Monday, November 26, 2012

a little change

A double posting day!

That's what happens when I take 5 weeks off!  Yes yes, I know I apologize every time I take a long break.  I am trying to stop that but I will just say a little SORRY and then be done!!

So lots and lots of stuff happening around these parts!  My last 5 weeks have been spent signing my name multiples times for some very important stuff.

My cousin and I bought my father's plumbing & heating company Clowater's Plumbing & Heating!

That's my real job, perhaps not very glamorous but I think I do a good job at it.  It's been a slow, sometimes grueling process but I think it will be a good move and I hope we continue to make it a great company!

I have managed to do lots of crafting and fun with the boys in between perfecting my signature.

I will post those in the weeks to come!

This decision to purchase the company was one that seemed to make sense one minute and cause great stress another.  Sometimes life gives you challenges to make sure that you really want it.  If it was easy, I guess you couldn't really ever be sure.  Well I have worked hard to make this happen and I am confident that I want it!  (most of the time :)

I look forward to figuring out the construction industry and throwing them off with having to deal with a woman!  It really does throw some of them off and it makes me smile every time!  

Now if I could just find cute steel toe footwear I would be all set!


Black Friday and Cyber Monday

SHOPPING!!!!

Most ladies love it, some men love it and kids mostly hate it!!!

I would like to someday take part in a little American Black Friday fun however I am left slightly concerned for our need to have have have!!

I do not think there is anything that I NEED that would get me to stand in line for days in order to get.  I know there is nothing I WANT bad enough to wait inline for days.

I can't even grasp how people can do that, I read that one woman took her two teenage sons with her and waiting in a line up from Wednesday afternoon for a store to open (I hope on Thurdsay evening, can't remember) to buy two TV's and save $700!  She missed Thanksgiving dinner with her family, she made her children miss Thanksgiving with their family!!!!!!!!!!!  My question is, did she NEED those TV's, where they that important???  Her response was that she could spend the rest of the weekend with her family.

Of course, that's what weekends are for!  However, Thanksgiving is apparently a HUGE deal in the US.  Shouldn't that be the big deal????

I also can't understand the need to steal, hit, swear and be generally mean to people while shopping for these great deals.  Isn't it the time to be thankful for family, friends and basically your life!

To those crazy people who ruin the fun.......step back and think about it!

For those people who love to shop and just enjoy the adventure (and a good deal), I say HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!


***side not:  I will be attempting to spend the rest of the day avoiding my cyber monday emails in attepts to not buy things I don't really need!!!!  Wish me luck!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Scholastics

Scholastic was one of the benefits of my kids going to daycare. 

I realize that some people find those handouts annoying and just a waste of paper.  Me.......love it!

It's like getting the Sears catalogue in my world.  I am the aunt that buys books!  The mom who gets so excited to pick out books and is thrilled when they arrive.  I look over them intently putting stars beside the ones I want, names beside some for presents and then I have calm down and actually pick a few that the boys will really love.  Some days I have to be strong and realize we have a ton of books and at some point Joel is going to lay down the big NO card on book orders!  I figure if I maintain some restraint that he won't pull it out.  Doing good so far.

I am not the only one who is excited on scholastic delivery day.  I am happy to report that Liam told me on the way home from school today " Miss Gallagher put a surprise of a whole bunch of books in my communication bag"  this was said with glee and excitement!!!!

We made it in the door and they opened up the book bag to get at the new books!

Today's book order!!!!

 
 
Nothing makes me happier than happy reading little boys.....well unless they are snuggling like this!
 
 
 
 
Aren't they just the cutest!!!
 
 
Happy Reading!!!!


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

ombre

Ombre.....it's everywhere.

Sometimes I believe and what I really mean is I am totally right!

I believe that most trends are accidents, someone didn't actually sit down and think of a trend and then someone made it.

Someone made something, either by accident or on purpose and the powers that be deem it cool!  It soars from there.

Ombre hair ***




This was not a thought out trend.  This is a result of letting ones hair grow out!  Instead of keeping up the blonde highlights, they were left to grow out!

