technical difficulties...

Okay, I've been fighting with technology enough and (fingers crossed...) I have it figured out. I've been working on getting pictures from my phone emailed to myself to download onto the computer to post here and I've gotten so frustrated! Likely my own fault. Whenever there are technical difficulties I'm more apt to blame myself than the equipment. Maybe...

But here are some pictures!!! For Halloween this year I was asked to make some of the costumes, So I actually did! This is really the first year I've done it and I am crazy proud of myself and the patience shown by this amazing crew.

Monkey wanted to be a caterpillar. That was easy enough, she was one last year and the costume is still too big for her. Excellent!

Girly wanted to be the character Scratch from Skylanders (google the image. That's what she wanted). Okay... I can see what fabric I have on hand for that and can kinda see how the pieces should go to fit together...

Sergeant wanted to the Pop Thorn from Skylanders (again, google that. Here I was really REALLY at a loss for how to make it work). I took a deep breath and told him I'd try to figure something out, but please have a back up plan, just in case.

Smarty had two costumes. He had a history project due the last day of class before Halloween and he was to dress up as the person he was researching (he'd chosen Si John A MacDonald) and then he wanted to be Sheep Creep from Skylanders. Okay, that was probably the easiest off all the crafting costumes this year. So okay!

First up, I tackled Girly's costume.  Some felt, some elastic, hot glue for the mask and claws. Thrift store for wings. Hunted in the fabric box for the rest, and I started sewing. I used another costume as a very, very loose template and went to work.

I cut out legs and belly and started sewing and then I realized I didn't have quite enough for the arms and the tail! Thankfully a crafty friend, Judgey Momma (over here) was able to help me out with a close match that absolutely thrilled the girl! 

Doesn't she look pleased!!

Next up was going to either be Sergeant's crazy costume or Smarty's relatively easy one. I opted for starting the easy one while looking online at anything that might work for Pop Thorn. I cut up an old bed sheet that wasn't going to get any more real use, and I did what I could think of for a sheep. Stuffed and stuffed and stuffed! Bearing in mind, this crafting was mostly done while the older three were at school and I didn't have them around for measuring. 'Cuz, You know I'm crazy like that.  

So with the help of Monkey and a friend of hers that I sometimes look after, we stuffed what I thought would look like a sheep. And it would have too if I put the cotton batting around the outside. But Smarty decided that he wanted to put a halt on that for a bit because he was going to just go with being the Father of Confederation for Halloween. 

I was absolutely most nervous about creating Sergeant's costume. Inspiration did strike when a thought formed around paper mache and my exercise ball. So I started looking up different recipes, trying to figure out what would work best, dry relatively quickly, and then I got started. Monkey was sad when she saw me rip up some old colouring books for it. But once she saw and understood, she was great about it.

I made a horrible mess!

 

It got goopy, messy, and very pasty.  I'd never worked with paper mache before so I was kind of just going with my gut. I had no clue at this point how I was going to make spikes or wings, but I knew I had to at least get a couple of base layers down first.

Took a lunch break and came up with an idea for the spikes!! I taped some other colouring pages into a cone shape, cut the bottoms so it could be mached to the base! Aren't I smart?? So Monkey helped me with the tape and a few minutes later we had enough spikes to surround the sphere with space left for arm holes and wings. 

Woohoo! Then I got to deflate the ball, wash it, and sweep up the mess. I cut some arms out and started painting!!

Cut wings out of cardboard and smothered them with paper mache as well and hung them to dry.  Then I got to paint them as well and hot glue them to the finished body.

Made some straps for his shoulders as well to make wearing it easier. I lined the inside with spray adhesive and duct tape and he was good to go! He wanted his face painted blue for going out trick or treating, but that was easy peasy.

The actual pumpkin carving might be a post for another evening. But here are our finished products this year!

And the crew, ready to bring in tons of sugar! 

food!!

Food. Food, food, food.  Something that the whole family enjoys. Both the preparing and the eating. It is a real source of smiles when we're out at a restaurant and the boys in particular suggest that we try making some of these at home. Doesn't matter what it is, but they are sure we could figure out a way to make it at home from scratch., Awesome :)

Yesterday we made wraps. Not the first time we've done them, but it really is much easier to simply buy flour wraps instead of make them. But I wanted the home made ones yesterday, so I got the kids involved. Lots of flour and giggles later we had a nice stack of about 16 or so warm on the counter under a cloth napkin.

