photo fun

Add some adorableness to your pics with props....check out my guest post to see how over at bunchland.  I would love to see what you come up with!

weekend happiness

a lot of He-Man and He-Man-ish activities

a great thrift store find

a good start on Ava's Valentine's DANCE dress

a big pile of wet snow clothes

a brave brave girl getting her ears pierced

tea parties:: in this house meaning a Perrier and Oreo party

homework done before Monday morning

It was a great weekend!!

The triplets and a tradesman

Today I would like to formally introduce 3 new members to our family.  Izzy, Battle Cat and Captain Hook joined our family about 2 weeks ago and let me assure you that they have had some real highs and lows during that time.  I think they have finally adjusted to having our four faces pressed against the glass on a pretty constant basis.  I love listening to the kids chit chat with the fish.  Last night I actually hear Anthony say " good night Battle Cat... you were a very good listener today!"... I could devour that kid.  Just a word of warning, if you think it would be great fun to turn the tank light off and on like a strobe light and have a fish dance party IT IS NOT.... based on the book that Ava took out of the library, it could stress them out and KILL them.  Ava set a new family rule...dance parties for humans only!

Anthony fancies himself quite a tradesman around here.  This is his current style of choice and I LOVE IT!

Kung Hei Fat Choy

2012 has been my year....I know I'm only 23 days in.  I have dubbed this year "my year of organization" and I have been able to make a great start thanks to my most treasured 2012 Laurel Denise Planner.   Not only does it look FANTASTIC, it feels fantastic and it is fantastically functional.  The layout allows me to look at the month, week and day all at the same time... are you reading my excitement??  The quality of the paper is amazing....ink doesn't smudge or bleed through. I actually saw Ava just running her hand over the February page the other day...."just because".  There are pockets to put all my little papers in, spots to write notes and inspirations and oh so much more.  

At first I was a little concerned that I wasn't going to be able to fit my huge and sloppy hand writing in the allotted spaces BUT all i needed to do was buy a very fine pen (well actually a few of them in different colours) and my sloppy writing has been magically transformed into neat and orderly script.... would that concept work with dress sizes?

I always buy a new planner at the beginning of each year and I never use it past January  because they are always very impractical in a variety of ways.  I predict I will be using this planner WELL past January and am planning to buy the pink one for next year....okay i'm getting ahead of myself.

This planner is for my personal use only as I am not a fan of people chicken scratching in
my prize possession.  I have put a cheap calander up on the fridge for that kind of thing....you know who you are!   

This planner has truly helped me to release my inner stationary geek and get organized in a non-stressful way.

Thank you Laurel Denise for thinking of everything in your planner!

and thank you Dave of mixed media for hunting it down for me!

Continuing with the theme of New Year, I was so excited to celebrate Chinese New Year with the kids and Sri this year.  I even went all out and bought this adorable book to get them involved.   I had planned to have a big dinner and try to incorporate as many of the New Year traditions that I could.  Unfortunately, I was the ONLY one excited about this in my house....in fact I think one of the kids actually hid the book because I had been going on about it so much. So happy lunar New Year from ME!  Im counting this as my new years day so that I can restart my resolutions...none of which i have been able to keep....NONE!

snail mail

If we have your address check your mailboxes! Ava is on a letter writing spree and can't be stopped.  She is now on the hunt for a penpal.  Check out my guest post over at bunchland about the  letter writing kit I put together for her for Christmas.  I would love someone to put one together for me... HINT HINT!  

{this moment}

Joining amanda and friends in "this moment"...capturing a moment from the week that I want to cherish and hold onto.   Have a great weekend!

three!

It is so very hard for me to believe that three years ago today my little baby Anthony was born.  A little battered, a little blue (and then yellow) and a lot adorable.  

Now he has grown to be my little boy who keeps me constantly on my toes but also oh so busy laughing.

He loves all things sharp and dangerous in order to "preteck" the family.

He is the one who loves to be doted on by his sister and tries to copy her every move...yup 

nail polish included.

He LOVES animals but is totally petrified of them.

I love how curious he is and how he can get so caught up in his imagination... to watch him fighting off dragons is hilarious.

He is immune to time outs and laughs in the face of consequences

His talents include:
- not listening
- giving gentle but very sloppy kisses
- feeding the dog
- pretend karate moves
- finding long and pointy sticks no matter where he is
- being able to watch the same movie over and over and over again
- loving and then hating the SAME food at the SAME meal
- climbing UP slides
- swallowing gum

Anthony always seems to find a way to make you feel loved and appreciated.  I love his cuddles and his raspy little voice (especially when he is cuddly)
To have him in our lives is a privilege.  These last 3 years have been challenging but ones that I wouldn't trade for anything.  I am sad that his "baby" years are over but look forward to watching Anthony change and grow....hopefully not too fast!

We threw him his first of many 3rd year parties this past weekend complete with ruffled streamers, banners, custom birthday hats, unsuccessful balloon animals, photo props, tons of food, family and friends.  He can't wait for the next party...rather the next set of presents I suspect.

10 things Ive forgotten I loved

Thanks to the Christmas break I have re-discovered a few things...

1. he- man and of course his mighty battle cat
2. sleeping in past 9:00
3. sleep overs complete with giggling fits and tons of junk food
4. the amazing taste of jolly ranchers
5. the musical stylings of Paul Simon
6. making and devouring this japanese pizza
7. old National Geographic Magazines
8. listening to this podcast
9. weekly flyers
10. making  these dishcloths
oops
I forgot to add sniffing Mr. Sketch markers....how the heck do they make them smell so darn good?

the fog

I am just now emerging out of the Christmas fog that engulfed me for the last few weeks.  Here is a little guest post on how Ava and I made this adorable dragon pillow for Anthony.

He was thrilled with the pillow and the knight accessory kit that we put together (post on the kit later)....I may get addicted to making them!