Treasures

Found in the bottom of Taggart's backpack two days in a row. We've decided he will try to just keep the best ones - mostly I decided - we'll see how that goes.

Organization

The list in my head of what I want to get organized throughout the house, has been consistently growing longer and longer for months.
September was always the magic month in my mind of when that would start happening. Kids all in school, it seemed there would be endless time to get it all sorted out.
Endless time there is not, I am realizing, but yet I am getting things done. and it feels good.
Yesterday, I tackled the pantry shelves in the garage. After a trip to Costco to stock up on things to fill the lunchboxes I set to work. Isn't it lovely??
Easy for little hands to grab whatever thy want for snack that day.


Anybody notice the wine bottles in the background? Mama needs a reward now and then, doesn't she?

Worn out

While Reagan and Taggart ran around the back yard this afternoon with their friends, these two could hardly keep their eyes open.
First full day of school proves to be more exhausting the older you get.

Today

Today these roses from the garden made the mundane task of doing the dishes a little more lovely.

Today school started. Today only half a day, but routine has started once again.

Never happy to see summer end but today I welcomed this new start.

Today Taggart started Grade 1. I will have 5 1/2 hours (approx.) a day to myself. It's been a long time since I've had that much time.

Today I started a new chapter in the story.

Goodbye Summer

To end our summer vacation we decided to make a trip downtown to meet Tony and see where the afternoon took us. Daniela joined us. (we've adopted her as our crazy aunt)
We started out at False Creek by Olympic Village. Thought we would check it out after seeing my friend's visit there on her blog.


We hung out in the sun by the water for a while until Tony called to say he was done work. Then we drove downtown to meet him for a bite to eat.
Crepes on Robson - sooo good.


SOOOO messy. Taggart's t-shirt was so dirty after finishing his I considered buying him a new one. Really - it was that bad.
After walking around for a bit and a little shopping. New shoes for Tony and I, nothing for the kids. This happens like....never!
Then we again got in the car and drove to the beach to get some dinner and hang out.
Literally hanging out.


The kids just love these guys. Daniela said they sort of freak her out, which made me laugh. I think they are just so friendly looking.
After our dinner of pizza, burgers, fish-n-chips, and sushi. Seriously! Our first mistake was asking the kids what they wanted. I'm not sure what made us think that they would all give us the same answer. Luckily we were surrounded by restaurants that offered us all the choices we needed. And then the cupcakes.

Does it seem like we just ate our way through the city?? I think we sort of did.

The beach was great and we stayed until the sun went down.


Not sure what was so funny here, but it sort of cracks me up.


Goodbye summer. We'll miss you!

A crafty time of year

I'm not sure what it is about the end of summer/beginning of fall that gets me in the crafty mood but it happens every year.
Maybe it's the thought of going back to school and remembering how it felt to have that brand new pack of crayons to color with. Whatever it is, I had the perfect opportunity this week to be crafty.
First of all, my dear friend and neighbor had a beautiful baby boy on Monday night. So excited for them as they already have two girls. So I welcomed little Carson into the neighborhood with this cute little diaper cake. I've seen them all over the web and now I had the perfect reason to make one. She loved it.

And now that birthday activities are all over we are thinking a lot about our upcoming vacation. So we don't have to try and figure out how many more sleeps every day, I created this. Every day we will cover up one of the numbers with one of the little Mickey Mouse circles in the little pocket. Much more fun than the chore chart that usually hangs on this hook. We've moved that to a more inconspicuous spot in the kitchen and for three weeks this will remind us of what's to come.

Taggart is Six!

He thoroughly enjoyed his day and was really happy to have so many people come to celebrate with him.
Aunty Mary

Nana

Daniela

Oma and Opa

Olivia, Rochelle, and Jake

It's been a while since these 7 have all been together. Good.

Happy Birthday Taggart. You are one great little boy!