I have been rocking ombre hair for YEARS!!



Just in slightly less versions.  However, going through my pictures to see if I could find a really good one made me realize a couple of things. 
One, I am not in the majority of pictures, which to me is a shame.  I like a good picture of me!!! haha!
Second, I am either wearing a hat or have my hair up in most pictures!  I should probably do my hair more!

Moving on:

Ombre nails....



Probably the first time was a nail polish mistake that looked cool!

I barely get the time to paint my nails, so I have nothing to show here!

Ombre Clothing>>>



I feel that it gave textile people a way to use up their mistake textiles and clear out the warehouse.  Don't get my wrong, I like some of it but some of it just looks like they made a gross miscalculation on the amount of dye and the dye time!


This is a tie dye job gone a little astray but with a pretty outcome!  Boom....new trend!


Ombre baking---



I kind of feel this one was born out of lack of food colouring!  I have done this, many years before it was cool because I couldn't quite get the colour I was searching for and only had so much frosting.  So I started to frost the cupcakes with what I had, two at a time, adding a little more food colouring as I went.  Looked pretty but was create out of need.


Now it's given a name and it's cool!!











Friday, October 5, 2012

Thanksgiving....a time of thanks

My son was asked what he was thankful for at his afterschool program the other day.

His answer: Candy!

yup, that's my kid!  We are working a expanding that answer to include a little more!!!

It got me thinking, what am I thankful for.?

I am thankful for cries for mommy at 2:30am because your bugbite hurts (last night)...because I know he knows I will always be there!

I am thankful for morning snuggles when your son is looking at you and it's oh so early!

I am thankful for those glorious mornings when my husband gets up and makes coffee and sits with the monkey's while I lay in bed...going back to sleep doesn't always happens but just laying is nice!

I am thankful for my parents because I don't know if I could be a parent without them!  I know I woudn't be the parent I am if it weren't for them being my parents!!!  (I know, lots of "parents" but it's true!)

I am thankful for date nights, to find my husband again!

I am thankful for family game night and movie nights!

I am thankful for family hockey on the deck when Liam says that girls can play hockey!  He wasn't so sure for awhile!~

I am thankful for smudged supper on my sweater because the boys just can't wait until supper is over to give me hugs!  (or they just really want to get my clothes dirty)

I am thankful for my friends, knowing they are there for me when things are happy or sad! 

I am thankful for giggles, hugs, snuggles and belly laughs!

I am thankful for my two adorable little men, Liam and Rhys; a little smile, hug or "I like your neck-a-less mommy" can turn any day into a great day!

I am thankful for Joel, who has to put up with alot and still loves me, thinks I beautiful and occasionally thinks I am as funny as I think I am!

What are you thankful for??

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!!

Monday, October 1, 2012

pants

Don't ya hate pants??

This is a little view into my theory on pants.  My friend Adele and I took this 20 sec recap on pants and have pushed it a little too far sometimes but that's normal.

Homer wants to burn his pants and if you ever watched the show, he loves to be without pants.

I don't exactly agree with Homer but there are many days that I do hate pants, not perhaps for the same reason as Homer.  And just as a little disclaimer.....I was about 15 when I decided this was a cool reference and I am unsure why it never left me!

I have a 34" inseam for pants to touch the ground.  I am sure you are thinking, oh it must be so nice to have such long legs.  Why yes it is, I do actually love them however, covering them is a whole other issue!!!!!

High school was bad enough trying to find pants that were long enough but then by some stroke of luck, I grew another inch after high school and could finally stop saying " I wanna be 5'10 like Cindy Crawford"  because I achieved that goal!!


For those of you that don't understand that glorious quote, it's from Clueless!  (one of my all time favourite movies)  Judge if you must but I will not be told differently!!!  I often have clever one liners from that movie go through my head for many occasion in my real life.  Usually I keep them to myself because it's not as fun to have to explain it but if Amanda is around, there is no need for explanation!!!

Anyways, I veared off topic for a moment.

Pants!

