Some Quick Updates

So, I haven't posted for quite a while for a few reasons.

This past month will go down in the history of my life as the craziest, most stressful month ever ( not including the first month after Eve and Chloe were born).

To start from the beginning we have three birthdays this month, Naomi on the 8 th and the girls on the 23rd.
Add to that, the girls turned eight which means being baptized in our church. So I decided I needed to make them special dresses, which I finished at midnight the night before. This is not a picture of said dresses because I haven't actually taken any pictures of them yet (see below).




We also went to a wedding in Saskatoon for a weekend. Before that though, we bought a new van because I was too scared to drive out of the city with our old one. I love love love our new one though. The wedding was nice and it was so great to see all our family out there.





Just a cute pice on the beautiful grounds at the reception. (Thanks Liz, I still haven't downloaded any pics yet).

On a less exciting and much more stressful note, Jeff has been having a lot of medical stuff going on the past few months and we have been in and out of doctors and specialists and emergency rooms. Two weeks ago they admitted him and finally did an MRI. Prognosis- multiple sclerosis. The next two days I was on the verge of tears constantly but just trying to keep it together for the sake of the girls and Jeff. After a while it started to sound ok in my mind and I guess saying "It's a good thing, because at least we know what it is we are fighting now" finally rang true with me. We have a good team and an awesome neurologist who said that Jeff has relapsing-remitting ms, which is the treatable kind. So off to see the nurses to learn about thousand dollar meds.




If you are interested to learn more go here .

To top off this most stressful and busy month we just bought a house!

Like just. The deal went through yesterday, and we get possession on the 16th of June. It was all so quick but the second house we looked at was just so perfect. We love it.
Here is the link to the house if you are interested in seeing it with someone else's furniture in it. I'm sure I will post my own pictures in a little while.



So I think that sums up our month in a very short very late post. Hopefully I will be able to star posting more regularly in August. Ha ha, I am not going to promise anything for the next month though because I now have to pack and move and fix up the new house , not to mention more appointments and all the kids at home!

Have a great long weekend and happy Canada Day!

The Zoo

A few pictures of the zoo. We went during spring break.  It was a perfect day, sunny and so warm for an Edmontonian spring day. I made the older girls little "Zoo Journals" out of paper and cardboard covered in pretty paper and attached a pen on a string. They were really into it for a little while and it kept the older two busy and not too bored.

 A teeny tiny frog.

 

Writing information about frogs.

A group picture, the only one that turned out semi-ok.



Love, love, love!

Happy Birthday Vienna!

So Vienna had her birthday more than a month ago, but better late than never. So without further ado here is her Tiana themed bithday.

I should say "very loosly based on" instead. I pretty much just used green as the theme.

Her usual picture taking face. Ha ha. Trying to show four fingers.

Yes there are only three candles, the middle one has a 4 on it.

I forgot to take a picture of them but in the background you can see the little party favors we made.
(I may add a picture of the guests but I haven't asked permission yet.)

Vienna
Some things about you right now:

Favorite Color: pink or green
Favorite Food: pepperoni pizza
You think you can keep up with your sisters and get so frustrated when fall behind.
You talk non-stop at home but are quiet as a mouse at school.
You love preschool and always ask if it is school day.
Sometimes you go upstairs in the afternoon for some self imposed quiet time while Naomi is sleeping.
You refuse to pray outloud, I just don't know why.
Best Friend: Annie at church and Elodie at school
Favorite thing to do: play on the iPad

Love you to pieces Sweet Pea!

Silver

Just a few pics of stuff from my silversmithing class. I love it so much I signed up for another session.

A bracelet for Jeff.

That is a cursive "J" in case you were wondering. (I didn't make the chain)

My very first project was a simple ring, but I think it is my favorite piece I have made so far.

I haven't been able to wear my wedding ring since I was pregnant with the girls 8 years ago, I know I should have just gotten it sized but I was convinced I would lose weight, anyway, I just made myself a new one. It is not nearly as fancy but it matches Jeff's perfectly.