As I started wiping up the paste, I mean flour, the kids's imaginations just took off. They were grabbing wooden spoons, hunting for the toy dishes (ended up using some of our actual dishes), some forks, the empty juice pitcher... so many things left their spots in the kitchen and moved to the living room.

They had dialogue with each other about who was making what food, what everyone's order was, then they sat down, prayed, and had a "meal". As far ass I could tell, they had eggs sunny side up, toast, juice, and who really knows what that Monkey prepared. They did pretend bed time, pretend wake up, then the game morphed into restaurants, where Smarty made a logo for his "hamber mania" that was his burger place, Sergeant had a soup restaurant, and Girlie had a fruit place. They made little menus (like 3 or 4 items on it and crazy prices!). When I told them they had to take their playing downstairs Smarty decided that they absolutely NEEDED the coffee table down there so he convinced his brother to take an end and they actually got it down without marking up the walls!

They played and played. Working on the menu (Smarty NEEDED it printed off from the computer so he typed it out himself) and making a grand old mess, but they were happy, they were busy, and I was able to get as much of that fine, powdery white flour off of as many surfaces as I could. Then set about to finish preparing the meal. Hubby came home from work in the midst of this, Ran the printer and encouraged them to add more (who has a restaurant with only 3 things??)

yummy chicken salsa tacos!

Everyone had lots to eat, going back for seconds. After forcing some toy and dishes clean up and then having some ice cream cones we all went to the park to play catch. Even Monkey hit the ball (Daddy might have helped) and they were all tired by the time came to put pjs on and brush their teeth. Hooray for a great crew!!

In a nutshell

Crazy fast summer holidays! And packed with activities. Hard to believe that it's September 2 today and everything starts up again tomorrow.

There was the incredibly successful VBS at Shearwater Chapel, a trip out to Cape Breton, Dr appointments, playing in the sun and fog, trips to the library, and wonderful food. always wonderful food!

The oldest turned 9! That Smarty is growing up way way too fast. Taking the time to slow down and enjoy the moments with them doesn't make the time pass any slower but it sure will store up those memories to take out and polish when they are bigger . Smarty discovered Origami Yoda. It's a series of seven novels and there are instructions to make the different characters in the stories. So the kitchen table has been covered with pieces of paper, tape, and him branching out from the instructions and using his imagination to expand that craft he is working on! And listening to the play, knowing that all four of them are playing nicely and they aren't plugged in is fantastic. I don't mind picking up bit of paper and consistently reminding them to tidy up after themselves if the end result is as satisfying ass that!

Girlie lost her first tooth and she was beside herself with excitement! It's been loose for a bit, and the adult tooth was coming in behind it (not underneath it) so only some of the root had dissolved. We experienced this with a few of Smarty's teeth so we knew when we were about! She was determined that it needed to get out but didn't like to work it herself because it hurt, so momma set about doing it. I'm very practiced at it now! I tried before bed but thise lips of hers!!! As soon as my fingers were anywhere near that pearly white those lips moved up. And they are strong! She's going to play a brass or wind instrument... But it did't come out that night. Before Daddy left for work the next morning he held her lips down and I rolled up my sleeves (figuratively). But it came out! And she was over the moon! Couldn't fall asleep that night, didn't want to stay asleep, but the Tooth Fairy came and brought her some plums as she requested in a note. Which she promptly shared with everyone. Such a sweetheart!

She is both anxious and excited for school to start tomorrow. At bedtime her anxieties come out as she's fighting sleep. Some nights she's crying because she misses preschool, some nights it's because she misses Alberta, other night it's that she thinks school wil take forever and ever and ever and she'll miss being home. Sounds like concerns her brothers have had. It'll sure be an adjustment. It always is.

Sergeant is excited for school. Last week he wasn't, this week he is. He says he's looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. And he's really hoping he has the teacher his older brother had in Grade two. He keeps trying to placate Girlie by saying that she'll see him every recess and lunch time, and he can play with her, and help her with the rules, and, and, and... It's very cute.

