Chronicled Moments

PhotoShoot

2009-10-04T13:31:00.003-05:00

It was quite the challenge to take these three out as mother and photographer but they did a great job cooperating and I managed to get some pics!

Catching Up...

2009-09-23T13:29:00.009-05:00

I had a fantastic trip to Vancouver last week. A great opportunity to catch up with old friends and family. I love this city.

Thanks Marni & Bev for making such a huge effort to make this happen. I can not believe it has been 15 years. I was made aware of how fortunate I am to have crossed paths with so many interesting, fun and caring people. You two rock! I can not wait to see you again and hopefully this time it will not be another 15 years!

My hosts were absolutely amazing. I have NEVER eaten as I did on this vacation. Fine dining was where it was at. This school friend and I have ALWAYS picked up from where we last left off. So thankful for this unique and sincere relationship. There is never a moment of silence and in the rare case there is we are typically thinking about the same thing. I swear she can read my mind. She has made such an effort to know me ... and for that I am thankful. I love you E!!!!

It had been 4 years since I last saw my grandparents. These two people have been such a huge influence in my life. My grandmother does not have a harmful bone in her body. She has ALWAYS taught me to accept what life brings you. To grab hold of each day and make it as good as you can. She loves poetry and has written many poems in her lifetime. She is the queen of inspirational quotes and poems. One I will never forget which I remember seeing in her house for a VERY long time is:

It now sits in her room in the care home where she lives daily with a smile on her face. She is no longer the woman I remember. She has been fighting dementia for many years and although it has created a mask, she continues to show us and the staff just how loving she is. This woman had fun no matter what she was doing. I remember having bubble fights with her while we would wash the dishes, seeing her with bubbles hanging from her chin! I remember how much she loved to dance the chicken dance. I remember the stories she told us from her childhood. I remember how she always had a smile, a hug and kind words for me. It is truly amazing to think they have known one another for 79 years, married for 70. My grandfather's love for her is evident in the way he looks at her and how he insists to faithfully see her each and every day. My heart melted when he said "I have been a lucky man ... to be married to her ... I could not have been blessed with a better wife, and mother for my children."

Thank you grandma and grandpa for being amazing grandparents. My grandfather continues to support me to this day. He calls me to check on me. We have spent up to 45 minutes chatting and laughing together on the phone. He makes tapes of himself singing, and telling stories of his childhood for my kids. This is one cool man! A person I will always cherish. I love you grandma & grandpa!

Goodbye Vancouver! Until the next time! :)

Sleepover!

2009-07-19T22:13:00.005-05:00

The kids had a BLAST at their "camping" sleepover last night. The best part of all was hanging out with a really cool woman! I love this girl, we have been through so much together. I am incredible fortunate to have her in my life. Thanks for the "vacation" Tara! I kept commenting on how it felt as though we were on vacation. She really took care of us. :)

And yes! It was a VERY early bedtime tonight.

Last Day of School

2009-06-29T00:31:00.003-05:00

I can not believe he will be finished grade one tomorrow. There has been so much change this year and he has managed unbelievably well. I have seen so much progress with his motivation to build friendships. I have heard from other adults about conversations he has with them. He is becoming more comfortable at school and seems to be enjoying it.

Tomorrow will be a tough day for this little guy. He has difficulty moving on to new stages because it makes him sad to leave the old behind. He will miss his grade one teacher and his principal who is moving on to other opportunities. A huge thank you to the fantastic staff who have had such a positive impact on his school experience.

I love you little man! Congratulations on a successful year in grade one. I am proud of who you are!

TWO!

2009-01-04T23:44:00.006-06:00

It's her big day tomorrow! We celebrated one day early. She certainly knew something exciting was happening but did not quite grasp the concept. She did sing Happy birthday to herself and ran around the house in anticipation. She was very excited to see her cake and all of the excitement in the house got her pretty hyper. It was very evident that she was trying to figure it all out... it was obvious to everyone how much she loved the attention and all the fun!

I was VERY impressed by your Dad's Makka Pakka cake. Way to go DAD!!!

I can not believe two years have passed! Her birthday always sneaks up on us with the Christmas prep and festivities. It was only in the past few days that I really realized how much she has grown up. Her pronunciations are a little delayed, apparently that happens when you are lower in the birth order, but she is trying most every word which I am typically able to decipher. She watches her brother and sister intently and tries to do most everything they are doing. In fact most of the younger toys are being set aside for playmobil and pixos! :) She loves to cuddle and hug. She loves to read, and colour. It looks like she may be a lefty! She is abosultely adorable. I have looked upon her with awe over the last few days thinking of just how fortunate I am. Happy Birthday little R!

It's December!

2008-12-01T21:45:00.005-06:00

I can not believe a month has passed since I have last blogged. November was certainly a crazy month for our photography business. I managed to squeeze out a card design for myself last night...so I may actually have my own cards to send out this year. :)

I have certainly seen the impact of the busyness on the kids. I have not had the time they have needed lately and it feels good to be able to get some of that time back with them over the past few days.

I have decided to do another photo a day album for December and am looking forward to documenting our December/Christmas traditions. The kids are getting so excited for Christmas which certainly motivates me to do the baking, shopping, and preparing. Day number one starts Nov 29th with our shopping day and their day with Grandma and Grandpa. Here is a shot from day two of what will be my album ;)

It is the annual Christmas tree shot after finishing the decorating. As always it was tough to get them all standing still (or in this case sitting) and cooperating. But we managed to get this one even though they don't look too pleased.

I will do my best to post some of my mini album creations. But with my busy life I won't be surprised if it doesn't happen before next Christmas. It is on my radar...trying to stick with it..if there were only more hours in the day.

I'm done!

2008-11-01T00:00:00.003-05:00

I actually finished my August mini album on time! It was a push at the end...worked on it in between trick or treaters tonight! I think I will do another for December! This time I plan to create my album first and just add the pictures as I go. It would be so much easier if I had a photo printer at home!

P first took the kids out trick or treating and then I took my turn going out with the kids. They had a blast. R was introduced to candy and LOVED it! You can't see my striped tights in the pictures :(

1st snowflakes

2008-10-28T15:11:00.003-05:00

I won't even call this a snowfall but there were a few flakes on the ground when the kids woke up on Sunday morning. They ran in to wake us up and asked if they could go out. Sure enough they bundled up and away they went! It was so fun watching how excited they were to see the snow and play out in it! It brought back many fond childhood memories!

So Lucky!

2008-10-05T23:10:00.002-05:00

I just visited a friends photography website and I learned about an awesome initiative of the Regional Fertility Program of Calgary. Giving couples hope as they attempt to build families! By reading about the program and following some links I came across this . It hits so close to home and reminds me of how fortunate and blessed I am to have my children in my life. After trying for a couple of years and finally being successful after surgery, I know how painful it was with each failed attempt. I lost my grandmother only days before finding out I was finally expecting and had never felt so scared in my life, so scared that something would go wrong. So squeeze your children a little tighter tonight and tomorrow morning when they come bounding into your room at unruly hours...look into their eyes and remember how fortunate you are to have them. Nothing has fulfilled me more than sharing my life with those little critters! Raising children is not our right but rather a privilege!

