project 365 ~ month of february ~ 277-304/365

Here are my contributions to the tenth month of Project 365.

We've had a lot of fun times in this short month of February. But let's be honest, I am so ready for spring! And according to our Ontario groundhog, it's going to be early this year?! I say that as huge snow flakes are falling out of the sky at this very second - in fact, they've been falling for a few hours now! That being said, I already notice the daylight hours are lengthening. And that makes me super happy!

I've had a few peeps ask me about the mosiacs I create each month - like the one below. It's really easy! I use a free online application on the Big Huge Labs website. Big Huge Labs is also linked up with Flickr, where all my photos are uploaded, but it isn't necessary to have a flickr account, just handier! There are lots of fun toys you can play around with on the website, I use the 'mosiac maker'. You can customize your mosiac to your own specific requirements, by the number of rows and columns, etc. When it's complete I then upload it to Flickr and add the border & text using the Picnik application. I hope you find it as easy to use as I do! And if you have any questions, just shout.

a new bed set

So we hope to have Lilah's new bedroom ready for her 4th birthday, in May, all being well. And while we were down in Syracuse, NY last weekend, we bought a bed set in Target. It's covered in pretty colourful hearts and to be perfectly honest, there are times that I totally question why on earth I bought something so jazzy and hearty. I'm more of a plain person myself, however, I think with grey walls (similar colour to the border I put around the photos below) and very plain white furniture, it will look good. I think. I hope so!

I kinda get the feeling Lilah likes her new bedset. And that's the main thing, because she, is the one that has to sleep in it!

I've also found some lovely prints and artwork on Etsy, pictured below. I'm hoping to display several different unique little pieces above her bed headboard. I'm having a hard time deciding - let me know your favourites!

Can you tell I'm rather excited about her new bedroom? It's the empty room the photos (above) were taken in. And yes, I am excited. I enjoy decorating.

in the sweetie drawer!

As I walked upstairs yesterday and looked through the rails,
I saw our funny little imp on her tiptoes, with her knee pads on...

Caught. Red handed. In the sweetie drawer!

"do you want to see it on my blog?"

Direct quote from Lilah yesterday: "I'm flying to China. I'm going to get a baby boy called Franklin, he's adopted too. And I took a picture - do you want to see it on my blog?"

That's the first time she's mentioned the blog. But not the last!

While I was taking these photos of her today, she asked me, "Are you taking these for the blog?"

My (blogging) secret is out - the 3 year old is on to me!

[ the flickr set is here ]

family day weekend

This past weekend was a holiday in Ontario called the Family Day long weekend. We decided to take a trip to Syracuse/Waterloo, New York. We've been a few times before, but never with Lilah. But now that we have her citizenship and passport all sorted out, we can drive across the border whenever we feel like it again, yippee! Colin took an extra day off work and we set off Sunday afternoon and arrived back late last night.

Lilah LOVES trips. Her excitment literally vibrates from her body and all she could excitedly squeal about was her swimming suit and the swimming pool, the swimming pool, the swimming pool! We picked the hotel especially because it has an indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, sigh, it was oh-so-lovely! We were in there all three days of our little getaway!

I was pretty happy about all the shopping. *grin*

And Miss Gracie talked her Baba into these rain boots (pictured below) and a raincoat to match, in her perfectly favourite colour - pink! Now she's all ready for some spring rainy day puddles!

[ the flickr set is here ]

a little 'school' project...

Lilah and I were pretty excited to start a new little project today.

We're hoping to do a letter (handwriting) and also a colouring page each day, until kindergarten starts. You know, give or take a day or two. I've started a little binder for my girl and she was pretty excited to get going on this project, so we're off to a good start.

I found these basic handwriting pages online at handwritingforkids.com. There are alphabet pages, numbers pages, bible story pages and lots more - it's a great website. That being said, I'd be very open and eager to hear if you know of any other fun learning websites out there, for young children. To be perfectly honest, I didn't do a whole lot of research.

I also enjoy Jen's website/blog, she is fabulously creative and just recently started a post called 'Teach it! Thursdays', her ideas are very fun and educational.

[ more pictures here ]

inspiring spring weather

2°C today. 11°C tomorrow.

Spring clothes and colours abound in the shopping malls.

Realistically I know this spring like weather won't last long. But, I'm SO ready for spring.

Lilah and I walked to Tim Hortons today and it felt really good. It's been a long time. And recently Lilah has been gazing into our garden shed, wistfully looking at her trike and saying: "Can I trike again soon, when it's summer time?"

We so can't wait.

For grass. Flowers. And sweet summer dresses.

Speaking of summer dresses, here are six that I adore. A few of these are already hanging in the closet, patiently waiting for spring. We're heading to the US this weekend for a few days, and there's a pretty good chance I'll be adding a few more items!

mini mooh on etsy - the children's place - creative bee on etsy
three yellow star fish on etsy - vintage lucy's on etsy - teeny bunny on etsy

the joy of love: [ jewellery ]

I'm not a huge jewellery fan. I wear my watch, my engagement ring and my wedding band. All the time.

My engagement ring is one of my prized possessions. It was given to me on my 21st birthday, by my love, my husband. It's Edwardian, circa 1910 - just over 100 years old now. I chose it, of course, because that's the kind of girl I am! I don't like surprises, especially if there is a chance I may not appreciate the surprise!

I lost it a few years ago, and it was like I'd lost part of me. The next morning I found it on the floor outside the washrooms in work. I'd been talking and drying my hands at the same time, and somehow it came off and fell onto the floor. It actually took me about 4 hours to realize I'd lost it, I feel so fortunate that I found it again.

"and now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love"
1 Corinthians 13:13

"for those who love, time is eternity"

the joy of love: [ kiss ]

I just got these photos from our friends a couple of weeks ago.
They were taken in the photobooth at their wedding last August!
We don't have nearly enough couple or family photos.

I included the photo above, even though it's older, because it's our all time favourite family kiss.
We call it the kiss sandwich! And Lilah adores them.

you are my heart

Lilah woke up fully animated this morning.
She knew it was Valentine's Day and she was SO excited to get started making cupcakes!
She marched right into our bedroom and said: "Hello people! It's welcome to Valentine's Day!"

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

{ to the world, you are one person ~ but to baba and mama, you are the world }

i draw a circle, not a heart, around you
the one i love
because a heart can break
but a circle goes on forever

[ the flickr set is here ]

the joy of love: [ the eyes ]

Several months ago we were talking about favourite colours around the supper table. Lilah's favourite colour at that time was pink. She then turned the question to me, so I told her I really liked green. She thought on it for a few seconds and then said: "Is that 'cause your eyes are green? Is Baba's favourite colour blue?"

Yes, Baba's eyes are blue. Her brain is always very much ahead of the game!

in the eyes of a child, there is joy, there is laughter
there is hope, there is trust, a chance to shape the future
for the lessons of life, there is no better teacher
than the look in the eyes of a child

The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. (Proverbs 20:12)

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched
- they must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller

sledding down "slidey mountain"!

Her first Canadian sledding experience was a big hit!

When we pulled up at a little hill, not too far from where we live, Lilah looked out the window and said: "Oh. Is this Slidey Mountain?"

I'm not sure where that term came from?! However, I'm glad it wasn't a mountain, because this hill was certainly fast enough! We had a great time, I don't think I've seen Lilah so eager to walk up a hill before! It was such a beautiful day, it snowed on and off for a while. Lilah's smile and laugh was enough to make us want to hang out there for another week! And judging from these pictures, the parents had plenty of fun too!

I do believe she loves winter.

[ the flickr set is here ]