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.

Transformation: From drab to fab

A little while ago I was asked to come take a look at the facility for one of our local churches.  The Barrie Gospel Hall is currently temporarily renting a facility, and it needed a little help to soften the look of the space.  As you can see below, the back wall of the facility is a harsh looking metal wall with brown studs with a garage and exit door.  Needless to say, it is a bit of an eye sore when you walk into the building, so they decided that draping may be a good option for sprucing up the space.

Thanks to my 10 years of event decor experience and the knowledge of some handy men, we were able to quickly devise a plan as

Kempenfest Review

I'm still trying to catch my breath after the busyness of the past few weeks.  While I had great intentions of writing a post on Tuesday to review our time at Kempenfest, the calls of motherhood and wifehood were calling, well more like screaming.  There was so much that needed to be caught up on, so the post needed to wait.  

Angie and I had an incredible first year at Kempenfest.  We made lots of great memories, and met some wonderful people from our local area.  Here are a few shots of the set up time, and tent set up. Enjoy!

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Busy Blessed Weekend

I mentioned on Friday, that I was heading out for a ladies retreat...and oh what a sweet retreat it was.  The parents of one of the ladies in our group graciously offered up their stunning home in the woods for us to enjoy for the night.  I got lost a few times on the way down, but I think it was mostly due to the distraction of the crazy loud music that I had blaring in the car.  To be honest, I didn't mind getting lost.  It didn't really matter where I was driving, I was a free momma for the night!  

Friday Photo Post- Friendship

I enjoyed a visit from a high school friend this week.  It was great to catch up, and hang out.  It's amazing how times change and we went from hanging out in my bedroom listening to Brandy, talking about boys trying on mom's old clothes, spreading face masks and being goofs to talking about babies, swapping birth stories, wiping bums, listening to little boys play and the changes that motherhood brings on.  I can't tell you how many remember when...moments we had, and it was so fun when we.. conversations.

Enjoying the weekend

If there is one thing I like about this summer heat, it's spending time outside.  Don't get me wrong one of the things I love about Ontario, is our four beautiful seasons, each of them coming with their own advantages/disadvantages.  But when it comes to my fav seasons ..summer baby, oh yeah.  Beach, beach and more beach.

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!