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How My Kids Don’t Listen & a Geocache or Two

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holding a thing with both handsOur first geocaching trip of the season happened this past May long weekend. I was fed up with being inside my messy house, surrounded by literal mountains of “stuff” that has to be sorted, cleaning, organized, given away and moved to various areas of the house. Our basement renovations are done – hurrah!- but that means there is so much work to be done, we turn around in circles, try to figure out where to start and them just collapse in a heap of defeat.

Yes, a heap of defeat. That’s exactly what it feels like, a heap of boneless, no idea where to start,would scream at the sky but have no energy utter defeat.

So when you feel like a heap of defeat, it’s time to get outside and I mean fast.

I am amazed at the bounty of natural areas that we have in Edmonton. Time and time again when I find a new spot to enjoy I shake my head at how lucky we are to live here, snow and all. I’m sorry Calgary, but your natural areas just can’t compare.

This right here, a  beautiful little creek that we came across while geocaching in MacTaggart Sanctuary. MacTaggart Sanctuary might be completely unknown to most Edmontonians, but not to geocachers. There is treasure in them thar woods!

geochaching in a  beautiful little creek

The arrival of a new season always reminds me that my children don’t listen to me worth a hoot.

I keep asking them to slow down, to stop growing up so fast, to please stay little  and do you think these adorable little devils will listen to me? Not a whit.

That’s not even including when they don’t listen about cleaning their rooms, being nice to each other, watching too much TV…the list is endless with examples of their selective deafness.

young girl and boy sitting in a log of tree

You’d think I wouldn’t need reminding about how they don’t listen, that it would be obvious day-to-day.

young girl sitting in a big rock with her feet on the water on creek

Alas, as a busy mom I tend to ignore the day-to-day signs that time is passing too fast for my liking. Then all of a sudden you turn around and your nine-year old looks about a foot taller than he did in your pictures from last spring.

Oh, please don’t make the mistakes that I do, looking back a year and comparing pictures of your kids from then to now.

Your heart can’t really take it. Mine has a couple of new cracks in it just from editing these photos.

young boy holding a wood stick while standing in a stone on the creek

Time waits for no mom, no dad, no girl nor any boy.

They all turn seven…eight..nine… and every season that rolls around I wonder, where did it go?

close up of young girl holding a stone

If you’re lucky, that time was spent sticking all sorts of sticks in the mud.

young boy using the wood stick on the water in the creek

If you are super lucky, it was spent sliding down dusty hill on your bottom in your good jeans that Mom didn’t catch you wearing until it was too late.

young girl enjoys sliding down dusty hill

If you are lucky beyond measure, time will while away full of laughter, hugs, kisses and photos of those memories. Trips and travels, holidays and more, time flies so fast and the seasons serve to remind me of this more and more every year. Gee, thanks spring, for reminding me how fast my kids are growing and that what your parents said was true, the older you get the faster time flies.

My oh my, this post was more maudlin than I intended it to be.

I think I owe you all something chocolate, maybe in a cookie form. That’ll cheer us all up!

Off to the kitchen I go!

Love,

Ah Spring. The Time To Be Wistful Magpie.

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a cocktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

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  1. Karlynn Johnston says

    You are the Queen of commenting! I do realize that one of my problems is reading on my phone, I read your write up about Connie and then tried to comment using my IPhone. Bad choice, I ended up frustrated and left it. THEN forgot to comment again on it! I wonder that with the growth of IPhone and mobile readers this leads to less comments?

  2. ACanadianFoodie says

    And it was a pleasure leaving a comment, by the way. I can’t understand how someone can read a post without being compelled to comment.

    🙂
    V

  3. ACanadianFoodie says

    I enjoyed the read, immensely, Karlynn! But – what did you find when geo-caching. It is all so new to me… I read to the end, devouring every word, but still expecting the “prize” to be revealed and what you left in its place to be shared… Ah! I know that wasn’t the point, but I am still curious! What a wonderful family activity. Loved your photos… and that is exactly where you should have been. Memories of organizing the house and the basement are usually not that great. (I just came up for air after 6 hours in my own basement. FINALLY have covered every corner of the house. YOU will not believe what will be in that garage sale next weekend!)

    XO

    Valerie

  4. Melanie says

    This is beautiful. I hope you are keeping hard copies in some sort of book for your kids to read when the internet blows up, the oil runs out, and we return to pre-industrial civilization… you know, in case that ever happens. Looking forward to the cookies… white chocolate and strawberry please 🙂

  5. The Kitchen Magpie says

    IDA! Congratulations, what a wonderful thing to celebrate! Have a fabulous weekend together!!!!

  6. Ida Pence Waterous says

    Celebrating 45 years of being married to my best friend.

  7. disneyyesplease says

    KitchenMagpie this made me cry!!!!!!! A big, snotty ugly cry!

    • KitchenMagpie says

      thisdisgirl Oh geez. Nothing like my writing making people cry first thing Friday morning! Sorry the post is so weepy!

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