Time of the Season...

So I came home a little early. The weather was changing from summer to fall as the week went on. (There were frost warnings in La Conception last night even though it was in the high 80's when I arrived !)

I felt a sense of urgency to get home.

Don't know exactly why, because when I arrived home last night, the urgency was gone, my head was kind of spinning and I couldn't remember why I had rushed home.

I felt like I was being "beamed up" on Star Trek, like I was in the middle of process and little particles of myself were still in the ether somewhere, and like I was not quite whole...

It is better this morning though, after a night in my own bed, cozy with my man. It feels right to be home, though like always, parts of my heart are still back in the place where most of my favorite peeps in the world are...

I took 303 photos in three days. Most of them where of a certain little chickie who has completely stolen my Auntie heart with her crazy language all her own, her incredible intelligence for one so small, her spontaneous dancing, her cheeky, squinty smile, and those eyes...not to mention the hugs and kisses that she bestows to those she likes a lot - and I am one Auntie she likes a lot ! Yay !

After sifting through the overflowing folder of photos, I decided to try and cut it down to my top ten for this visit to include here. It was sooooo hard. Some were great shots, some where heart-felt moments captured, and some were just plain cute ! My sister and her hubby sure make photogenic kids, I'll tell ya !

I finally got it down to the Top 12.

Ah, come on !

She is just too cute !!!!

Cute Kate

At the beginning of the week, it was still summer. We hung out at the beach

at Lac Vezeau. It was perfect for the kiddos - nice and shallow for a good long time.

Thomas is an expert swimmer and snorkeler at 6 years old.

Katie is a total mermaid at 16 months. She is utterly and completely fearless in the water.

Tom - the surfer dude.

Family Swim

Mermaid Katie

Baby Duckie All Wrapped Up

Some of my favorite shots of the girl are these crazy extreme close-ups.

Those are not tears.

They are water drops from the hose that had just sprayed herself in the face with.

And the eyes in this one where she is reaching for the lens...

Sigh...

Big Brother Thomas is no slouch himself...

He is pretty much the picture perfect example of a kid heading into the first grade...

the perfect toothless smile...

and a genuine love for learning that shines through all the time...

So what lessons did my fantastic teachers give me this time around ?

Be present and happy in this very moment,

Take your time and dance...

Focus in on what is right and good

because it will help you out a lot when things get tough.

Thanks to Kristina and John, as always, for making me feel like

a special part of the family...

and thanks to Thomas and Kate, the best teachers any Auntie could ask for !

Best lines of the week, bar none...

Sister 1 - "I am kind of a big mush ball, eh ?"

Sister 3 - "Yup...you are a big huge heart just walking around..."

Love you, Sister 3, and thanks for that too !