Rainbow Birthday Party

Dear Maisie, 

I've always loved your birthday parties.  This year, I had the luxury of time creating your rainbow art party, and I must say... it was so fun for me.  I hope you always choose art parties (and that your amazing Auntie Shannon will continue to love to create incredible crafts with you all!  What a gem!)  

I hope you remember these parties and know that I "mommed" hard on this one.  xo 

Love you my sweet peach, 

ox mom

Special thank you to Shannon for creating, orchestrating, demonstrating, putting together, overseeing, and inspiring these sweet souls.  Luckiest kids to have you creating with them!  THANK YOU!  

As well as our Party helpers Auntie Heather and Elijah for hammering in all of the nails in the boards! (which were custom drilled by Shannon earlier WILD) These are amazing!  Thank you also to Maisie's amazing tribe of creative, crafty souls for coming and celebrating her 8th birthday with her.  It was a celebration she will never forget. .ox  

8 years

Dear Maisie, 

How do I sum up 8 years with you.  To be honest, I barely remember what life was like without you. 8 years of highs and lows.  Of firsts and lasts.  

The first time you looked up at me with those big brown eyes, first time you walked, got stung, fell down, touched the sea.    The last time you wore your baby slippers, your sleep sac, wore diapers.  The first time you smiled, talked, danced, sung {you were always singing}.  The last time I breastfed you, bottle fed you... fed you with my hands. The first time you wound up in the Emergency Room, got immunized, read a book, made a friend.  First birthday photoshoot, first day of pre-school, kindergarten, grade one, grade two.  Your last day of preschool, kindergarten, grade one.  The first wedding I photographed after having you {first time pumping milk in the car/bathroom/bushes wherever}.  My first truly sleepless nights/weeks/months.   8 years filled with firsts and lasts.  8 years of adventures, and unexpected joys and experiences.  8 years of getting to know you.  Of laughter, tears, drama, excitement, epic pouts and charming all the creatures.  8 years of beautiful surprises and meaningful experiences and moments.  8 years with you Maisie.  I feel like the luckiest human being on earth.  You make everything better.  You make me better, want to be better, try to be better.  I am constantly in awe of the amazing being you are, mesmerized by your kindness, compassion and grace.  You are vivacious, creative, thoughtful, smart, witty and sharp.  How much can happen in 8 years.  How deeply grateful I am that you chose me to be your mom.  

May your life be filled with light, love, conviction, strength, bravery and the unique power and gift to be vulnerable enough to live in your own way, on your own authentic path.  May you always be able to be you.  I tell you all the time, but feel I should write it here too.  

You just be you.  You don't need to DO anything for my unending love.  Nothing.  Not a thing.  Just be you.  Stay kind, be awake, be aware, help others, use your beautiful gifts to bring the world what only you can bring.  Use your you.  Be Maisie.  But clean up after yourself, don't be rude, be quick to right your wrongs and be humble.  Be polite, but stand up for yourself and those around you.  Make magic.  Be magic. Shine on beautiful soul.  

You are so very loved my remarkable girl.  

xo mom

On Choosing Happiness

Dear Maisie, 

I love to watch you.  You make joy look so easy.  Ever since you were a baby, you just oozed joy.  Singing yourself to sleep as a baby, singing always, waving your arms around dancing wildly, prancing around the house the world on your tip toes, laughing with your whole body.  You constantly make me remember what it is to really be alive.  Adults tend to forget.  I forget.  I get focused on something that doesn't matter, and forget to whirl around wildly.  You remind me of this joy and I remind you on how to choose it when its not so easy to see.  When you get grumpy about cleaning something up... we talk about attitude.  How it's your choice to do a job or a chore with a positive attitude or a crappy one.  Who's job is it to make your life amazing, your moments, your time?  Not mine.  Yours.  Your life, your path, your choices.  I am here, to help in any way, guide.  Be the bad guy.  Anything, but your it is your life, and your happiness.  I can give you the most amazing opportunities possible but your attitude is what will make those experiences and your life the most rich.  Already, easily you get it.  You sing your way through school, happily helping in your classes, your teachers notice and comment on your attitude and your empathy and compassion with others.  We talk about it, but nothing makes my momma heart feel more full than to hear those things.  Your foundation will be and is built on love and vulnerability and compassion, understanding and choosing to see the world with an open heart.  You make my heart feel a deep sense of knowing and peace.  I feel you Maisie.  I get you.  We may not always agree, but there will always be this understanding and love.  There will be tough times, hard choices.  But you will make good choices, and if you make not so good choices, we can deal with that too.  We can do hard things together.  I can't do your life for you.  I can't do the hard things for you {although sometimes I really want to}.  But I can stand beside you, hold your hand.  Be there for you.  

