Remembering when, with family

Sun sets on the horizon, and I settle my brain down in the home that I was raised, with my babes sleeping soundly in the next room.  It's a comforting feeling being back in the home that I spent so much time in and grew up in.  It fits like a well worn slipper, with all the grooves marked out inside for your individual toes.  The stairs creak in the same spots that they used to, and I instinctively avoid the areas that I know cause the most noise.  I could climb those stairs in my sleep.  Oh, the memories built around a simple set of plain oak wood stairs.  First days of high school, coming home from long work shifts, university, dates, weddings, pregnancy and carrying new born babes in arms...if those stairs could talk...They could tell a lot of stories. And, we make new ones everyday.

Quickie Friday Photo Post {GIVEAWAY}

The kiddos are all sleeping which is a rare occasion in this house, so this will be a quicky.  Yesterday was one of 'those' days.  You know the ones? When you're still nuking your 1 o'clock coffee at 4 o'clock, wondering why on earth they ever made sleepers with buttons (they should only be made with zippers),  all you would like is just a 5 minute nap on the couch, when you don't want to see another poopy diaper or clean the disaster of toys one more time.  Honestly, sometimes it's easy to say that the sight of those sweet faces just melt your heart, make everything worth it ect, but yesterday was not that day.  Sometimes all you want is to see a new face, or no faces at all, and perhaps just a sunset, book and beach.

Ordinary & Extraordinary {Giveaway}

We enjoyed a family vacation shared with close friends last week.  While the drive up (and down) and life in a cottage with two other families, including three more children was at times exhausting, the memories that were made, were well worth the work.

Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, It's back work I go.

Yes, the day has come, the dreaded time to head back to work.  I have to say, I was avoiding thinking about it as long as possible, but yes, the inevitable moment came, and until the sewing picks up a bit more, this is where we are at.  I'm back at Rachel A Clingen Wedding Design and Eventure Custom Environments.  It fits like an old comfortable shoe, because it was my position of ten years at one point.  I have the blessing of slipping back into a flexible position, working when Dale is off, and when we can co-ordinate childcare with my mom.  Because honestly, by the time you pay childcare for three kiddos, there is not much point in working.  I'm so thankful that I can lean on my mother in times like these, and it's also given Dale a great opportunity to bond with the babes.  When I know they are with their daddy or grandma it makes leaving them a little easier, knowing that they are in familiar hands.  I've also had to do the whole childcare thing, when I went back to work after Levi was born, so I understand that side of the coin too.  I'm taking a deep breath, heart a little heavy, a little torn, and stepping out in God's strength.  Cause Lord knows I can't do it on my own.  

What does that verse say?...

 " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" 

Philippians 4:13.  

Right, all things.  Not some things, or certain things, all...period. 

Honestly, I'm still feeling quite scattered right now.  There are so many hats that you seem to wear as a mom, and now adding on the work hat, stretches things a little more. There are some days that I have enjoyed being back at work, having a break from the everyday, and others where for whatever reason I'm just longing to be home with my babes. Those are the days when I come home, and their cheeks seem a little fuller, their shoulders a little taller, feet a little bigger and fingers a little longer. The days when they seem to have grown a few months older, all in one day, and I feel like I've missed out on so much. There are also the days when they are not overly excited to see me when I get home, which is a good and a bad thing for me. Good because it means they've had such a great day that they haven't even noticed I was gone. Bad (for me) because they didn't need me. But, I suppose that is a whole other lesson in itself. So I'm taking in this stage, good and bad, working on trusting Him more, because He holds all these plans in His hands...and He does know best.  How to grow me, shape me, and change me.

Being back to work certainly does make me appreciate the days home with my babes.  Yesterday, we enjoyed some time at the beach with some friends.  Boy, it sure is work in itself, packing up for the beach, but the reward was just so sweet.  Time off with them, feels like more of a luxury now, a vacation in itself.

Later yesterday evening, I enjoyed a dinner out with a friend.  It was a night filled with great food, fun conversation capped off with a waterfront walk with ice creams in hand. What more could a girl want!?

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I'm excited to show you the most recent sewing table project, and ipad bag!  This was made up with some fabric that I picked up in the states. Check it out here for more details!