Monkey suddenly decided last week that she wanted to toilet train! We've been trying off and on, not usually worth the fight (since it'll happen eventually...maybe?) but she started one day and every time I turned around she was in the bathroom going pee! That went well for a couple of days and now she seems back to where she was before. Hopefully it'll pick up again with the older kids being in school. She mentioned that she wants to go to preschool but she can't do that until she's out of diapers and pull ups. Maybe that'll be thee incentive.

Hubby has tomorrow off work! For the first day of school and for our 10th anniversary. Yay! Since we don't know how many anniversaries we'll be in the same time zone for, we're taking advantage when we can! So together we are dropping the older three off at school, taking assorted pictures and giving the needed hugs (mostly Hubby needing them from Girlie) we'll go to the MFRC and drop Monkey off there so we can have a morning date :). Go for coffee, spend some time, grab some lunch.  Then we'll pick up the toddler, maybe get her down for a short nap, then do the pick up of the older kids. Done done! And, just becasue, we'll find a McDonald's with a play place for supper for that first day of school.

And the race continues Friday, when Girlie turns 5!!! So many milestones in one week! First tooth, first day of school, finally 5 years old. She requested a lemon cake in a bundt pan with cherry frosting. We'll see what Momma can produce! I'm sure it'll be awesome.

finally pictures!

Hugs!

cold cold water!

Splish splash

Silliness shoppping

Listening to music 

Silly girls

Funny faces!!

Chillaxin'

Fishing with Dad

Hanging out by the water at camp

Fun with birthday gifts :)

Trying to lick the birthday cake!

sitting on the new soccer ball

way too long...

Too long.  Way, way too long.

Another school year complete, another summer holiday in full swing and it has been a gorgeous one so far! Very few rainy days, lots of warm weather. So our motto has become "If it isn't raining, we're going places!" We did a visit to Shubenacadie Wildelife park a couple weekends ago, a trip to Rainbow Haven Beach, and quite a few trips to Lawrencetown and Morris Lake.  After supper it's great to go somewhere and get toes wet. We keep our beach toys in the van, and a bag of clean towels stays by the front door!

The last couple days have been used for building. The kids have gotten out the lego, mega blocks, and the duplo and have just gone to town with the building and the play! It is absolutely wonderful to see and hear. Until the bin was dumped on the hard floor... that was just loud! The groove we've had this week has been to have a bit of lazy time in the morning, do some cleaning/work go to the gym (booking all the kids in isn't all that easy!) home for lunch and naps, then outside until supper time.  The table is usually covered with paper and various writing implements, we had one morning that they demanded play dough. That meant a trip to the store to replace our salt later that day. But they are having tons of fun :) So am I

There was a church doing a soccer VBS the week before last and the three older ones had so much fun doing that! All that running around, chasing balls, mixed with scripture reading making new friends was great. Really tuckered them out though! I'm enjoying having some cuddles with my boys that are seriously lacking during the school year. And trying to get fewer Monkey cuddles...working on it! Last night she stayed in her own bed until 5 this morning!! That was fantastic :D

Yesterday morning I sat back in bed with my coffee after the kids were fed. Listening to the kids play while basically wasting time before getting dressed. I heard the girls running around, doing laps in the house. I heard the boys talk to each other about the games they were playing on their devices. Then I heard Girlie as she was running around.  In a monotonous voice she was saying "I am unstoppable! I am unstoppable!" She was being a robot and was making me chuckle so much!

There was one really warm night last week. Fans were working on moving the air around, but it was just muggy! So Hubby slept in his underwear. Nothing wrong with that. Getting up the next day, though... Both girls and Sergeant were in our room when Hubby got out of bed and they were all chuckles! "Dad! You're in your underwear! Why are you in your underwear?? Did you see Daddy in his underwear?! Teehee! Underwear!" The number of times that word "underwear" was used in that first two minute period was hilarious! So Hubby decided to pick up some shorts to sleep in... didn't want a repeat on that morning ;)

Smarty discovered body surfing! When we went to Rainbow haven beach with a school friend of his, the wind was cold, the water was cold, the sand was glorious, and the sun was bright. We settled the blanket down, dumped the sand toys, and the kids walked right onto the surf. When we'd been there a while and realized that Sergeant had come up to warm up, the girls had come up to warm up, but Smarty was still in the water, bracing for the waves, riding them in. He didn't walk out far (he's a smart kid, afterall) but he stayed in the water until we called him in to leave.  It was fantastic to see!

