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kai: climbing, sliding, laughing and getting dirty, he spent the entirely of our time at the park on the play structure with his buddy.  the simplest, unplanned, and, kai says, "most awesome" fun way to spend a sunny weekday afternoon when school is not in session. 

weekend pics, cake time

it's been quiet around here, both at home and on the blog.  i put down my camera and kept the laptop shut to take care of my house and make it into a home again... i'm almost there!  trying to keep up with a house in full disarray has made for a tiring weekend.  i was knee deep in painting and spring cleaning.  breaks included reading through the spring issue of kinfolk, their home issue. 

all this putting together and reading about other people's thoughts on the meaning of home couldn't have come at a more perfect time.

you see, disarray has come full force in my home and it's not just the house.  motherhood for me has been loopy and messy this last week.  the work of a mother isn't always fun, especially when her ten year old hurts with his words and gestures, slaps away my hand when i try to show some love, and rejects my help for anything.  it's heartbreaking.  it feels all of a sudden but really i should have known.  it isn't always like this - he's been so sweet the last few days - but it seems to be shifting.  how do i parent a boy who doesn't want to be mothered?

with a little faith and courage and unconditional love, i suppose.  as i figure out how to navigate this new mothering i dream that with the putting together of our home it will somehow - magically - put together our relationship too.

 

 





jude made a home for himself out of the stacked chairs and pillows



and cake helps too :)  i woke up sunday morning wanting to eat a deliciously simple - no fuss - slice of cake.  it was such a strong craving.  and guess what guys?  stefan made the best cake ever - an almond cake complete with toasted sliced almonds topped with sugar and lemon zest.  it was light and full of flavour.  of course, he turned to his trusty cook's illustrated magazine for the recipe.  make this cake, you'll thank me for it!

16/52

 

kai: he wishes for a guinea pig or two.  they sure are cute.  he says he'll sacrifice square footage of his room to accommodate the humongous cage guinea pigs require.  maybe one day, my sweet boy.



weekend pics, family time

so, i didn't paint or mop or dust like i said i would.  instead, i boarded a ferry with my boys and spent time with family.  it's the best feeling to show up and have the girlies run out into my arms and ruben playing it cool but then giving the biggest and tightest hug.  how i even considered not going is beyond me.





 
the weekend was a mash up of lounging and activities.  melanie's friends came over and we made pizza and played a silly game of "you don't know jack"; we hiked around thetis lake park (craig and soon-to-be nine year old india ran it) and the rain, thank goodness, stayed away; we also brunched at the beach which resulted in kai wet to his knees (and we hadn't even eaten yet!) and the girlies finding baby shrimp and eels by the water... lots of excitement! 
 
we also squeezed in a little fun with pottery - it took some doing on my part but all seven of us went (i may have held them hostage, i'm not saying for sure, but it ended up with everyone - aka, the boys - loving it).  to make it appealing we drew names and we had to choose a pottery piece and paint it for the person whose name we drew.  it was relaxing, quiet (all the kids were focused on their art project), and almost meditative. 
 
of course, there was an easter egg hunt at the house (thanks melanie and craig for organizing it!) followed by the eating of chocolate.  but after the hunt and before the eating there was the serious business of doling out the eggs so everyone had an even number (love that pic of the kids).

  

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

hope your long weekend was a good one too!