Getting an extension

I love this season, the Christmas season that is, and all that it brings. Not all of it may be good, but its all good for us. 

Hubby asked me yesterday when I'm going to box everything up, I told him I at least want to wait for January. I love all the lights, the smells of evergreen, the colours, the nativity scenes, the lights of candles representing the light of Jesus in our lives. I love that during most of advent the kids don't go down to the nursery and Sunday school but we all stay together and they are involved in the story of Jesus by being in the play and lighting candles and doing readings. Their innocent faces, and souls really, are a magical thing. 

I get where hubby is coming from too, though, he want more room in the living room to play with all his - er BIG C's - new toys :)

Santa really was far too good to us this year. Under the tree was overflowing with goodies - mostly for BIG and little C. 

This was one of little Cs gifts - new sippy cups. I never found ones like this for BIG C, they may leak a bit when tipped but it makes it much easier for the little guy to start learning. Got to love IKEA. I didn't even have to build these myself :) that shelf on the other hand, well its still in the box!

This was the first year I hosted and made Christmas dinner - couple of burns from being hasty but for the most part I came out unscathed. 

I definitely could not have done it without hubby, he was a huge help from cooking sausage and bacon (with a little taste testing to be sure it was safe for guests) to ripping bread for stuffing and pouring me a BIG glass of wine and having a few beers himself. 

He even helped to keep the boys busy and taste test for safety while I made these;

 

Christmas makes us (or me at least) look at our lives a little closer. Are we living the life we want to, are we the person we'd hoped to be, the one we hope our children will be?

I know I'm not there yet, but that's why I also love that this time to reflect upon ourselves and our life is so close to the new year. A great opportunity to come up with resolutions and ways to accomplish them. 

Here's a great page to fill out I saw on Pinterest. 

These will be filled out and posted in our house :)

And while your at it celebrate with one of these yummy treats!

http://www.everythingfab.com/2011/08/time-for-drink-white-peach-cardamom.html?m=1

So, I hope you all enjoyed your holiday season and extend it as long as you can!

Until we meet again. 

What would you have?

Today I read a Facebook post on my newsfeed, a woman I follow. She is brave, and strong, and happy, and wise, and most of all open and compassionate. I don't know her really, but I know her enough to know her words are helping me. 

On more than one occasion I've read her words, thinking to myself 'wow, she just knew what I needed today'. We are not in the same place in our lives, at all really, and that's ok too, but I still connect with her. 

You know how you read or hear about someone who was having a tough time, a low moment (or consecutive moments) and one little thing changed their life dramatically - turned their life around, they may have even found their purpose in life? Their 'ah-ha' moment?

I always thought that was mostly a load of B.S. honestly. How can you know you're having a moment like that? It's just a moment. 

When I read her words, I feel like I could have those moments too. Maybe I am, I don't think I'll know for sure until later. 

Until then you should check out her writings here:

https://www.facebook.com/justagirlwithalottosay

And here:

http://rlestatemh.blogspot.ca/?m=1

These are the words that stuck with me today. 

Photo from http://prayersandapples.com 

So tonight I'm going to close my eyes and tell God how thankful I am for his blessings, because its been awhile - a long while. 

It take 21 (or 28 depending on what you read) days to create/break a habit. This will be my day 1 - here's hoping it turns out better than my own photo challenge. 

So. 

What would you have tomorrow?

Until we meet again. 

Grief to Holiday Gratitude

Last year, at this time, I did a photo challenge. I love photography, any kind of capturing the moment on any kind of device.

I hope my family loves it and doesn't think it's as much of a 'bother' down the road when they get to look back!

Here is the challenge I participated in last year from Lulabelle Blog

 

I loved taking part in it, so I was searching for one a little different this year. Last minute of course, as per my usual style!

 

I couldn't find quite what I wanted so

Do or do not. There is no try.

A couple weeks ago I was harsh.

Really harsh. 

I did not try to walk in another's shoes. 

I did not want to. 

