I love spring…well, not so much the rain and grey of Nova Scotia, but the slowly warming temperatures and signs of new growth.

I took a tour of the backyard today. You know, after I partially drained and took down the ice rink. No big deal.

I did have help from the kid crew. Having four kids has its benefits.

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This was extremely satisfying.

Back to the yard…the thyme survived as did the rhubarb (after its millionth relocation). Our bulbs have sprouted and the kale was hanging in there, which prompted Ellinor and Soren to grab a snack.

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Like every spring, we have plans for the garden. Even better, we get to finally use our new and improved backyard.

Today’s sunshine and “warmth” felt amazing, especially after a long winter. I looked around and remarked out loud, this…this makes me feel happy. The kids agreed.

I know the forecast for the next 7 days is rain, more grey and probably some snow…but, I don’t care. Spring is here and not too far behind, summer, freedom and joy.

My three favorite words.

“You need not be sorry for her. She was one of the kind that likes to grow up. In the end she grew up of her own free will a day quicker than the other girls.”

~J.M Barrie, Peter Pan

Elsa is 11 today.

Eleven.

This is how I still see Elsa.

I’m so lucky to have Elsa home with me everyday.

She’s silly, introspective, driven, a loving sibling and caring daughter, who always thinks of others first.

Happy 11th Birthday Elsa Claire. We love you dearly.

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”

~Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

You probably noticed from my previous post that we have a backyard ice rink. Parker and I have turned into those people who frequently check on the rink throughout the day and text each other “ice updates.” We clear the snow and meticulously smooth out the surface, making sure it’s as perfect as possible for the kids to skate.

It’s like a fifth child.

While Soren has been skating, the girls have been sliding along the ice on their boots.

I finally let Ellinor out on the ice the other day and I was worried. There aren’t any boards to grab onto! What if she falls!????

In the midst of my worry, I looked over and saw Ellinor, sliding along, not a care in the world. She was fine and when she fell she would laugh and get right back up to slide some more.

As I tried to make sure my baby wouldn’t slip and fall off the rink, I had flashbacks to my childhood.

In Minnesota, we walked out onto frozen lakes and scooted around while our dads augered holes into the ice and drank beer. No one was watching us and we had the best time ever.

I want these vibes for my kids.

As much as the rink has consumed our lives (the ever changing weather and temperatures of Halifax can wreak havoc on a pristine sheet of ice), the kids have embraced winter.

When the rink is a bit soft and sloppy, they build snow forts.

Sometimes I will catch Soren just sitting in the snow and looking up at the sky. He said it feels relaxing and warm because the sun is shining.

It’s all relative. Thirty two degrees (sorry 0 degrees Celsius…that’s for Parker) feels amazing after a cold snap, just like 45 degrees will feel like a heat wave come April.

I haven’t been much of a writer lately. Not much creativity to speak of and like most people, we aren’t doing much.

We are coming up on a year of this.

Our family is as close as ever, some may say codependent at this point, but hey, no big deal…we will figure out all of the neuroses once the kids are adults.

Until then, we rejoice in our new backyard ice rink. It’s finally frozen!

Sophie happily made it through her first semester at a new school. With a condensed schedule, she is looking forward to the start of the second semester come Monday morning.

Elsa is still working hard at dance. She loves ballet and modern and it has been a wonderful outlet both physically and mentally.

Soren has organized hockey on the weekend and now, thanks to the backyard rink, hockey everyday, if he wants to. Winter is Soren’s season, spending evenings watching the Wild and Minnesota Gophers on TV with Parker.

Ellinor is our comic relief. She’s still obsessed with Frozen, but her new favorite is Jo Jo Siwa.

Honey loves her winter walks with Elsa, field trips to the neighbor’s house and snuggles on the couch.

Parker and I don’t do much, other than take wintry sunset pictures by the ocean.

Much love to everyone, especially our family and friends in the States. We can’t wait until we are reunited, when we can laugh, hug and shop at Target.

It’s been awhile…

Here’s to a lazy post of pictures and captions, entailing our “adventures” the past months or so.

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“On the highest rock of a tiny island at the edge of the world stands a lighthouse.
It is built to last forever.
Sending its light out to sea.

The fog rolls in, and the fog rolls out.
The waves rise and crash.
The wind blows and blows.
Hello!
…Hello!
…Hello?”

~Sophie Blackall, Hello Lighthouse

Happy New Year friends.

Alice: How long is forever?

White Rabbit: Sometimes, just one second.

~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Ever since becoming a mother, I am much more in touch with my emotions. As someone who never cried easily, was overly stubborn (I still can be) and very type A, motherhood mellowed me out.

I am thankful for motherhood. Not only did it bless me with four wonderful kids, but it softened my edges and allowed me to live outside myself.

Here is Ellinor, her last late day nap as a 2 year old.