I have made a bunch of other stuff but just haven't gotten around to taking pictures.


Have a great day!

Where did that come from???!!!!

The other day Vienna came up to me and said,

"You want a piece o' me, Mama?!"



I seriously wish I could somehow portray her inflection and demenor, so hilarious! I could not stop laughing, I kept trying to get her to say it again. I don't know where she got it from though.

Loooooooong Hair

The girls (Chloe and Eve) finally convinced me to straighten their hair.





This is a huge deal for me.  Not only because it takes a long time but because I have very strong feelings about natural hair. 

When they were much younger I didn't really know anything about taking care of hair like theirs and made quite a few mistakes. I started researching on line how to take care of mixed- ethnicity hair and the more I read the more I realised " I don't want my girls to be ashamed of or hate their hair!". There are such mixed feelings and controversy out there in the world and a lot of people think that "good hair" is straight hair. And I vehemently oppose that school of thought.

I feel like I have fought a hard fight and possibly a loosing battle with the world in defense of my beautiful girls and their beautiful hair.  I want them to love themselves no matter what they look like or dress like. And I want them to be loved for their gentle hearts and kind spirits, not what they look like or if they have the right hair.

If I could instill in them anything it would be to love their Father in Heaven, love others, and love themselves.  And so if they want straight hair "just once" I will give it to them, because I love them that much.

Just trying something new...

I have been trying to figure our how to post from my iPad so here goes trial number one.




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Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Bubbly Fun

Something we did over the Christmas holidays to pass the time. I made some bubble solution but it wasn't working very well, but the girls figured out how to make it work. They had so much fun, and made a big mess. Worth every giggling, squealing minute though.

Please excuse the mess.... (actually, why am I always excusing myself, this is my blog right?)

Homemade Birthday

This sweet girl here (my neice) just turned 5. She had a Fancy Nancy party.

 She loves all things frilly and twirly and purple.  I knew she wanted a pillow pet and started looking around for one. The cheapest I could find was still too expensive for my DIY tastes, so I sarted looking through my scraps. I searched "pillow pet tutorial" but didn't find much help there so I just kinda winged it.

It turned out so much cuter than I thought it would! I just kept staring at it and being amazed that I actually made something that cute.

I think she turned out a little Eyore-ish. If that's a word.

I think she loved it though.  Happy Birthday Ellie!



Sorry, please forgive the terrible picture quality.  I forgot to take pictures until after the party was over. By that time it was getting a little gloomy.

Curtains

At the very beginning of the school year, Vienna's preschool teacher asked me if I would make some curtains for their classroom.  Of course I said yes. It's like a disease, I physically can't say no to a sewing project. It took me three months to do however. It took a while just to find time to go to the fabric store.

So, without further ado, here is the before picture:

And here is the after:

And one more picture, just a closeup of the accent fabric:

And yes, I realise it is super wrinkly.  I honestly ironed those things forever and they just would not come out! AARRGGGG! From far away you can't tell as much.



Anyways, I finished them in December, it just took a while for me to post, as usual.

Have a great day!

Happy Birthday!

...to my dear husband.



(This summer, near Banff)



I have to say, I really lucked out with this one!   Well, it was more divine intervention than luck, I think. 



(A few years ago, I don't remember how many)

 This past nine years has been wonderful and crazy and scary and fun. But mostly fun. The months of December and January are always busy, first our anniversary on the 21 and then Christmas a few days later and new years. Then January 10th is my birthday and the 18th is his.

(When Vienna was new, almost 4 years ago)

So, My Love, Happy birthday and Anniversary and Christmas and New Years but mostly happy every day I am with you! I love you so much and want to thank you for everything you are and do.


And now the princesses want to add a special note:

I love you   sooooooooo    much !    Love  Eve

Happy birthday  Daddy!  I wouldn't be here without you.    Love Chloe