What we've been up to

It's been an awfully long time since my last post, and while I have a few ideas for some more meaningful posts brewing, a simple post will have to due for today.

Here's what we've been up to:

*I braved fabricland with the three kiddos.  They had some incredible deals on this past week, culminating to a 50% off the whole store on thurs, fri and sat.  I've been eyeing up some fabric to make some drapes (for when I get the courage up to make-over our bedroom) so it was a perfect time to pick up the fabric. And the three kiddos did amazing in the store (with lots of mum mums and the ipod).

Here is a little sneak peak of

Long Weekends

We always enjoy long weekends over here.  Although Dale works in retail, and the hustle and bustle of the store on the days leading into the holiday can be exhausting, we welcome the extra day off as reward.

When these bonus days roll around, I find myself wanting to maximize every moment.  We should do this, finish this project, spend family time, take a nap, try that new recipe and relax with a movie at night.  While we did accomplish a lot of that, we certainly weren't able to cram it into one day, it slowly unfolded over the course of the weekend.  Though in my mind it seemed like it could all have been completed in a day.  Best laid plans...when will I learn that life with three babes can always throw you for a loop, tossing curve balls coming from directions that you hadn't anticipated, and yet, there in lies the beauty. In the unexpected.

This weekend, though not as planned, was full of lots of excitement.

*Visits with family, oh how I love them. Dale's mom is my other mama, always has been since Dale and I began.  Soft smile and warm hugs, she just makes my heart happy.

* Time out with friends sans babies.  Thanks to the brave girls who watched, yes, all six children.

I was just a little excited.

* Morning snuggles.  Averie has taken to wrapping her finger around the top of her nose when sucking her thumb.  I call it the hook. So cute.

* Afternoon walks and pursuit of forest squirrels.  The simple amazement of a child in the everyday never ceases to stop me in my tracks, and make me smile.  It reminds me to appreciate the little things that much more, because when you really look, there is so much to seize and admire.

* Mini photo shoot.  Look at him workin with the camera, he's a natural.

* Play time with Grandma.  I love catching the sweet times between them.  A lot of times, I just love to watch.  Then she will catch me, flash a mama smile that says "I know, I love moments like these too".
Dale was working the late closing shift, so I rented a chick flic for the gals.  We snuggled those babes into bed and the comfy couches welcomed our tired bodies for a moment of rest.  It wasn't a sleepover night, but equally as enjoyable.

* Welcoming strong, warm sunshine through window panes.  I couldn't help but think of this verse:

..."his face was shining like the sun in full strength" Revelation 1:16

We spent Friday morning mourning Jesus' death. His sacrifice for our sins, for yours, for mine.  Ah, but the celebration that took place on sunday, of the victory that he had over the cross and death, that is where the true power is.  And I imagine his mighty face shining brightly as pictured below when he showed up to the disciples, triumphant over the cross, death and the grave.  This is truly what the weekend was all about.

* Warm home cooked meals.  Cause you know there aint nothin like mama's cookin.

* The thrill of the hunt.  Sharing this new tradition with the little man, was perhaps just as exciting for us as it was for him.

* Afternoon book reading and snuggles.  Father/son moments, they just melt my heart.

* Taking on a new project.  While I did have tonnes of other lofty crafty plans for the weekend, I did at least manage to complete one. Check out this new fabric cuff bracelet. I've been dreaming it up for a while and i'm sure there will be lots more styles to come.  I'd love to hear feedback about it!

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.

***

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.

Date Night

Cue romantic music.  Sun setting in the background. Snowflakes falling softly on my cheeks.

 Isn't that the way date nights used to feel? Sometimes, I would spend a few hours getting ready, curling hair, skilfully applying make-up, picking the perfect outfit, changing, picking another outfit and repeat until it was just right.  Don't get me wrong, it's not that I go out in my everyday long sleeve shirt, squash jeans, wearing eau de spit up.  I still put effort into what I'm going to wear, make-up ect.  I'm just able to do it in a fraction of the time. Date nights aren't what they used to be, that's for sure, but they are much more now.  When the drought of date night has passed for oh, about a month or two, let's just say this mama is thirsty for the taste of freedom with her man....somethin' fierce.


But these are the true protagonists,  heros of the hour.  Cue war music.  Anticipating the worst, but hoping for the best, Grandma and Aunt Heather trek out into the wildness that has become the Chapman household.  Armed with boxes of raisins, packages of mum mums, lots of grace  and a nap under their belt, they come prepared for battle.  These women of valor have years of training.

We slip out of the house.  It seems so strange to leave with hardly anything in hand.  We headed over to the theatre for an early show, We Bought A Zoo.  Excellent movie, thoroughly enjoyed it, and not only because we got to watch the whole thing completely uninterrupted.

Next stop, dinner.  I had a hankering for a good burger, and there is one place in town that is sure to deliver.

 There some seriously delicious burgers there that do not disappoint.

Take a look at this baby.  I had to pull my hair back before I sunk my teeth into this beauty.

 We didn't want the night to end.  Time is savored, stretched, seized.
Alas, our evening came to an end and reality beckoned us home. Back to the three babes, dust bunnies and laundry baskets.





































Back at the homestead, the women of valour fought valiantly.  In fact, so well that we came home to find all three kids in bed, soundly sleeping.  Thank you both for an incredible evening away from the demands of everyday life.  Refreshed and renewed, we enter back into the battlefield.