Tabitha, Helen, Kelly

(photo by Shahriar Khan)

I spy with my little eye

Three bloggers and a tribe.

Rachel

Our sweet Lilli is home again with us, after a terrible scare (rushed to the ER for a blood transfusion due to severe anemia). We weren't sure she would even survive the night. It's so nice to see her back in her favorite spot, modeling the latest in poodle haute couture. It's amazing how much love and concern we have for our four legged friends, and how sad we were to think she might not make it. I know it's something we will someday have to face. This small brush with the possibility of her death gave us a lot of time to discuss how we would handle a serious illness in our dog, and to talk about serious illness in people, to think about the choices we must all make with regard to our own care, and for the care for those we love. It was a challenging but really profound week for all of us.

Shannon

 This boy grew up a little more this week, turning nine. He created his day to be just what he wanted. Saying all day how awesome it was. He oozed gratitude and celebration. It was a joy to witness this. 

Shannon

 

Oh what a week is has been. But even as I sit here exhausted, with aching muscles I can not help but smile in gratitude. My boys have both stretched in to new places. Stepping up to contribute to birthdays, helping overwhelmed me and simply demonstrating over and over that when I invest in helping my children fill their cups it comes back to me ten fold in the very moments I need it the most. This watermelon cake was as delicious as it was precious to receive. 

This new house has returned us to our roots. The space outdoors to gather round a fire and tell tales of who we are. To invite friends in to knowing us on a whole new level. It's a most lovely return.
 

 Tabitha

 
 The fruits of his labour (or is that vegetables of his labour??).
This is a carrot he planted in the spring being enjoyed and shared.
Yum, garden fresh carrots.  I'm so grateful for the community of
family we have around us.  My mother in law has provided this
beautiful place to go and grow food and see it happening while our
garden at home has suffered from a serious case of new born baby
neglect.  Thankful for the harvest, the fun, the learning.

Happy Fridge.

Kelly

 Cooper acquired a new loft bed which we (me) set up this week. He was so excited, despite not actually planning to sleep in it. We set up a tv and beanbag chair underneath. He announced that he would be hosting a weekly movie night for a different family member each. So, here he is, cutting the ribbon he taped to the doorway, marking the occasion of the inaugural movie night, with Frankie being the first invitee. Note the red carpet. He thoughtfully chose a Pokemon movie, her favourite at the moment, made popcorn and provided pillows and blankets. 

 Suddenly she is 10.
I love how much she enjoyed helping unload bark mulch with her Dad this week. How she has her own sense of style and her own way of doing things. I love how she is most content in solitude yet loves parties. I love how she goes in through the out door, how she still skips when she walks and how she stands for justice. She is strong willed yet soft-hearted.
She is all the things I seek to improve in myself. Sometimes a mystery, always a joy. Love you Frankie!

Helen

There was a quiet moment with this guy, 

where we got to hear him talk about a difficult situation he had faced.  

The processing, the introspection, the shifting and more. 

It was all there, shared freely and such a testament to how far he has traveled. 

Love.

We've been hanging the laundry out to dry as much as possible.

(It strikes me each time, seeing all the little-big-in between-clothes side by side, 

how grateful i am for these beings that fill all those clothes. 

There was a long time when it seemed unlikely that it would ever happen for us.)

Often there are these handy helpers around, laughing, scheming and talking as they work.

And creating the most interactive peg bag ever...

Rachel

We decided the house needed a bit of remodeling before we put it on the market. After six hours of cleaning and painting in the backyard, we wondered if we should have just sold it as a fixer-upper. Sure was fun, though. While we worked, we reminisced about the sweet days spent playing with the house. We laughed about the figures they had given make-overs (by cutting off their hair or their clothes). It was so beautiful to see how much they loved their time with the house, but how they also felt ready to let it go.

 

We have spent the last 10 days at the cabin where we have had the most perfect weather imaginable. We've filled our days with hiking, kayaking, visiting local ice cream shops. We've had entire days at the beach with picnic lunches, sandcastles, burying each other, skipping and gathering stones. We've seen sunsets and sometimes sunrises, and we spent one late night outside trying to see the Perseid meteor shower. We've grilled out and made pit fires (and s'mores). It has been the most lovely week. But by far, my favorite moment is this one, with my two boys sitting in the water together, looking at the sky and talking together about something completely their own.

Rachel

  A mysterious box from a galaxy far far away arrived at our door, and the boys opened it with giggles of excitement. Our friends Mitchel, KJ, Shannon and Pucky had lovingly put together a care package of Star Wars toys for Max and Otto. We had so much fun trying to figure out how all these unusual pieces worked and marveled that we had never seen the likes of them before. The boys are having so much fun playing with them all. It makes me think of our friends each time I see these toys, and that helps us feel connected to them, even when they are far away from us.

Shannon

I remember when he was just one year old, a parent at the playground stood beside me and said, "Your son is scaring me." He was climbing on the outside of playground equipment. With each step he would stop and steady himself. He was in his body. He knew his boundaries. He taught me not to be afraid of his abilities. So now, nearing 8 years later, when he finds a tree and climbs as high as the branches will allow him, I trust him.

 

 

Tabitha

It's easier to be brave when there is someone there to catch you.  

And it's easier to be brave when you know that you don't have to jump
until you are ready (which wasn't today).

 

 

Kelly

This girl has a particular and peculiar diet. Always has. She eats in jags; like the year she basically lived on Cheerios  and apples, the bagel phase, the grapes and strawberries days. There are really only about a dozen things she eats and she is not interested in trying new things, not ever. So imagine my surprise when she ordered blue bubblegum ice cream and not the usual vanilla. And then 2 days later, at a family dinner party, put chicken satay, peanut sauce and rice salad on her plate and tried it all! Next day, she requested to try eggs. WTF?
Yet another example of my girl's approach to everything in life... with caution and in her own good time.
 

 

 

Helen

Still. Loving. Summer.

And being reminded of the transience of it all.

Let's try and make it all count, you and me.