Fun with kids?

Photographer: Donna Griffith
Hair and make-up: Sandra Yang

Ok. So recently I shot the October issue Canadian Family Magazine. They are amazing there and it was great working with them again.  Surprise on set I got to see one of my favorite make-up artist Sandra Yang. So that was a lot of fun getting to catch up.

Last time I worked with them.

After my make-up was finished my first pretend child came in. She was a year old I think. Super cute, but really didn't like sitting next to me. Ya I was stressed considering I am the accessory in the shot and the main talent doesn't like me. I was actually sad because generally kids love me. Seriously. Either way it didn't work out she just screamed every time she got on set with me on our make believe bed. Poor thing I think I traumatized her, but totally not on purpose.

Next my second pretend child came in. A little timid, but I got to chatting with her she is about the same age as my little guy so I showed her a pic and she seemed to warm up to me. Super cute and full of energy she really made me miss my real kid. We had a blast and got the shot so things were good.

You would think its a piece of cake to work with kids. I am a mom. Kids tend to like me. No stress. Wrong. Still lots of fun, but super stressful nonetheless. It's more fun working with my own kids, but playing pretend is fun too.

Doing the pose thing with the mag

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Project Monday: Modern Kimono Dress

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So my love of asian fabric continues and this time it is one I used a pattern with. Only size modifications. My waist is really small compared to my hips so I always have to adjust patterns. I also made it a little longer than the pattern called for. This time around I was getting used to the slippery fabric and had a much easier time putting it together. I also did my first time attaching binding around the neckline and one sleeve since the other sleeve is just hemmed. I didn't make the belt because I had the perfect belt in mind to wear with it. Love the result even though part of my is thinking about taking it in a little more at the waist because of the way it gathers. Who knows maybe it will bother me enough to actually do it one day.

Side view

Sorry for the poor quality. Will have to take some new ones.

My daughter loved the dress and I had enough leftover fabric so I just made her one too. Although she doesn't like the look of two different length sleeves so hers are the same. I just used parchment paper and drew out two somewhat rectangular boxy sleeve shapes with a slightly lower dip in the neckline for the front. Again making sure it was wide enough to go over her non existent hips. Put it together hemmed it and than sewed a fabric flower to add to it. I attached it to felt before I put it on the dress. She loves it and always gets compliments when she wears it too.

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Back to school drama...

The clan on Maddox's first day. He started two days later.

Nothing like a weekend full of sickness that keeps you in bed to catch up on a little blogging. Sure enough 8 days of school and somehow I was infected with some sort of awful sinus disease. My kids were great though especially my McKayla, she even made me breakfast.
Moving on. I have been looking forward to and dreading the start of school for a few reasons.

McKayla Grade 4

The pros:
1. I get to get back to my regular workout routine. (Which I have totally neglected over the summer and it shows.)
2. For the first time in 11 and a half years I get "me" time from 9-3:30 Mon.-Fri.
3. The kids can be happy instead of fighting with each other constantly. (Happens every summer. They just get sick of each other.)
4. I get to have day dates with my hubby when he's off. Just the two of us.

Marcus Grade 6 What?

The cons:
1. I don't get to be lazy anymore and sleep in.
2. I have too much "me" time to fill which leads to me taking on a hundred different things and then really there isn't going to be any "me" time.
3. I miss my kids. Most of all my last baby has just entered Junior Kindergarten and it's FULL DAY!!! He is such a big boy now and so cool already labeled the cool kid with the spiky hair. Who seriously does not like anyone to touch it.
4. Now I feel like every moment of my day will judged as to how much did I get done today? What the house isn't spotless? Didn't you have the whole day to do it? You mean you didn't cook a whole three course meal? How come I have no clean clothes? What did you do today?

