An open letter:

We are fed up. We've been sick. It's the end of February. I would like it to be the end of winter.

This is an open letter to everything that sucks.

Dear Cold,
Please go away. I am tired of the coughing, the sniffling, the blowing of noses, the wiping of noses, the dripping noses, the chasing of small children to wipe said noses. Go. Away.

Dear Laundry,
Please do yourself. Thank you.

Dear Winter,
Please go away. I think you and Cold should head south. Head west. Head east. Whatever. Just get out of my face. I think I made a good go of it. I skated. I tobogganed. I bundled my children one million times to go play in the snow. I shovelled. I pushed my bundled kids on swings in snowy parks. I would prefer sunshine and sandals and warm evenings now. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Dear Olympics,
Please end. I have watched very little of you, but you are bugging me now. I am tired of strange, weird sports dominating the news (or as I like to think of it "not-news." Cheery Vancourites with your green grass and happy flowers, you annoy me, and Hockey??? Well, Hockey, I hate you. Chase your stupid little puck, bash in a few heads, get your medals; just get it over with.

Dear Mittens,

Stay on my children's hands. Oh, and don't get wet either. They hate that.

Dear Neighbour,

Why you would want a dog I cannot understand. Why you would choose to have four dogs is beyond my comprehension. The reason for letting those four dogs crap all over your lawn all winter without cleaning up any of it -- well, I can't think of any rational for that at all, but I do think, Neighbour, it's time to get shoveling. It's time.

Dear City of Ottawa,
Please stop debating about strollers on buses. You are the freaking capital city of Canada. Set a good example.

Dear Elmo,

Stop laughing like that.

Sincerely,

Jennifer

p.s.

Dear Dylan,
Thanks for putting up with our grumpy, snotty, sick souls. You always have a hug handy when needed.

We've been sick: lying-on-the-living-room-floor-watching-Elmo-all-day sick, coughing-so-hard-we-cry sick, being-generally-whiny-and-clingy sick.

It's been a long, snotty week, but things are looking up.

And through it all, the two coughing, snotty children have remained best friends.

As noses dry up and energy levels return, we can get back to our regularly scheduled cuddles and cuteness.

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

e.e. cummings

“Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.”
--Henry David Thoreau

I am resigning myself to the influences of February and thanking whomever responsible there is something to do.

You're right, Rosie. Finn does look exceptionally cute.

Why all the sartorial adorableness?

Snowflake Kingdom, children. That's why.

"What you mean I can't go down the snowslides with Finn?"
"I am mad now, Mommy. Mad."

Click on the picture above. You won't regret it. Finn's expression is priceless.

The perfect apres-slide treat.

"I didn't get on the slides, but I guess this isn't a total bust."

"Although, somehow, I still feel cheated."

"I don't know what she's complaining about. I had a great time."

On the weekend, we ventured to a pet store. And we left with a pet. I guess that was predictable. Anyway, the fifth member of our family is not the kitty Finn so desperately seems to want.

(He even claims he'll clean up the "kitty poo." Uh-huh. I need more poo to clean like I need a hole in the head.)
So Finn is now the proud owner of Blub the Fish.
Long live Blub!