Playfulness

The sunshine had me seeing things through rose-colored glasses.
I felt playful and got in touch with my inner 9 year old little girl.
I want to remember to live out loud like she does.

10

I wonder if, ten years from now, I'll remember the details of this day the way I remember the details of the day they were born. 
I can't believe ten years have gone by.
When I look at them, I see the babies and the young women. 
It blows my mind in the best possible way.

Our friend Steph made the girls the most beautiful sewing kit for our next trip. They were delighted!

Mara received a violin (we were renting one from our friends and we decided to get her a bigger one). She was so proud! We are still looking for a good quality portable piano for Aïsha (at a decent price).

Spring puddles

Her shadow in a puddle of melting snow and the overwhelming feeling that the snow was not the only thing thawing today.
I felt the sap running up my body, filling my head. 
Smelling the soft, warm earth.

Messy

Mathilde (jumping in a puddle): why is Spring so beautiful, mama?

Mara: Let’s sit here and soak up the sun!

Aïsha: Is the sun a star that will die too someday?

Mara: Of course, it will! One day, but we still have plenty of time left!

Mathilde (continuing her exaltation about spring): Everything feels so new! I feel new! I love spring!

And the adults who drive by only see big girls jumping in puddles in their snow suits and frown. They seem to have forgotten that joy can be messy sometimes.

Sugaring season!

Squeezed on the four wheeler to go collect sap at sunset. Snowshoes stuck in the deep snow and red faces from the hard work. Drinking straight from the pails. Talking with friends around the woodstove while the room fills with the familiar aroma of sap slowly becoming syrup. Old comic books taken out of dusty boxes. Shared memories of another era. An upside down maple syrup pear cake, delicious baked beans and maple taffy on snow at an ungodly hour on a Wednesday night (Ahh! The joy of homeschooling!). A perfect celebration of spring!

Life in black and white

I am such a black and white kind of person.

I need to give myself more credit. 

Closer

A walk in the wind. Paying attention. Breathed deep the air.
I know we're getting closer. Closer to open windows, t-shirts and sandals.
Closer to a new adventure.