This is what a nine year old can make all by herself out of sheer boredom on a lazy weekend.
Posts Tagged 'kids'
popsicle princesses
Published January 15, 2012 diy Leave a CommentTags: art, craft, handmade, kat, kids, mimi, mr. clean, popsicle, princesses, snake charmer, wizard
our wish
Published November 16, 2010 family Leave a CommentTags: baby, birth, breast, canada, children, colic, family, feeding, fenugreek, four, Guiness, kids, leaf, life, loopylocks, newborn, raspberry, tea, toronto
On August 22, 2010 we welcomed the birth of our fourth child, a son, to our family. Life is truly beautiful. Our family is now complete with 2 girls and 2 boys. Their initials spell the word W-I-S-H and we could not have asked for more. He is gorgeous. Little W is not so little. Weighing 9 1/2 pounds, he broke all the records in our family and extended family of grand kids for being the biggest baby ever.
The last two and a half months have been a whirlwind of emotions. We have been blessed with mostly highs. W sleeps when he sleeps and cries when he cries. He is such a blessing that it is hard to complain about sleep deprivation. Our home has also succumb to any and everything baby. Our dining table is now grand central for diaper changes, bath times, bouncy chairs and the odd dinner time when it is clear enough to eat a meal.
Being 8 years since our third was born, we have forgotten a thing or three. I have forgotten how demanding a newborn can be. I have forgotten, or perhaps took for granted that breastfeeding would come naturally. This munchkin has been so insatiable I have been unable to keep up an adequate milk supply. My other kids had no trouble nursing and I had plenty milk. This time has been quite different, however. From Fenugreek to raspberry leaf tea, to beer, to the odd glass of Guinness, I have been putting in my best effort to keep the wee one feeling full and content. Not an easy task. Then there has been the unfortunate reality that W is a bit colicky. He has had 2 to 3 unexplained episodes of crying throughout the day. Since our girls had colic, I think my husband and I are now old hat at it. Crying does not phase me in the least. Happily, he is on the up and out now and as he turns 3 months in a few days, hopefully the worst is behind us.
As for the “ISH” in our family, I could not ask for more loving, helpful children. Whenever I need anything – a glass of water, a breastfeeding pillow, a remote control or a cordless phone, voila! – they step in and lend a hand. They ask all the time how they can help, even if it is just to turn the oven off or stir a pot. Just this morning, as I was getting the kids lunches ready, my 10 year old son called my eldest “a Half Mummy” as she came to hold W. I cannot find a better description for her. At 12, H is the most capable of soothing W and lending a helping hand. All the kids have been wonderful actually. If I had a dollar for every time my third says…”He’s just so cute!” I’d be a wealthy woman right now. Come to think of it, I am the richest Mum I know.
word choice
Published June 13, 2010 family Leave a CommentTags: calling, canada, children, choice, cursing, family, golden, kids, loopylocks, name, parenting, rules, stupid, values, wisdom, word
We have special ground rules about word choice in our family. Each family has their own rules about what words are OK and what words are unacceptable. For us, it is expected that you choose your words wisely, or else there will be consequences! For example, you may only say the word “stupid” if it is not living. That includes not using it to describe any human, mammal, reptile, animal, insect, bug, plant or fruit for that matter… if it can grow, it deserves respect.
Knock yourself out if it is a book, rock, car, idea… etc. that hits you in the head, drops on your toe, nearly runs you over, or is just plain silly.
I think we all grew up with some version of the saying: “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never harm me”. I have learned that words can leave far deeper scars than any bump or bruise.
latest project
Published March 24, 2010 evolution Leave a CommentTags: baby, canada, dolls, evolution, expecting, family, four, handmade, kids, loopy, loopylocks, motherhood, parenthood, pregnancy, project, siblings, toronto, ultrasound
One must be a little loopy to consider going down this road again, no? Due in five months, my eldest will be 12, my middle almost 10 and my youngest 8. Truthfully, we are over the moon. As one of five myself, I can think of nothing more comforting that the idea of another to love. I was 10 when my fourth sibling was born and 13 when the fifth joined the family.
Four kids in the 21st Century is not exactly the norm. I heard someone recently say that “four is the new two”. Could that really be? As an educated modern woman (or at least I like to think I am), I bought the notion that if you were going to go down the motherhood road, you needed to have the kids all close together (I think the old adage … kill two [three in my case] birds with one stone) so you could get back on track quicker to relaunch a career. So I faithfully followed the blind, only to find the next 10 years to be the most challenging years of my life. Call it post partem, call it sleep deprivation, call it whatever you’d like. What I learned from this technique, if you can call it one, is that having kids in close succession makes life more of a blur than anything.