A Day at the Detroit Zoo

Believe it or not, we haven't managed to make it out to the zoo with out kiddos yet, until The Chapman Family Special Trip (CFST).  We were well intentioned last summer, but frankly the thought of going out with a toddler and two newborns just stressed me right out.  I probably should have thrown caution to the wind and just gone anyway, but alas, well, I didn't have the guts I guess.  So we made up for it this summer,  and hit up the Detroit Zoo during our CFST.  We put the kids through enough shopping the day before at the Great Lakes Crossing Outlet  and decided to have an outing just for them.  Although, it turned out to be just as much for us as it was for them.

Loaded up with snacks and sippy cups we mapped out our plan of attack.  You know those people that stand at the front, seemingly waiting to pounce on you, and try to sell you something?  Well, these ones are friendly, and they aren't trying to sell you anything, just help you out.  Go to the people with the maps, they will show you the way.  The people trying to sell you things are sneaky, and set in a little farther.  We came around the corner from the friendly map lady to find a barrage of people standing in an attack line with cameras in hand.  I see them in the distance, eyeing us up, preparing to pounce.  The hilarious part was hearing them discuss about whether we were potential candidates for their services.
Camera Person 1: "I don't think so, they have a camera"
Camera Person 2: "You never know, just ask anyway"
Umm, yah... we were right there, listening in on the conversation as we approached.  We get closer and one of them bounces into action, leaping into our path.  "Welcome to the Detroit Zoo, would you like your picture taken?!" She says excitedly, opposite to the questionable tone of voice we just heard.
me: "No thank you."
So, don't get me wrong, I totally understand that this is a tough job, and you always need to ask anyway, even if you don't think we are going to go for it. But maybe next time, think up a code language for your pre-customer conversation.  Pull your ear, tap your head, rub your belly or stomp your foot, just try not to talk about us as we are walking within ear shot of you.  Don't worry, you will fit right in at the zoo.  People will just think you are doing a territorial animal dance.

It was quite the hot day day so we were glad to find watering holes all over the zoo.  A little mist station to cool off and water fountain to grab a drink.  Levi absolutely lit up each time we saw one, which meant we needed to run through the mist every time we saw one.  I didn't mind, cause I actually wanted to give into my inner kid, and run through it yelling like a little girl.  Hey, we were at the zoo for Pete's sake, let loose!

I love experiencing all the new things with my kids.  One of the many joys of being a parent.  Watching his amazement at God's creation.  I remind him of  where all of these beautiful creatures come from, how they are each wonderfully and especially created by God.

Okay, so I had a bad parenting moment.  There were signs everywhere, saying to stay of the fences, including the rope one pictured above.  I was having one of those - We're on vacation, let the kid climb the fence!- kind of day so I let the him climb on the fence.  Then, as you guessed it, it fell.  Screams and cries following the fall, I scooped him up, comforted and kissed.  While doing so I hear a group of two mamas in the background...
Mama 1 says to her kiddo: " See, that's why I told you to stay off the fence, so you don't fall like that little boy."
Mamma 2 " Yes, see, you don't want to get hurt like that. See, he is crying"
I get the whole- use my kid as an example of what not to do thing- but again, not within ear shot ladies.  Let it be noted that Levi continued to climb the fences for the rest of the day, just a little more cautiously.

The Outback Adventure, was not so much of an adventure, but a side walk stroll with Kangaroos resting and snoozing under trees. I have heard it's not great to go to the zoo during the heat of the day, the animals are too hot and tired. I had a mind to break the rules, get up to one real close and disobey the rule to stay on the path...but y'all know what happens when you don't obey the signs...you get scolded from another mama.  It probably would have sounded something like this " See, that's why she got attacked by the kangaroo, because she didn't stay on the path."...I had enough of that for one day....I stayed on the path.

If you check out this underground viewing pod, be sure to locate the nearest mist station before hand.  Cause if you go on a hot day, it's a sauna in there, and your going to need it after.  Plus you have to fight your way through countless kiddos, pull out your mama "let him have a turn" voice and scamper up a 4' opening.

We really enjoyed the break from the sun in the air-conditioned underground aquarium.  Levi was amazed to see the polar bears and seals swimming around us.

All in all, we really enjoyed our trip to the Detroit Zoo, photographers and other mamas included.  If you decide to go some day, bring lots of snacks and water, and be prepared for a day of fun!

Stayed tuned for a final post on the CFST tomorrow, and a sneak peak of the fabrics I purchased!