Despite the late nap, she declared at 8:30 pm, “Uh, I tired. Mommy, I go sleep in your room and you scratch my back?”

❤️

I scratched her back. She said she loved me close to fifty times and we listened to Clair de Lune (her favorite lullaby as a baby).

I cried.

Today she is 3 and I have already cried this morning. There is an intensity to seeing your kids grow up, especially when it’s your last child. It’s experiencing all those first moments for the final time.

Ellinor is extremely attached to me, yet at the same time she is fiercely independent. As Ellinor says, “No! I do it myself!”

Today we are celebrating at home…just the way Ellinor likes it. With lots of cake, a tea party and Alice in Wonderland.

She is the sweetest little 🐝. My gush monster.

Happy birthday sweet Ellinor ❤️

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
~Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!

Our birthday celebrations continue…Sophie is fifteen. 15!!!

She may be a teen, but Sophie is still the same kind hearted, creative, genuine and enthusiastic girl who loves the beach, her family and coffee ice cream.

Happy Birthday sweet Sophie Adele ❤️

I’ve taken somewhat of a social media cleanse. I login to wish people a happy birthday, see if anyone got married or had babies, look at my Facebook memories and promptly sign off.

Those memories though…I love to see them, but at the same time they deliver a punch to the gut.

More than ever, I find myself resting in nostalgia and I wonder, is this good for me?

I found this New York Times article and it resonated with me, particularly Dr. Sedikides, saying “I told him I did live my life forward, but sometimes I couldn’t help thinking about the past, and it was rewarding,” he says. “Nostalgia made me feel that my life had roots and continuity. It made me feel good about myself and my relationships. It provided a texture to my life and gave me strength to move forward.”

Yes. That.

Identified by Johannes Hofer, Nostos in Greek, and the accompanying pain algos, nostalgia at one time was considered a disorder.

But, times have changed.

According to Dr. Art Markman Ph.D, “nostalgia can play a beneficial role in people’s lives. When times are tough, it may seem as though things may never get better. By focusing on positive times from the past, though, people may help themselves to be more connected to others, which can give them the resources to be more optimistic about the future.”

I hope that’s what I’m doing.

So, back to those Facebook memories.

Soren is 7 today.

My favorite boy in the whole wide world.

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I’m grateful to celebrate Soren today. Soren’s happiness, ultimately makes us merrier.

To the kindest, funniest and happiest boy I know…happy birthday Soren!

When we moved, my hope was that I could make all the big transitions for the kids as easy as possible.

I was willing to meticulously plan and agonize over every decision concerning the kids if it improved their happiness.

A few years and a stomach full of anxiety later, I can honestly say my preparedness didn’t always work.

And that’s okay…I’m learning to chill out.

Even with all the uncertainty, our kids have handled the move to Canada really well. Meeting new friends, starting different activities and changing schools has become second nature, so when we decided to change it all up again last February, the kids were prepared for a new challenge.

Today was the first day of school.

Sophie (Grade 10), attending Sacred Heart School of Halifax.

Verax Tum Audax: Dare to be True

Elsa (Grade 5), Soren (Grade 2) and Ellinor (preschool), attending The Larson Family School For Super Awesome Children.

As the kids and I progressed through our homeschool day, we definitely missed Sophie. Having her home since March has been wonderful and it felt a little weird not having her in the mix. We were all excited to pick her up at 3:35, where she debriefed us on her great first day of 10th grade.

In the past I have shared a little bit about our reasons behind homeschooling, but if you want to know more, stay in touch with my educational blog and website at The Extra School Mom.

With that being said, I wish everyone a happy new school year. No matter what school looks like for you at the moment, may it be filled with happy kids, optimistic parents and one I am sure of, loving and passionate teachers.

After a long day outside, I find myself crawling into bed early and watching some television. One or more of the kids will join me and we will flip through, trying to find a new series on Netflix we haven’t watched yet.

Oh. My. Gah.

How? When?

David Ruprecht’s face says it all.

Big Sweep.

Elsa and I spent the next two hours, reveling in my youth, laughing hysterically, rooting for middle aged women running in a grocery store and discussing nineties hair and fashion.

I needed this.

After a few (or five) episodes, Elsa went to bed and Parker and I decided to tackle the laundry pile growing on our floor.

As always, we turned on Netflix…

Could my night get any better?

Nope.

Note: I would NOT recommend watching the The Berkshires UFO episode late at night. 😳

This episode seems fitting since the Pentagon’s U.F.O. Unit just announced they will make some UFO findings public.

So 2020.

Need a Covid distraction or a reason to ditch social media for awhile, google Commander Fravor and also Bob Lazar.

Besides watching television shows from the 90’s and researching aliens, we continue to enjoy our exceptionally warm and sunny summer.

I finally have a stellar tan.

This season has been a wonderful distraction from all that has happened since March.

I don’t want summer to end.