bit of snow

just a bit of snow is all it takes.

school is cancelled.

a day off to play in the muck...no thanks.




the kids will take it no matter how they come by it.
a day off of school.

life is sweet

first stop on the birthday mobile...chuck e. cheese.
i for one loath this place but everyone else...loves this place.

so we took them out of school early to avoid the

crowds...that is the only way i can go.

abbey loves it.

and so do the big kids...

ethan...jess...brittani...ellery.

abbey's big kid friend...tine.

elle...having a great time, too.

next stop...sweet and sassy.

abbey has never had her hair cut by anyone but me.

yes i am the hair cutter too...

but i thought she would feel special going to get it done by a professional.

she had been asking for me to cut her some bangs and the length.



she loves it...i do too.

now to get a little pampering...

...painted toenails please.

final stop...home...for birthday cake...

...homemade with love by daddio...

strawberry cake with homemade strawberry

icing...with bits of strawberries.

...wishes really do come true...

...always included are coins ... put in the cake for the finding...

nutty buddies are abbey's favourite.

now for the gifts for the giving...and the receiving.

...thank you my lopez friends...just what i wanted.

it is all so exciting...especially to have your bff with you..

gwyne...also known as my niece.

the celebrations continue...

next stop mailbox...next day...a package arrives...

it is always fun to get good mail...from your sister...

the fun goes on and on...


...thanks for a great book... about secrets

and mermaids...i can't wait to read it...

...thank you esther and grace...i love it.
thanks to everyone for a great birthday...thanks for love,

gifts...and time spent together.

merrymaking

today we will honour abbey.

it is her birthday.

we have laid out the celebrations for her.

it is her day.

she will be excited to see her party waiting for her.

we will share our love.

today she will have a special place at the table.

i hope she will feel exceptional.

there are gifts for the guests.

she loves to give.

one of her favourite things is cereal.

so we have a breakfast bar set up for her celebration.

i am sure she will love it.

milk included.


today will be about her.

today will be busy.

we celebrate her life with us.

happy birthday precious abbey!

thursday's child

boys on winter days

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

nature of things

my mind searches for colour
a silhouette catches my eye
the colour of a frigid winter day
black, white and grey.


birds in their puffed up manner
dove looks like a partridge
perched in a pear tree
against the frozen sky.



wren has set out a cake
in case visitors decide to
stop in for some much needed conversation
but instead of waiting for anyone;

she digs in herself with seed & suet

the buffet set out for others is enticing

sweet little grey boy waits patiently

for a turn at the new place.

a pair of old friends the golden finches

make their way down the lane

to have some time with wren.

they have no problem with the house being a mess.

chickadee flies overhead and spots the party

he invites himself and joins in on the feast.

mr. finch officially declares it an occasion

and calls for the rest of the clan to join them.

they come over right away to see what all the fuss is about

and find a nice place for feasting themselves.

mr. and mrs. cardinal stroll over from the neighbours

and add the much needed colour to what was lacking.

feeling a bit of an outcast the sparrow sits on the outer edge

waiting for a proper invite to the festivities.

there is beauty in these grey days of winter

it flies above us

it sits in front of us

it takes a place at our table.