It's a snow day!

I LOVE having my kids home when I'm not supposed to. Makes me nostalgic for when they were young and needed me constantly. That feeling will pass by about 2 o'clock.

Right now I'm making cookies, not because I'm a suzie-homemaker but out of necessity. They eat a lot. Finn just ate a huge spoon of cookie dough ~ I wonder how long it will take to see the sugar kick in.

*2 minutes*

This past week I've been:

Spending lots of time at the rink, cheering on the boys. Finn's last game on Tuesday involved him hitting the boards and the trainer running out to check on him. What fun. Not. He ended up recovering after sitting off for a bit and scored a goal (doesn't happen too often) to tie up the game. Mike was so happy for him, I wish I could have his reaction on videotape.

Spending lots of time thinking about and working on Handmade Harvest. (As has Emily. Not sure how she does it, what with a 2 year old & newborn!) We've got an amazing group of vendors once again and we want to promote the show as much as possible.

Finding a great piece of retro furniture (60's?) for the dining room. I LOVE it and had a need for it. Unfortunately I have 4 males and a jack russell in the house which means there are tennis balls rolling around my house at all times. Let's just say I lost it when one bounced off the glass of the new buffet.

Finding amazing inspiration on-line = very few magazine purchases. (my contribution to the environment?)

Watching a fab episode of Glee that then became extremely uncomfortable because I wasn't watching it alone. As in my teenager was watching with me. The theme of the episode was sex. (insert 'come on' as said by one of the cougar town guys. washisface.)

Watching my oldest son push through his worries and decide to do new things he doesn't feel comfortable with. Like this. And this. And get his grad photos taken. He hates getting school photos taken. (Of course, once I started looking into him getting a ski lesson he backed down. But there's a chance I'll get him to do it!)

Hoping that I can get through another wintry week without losing my sanity. Please let spring come soon!

Photo update # 2

Finn & Ow on their uncle's backyard rink Christmas Eve.

Healthy competition hockey with the some of the cousins.

I'm pretty sure my boys are the messiest rib eaters ever. Great spread & story telling with Mike's side of the family.

Home from the in-laws and opening a Christmas Eve gift. Finn's face says 'hurry up and take the picture'.

Christmas morning when they are feeling warm & fuzzy towards each other. It lasts 24 hours and it's total bliss.

Photo update # 1

Some pictures of what was up in December:

Finn's Christmas concert and my view. This man, who sat at the very last minute, must have been 7 feet tall with the best posture ever.

Well, I did get one picture. That's Finn in the elf hat kneeling. He was the narrator as well. How many more of these will I get to go to with my baby being 8.


There was lots of sliding/skating on ice this winter.

Happy

I'm pretty sure I have yet to mention that I have a newfound obsession. It's really a year old actually, if you want to get specific.

The reason I should not even mention it is that I should probably establish my cool and amazing taste first. Like, if I mention how much I love this place you'll get all judgy with me and no longer deem my opinions worthy. In fact, I'm pretty sure some may think I've lost all credibility.

A year ago we took our family to Walt Disney World (with my sister and little brother and families). Fourteen of us descended on Orlando at staggered times, on the same day, to surprise my boys that their cousins were also going to be there (the cousins had already been at least 4 times previously. what!)

{insert past world travels, countries visited and amazing life experiences}

It was a fantastic surprise, it was such a great time and we couldn't have asked for better people to go to Disney with the first time.

Because we are coming up to a year, I'm really itchy to go back. I'm a bit of a simpleton when I think of it all....the smells, the feeling, the innocence. I try to blame living in Key West for a year as a child on why I love it so much, but that argument falls short in justifying my little brother's obsession. Only 3 of us lived there. He wasn't born yet.

For some unexplained reason, I can say it truly is my happy place.

{love this one----}

Conservative Girl

I was perusing the Anthropologie website the other night and came across this totally fun necklace. Wouldn't this be great to make for our swag bags for the next Craft Show!!

This one is adorable, and I think the seat may even be turquoise!

Wouldn't this one be easy to make? Seriously. We've already hosted a fabric flower workshop. No prob. 'Cuz that's how we roll.

I think I'm craving a little retail therapy because I'm stuck at the house with two sick boys. I should thank them for saving me money:)

Tomorrow is 'All About Finn' day as he's having his delayed Birthday Party. I'll have to blog about it Saturday.

See you then.

Ode To Shoes of Past

This morning I was on-line drooling at boots. I love boots, but never buy them because apparently I have expensive taste.

I then got daydreaming about all the fantastic shoes I've worn, and never kept. I've seen an 'ode to shoes past' on a few blogs, and since everything seems to come back in style again I can find almost every style I've worn in the past on-line.