Birthdays

I have to admit that I've never really been much of a birthday person.  I've just thought of it as another year gone by, maybe have a little b-day celebration, but nothing fancy.  Even when Levi turned one, for whatever reason I didn't really play it up very much.  After all, he wasn't really going to notice if we did anything or not.  I had to work that day, and was pooped when I got home.  Okay this is going to make me sound like a terrible mother, but I think my sister in law, Lindsey, is the one who actually bought the cake and brought it over.  We sang a little Happy Birthday and that was that.  This year, birthdays have become a little more important to me.  It's been impressed on me, how quickly time goes by, with Levi turning three this year, and it's caused me to realize that the passing of each year deserves a little more celebrating!

Growing with baby cubes

As you know we are a DIY family.  We try a little of this and that here and there to save some money.  Sometimes it turns out well, other times not so great, but there is always a great reward in accomplishing things yourself, start to finish.  There is also great wisdom in hiring someone with experience to have it done professionally.  The trick is knowing when to draw the line.

Celebrations and Thanks

We celebrated a friends baby girls first birthday this weekend.  I just love birthdays, and not only because of the cake...

The first birthday is particularly special.  This means it's been a year since this woman entered into motherhood, welcomed the pain, endured labor knowing that a sweet reward laid around the corner. And how sweet she is.

Enjoy this time

Wow.  Can't believe it's been over a week since my last post.  I think I sat down three times in attempt to complete this post and between sick babies and prep for Bloom, I just haven't had the time until now.  Time has been literally flying by in this house lately.  It's quite amazing really how fast it does go.  I can't tell you how many times I have heard people say "Enjoy this time, it goes by too fast".  I have been thinking about that expression a lot lately.  It mainly came to my attention at a gas station of all places.  Dale was filling the tank, when a woman pulled up in the next lane.  Her beautiful face full of wrinkles and head adorned with silky grey locks.  I look at her, and envy for a moment, the ease of her circumstance.  I bet when she left the house, she didn't have to haul out two car seats, two babes, a toddler, diaper bag, extra underwear (umm...yah...for the toddler), mum mums, etc, etc, etc.

There will be a day perhaps, when I will enjoy her circumstance, her stage of life.  The ease of 'pick up & go', with nothing more than a simple purse with some essentials.  I often think about those days...it will be so nice when...I can't wait 'till...  Yes, it is exciting to dream about the days to come, when there will be more vacations perhaps, more time for just Dale and I, coffee dates with the girls, etc. but that being said, I do want to live in this moment.  Because I'm sure that older woman would tell me "enjoy this time, it goes by too fast".  And yet, I do struggle with that whole expression, thinking "well, she's not in it right now", or "yah, easy for her to say".  I guess that's where my completionist mentality comes into play.  That I need to enjoy the entirety of this time; every moment of every day. Yet, what I have realized is that it's not the case at all.  Each day will have it's enjoyable moments, and other moments not so much.  The whole idea of enjoying this time can be broken into enjoying each tiny moment like snuggles in the dark, or movie time with my boy, or walks in the park and dance parties in the living room.  Yet, I will not necessarily enjoy three crying kids at the same time, or food all over the floor for the sixth time, or washing and putting away the dishes for the umpteenth time.  There are many lessons to be learned in raising three under three during the hectic times, although I won't necessarily enjoy them.  So I will "enjoy this time", as much as I can, and one day, all wrinkle faced and grey haired, I'll look at someone in my circumstance and tell them "it goes by too fast!"

We enjoyed some sneak peaks of summer this week:

Levi ended up coming down with a weird bug causing him to be super sleepy, which is totally out of character for him.  You'd think I would have been able to get more done with him knocked out, but little man wanted lots of snuggles and I gladly obliged.

We're on the mend though...Kaela's face is healing well, and Levi's getting his normal energy back.

Saturday was a proud wife moment for me as I went to watch Dale participate in "History in the breaking" put on by over 300 Loblaws stores. They were attempting to break the record for the most wheels of parmigiano reggiano broken at the same time.  It takes some determination to cut through the thick rind of this 85 pound wheel of cheese, and I have to say that he did an incredible job.  

Oh, be still my heart, this is one good lookin' fella!  I loved watching him in his "professional" capacity, just made my knees shake.  I was thrilled to be able to taste the inside of the cheese.  Apparently, this was usually only served to kings.  I guess that makes me his queen...I know that's cheesy...ha even better.

Check out the news clip here. Scroll to around 11 mins to see Dale's first T.V debut.

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I'm getting very excited for the upcoming Bloom event.  To build on the excitement, the next post will be featuring all of the artisans that will be displaying their works this Saturday.  They have each prepared a little biography of themselves to give you a look into who they are and why they do what they do.  Look out for it on Thursday, as it will give you a better idea of what to expect at the open house.