Lovin' This

2008-09-23T23:16:00.002-05:00

Little T has taken over the older sibling role since her brother has been away at school! She has been SO loving and caring of her little sister. I love seeing this relationship develop. Any time R gets upset about something she looks to her sister for comfort in the form of a hug. The roles are also reversed if T is upset R searches her down and gives her a hug! So very Sweet!

Your Turn

2008-09-13T16:13:00.003-05:00

Since I frequently go out to do photo shoots of other children and families I thought it was time my kids had a turn in the studio. It is a bit of a challenge getting pictures of the 3 of them together and I almost got everyone looking this time ;) This is the first time I have brought them all in to do pictures together (actually T is the only one who has been in). Here are just a few from the afternoon.

Isn't it too early

2008-09-11T14:03:00.003-05:00

to be struggling with empty nest? S is in grade 1 which means full time school. I am happy for him that he is enjoying it but already miss the preschool stage with him. And then there was T off to preschool today. She woke me up this morning completely dressed, hairband in and her bag packed. Of course she needed to take her box along which houses her new gem that her cousin found at Grandma and Grandpa's. She rarely leaves home without it.

It was really strange with only one child at home albeit only one morning a week. It is great for some one on one time with little R who has grown up so much in the past few months. She is really watching her brother and sister and wanting to do what they do. She figured out how to play a favorite pre-programmed song on the keyboard this morning. I don't even know which buttons to press to make it work ;) Life is passing by too quickly and I am being given a glimpse to the future. Slow down guys...this nest will be lonely without you!

The Last Days of Summer

2008-09-02T12:14:00.005-05:00

Here are my pics for the final days of the August photo a day challenge. A huge thank you to Laurel for all of the great challenges.

Aug 29 - a great close up of little R. You will see her red swollen ear after just being bit by a wasp :(

Aug 30 -I took TONS of pictures this day...and this one represents what it was about. Linda and I shot a wedding. My forearm sure was sore when this day was done (my new lens is VERY heavy). We had a blast!

Aug 31 - 1 or 3 challenge. You will notice there are many pictures with 1's in them amongst the day. Go-Karts with 1 in the number, mini golf hole #1. We started off our day at K's birthday party and then headed in to Wpg with my parents to Thunder Rapids and then out for Chinese food for supper. S was so proud of himself for trying some new foods (he typically only eats chicken balls, fried rice and consome soup). What a fun day and great way to spend one of the last days of summer.

Almost the last week

2008-08-29T13:29:00.004-05:00

Only a few days left of August and I am proud to say I haven't missed a day of pictures and I have already started on my August album (I have only completed 2 pages but I am pleased that I have at least started).

Here are my pics for the week.

Aug 22 - I got a new lens today and I got to go out with a great friend (it's been WAY to long) So this is my double I want to see you challenge. I want to see everyone through my new lens :) and I want to see more of this woman!

Aug 23 - I woke up this morning with a fever. It was a tough day as P was out picking up our van (8 hour day) and I was fighting a virus with a fever, the chills, and body aches. S & T were very good and even sang me some lullabies :)

Aug 24 - Another sick day :( I did manage to get up and tidy up a bit. My Hard Work challenge is about asking my kids to clean their room. I get so fed up with tidying their room and then having it all pulled apart half a day later. So I told them if they do not put their toys and belongings away after playing with them I will put them in this garbage bag because it must mean they don't want them. I feel like such a militant mom some days.

Aug 25 - We celebrated my mom's birthday a day late. The kids love birthday parties! Happy birthday mom. We love you!
Look down challenge - the pic of T and grandma playing Guess Who.

Aug 26 - Good Night challenge - I can certainly tell that my kids are ready for some routine and new challenges of school/preschool. They have been fighting and acting up lately. I have been so frustrated some days but then I see this and wonder how I could let things bother me so much. I am so fortunate to have these guys! I love them to pieces and are they ever sweet (especially when they are sleeping ;) ).

Aug 27 - Still not feeling great, so I managed to sneak a nap on the couch while the kids played board games in the afternoon. It is getting a little tricky getting games out of the closet. I think I should reorganize ;)

Aug 28 - Morning cuddles on the couch. I was asked to take this picture! Wow, do I ever love these moments! :)

Week 3

2008-08-22T14:33:00.008-05:00

Here are my pictures from this weeks challenges.

Aug 15 - on the highway leaving Albertsville. No idea we were not going to make it home this day.

Aug 16 - the loaner car from the dealer in our driveway. Home sweet Home, at last!

Aug 17 - On my plate challenge. All of the stuff I had on my plate this day. There is always so much work to do when returning from a holiday. The toughest part was everyone getting sick :(

Aug 18 - a morning walk to the post office to pick up the mail after a week. Hooray way fewer bills then I imagined :)

Aug 19 - my picture and my tripod ;) I actually do have a tripod but this worked just as well. An evening of putting our feet up and watching Olympics (oh yeah and eating nachos) after kids were in bed.

Aug 20 - August photo challenge. This speaks August to me...being outside and then eating ice cream (which replaced supper since she had a fever).

Aug 21 - a great end to a long day at the store. She recently was faced with the unexpected loss of her sister. She and her family have been on my mind daily. This is a friendship that withstands time! This is one strong, amazing woman. I love this girl to death and have been so fortunate to have her in my life. The smiles were less about posing for the picture and more about laughing at me practically belly flopping into the tub before the camera took the picture.

This is my week in review. Despite all of the illness in my house, the lack of sleep and no van/transportation...it has been a good week but I certainly look forward to the start of a new week without illness, on a little more sleep and having a van.

Happy Holidays!

2008-08-17T14:36:00.006-05:00

We are back from our holiday. Despite an eye infection (US medical bill which will be covered by our Blue Cross), a fever for my other daughter and a leaking transmission we made it home in one piece. Our van on the other hand is still in Fergus Falls getting repaired. So, we currently have a US rental that we can not drive in Canada...according to the border crossing. I quickly edited a few pics for my picture a day August challenge. My zoom lens is in the shop so I'm using a portrait lens for candids which was REALLY frustrating and made for some not so good shots. But the good thing about this is it encouraged me to put my camera away and enjoy. Here are my shots for the week:

Aug 8 - What's on your feet challenge. What a great time for this challenge since baby DD has been wearing every shoe she can find. She loves the one that make noise when she walks! :)

Aug 9 - A trip to Winnipeg . A stretch for the put out the trash challenge (not Linda of course) but having to go to Wpg to bring my lens in before my warranty ran out and my lens became trash ;0)

Aug 10 - at our hotel in Grand Forks. DS never plays with his Elmo or Cookie Monster but chose them as his toys to bring along on our trip because of the Elmo Makes Music Show that we saw in Grand Forks this day.

Aug 11 - A quick stop in Albertville at the outlet mall resulted in this...much more in the bags! This was only the beginning because we stopped on our way home as well.

Aug 12 - Mall of America. I wasn't sure if I should convince the kids to come on this ride with me but went for it. DS was pretty scared. DD was scared as well but she didn't have much of a reaction. I loved it! In the above picture the kids are showing off their new build a bears!

