Guess what we found!

Well, Graeme, actually.  He's the finder.  The finder of all things interesting and potentially gooey.  On the walk to school today, he informed me that he had a "wet" side and a "dry" side.  Each hand, that is.

In the "wet" hand,  lived two snails (one large, one small) and an earthworm rescued from the middle of the street.  The "dry" hand held two rolly polly bugs and a baby maple tree sprout.

Once we got home he plated the tree in a pot and transferred all the bugs into his bug catcher.  (Best couple bucks I've spent!)  Both boys have been obsessed with bugs (well, forever), but since I got them new bug kits with catching tools!  Hours of mummy-free entertainment.  Wonderful independence!

We also had a  different friend, Ted, come visit us this morning.  Apparently, he's fond of bird seed.

Next up... Broadway!

Last night, we all watched Gavin's debut on stage... a "Bugs Life" musical with his kindergarten class.  He was a firefly, which was the most fun part apparently because they got two glow sticks to keep.

The first time his teacher mentioned the play, Gavin was less than excited.  He may have even hid under a table when we tried to get his to initially practice his lines.  (There were four.)  We went a little old school and made him write them out ten times.  But he learned them... and did a great job last night.

Though he was nervous and said he didn't want to go, once we got to school he raced off to his classroom to get in costume.  We're not really expecting Broadway in his future... unless of course there's a musical about trains.  (Little does he realize that they do a play every year.)

Just for the record...

Gavin says tonight: "Mummy, I'm a very calm kid.  I'm done with all the fussiness and stuff.  My trains are really calming."  Maybe the train obsession is helping mellow out my spirited kiddo.  But, you all heard it too!  He's done with the fussiness.  That is fantastic to hear.

Graeme's quote for the evening?  "We have two pockets in our cheeks that hold the love for blowing kisses!"  (Followed by blown kiss, of course.)

I know every mum thinks her kids are the greatest, but seriously.  So cute.  I'm glad they have a balance of go-go-go and stopping to smell the flowers.  (Though, some days that makes the walks to school really slow.)

That's all I've got for now... in effort to write more regularly.  And record all the cute comments that would otherwise be forgotten.

is any body out there?

Man, I can't believe that its been half a year since I posted any pictures of my gorgeous children.  I mean, really, how are you all surviving??  (Oh, right, you have lives of your own.  ;)  I think once a task becomes too big - like, how can I recap 6 months in a cute, witty post? - then, I just don't want to do it at all.  Ever feel like that?

So, here goes.  I'll post pictures and use the excuse that I've been doing my best to just soak up the boys' sweetness, the sunshine when it arrives, and enjoy the moment.  The moments look like this... oh, and if you didn't get a holiday card from us, that's because none went out.  Hopefully next year I'll plan ahead.

Gavin's class pet, Bobo, went biking with us.  

Graeme has perfected his "cheese" smile.

Hike complete with walking stick and Jr. Ranger collecting vest.

Ice skating at Christmas... closest we got to a Christmas picture...

and then fun in Mexico, even though we got scolded for missing too much school.

And Gavin turns SIX!! 

I attempted a cupcake train cake, 

which looked great until Craig noted that the train was actually backward.  

Oh well, it still tasted good.

If you've made it this far, we love you.  You must really care about us!  

Other notable moments, Graeme started riding a pedal bike. Awesome! 

Both boys are still obsessed with trains.  A little less awesome, but manageable.

Craig's riding to work now most days.  And I'm still teaching yoga every morning.  

That's been our life for the last 6 months. 

We've enjoyed it, hope you did too.

Moving on to what's ahead... and he's running which is why you can't see his leg.

What's up my sleeves?

You are busy, especially this time of year.  So you may not have noticed my absence.  But I notice.  And here's the reason: I've been cheating on my blog.  Lately I've been devoting my extra brain space to developing my yoga and life coaching business.  My mission is to bring wellness, joy, and radiance to women who want to enjoy their beautiful lives, but who - right now - haven't got the space to catch their breath.  Creating space in your life for YOU can take a little work, and I want to help. 

If you haven't seen it already, I've created a Facebook page for Cara Maclean Yoga:

http://www.facebook.com/caramacleanyoga

It would be lovely (and I would really appreciate it) if you would "like" my page and share it with women who you think might like it as well.  So far I've been posting links to useful articles on yoga and wellness.  In the future, hopefully soon, I'll have some yoga videos too, so you can get your move on too!

So, get in on the biz side of my life while I'm just starting out, then you'll be helping me immensely and getting some zen for yourself.  My goal is to launch a proper website in January, so please send me good technology vibes too!  I'll need them.  Thank you for your support!

(And, yes, I do realize I don't have any "sleeves" in this picture, but you get what I mean.)

I'm Thankful For...

Well, this is a first.  Listening to the boys play together this afternoon, I'm hearing the words "Star Wars, rocket ship, and war."  Hmmm... (insert grumpy face)... still fairly benign, thankfully, but it might be a sign that they are, in fact, little boys who may not always be content learning names of plants and flowers.  In any case, we've had a lovely last few months even though I've neglected (yet again) to post anything.

If you're celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, I wish you a day (and a lifetime) full of gratitude for who you are, what you bring to the world, and everything that graces your life.  Here's a peek into what I'm grateful for this year.

Creative kiddos in cozy jams.

That Gavin is beginning to smile like a normal human in pictures.

That one day I will get a picture of the front of Graeme's face.  Someday.

My lovely sister and our family.  Kids rockin' it out in the tube.

Getting cousins together.  And, again, almost the front of Graeme's face.

Train diversions on our long road trip home from Utah.  (Thank you to Mom and Dad for hosting all of us!!)  And that the boys were SO excite by two little train erasers, below, that it bought us an hour or so of content quiet time in the car while they played.

Overall, Fall has been wonderful.  Gavin's enjoying school and I've got the boys in swimming and ice skating again.  (Pictures coming.)  There are so many things and people and lessons to be grateful for... so much so that I bought myself a new gratitude journal today.  This, however, begs the question: when does one retire a journal?  I've got a few and can never seem to let them go unless they are complete.  Not a bad addiction I suppose.  Happy Thanksgiving!  Enjoy!

It takes some time...

The first few days of Kindergarten were challenging.  Gavin didn't quite realize the importance of actually doing what the teacher is asking you to do. 

He didn't feel like counting to 100... until the teacher said it was the last day before the glittery letters went up on the wall for the "100 Club".  Suddenly, it was easy. 

He didn't feel like playing in PE (freeze tag isn't his favorite apparently), so he hid under the table.  Then he realized he wouldn't get picked for teams from that station.  Now he's more engaging.

He didn't feel like coming in for recess - there were still construction trucks to watch after all.  (As they were doing finishing touches to the school and field.)  Now he's first in line.

He didn't feel like participating in Music, so he just laid down.  The teacher let him "nap" off to the side.

And this was just the first two days!  Craig and I were worried.

Luckily, after a few weeks, he's acclimated.  He follows the rules now.  The other kids seem to like him as a few yell, "Gavin!" as he arrives in the morning.  He gets hugs from one of the girls, and one little boy even gave him a hug and then turned to me and said, "I love this guy!"  He earned the class pet, BoBo the Monkey, to take home for the night.

Turns out, he IS a pretty sweet kid.   And he is just 5 after all.