Off the straight and narrow

Sometimes I don't like following the crowd. Sometimes I like being a bit different. A bit unique. A bit quirky even. And I'm ok with that. Maybe it was growing up with all this red hair, always intrinsically being a bit difference from "the masses" that has sewn this seed in me. I sometimes like to dress all normal-like except for one itty bitty thing that is just...off. And then see who notices. Then other times I like to accessorize with a big flamboyant piece of something-something and not be subtle at all. Spice things up a bit. Get a bit frilly. Being a SAHM, there isn't much I *can* do to shake things up. My almost three year old might contest a bit if I wear a big flower atop my head. And nobody likes being laughed at by a three year old. Those of you with three year olds understand, and those of you without three year olds will just have to trust me. It's just not cool.
It's those times I reach for this:



Ain't she a beaut?

All bright green and shiny and just...happy. I love it, it is so me. Technically everything about it is normal-like. It has a handle, all sides, leather construction, buckles, all normal, all in their normal spots. But the colour! OH THE COLOUR!!!



That's what I'm talking about.

There is something about being functional with a touch of oh-la-la that I can relate too. If you see me and my green purse around, you know I'm in the mood to shake things up a bit!

Tent Building 101

Welcome to tent building 101.
In your course manual, you will find a list of materials you will be responsible in supplying. These are:
A king size flat sheet
A dozen clothes pins
Tall solid furniture

Please ensure you bring these to every class.



To begin, please open your textbooks to the first chapter. The selection of the proper tent material.


International studies have shown that for optimal tent building, blankets should not be used due to their weight. A flat bed sheet is preferable, as it offers coverage while being lightweight. King size is a must, particularly when building forts for multiple users.

Once the selection of the tent building material is selected, it is imperative that is is inspected for damage. A damaged tent cannot lend to the full enjoyment of the users.

Clothes pins are essential in the security and safety of your finished tent product. Your clothes pins should have a strong working spring and be in good working order. Material is at the digression of the tent builder.

The available furniture is a defining factor as to the shape and dimensions of the tent in question. Select pieces with low centers of gravity, and stable bases If using chairs, ensure no sharp edges are exposed. Turn chairs to face outwards to maximize inner tent dimensions. Secure fabric in at least 2 points on each piece of furniture.

To complete the tent building, step back and access the stability and security of your creation. Enjoy :)

I will never understand kids and toys

I won't. I really will never get it. Why one day something is not cool, it's boring, it's beyond passe, and the next it is the hottest ticket in the house. Why is that?! Can someone please explain that to me? Mr. Man is the KING of this attitude. His fondness for toys is as fleeting as Britney Spear's underwear. He goes from toy to toy to toy without looking back at the path of destruction in his wake. It's tiring to watch, let alone clean up when he's done. Implying I do clean it up, and, well, let's not go there, ok? My mom might one day read this.

The Toy de jour is this fisher price school bus


It has been in his toy arsenal for over TWO years! two whole years it has sat on a shelf (or laye donit's sid eon the floor, if we're being real, the whole clenaing thing and all) not being played with. Yet now, out of the blue, Mr. Man is all about the schoolbus. And he has his pirate little people driving it. Whom he calls "Pirate babies". Ouie vey

There is one exception to this rule. Her name is pink baby. She's a....pink baby. I hope I didn't confuse youthere. keep up now!

This ugly polyester and plastic *thing* has been his love muffin for longer than I can count. Why he love sit I have no clue. It drive sme bonkers. Nt that it's pink, cause i'm not all into the whole boys-can't-like-pink thing. I'm all for boys and pink. Bring it! it's the polyester and plastc part. Drives.me.bonkers.


it is true love

Name that face

Kids are hilarious. Kids are fun. Kids are original. Kids, well, my kids are even better than that :D

But sometimes, I just cannot stop laughing at the faces I capture on my camera. It's almost a little game with myself - how many faces can I catch?

Like this one:


ANy guesses what he's thinking/saying? because honestly, nothing is funnier than what he actually was saying.

But i'm not sure ou can handle it. Can you handle it? I dunnooooo. Are you sitting down? No beverages nearby? No cat at your feet? Empty bladder?
ok, well get ready. get set...
"mom you have BEEEWBIES!"

yeah. bewbies. gotta love little boys.



Now my daughter.


Contemplating something heavy. Something earth shattering. Something that will change the course of human evolution as we know it. Something....like boobs. my boobs. that's right, she's contemplating what is, to her, the centre of her universe. She got a hold of me while we were laying onthe floor, and decided that after she was done nursing she needed to really think about how this all works. I was lucky enough to have the camera nearby.