Aug 13 - Como Zoo. I couldn't decide on one picture so did a quick little collage. My favourite thing was the Gorilla - very cool to watch. We even saw him pick his nose (Yuck).

Aug 14 - Valley Fair! GO, GO, GO challenge. The kids started off on the cautious side but then got braver as the day went on! They loved the monster :) I even went on the Wild thing
"Valleyfair's hyper-coaster, Wild Thing, features one of the world's largest weightless zones and a 200-foot, 60-degree drop!"

Go Team Canada!

2008-08-08T23:48:00.002-05:00

A huge congrats to my cousin Brooks McNiven who is currently in Beijing for the Olympics. I can't wait to see him on the pitching mound at the Olympics...WOW, what an accomplishment. I love the Olympics and always waited for them as a kid. What a dream come true to represent your country amongst some of the best in the world! Go Brooks, we will be rooting for you!

Photo Challenge Week 1

2008-08-08T23:31:00.011-05:00

Thanks to Laurel for putting on a great challenge over at Rhubarb Roots

It has been great getting that push to use my camera for taking pictures of my own kids ;) I am still missing some of the moments that have defined the day but I am generally remembering to get snapping a whole lot more!

Here are my pics from the first week:

Aug 1 - Good Morning Challenge. A great way to start off the morning with an oatmeal bath :) Teaches me for sneaking away to check email while the kids were eating breakfast.

Aug 2 - "These are a Few of My Favourite Things" (this was the song they had playing on the keyboard and were playing along. If anyone was walking by my house this morning they would have been graced with my fabulous singing:) I love the Sound of Music

Aug 3 - I want to see you challenge. This is just one pic from a fantastic day which all started off with this breakfast:

Aug 4- a shot of the moon at the end of a fun photoshoot. I came home to my kids dressed in one anothers pajamas and in each others beds.

Aug 5 - Swimming lessons consumed most of our week. It was nice to have a place to go each morning.

Aug 6 - Challenge A House Is a Home. The last coat of paint went on in the living room. These are the colours I chose, the grey for the kitchen, beige for the hallway and entrance and brown for the living room.

Aug 7 - Challenge Look Up. Practicing for the show they were about to put on. He found my old clown costume in our dress up trunk and decided to juggle as part of the act.

Peter Pan and a taste of royalty

2008-07-28T22:31:00.003-05:00

So our fairy hunt has taken a new turn. T has come up with the most brilliant idea to trap Peter Pan and that way Tinkerbell will certainly come to find him. She was telling me the most intricate plans tonight as we were lying in her bed about how she will make Tinkerbell some clothes from paper and if she doesn't like them, then she can just wear a diaper. You can guess what type of toothpaste she chose last week - Tinkerbell. She thought spreading a little of it in her bug catcher may help in her quest. Good luck little T...I'm rooting for you!

Besides our fairy hunts we have started our two week swimming lesson sessions today. I think it will go quite smoothly. The kids are very comfortable in the water, much more then last year and seemed to have a good time. It is a nice place to spend the mornings.

T had the honor of passing the flowers to the 2nd princess at our local festival. She was a little nervous considering "the whole universe would be watching," but did absolutely fantastic! It was such a highlight for her and I'm sure she will remember it for years to come!

Fairy Hunter

2008-07-16T23:42:00.004-05:00

Anyone that has been within earshot of my daughter over the last several days will be no stranger to her fairy fantasy! She has become completely obsessed over catching a fairy. I have no idea what she saw or where she came up with the idea. It happened the day we gave her a new book about fairies but before we started reading the story of a little girl who had a chance to befriend some fairies. She only was able to see them because she believed in them. So this is not helping our situation ANY!

The night before we started reading the book she was up until 11:30pm crying because she wanted to catch one and trying to devise a plan. She even thought she should take its wand away to ensure it didn't cause trouble. We were outside at 11:00pm, flashlight in hand because she needed to show us where she thought there may be one.

She has made a home for these fairies in her new bug house (which she saved up her allowance for). She even made a sign for her "fairy house" asking me how to spell yes beside her drawing of a fairy. It is amazing to watch her imagination soar and at the same time sad to see my little girl longing for the impossible. The first of many dreams I wish I could make come true! I love this girl to pieces!

He's 6

2008-07-14T23:29:00.002-05:00

I can not believe 6 years have passed. This little guy is growing up right before my eyes. Teaching me so many things and bringing so much joy to our lives. I love that he still loves to cuddle, give hugs and kisses, tell us how much he loves us and is not TOO embarrassed by our craziness (although he does sometimes ask me to stop singing while rolling his eyes). He had his birthday party on Saturday and had chosen a small party with 2 friends and his 4 year old sister (by choice :) ). We went mini golfing and go-kart racing and then out to Dairy Queen for lunch. It was so much fun being able to focus on such a small group. We had a singsong in the van (Barenaked Ladies Popcorn is a favourite in our house right now)!

Tonight we had another little get together. He seemed so excited last night to say "see you when I am 6," but tonight is missing being 5. :(

You are such a blessing little man. I'm looking forward to many more days, months and years with you.

Out of Routine

2008-07-07T23:49:00.006-05:00

Summer always comes with a change in routine. All of the activities end and there is an abundance of free time. This I am thankful for because there are also many more things I want to do. Every year I say I am not going to the let the summer pass so quickly and I try to cram as much in as I can. We have been participating in the reading program at the library this summer. It is a bit of a chore to get my kids to sit down for any length of time for stories. They are just too busy but this has given them some motivation! S is reading many of his own and is constantly surprising us with how well he is reading. T is busy crafting away. She loves to paint and I am always getting little pictures from her with little words on them. She is asking more and more how to spell things and is interested in practicing her letters.

Back to this library club...and being out of routine...my kids have been a little off and are having to relearn how to spend 24/7 together. Everyone is staying up later and getting up at the normal time which means too little sleep which of course impacts behaviour. For those who saw us walking home from the library last week my daughter does not typically lie on the sidewalk shouting "No, Mommy..." but yes it does happen and when it happens I feel an urge to flee the scene :) Just keep on walking and hope she decides to catch up. One day it will be a distant memory but some days that parenting thing sure is hard. Managing 2 spirited kids with a baby to tote along can really wear a person out. I love it and am so happy I chose to stay home with them but some days...well let's just leave it at that :) [insert image of S on his bike about a block ahead of me almost colliding with an older kid, baby sitting in stroller on sidewalk and T clinging to me like a monkey as I try to rationalize with her - all the while what feels like 30 cars pass by wondering who this crazy family is].

This summer has started off with some long awaited renovations. I know...bad time of year for it. The drywalling should be complete tomorrow and then we are going to paint. Who wants to stay indoors painting during the summer? That will only happen if we can agree on colours before September hits :)

We had a nice relaxing weekend of sleepovers for the kids at Grandma and Grandpa's. On Saturday we got a wake up call from S asking when we would come for breakfast. When we got there he escorted us to our seats, handed out the menus and then brought activity place mats that he and Grandpa had made. I kept their menus and placemats as souvenirs! The weekend continued by being spoiled senseless! I am so lucky to have such great parents and to have them nearby!

