Rosie Roslyn Joy

Usually Rosie will not stand still long enough for me to even focus the camera let alone get a picture. This one turned out so well. It captures her essence somehow. I just love our wee Rosie. She is the most cheerful, independent, loving, determined little 2 year old. My favourite Rosie "isms" are "ME do it myself - me a big girl" and "Oh, Mommy. Me think you're funny."

~Mandy

Rosie was in a pink bow mood so she went with two ponytails complete with adornments. She requested her bunny (Bunky) have the same treatment. So, trying to frantically get out the door with two small children, I stopped to put bows on bunny ears.

My sweet Brookie giving me her "just take the picture, mom" smile. Love the rainbow bling and many "buddies". ~Mandy

The Faceoff

Moments after this picture was taken, the dog attacked the fence, leaving both our girls in tears and terror. Sometimes fences do make good neighbours!

This is the view from the grid road on the outskirts of Caronport. It is my view as I run in the mornings, which I find at times dull and at times strangely comforting.

The grid road leading away from the highway: wheatfields as far as the eye can see to your right and Caronport to your left. Yes, those are trees.

My prairie girls. Brooklyn will often turn to me when we are walking or driving around here and say, "Mommy, it is so beautiful!" I don't always agree with her but she reminds me that beauty is all around us. We must choose to see it. I love her for this. ~Mandy

Daddy's Little Girl

Each morning when Sean leaves for work, Rosie goes to her room, gets her shoes, puts them on and then runs out onto our front porch to wave good-bye. She did try it once without the shoes but found the cement uncomfortably chilly.

It is truly precious. She yells, "Bye, Daddy!" at the top of her lungs and waves frantically until she can't see Sean's bike anymore. She loves him in a way she doesn't love anyone else. And she is the first one into his arms at the end of the day. ~Mandy

Bedtime for the "Buddies"

One of Brookie's favourite pastimes is playing with her ever-growing number of stuffies aka her "buddies". She will often begin her day by bringing them all out of her room onto the couch so they can enjoy Curious George together. Then soon after cartoons are over, it is time to put them to bed.

Here they are all cozy in our room. She uses her bed too and usually seconds after I have finished making it for the day. They each have a place and she makes sure they have their heads sticking out of the covers. Then she quietly tiptoes out of the room and shuts the door. What I just find amazing about this whole process is how kind she is to each and every last one of these stuffed friends and how much she sounds like me! She calls them "Sweetie" and whispers quietly to them as she settles them down - some of them get a bit roudy.

Brook has taken to trying this form of play out on Rosie too with Rosie taking the role of "Sweetheart" but she is much less compliant. The other day Brookie came to me complaining of the difficulties in getting Rosie to listen: "Mommy, she just won't do what I tell her." I replied, "I know exactly how you feel." ~Mandy

"I LOVE Sugar!"

I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex. ~Oscar Wilde