Locks of Love

So, a few weeks ago, my beauty of a daughter heard about Angel Hair on the radio. She asked a few questions and so we talked about what wigs were and why kids would need to wear them. She came to me the next day and said that she wanted to donate her hair.

Now, we've talked about cutting her hair a few years ago, but she decided that she wasn't ready. This time, however, there was no changing her mind. Now, to donate to Angel Hair, your donation has to be 10" long and Chelsea's was actually between 8-9". We found out that Locks of Love would take Chelsea's hair, so she was telling everyone that she was going to be doing this. We set the appointment for a week later. This mama was grateful that our favourite hair stylist was all booked up for a week - although Chelsea was ready to cut it all off, I needed some time to process it all. We used to have fun doing her hair in all kinds of fancy styles, but after the world's longest winter when she had to wear a hood and toque all the time, to now, when she has to wear a bike helmet every day, we found we were just putting it in a low ponytail every day.

So, finally, Saturday June 7 arrived and she was so, so excited.

 My dear friend Holly was excited to be a part of this process too. Here she is braiding Chelsea's hair to get ready to cut it off.

 She was so excited and not nervous at all.

 Here we are - one final shot of all that gorgeous blonde hair. I'll admit, I wanted to get her to change her mind. I've always loved her long hair.

 But, there was no changing her mind! A minute later, these braids were on the floor. Yup. I did cry a little. So proud of her and a little sad that she was growing up!

 She was so happy. Her new haircut looks adorable!

 She prefers to have it tucked behind her ears, so really, it doesn't look that different. Most people just assume it's in a ponytail!

 It definitely makes her look older!

It's been a week and she still loves it. She can now shower on her own because she can wash and condition this hair by herself. It is very low maintenance, aside from some wicked bedhead some mornings. It's been great for swimming and it still makes her smile, so that's all that matters!

EY

Time to catch up a little bit. These pictures are from the past month or so, hence all the different hairdos. ;)

Eli is a joy. He really is. He is quick to laugh and be silly. He is also... well, how can I say this? He is crazy. He is so wild and energetic and bouncing from one thing to another, working hard to leave a mess wherever he's been. He is still pretty much non-verbal - he has a few sounds he makes and he can say mom (about 329 times a day) but that's about it. This definitely causes frustrations because he is a little boy who knows exactly what he wants and what needs to be done and when we don't understand him, tantrums definitely do happen!

However, he does love to cuddle, hug and kiss. This picture was a very early morning cuddle that I got to have. He usually doesn't sit too long, so I treasure these times, even if it is at 6 a.m.

He is a goofball. Here I tried to occupy him at the greenhouse by snapping a few pictures. It's a good thing this kid is so cute because he was wild and crazy, running around the greenhouse.

 Say "cheese!"

 I thought this picture was simply adorable. The chubby little hand holding a dirty worm just melts me.

 This picture makes me laugh. He has become such a little man and it's so neat to see him picking up on our habits and mannerisms. Here he is blowing his food. Just look at those lips and cheeks!

 How is this cute baby boy almost 2?? Time is flying by!

The end of an era...

This guy is so fantastic! In May, we wrapped up his time at Kids Korner Nursery School. He absolutely adored his days at preschool and we are very thankful for such a great program. 

His grad photos were adorable. He came home so excited and exclaimed, "Mommy! I got to hold ROLLED PAPER. Rolled paper!! Not flowers - rolled paper!" I thought it was pretty hilarious.

And, we couldn't be prouder. This guy - so kind, gentle, eager and smart.

Mama's Heart

Each year, all I want on Mother's Day is a lovely family photo of me and my beautiful children. Each year, it resembles a goat rodeo and we need to take at least 43 pictures. But, despite the chaos we managed to get two decent ones.

2014:

These three are my life. They are nothing less than the most incredible people and I get to spend my days with them. I am in awe that I've been chosen to be their mother. Although I feel like I fail them over and over, I am so thankful for each and every new morning and the fact that their love is so unconditional. They won't remember the messy floors, less than stellar meals, piles of laundry and short tempers, but they will remember laughing until we pee, wrestling, reading, crafting and the endless hugs, kisses and "I love you's".

This journey isn't always easy, but I am so thankful that we get to do it together.

Speaking of a journey, let's take a look back through the years.