We spent a lot of time chalking Grandma and Grandpa's driveway this weekend.

S went for a bike ride with his dad on Sunday and they made it all the way from town to the golf course and then called for me to come pick them up. S was so proud of himself that he made it all the way. I couldn't believe it either, just more proof that he is not my little guy anymore and is becoming more and more independent!

This little one has a new favourite word - "No." She is trying to follow along with S and T and they are pretty accommodating but at times are frustrated by the pre-two's stage. I had to post this picture because S said it makes him nervous...he is afraid she is going to fall and could I please not take pictures like this of her.

Days of Summer

2008-06-25T21:26:00.005-05:00

We made it through the last day of kindergarten last week and had T's preschool program the same day. The day wasn't without tears but S was happy to have the distraction of a classmates birthday party! He got a webkinz for "graduating" and apparently the whole class had to go on a hunt for snuggles a few times throughout the day. LOL!

The days of summer have begun at our house this week. Everything has finished until the fall, except for swimming lessons. So today the kids were busy with crafts as I was getting the Rhubarb Roots forum going! Hooray, it is finally back up! Here is what they made.

We had some friends out visiting from BC. The kids always play VERY well together. They got together and planned a few performances for us. Unfortunately I was taking pictures without the memory card and missed all the good ones, but it was SO cute. Spencer was the narrator and directed the show! Little R and G had a chance to kind of meet. They are old enough now that they could interact. It was so cute when they were playing with the puzzle at the table and she moved in beside him, put her arm around him, started rubbing his back and giving him hugs!

Emotional Day!

2008-06-17T22:17:00.002-05:00

S had his kindergarten celebration today. I knew I was feeling a little sad about it being over but thought I'd be able to fight through it...well...the tears started flowing during the first song they sang. By the very end there was not a dry eye in the room. His teacher was such an awesome match for him, she was so understanding of him and his temperment which made things easy on me. She helped him grow so much, encouraged so many positive relationships and taught him many valuable skills in such a fun way (I don't really think he realized he was learning :) ). She ended the program today with a slideshow played to music of pictures throughout the year. It lasted for about 10 minutes and gave us such a great visual of what the year looked like...that alongside some very moving music and most of us were trying to focus through the tears, she even got Preston with it. It was obvious how attached she had become to these kids over the past year. I am so proud of S...what he has accomplished this year...trudging off to school even when things were tough - he got there every single day and received a certificate recognizing his perfect attendance. He has learned to read and write (still need to work on that spelling ;) ). He said his favourite thing about kindergarten was singing and he wants to be a nurse when he grows up, that or a computer worker. We got a fabulous me book with a collection of works from throughout the year. I'm going to miss kindergarten and the innocence we are leaving behind. Thank you to his great teachers and their ability to ensure a positive start to the journey.

Stunning!

2008-06-12T22:37:00.005-05:00

We had the opportunity to do some grad pictures recently for an amazing girl and I had to post some of my favourites! We have a bit of a history...I coached her in hockey, and she has spent summers babysitting my children. What a bright future...you are one fabulous individual!

Recent Shoots

2008-06-09T20:25:00.011-05:00

We have been really busy with the photography end of the business and I haven't been updating my blog with any of our shoots. So here a bunch of favourites that we have done recently.

Rhubarb Roots

2008-06-09T01:05:00.002-05:00

So our host decided to "upgrade" the server we were on and in turn broke our forum on our site. We were in the process of planning a new site but this had now given us a push into we HAVE to develop a new site. Unfortunately this means our old forum will not be restored and we will have to start fresh. There are always some benefits but of course I am disappointed about losing our current forum and gallery and not knowing what the time line will look like. It also means my husband (our web guy) will be somewhat occupied for the next who knows how long...

I miss chatting with everyone on line and being up to date with life. Looking forward to meeting you all on our new site as it develops.

Where did May go?

2008-06-09T00:53:00.003-05:00

I feel like I have fallen off the face of cyber earth...It has been a long time since I updated my blog.

The season of summer festivals and outdoor activities has begun! We were at the Back 40 Folk Festival last weekend and the Childrens Festival today.

We had an amazing day at the Children's Festival today. S and T LOVE Fred Penner. They own many CD's and have made many connections from the messages in his music. Preston and I also really enjoy his music and he gets us every time with his closing "You Are My Sunshine." I love how he gets families connected, singing to one another and then quietly disappears from the stage. A brilliant man!! :) Besides Fred Penner, we watched the Checkerboard guy juggle on his unicycle and do the hot dog chant. S LOVED his performance...he really was entranced! He even timidly put up his hand (without prodding from us) in hopes to be chosen to go up on stage. They made wire jewelry, molded clay, fished bugs out of a tub of water, dug for fossils, tried out some hula hoops, had their faces painted and of course had some ice cream. We did not have nearly enough time to take in even a small portion of all of the great venues. Like last year, it was an awesome day and we will certainly be back next year!

Our house has quieted down a little since my sister-in-law and niece have now moved into a place of their own. We miss them but are happy to have them so close so we can see them regularly!

S is into his final days of kindergarten. It makes me sad to be making the transition to full time school. A stage of his childhood has ended of being home with mom. I am excited to hear about grade one but will miss the innocence of kindergarten. T is finishing up her first year of preschool, which has been a huge success. She has made many new friends and has been doing playdates which makes her feel so grown up, just like her brother. ;) Little R has really grown up since she decided to walk. It was as if walking made her realize that she was just like all these big people around her and is slowly starting to talk and she makes it clear that she understands most of what we say to her. We are entering the days of temper tantrums because she is not able to communicate what it is she wants and/or does not get what she wants. She has developed the sweetest full belly laugh.

Joining The World of Bipeds

2008-05-07T23:10:00.004-05:00

R has finally decided to move on two feet! It was exciting to see her take the plunge but also made me a little sad. She has really grown up in the last month. Yelling to get what she wants, tantrums when she doesn't...It's all fun but I am going to miss the easy-going baby stage.

I had a less then enjoyable past weekend. We had packed up the store to attend a charity scrapbook convention in Brandon. I wasn't feeling great on the Thursday night while we were packing (a sore throat, etc). We left early Friday (the drive was fun...there is never a dull moment or lack of conversation when traveling with Linda), set up the store and went for a meal. During the meal I started to get back pains...and it all went downhill from there. To keep a very long story short...I ended up in Brandon hospital twice with kidney stones. Think of labour contractions without the break :(. I missed the whole day on Sunday as I was in the hospital on morphine and then discharged myself against medical advice after the girls had the store packed up and Linda arrived at the hospital. I did manage to get a good dose of morphine and other medications for the drive. It sounds as though this may not be my last experience with kidney stones as there are more in each kidney. I still did enjoy what little time I had with the girls and am SO thankful to have such wonderful friends to pull together and help out! and that Linda...rubbing my back and cleaning up my puke (as she dry heaved beside me)! I love ya girl! A massive thank you to Cindy and Shauna for helping us keep fed, watered and operating this weekend. You ladies ROCK!!!!

I thought I would share a couple of layouts that I completed with the May kit from Rhubarb Roots.

Sneak peek for mom :)

2008-04-20T00:02:00.004-05:00

Such a fun family! And so full of energy! There will be more pictures to come!

