The past few days have been chaotic and emotional. We packed up our lives at the house that welcomed us to this island, and have moved on.

I wasn’t expecting to feel this way, this move was my idea! I just can’t help but feel sad to leave the only home Sosi remembers, the one where Ila has lived her whole life. There are so many memories there.

Our last night in the house I was busy packing and I glanced out into the yard and saw this. My girls planting the chestnuts they had stuffed in their pockets that day from the new house, in the backyard of the old house. I don’t know what it was, my sheer exhaustion or the golden light falling on their backs but this just broke my heart.

Farewell  fifty-five Fitzroy, you have been so good to us. I hope whoever’s house you are next, they will love you as much as we do.

Last week.

This week.

*sigh*

These past weeks have been a little overwhelming. We bought a house (!) almost  sold our house, but didn’t :(.

I’m trying my best to stay positive and grounded, but I’m worried about having to move in a few weeks, worried about what to do if we don’t sell this house… and about million other things.

In between the crazy-hustle-bustle there have been some lovely moments… it’s in these moments that I feel everything will work out and be OK.

I’d love to hear how you get grounded…

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I have a couple of posts I have been wanting to write, but life has been a whirlwind lately. Paul is starting a new job, we’re selling our house, and looking for a new house.  On top of all that, our littlest got hit with hand, foot and mouth disease…it’s not pretty, that girl’s a trooper!

I hope you all have a wonderful day full of love, treats and full hearts.

I’ve had some company…

I’ve been revisiting old work…

and trying new things.

All that studio time is having an effect on little Ila, who tells me she wants to be an “art-tast” when she grows up  (and also a puppy!).

I can’t believe Sosi is turning 7 this weekend. I look at her and all I see is my little baby. She still has those same ginormous brown eyes and round cheeks she had back then, and still never wants to be alone…

I somehow convinced her that a family trip to Halifax would be more fun than the usual big friends from school birthday party (it wasn’t hard… neither of us too crazy about parties). We are all super excited for some big city fun!

To make up for the lack of a party, we had her 2 best friends over for cake and pizza last weekend. It just so happens that their moms are also my best friends. So this worked out nicely for everybody! It was a great night.

We had so much fun decorating for this special evening. We made a giant 7 (I was inspired by this) and decorated it with polka dots, making this our “polka dot” party. She then got into the balloons and made this beautiful balloon wall. It felt more like installation art to me!

This girl has taught me so much over these past 7 years. Each day she tests me, challenges me, inspires me, ….but  most of all she just loves me. That is the thing I have learned most from her,  to love.

Happy birthday baby girl,

(Wondering about the cute matching t-shirts with my dogs speaking french drawing? They were made by the good people at ooshirts )

pages of a project that is in its final stages… just a bit more to do,

Ila’s mini art gallery,

a portrait Sosi did of Paul and I, it might be my most favourite thing ever.

This year I’m trying to hold on to my happiness… instead helplessly watching it slip through my fingers as we move into the dark, cold and sickness-filled-days of winter. First step: a HappyLight. This was our xmas gift to each other. We huddle around it at the breakfast table and let the happiness soak into us.

Step two: Take nothing for granted, stop and enjoy the little moments… like this one (this is how Ila came out of her room one morning).

… and this one (this is how I came across her one night).

Focus on the good things… like this drawing Sosi just walked up and handed to me. Her drawings make me so, so happy.

Stop being too busy to just spend time on the floor with my kids. Great things happen down there!

 12 things happy people do differently, worth checking out.

What are you doing to stay happy?

(All pictures were taken with my iPhone, using the Instragram app, which I love. If you want to follow me there… my profile name is lorijoy.)

… I’m trying to focus on the upside of being shut in all week with a sickie.

- lots of time to snuggle in the super cozy new bunk beds…

thanks Paul (it’s the best gift ever!)

-slow days spent in pjs with picnics in the playroom (yes! a playroom… this is very exciting)

-stealing moments to work on this beauty… hoping be  2012 might the year it gets finished.

Hoping  2012 brings you many happy things.