I wanted to unload my personal feelings to make myself feel better. In doing so I called out friends and potentially tarnished relationships permanently. 

Coming here and seeing the handful of views I get, mostly random ones from other parts of the world - one timers I can only assume, makes me feel good, like someone is listening. So I did just that, came here not for a response, but for someone to just listen.

Go Fly A Kite!

Let's go fly a kite, up to the highest height!!
Oh Mary Poppins, she really was wonderful wasn't she?

Saturday was Kite Flying day in our local town, put on by the Early Years group in North Perth. Unfortunately we missed it because we were in Hilton Falls Conservation Area for the day biking, just O, T and I and the boys of course.

I made sure to make a kite this week with BIG C though, now we just have to wait for a good windy day and see if this baby will fly!

 

I followed the instructions on this site, although I adjusted the dowel lengths because I was using leftovers from the play kitchen I made for the boys (which BIG C is having a blast with, especially since V got him some awesome toys for it!!).

All the Colours of the Wind

Disney Flashback! (Pocahontas if you didn't know.)

This is a beautiful season, and I have come to realize in the last couple weeks it truly is my favourite. The weather is gorgeous, bright sunny says, warm and not hot temperatures. The gorgeous sunsets, all be they a bit early for my liking, and the colours, oh the colours!!

I am so crazy proud of this photo. This is my husband combining our soybeans last week as the sun was setting. Did I mention gorgeous sunsets?

Support for Boobies & Babies

I was like most women, most anyone really. I knew there was a possibility my babies may not make it full term and get to share their growing days with me in my arms. I was so naïve about it though, that would never happen to me - and it didn't, but it really could have.

Now that some of my best friends, V & M, have lost their sweet baby A the reality has come up and smacked me in the face.

What if our boys weren't here?!?!?! What if we weren't so blessed to easily conceive our sweet boys?!?!

We have hard days, but we truly are blessed - even though I need to consciously remind myself of that some days. Gosh if I could only catch a glimpse of our life 25-30 years from now to know we made it through!

The reality is so real though. We don't need to be filled with fear while pregnant, but Doctors need to do a better job presenting the fact, whether we are young, old, healthy, have complications. Anything can happen.

1 in 4.   

1 in 4!!!!

1 in 4!!!!!! That's how many babies die, before during or after birth.

October is breast cancer awareness month. Everyone knows that. Every business, person, and sport is flooded with pink in October. Even those tough guys in the NFL are decked out in pink.

Did you know that October is also pregnancy and infant loss awareness month?
I didn't.
Not until this October.

So think blue & pink this October.

Credit goes to Ashley Gorlick for this edited image. You can find her on Pinterest by the same name and Instagram - @amgorlick

 

I can't say I am full of answers;

 

                       How can we make babyloss less taboo?

                       How can we promote October as pregnancy and infant loss as widely as breast cancer?

                       How can we let women (and men!) be more aware of the possibility of becoming the 

                       1 in 4?

 

But I CAN say I want to be a part of the change! I think you should be too. Yes YOU!

Take a moment. Share this photo. Think of the boobies AND the babies this October. Let your support be know.

 

For all you know someone close to you, or just an acquaintance, will be so moved you thought about their baby.

 

Go on, share it - it will feel good, and do good.

 

<3

 

Until we meet again.

Tutu How To

I was so looking forward to taking pictures as we made our tutus during our tutu-making party, but we were not able to get back together before the big day. Instead our tutu making turned into a cram session before a big test!
We barely got them done, got our race bibs on and piled in the car (with S in the trunk!) and got to the starting line somewhere near the beginning of the race in time to not miss it completely!

So here is my tutu tutorial

We made it!!!

Today was the colour me rad 5k in Kitchener. Such an awesome time!!

We started out nearly missing the event entirely! We were making our tutus (very last minute) and nearly missed the last heat! V's momma was ever so kind to drive us and we hopped out in traffic at a red light (got S out of the trunk!) while the guys in the car behind us laughed historically, and we ran for town hall. We made it about a block and met up with the last pack of runners and we cut in - phew!! 