Maddox JK

Don't get me wrong these questions haven't come up yet, but let me tell you they are bugging me just the same. My house is still a disaster, I still have know idea what's for dinner, and no I still hate ironing so that will have to wait. I thought it would be this magical transformation of how wonderful it was going to be and what a good homemaker I'm going to be. Not so much. I have filled my 6 full days (two of the school days I still had Maddox) that I have had so far. If you subtract 2 of those days spending time with my hubby. Yet I still have a thousand other things I need to get done and don't get me started on cleaning and laundry because that crap never ends. You do it, but you can't tell because the next day it's a disaster again. Ok. I didn't realize this post was going to turn into such a downer. But as my 11 year old said to me while doing his homework this weekend, "At the bottom of the box there was hope." So yeah I am going to have hope that it just takes practice and I just need to create a system. Oh and looking at the positive I did go to the gym 5 times in those 8 days. And I totally ate really healthy in the process. See things are getting better already.

I got Marcus almost smiling. He was excited Maddox was going to the big school.

McKayla jumped out of the car because she needed one with Maddox too. 

So to all the moms out there who do it all your amazing. I know I am a lucky one who gets to be home with my kids and volunteer at their school and chauffeur them around to all those extra curricular activities. I really wouldn't trade it for the world. Motherhood in all its frustration is amazing and rewarding and definitely a privilege. We moms have to stick together and support each other because it's tough.

I didn't even go into the drama we actually had at school. To sum it up my kids are all in very large classes. Going up in age 31, 29, and 29. Also McKayla's teacher decided to resign the Friday before school started. All parents involved are crossing our fingers this week we get good news and another teacher so we can lower the class sizes. As well as a permanent teacher for McKayla. So another year another adventure in school. Let's hope it is a good one.

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Project Monday: Asian Silk

So 2011 trip to Singapore I bought all of this great fabric with really only ideas in my head of what I wanted to do with it. I also had only just received my sewing machine from my father-in-law and really would have to learn how to sew all over again. I hadn't truly tackled a project since 7th grade.

Love this fabric!

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Embrace the Camera: August 31, 2012

So today embrace the camera is with my littlest guy. He was so brave today having to go under general anesthesia to repair his mouth full of cavities. Going in it was 9 with 2 of them being root canals. 

Let me just say I was freaked out! Being the first time any of my kids have ever had to have any kind of anesthesia I was really anxious and worried. Needless to say I got little sleep this week. Last night I prayed extra hard that things would go smoothly and he would come out at the other end ok. My prayers were answered because he did extremely well in there on top of that only one root canal and cap instead of two. 

So funny.

 Instead of filling the front teeth she did disking so he didn't have to be under so long and they will fall out in a few years anyway. In essence it changed his smile. He is still my guy though.

Now he might be laughing away, but coming out of the anesthesia he was not happy. Complained he couldn't see because he was so groggy he couldn't keep his eyes open. Screamed away for about 10 minutes and then was calm enough to eat a freezie. Sugar free of course. It made him feel a little better and anxious to get home. He gave us all the evil eye the whole way home and tried his best to take off the silver cap which in his mind "tasted weird". 

Luckily my good friend Kathy came along one, because they suggest two adults so one can watch them in the backseat on the way home and two, I really needed the moral support. She kept my mind off the fact that my baby was asleep. She is amazing and I am so grateful.  I actually almost lost it watching him fall asleep because he fought it off a little. It was even more torture seeing him wake all confused and scared. I just kept repeating it was over and he did a good job. I didn't want him to think he still had more things to do there. 

Monkey

Showing off his new teeth.

After it all I am so thankful he is ok. Not nauseous at all and happy to drink liquids and eat. Besides the first few hours of wobbly walking he seems pretty steady. Hopefully he continues to do well through the night. My guys only had dental work to do. I have a new appreciation for what so many parents go through when they have children having serious procedures done. Being a parent is the best job and your heart is so full that it literally breaks when you see them in pain. 

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Flashback Friday: McKayla's Baptism

Ok. You know I took a big break from blogging when I didn't even post about McKayla's baptism and she turns 9 in two months! Almost a year later here I am recording for history's sake.

