Teepee Trial

 We tried out our teepee building skills this weekend in preparation for Hailey's birthday party next weekend.  It was pretty quick 'n easy!  We are having a backyard party for her third birthday (please weather cooperate!)  I won't be using a tarp then... I will be sewing together some old sheets for the cover.  I wonder if 2 kings will be enough?  I'll have to try it out.

My first baby is 3 yrs old tomorrow!!!!  I was in labour at this time 3 years ago!  She has such a big heart (so big that it often cannot be contained ;), She is full of spunk and personality.  I love her huge smile and the sweet things she often says.  Her tight hugs are my favourite as well as our nightly ritual of "I love you Hailey" "I love you Mom" "I love you more" "no I love you more" "I love you the most" "I love YOU the most".  It warms my heart!

Happy 3rd Birthday Hailey Anne

Update!

Yes, I am trying to catch-up on my non-existant blogging.  I have news...

NO, not pregnant.

I went back to work in June.  Not substitute teaching (as tempting as it sounded I didn't want to trade my 2 children in for 30).  I needed to get out of the house and have adult interaction.  Not adult interaction where I take my kids on playdates, but actual *no kids* adult interaction.  It has been AWESOME!

I had a lot of guilt with feeling like I was 'supposed' to stay home with my kids because I didn't 'need' to work.  I always assumed I would stay home with my kids and thought it would be great.  Turns out it isn't for me (the staying home ALL THE TIME part).  I need to feel like my skills are valued (and of course they are as a SAHM) but I wasn't 'feeling' it.  I felt like I would be happier and more patient if I had some away time each week and a perfect job came up. 

I am working at Meridian Surveys (yes where Ian works) doing filing and scanning.  It is a totally simple/mundane type of work but I love it.  I go in 12 hours a week and it is super flexible so my great babysitter and I figure out what works best for our schedules.  We have been doing 2 six hour days a week or 3 four hour afternoons a week.  I have been happier and more patient so I think it is a success!!!!  The job is temporary as I am converting paper files into digital copies so once the work is done, my job is done.  I am hoping it lasts till next spring at least and then some 'baby' talk might ensue!

I'm excited to wake up and go to work and the weeks pass quite quickly now.  The girls are doing great at the sitters and Hailey never wants to come home.  When I come to pick them up she always cries and says "I don't want you".  Yes, it stings.... but I get over because sometimes I feel that way about her.

There are draw backs.... the main one being the income... after taking out child care fees it really isn't 'worth' it for me to work.... except that it isn't about the money.

It's about the SANITY!!!!!

favourite pastime...

Hailey started rolling off the couch onto some pillows and I thought... hey... how can this be even MORE awesome?!?  I added more cushions and allowed her to roll from the top of the couch.  I'm a cool mom like that ;)  Both the girls loved it and it is a regular activity at our house now!

I have to admit that I even tried it out.  I'm pretty sure this was never allowed when I was a kid!

Side bar - Ian needs credit for this... I guess it was HIS idea ;)

Father's Day

 

We feel so blessed!  Ian is such a great Dad!

It's a good thing he is here too because I am pretty sure Hailey and I won't survive the teenage years without our mediator ;)

Saying goodbye...

Last week I said goodbye to a friend.  

  

She was 32 years old, married to a wonderful man and mother to 2 beautiful daughters!  She was taken home way too soon. 

I really don't know what to say... and it still doesn't seem real....

 

She battled brain cancer over a 10 yr. period.  With surgeries, chemo, radiation and then remission.  Another brain tumor returned less than 2 yrs. ago and the battle began again.  She was so strong... such a fighter.  She wanted to stay here on earth with her family, but she wasn't afraid to die.  Though her spirit was strong, her body was not and Father called her home.

With death there is sadness and grief.  Grief over the loss of memories and moments unmade.  Sadness for those left behind who will always feel that empty space in their lives....

But.... there can also be joy and gratitude.  Joy that they are no longer suffering.  Gratitude for their influence in your life and Joy that WE WILL see them again.

I am grateful for my friend Roxene.  The woman she was born as and the woman she fought to become. 

I pray for her sweet daughters and her husband who will feel her loss most.

Goodbye Roxene,

Until we meet again.

Sunshine

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

Thank you John Denver for this music... and thank you to my Dad for always singing it when I was a kid.  A sunny day doesn't pass without this song playing in my head....

This post isn't about the song really but I couldn't get past this topic without a 'replay'.

I have a question (or numerous interconnected questions) in regards to taking photo's in sunlight!

Is it always pretty much bad to be in direct sunlight?
Will the photo's always look over exposed?  or can I adjust my settings to fix them?

Most of these photos I already had to adjust the exposure so they weren't so bright but they were SUPER cute and I was disappointed they couldn't just come off my camera without editting.  It is unfortunate that they look fine on your display screen, until you upload them onto your computer.

So camera friends with DSLR's, please enLIGHTen me ;)

I have been shooting mostly in Av mode. I usually don't change much on the settings except for the light source option (which is probably the problem?)  I know everything is automatic except the aperture which has to do just with what part of your picture is in focus right?  Maybe I should just go back to Auto!!!!

But if I had used Auto in those same lighting circumstances would those photo's still have been over exposed?  I really just need to sit down and read the whole manual!

*I know that white blanket sure didn't help the problem.... it was really only there because Quinn refuses to touch grass!

Here are some more cute pictures!

Photo Challenge

I'm behind already on my photo's so I will try to catch them all up over the next week.

April Week 4 - Eyes

These girls are my everything!  They bring out the best and the worst in me.