Late & cutting it close - story of my life!!

So we ran through the colours, pink, orange, yellow, blue, green, purple. Some powder, some liquid. There where puffs of colour clouds at each colour station. It was such a blast, and V and I even ran the ENTIRE thing, in about 35 min!

I highly recommend this as a fist 5k race for anyone, you're so focused on the fun you practically forget you're running!!

Can't wait to do it again! 

Maybe I may even try working up to 10k!

Just before the finish line in our homemade tutu!!

For the Little Chef(s) in my Life!

I'm so excited about this post!! While the tap is still missing for this awesome project (still on the hunt for a free or nearly free one!) I can't wait any longer to show you!!

I already posted a photo of it to my personal Facebook, and I can't wait to share with Pinterest, as well as e-mail Amy from Giggleberry Creations!!

 

How our $20 used TV unit (thanks to a man on Kijiji!!) started out.

 

Our Giggleberry Creations inspiration kitchen.

Here is where we left off.

The finished product!! I am so excited about this and so crazy proud of this little kitchen. I hope I've built it well enough to stand the test of time (and multiple kids)!

Soon after the doors were on I realized chains on the doors was a must have! BIG C got a little rough with them really fast! Same goes for the microwave, although not a chain but a door stop to keep BIG C from pushing the door all the way in and popping the hinges off (nothing a little crazy glue can't help!)

I found this awesome apron on a whim at Talize, a used thrift store in London. There were some really adorable frilly ones (which would not get Daddy approval), luckily I found one fit for the boys. I even found a really cute mini Kids Corner Home Depot for the boy's little tikes work bench.

 

The knobs really turn! The burners are just made out of painted foam circles. On GiggleBerry Creations they used coasters.

 

 

I was going to use a photo of our corn field for the 'window' but I couldn't help but use this photo of our little guys. We should've had twins! I love dressing them in matching outfits!

This is BIG C's stash in his 'fridge'. the fruits and veggies are plush toys from IKEA, if memory serves me correctly each set was less than $10. I am so looking forward to 'furnishing' the rest of their kitchen with IKEA goodies! They have a really cute mini set of pots and pans and a plush filleted fish.

I hope you all enjoyed my craftiness, and I really hope it inspires you all to find an old TV unit of yourselves!

Thanks for checking it out!

Until we meet again.

How clean are you clothes?

Mine are not! They seem to be coming out dirtier then they go in on occasion lately.
So this is my attempt at cleaning my fancy top load washing machine. No high efficiency here folks!

Check out One Good Thing blog by Jillee for the post I followed to clean this baby up.

I'm going to start by showing off my favourite part of my laundry room - The chandelier!! Probably my favourite thing in almost our whole house. Makes my 'work' room a little more fun!

So I started by filling the washer with hot hot water, and the largest load and adding 4 cups of bleach to it. let it sit for an hour then run it on the longest cycle.

Easy so far right? (so easy I tried on some new purchases and took some pictures to decide which I liked best!)

Now fill the washer again with hot hot water and add 4 cups of vinegar. Again let it sit for an hour. While its sitting take a scrub brush and a rag and get in all those nooks and crannies, the knobs, the doors, sides and fronts. Make sure to clean in under and around the dispensers as well - I only have a bleach dispenser on this machine, no fabric softener dispenser, but Jillee mentions this can get really slimy and grimy. Then finish by running the longest cycle. DONE! Easy right?

Now that my washer was SOO shiny *ding* I couldn't leave the dryer! so I cleaned its outside too before I ran the last cycle. *double ding*

I have so much laundry that needs doing, but I don't want to abuse these babies and make 'em dirty again! *sigh* that's how she goes! Cleaning the a cleaning machine seems sooo silly, but take a look a the difference in the water! YUCK! No wonder the clothes weren't bright & white.