2008-04-18T14:10:00.007-05:00

It has been a really long time since I have updated my blog. My sister in law has come to stay with us and having another child in the house certainly adds to the chaos!

We are having our grand opening for Rhubarb Roots tomorrow. There will be great sales, door prizes (including a chance to win a free photo package if you book an upcoming session), refreshments, make and take and demos.

We have been really busy in the portrait studio and I have not kept up to date with posting shoots, so I have decided to add a few of my favourites from some of the past photo shoots.

We have such a wide mix of ages and have enjoyed each and every session!

Busy Days!

2008-04-06T22:00:00.002-05:00

Our house has been a little chaotic since the arrival of my sister in law and her daughter. They have just moved to Manitoba and are staying with us for a little while. The kids are having a blast but 4 kids 5 and under is pretty busy! S was sick last night with a quick stomach bug, seemed fine this morning and I have my fingers crossed that no one else gets it. I was figuring it would be inevitable, especially for his cousin since she was all over him last night before he threw up. He was complaining that her hugs were hurting him and now we know why, the poor guy had an achy body.

My sister in law is talking crazy and trying to convince me that it would be good to start running. I do believe it would be good for my level of fitness, but I don't know if my body could handle it especially after hurting my knee in hockey this year. I'm off to watch a movie, and sit on the couch with a bag of chips. :)

Family Shoot

2008-03-27T17:14:00.002-05:00

We had a blast with this fun family! They were so much fun to hang out with and watch the family dynamics emerge as they became comfortable. This is just a quick sneak peek but there will be more pictures to come!

Sneak Peek

2008-03-26T01:21:00.004-05:00

I loved getting a chance to experience this little ones personality. What a fun little guy, but when it was time to go...it was time to go - he found his own jacket and started dressing himself :)

Sweet Girl!

2008-03-24T21:34:00.002-05:00

We have been making good use of our new equipment and had an opportunity to photograph this sweet girl. She was a star - loved posing for us. So much fun!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T22:40:00.006-05:00

We had a nice laid back weekend at our house! The kids were so excited about the Easter Bunny coming and we were woken up pretty early this morning. They had a blast dying eggs.

Poor R didn't get to join in the fun. Right now she seems to be on the outside watching the fun, wanting to be a part of it but just not there yet. Her brother and sister love her to pieces and give her a lot of attention. It is so sweet to see S reading her stories (he is doing awesome with his reading, and is so proud that he can read full books on his own) and T always bringing her toys and giving her hugs (although they can be a little aggressive at times).
The kids are also looking forward to their Aunt and cousin moving close by! Only another few weeks to go! :)
We spent the afternoon playing Battleship at our house. S learned how to play this afternoon and could not get enough. He challenged Grandma to a game before supper and pulled off a win! He is growing up so fast!

2 Boys and their Mom

2008-03-16T23:33:00.003-05:00

We had a fun photo shoot on Friday (even convinced the Mom to join in). I must say the little one was a trooper considering he was not feeling well!

Ballerina and A Duck

2008-03-16T23:13:00.004-05:00

T and S had their dance recital today. What a fun way to end of many months of dedicated practice! They both did fantastic. I was a little concerned with S, didn't think he would enjoy the dance (1 of 2 boys in a group of 15??), didn't think he'd like being on stage...but he didn't bat an eye. There was no question that he was going up and he was so proud of himself! And T loves to be the center of attention. Mom was beaming with pride. :)
One of the best parts of the recital was being able to perform for the people they themselves specially invited. They were so excited to hand out their 5 invitations earlier in the week.

To Be Published

2008-03-14T22:55:00.002-05:00

I got a phone call Thursday afternoon and as I often do when I don't recognize the number I prepared myself for some telemarketer. After a short time I realized this person really was looking for me and more than that she was looking for my permission to publish a scrapbooking submission in Creating Keepsakes magazines Reader Gallery. I will be published in the July issue! I was long off the phone before I even comprehended the phone call. The word gallery threw me off and I had first thought website...now to wait until July to see it in print!

Stick Art

2008-03-11T22:21:00.012-05:00

My little creative bug got into Grandma's popsicle sticks and practiced her printing. T has become very interested in spelling different words (of course she asks me how to spell them). She is doing such a great job with her printing and alphabet. I was surprised to see that she has enough control to write on such a small little stick. I love seeing what she comes up with!

We have our photo studio functional in our new space in the mall. We did a quick little practice with our new lights. S was so cooperative and actually posed for us, I guess he is learning that is the quickest way to get it all over with :) Here are some shots I took in the new location.

I can not forget to add some pictures of our dance party at Grandma and Grandpa's on Sunday. Grandpa had it going on!!! Is that my toque?

Getting Closer

2008-03-03T00:04:00.005-06:00

My baby is getting closer to mobile independence. She is certainly a climber. She is constantly climbing onto the couch (when the kids take the cushions off, climbing up on and standing on chairs). She isn't quite convinced she really wants to walk but there are times when she accidentally finds herself standing up without holding on. This is a strange concept for me, although T was also a late walker she was not as content as R to just hang out. R loves to sit on the couch and read a book or even cuddle. I'm loving just how content she is. Saying this, we have started to see a small amount of attitude. She will "yell" at her brother and sister when they take a toy from her. She is sure to make herself heard but really for the most part she is content being the non-talking, non-walking, easy to please member of the family. I'm loving that she is still like a baby. I REALLY want to savor this age and stage just in case she is our last baby.

We have movement!

2008-02-28T16:16:00.002-06:00

T has had an awesome afternoon and is now using her arm! I am so relieved. I'm guessing it took so long for her to regain full use just because of how long she went before having her arm put back in place. Now we will just have to be very careful for the next several weeks but I think she is on the mend! Thank you for all of your well wishes! I feel like a weight has just been lifted off my shoulders! Happy Thursday, tonight is our opening of the new location of Rhubarb Roots in the Altona mall!

My Heart Is Breaking...

2008-02-26T17:15:00.003-06:00

T and S had a little accident this weekend while they were playing in their bedroom. It is difficult getting the full story from kids this age but all we know is S was holding T's hand he fell and her arm twisted (at least that is the most we can put together from their stories). T has not moved her arm since. She had x-rays on Saturday (no break as far as they could see, but it was a real struggle to get her to straighten her arm). We went back today and after a 2 1/2 hour wait, 6 x-rays all while she was screaming and crying (not to mention mom) and then a twist and bend to put it back in place and she is still hurting :( The Doc thought it was dislocated but believed she would be able to move it after he put it back in place...

Photo Shoot

2008-02-15T19:37:00.004-06:00

Linda and I had the opportunity to take pictures of two really fun kids today! It was so much fun watching these two kids interact .

I must admit I was a little envious of her hair :)

I'm questioning

2008-02-06T13:10:00.000-06:00

Just how on earth a tummy can get bored of wiping after going to the bathroom? T insisted she could not wipe because her tummy was bored. The rest of the conversation went like this...

mommy - "well, it's a good thing your tummy doesn't have to wipe then, it is your hand that you need!"
T- "but my hand is bored too!"
mommy - "That hand is going to have to get over that..." as I helped wipe.

