Crafty:)

I do have a crafty bone in my body, a few actually:) but I tend to be a perfectionist in some areas so when I can't do things exactly the way I want to, I tend to not do it at all:) And with living on a depressingly tight budget lately, its been even harder! But I finally said screw it and got to work! I hit up the dollar store and grocery store, and whala! I saw this done a year ago on a day time tv show and thought it was cool! And than again, on pinterest recently! It makes me mantel feel like fall, and with my new Bath and Body works fall candles filling the air, it makes me happy! its also cathartic for me to do:)

My dollar store flowers against the brown paint that we have in parts of our house are making me depressed though! I have been wanting to paint since we moved in, and as soon as some uncertain things in our life get certain, that will be the first big project around here! I need some brightness:)! But otherwise i like it!

The results!

My little flower Girl:)

This past weekend we were involved with my dear girlfriend Zina's wedding:) Her love story is a pretty cool one. Not always romantic at times, lots of trails to overcome, but after four years her and her now hubby said I do! What was really cool about this wedding for me was that I have know the bride for ten years now, but I also have known the groom since elementary school. So being friends with both sides and being there to see the whole story unfold was such a great experience!

What was even more special was my little girl got to be a flower girl for the first time:)

I have to admit going into the weekend I was super nervous as, again, we all know how unpredictable 2 year olds are! But I have to say she did amazing, and this mama's heart was overflowing that day:) I couldn't have been more proud to be her mom in that moment..it was good:)

The whole weekend was a very busy one though that I don't wish to repeat anytime soon! I had my ultrasound on Friday afternoon, Dave was off work and had an appointment to go to, we quickly whipped home to get packed and were out the door by three o'clock. THREE hours later we were still sitting in traffic on the 99...it wasn't pretty:( So we missed the rehearsal, wasted a night in the car, I had a head cold..all in all we were done! We stayed at my brother and SIL, so we didn't have as long of a trek to go back, laid low that night and next morning and headed out to for the wedding in Kerisdale:) I knew as soon as Addy met the other little flower girl that would help, and I was so right! She loves older girls and immediately she had a new best friend:)

The held hands and walked down the isle like it was nothing! Again, a happy mommy heart:)

After the ceremony, we whiped out to North Vancouver for the reception, where my bro and SIL picked up our girl and took her home:) it was night to have a night off, but at the same time being sick and tired and hungry..I was kind of done:) The view of the city was lovely, and again I was so happy to see my friend beaming on her day!! The past four years of our lives have definitely been filled with weddings and babies, and newness which is always exciting, but also makes for a very full calender:) I savor the moments but also love the mundane of the in between where for me I have learned life really happens:) So until the next one..goodnight:)

Thicker Skin

If anyone asked me if I thought parenting was hard I would say this. I don't find parenting at home all that hard. Tiring at times, yes..exhausting at times, yes!! But, the only times that I have struggled with being a parent, where you can't go to sleep at night, or let things go so easy is when it comes to parenting around other parents..thats when life gets tricky for me. I am a people pleaser by heart, I want everyone to "like" me, to make everyone happy, and to please. But now that I am married and my world also involves to people with very different personalities that I can't control, Ihave really had to grow and stretch my patience, my control issues, and overall learning how to let things just roll off my back..not the easiest task for me;) But I am learning. I am learning that when my 2 year old has a melt down in the grocery store; that that is life, and by tomorrow it will be forgotten:) I am learning that when crotchety old woman at my friends wedding this weekend, who are the "church coordinators" keep telling the little kids to be quiet while they are ever so patiently waiting to perform their tasks, and when they make a comment about how this is the problem of having young ones in a wedding..and than I look at my bride friend who just snickers with me..I just laugh it off:) Their issue not mine...I am learning that when I went for my ultrasound this Friday and joked how this baby couldn't stop wiggling, just like its sister, and that I am in trouble, and the ultrasound tech proceeds to tell me that sometimes thats the parents fault, when the child is so busy and I need to harbour her energy...I laugh, and ignore it:) Anybody know how to get a 19 week old fetus to sit still, you let me know:) Anyways, I am learning. I am learning to get some thicker skin, as it just has started. I am learning that I need to go with the flow, and work with the situation, and that I am not always going to make the right decision in the moment but those are learning moments, and those are great too! I am learning that as long as I am staying to true and authentic to what I believe to be true, and right with God, than nothing else matters. I am learning, oh how I am learning..

