Hopes and Dreams

We have had a very busy summer and have been traveling and are planning to go on one more trip in 2 weeks. So, I haven't really had time to update my blog or visit others. The travel and kids have kept me super busy.

I'm not sure why this first day of school picture is so small. I'll try to repost for Grandma's when I can get a lesson from Hubby. I'm not liking the new computer, or maybe it's not liking me!!!

This week or oldest started Kindergarten! I have had such mixed emotions about letting go and trying to control everything. Finally today after a week of dealing with new routines and adjustments I have some perspective. I have worried every day over things like is he getting enough to drink and eat and is he happy? Also not feeling like I understand the school routines.... After all isn't it a Mother's job to worry? But today the spirit prompted me with a gentle reminder that worry is a sin. So I am letting go and Trusting in God. I wish I had more time to expand on this post but want to follow up with a love letter to my son. For now his Daddy took him to school and I have two baby sisters needing me, one wants juice with breakfast the other wants Mommy milk! I need a shower and a pile of laundry and housework awaits. Dear Reader, I have a request that you say a quick prayer blessing our family with the fruit of the spirit and for Me to have Peace! Many Thanks!!!

Grandpa's Masterpieces

So ya'll remember the fun art project we did last week at the park right? I can't believe I linked to it and if you scroll down it's just a couple posts before... anyways. So Grandpa had a Birthday this week. And what do you get a guy who has everything? Well you give him original artwork from his Masterpieces!

I found the abc stickers in the dollar bin at Target, woot! I used the same technique spelling out the word and framed it off with masking tape. I started off trying to get the kids to paint the wording but it wasn't working. Turns out I had to sponge it on quickly so as not to shift the letters. I had some cardboard underneath for protection and to keep it level of course. I only managed to get the baby's footprints, because 2 month olds curl their hands up + paint = MESS!

After that dried I sectioned off the back with more masking tape and let the kids paint more original artwork on the back. If you try this make be sure you put the older kid the direction the shirt will be worn, he started painting roly poly stick people upside down! You can see if you look close at his part. Then he added an ant parade. You can see that the younger one had streaks of design very "Jackson Pollock"! So if I'd placed her at the top it wouldn't have mattered that she was painting upside down because it would look good from any direction.

We finished off with a custom decorated designer shirt box for our unique Birthday gift. I think Grandpa will be one stylin Dude with a priceless gift. In fact I think I want one of my own! Happy Friday and have a lovely weekend friends.

Using old crayons

Our crayon tubs have gotten full of broken and worn down crayons. So I started sorting by color so we can try this project. Off to the left are some cheaper ones which don't melt and if made in China could be questionable for product safety. I'll be more careful to inspect when we get crayons from dining out... I just always bring them home and throw them in the coloring supplies. From now on those will go in the trash!

The kids had fun helping me grate these up. Be forewarned it is really messy!

Next we piled our shavings on a rock we found at the park. And then we let the Texas sun do it's thing. The kids had fun checking on the progress throughout the day.

Our finished handiwork. These will make a nice paperweight gift for a loved one. In fact Master gifted me with his right on the spot and announced the other was for Aunt Kathy.

En plein air

Today we did art outside, which the French refer to as "en plein air".
And while it was nice to be outside it was nicer to contain the mess factor. I absolutely adore how this project turned out and bonus the kids had a blast.

The proud artists displaying their work!

I think it would be fun to do your name, holidays phrases, fun words... shapes.... you get the idea right? I see us making some of these as Christmas presents this year. For the how to instructions I discovered them here at explanation required . I discovered her delightful blog after looking at another project she did that was featured on One Pretty Thing another favorite blog of mine. I heart you, internet!

Oh Canada

Happy Canada Day!

We had pancakes and maple syrup for breakfast, yummmm. Kraft dinner for lunch followed by donuts as a special treat. Now if only we had some smoked meat sandwiches and poutine to round out the day, eh?

More on Babywearing

Hi Mom!

Here is my new baby wrap.

Isn't it a pretty color?

It's super comfy.

5 week comparison

This is my firstborn at 5 weeks. He was my scrawniest babe. Had horrible reflux and colic.

Child number 2 was my biggest babe and nursed great and grew great. I can count only a handful of times that she spit up (like 3).

And here is my sweet youngest babe at 5 weeks. She also has reflux and has to sleep in a bouncer and wear bibs, except when Momma is taking a picture. We are making progress with spit ups down from 3 bibs a night to one.

I found it interesting to compare how my little ones looked each at the same age as an infant.

Babywearing

I have discovered the moby wrap and am loving it! A friend lent me hers and I have one coming in the mail this week. I would have a dozen more babies if I could babywear all of them!!!

Awww, snug as a Bug!

Sorry for the tiny pics. I can't figure out how to use this new computer or my iphone which I used to take these pics.

My 3 Ring Circus

Hello All, Welcome to my 3 ring circus and step right up to juggle life with 3 kids! If you aren't supervising the middle child very closely with her markers she'll decide she wants full sleeve tattoos on her arms cause that's what all the cool hip 3 year olds are doing in Austin! She proudly showed me her work and announced it was her name!

The kids adore their new baby sister!

They love getting to hold her and help care for her.

Things are going well if you don't factor in sleep deprivation and an overabundant milk supply which makes Mommy very uncomfortable with engorged udders, Mooooo! It has also been hard to help baby not be so gassy if she gets to much foremilk, she has some spitting up when she gets too full of milk as well. Some days are better than others but overall we seem to be getting into a rhythm.

On a side note if you plan to have a baby make sure your computer doesn't die, you car doesn't act up (headlights wouldn't turn off - bad fuse) and that sugar ants don't show up to join your household. All of the above explains where I've been and what I've been up too lately.

~

I haven't figured out how to use the new computer yet to upload pics and use the new Windows 7. Hopefully my tired brain and body will get functioning and I can happily blog as time allows. Wish I had more time to visit blogging pals, but know that I miss you and cherish your lovely comments. Smiles, Jennifer

It's a.....

Girl!!!!!

Maple Baby, (her bloggy name is a reference to made in Canada with U.S. parts) was born Tuesday 5/25/2010 at 2:03 p.m. and weighed in at 6lbs 15oz and 20 inches. The labor was induced at 9:00 am with pitocin, the doctor broke my water at 12:40 pm in the afternoon. At that point I was only 4 cm and 50% effaced and then labor ramped up to ready to push fully dilated by 2 pm with nurses calling doctor stat and paging for a "baby catcher". I had to wait holding through 2 painful contractions but after 4 pushes about 6 minutes we met our beautiful girl. She is a calm easy going baby definitely full of Grace, hooray for Tuesday! I delivered all 3 kids naturally and am really happy with all 3 birthing outcomes!!! Recovery is going great.

Sadly our computer decided to conk out so this picture is from my brother's iphone. I was able to use the lap top to send this out for anyone waiting to share our news! Hopefully we'll get a new system up and running soon. In the meantime I am adjusting to the balance of caring for 3 kids while being "Dairy Queen". I look forward to catching up with blogging friends when things settle down.