Pants really have been my nemisis for years.  When I find a pair that fit and are long enough, it's like a magically moment and I want to buy multiple pairs.  Which usually is what happens.  The thing is that I usually can't buy them around my hometown.  Different lengths is more available than it was before but still I don't think everyone is using the same measuring stick!


So finding pants that just fit and can be worn with flats is pretty good but then I live in constant fear of them shrinking in the washing machine (it happens!!!)  Finding a pair for wear with heels that are taller than 2 inches is a little more challenging.  But then trying to find cute shoes that are 2" is also challanging!

So I have a collection, some are very old but I have managed to keep them in good condition.  These are dress pants that I speak of.

Jeans have a whole other level of trauma!  Sometimes you think they are long enough and then they hit the washing machine.....boom, you are giving them away to your short legged friends!  Jeans to wear with heels, even harder but finally doable.

Cords, forget about it.  Although the lovely world of skinny jeans has brought some cord love!  Skinny jeans are great when they aren't made for someone who is uber skinny and wanting to flaunt the bum cleavage. 



Skinny jeans with a nice medium size rise........wonderful!  The reason for this is, it's ok if they only come to my ankles!  They still look cute with flats, booties and great tucked into tall boots!



Yoga pants.....another tricky situation.   Find a pair, buy multiples

Gym pants or fleece pants for around the house!  Impossible!  So if you ever see any long ones out there let me know.  My search continues!!

Even after this rant, the pants I have problem with aren't even mine!

My little monkeys just keep growing and my smallest monkey is getting taller everyday.  Pants,they don't fit, everyday!

So in my organized rubbermaids of clothes, I assume I will be finding some wonderful size 3 pants!

NOPE!

I have lost pants!!!  They are no where in my house.  Somehow they have either been thrown out or given away by mistake.  Devasted, I am!

Now, not only do I need to buy Liam new pants....because we all remember my back to school prep.  He's getting close.
Now I have to buy size 3 pants for Rhys.....not fun!

But on a good note, I have plently of size 4's!!!

I hope everyone has a hassle free pant day!

Monday, September 17, 2012

...and we recap!

The past few weeks have been crazy!

School started, work turned into chaos and the weather got colder!!!

I have felt guilty for not posting but my brain isn't being as creative as I would like it to, so I thought we could recap the past few weeks avoiding all the unfun stuff that has been happening and only posted about the fun we have had!

The last weekend of the summer was spent at my brother's cottage.  We enjoyed a boat ride, playing outside and in the shallow water and searching for frogs!!!

 


Then we rounded out that weekend with the FREX, oh how I love the Fredericton Exhibition for those of you not familiar with it!  It's our version of a fair!

The rides were spinning, turning and swirling and I was expertly avoiding them all!  My kids are still on the little rides and can go together which is just perfect for me! 


Rides, candy apples and my son posing like a pro!!!   Oh his brother got one too because what are grandparents for if not to whine to because you didn't want to share and get you your own!!!!

We watched crazy people jump from high diving boards into a small pool, we watched other people's children ride motocross bikes off a ramp and do tricks!  Sadly that's what I think now, watching those boys/men doing really neat tricks on their bikes all I could think was those are someone else's little boys and someday could be mine!  Scary!!!!

And Liam FINALLY got to watch fireworks, 11pm is just too late for this little boy so these September ones that happen at 9:30pm where still a stretch but doable!  He loved them and hasn't stopped talking about them.

Since it was so late, I assumed Rhys would be tired while waiting.....nope!


This was his favourite activity until the fireworks started and he leaped into my arms.  Rhys did not love the fireworks.  Maybe next year!

Then we had our first week of the 2's room and afterschool programs AND then the magical first day of Kindergarten!!!

Liam is doing great and I am feeling pretty good about it!

Work was still insane but that's no fun to talk about!!!  Apparently that's just how it's going to be from now on!

This past weekend was filled with lots of fun.  On Friday, we gathered in secret for Joel and his sibling to surprise their father with tickets to his favourite concert and a hotel stay in Halifax for his 60th birthday.  Before the gathering, Joel and I went over to Marden's (a place of secret finds!!!!!) in search of fabric.  While I didn't find exactly what I was looking for, I did find some very fun pieces for some future projects which I will of course share later!  (Just need to find the time to start, do and complete them)

Then Saturday was filled with dancing and music as we attending the children's portion of our local Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival!!

