gone but not forgotten...

Yikes, it's been too long.

With an on the go toddler and a million other things going on in this house blogging has become nonexistant.

I miss it

I think I put too much pressure on myself to be writing over here and took the fun out of it which is upsetting because I did do like to write, I have a silly amount of children's stories sitting in a folder waiting for me to do something with them, like delete or send to a publisher...

Pictures are taking forever to upload too though I'm getting a new tablet in a couple of weeks so maybe I will be able to upload faster and make this blogging a lot more fun.

stay tuned...I will be back!

over-scheduling and under-scheduling and sanity!

There are many big debates over the scheduling of kids, over-scheduled, under-scheduled and just plain scheduled. This is one of those times where I said 'oh I never would' and yet here I am looking at our summer schedule going woah.

Step back a moment and since K turned 3 and I became a SAHM I have had the forever question of 'is she in preschool', like I'm some crazy lady for not putting her in...erm the whole point of staying home was to stay home with my kiddos, not stay home so I could send them elsewhere. I mean if you work, they have to go, but if you're home I'd feel weird sending my kid to school when they don't have to go.

But a 3 yr old has a lot of energy and being home with a baby brother and an OCD mother can't always been fun right? So we looked at different options, we did dance for a little while, library time, MOPS, Awana and various playdates but *I* felt totally over booked and living where we were at the time it was a long drive to all these activities! When we moved we stopped everything for about 2 months and just spent time at home, it was nice for a break.

Now we're back to doing stuff! We started with church playdates which are every other Friday at various places (parks, indoor play areas, etc) that lead to joining music classes on Thursday mornings for both kids which is a great time and they both love it.
Now that summer is here we've just finished a week at VBS (vacation bible school) for Kaitlyn from 9:30-noon which to be honest was pretty awesome for me, we dropped her off and came home for B to nap and me to clean up without a tornado following behind me. My house was clean for a good 3 hrs a day.
Next week K's starting gymnastics on Mondays for 8 weeks
Thursdays are music for both kids for another 4 weeks
July 5th K is doing swim lessons everyday for 2 weeks
Then we're likely going to the beach in Florida to meet up with some friend from Denver for a long weekend.
K's 4th birthday party is the end of July.
Then it's Boston for a long weekend.

And summer's over

So maybe a bit of over-scheduling going on...but K's excited and my little social butterfly (who swims up behind kids in the pool taps them on the shoulder and says hi my names Kaitlyn want to play) will have a BLAST!

Happy Weekend!

The differences

When I first found out I was having a boy I was excited, partly because my husband was over the moon and partly because it was better than being anxious about having a boy! I mean I'm a girl, I have two sisters, my daughter is (obviously) a girl...I didn't know boys.

When he was placed in my arms, all the anxious feelings disappeared and he was my sweet little boy! In many ways he is still so sweet and kind hearted...he is however ALL boy!  He is destructive, loud, busy, silly, messy and rough.

My house is never clean anymore, which if you really know me is difficult for me to handle.

K is not this way. Case in point right now she is happily playing in the playroom with her dolls by herself.  She's contained and fairly quiet.

My little man does not do this, he pulls everything off the shelves, throws stuff around, pulls things out, leaves stuff everywhere and does not play alone! Currently his favourite activity is playing with the glass doors on the fireplace and putting random things in the fireplace. I mean really? Oh he also loves to climb and bang his head against the wall.

In our last house, in Denver, we had barely any child proofing...a simple elastic band around the chemicals kept K out, a foam pad on the fireplace just in case and the essential outlet covers....she never messed with anything.
In this house we have outlet covers, all chemicals in the top cupboard, baby gates everywhere, doors must be closed to rooms, etc. B gets into EVERYTHING!

Amazing how different they are and also how much of the same characteristics they have, just now they are starting to play together and while K is still pretty rough with her baby brother it's sweet to see their interaction. And I will take as many pictures as possible to torture them with when they are older and fighting like cats and dogs.

So much for planning...

I had this great idea I'd post all the time and be this awesome blogger that everyone would want to read...yeah last post was over a month ago. Reality kicked in and I have two kids, one high energy and one quieter and into the cuddling.
Here are some updates on us and a potentially broken promise that I'll be back more often than not...

