Hello 2017

Hello 2017 - I feel like I can finally dream about you.

I finally broke down and went to the doctor and got some meds - and man instant relieve, I should have gone sooner.  With the instant relief motivation and excitement return as well.

Our first week of 2017 have been fun and fulfilling - and a little slow - just because well I still feel weak, but so much  better!

We are finally starting to fall into a natural rhythm of things - and it feels so good - the best feeling in the world is - NO MORE PARAMEDIC SCHOOL!!  Life haven't felt this sweet in forever.

We don't really do resolutions - it's stupid and sure way to fail - plus there is nothing magical about  01 January - so we are just slowly moving into this year - one step at a time.

Some things we have enjoyed this week.

library visit
We love to read - and well last year I did a less than stellar job to include the library into our weekly or even bi-weekly lives.  So one morning Ian randomly asked to go - and I thought why not.  We should have done that a long time ago - because well it was something magical - the smell of books, the quietness (even Hayleigh can be quiet - who knew) and just all the adventure that awaits within all the written stories.  We spend a few hours finding books, and sitting on the floor reading, and building puzzles.  We have a super nice library!

 good food
For the last several weeks I have hated not being able to be in the kitchen - it is one of my happy places, and I love love love good food.  So once I started to feel better we migrated to the kitchen - and well we ate so good this week.  There is something comforting about being together in the kitchen, and I am so lucky have a beautiful kitchen that draws me in constantly.

I have been trying to get the kids involved more and trying to encourage them to cook with me - my grandma gave us these kid knives for Christmas and it is one of my favourites!

  Isn't she so cute?

So back to the good food!

We also had a big milestone.

Ian lost his first tooth.  Part of me can't handle the fact that he is growing up so fast, and the other part is so excited for him.

 Fun fact - we are that weird family in our town and neighborhood, and it only gets worse as the kids get older.

In South Africa we have a tooth mouse instead of a tooth fairy - well we would leave shoe with the tooth under our bed and the mouse would come and leave us money.

Well my awesome and best friends in South Africa gave the kids this:

  So how could I not use these - they are so so cute.  And how could I not include some fun South African tradition?

So we decided this what we are going to do - and Ian loved it - especially when he woke up to money - TIP - make sure you always keep small bills in the house or plan ahead because there is nothing worse then only have a bigish bill on hand at nine at night when everyone finally went to sleep and you have to play tooth mouse before you forget...

  more book reading.
My sweet friend Mirka illustrated a children's book - and was sweet enough to send us a signed copy!! I love this girl so much - we first met in Germany and have been in touch ever since.  She is so talented, and I can't wait to see what she does this year.  I hope to see her again one day.

  Is has become a favourite.... as well as my bed!

lots of coffee with maple syrup and whipped cream.
I am not a huge coffee drinker - but this makes me happy all the time.  It is so good.

It has been a good week - and I am so thankful that things are starting to pan out and become normal to us once again.

I hopeful  that 2017 will be there year that we can firmly plant our roots and start our life here.

Happy Monday!