The boys dancing up a storm

Then banged on some drums!!



All in all, a fun time! 
We capped off our fun morning with a dark and gloomy afternoon of thunder and lightening, which needed games, lego and snacks to take our mind off the noise!


Sunday was time for a little church.  Rhys has been asking to wear his tie for weeks and finally Sunday was the day....they are quite happy to be dressed up!



Then it was off to the Gagetown Fruit Farm for Open Farm Day.  It was a nice little adventure, we had a wonderful lunch at their restaurant, visited some animals and took a tractor ride

 


And then a ferry ride to Jemseg.....who says we don't get out!!! Haha!




The exciting life of the Dickinson's!!

It was a lovely weekend that could have been a little longer to get the things done that I needed to but put off to get out of the house and forget about all the other things that stress my world!

Oh well, there's always next weekend!!

Happy Monday!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Kindergarten!

It didn't snow or rain and Liam maintained his height!

So we made it Kindergarten!!!



After asking for weeks and then everyday this week, it was finally his turn to go!!



He was so happy to be in his new classroom, make new friends and of course play!  He doesn't know yet that it's a fun place to learn!!

I was so happy to hear that he had a great morning and even after his first full day it was still a good time.
He likes it and wants to go back!!!  That's all we can ask for!

Just so Rhys didn't feel left out

 
 
 
I think I did pretty good with all the changes.  My children seemed to make out just fine!  Rhys is a little concerned each morning but is fine and always has a great day!  Liam did great, tired I think but doing great!
 
Me, I did good until about noon yesterday when I had a little moment after I might have stalked him on the playground and saw that he wasn't playing with anyone.  He didn't really look sad or anything but he was twirling around the swing post!  I was still sad that he wasn't running around like a crazy person like the rest of the kids.  I assume he's just figuring out how to be in charge of the whole thing, so he is taking in the whole event!!! haha~!
 
Now that we have completed another week of firsts I am going to try to relax and enjoy the rest of September!
 
Happy Weekend!
 


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

am I ready??

So many people have asked me this question or some version of it over the past few weeks.  My little boy Liam is starting kindergarten tomorrow.

Am I ready??

Great question, I am ready only because I am so confident that he is ready.  He is very clever, social and oh so happy to be going to school.  He is a late baby (december 22nd birthday) and a boy to boot, so obviously there were reservations about him starting school.  He has done great learning all the things he needed to learn and loves to lead, he's kind, funny and aims to please!

I am ready for that reason, I will be sad that he's started school and my little baby is no longer but excited for all the new adventures to come.  For him to experience things on his own, to make mistakes, correct them and move on, to make new friends and learn new things!!!

He is ready and I will be too!

Now you might ask do we have everything ready for school???  Another great questions and oh how I would love to say yes.  I would love to say, we have our new outer wear ready, new/old clothes organized and ready to go, shoes and boots tried and new ones purchased.

But alas, it is not true.  I put Liam's raincoat on him today and what do know.....it's about 5 inches too short on the arms!  Do you think there are rain coats out there in stores for me to purchase??  Nope, just checked!  Ordering we will go!

His snowsuit is looming downstairs taunting me as I think, oh it should fit, one can't be sure yet  because I haven't tried it on!

I got through all of his pants and stored (threw them on his dresser) the ones that didn't fit and neatly placed the ones that do on his shelf.  This joy will end soon as all of his pants (12 pairs) fit the same way, we have about an inch clearance and then poof, all the pants will be too short!  It will happen so quickly and I of course will be surprised.

Shirts I couldn't get through yet.  Boys, they do not like trying on clothes....unless of course it's a super hero costume but I know those fit!

Anyways, we are ready for tomorrow.  As long as it stops raining, doesn't snow and Liam doesn't grow an inch.

