A weekend away

I went to Phoenix with my mother-in-law and sister-in-laws. More importantly, I went sans my babies. Eeek!
I was fine and they were fine and even Trevor was fine. However, it was such a huge step for me to get on a plane and fly away on them.

I hiked. I slept in. I read 3 books. I went out to eat. I hung out with 3 lovely ladies. I sat by the pool. I soaked in a hot tub. I went to grocery stores and other shops. I did all of the above mentioned activities at my own speed and not having to stop to pick someone up, go to the potty x 3, feed anyone, cook or clean or do laundry or hustle around to avoid tantrums. It really was quite heavenly.

Now that I'm back to my reality, I'm content. I've spent the past few days just with my little ones. It's been good to be a full-time Momma. Sadly, it'll be back to work on Monday.

I'm back to part-time teaching. That means mornings only. It's a pretty hectic 3 hours of teaching. I don't get much time to plan and prep while at school. That comes during the 45 minutes of Quiet Time at home when I'm not cleaning or making supper. I've added a small pre-school program to mine and Simon's world. Mostly just number and letter identification and a some phonics. We also do a lot of arts and crafts and experiments. Playing with a purpose more or less. The leisurely nap times of our past are on their way out. :)

The weather is still sad. Actually, anywhere with snow after a week-end in the red rocks and deserts of Arizona is sad. :) Fortunately, we have just over a month left until sweet, sweet spring!

Work

Today, in church, I overheard a man complimenting a young woman for staying home with her kids because, he affirmed, that's what's best.

I work.

I felt a little offended at his remark.

I have stayed at home. I have worked full time and I have worked part-time. No matter what, I am still the best Momma for my kids. I have known stay-at-home Mommas who whine about their kids, their husbands and their homes. I have known full-time Mommas who have lamented missing their babies and not being 100% on-task at work.

Different strokes for different folks. Personally, I need to to work. I became a little too petty and me-focused when I was alone all day with little kids. Preferably, I'd like to work part-time. This way, I can give both my classes, my kids and my home all the attention they need.

So - yes, I work and that's what's best for my kids. Sorry, sir - I didn't appreciate the judgement call.

On that same note, holidays are over tomorrow. Wish me luck as I guide very sleepy teenagers into 2013.

Lazy

It's post-holiday bliss.
We sleep in late. We play hard with new toys. We venture out to have mini-adventures in our fair city.
We eat leftovers and too much baking.
We love being on Christmas holidays!

Good Spirit

We spent the long weekend camping. We went with all of Trevor's family. We tented with the kids. There were a lot of firsts (tenting, campfire-cooking, kayaking, hiking, fireworks) as well as late nights and gentle sleep-ins.
I love being outside. Even more, I love being outside having good fellowship with my amazing family.

Sign me up for next year, please!

Lately

Here's some pics of our life lately. Nothing really of the house. It's still in a state of disarray - I expect it'll be this way for a while.

Swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's

Our amazing moving crew!

Chaos - beautiful chaos

Family wedding

Super awkward family picture - this is where we're at, folks. (Happy 6th anniversary, love!)

Little Miss Coy

My Momma

Dear Mom, Thanks for being such a great Mom. Growing up, I didn't know how good I had it. Homemade cookies, hand-packed lunches, fresh laundry, a gleaming house, lots of space for my friends to come and hang out and, best of all, someone who was always there to listen. Being a stay-at-home Mom in the middle of nowhere with an out-of-town husband was a huge challenge. I whine when I have to put the kids to bed once a week... not all the time. I'm sure we drove you bananas most days. I don't ever remember you taking that out on us. You always played and made sure that we felt important in your life. Now, you're one of my best friends. You're the only person (besides Shiya or Claire) that I actually like shopping with. You're the first person I want to call when one of the kids does or says something wonderful (or ridiculous). I miss you when you're away. Thanks so much for being an amazing mother and an amazing friend. I hope that I can be as good of a Mom to Simon and Claire as you were to Tim and I. I love you! Happy Mother's Day!

Easter x 2

This year, we celebrated Easter 2 weeks in a row.

We had a fabulous Easter celebration with my family that involved yummy food, fluffy dresses and an Easter egg hunt organized by my sweet sister-in-law.

This past weekend, we trekked east to visit Trevor's Winnipeg relatives. Highlights of this trip include playing Aunts, Uncles and cousins, visiting Oma and Opa, two "cousin parties", a visit to the Children's Museum and the Forks and awesome little car travelers.

Unfortunately, we brought a Manitoban flu bug back with us. Not the best Easter treat for my sweet kids.

Muddy fingers

The season has turned. My kids have been set free. Every day, when I get back from work, I scoop them up and I can smell the sunshine and outside air in their hair. They smell so fresh!