 

 

I'm off to toddle after my toddler who if babbling away about school buses he watching out the window after his nap - I LOVE when he wakes up in a good mood :)

Until we meet again.

Mommy Day

Yesterday my dear friend, V, had asked me for a girls day.

Immediately when she asked I said 'Yes! hat would be awesome!!' As Mommies we know we have to take our days 'off' when we can get them.

BIG C had daycare, so I quickly rounded up a babysitter Oma to take Little C. I love grandparents, they are an amazing asset in our lives!

V took me to London, our first stop was Talize a really awesome thrift store, where we found a super cute peacock costume (originally from Old Navy) for Mr. E! (V sent me a picture at night - so stinkin' cute!!)

 

 

After that we headed to our lunch date. V picked an amazing place called Aroma. It was a gorgeous place and the food was amazing!!
We had a long lunch with a great chat. So what I needed! V is so thoughtful, she wanted to have a girls day mostly for me, to get out of the house, do un-mommy things and get to talk about dad a bit. I am so blessed to have amazing friends! Lunch was even her treat (thanks again!!).

Blessed blessed blessed.

We can't wait to go back to Aroma with our whole group of friends to try the Chef's Club - bring your friends and cook your own meal in teams, competing and playing trivia!

So I'm headed to tell friends about our Christmas event now - and I CAN'T wait to blog about it!!

Until we meet again.

1..2...3..yes! All 10 digits are still here!

So, those of you who saw my blog post yesterday heard of our shaky play kitchen beginnings.

Well here is how we left off...

Old TV Unit with one added vertical board

 

Our terrible un-square microwave

 

Don't let your hubbies convince you to use anything BUT a table saw!! A miss-shaped, cracked, holey mess will ensue! (PS thanks honey :) )

 

 

So today was a new day. Ventured off to the local Canadian Tire to hopefully find the hinges I was looking for (no luck), but I'll have to make due. Got some extra nails and we're off tot he races.

Both boys had a great nap today, plus Hubby was there to get them when the woke.

 

After I got him to haul the table saw out of the basement, I set to work. I couldn't put this kitchen together hap-hazardly, it would be part of our family for years (and what would my mother say!).

 

 

There are no photos of the sawing (good thing! We are missing the pusher piece and were using scrap wood - DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME - use ALL safety equipment!) but we still have all 10 digits, both Hubby and I. After a short while, an making one cut that was intended to be a sliver but turned into inch or more, I graciously let Hubby return to his football game. I think I've got it from here.

The poor guy means well, but he's just to ram-y for my picky liking! Whatever he fixes in the barn may not look pretty, but it holds & works well, I'm afraid that won't do in my house though!

 

So I cut, glued, nailed, cut some more, and painted painted painted. Here are my end results today.

 

I am realizing this now looks like I have been painting all day with Little C in the same room - Let it be known this was not the case!

 

I used this wonderful paint:

My Mom was the one who introduced me to chalk paint - while not the cheapest paint around, and not widely sold, it really is amazing and worth the coin! So easy to work with and BEST of all, NO prep work! Open the can & paint!

 

Oh! Just so no one thinks that 'old' crooked microwave has gone to waste, no sir! BIG C has been using it as a shed for his horses and cows, bringing them corn (fresh from the field) to eat. Waste not, want not!

 

So, tomorrow BIG C is off to H's place for the day - here's hoping I can completely (or nearly completely) accomplish this kitchen! I will leave you with this - because the colours this time of year are beautiful and I love my guys!

 

 

 

 

Until we meet again!



Crooked crafter

Today was a wild one!

The international plowing match (IPM) was cancelled due to torrential downpour (I have heard this is the first time in decades!!). 

We were fully prepared to strap on our boots and unfold our umbrellas, but I wasn't completely disappointed to not have to spend the day dragging kids from booth to booth - oh wait we did that anyways. 

I really want to build BIG C a play kitchen like I found online (through Pinterest) on a lovely blog called Giggleberry Creations.  