My kids have learned about being bored from hanging out with their older cousins. I'm afraid we will begin hearing a phrase that drives me crazy..."I'm bored." ...oh yeah....I'm supposed to embrace this.

Photo fun!

2008-02-06T10:39:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted here in a while. Since the green mohawk we had a purple and red one! S had to have it done while he was with me at my hair appointment. He chose hanging out with me over staying to watch the Bee Movie! R still isn't walking (I'm not sure how many times I am asked that within a day?) but she has not problem getting around. She loves to climb up on the furniture and into the egg chair to do a little reading. She is so laid back and content to just hang out. I'm enjoying that! T has been loving preschool, she has a new favourite show called Super Why? It will be such a short time until she is off to school. She is waiting to go to kindergarten but comments regularly on how much she will miss her preschool teachers!

I've been doing this really fun photography course with my partner in crime! One of the best parts is the drive and the late night snacks on our way home ;) I'm really excited about the portrait portion of the course tonight. Here are some of the things we have been working on.

His fathers son

2008-01-25T21:36:00.000-06:00

The two men went for a haircut tonight and S came running in the house yelling "surprise." The big surprise was a green mohawk. He now vows he will never shower or have a bath again. I think I vote for purchasing some green hair colour (the temporary kind of course)! It is a little tough to see in the photo but it is certainly green :)

some pics from a past shoot

2008-01-23T16:43:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to share some pictures from an early January shoot. We were quite busy over Christmas but here are some pictures from one of them. It was great to be able to combine a shoot with a full day visit with a great friend!

New Babies!

2008-01-22T17:04:00.001-06:00

There is nothing better then be reminded of just how little my babies used to be. How quickly that time flies. I was fortunate to spend a morning some friends from grade school. You know the ones you vowed to never lose touch with. Between the bunch of us we have all maintained some connections! It is so hard to believe that between the 6 of us there are a total of 11 children so far.

This Girl

2008-01-19T23:18:00.000-06:00

Amazes me with her enthusiasm, sincerity, thoughtfulness, humor...she is just so much fun!

She and S did a little performance for us again tonight. It involved Fred Penner, dancing and a lot of giggling! S had the idea and was all ready to perform on his own, but couldn't do it...so she picked right up and began to encourage him to do his act and then started herself giving him the confidence to join in. Here is a shot following their performance. :)

I'm sure I posted about R and how she is not interested in walking, but she now has those feet moving and will walk for short distances if we hold her hands. These feet will soon be pitter-pattering around the house, running in the grass and playing at school (I'm going to miss this stage).

Extending Christmas!

2008-01-15T11:45:00.000-06:00

The same day S got his dinosaur dig in the mail we also got a game from Uncle Trevor! The kids have been practicing a steady hand with Operation. They love the game and ask everyone to play it with them. Grandpa had a quick game with T before he brought S to school this morning. Thank goodness for Gramps with the 60km/hour wind I really didn't want to take little R out on the toboggan in this weather. R is getting around despite her gross motor challenges :) She is just not interested in walking so she scored very low in her gross motor skills at her immunization. I'm certainly not concerned...she is just content to do the army crawl. She is curious and gets around, climbs into things and love playing peek-a-boo.
S has been working on his dinosaur and now has two coats of paint on it...next is the white and it should be complete!

I'm off to play Operation :) T has it all set up!

Digging for a dinosaur

2008-01-13T11:18:00.000-06:00

S got a nice little gift from Aunt Robyn and Uncle Dave. It was a lot of fun but wow, did it ever make a mess! There were little pieces of gravel across our kitchen, into the living room and down the hall.

It has been a quiet weekend. We went out for some drinks with friends on Friday night. Did some practicing for my photography course yesterday and today it is off to see Veggie Tales. S is concerned about how noisy it is in the theater and did not want to go until we suggested ear plugs. We will see how it works! Happy Sunday.

Embrace

2008-01-10T15:54:00.000-06:00

So I have finally chosen a word for the year - Embrace. This word has been such a great reminder to me. When I have been feeling negative, frustrated and overwhelmed I remind myself to embrace the moment for I will not get it back.

Right in the realms of embracing Preston and I have decided to dedicate an evening a week to read through and work on the Raising your spirited child workbook by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka http://www.parentchildhelp.com/. We had our first "session" this week and how insightful for both of us! We spent a good couple of hours and made it through only a couple of pages. I want to embrace each of my children's differences and work with them - I really think this book is going to help!

And I am going to Embrace the opportunity I have found in running my own business. I am in such a busy stage of my life and know the business can overwhelm me but there are changes coming. One will be a move to the mall. Keep posted for more details to come!

Today I have been watching my children playing together. Using their imaginations, being kind and helpful to one another - what an amazingly easy day to embrace! Here they are playing having dinner by candlelight!

Sorry for the overuse of the word but I'm sure you will hear A LOT of it in 2008!

Beautiful!

2008-01-06T22:36:00.000-06:00

What an amazing winter day for us Manitobans! All I can say is WOW! I did not hear what the actual temperature ended up at but I know the forecasted high was +3! We spent the afternoon at the snow hill tobogganing, and then the two guys went skating at the outdoor rink near our house.

Tomorrow we start back into our routine of school and preschool. Which reminds me I need to go make a lunch for S. First full day of school and then back into Creative Movement tomorrow evening. I'm sure he will be wiped!

Some new pics of baby R.

My Baby is One!

2008-01-05T22:54:00.000-06:00

It is hard to believe a whole year has passed. Last night was a tough night for me knowing my baby was leaving babyhood (one always is marker for me). She is such a sweet little girl. So content and easy to please. She is learning things so quickly she was even holding up one finger today when asked how old she was.

We had a little party with family tonight. She looked a little unsure when we were all singing and holding a cake with a candle in front of her. She slowly touched the cake as she looked to us for permission. Gradually her fingers got deeper and deeper into her cake and before long like any type of food placed in front of her she ate the WHOLE thing!

What a perfect age and stage. I love all the ways she reminds me of what is important in life. I am looking forward to watching who she will become but also not interested in rushing the process. She is my baby and may always be...I want to savor each moment. Such a privilege to have her in my life!

Back to Childhood

2007-12-30T23:33:00.000-06:00

We had so much fun tobogganing today! After missing out yesterday R and I joined in on the fun. And what would a family fun afternoon be without mom's camera? So here are some shots!

The girls bailed early (after an hour and a half) R needed her nap. The boys stayed out for 3 hours and then walked home. What a difference a year makes. I remember sitting in the van with baby R last January while they tobogganed and it didn't last too long. This year S is flying down the hill backwards on his own little sled.

Slowing Down

2007-12-29T20:58:00.000-06:00

The hustle and Bustle of the holidays seems to be coming to an end. We had a fantastic Christmas. It is so much fun watching the kids. They handled the busy-ness well and learned a few lessons about receiving gifts (thanks Cindy ;) ). I was happy to see them enjoy each gift instead of tearing to the tree to see if there was more. It took over 4 hours to get through our gifts and we really did not have many here. Such a relaxing and enjoyable morning. A few favourites:

Playmobile plane

Fur Real Tiger and princess accessories.

a happy baby with no cares about what was in her stocking.

