Nothing quite as entertaining to a three year old as air popped popcorn. #afterschoolsnacks

Building tradition

Like many, I can only presume, I long for the comfort of tradition.

Up until now, my most consistent (Canadian) Thanksgiving tradition was playing Scorcese’s The Last Waltz while the bird cooked. (Because, well, nothing screamed fall to us quite as dearly as the scents of autumn bounty boiling, broiling and bubbling in the oven combined with the rhythm and beats of The Band, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Dr John, Ronnie Hawkins, Ron Wood, Ringo Starr, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, The Staples, Emmylou Harris and Paul Butterfield.)

But there’s nothing quite like great life changes to spur the creation of new traditions. So, this year we threw in a couple more:

We picked our own pumpkins from one of many pumpkin patches at Lindley’s Farm.

And then we packed up some boxed wine, fresh bread, salads and skewered turkey strips and made our way down the Niagara escarpment for quite possibly the most perfect fall picnic.

Catching the last of the days rays with Uncle Jeff

Despite a few hardships over the past few years, there can be no doubt that we have much to be thankful for. We are thankful. We are thankful. We are.

Making its rounds on the Facebook. 

Flashback Friday, the time just gets away from you edition (Taken with Instagram)

Ain’t that the truth

Brought to you by howtobeadad.com.

Thursday’s treasures (on a Friday)

Nothing gives me a warmer feeling than handing something down to Everleigh that meant something to me. This week, I’m show-and-telling my baby blanket, which is now Everleigh’s blanket. I actually don’t know where this handmade gem even came from. A family friend (I think)? At any rate, it’s just about perfect. White on top, yellow underneath and delicately decorated with embroidered baby animals. Take a look-see:

This struck a chord, so I had to share. 

(Source: paigesofsarah, via weloveandlearnasafamily)

She sleeps in her own room, her own bed. But every single morning at about 6 a.m. she comes into mine. She’s my morning surprise. #einthecast (Taken with Instagram)

did-you-kno:

Source

Another reason to listen to your child’s natural rhythms.

(via did-you-kno)

What’s old is new

I found these little ukrainian nesting dolls pulled apart and splayed across E’s room tonight, which immediately brought me back to my own childhood. I have such an affinity for trinkets, books and toys that hold some sort of heritage, history or a story. These particular nesting dolls, for instance, perched on my bookshelf when I was a little girl, and now they perch on E’s. As you can tell, I spent hours playing with (chewing on) them. 

They’re pretty much intact minus a few casualties (I’m almost certain each wooden doll came with four) and the not-so-discreet bite marks. Ok. They’re not intact at all. Still, aren’t they the sweetest little nesting dolls?

I’m going to post a treasure like these once a week, so get ready to see all of my hand-me-downs, bite marks and all.