butterfly

well we made it through another phase my emma...
high school can be rough on some mama/daughter relationships,
but i think we did an excellent job!
there were only a few minor bumps in the road...
looking back though i think we can both say
that you have made a lot of really great choices.

you are an intelligent, creative and thorough student.
i love to see you enjoying what you do...
and we know it's not chemistry!
(that is just fine with me)
part of growing up
is finding what you are passionate about.
there's no denying what you excel at,
your amazing grades tell it all.
 a beautiful writer of essays and reports.
brilliant work! 

my butterfly girl,
you have truly grown to be a lovely young lady.
remember all the life lessons you have learned...
because it's almost
time to
fly.
i could not possibly love you more.
xox

little star

last night my baby received her grade 8 diploma.
she's always been a successful student...
but last night her personality was also recognized
and i couldn't be more proud.
she is kindhearted, well behaved, respectful and empathetic.
she is also dependable, honest and mature.
many social challenges have come her way
and she has always stayed true to who she is.
it's sometimes hard being the good girl,
but please don't ever stop
because that is what makes you so special.
i love your beautiful heart.
xox

big day for little emma...

emma's prom...

she was stunning.
i mean really, really so beautiful...
the dress was perfect.
(so her)

the hair was lovely.

we are so proud of this girl...

i hope it was everything you
dreamed it would be...

easter dinner...simplified.

today was lovely.
sunny and bright.
spent lots of time outside.
just starting to feel like myself again...
my new jury friends have been feeling the same way.
we all put so much into it,
everything we had.
the sunshine was a welcomed source of comfort and energy.

late afternoon i started to set up our easter table.
draped it with one of my newest vintage sheets
and added some peeps and duckies.

we had ham with pineapple,
sweet potatoes and green beans.
lemon meringue pie from the grocery store.
nothing fancy.
just my little family.
just what i needed.
simple food...
in a cozy room full of unconditional love.
happy easter
xox

days of december...christmas

it was a nice quiet little morning...

with each year i am finding that we
are a bit slower to make it to the tree...

i find myself purposely stalling...
trying to savour every christmas moment.

i know that someday
i will be wishing to turn back time
to when they were small
and Christmas morning was one squeal
after another.

of course we still managed a few of those
again this year.

Poppy gave the girls each an ipad...
everyone managed to hold back tears...
hmmm, except Poppy i think.

yummy turkey dinner...
and a fresh snowfall.

another lovely christmas

days of december...almost there.

here's our big snowfall that happened overnight.
right now i will take whatever i can get....
and if it means i have to get down really low
and zoom in for a close up look,
then that's what i do.

...because from a distance
you'd hardly appreciate it.
snow is coming,
no doubt in my mind.

today was my last chance to wrap.
see the two "even steven" piles?
two girls...that's what you have to do.

i'm hoping that tonight
a little baking will get done.
i'm imagining candles and twinkle lights,
music and chocolate.
coconut too.
(all my favourites have it)

this time tomorrow...
the house will be cleaner than today,
the fridge will be full,
gifts will be ready to give.
my heart will be full of the magic...
Merry Christmas with Love...Leanne xox

days of december...around the house

days of december...

it's early in the season...
but he's bored already.

oliver still wants to go out every half hour,
but his little feet get frozen
and he gets snowballs hanging from his belly fur.
he likes to run around and bark
at the deer that aren't there anymore.
silly oliver.

the other night was the annual food drive...
pretty exciting stuff for our quiet street.
sirens and flashy lights.
santa running down the middle of the road...
i. did. not. know. that santa could run!?
oh and oliver thought this was even more exciting
than deer that aren't there.

and that right there...
is a snow cloud.
the air smelled like snow.
it sure had a chilly december feel in the air.

allie is in denial.
"what the heck is going on here?"
she also wants out every half hour...
but only for 2 minutes.
so i just stand there waiting for her
to head back to the door.
of course she doesn't want to go out
at the same time as oliver...
so every 15 minutes one of them
does something to get my attention.
they are very serious about this.

loving the december full moon...
last night it was a glorious view from the hot tub.
big fluffy clouds flying through the night sky.
wind whipping through the trees. (and my hair)
peek-a-boo stars.
winter has arrived...might as well enjoy it.

days of december...light that twinkles and flickers..

it's ok with me that the sun goes down early...
the house is cozy with twinkle lights here and there.

candles glow
inside and out.

wordless wednesday...december days