So we headed to Home Depot (you know 'you can do it, we can help' but even if we can't we'll sell you the stuff anyways!! - courtesy of Graham Chittenden, comedian, which we happened to see live in December 2012 and catch again n TV this morning!)

After a couple minor meltdowns we headed out the door with supplies in hand. 

I took all the measurements this evening and tried to help Hubby cut them. I can tell he's a bit annoyed. Why not just buy a used little tykes kitchen and be done with it.
It's just not the same as 'home made'. No WOW factor!

Although homemade in this case, I found after being assembling the microwave, it's awfully crooked and a bit miss-shapen. 

I shall post some pictures of our progress in a later blog post (assuming we get it all finish!! and that I don't end up giving up!!)

Good night all!!

Until we meet again

Fighting frustration

Ugh.

One of those days. We had a blow up again. 

Well I did, while hubby stayed practically silent with the occasional un-huh, ok, and I know. 

He drives me crazy. I just want him to yell, scream, cry do anything to show that he is passionate about our argument, our life, US!!

Nothing. I know he cares. I know he is upset inside, somewhere really deep down. It's just drives me crazy that he won't show it. 

I feel like its me, having an argument with me. The same one all the time. We never progress brava use I'm the only one communicating. Maybe a little too loudly. 

I want a quick fix. There isn't one for our situation though, which in turns makes me more upset. 

In this moment I want to put a for sale sign on our farm, buy a nice simple home in he country, put the kids in daycare, and both of us head off to work. 

Wouldn't that solve everything? Little bit of money saved away, no 'career' on the side to come home to, we could leave work at work. Free weekends, holidays (actually take holidays), not have to worry about all the added bills and stress. Problem solved. 

No, because then hubby would be miserable. Silently miserable. 

*sigh* we'll just keep chugging forward, one step at a time. 

There is a popular song right now that sing 'wake me up when it's all over, when I'm wiser and I'm older' how I wish this was an option!! Although we'd miss out on our children's golden years. 

On a side note, BIG C and I found a cucumber on our plant today!! yum!

Eating straight off he plant. Delicious. 

On that note,

Until we meet again. 

Gear down, gear down!!

Today was a cloudy, cold, would be glum day. The kind you would curl up under a blanket on the couch with some hot chocolate and warm ooey gooey comfort food!

Not today!! Today I had already planned to meet up with some girlfriends, one of their hubbies and mom for a bike ride in Woodstock. 

It was the perfect day for a ride!! 

I only brought BIG C with me today, normally I take both boys everywhere with me, because I'm their mom and because I love to show those cute stinkers off!! :)

We had to buy a new helmet for BIG C first, there was no cramming that old helmet on for even another day. It was officially too small! He got to pick his own, he picked the shark crossed raptor helmet!

 

 

There were SO MANY to choose from at Canadian Tire, but he was adamant that this was the best one! Hope Little C thinks so too, 'cause it'll be his one day!

We finally met up with the rest of the gang and headed off. It's a darn good thing I only had BIG C sitting on the back of the bike and not either of boys in the trailer!! We would have been much too wide for some of the trail, the gateways to parts of the trails, and even one of the bridges!

We biked a total of 17 km today, and only had one minor incident, almost 2. BIG C and I couldn't quite make it up one of the hills even after gearing down and nearly fell over. Then while 'parking' the bikes for lunch I misjudged my step getting off and the bike, BIG C, and myself all came crashing down. Luckily BIC C was crying more for fear than pain!

We stopped for some really yummy lunch at Sally Creek Bistro.

   

(Clearly a photo from elsewhere on the Internet at there is snow and Christmas decorations! http://www.ontariossouthwest.com/experience/sally-creek-bistro+233)

I had the Crispy Chicken wrap - soo delicious!

There is no kids menu offered and they had to go looking for a booster for us, but considering they don't usually serve kids they were very accommodating!

I definitely want to go back some Sunday and enjoy their all day breakfast, I was just really feeling lunch today after a decent workout!