Friday, August 31, 2012

keep on keeping on

I can't remember who says that but I liked it.  Like any good blogger, I should probably research that but I am not going to.

If you like the saying great, if you know who said it great.  If not, that's ok!

Thank you for the all lovelies that emailed, texted or called with your concerns over my last post.  Yes it was a little heavy but totally true.

The world is ok, mine was just a little shaken for a bit.  We are good!

I haven't had time to come up with clever things to blog about or to show you some of the things I have been doing because somehow things go crazy over here again!

I assume it might have something to do with have two small children and looking after the business that will someday (perhaps soon) be mine.  It makes things very busy and I seem to not be able to find extra time.

It makes it worse when I have great and wonderful plans to execute in the evening and once the children are finally in bed, I just want to sit on the couch and read my book! Anyone else out there feel like that?

I start a book and the world slips away, Joel doesn't really exist (only to warm up my toes), the dishes stay dirty, the laundry stays piled, the toys stay out but the book comes alive!!!!  I have to leave space and time in between books as to get actually things done around my house.

So that is where some of my time has gone but I don't feel it's a waste, just some much deserved and enjoyed me time!

But I do have lots of things to share with you in the future and I look forward to getting organized to share them with you. 

Next week my oldest starts kindergarten and I have happy and sad all at the same time.  He is so very excited and I am too but I am sure that I am going to cry once I am back at my home.  I don't know what it is but he even seems so much older than he did even in July.  He seems to have grown over night, clothes are surely not going to fit long!  His facial expressions and reactions to things are even leaving the preschooler/toddler phase.  My little man is growing up and I can't be sure I am ready.

I will of course document the event completely and will probably post before and after because of the stress and cuteness of the event!!!!

So I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend and we will chat again next week!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

trust



The past few days have been interesting to say the least.

When you expect a person to be the person you know and then the truth comes out and it's not what you expected, it is a bit of a blow to system.  That's how things have been going.  My faith in people has been tested and shaken recently.

After some head shaking in disbelief I have decided to continue on with my hope that people can be trusted and aren't always out to get you.  I want to believe people are going to do what's best for themselves but also what is best for the company they work for, the family they have, and the friends they keep.

I am going to continue to leave my keys in my car when I go into the daycare or the post office and believe that no one is going to steal my car.

I am going to continue to leave items out on my front step for people and believe they will leave the money promised in my mailbox

I am going to continue to let my children be children, play outside and make new friends, and believe that adults and children alike are going to treat them with kindness and respect

I will continue to teach my children to believe the best in people and treat everyone with kindness and respect.  I will also teach them to be cautious and smart and to learn when something just isn't right to tell someone they do trust.

I will continue to believe that if we treat someone the way we want to be treated, they are going to do the same for us.

It's the only way I can make it through this crazy world!

I will not allow myself, my company, my family or my friends to be bullied, pushed around or taken advantage of but I will do what I can to make it a better place!


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

and camping we went!

As previously stated my version of camping doesn't always mesh with other peoples!

I am happy with that just the way it is, we camped in our 35 ft trailer that had a TV, microwave, shower and separate bedroom in the back.  Thankfully this is my parents trailer and they so graciously allow us to use it whenever they aren't! 

I stated those features because those are not features I grew up with, yes we had a trailer that allowed us to not sleep on the ground and we could eat indoors but that was it.  It wasn't fancy but it was fantastic!!!

These upgrades are a perk as was the clever thinking of my mother to take her old single use Keireg and leave it in the trailer!!!! 

So we packed up Friday and heading west for a little camping adventure at what I must admit is the most kid friendly obsessed campground I have ever been to.  Jellystone Park in Woodstock, NB.

We arrived for Halloween weekend and it was a huge success! 

Our first night it was just our little family of 4....we had fun at the water slides, the parks and of course a campfire!  Saturday arrived and so did our guests. 

What do you do when you have a huge trailer, invite friends!  So we invited our friends to join us in the chaos of camping with two 5 and almost 5 year olds, and 2 two year olds and 4 adults in one trailer!!!!

I can see you thinking, wow, that's a lot of people in one trailer and the potential for meltdown and trouble is high.  We all made it through wonderfully!!