And than there are the moments that God gives us to keep us going..when people affirm what you are doing and what a fantastic little person you have;) and than the mommy heart glows..and it grows, and it keeps you going for the next round of punches, because at the end of the day its working.

First day

I know this is just the beginning of firsts for my girl..and I know this is not the last of my tear filled days. Ok, so lets premise this by saying, I am pregnant...and very very over the top hormonal right now:) ok, so lets move on!

So, today was the first day of Addy's dance class. First of all I thought I signed her up for a fun recreational class that would last for eight weeks. Oh no, I signed her up for a full year apparently with a production at the end!! oh my...

Anyways, second stage of clueless mom part two..I didn't have my child decked to the nines in dance attire that would put me back a fine penny..woops..

So again, feeling like a moron. And than the class begins..oh wait, mom, you can convince your two year old to go in a class by herself with strangers while you stay outside..awesome...so I sat in my dress at the door smashed up so other moms could take pictures as my child ran back and forth to me completely clueless to what was going on. She seemed happy as she got to run around and there was music going..but than I looked to see that all the other little girls were listening to the teacher somewhat following her as they helped hands in the circle and did the hokey pokey..while my kid..well...she was dancing by herself in the mirror:) And of course running back and forth to give me multiple kisses:) So I am sitting there feeling like a smuck. My kids that kid, the odd one out, the free spirit in her own happy world, but the odd one out. And than the environment caught up with her, after I kept telling her she needed to stay in the room, and than the tears came:( and than the took her ribbon away and it was game over...

So needless to say, this hormonal mom who is completely clueless and has no clue what she is doing was overwhelmed, frustrated and wanting to cry with my baby girl. We will try again next week, but I am just not sure. I am not sure if my kids going to be one of these obliging cooperative kids, or the one who just wants to do her thing..she is two..and that's what I feel, but when you are spinning looking around at whats going on and feel completely out of place and like you are the odd man out, well, you panic. But what my head has been spinning about all day is I parented re-actively, but now I am trying to decide how I want to parent this situation. Do I just let her do what she wants to do, run in and out and see what happens..just go with it, until the teacher tells me otherwise, or do I tough love her and make her stick it out and keeping pushing her to stay in the class even if ends up in tears??? I don't know! I am trying to find this balance between not being a toddlers and tiara's mom, as that is NOT my style at all, but at the same time I don't want my kid to try new things, or be afraid, or give up...but is two too young to expect any of this???? again, I am so torn today, and the learning curves, with the lack of sleep don't make for a sane mama:)

What I do know is this...I stinkin love my kid, and think she is the coolest little person and the world, as much as I feel the social pressures, I want to rise above it and let me kid be who God made her to be:) That much I know to be true..the rest, well I guess one day I will figure it out:)

Maan Farms

I have become quite a fan of groupon this past year, and its for reasons like these. Finding great deals to places I wouldn't normally think to go to, at a great price, and having a great day! Its a great source for entertainment! So a few months back I found a 50% groupon for a place called mans farm in Abbotsford, so this so this Saturday we went to check it out! It cost us a whole six bucks, which was totally worth it. The groupon was for two people, and she let us take addy in for free which was great because she said usually they charge for two year olds which I think is a little silly:) So I guess if we were paying regular price it would have been $18, and we were there two hours..not sure if it would be worth it. But again for $6 it was so worth it:) they had a great big sandbox, and slide, goats, bunnies and other great animals to see. A corn maze, sunflower maze and a little wagon/tractor ride that went to the edge of their property overlooking the fraser valley; it was beautiful! All in all a great afternoon and day off with my little family:) We finished the night off with a bbq and our annual croquet game with friends..such a great way to spend a Saturday!!

Searching for crickets with daddy!

The gorgeous view of the fraser Valley!
Sweaty baby:)
The sunflower maze!
Gorgeous Sunflowers!!