And why yes, these two photos were taken about 3 seconds apart :D Gotta love auto focus!

Butt Ruffles

Butt Ruffles. Yes, you read right, butt ruffles. I love me some butt ruffles. There is just something so unbelievably adorable about little girls with little butt ruffles.

I know, I didn't believe it before either.

But see? I'm not lying!


Maybe it's the whole Mom-of-boy-first thing, trying desperately and unsuccessfully to find cute boy clothes that makes this one item of girl clothing make me go SQUUUUEEEE! and squeeee I do. frequently. In all honestly, every time she wears these pants.

Don't judge, but sometimes I'll do a load of laundry just to wash these pants. And make her wear them when she nurses so I can play with the ruffle. hey, i told you not to judge! Not until you've walked a mile in my shoes.

You moms of boys understand. There is just something about 2+ years of solid boy clothes buying that makes the ability to purchase ruffles that much more gratifying. I didn't know what i was missing when I was just a boy's mom. No clue. And if anything, I would have laughed at it myself. I'm not a girlie girl, i don't know how to put on eyeliner, or work a round brush with a hairdryer (and quite frankly the emotional trauma from the last time I tried that is still with me), so to all of a sudden find my heart going pitter patter about a mere butt ruffle is still a bit shocking. shocking and oh-so-giggle worthy :D

Enjoy yourself some butt ruffle! Sharing is the least I can do to lighten the collective moods

Why i love my BabyHawk, edition 57808746

I love it. My babyhawk, my hero. oh boy, it is my saviour. The love of my mom-life. The gleaming sword of my mothering arsenal. It's awesome. And I love it. Have I said that enough? Cause I could keep going. i luuuurve it!

My beautiful, opinionated, strong willed, independent daughter has a thing about it too. And thankfully, our opinions align. She loves it. It's her saviour. It's love of her infant life. The gleaming sword of her baby arsenal. She feels the love, tonight. oh yes, yes she does.

Well, actually, maybe not all the time, since to be honest, she spends a big chunk of the time she's in it..asleep


I can't blame her though, it's comfy. she's with her peeps. It's comfy. She's with her peeps. it's comfy...what else can a 9 month old want? or an 8 month old? 7 month old? or any month she's been since the beautious baby hawk joined our family. She's been enjoying hanging out, and sleeping, in it since day 1. And the photo ops when she falls asleep! Oh man, any photographer could only ever DREAM of the cuteness that results. Like the above. And below. cute. personified



Many of her life experiences so far have been while safety tucked into the babyhawk. Countless trips to the grocery store, park, library, mall...all in her babyhawk.
There's also been the trip to cut down our christmas tree. The zoo. Science Centre. House hunting. van shopping, a wedding, Halowe'en trick or treating. Basically anywhere I've been in the past 9 months, she's been, in the babyhawk.

And it's not just me getting in on the action either.

Daddy's a fan


Grandma's a fan


And Nana, well, let's just say Nana wants to have the babyhawk bronzed when we're done. she's a fan.

And as for myself...yeah. I'm a fan

New year!!!

A new Year, A new....year. yeah, i know, i'm original. That's why you love me.

My family kicked off the New Year with a bang. Quite a few bangs actually, as we had a rock band party with our closest friends...and all their kids. It was a full house. A very full house. 6 adults and 5.5 kids. Between running around after kids, cooking, and doing my little part to masacre the songs on rockband, before I knew it, it was time to kiss my husband and welcome 2009.



My two best friends, the same two who were here when my daughter was born at home by the way, were the invitees, with their husbands and kidlets. CH & SH have two little boys, both cuter than can be and conveniently the same age as my kids. Who doesn't love built in friends! AP, and her new husband CP, have a little boy and another kidlet on the way. AP glows while pregnant, and between her and CH, both model pregnant woman, I felt like evolution gone wrong. i don't glow while pregnant. I vomit. But enough about that. AP's little boy is a year younger than my son, and is such a blast to have around. Boy's got the vocab of a College professor!
My poor daughter, surrounded by all these boys. I tell ya, I felt for her. So many boy cooties! You'd think she'd feel out of place. ha! Not my girl, my girl has got all 4 boys eating out of the palm of her hand! well, maybe just 3, since the youngest was only 5 months old and is only eating "at mom's", but i'm sure once his world expands a bit father he'll fall under her spell.

All of that partying came at a cost though. My poor early bird family was feeling t emidnight hour the next day...