I was spoiled once again...a new lens for my camera, a Creative Zen, a writing tablet for the computer, and an external flash for my camera (which I was lucky enough to open a few days early for a photo shoot). But best of all a CD from the kids singing Christmas songs and reciting poems with a great big "we love you Mommy," at the end. Nothing could beat that!!!

Production

2007-12-23T22:58:00.000-06:00

It was a full day of Sunday School, lunch with friends, a photo shoot, and a visit from Grandma and Grandpa. You can see the excitement setting in for the kids. They are having a tough time keeping their emotions in check...but only 2 more sleeps!

Tonight they put on the cutest "play" for us and Grandma and Grandpa. It was so cute to see them planning together and helping one another. They were so excited to perform for us. R's laugh was contagious as she giggled non-stop at her dressed up siblings. I think everyone had a
blast watching them!

Only 1 more day left to shop. I have a couple of gifts to pick up tomorrow. Hopefully I will find something I am happy with and if not guess it is my own fault for waiting so long. Like I always say...I will be more prepared next year :)

Merry Christmas to all!

There were three in the bed...

2007-12-20T17:06:00.000-06:00

I have been too busy to actually download my own pictures and add them to my blog but...a quick update on life. Little R had a high fever last night and did not want to sleep. We finally gave in and brought her into our bed, something she has never done. She calmed down immediately and we all had a good cuddle and went to sleep.

S had his kindergarten Christmas party today. He was SO excited. He got dressed and ran to brush his teeth as soon as he woke up (I was still in bed). He was very proud of himself and loved having us in his classroom. His sister had a great time and did not want to leave. She loved all the games and of course the snacks! I did take pictures and will post some later.

Photos, inventory and sick kids have been filling my days. I can't believe Christmas is so close. I still have some gifts to buy and ALL of my gifts to wrap. I'm sure it will be a Christmas Eve panic to get it all done, I guess there is something about that rushing that I like because we seem to do it every year!

Day 61

2007-12-14T01:32:00.001-06:00

We experienced the first cancellation of the school year. School was canceled due to poor weather. S was very sad when he realized it was day 61 and he would miss going to the high school to do some baking with the "older kids." :(

The Clutter Gene

2007-12-09T23:51:00.000-06:00

I now have proof that being a pack rat can be genetic! It does not help that Preston and I are both bad for it, now we have two kids who also like to keep EVERYTHING. I had this wonderful idea that we would sort out the clutter in our house and start to purge. I did get rid of a fair amount of garbage considering we only got the kids room and the rec room done, but the kids give away pile remained fairly small. Now, I could go into their stuff and do the purging myself, which they likely wouldn't notice, but this has all been about teaching them to give away the toys they no longer play with to another child who may appreciate it. T tried so hard. She even put a Dora doll in the bag, but then had the sadest face I had ever seen and said she would miss her Dora. Wow, did that ever make me feel like a mean old Mommy...making my child give up 1 of her MANY stuffed toys (which she loves by the way). I'm sure I will take it out of the bag in the end, but we really are trying!

So besides decluttering and cleaning we had an opportunity to celebrate the holidays with Preston's coworkers with a banquet on Saturday night and a more intimate get together tonight. It was a wonderful weekend and now back to my panicky online shopping. We are STILL trying to figure out what to get the kids. S insists he will get Cars movie stuff, this is what he told his Uncle Trevor on the phone today. Hope Santa follows through!

I have to share some pics of some VERY cute little kids. I was working on some of them this weekend and am very happy with the results of the shoot!

The Benefits of TV...

2007-12-05T21:13:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling a little forgetful today...the whole episode happened over a 20 minute span and could have turned bad. So thankfully here I am posting and laughing about it now.

After I pulled the garlic bread out of the oven to check on it I threw my oven mitt onto the stove and walked away. When I came back I saw it smoking. I had thrown it onto a hot element (which I had just taken the spaghetti noodles off of). I pounded it on the counter a few times to smother it and then took the garlic bread out of the oven to cut some off for the kids (they do not like it if the top gets crusty). I had intended to put the garlic bread back in the oven on broil just to quickly toast the top of it and then got called away by DD who needed my help in the bathroom. By the time I came back to the kitchen, I smelled the burned bread and opened the oven door to a fire. DH got the bread out (which is now stinking up our garage) and we opened our windows while fanning our smoke detector. DS came crawling through the kitchen, "everyone get down on the floor!" Later he told us he saw that on some cartoon. Thankfully all that I am dealing with is a stinky house. I'm just happy it is still standing.

The photography venture has been taking off. We have been doing a number of shoots lately. I just posted some new pictures in my flickr account but here are some of my favourites.

The countdown is on!

2007-12-02T20:10:00.001-06:00

It is really beginning to feel like Christmas, with all of the freshly fallen snow and the beginning of Christmas celebrations. We put our Christmas tree up on Friday. It is so much fun as the children get older. Seeing the joy and wonder on their faces is such a reminder of the importance of the little things. All of the ornaments ended up in a little cluster in the middle of the tree (about the height of T and S) :) - they did almost all of the decorating. This year we got to add another little face to our annual Christmas tree photo.

Yesterday, we enjoyed breakfast with Santa with Preston's work. The kids get such a treat with a performance, great food, a visit from Santa and a gift. After the party the kids went to Grandma and Grandpa's while we went shopping. I typically start the day feeling as though I have lots of time and then end up cramming the last hours full of hustling around trying to get my shopping done, which we didn't. I guess we will be doing some online shopping this week.

The Decisions Been Made

2007-11-27T21:42:00.000-06:00

It has been a stressful week with trying to make a decision about going back to work. I left it until an hour and a half before my deadline and then forwarded the decision of the hour. So it is official - I'm a stay at home mom (well that and a business owner, LOL). It was a tough decision to make but in the end realized there is no way I could regret staying at home with my children.

We started our Christmas shopping on Saturday, after two photo shoots that morning. The kids spent 2 hours in Toys R Us looking at all the toys and showing one another what they wanted. S and T both bought for one another and of course then wanted to open them. They still haven't spilled the beans!

We managed to get a picture with Santa. S was not too pumped about sitting on Santa's lap so the picture is a true representation, which is great.

Here is a picture from one of the photo shoots. We will post more at a later date.

First Skate

2007-11-19T10:04:00.000-06:00

We took the 2 oldest out for their first skate of the year yesterday. It was actually T's first time on skates. I was amazed how well she did! A little hockey player in the making ;) They both skated on their own for a little while and as soon as S finds his confidence he will be off! It is so much fun watching them learn new things.

We celebrated 2 years of Rhubarb Roots this past weekend at the store with a crop on Friday and Saturday. It was a lot of fun...getting together with friends, meeting new people, eating and of course scrapbooking. I got a start on a calendar and am really enjoying the size of it (15 x 7) - it is the scalloped calendar by Making Memories.

The Family Grows

2007-11-13T22:21:00.000-06:00

S and T are the proud owners of pet fish. They are so lucky to have such a thoughtful friend who brings them gifts (and asks their parents first ;) ). They asked several times what the water on the counter was for and found out shortly after lunch. It was so much fun seeing their response.