2013:

2012:

2011:

2010:

2009:

2008:

2007: (This one was take a few weeks before Mother's Day. My first Mother's Day with Chelsea was spent in the ER with a mysterious pain that turned out to be a ruptured appendix. This turned into a long hospital stay so I didn't get that official picture.)

Do you want to paint a birdhouse?

April 15, 2007 this beauty entered our lives. She is wicked smart, feisty, loving, cuddly and full of attitude. She craves independence and is a social butterfly. We love her more than words can say!

This year, she was adamant that I make her cakes, so she spent weeks searching the internet for pictures of cakes. She quickly figured out that if she asked for a doll cake that meant that she would get the doll as well as a cake. Smart girl. We had this cake at Grandma and Grandpa's.

For her birthday party with friends, she chose a Frozen themed party. I was excited because I adore parties, but I had to learn to hand over the reins as Chelsea wanted to take on more and more and help me, especially with her cake. She chose a cake again based on the fact that she would get the cheesy toys (which she hasn't played with yet) and wanted to help make it. She made all the trees, helped carve the big purple mountain and smeared the icing. All in all, it turned out okay, but I definitely would have chosen a different cake for her. Let it go, Amanda, let it go. ;)

Some fun details - melted snowman waterbottles and giant lollipops for favours. The kids also all painted birdhouses, which had nothing to do with the Frozen theme, but it was a great craft!

We ordered pizza, ate cake and opened presents. We then watched the movie Frozen, but note to self - don't ever plan a movie as a birthday party. No one really settled down, half the kids wanted to play and the other half just kept saying, "Shhh, be quiet!" I thought 13 kids painting would have been the most stressful part of the party, but I was wrong!

She said it was the best party ever, so I guess it all worked out. Happy #7 princess!

My cupcake

Working on a longer post, but had to share this picture. He's getting so big.

Surrounding myself with goodness

I've been thinking a lot about my life lately - Where I am at. What I am doing. How I am acting. How I am living. What I am pouring into my children. You know... all the easy life questions. ;)

I have been looking back over the past year and a half to two years. I was so unhappy in so many areas and constantly felt like I was searching and struggling. I've struggled with my identity in the past - trying to figure out how to please everyone around me. I was trying to be too many things to too many people. It was exhausting and unfulfilling. I found myself in some unsatisfying relationships that didn't make me feel valued, yet I was trying so hard to make them work. It felt like I was always chasing and falling just a few steps behind. I didn't like it.

So I took a step back, re-evaluated, and really thought about what I wanted life to look like, to feel like and to be like. I started to really pour myself into the good relationships that I have in my life - always starting first with my husband and my kids. This wasn't necessarily intentional; I didn't wake up every day thinking about who my friends are. I just really started to surround myself with goodness and good people.

A few quotes have really stuck with me lately.

"Everything is not equally important. Do fewer things and do them well." I've really taken this to heart in the past few years. I feel like I've really gotten better at this as I learn to say no, although I do feel that I have a ways to go still. I know that I have talents and skills and gifts that I could be using, but for now, I've had to tell myself, "no."  Too many of those things take away time from my family. Nope, I can't decorate elaborate cakes anymore. I can't whip up cupcakes every week to make some extra cash. I could choose to be busier at my store - it's easy, but nope. It's fun to motivate others and I'm passionate about the products and how weight loss can change lives, but I only set aside a few hours a week.

I told a friend the other day that I strive for consistency - both in my life and in my kids' lives. That might sound weird, but let me explain.

I like being consistent. I like being even-keeled. I want my kids to know that what to expect out of mommy. I'm passionate about a few things. I'm positive. I cook good meals. I'm even tempered. I love them with everything in me. I eat healthy, take care of my body and think exercise is important. I love reading and I love them reading. I love Jesus. I can't sing well, yet will sing often. I am caring and compassionate but yet I have strict rules and boundaries.

I like being consistent in my friendships. I like having a few close friends. I like being consistent - I want them to know that they are a priority and that I value them. These things don't change.

Then one night, I just sat down and started to take stock of all the amazing things that I have going on. It's so easy to be grateful. Life is so so good. So good.

I read a quote the other day, "Choose to be happy right where you are. Choose to have a good attitude with what you have or with what you don’t have. It’s all in your approach to life." This is so true and I'm definitely working at it. 

Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are. - Marianne Williamson

Okay, this post has been alllllll over the map, but honestly, it's all just so good. Plus I wanted a post. Thoughts from me on a Monday night.

This guy...

What Chelsea had to say about her brother:

"Gavin is squishy and cute. He is the most fantastic brother (and Eli, to be exact.) I like to play Mario with Gavin, but lately, he never wants to play Mario with me anymore. I like to do crafts with him, but I don't like it when he snores. He does. A lot. He's like dad because dad snores a lot."

What I have to say:

Gavin is changing and growing up every day. No really, literally every single day it seems that his skills have changed. His fine motor skills have gotten so much better. He finally likes lego and totally blew me away the other day when he showed me a lego truck and trailer that he built. I had thought that Chris had done most of it and Gavin was quick to correct me and say, "Nope mom. I did it all - even turned the book pages of the manual." So good!

He is kind and loving, and is learning to assertively stand up to his much younger brother (who does have bully-ish tendencies.) He uses his words and doesn't automatically freak out when the situation doesn't go the way he wanted it to. This is a huge new development.

He's even started to do more colouring, drawing and writing. I saw a picture on the table, and again I asked Chris if he had drawn it. (Writing this out, I realize that I've now compared Chris' skills to that of a four year old a couple times this post. Ha!) Nope. It was all Gavin.

He has even taken initiative to go outside and play, with Chelsea and even alone. Alone. This is UNHEARD of. He was just beaming. I feel like we're really turning a corner with this guy. Which is fantastic because he's heading to Kindergarten in just a few months!



Writing

Okay, so I have this blog and it's really neglected, but I have big plans for it! Big! Huge! Okay, well maybe not so much, but soon I will be having a dear friend give it an overhaul and then maybe I'll feel more inspired. For now, I'll write about writing. Say what?

At work, we talk about how we want kids to view themselves as readers and writers as early as Kindergarten and Grade 1. We want them to develop a love for reading and a passion for writing. It made me question myself. Do I see myself as a reader? Sure. I like reading... you know, for the 12 minutes it takes me to fall asleep every night. In all seriousness, I love reading, moreso than watching movies or tv. It just seems that lately I don't have the time to do it as much as I'd like. When Chris and I go on vacations (you know, the two that we've taken in the past 10 years) I will often wake up just to read. My favourite summertime activity is to get all comfy in my zero gravity chair and bake in the sunlight while reading. I can't wait for this winter to end!

As for writing, well, I used to view myself as a writer. I really fell in love with writing in university. Being an English major, I wrote a lot. Essays were fun (I can say that now, safely, 10 years later without an assignment due date in sight), and don't even get me started on editing and revising. My deep, dark secret - I love editing. Once the bulk of the writing is done, then you get into the nitty, gritty. Playing with language? I love it.

I  did stretch myself a little and I took a creative writing class. It was tough for me. I always joke that I'm not creative. I just like copying. I loved writing though and started a livejournal which is basically a blog before blogging was cool. I love having that to look back on.

However, somewhere along the line, I've lost some of that passion for writing. Okay, I'm pretty sure it was on the line between baby #1 and baby #2. I've joked about how I lost my memory along with my placenta, and I'm still holding to that. (Wait, did I just say placenta on my blog? Jeez, what is this blog coming to?) I struggle with the purpose of writing. See? I really am a teacher to the core. I worry about things like the purpose of my writing. Why am I writing? I also really think about the my audience. Who am I writing to? Who am I writing for? Who reads this? Does that even matter?

I like writing. I think I'm funny. Lately, I've had a lot on my mind, and I've wanted to blog but then I wonder about who is reading it and then again I wonder why I care? Or should I write my blog if it isn't funny? Not every story can be about poop and other pleasantries.

Anyways, I've been thinking a lot about writing. I'll be back, sooner than later. I like knowing that people are still reading this. I like when people comment or send me a message that they still check in. Thanks for the lovin' and I'll be back soon!

Still around...

This has been the longest winter ever. I've been pretty quiet, I know, but there's really not a lot to say. Life is pretty sweet. This guy keeps me busy - busy! There's no sitting when he's awake, but just look at those big eyes.

 

And then there's these two - always cuddling and loving on each other, unless they are fighting. They were watching a movie while I was washing our bedding. Apparently the plain mattress was pretty exciting.