My shaggy little almost one year old was in dire need of a new haircut, a friend reccomended Pigtails and Crewcuts. Tucked away in a small strip mall about 20 mins from our house we found the shop, it's a franchise and this one was awesome. The ladies whisked the kids right away into their car off choice and started cutting...B was none to thrilled with the thought of scissors near his ears but we walked away unscathed and a pretty even big boy do.

New do and helping mama with the housework...since apparently I don't do a great job, B makes sure to re-do it :P Love this sweet kid of mine and wondering how long he'll enjoy pushing a vaccum around!

 He loves to climb. He loves to climb. He loves to climb. Everytime I turn around he's figured out how to get onto something else...fireplace - check, coffee table - check, big sisters art desk - double check, couch -working on it!

Easter weekend was awesome. My mother-in-law came in on Friday late afternoon and hung out with us through Wednesday. Saturday we checked out a local church festival and K had a BLAST at the egg hunt, took her a minute to catch onto the concept and then it was game on. She even managed to help out baby brother with a few of his own, though my little man did manage to grab two on his own.

Easter morning the bunny had paid our house a visit and the kids happily gathered up eggs. B found a couple and then was more interested in opening his stash to see what was on the inside.

 Grandma bought a Tangled, it's a new favourite.

 It is awfuly painful to get a family photo were we all look decent...this was attempt 3 or 4 I believe and about the best of the bunch.

Been slowly working on my camera skills and attempting to get better, and was recently added to a photographing mamas group which gave me a nice little ego boost and I didn't think I was 'cool' enough to dip my toes in that water. One of the questions was what is our goal as a photographer in the next year...think it would have to be simply to get better. I'd love to be able to sell my prints and have people interested in what I capture...but that may be a long term goal when I have more time to play and shoot and not have my attention called in other directions. 

My little man turns one on Saturday...we're in preparation for his day. I'm faced with lots of bittersweet emotions. For now it's semi-denial :D

Sickies!

Blake started with a snotty nose last week, that ran like a faucet. That night I heard the horrible, deep barking that gives the tell tale sign of croup settling in...my boy had the sickies!

He wanted nothing but mama's lap or shoulder and lots and lots of cuddles. I would wake up in the middle of the night his little body as close as it could get to mine with deep breathes fighting off the sickies. We were going to try out a music class but decided with that deep barky cough we'd be better off at home. No fever and my boy fought it well, still has a big of a runny nose and some junk in the chest but he's a trooper...Daddy could take some lessons!

With Summer right around the corner the weather was kind to us the last few days and the little red line on the thermometor travelled past 80 last week bringing lots of outdoor time and sunshine full of vitamin D to help fight off those icky sickies.

We have a large lot with plenty of room to run and play and it's being put to good use, both the back and front yard! We love to people watch out front and most neighbors slow down to wave or check out the silly littles in the front yard being followed around with the crazy camera lady.

 I love the flowers in the neighborhood...I would say our yard but this bush is just over the property line, thank goodness for zoom lens right? Pollen is everywhere making my poor husband sniffle and snuffle and me ever so grateful to have avoided allergies. I drug the garbage can out yesterday and instead of the brown lid I was faced with a yellow speckled one! I like the windows and doors open with fans running and will avoid the air conditioner as long as the humidity will allow...but if that's whats on the garbage can outside I may have to re-think open doors and windows for fear of what will float indoors!

The better part of the spring is the thunderstorms, just when the heat gets to be a bit much and I start to think 'man it's going to be a hot summer' God prevails and the skies open! I love me a good thunderstorm, sheets of lightening and the clash of thunder so loud the house shakes and the kids move closer wide eyed and curious at the sounds mother nature brings!

Sometimes so loud we hide under the couch...well not really, a discarded toy under the couch caught his eye, and he went in after it only to realize the space was quite small and his arms not quite capable of getting him back out. Of course mama needed a picture of the sillies before coming to his rescue!

 

Indoors and out we are taking advantage of what the weather brings and having fun! Sickies are gone and we hope they never invite themselves back.

The big hand and the little hand

Eating breakfast last week Kaitlyn suddenly looked at the clock, our awesome $5 gold clock that hangs nicely on the kitchen wall and has survived moving 3 states, and said 'Mum it's 8 o'clock, that ones pointing to the 8'.

I explained the hands, little hand and big hand and we talked about the hours and minutes in our day...now everytime we sit at the table she will tell me what time it is, or at least give a very good guess.