That should be about it for this morning. Hope everyone is having a great summer so far!

Pulling through

Grey and foggy, buds just starting to show up on the trees and shrubs. I think this means that the winter might be over. Fingers crossed!

We've survived a day and a bit with Hubby gone.  He's taken a week of leave and flown off to sunny Alberta to spend time with his mom and stand as best man for his best friend. So he's having fun and we are too. Got Girlie off to ballet last night without any issue, bedtime was as is expected the first night with Daddy gone.  And so far so good today. Regular fighting and yelling, but that's all normal ;)

Mother's Day was very relaxing for me.  Silly children can't keep surprises well so they gave me their gifts early. The migraine I woke up with didn't help, but it did help me not feel guilty about being shooed back to bed where I spent most of the day!  Yesterday I was so tired that I fell asleep after school with the girls going crazy in the living room and the boys on the bed beside me playing on the phones. But today is great so far.  Don't feel exhausted, no headache. Looking forward to a busy afternoon of cleaning up that basement (again) and enforcing homework.

I'm also looking forward to a slower day tomorrow. With the gym three mornings a week, I feel like it's been way to easy to not take the time to get baking or cleaning done. But tomorrow I'll drop the older ones off and Monkey and I will grab groceries, tidy a bit, start some baking. Do more laundry. Regular things. And it'll feel good to accomplish that.

Smarty got to bring a soil sample to school from our yard for an experiment. He was so excited to dig up some dirt! Then he forgot his jar in the van... Good Momma to the rescue!

And I've figured out a way to wake the girls up from their naps without them yelling at me! All I have to do is put some music on! They can't sleep with it playing (not even quiet instrumental music! Drives me crazy sometimes) but about 5 minutes before I need them up I just put some music on, not terribly loud, but not super quiet, and they are up! Girlie before Monkey, and Monkey still needs cuddles and her milk before she's fully functioning, but there is much much less fuss. And I like that!

We have a four day weekend coming up! PD day Friday and Victoria Day on Monday. So the kids are all excited about the home days all in a row, Monday we'll be up early to pick Daddy up from the airport and we'll have all day together to catch up.  So excited!

Gorgeous weather!!!

It is absolutely gorgeous out!!!!!  Hats, hoodies, sunscreen, sandals. That's what we're in right now.  Hubby had to scrape ice off his windshield on Monday but that's it! Glorious, wonderful weather.

This shift in weather has also brought the first bike wipe out of the season. Smarty took a corner too fast and had to hobble his way home with his head hung low. The pants saved his knees but they didn't survive the fall.  Guess they need to be replaced!

Sergeant won a red frisbee at school.  He was so excited!  I don't blame him. Played with it after school with friends and with Hubby when he got home from work. I think I'll be bringing it to the school again today when I go pick them up.., too nice to hurry home where they will only want to plug themselves in!

Girlie had her preschool's Mother's Day Social this morning. Books were read, songs were sung, Pictures brought home, and a gift unwrapped. A little basket with an adorable poem about hugs and kisses between mom and child. Silly dusty room made me cry :/

She's been a real Momma's girl recently. Wanting My hand a bit more, when she had a nightmare she wanted me instead of Hubby. I'm honestly not sure how to handle it.  Since Monkey is still very Mommy-centric it's sometimes a problem  But Monkey is starting to go to Daddy a bit more too... hmmmm.

Yesterday we all left the house after supper and ran a couple errands.  Picked up Hubby's suit from the tailor's, ran in to Kent for some hardware, then on to Old Navy in search of a maxi dress for me.  I've been wanting go get some but never seem to get that far. So thanks to my wonderful Hubby who said "Let's go!" I now have two,  And I might not wear anything else until the snow flies in December! Holy Crap, they're comfy!! Such a great feeling!!

I'm completely torn right now with how to spend my afternoon/evening.  I want to stay out here, on the front porch with my coffee. But I also want to do the baking that I have to do... Very tough decisions! But I have a feeling the baking will win. With all windows open and the music of childrem playing nicely outside together... Okay. That might be a bit of fantasy, but I can hope! And they do "mostly" play well together :) Lucky momma!