is the best of the three.

Oldest

I'm playing with some new ideas,  new techniques,  continuing to learn.  So am quite happy that my oldest was the first one to raise her hand and come with me to play.   She thought this was very cool.   I'm hoping she comes up with some more ideas so we can play some more.

Weekend Breakfast

I love that on the weekends daddy is in charge of the morning meal.   Makes all the weekday sitting back eating his breakfast watching all the chaos around him and not helping worth it.    Reminds me though I need to clean the stove top.

Mommy I need help........

Was totally not expecting this.   Usually this call is for a new toilet paper roll,   or occasional let's see if mom will still wipe my....     But handcuffed to the toilet paper holder that's a new one.    Yes they do make life unexpected!!!!   (and he is so going to hate this when he gets older!)

Love, Beauty, Luxury, and Strength

My horoscope for my birthday said that this is the year of positive actions and intense focus.  You will find a balance between your need to focus on the goals that matter and unlocking the door to blessings,  making this a truly special time.  It will be a great year.   Enjoy.  
I have posted an orchid as they mean love, beauty, luxury and strength and my horoscope is hinting that way too. 

Cooking

I love cooking.   Creating new meals.   Having a hit when everyone eats everything without complaining.    Or a bomb where you learn what doesn't go well together.   Send me recipes I love trying things out. 

Sleeping Children

Some days the best moment of the day is when these people in my house are quiet.    Don't get me  wrong.   I love them.  I love that I'm "mommy".    But I bet you if your boss at work said your name about 3000 times a day you'd not want to hear your name anymore that day either. 

Creative People

It is day two of BC teacher's strike.    My little ones have been visiting with friends and being creative.   Paint is flying all over this house.  (and in many places I don't want)  I really don't mind though because when I look over a my youngest and see him starting to draw things that look like what they are suppose to I get amazed all over again.    They all love to create and though I don't keep it all in original form.   I do have photos of the best ones that I print and put in their scrapbooks. 

Yellow Roses

My favourite colour is yellow.      I also love flowers and will buy them for myself whenever I can.   I used to forgo a food item just to get some fresh flowers in my apartment when I was single.     So last  Wednesday I bought myself yellow roses because they just called to me.    ( I didn't have to give up a food item but the kids don't need ice cream!!!)

Vancouver

This will be one of those posts where I'm torn between ages and times in my life.    Went to Vancouver with visions of exploring,  getting some creative juices running,  and just getting out and about exploring  BC.       We've done Vancouver before and spent a month living there when Ciara was 3 and Hannah about 4 months.     It was easy to just explore and entertain them.   They were little.   Nap time in the stroller  I and a cocktail while they cleaned the room,  it felt like an adventure.   Now.....   well my vision didn't include 3 kids.   This is when I wanted to be just Eric and I again before kids.   Strolling,   spending money only on a coffee and neat pastry.    Looking at all the shops and dreaming of maybe buying this and that.   Trying on clothes that you could never afford (when you are 20ish) 
Now though we have 3 kids that say I want I want every 3 minutes.   Trying to teach them that the next store has different things.   The next stall has different food.   Just lets look at it all choose our favourite and come back to it.   Yah..... that worked!  It didn't sink it.    And though I was happy that they were all excited and running around.  Wide eyed looking at all the neat things, that is what I wanted from this weekend.   I was also angry because this was suppose to be about me!!!  My birthday.   I make their days.  Even Eric's a big day.   Favourite meal,   balloons,  presents,   etc etc.    So yes this is selfish of me to think that to expect that but I wanted that too.   I wanted to try on expensive Fluevog shoes that I can afford now,   with out everyone rolling their eyes.   I didn't want to hear I want every 3 minutes.   I wanted to get a new outfit.   I wanted more then just cake on my day.   (yes you have read right I didn't get presents!!!)  
From past experience just in Kamloops I know I can't take them with me if I want to just get a bra and grocery shopping well...      So why did I expect differently this time.   Is this just what happens?   That mom never gets an all about her day on her birthday anymore???      Or is just this family?  

I don't know but even though 40 didn't go as it did in my head.    Getting out and away from Kamloops for the weekend,   eating some wonderful food (well the extra 8 lbs it's just water I could do without!),   and feeling creative again was worth it.  

Silage in a Bagel

Man my husband can make me laugh uncontrollably still after almost 12 years of marriage.   We were at the kids market at Granville Island in Vancouver.   While our "we want,  we want" children  were climbing all over the indoor play centre.   (giving our ears the first break in 3 hours!!!)   We were grabbing some caffeine and experimenting with new gourmet items found in the public market.    First we tried a potato stuffed pastry and it was very very tasty.  (should have got two)   Then came the spinach stuffed bagel as seen above.   We both took a bite and Eric said well a horse would have a great meal.    Which caused  me to sputter and reply that it tasted like silage and smelled that way too.   He agreed and we laughed for quite awhile.   Just when I thought I was under control he then said isn't it sad that we also know what silage smells and tastes like to compare this too.    In which I started giggling all over again.  

Naughty 40 Club

The Naughty 40 Club.     I like that title.   One of my girlfriends from Australia welcomed me to the club.     I've had some lovely emails and notes from wonderful women who have been in this club before me.   It helps to get out the of the little pity party I was having.   Knowing that these amazing women that have come into my life for various reasons and are enjoying life even more.
My mom sent me two lovely cards and a letter about my birth day.     Even her card was on the theme naughty 40.

"Forty is knowing what you want and making it happen.   Forty is learning from the past and moving forward with strength and confidence.   Forty is old enough to know better and young enough to do it anyway.   Forty is a wonderful place along the pathway of your incredible life. "

Time for a lot of cake and an adventure to Vancouver for the weekend.  

Personal Project

So this is me at 39.  (rebelling because tomorrow I turn 40)   So I decided to do a personal project since 40 is hitting me.   My family blog is being overrun with agriculture photos.  So I will put family and personal stuff on this sight.   I don't know what I want to accomplish.   Maybe to see all I have accomplished at 40 and make it a good thing instead of feeling that I'm not 20 any more.     The knee pain is from 20 years of rugby playing.   The no longer firm belly is from 3 children.   The wrinkles around the eyes are from many years of laughing and farmer squinting in the sun.      A 365 photo journey into the mind of a mid life crisis women.   It may be a weird journey.  It  may feel like you are following a split personality as I bounce back and forth between the young person that existed and experienced,   the sappy mom ,   the creative photography visions,   and the 40 year old that is adventuring and experiencing now.   Stay tuned it's going to be interesting.    ( at least I hope!!!)