janice's mash-up

happy fathers' day

Kind of a quiet day around here.

We saw my dad yesterday at Adam's ball hockey game and helped out with a gift to keep his chocolate drawer full. This evening we had dinner with Neil's dad and brother and supported a gambling hobby with lottery cards.

Today the boys gave Neil gifts related to his hobbies and likes, especially chosen just for him. The boys studied and had homework today and Neil was able to rest and recover from a very busy week, including his school's grad dinner & dance. The boys are looking forward to spending lots of time with their rested and healthier dad in the summer!

Happy Fathers' Day Neil!

june photo challenge: week two

Almost forgot a few times this week. Love how the "enabling constraint" of a prompt word for each day is making me think outside the box.

June 8: Travel

One of my favourite sections in the Vancouver Sun...the Saturday Travel section.

June 9: Fresh

Salmonberries freshly picked.

June 10: Relaxing

After a long long day it's nice to relax and sit down with a cup of tea.

June 11: Homemade

Homemade salmonberry scones...made with love for breakfast.

June 12: Silly

At Adam's Spectrum Gala, one his teachers reminded them to be a little silly sometimes.

June 13: Garden

The potato jungle is flourishing in the garden!

June 14: Family

Keeping the main thing the main thing...our family circle.

Already started on week three!

wordless wednesday: for the love of farm fresh eggs

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june photo challenge: week one

As if June isn't crazy busy enough already, I decided this month was a good month to do a photo challenge. Part of that decision was conscious...to focus on something I love to do and to stay grounded and present with the everyday. This is one of those month's that can lead to a loss in perpsective and I wanted to do something about that.

Paper Coterie is a favourite online store of mine. I love their memory keeper boxes and order them often after a trip to hold all the bits and pieces from the trip. I get their monthly emails and decided to jump on board for their June photo challenge. All photos are taken with my iphone and posted on instagram.

June 1: Outside

A favourite place outside...our backyard

June 2: Nature

Love where we live...a walk along the south arm of the Mighty Fraser

June 3: Laughter

Laughter from the little ones on the other side of our fence

June 4: Yellow

Bright yellow dahlias in bloom at Prickly Pear Garden Centre

June 5: Friends

Friends keep me sane

June 6: Sunshine

Sunshine makes shadows...observations by five and six year olds

June 7: Random

A tea visit with a colleague and a racoon in our backyard...a random kind of day

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Week one is in the books!

wordless wednesday: for the love of lemony goodness

 

 

wordless wednesday: macro photos from Garry Point

photos taken with my iPhone 4S with an olloclip

living, growing, changing

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.” 
― C. JoyBell C.

wordless wednesday: a photo walk around Garry Point

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the need for long weekends

We need long weekends for different reasons. To rejunvenate, to relax, to get away or in my case this weekend, to get lots of work done! It was a productive weekend balanced with time with friends and family, getting outside, a trip to a new Target in North Delta and some time in the garden.

The May long weekend also signals that summer is just around the corner and oh, I am needing summer holidays for lots of reasons this year too!

spring season sports

Although soccer and ice hockey are over for now, the boys still keep busy with their sports. 

This spring, Colin continues to fence twice a week and Adam is playing ball hockey for the second time...

and Colin played on his school's grade 8 boys' volleyball team.

His team didn't have a stellar season but they won some sets and most of their games were really really close, heartbreakingly so sometimes. Colin was consistently strong on defense and was a "bumping" specialist on his team. Their playoff game went to five sets but it was the best they had played all season, so although they ended up losing, it was a positive way to end the year.

I played volleyball in high school and loved watching Colin play on a school team. School sports were such a big part of my time in high school and I was so glad when Colin was interested in trying out for volleyball. I think playing school sports builds a strong sense of connectedness to your school and representing your school by showing good sportsmanship was highly emphasized on his team and I really appreciated that.

Congrats on a great volleyball season Colin!