I remember when my third was born and about 8 months old, I had a moment alone with her and my husband and only then realized it was the first time we had stopped to spend time alone with her. That was never the case with our first, who was the centre of our world until 2 years passed and our son was born. From that moment on, it was a slippery slope. Juggling two in diapers is not easy, just plain smelly. I thought to myself that if I had had the chance to do this all over again, I may not have had my kids so close together.
Now we are about to expand our family with what I like to call: our village baby. This will not just be my baby (OK, my baby daddy counts too). This will be ‘our’ baby. Already, the kids are so inquisitive. Questions about the baby are never ending… Can you find out if it is a boy or a girl? Can he/she hear? Can they sleep in my room? Can we go shopping for baby stuff? Can you feel him/her kick yet? I am 18 weeks now and can feel something but just me… the added benefit of having stretched out tummy muscles. In no time at all, we will have to have a nightly floor show to watch the kicks rock my tummy.
In the next week, we will go in for a full anatomy ultrasound which we have promised the kids could miss school to take a first peak at their newest sibling. I am not sure who is more excited, them or me. I can’t wait to see their faces and reactions. For now I am sticking to my guns and keeping the sex of the baby a surprise for everyone, self included. This latest project is sure to be a labour of love.
make your own cereal
Published October 20, 2009 diy 3 CommentsTags: art, canada, cereal, children, craft, dolls, etsy, handmade, how to, kids, loopylocks, rag, toronto
You will need:
- an old empty cereal box
- wrapping paper (preferably from your brother’s birthday that just passed)
- pencil, colours and tape
- a 7 year old with a creative imagination
This is my youngest’s latest creation. She has a fettish for boxes that are ready for recycling. At first she used to ask for help. Finding no willing participants, she has now taken matters into her own hands. I like an independent child. Especially one who can make her own cereal. The dog reference is simply a poke at her mother and father who refuse to entertain the thought of a family pet.
back to school
Published September 7, 2009 inspiration Leave a CommentTags: back to school, Barbados, canada, dolls, etsy, handmade, hopscotch, inspiration, kids, labour day, loopylocks, parenting, ragdoll, summer, toronto
We are back in Toronto. Feels good to be home. Spent the entire last week of summer sick with colds. Small price to pay for great health and a great summer in Barbados. Today is Labour Day. Tomorrow is back to school. Talking of labour, still feels like yesterday. Now, each of my three kids will be in three separate schools. How did that happen? All I know is that the adjustment might be a little awkward at first. Like this picture. Makes sense but seems upside down for some strange reason.
Having spent an entire summer with my kids every single day I should be elated. Or should I? They have been my little friends. My little foes. But mostly, my little heartbeats for the summer. I have so enjoyed my time with them. All the things they experienced, many for the first time in Barbados. Sailing on the ocean. Witnessing baby turtles make their way to the sea. A mother turtle laying eggs. Snorkeling on a ship wreck. Diving. Reconnecting with cousins they had forgotten. And the list goes on… All good. Great actually.
up up and away
Published June 27, 2009 travel Leave a CommentTags: Barbados, canada, dolls, etsy, fun, handmade, kids, loopylocks, packing, rag, ragdoll, summer, toronto, toy, travel, trip
Today is the official kickoff of our trip to Barbados for the summer. While the kids get their last zzz’s before the flight, I am finishing last minute details… packing, weighing luggage, repacking, laundry, liquids out of hand luggage, blogging… you know, the usual. I have a track record of packing down to the wire: a pattern learned no doubt in university. The art of pulling an all nighter to make sure I have everything is nothing new. With three kids now, it is usually inevitable for me in times like this. Must be nerves. Since my husband is not joining us for another few weeks, this part is a little bittersweet. Up up and away…
fun with construction paper (part 2)
Published June 23, 2009 inspiration Leave a CommentTags: art, canada, construction, daughter, dolls, etsy, family, five, glitter, handmade, inspiration, kids, loopylocks, night, paper, rag, ragdoll, toronto, toy
Meet the artist below. She is the little person on the left wearing the hat. My camera work really does not do justice to how beautiful this is. My daughter’s attention to detail is remarkable. As she brought it home from school, she says: “I forgot to give Daddy a hand”. She makes me smile.
no place like home
Published April 19, 2009 inspiration Leave a CommentTags: blue, coffee, home, inspiration, kids, loopylocks, morning, shoes, sunday, toronto
It is a beautiful sunday morning. As I sit on the sofa, my son plays Donkey Kong a tad too loud on his Gameboy. One daughter wears a nutella smile while the other saunters in with a bowl of cereal. My husband is bussling in the kitchen to make me a fresh cup of coffee. I love home.