In my church we get baptized at 8 which is the age of accountability. It's a pretty big deal and you have to even have a meeting with the Bishop about it just to be sure you know what's going on and what you are doing. McKayla was super excited and even a little scared of what was going to happen. She really didn't want to mess it up. Luckily we had a lot of help along the way and it went smoothly.

Bigger news was the fact that my big brother Lehi was flying in for just that one weekend so that he could be the one to baptize her. I was so happy and so thankful he could be here.

She wanted me to speak at her baptism, but I begged her to let me off the hook because I knew I wouldn't be able to pull it together and speak without bursting into tears and looking like a crazy lady. So she asked her Primary teacher and my best friend Kristi which believe it or not is like a second mom so it was perfect. They did a great job talking to McKayla about baptism and the Holy Ghost. They even gave her a copy so she could keep it. She has put it in her special box and still breaks it out to read every once in a while.


The baptism went smoothly and she was confirmed. She was absolutely glowing afterward and I couldn't believe my little girl was 8 and is baptized. I am so proud of her and the beautiful lady she is becoming. She has such a loving spirit and I am so blessed to have her in my life. She constantly reminds me of the things that I should be doing to be a better person. She inspires me to be the best mom so I can set I great example for her. Teaching her that we all make mistakes, but the plan is set forth that we can get up and correct those mistakes and learn from it is a blessing. I look forward to watching her grow and make those choices that will guide her and change her and mold her into the person she will become. Her light is shining bright and I know that she will continue to shine and bless others with it.

After her baptism everyone came together and had dinner. The love and support of friends and family is overwhelming and she felt so special that thy were all there for her. I hope she always remembers how special she is and that she knows that we love her unconditionally and that her Heavenly Father loves her and is there for her whenever she needs him.

I realize this is an unusual post, but I couldn't write about her baptism without sharing how I feel about her. Thanks for the flashback now I'm going to go give my girl a hug and a kiss and tell her how much she means to me. Who are you going to hug?

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Project Monday!

So I decided to set aside Mondays as my project posts. Seeing as I tend to do a lot of them. Lately they've been sewing projects and today was no different. This time I took on a project for Maddox. I had this fabric for what seems like forever so I thought I would finally put it to use before he grew out of it! Although I probably have enough for another project.

I found this pattern online and thought it sounded simple enough why not give it a go.

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A sewing project

Ok. So I have been on a sewing craze for the past few years. Teaching myself to sew all over again. Definitely bumps along the way, but with help from a friend and the world wide web things are going pretty good. I almost can't wait for another trip overseas so I can stock up on more fabric for my projects. Last week I made a dress for McKayla. I used a Burda pattern #9489.

I mostly followed the pattern except I gave it more of a cap sleeve instead of being sleeveless, I added lining to the skirt and finished out the insides much nicer, and I made the back zipper a more exposed look since that seems to be the trend these days. I also liked the colour of my zipper.

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Flashback Friday: One snowy day

So this past winter was a very mild one. We didn't get a lot of snow and it really wasn't very cold, but the one snow we had we made the most of it. Snow angels, snowman (using the kit Maddox received at preschool), sliding downhill, and even a snowball fight.

Working with powdery snow is very tricky, but we did it. With the heat we have been enjoying this summer who wants to have snow this winter? Me? Well let's just say I am loving this heat and hope it lasts a long time. I don't want to be reminded it will end!!

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Camping in Canada another first

So this past week I said goodbye to my only daughter. First time away from me longer than 24 hours. I know she's almost nine, but the opportunity actually never presented itself until now. She was going with one of three people I think I would trust to take her. Well I am sure there are more, but as far as her friends and their parents? Ya three.

McKayla of course loves camping and the plan 10 days!!!! Way too long in my opinion, but whatever. So I said goodbye with the plan to drive out there and spend the day with her on the beach. She wanted me to spend the night so day 7 of her being away which was long and lonely for Maddox who relies on her to play with him. Marcus wanted to go he likes camping, but go hang out with 4 girls and another mom? Not so much. He pretty much stayed glued to my hip unless we were at the campsite and he was either in the tent reading or by the campfire keeping to himself.