I love that our sidewalk is covered in toddler scribbles, the knees of their jeans are caked in mud, their fingernails are dirty and their cheeks are rosy. I love that their toy mess is now outside. I love that they fall into bed and sleep so hard.

Welcome spring!

March Madness

Prep house - done
Sell house - done
Mark like crazy - working on it
Report Cards - due at the end of the month (I've never done e-school report cards before...eeek!)
Prep kids' clothes for clothing sale - 6 tubs done/6 more to go (crazy how much work this is)
Sell clothes at sale - end of the month
Paint kids' rooms and closets at the Someday House - get a good chunk of it done tomorrow and maybe go back next weekend


Yikes - I feel like this month came in like a lion. By the looks of things, it's going to keep me going hard. Good thing I'm feeling better!

Siblings

My kids started fighting when Claire was just 7 months. At first, we thought it was Simon bugging her but, soon we realized that it takes two to tango and that our little princess was pretty aggressive. (Once, when I took Simon shopping by himself, he told me that he was excited to have a cart to himself so that "Claire is not attacking Simon." - Yeesh!) We won't worry whether she can hold her own or not.

Our sweet pea is 14 1/2 months. She just started walking and she babbles up a storm. We're starting to have to discipline her when she throws her food on the floor or when she repeatedly attempts unsafe things (standing in the bath, making beelines towards stairs, etc). We're currently "fighting" about going to sleep without Momma holding her and I need to come up with a plan to wean her. Simon was pretty good about being weaned but, Claire's a little more feisty. She still nurses three times a day and I'd like to cut it back to just her morning nurse soon.

Simon tends to be a pretty compliant little man. He does however, get stubborn about the strangest things (no comments please, Mom). Claire tests and tests and tests to see where the boundaries are. I think she'll give us a bit more of a run for our money.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. Our 3 day Christmas fiesta begins tomorrow morning. I can hardly wait!
Enjoy your friends, families, food and fun!

'round here

The flu bug bit bad.
Work, kids, clean, cook, nurse, homework, bed... rinse, lather, repeat.
Sad, neglected Fergus.
Houseplans and playdates on weekends.
Lots of Christmas stuff in the works.
Tis the season for too busy and yet... little hands make me stop and soak in happy humming, exploring and playtime.


PS - Thanks for the pics, Auntie Andrea. Once again, you are amazing!!!

a hootenanny

20 people in our little house all celebrating the fact that Claire will be one this coming week. It was an 'owling good time. I'm glad my kids are born in totally different seasons so I don't have to have parties back to back.

Bagged

One of my 2011 goals was to do a create practical gifts to reuse. I succeeded. I made 100 cloth bags for my sister-in-laws and me. That's a pile of sewing, a pile of cloth and now, a pile of bags. I happily gave them away during our Thanksgiving feasts. I'm delighted with the thought of not having to wrap much of anything FOR THE REST OF MY CHRISTMASES!!!! (except for stockings). I'm also excited that I was able to do something for three lovely ladies whom I love a lot.
(Special thanks to my mother-in-law who helped me cut and serge those bags and to my Momma who helped me with fabric selection.)

Now, I need to hunker down and sew Simon's Halloween costume and a pile of taggie blankies to get me through another year of babies.

What kinds of projects are you up to? (And, how much has Pinterest made you feel like there is soooo much more you should/could be doing?)

Baby Blues

Levi and Claire - almost 7 months and 9 1/2 months.

2

Hard to believe that this pretty little Missy is already 2. Happy B-day, Princess!
Love, Auntie

"Wild Things"

28 "Wild Things" cupcakes
22 people in our tiny bungalow
5 yummy dishes in our little brunch potluck
1 sad cat hanging out in the garage
2 years of Simon to celebrate

We had a "Wild Things" themed B-day brunch for our little man (based on one of his favorite stories). It was a blast.

Happy Easter

Our Easter was pretty fabulous. I'm still in a chocolate-induced coma and enjoying having my partner in parenting home for 5 days. It's also pretty awesome that the weather has been spectacular. Hope your Easter's been "egg-cellent"!

Levi Darrel

Congratulations Tim and Karri on the birth of your beautiful and sweet son, Levi Darrel. He was 9 lbs 4 oz (yikes). Mommy and baby are doing really well and should be out of the hospital by Tuesday.
After watching Simon and Elizabeth play together so well and love each other so much, I'm so glad that Claire will have a little same age cousin to play with too!
I'm thrilled to be an Auntie again! :)

What's in your freezer?

I spent this past Saturday and Wednesday baking with both our families. Now my freezer is full. Call me crazy but, I love it. I think it's the quality time with my ladies (and my sweet tooth) that I enjoy the most.
Enjoy the pics - looking is calorie free! :)

(My fav pic is the one of Claire sleeping in a laundry hamper.)