Gimme Your Thoughts

This last weekend we thought we'd try our hand at putting some final touches to a couple parts of our home.  I thought I had a 'before' picture of my wall of cupboards on file, so I didn't take one - turns out I couldn't find the one I 'in my brain' took, go figure!!!  

This is the best I could find:

Please look beyond the goofy children!

Very bare, very bland.  

This is how we've changed it up.

Does it work?

I think I love it, but I feel like maybe there's something missing.....or is it that I've looked at it too long trying to figure out if there's something missing?  

That was project #1, the second one didn't take much time, more of just putting things in the right place (we didn't do the rock, that's been done awhile).

Before

We still need to change the picture to the left of the fireplace, we have a nice one of the Welsh mountains to frame and hang but until then...

After

I feel like I almost have my upstairs the way I want it.  Just a few more touches to make.  Then, on to the basement!  By then I'll probably be bored with what's done upstairs an feel the need to change again...lol!

Snow Cold Sundaes

We recently joined a fabulous playgroup which my kids & I love.  Today was playgroup day at our house, we had a lot of fun (for real).

We did our own version of Snow Cakes (an idea Heather shared with me a few weeks ago - she found here): http://katherinemariephotography.com/blog/archives/7946

Cakes and trays with 9 kids under 7 seemed pretty crazy, so I tweaked it and it was fabulous!  Literally no mess to clean, it was so fun and they loved it.....all but Brody that is (he was far to mature to play with the snow - the ride on horsey was more up his alley)!  Here's some snaps of our day:

Here's some other things I've learned from my day:

• clean snow tastes better than the dirty stuff-  kidding moms!
• 3 boxes of kraft dinner is too much, 2 is probably more than enough!
• 9 kids can drink 3/4 of a gallon of milk
• boys cry and are every bit as dramatic as girls (news to me)
• snow makes an excellent snack and it's super cheap
• my cat is patient...VERY VERY patient (that one I did know)

I'm already looking forward to next time, what to do next?!?

Three Cheers for 3 Year Olds

Aylish certainly doesn't look her age, never has and I'm not sure if she ever will - - - at least not for awhile.  Born at 10 lbs 3 oz and 24'' long, she had a head start on most. 

 She was so excited to finally be turning 3, an age she usually gets mistaken for.  Now she can finally say yes I'm 3.  

Just one problem.  The other day she told a lady in the store that it was her birthday next week and the lady said "Are you going to be 4?"  She replied very loudly "No, I be Free"!  And it starts again!!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday to my sweet Aylish.  You bring excitement and so much love to our family.  You are a fabulous little & big sister and we all love you to bits!

Her 'tendy' New Barbie Doll House for her Birfday!

Valentine's Fun!

What a GREAT day we had.  I love all holidays, including this one.  It's kinda fun with 5 girls too, cause they are totally into it - one of these years I'm sure we're going to go completely overboard with it all, and honestly, I can't wait!!!

Richard is a true romancer which is fabulous, he always has the best way to make me feel like I'm the most important person in his life, not just on Valentine's day, but everyday.   I love him for that.

Richard was cooking me dinner (we'll get to that later) so I decided to serve my little sweethearts pink heart shaped pancakes for dinner.  They were to say the least EXCITED to see what was on their plates. I got a lot of "you're the best mom in the whole world" so I'm taking that to mean they really liked it.

For Family Home Evening we hit up 4 different homes and gave those inside a heart attack.  Don't worry, we didn't scare them through windows or anything creepy like that - we save that for people we DON'T like!  We knocked on the door, pushed our way in and taped hearts that we had decorated the week before all over the inside of their door (sadly we forgot our camera).  It was so much fun.  

Thanks to Gramma & Grampa Martin, Bob & Helen Gibb, Fred & Freda Lowe and Brenda & Alan Wright for being willing heart attack victims.  

The girls had such a fun time!   The girls chose who they wanted to attack so thanks to all our victims for making our girls feel special!  

They love all of you!

For our romantic part of Valentine's day, my wonderful husband cooked me dinner.  He went to great lengths to find the perfect potato.....

  He braved the winds and fired up the BBQ to cook steak and found a delicious goat cheese potato recipe to serve with the steak.

Yeah, now you're jealous!

Sorry for the blurry picture, Shannon took it from stood up on a chair!  Bless her xx

 It was delicious, that's all I can say.   

The whole day was fabulous.  

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO MY WONDERFUL FAMILY!

Heart Attack Warning

WARNING:  this coming Monday (Valentine's Day) you might be the recipient of a Heart Attack.  

Remain calm, breathe deep and you will pull through just fine.  

Once Upon That First Time...

I cannot believe how quickly babies grow.  

One minute they're in tiny little premie clothes and the next you're feeding them from a spoon. 

 Ffion is now 5 months and here's a snap shot of her first encounter with food on a spoon.

Perhaps the face wouldn't be as disgusted looking if Grampa Martin lived closer.  I think Ffion made it further than any other of my kids before being introduced to food.  Here's a rundown of what she's missed out on:

• Angel Food Cake, Strawberries & Whip Cream at 1 month
• Ice Cream Sundae at 2 months
• Chocolate Bar at 3 months
• Chinese Takeout at 4 months

I think you catch my drift.  Yep, she's missed having a Grampa around, utterly ripped off - she'll probably be the fussiest of eaters later in life because of it.  For now, we'll keep going with the baby rice, despite the faces of disgust.   

Touching Moment

Yesterday Keira came home from school in tears, absolutely beside herself from the 'worst day of her life' kinda day.  I guess she got separated from her friends at morning recess and couldn't find them, or anyone else to play with (I wonder how that could happen, there's only 500+ kids all playing on one playground).  

Anyway, big sister Shannon went over to her sobbing sister, put her arms around her and with tears in her eyes said to Keira "I'm so sorry I didn't know you were alone and I'm sorry you couldn't find me".  It's moments like those that melt mom's heart and remind me of the great example of love, compassion and empathy that my girls have for each other.  

Love you girls xxx