Here are some fun photos after our day courtesy of my good friend Orsolya from Orsolya Gyorgy Photography.

That was our Sunday, how did you spend yours?

Until we meet again. 

Flashback Friday

Today I am having such flashbacks today from highschool  - and its been (eeep) about 8 years! Gosh that happened fast.

Today I remember two special people - well three but I don't remember V, she's a part of my every day life.

My grade 9 gym teacher Mrs. Standish. LOVED her. She was the first authority figure in my life who was really open and honest.
honest about our bodies, our self esteem, our experiences and so much more. There wasn't any question we couldn't ask.

After the first couple months she found girls at the school in general were being pretty rough on each other. Her solution? Sit in the circle and tell everyone our worst moments.

The circle was a private event, took 2-3 classes to accomplish, and the information we heard was not to be brought outside the circle. It was us so vulnerable to each other, made us see that Girl A might have better clothes/boyfriend/grades etc. than Girl B but we all have hardships too.

I balled for 2-3 days worth of classes. How can all these girls have gone through such hard times? we were only 14!!! Not only that, what was I going to say? At that point in my life my parents were together, no one had ever died, we had food on the table, clothes to wear, I was not adopted, no one I knew nor myself had ever had a serious disease. I had nothing. Oh wait when I was little I wet the bed - that compares to someone's mom dying right?

I was so embarrassed that wetting the bed was the only thing I could come up with that I said nothing. I said nothing, but I think I used a whole Kleenex box to myself.
I have never forgotten this.
Best. Teacher. Ever.

I also remember when K passed away in grade 12. I barely knew her, but I was hit so hard.
Life can just end.
Hers was the first funeral I ever attended. I had never even been to a visitation before.

V has such a wonderful heart. There is a legend that if you make 1000 cranes the person who is sick will get better. K was in a coma after her car accident so V started to make cranes.
I remember a teacher in elementary school reading this book to us. I loved the idea and the sentiment. I also wanted to be a part of something.

I thrive on being a part of things. I am a people pleaser. I LOVE comments and likes on Facebook and check out my blog stats daily! (There are people from all over the world checking my little Canadian blog! Russia, United States, Germany etc.!!! Thank you all!)

So we went class to class and taught everyone we could how to make cranes. We had big cranes, little cranes. Plain cranes and multi-coloured cranes.

K passed. We were so close to 1000. She was gone. We cried. Hard. Then we finished our remaining cranes.
We had a mass for her in the school gym (we were a catholic school) and displayed the cranes. If my memory serves me correctly they were hung in the chapel afterwards.

*Sigh* highschool, where I thought the road that was my life was bumpy. I had no idea what would be in store.
Thank God for, well, God, amazing friends, and wonderful family. <3

What are your most prominent highschool memories?

Until we meet again.

Where Farmers Meet

Today was the official anniversary of Dad's passing.

So what did we do? One of his most favourite things! Spent the day at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock! It was a beauty of a day, tiny bit of rain, but we hid in the EastGen dairy pavilion to visit the cows and get our free lunch to tickets from TD Canada trust at that point. Oh Boy was lunch yummy, tasty beef on a bun from Norpac, mmmm mmmm good. 

BIG C and Daddy were in their glory, checking out equipment, tractors and self-propelled sprayers too. Like kids in a candy store. 

We checked out the crops (soybeans and corn) at Dekalb (our preferred variety!), Pioneer (which Hubby hated to admit looked fairly good), NK, and Pride. 

It's a great day out and we get to meet up with plenty of other farm friends, but boy do I wish I wore my UP! band today! I bet we tracked A LOT of miles on these toesies!!

BIG C loved every minute of today (except the ones where we took him out/off equipment) and the van hadn't moved 2 feet before he was passed out!

Dad loved the farm show, he especially loved heckling any friendly face he saw - even so far as to 'fire' many of the people who work for the companies at the show for not working hard or doing their job :)

Such a joke-ster. I miss that a lot. 

Until we meet again.