"The little hand is pointing to the 6 and the big hand is pointing to the 4 so that means it's 6 o'clock"

I then correct and explain that it's 20 past 6 or 6:20.

Pretty good for a 3 and a half year old, right?

I want to encourage this, so last weekend we found a very cool electronic clock at the consignment sale, the tag said for ages 5 and up...but we're ignoring that since it seems my girl is ready.

Makes me think of all the things she's going to be ready for...starts off small with telling the time and tying shoes, to riding a bike with no trainig wheels to riding the school bus and eventually ready to drive a car and leave for college.

 Pre-K starts in August and she is ready, to get out of our neighborhood we pass the local elementary school and every time we do I hear "Mum I want to go to big school, am I 4 yet" and I answer "no hunny little bit longer and you can go" while screaming on the inside, NOOOOOO it's coming too fast! :( I know she'll love it, I know it's what she needs and my little smarty pants and social butterfly will have the time of her life. But doesn't make the heart break any softer.

That big hand and little hand seem to move awful fast these days!

Happy Friday!

Have YOU looked in the mirror lately?

Being in a group of women from all walks of life with all kinds of backgrounds, presents and futures drama often arises.

The mixed words from one conversation to another.

The confusion of what one types and what one means.

The interrperated tone of a message.

The cliques.

It's almost like being in high school again, the need to be seen a certain way, wanting to fit in with the cool girls.

clearly a cool girl-I asked her to find a bow to wear and she did, in every colour that perfectly matched her dress!



It's hard not to get into the middle of it and a year ago I would have been front and center, but these days

I'm biting my tongue and staying away. I think of all the things I could say and the digs I could take but keep them in my head where they belong. Cause really what good is it going to do? I mean besides that little dip given to someones ego and a temporary boost to yours...

I look in the mirror these days and I'm good with what I see. I know who I am and it's a happy place to be! Do you? Are you good in your skin? Do you let the bites take ahold of you and fester? Do they leave a small mark or mark another notch on the lesson learned journey?

Not for a second am I saying the bites don't sting, they sure do, but I'm brushing them off  these days, kissing my wounds good-bye!

Spring has sprung!

It's a whole new season to enjoy, summer is around the corner and lots of travel plans are in the works! Plus two little monkeys are turning a whole year older...hard to believe really.

Time when you want it slows seems to move so fast!

Still trying to figure out what to do for our youngest little one's 1st birthday!! Being  new to this community we haven't many friends yet, so I'm not quite sure what we'll do. Nan is talking of flying out for the day and as a tradtion started with baby #1 we must make a trip to the zoo on the actual day. I think we'll do a theme with cars since the littlest LOVES his cars and I will be attempting a cool cake. The day will be about him, whatever we decide to do.

Best way to get my littlest smiling and not grabbing the camera...behind glass! :P

K has been talking about her birthday for months now and everytime she seems something of interest on the T.V we must add it too the list of things she wants for her birthday. We've also been instructed to invite all her friends, have a yummy cake and party hats!

I think for her this year we'll do a butterfly or cupcake themed party complete with playdough station and water table and paddling pool...something with a birthday at the end of July I doubt she'll ever escape, unless of course we move to Australia and it's the middle of winter....

My big 2-8 is at the end of June and I'm looking forward to it! I love birthdays, mine especially :) And this year will be extra special as my bestie is coming down from TN and we're meeting up another friend and her friend in Atlanta to see NKOTB and BSB!! And I've already decided we'll be doing sushi beforehand, since it's my favourite but never get to eat it with the kids and a hubby who isn't that interested in the stuff! I'm hoping for a yummy ice cream cake and celebratory dinner at home the weekend before...hint, hint, hint...not that he reads this but maybe putting it in the universe the request will be answered!

Spring cleaning has begun and last night with the help of my awesome hubby I de-cluttered all the baby stuff we've outgrown and don't use! Church consignment sale starts this Thursday and I hope it's a great success. We'll probably donate most of the stuff we don't actually sell, it's nice to make way for I'm sure all the new stuff coming in the next few months. 

I'm loving our daffodils in the front yard and the teasing hint of summer with 75 degree days...mixed in with rain and reminders that it's still March and while I pine for hot days and the smell of sunscreen and chlorine I do love that smell of rain and watching the droplets fall. Spring and Summer bring it!

Happy Monday!