i had so much fun with these 2 little ones the other day.  i’ve photographed this gal i think 4 times now and it’s amazing to see her grow over the years - shy and cheeky much like little A. her little brother just kept filling my pockets with treasures.

my parents;

had a party and we all of us gathered - brothers, sisters, in laws and their folks, uncles, aunts, nephews, niece, cousins, cousins once removed, neighbors, childhood friends…it was an “everyone welcome” party spanning several days at several venues;

i did not take any of these photos. most of them are Leanne’s and my aunt Julia’s. this is a photo of Leanne that Julia took (it’s my favorite!);

now if you want to see the truly ridiculous side of my family check here.  (click on HQ to view high res scans)

i have some beautiful and special women in my life who came to my blessingway recently to share in a fun little celebration. i was sweating with so much attention focused on me and also very grateful for their kind words, love and beautiful blessings. i’m feeling just a little more ready and confident now. For those of you unfamiliar with blessingways i recommend Raven Lang’s book. i had the great fortune of attending a TCM workshop/seminar with her when i was pregnant with little A.  She is one very inspiring woman right up there for me with my own birth attendant, Gloria Lemay who led this ceremony. (photo credits - my sistah once again).

the altar;

we squeezed in a little prenatal consult;

gorgeous ranunculus amongst some other beautiful flowers gifted;

weaving a web;

belly casting!

i’m not quite so voluptuous;

yay! thanks gals!

Little A on the left. Newbie on the right. Both around 37 weeks. it’s kind of funny how each is leaning in an opposite direction during the casting. while i feel bigger & wider, the casts look so very similar to one another;

i missed some other lovelies who were unable to travel but who sent their blessings over the waves. xo. i’ve got the bestest friends!

close enough to the city to remove oneself for a 1 day adventure. we traveled by ferry this time and hope to take the water taxi soon for another visit and more exploring.

so fun to get away with Auntie and visit our friend Fran (and her kitties!);

just photos. this one super cracks me up;

At the preschool snack table yesterday the little ones called out about tv, what they like, how much they watch. i was surprised but not really. This week in particular has felt a little wild in the classroom as though many of the kids stayed in from the rain. i admit that we too have turned the movie on some - Mary Poppins is totally magical. i’m loving it - but - outside is better. While the day was gorgeous, sunny, brisk and beckoning i hope that i can keep up the oomph to explore outdoors even on the inevitable soggy West Coast in Autumn/Winter days.

i got to meet the lovely Fabiola and her beautiful family at the beach yesterday. short and sweet. i sort of wish i could have joined a caravan with them on their tour to the island. (i can’t seem to click and drag larger images from my flickr just now?)

these ones included. i got such a kick out of them this afternoon, being silly, being boys, putting on shows at the wooden stage. gosh i love them.  (as you said it Anna), they’ve known each other since the beginning of their lives and i imagine it will be a long life and friendship;

don’t step on the cracks;

September something… i want to edit this next photo in here because it puts a big fat smile on my face seeing these boys on their “rocket” going to the  moon;

“logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” - Albert Einstein

She was amazing and beautiful. i feel so lucky to have been witness and support to this smooth and beautiful home water birth. For weeks her belly muscles worked, strengthened, contracted. Her blessingway date was pushed forward, anticipating an early birth and then a couple weeks later, on her own birthday and right on time, little Ocean Dylan was gently born and welcomed into a roomful of love.

i love so much about this photograph and the room - Sabrina doing her thing naturally, Glen’s easy smile, the kids curiosity of the pool filling and the painting of S pregnant with her first little one. Loud ocean waves and drum beats set the mood for a birth dance. Everyone around her wore a smile.

Some kids are so obviously meant to be older siblings and this is so true for Skai. Her presence at her baby brother’s birth was a blessing for everyone.

support;

inward, openness, softness, strength, surrender;

Welcome little one. We have been waiting to meet you.

my mom’s side of the family is quite huge and there are cousins i hardly recognize from when we were kids, now grown and with their own growing families. it was such a good idea to get together and so much fun but still, time was short and there are cousins i didn’t even have a chance to connect with (my shyness of using my horrible french accent a great fault). So here’s my mama and her siblings now and back in 1984 with their dad;

our hosts and organizers Susan and Russell;

candid shots of our weekend gathering of family folk for tea, picnic, birthdays, corn shucking, playing and wandering about;

L (as i remember her much of the time we were away) will have far more and far better documentation of the families than i managed. i’ll be waiting to see those for some time as she is in the midst of wedding season and swamped. oh but they’ll be good.

on the fifth. The night before we lay in his bed to tell and listen to our birth story. I imagine this story will be told so many years in a row that eventually he’ll be telling it to me.

Little A requested an all day all night party with all his favorite people and so it was.  Immediately upon waking he ran to his birthday table where he lit his candle while we flipped through his baby book and read his birthday letter. Downstairs at the breakfast table he set up and admired his birthday ring. He loves this as do i.

Outside he discovered a “little fort” and went running for it. Grandma P rocks! and seemingly whipped this little teepee up in no time compared to the length of time i pondered and procrastinated the pattern. Now the 2 of them have a new fort for all seasons, inside or out. The walking blocks were a huge hit and the birthday pants plenty long enough. Whew.

Friends and family joined us for the afternoon and evening of hide & seek, music making, magic, balloon fun, sweets and eats.

i’m so impressed with the magician that Auntie and Uncle james hired. i admit i was stressed that it might be too big of a rah rah show for the low key birthday i aim for (and usually fail at) but this guy was so good meeting us half way between family magic and corporate strolling magic. Little A has already invited him to his 6th birthday party. The balloons were brilliant ( i mean check out the clock) and i think we were all impressed with the magic.

I don’t want to ramble on too much about the cake since i’ve complained enough about it’s process already(including a 4 hour power outage on the trial run amongst other challenges to a first time cake baker) but i do want to thank everyone who listened and gave me moral support and i’m sorry for all of my cursing. It’s too soon to say i’d do it again but while putting it together, the little one squealed in excitement about it being the best looking cake ever so i’m happy he was happy (and full up on just a little piece with reduced amounts of sugar of course - i couldn’t help myself) .

a little later the party continued…Countless times balloons were pumped, let soar, lost, retrieved. Kids were ecstatic, perhaps sugared up some, the porch  full while Alistair & Sandra kept us all fed with real food and duck which i didn’t eat but hear was delicious.

Thanks to everyone who made Little A’s Golden Birthday golden. You’re awesome!

The day following was a satisfying rainy, stay inside, pj, play with new gifts, watch new little bear movie, eat leftover chocolate and organize photos kind of a day. Before bed the little one asked, “so does the world just go on and on?” i’m giddy with excitement for more of these 5 year old ponderings.