We had a great time!


We decorated our campsite!!  It was Halloween of course!!



Ate Cheesie's!!


Drink beer!!  (they look happy and it was best to keep them happy :)


And then dressed up like the Flintstones!!!

Knowing it was going to be a hot day for trick or treating in August and knowing our costumes are made for October in New Brunswick I made some August appropriate costumes!!!

Everyone feeling cooler in a dress!!!  I saw an adorable post on pinterest of Wilma and Fred and then realized we had the perfect kids for the whole team!  Fabric shopping I went and costumes were made!  The girls mother was in charge of hair accessories and necklaces as that's not really my world!!

It turned out great (even though Rhys refuses to smile), they had fun, they were cool and the parents all thought they looked great.  (the kids, including our own, didn't really know who they were!!)


Here's a little mash up of the cuteness!!




Also included in the camping adventure was:


Riding in the back of the truck!


water slides


mini golf


hayride with Yogi and Cindy Bear


Campfire and smores!!!!


And of course a morning playdate in bed!!


It was a really fun time and we all made out so good that we have plans for another team camping adventure for next year!!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!!














Thursday, August 16, 2012

a lot of dirt...



We have lived in our house for 6 summers and have been staring at the mess of plants and stuff along the side of our house.



Throughout the year we would get some flowers on certain parts, as Liam is proudly showing off our flowers (I should know the name of these but I have no clue and am still learning in this game of gardening....it's a slow process)

A few weekends ago, on a very hot and sticky day I decided we were finally going to do something about it.



That plan ended up being, rip everything out!!!  Except the plant pictured above with Liam and what ever lovely plant grows up my lattice!!  They made the cut....everything else was out!



The boys had a great time collecting plants, moving dirt and using power tools!!!



And of course playing with worms!!!


As with most things, I don't know why we waited so long to attack it.  My life seems to get going so quickly and I am constantly trying to visit with people, take the kids to fun places and get things done that we rarely have a weekend let alone a day to hang out at home.  This summer we realized that we needed to take those days if not weekends!!!

So this beautiful sight is the result of one of those days!



I can see the potential for pretty flowers and plants next summer (I promise to remember their names!!)


My boys see a new spot to play in the dirt....and for the rest of this summer that's just what it is.



We are also going to attempt a raised veggie garden next summer, we have had so many friends tell us of all their yummy veggies straight from the garden and we are jealous! 

Big plans.....big plans!!!  Stay tuned!






camping


Camping

When you see the word what do you think?




A tent?





Or a trailer?







Most people tell me they think tents!  Silly people.  I see a trailer!  Yes, this is perhaps a little spoiled of me but it's what I grew up doing.  I dislike when someone says that going camping in a trailer is not camping.  It's all camping, if your going to distinguish then it's called trailering or tenting!!

I am happy for people do to whatevery type of camping they like.  Me?  I like a trailer, I don't do tents!  I have done the tenting thing but usually there were many people, drinking and very little sleeping!  Usually it was a cheap place to "sleep" for a greater purpose!

All through my childhood, we went camping all over the maritimes, quebec, ontario and the new england states.  I often mention a place to my mother and she says, oh you've been there.  We went camping there!  So apparently I have been all over the place, clearly I don't remember a lot of it.  But the things I do remember are awesome.  We had so much fun camping!

Now I just want me kids to have that same experience and memories to look back on.  When I envision camping though, it's to do just that, camp.  Hang out at the campground, visit new people, swim, play and relax!!!  Granted with children most things are not relaxing but I suspect as my children grow the relaxing or at least sitting will get to happen more.....I am keeping my fingers crossed for this, so if you have older children and this isn't true, please do not tell me!!!!

We are heading camping this weekend and I am very excited for the Halloween themed weekend.  The costumes are made (pictures next week), the decorations are kind of organized, the food is partially ready, the packing is not ready but I am ready for a mini vacation!!



I will be envisioning me doing this.

Pretty dress and all!!









While my weekend will look much more like this!






Or this








Happy Weekend!!!