For instance, the man shoe:

I had so many pairs of these shoes. Multi-color, wing tip, neutral. Usually bought at Calderone or Town Shoes, because those were my shoe go to places.

The lace up boot:

I had patchwork lace-ups and a black & turquoise pair that I bought in New Orleans.

Flats with an elastic back:
Brushed suede blue ones from Club Monaco and they were SO. UNCOMFORTABLE.

Not sure what I was thinking with these, but I was in Florence when I bought them so that made it all o.k. I think I gave them to my g'friend Ruth. I bought shoes every time I went overseas.

Chuck Taylors of course. Given to my niece. I need a new pair.

There were penny loafers, platform espadrilles, cowboy boots, red boots, green boots lifted from my sister, pink runners from Paris, red suede wedges with clip on bows, and so many more......I really do miss all of them.

And these. I haven't owned. But I really, really want to. Except they are Doc Martens that aren't available here in Canada and shipping them here costs another $100. sniff.

If you really want some shoe inspiration, I recommend visiting The Satorialist. You're welcome.

I'm still here

We've already established how I suck at blogging. I'm however, amazing at reading. I've found some inspiration lately that has got me wanting to paint all my trim, beams and railings white. No wait, I love them natural wood. No wait, let's paint them turquoise and wallpaper the house.

This is my problem. I'm indecisive or let's call it 'an appreciator of everything'. I'm a Libra.

Once I get on my computer tonight (and my internet is working) I'll post some of the amazing links with inspiration that I've been finding.

Happy November!

I Sing

First of all, I just have to say I suck. It's been a month since I wrote anything down, beyond the posts that are sitting in draft. Pretty hypocritical eh Em?

This month has flown by. We celebrated Mike & Owen's birthdays, got the boys back to school somewhat unscathed, Owen had a huge allergy flare that had him missing school, and now hockey try-outs are in full swing.

What I really want to write about it how dorky I am. Not in the cool dorky way really. Just full-on dorky, I-can't-sing-but-break-into-song-a-lot.

I've mentioned before that I wake up my kids (not every day, that would be way too Mary Poppins) singing a song from kindergarten. When they were little, and I wasn't coping, I would break into the start of The Lion King theme song to vent my rage. (now I just swear). I've had children's songs in my head for years, from Sharon, Lois and Brahm to the Wiggles.

Last night Owen was not happy about having to wake up early for hockey, really though I think he was just worried about being evaluated. He tends to get real mopey at bedtime and loves to just complain about things he can't change. So, being the awesome parent that I am, I broke into song. Remember this one?

My poor kids.

(My poor grandchildren-to-be, because I know my kids won't be able to not break into song.)

Walking

I'm predominantly home with the boys this summer. I love that they can still have a pretty low-key relaxing summer, cottaging, sleeping in, getting re-acquainted with each other.

I still have niggling guilt that we should be out doing things, and since the budget is limited this summer, if I can find something to do that is free I'm all over it.

The way I grew up was pretty typical, lots of museums, running around the neighbourhood, swimming, and walking through woods checking out everything.

Mike isn't really interested in hiking through the woods. We still haven't pieced together what he spent his time doing during his childhood, beyond running the streets in packs and crashing bikes into brick walls.

So last week, I looked up the location of the trails I have been driving by. I don't feel very safe walking them by myself (safe from all the couples trying to find a quiet spot, if you know what I mean. yuck.), but I figured if I brought a gaggle of boys with me there's no way anyone would bother me.

We went last week and did two trails. The boys loved it:

So we went out again today. Got a little lost (as in, we took a detour off the main trail and it went on FOREVER. Apparently if we continued on, we could have hiked to Kingston.), but they still had fun.

Maybe we'll conquer all trails by next August and be ready for all the walking we'll do at our favourite place.

I'm not religious. I have my reasons. I was raised Catholic, and went to church and sunday school so I understand organized religion.

I am also not atheist, I've decided late in life. I suppose having a 4 year old niece die of cancer makes you want to believe in heaven and a higher existence.

If anyone could make me become hard-core converted religious it would be these two sisters: Stephanie Nielson and her sister Courtney. Somehow they are able to talk about being Mormon without being pious. They are still stylish. They are admittedly vain, confident, learning. They seem so calm in the face of chaos. They grew up with a big, laughing huge flawed family.

I'm not idealizing. I'm not. I'm just saying I appreciate all religion, I respect people's beliefs when they don't try to push them down my throat. And sometimes I think I'm more of a believer than I know because I envy (uh oh. sin.) the calm that comes from people knowing their place in the world.