Maddox loved the beach. We were on Lake Huron at Pinery Provincial Park near Grand Bend. It is an amazing park and the beach was great even though I hate how sand gets everywhere! Ya I am more of a pool person and having grown up around lakes ours were mud bottom and not really a lot of sand was involved. Surprisingly the water was warm. Not sure what I expected, but I thought the water being in Canada no matter how hot it gets couldn't possibly get hot enough to warm up the lakes. Proved wrong it was beautiful. Just like my pool. Well slightly cooler, but with the heat it was perfect.

We had s'mores of course both nights and only left the beach to eat.

I was actually amazed at how I didn't get one mosquito bite and I didn't even use bug spray! Crazy I know, but there really wasn't any bugs. McKayla did end up with like 4 bites, but then she was there way longer than me.

My hubby sent me there with one request somehow convince her to come back with me even though she only had two more days left. Sure enough it didn't really take a lot of convincing. As much as I rejuvenated her with family love she still really missed her daddy and knowing he would be off the next day she couldn't resist coming home with me. So we said our goodbyes, packed up the car, and drove the quick 2.5 hours home. McKayla said driving home was so fast, but then she fell asleep. The next few days was sleep catch up. She even slept in until 11:30 one morning!

If only my guy could've been there to enjoy it with us.

I am glad I let her go and it was a great first camping experience for all of us here in Canada. I am grateful for great friends who took care of her and us while we were there. Apart from coming back with a backache it made me want to go back again next year. Anybody want to come camping with me next year? Because I am sure I would not be as brave and go alone with the kids!

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Avenger "HULK" birthday Smash!

Maddox's 4th birthday came in a hurry. I had a my family here and then my father-in-law and then I had 3 days until his party. Phew! I spent more time on the capes and masks than I anticipated, but they were worth it. The kids loved them and I have heard storied of them continuing to play with them.

We spent his actual birthday visiting the golf course and playing just a little bit. It was Friday after all and super busy. Then we went back home for swimming.

He is trying to be so proper for this photo. Funny.

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Summer Vacation Beginnings

Summer has been exciting and starting it with a visit from my family was amazing! If only they could have stayed longer or we could have done more!! We didn't even make it downtown to show them all of the wonderful areas to explore! Oh well, next time for sure.

with my nephew Tyler

CN Tower

We did go see a baseball game, which is tradition and so much fun. No we didn't win, but we had two home runs and the first one from Bautista the camera panned the crowd and my hubby at home saw my sis and I dancing away. Of course not our best view from behind, but nonetheless we were on t.v. Maybe a little embarrassing to our children we celebrated every hit like it was a home run and every out like it was the last one. We had fun no matter how silly we looked or sounded.

We also went to Wonderland and I discovered why I don't go as often. My oldest doesn't want to go on the big rides and is too tall for kiddie rides. He says he had fun, but how much fun can you have riding kiddie rides? My hubby, sister, my nephew Drew, and I did ride some of the big ones. Leviathon was new and really fun. My sister didn't enjoy it too much. Behemoth was awesome as always. The kids had a blast in the wave pool. Me personally? I would rather be in my backyard than swim in the public wave pool with all of those people and floating band-aids. Don't even get me started. We rode a few more rides, but were literally so exhausted we couldn't handle any more.

Taxi jam

In line for Leviathon

As you can see Maddox was the only lucky one who actually got to take a nap.

A big event in my life I got to go through the temple for the first time with my mom as my escort. It was an amazing experience and one that has definitely brought me closer to my Saviour and the spirit was so strong I could feel my dad there with me as well. If you want to know more about my church or even what happens in temples look here.

photo credit my friend Laurie Davidson

Sadly when people come visit me I don't take as many pictures as when I visit others. strange I know, but one week with them here and I am not sure I took even 50!! Oh well hopefully next time I'll be better.

Love this group shot!

Can't wait for the next time we meet again!!

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