Learning from Others

Over the past summer months, I have spent a lot of time with a lot of different people as we've visited family and had various friends staying with us as well.

I've noticed that each home and family has its own rhythm and habits... It's been an interesting thing to observe... from the way parents interact with their spouses and with their kids and neighbours... to their routines and how connected they are in their communities... to their attitudes and habits in the kitchen, the house and the environment!

I've noticed that I've changed as a result of living with my friends and family... It's in the little things really... but it's made a difference in our home at times!

• I've seen kids eating solid foods earlier then I normally introduced it to mine... it actually impacted how my youngest made the transition over to table foods over the summer, and she's a wonderful eater now (except for fresh fruit... I don't know if its the slimy feel of foods she can mush in her hands, but those don't make it to her mouth for some reason...)
• I watched some take a minute to fold a load of laundry as soon as it was out of the dryer. I've found that taking that minute on the spot when I can to deal with one load at a time has avoided "laundry mountain" to pile up and clothes gets put away much faster without me having to set aside a night to "deal" with it!
• I saw some fill the dishwasher as they go... when it comes to the dishes, I was one who couldn't justify using the dishwasher unless I could fill it... but I've now learned that even if I just have one bowl and glass at the moment, it always fills up eventually and its one less job for my list of things to do (even if the dishes are still dirty - at least they're out of sight!)
• Even though I am fairly careful to care for the environment, I've learned that there is still room for improvements in the little things - like filling the juice containers instead of buying juice boxes for their school lunches to reduce waste!
• I saw a mom pull out a chapter book to read to the kids any time there was a lull in the day at the cottage... sure I read to my kids every night, but we haven't gotten into chapter books... hmmmm...
• Seeing how different people operate in their kitchens and how they fit in prepping their meals in their days has motivated me to have a lot more fun in the kitchen (my husband loves to cook... I tend to step aside or do the bare minimum). It's been fun to experiment and cook some great yummy new foods the past while!

There's so much more too... like attitudes and family routines regarding physical activity and health, to safety while on outings, or playtime with the kids, (I even noticed that I sat to play more board games with the kids when we were at the cottage... why don't we make more time for that at home??), etc... 

In short, I have LOVED every moment of visiting with SO MANY friends and family over the summer. I've learned some things along the way, and it's been a joy to get a glimpse into everyone's lives and catch up, hear their hearts, worries, plans and dreams for the future and just have lots of good old plain fun and laugh together.

Thanks to all whom I've crossed paths with over the summer... it's been a blast :) Hopefully we can do it again soon!

Loving Summer

I know most people are complaining about the cold weather we've been having this summer... it truly does feel more like fall most days... I mean we're only one week into August and yesterday I noticed that the leaves on our maple tree in the front yard have started to change colour and a few have already dropped... (that usually doesn't happen until late September/October for the most part!!)  

Yes, the weather has been off the past month or so, but it really hasn't gotten me down much.  There are a few reasons for this I think...  

First, we had BEAUTIFUL weather in the spring and I spent most of it outside with the kids and our neighbours in the back.  So to me being on leave, summer started well before July (which is when the cool weather came around if I do recall...)

Second, when you're expecting rain all the time, you get out and take advantage of every chance you get when the weather's decent!  I've been out and about with the girls a lot this summer and we've been having a ball making the best of each moment. 

Third, I've been loving this semi-technology fast of mine... I've barely been on the computer (no work, just fun to catch up with people now and then), I haven't been a slave to my blackberry (I've been out of cellular range for much of the summer, which has been great!), and I haven't even been watching much TV either.  (though I haven't scrapbooked like I hoped or read my novels for school either... I've been too tired in the evenings from full days! No worries!)

I think I've been having one of my best summers with the kids, and I think it's because I can't recall not being distracted by something or other in the summer... summer courses... prep for new courses I'd have to teach... moving... computer work for Mom's Moments... a brand new baby had me wiped last summer... did I mention packing up a house to move (that happened more than once!)  This summer, I'm just having fun with the girls with no distractions drawing me away.  It's been great.  Also seeing the games that one of my daughters is playing in speech therapy has gotten us all to play more board games together on a regular basis, which has been really neat (and different for us - great for those quiet days when the rain does hit!)  

The tough part has been having my husband still in school while we're out and about visiting (we've been home for a total of 2 out of 6 weeks since school's been out)... visiting the girls' cousins all over the place and spending much time at some cottage or another while daddy's been home alone studying... It can't be easy to study in the summer when your family is on holidays!

We're home for a while now... no more significant travel plans... more bike rides (hopefully more running!?)... more games... more swimming... more trips to the zoo (love our membership!)... more sleep (I'm hoping for me anyway!)... more steps and walking by my 13 month old... more time with my husband... a few visitors... I'm ready to be home and get the house in order (loving our new windows and doors!)... but very much still on holidays and continuing my semi-technology fast!!  I still have 3 weeks before I head back to work, so I'm going to love every last minute (and SO thankful that I'll be part-time with no new courses to prep for Sept!)

Hope you are all enjoying summer and making the best of each moment... as weird as the weather has been (in Ontario anyways)!