Anything is possible my amazing creation.  You are only 7, but wise beyond your years.  Follow your joy, your passions, what makes your soul sing.  

Read all the books, draw, sketch, paint all of the beauty, do all of the creating, sing yourself to sleep, care for your friends your community, the world.  Be you.  Like your dad always says "you just be Maisie".  You just be you. ox

All my love, mom. 

Hummingbird Whisperer

Hummingbird Zen.

A mind at peace, a mind centred and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe. ~Wayne Dyer

Our sweet neighbour let us know that she had been feeding the hummingbirds in the area, and that we should come over and get Maisie to try it (Elliot lasted about 2 seconds of "trying to be still")  But Maisie was focused, calm and determined.  We would talk about calming her energy, opening her heart, softening her energy.  Letting the sweet little creatures know she would never harm them.  The first night she waited about 40 minutes before one landed near her.  (BW below).  The next night we tried at our house, we kept Elliot inside (way too bouncy and unpredictable) and she went ahead with her calming and softening practise.  They were all around her and all over her in a matter of moments.  It was truly mesmerizing.  (Second night colour photo below)  We will be making this a regular practice.  She absolutely loves it, it is so peaceful and filled with magic.  Deep gratitude to our sweet neighbour Sue for enlightening us to her special practice. ox

2019: UPDATE New videos and photos added here from this year. 3 years of hummingbird magic. Every year has gotten more intense. I love reflecting on the journey of how this all come to be part of our lives. This year things really got exciting and even more amazing. What joy this brings to our lives. ox

The hummingbird whispering is getting out of hand. Actual hummingbird zen this gal. So! Crazy!!! 
I am so lucky that my previous neighbor Sue was feeding them for years before we moved here in 2016. She showed me her feeders (she had 5 hanging off her deck) and I was instantly hooked and blown away. We started with one feeder and now I have 8 of them. I feed them a mix of sugar and water. When the feeders are the most crazy I am refilling 6-8 feeders twice a day. So Wild! These are migrating rufous hummingbirds that travel from Mexico to Alaska annually and have been coming here for years. I’ve read that they have remarkable memories so they remember feeders/flowers along the way and they are said to also recognize faces as well. Judging by their reaction to Maisie and I, I know they remember her and trust her. Look at them!! We have been feeding them for 3 years here and I have always been amazed by them but tonight... on the eve of this gals 9th birthday they totally blew our minds!!!!

*** update many of you ask what we feed them, and we feed sugar and water. Dissolve 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water. NO RED DYE. And clean feeders every few days. As mould grows quickly on the feeders.

A dress

Dear Maisie, 

August 31 2015

This morning... before coffee.

"I know mom, lets put on our wedding dresses"
"Ok Maisie".
"Ok mom... now can I please please please try on your wedding dress... I'll be careful I promise."
"Sure Maisie"
"Do I look like a mermaid mommy?"
"Yes peach... you kinda do."

I hope you always find inspiration in every day moments Maisie Lu.  I hope you always get excited to try on a beautiful dress and that you have the courage and freedom to ride the inspiration into creating whatever your heart desires.  I hope that life showers you with beautiful moments, so that you can continue to share your joy with the world.  I love seeing you light up from your soul... and sharing that with you. ox

Lets grow old together. ox

Love you, 

mom. ox