They have been very responsible pet owners so far. T was so sad when she had to leave her fish at home to go grocery shopping, there were quite a few tears. She is trying so hard not to cuddle her fish (an affectionate girl that one). They both were giving the fish kisses through the bowl.

It was a day of tea parties, play and a little cleaning. Such a great day...but here is a little glimpse of a not so great day (the Friday of the online crop). A time out turned bad...he felt it was necessary to write what he was thinking on the walls with a dry erase marker.

R finally has her first tooth and has started taking steps holding onto furniture. She is still INCREDIBLY woobly but I see those baby days running away on me (literally). It won't be long until I am chasing her around and helping her wipe the marker off the walls.

A full nights sleep!

2007-11-12T20:35:00.000-06:00

I can fairly safely say that we are through the bumps of the middle of the night wakings. R has slept through 7 nights straight from 7:30 until at least 7:30 the next morning. Wow, what a difference this has made on my outlook. And all it took was 2 nights of holding her instead of feeding her, guess she decided my cuddles were not enough to wake up for. :( Honestly, I may actually miss getting up with her...I really wasn't in much of a hurry to put an end to those midnight cuddles(knowing all along she MAY - yes I said may Dad - be my last baby), but I know it will be better for my sanity and overall health to get a full nights sleep.

I am busy this week planning the 2nd anniversary celebration of Rhubarb Roots. What a difference 2 years and an insane amount of work has made! Be sure to stop in the store this Thursday, Friday and Saturday to take advantage of the sales! Here is a little teaser...think American Crafts.

I think my camera has gone into hiding...I'm going to need to dust it off and take some pictures of the kids...because what am I going to scrapbook in 3 years from now when I am finally caught up? We will be doing a little photo shoot for a friend in the next week or so and I'm really looking forward to that!

On my way to enter the boxes of inventory sitting at my feet. Be sure to check out the what's new section on the site!

Lest We Forget

2007-11-11T21:18:00.000-06:00

Thank you to my grandfathers, great uncles and all of the other men and women who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we are blessed with today! You are all in my thoughts.

Scrapping Itch!

2007-11-05T14:19:00.000-06:00

I was really hoping to get more accomplished this weekend at the online crop. I did get a little mini album finished and a couple of layouts. I was hugely inspired by all of the fantastic layouts that were posted in the gallery and have the itch...now just to find the time amongst the mess (the remnants of a weekend on the computer and scrapping). Here is one of the layouts I managed to complete this weekend (I actually have since added more rub-ons and rhinestones but you get the idea).

I have a class at the store tonight and then will be getting together with highschool girlfriends. I am REALLY looking forward to that. It has been far too long. And this facebook thing - I'm so excited with reconnecting with some old (what I thought were lost) relationships. Yay, for friends!!

Trick Or Treat

2007-11-01T09:33:00.000-05:00

According to the kids this Halloween was the BEST Halloween ever! :) We started off in a bit of a rush so I didn't really get any good pictures. One of Spencer's friends came over to join us for some Trick or Treating (it was nice to have some adult company). Preston and Reece (the little pumpkin) stayed home to hand out candy!

The day really dragged out for Spencer. He was waiting so patiently for the evening to come that he even went to his bed for a rest thinking if he went to sleep the time would pass quicker.

2007-10-29T10:34:00.000-05:00

The Little Things...

What a great weekend. Just a bunch of little things that contributed to all the fun! First was the Book about Me club at the store on Friday, Saturday Spencer insisted it was time to remove his training wheels - so Dad did and viola he was off! Tyra got to spend the afternoon with grandma and Spencer and Preston went on several mini bike rides because Spencer could not get enough! Later that afternoon one of Spencer's friends showed up on his own to ask him to come over to play. The cutest thing...he arrived in his very own jeep! :)
Sunday was take out Chinese with friends and pumpkin carving! Spencer was so excited to ride his bike to school today that he was ready and waiting in the garage 15 minutes before we actually needed to leave! I'm hoping the novelty of no training wheels does not wear off too quickly. He mentioned during breakfast at how surprised his crosswalk teacher would be and secretly I was thinking hmm...I wonder if she will notice. But sure enough we arrived at the crosswalk and she noticed and commented! It's those little things that make me smile and happy to be in a community where people are interested in who you are! Thank you to our crosswalk teacher! :)

All About Me...

2007-10-26T16:02:00.000-05:00

Well generally not...but our last club day is tonight. I'm looking forward to seeing everyones' creations. The store is keeping me beyond busy with a lot of great events, new product and at the same time I am faced with a decision about the conclusion of my maternity leave (two months to go). I would really appreciate it if someone could look into the future and tell me what decision I made, I am finding the process far too stressful! But for now I will head on over to the store and enjoy pizza and angel food cake (with strawberries) to celebrate the end of a successful event.

Our Spiders have eyes!

2007-10-23T22:01:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure who Spencer gets his "I have all the time in the world gene," but I know it is not from me...this kid forgets to eat his breakfast when it is right in front of him. So our mornings are stressful trying to get out of the house on time for school. The bell rang before we were off our yard this morning and he hardly batted an eye. If that had happened to me way back when I was 5 I would have been running all the way to school, but not Spencer...I'm having to learn a new level of patience and understanding that this is just who he is. BUT if anyone has any advice to get the fire burning under his butt please pass it my way.

We spent the afternoon doing crafts. The infamous Alphabet hour and then putting eyes on the spiders Preston had started with them. They also spent a good amount of time counting their money to see if they had enough to fly to England. :)

I had my second hockey practice tonight...legs are a little tired. It was tough to keep motivated tonight considering I'm starting with a cold. Have some inventory numbers to adjust and then I am done with inventory. HOORAY!!!

Arachnids Unite

2007-10-21T21:43:00.000-05:00

...on our kitchen table! What a great, relaxing day!

I'm sure enjoying Preston's computer being out of commission. He has not been able to do any of his extracurricular computer assignments which has meant earlier bedtimes for him and sleeping in for me :). He got the kids going on a craft today (making spiders - they are still missing their eyes) for his Halloween decorating plans. Something about a spider den in the garage...not sure we really need to make the spiders I'm sure there are enough live ones!

We also got a little yard work done, but needed to stop to play - so there are piles of leaves throughout our yard. Hopefully they won't blow away before we get around to picking them up!

I counted some inventory at the store tonight, I just couldn't go the whole weekend without throwing in a little work but now it is movie night. We will see what Preston's pick is like "The Astronaut Farmer." He was trying to chose a movie we'd both like and those usually bomb but I'm going into it with an open mind.

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

2007-10-20T21:23:00.000-05:00

It has been over a month since I started this blog and this is my first post! I'll give it a shot and see if I can keep it up!

The day was filled up by a spontaneous day to the city to do a little shopping. We were on a time crunch to get home so my shopping was cut short. Likely a good thing considering I purchased four things in the first store I went in.

Tonight I will create. I really should be counting inventory at Rhubarb Roots but...I'm being selfish and my free time this weekend is for me. I'm looking forward to working with the November kit - now to search through my stack of pictures awaiting me and find some fall themed photos to go with the kit.