HEYDENSHORE

We spent our Sunday afternoon down at Heydenshore. The day was a beautiful mix of warm and breezy and the water cashing onto the rocks was irresistible to say the least. I sat and watched the boys toss rocks into the lake. Aaron wowed them with his stone skipping abilities. This is the last Sunday that Aaron will have off before school starts so we made the most of it, doing simple things that add up to great memories.

BOWMANVILLE ZOO

After an entire summer of Aaron working weekends, he was finally give his second Sunday off! We took full advantage of our day. When we started out we had no preconceived plans, just a car and hope; hope that a beautiful day was ahead of us. We got in the car and started driving east on the highway. We drove, not knowing where exactly were were going, just the general directions. We drove around for a while until we drove past a sign reading "Bowmanvill Zoo." Done! We decided to check it out! The boys had a blast and us grown ups did as well. What I did love about the zoo was that it was small! No miles and miles of land separating one exhibit from the next. No large hills to climb, no annoying crowds, just a few people who much like us wanted to take their kids out of a Sunday afternoon.

mother struggles

The boys and I made some play dough this morning. After the disaster that was yesterday (not getting into it. I have two boys...you get the picture!) I decided that I needed to keep them occupied.

Motherhood has me ragged these days. I shake with fear over having to spend hours with them when Aaron is not with me. Joshua is at that age where suddenly I make absolutely no sense to him! I could have sworn that I at least had another 5 years before I had to deal with that.

Lucas pretty much does what Joshua does and its frustrating.

Who's up for a third kid :D ?????.....*Ashley gives blank stare*

My saving grace has been the fact that Aaron put a fence around the patio giving us private outdoor space. Before lunch I released the children and watched from the living room as they played for a good two hours while I drank a beer and watched reality television.

I am looking forward to my day off tomorrow and since its an American holiday the boys still have school/daycare!!! I really need tomorrow to recover and hopefully come Tuesday I'll start to feel a bit more positive.

A SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Breakfast on a Sunday morning. There is nothing else like it, no diner nor restaurant can compare to the warmth and the atmosphere of our family's home.  A diner can never make me feel this whole.

By the way, did you happen to check out those plates and notice that they all match?! If you don't know what I am talking about, take a look over here. I got these babies for free! A college friend of mine recently moved back into town and with her came a crap load of stuff from her old house that she was desperate to get rid of. I walked away with a 18 piece set! 6 dinner plates, 6 bowls and 6 saucers.

"More please!" isn't a request I always here but there is something so simple and nurturing about Sunday breakfast that wants everyone wanting more and the grown up ditch their diets and indulge a little more.

And because we never got to on Valentines day, we baked and decorated cupcakes.

The weather this time of the year is rather depressing. The cold air go through you all the way to your soul, so the only thing you can do to fight it, is to warm it up! After this Sunday, I can definitely say mission accomplished.

IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PERFECT

This Sunday evening Aaron and I busted out the good ole Gingerbread house making kit and let the boys partake in some holiday fun!

I have to tell you that I cannot count the number of times when I cringed every time I saw one of them place a piece of candy on the house that was inconsistant with the beautiful picture on the front of the box. Aaron noticed my discomfort and reminded me, "It's not supposed to be perfect."

He is right. Some things, especially Christmas things as best when they are not perfect but messy, tacky and loved. It shows our family, it shows the boy's ages and it shows our spirit. I should remember that more often and just learn to appreciate the best that can be done. 

SUNDAY

I haven`t had the chance to truly enjoy the magic that is a Sunday afternoon in a long time.

Aaron works a lot of Sunday`s. It`s the dreaded launch month as all the universities so the all the departments at the office are under fire right now as all the new students start their programs, especially Aaron`s department. The only Sunday he will have off in September with be the 23rd and we as so looking forward to that. Thankfully with the approach of October his weekends will start to free up.

I spent a good portion of today wearing Aaron`s big fluffy sweaters, not bothering to step out of my sleepy clothes.

I wrote this post :)

I oversaw my 5 year old doing homework while his little brother pretended to do his as well. Monkey see monkey do! I then reminded him that not everything has to be perfect and thought that I should tuck that piece of advice away for later use when I fell like I have to take on everything and have all done just so.

I helped to build Lego houses. Should have been an architect.

I put a two year old in time out.

Then daddy came home and wiped away little tears and made Sunday actually feel like Sunday a.k.a. Family Day. We ate dinner together and while I was cooking the house was ruined again but I guess that is all apart of having a family and making the most of your time together.