First T-Ball Experience

We have been wanting to get Em involved in some kind of organized activity for the longest time. This year Em showed some interest in playing T-Ball this year. So I took her down to her elementary school for sign ups. She received as a gift this year for Christmas a T-Ball set so we could help her get into the groove before her practices started in February. We had a great weekend of weather so I decided to take the "team" out for some introductory practice and expose her and her siblings to hitting a ball off the top of a stick.

We had a ball! Pun absolutely intended. I was impressed by the agility of the kids. This is going to be great fun for the whole family. The next step is to introduce her to catching a ball with a glove. Here are a few shots of the kids striking their baseball card poses. Enjoy.

Look out the OPAM woman has turned into TPAM woman

Ok, so for those of my close friends, who know me, know me very well, I get ideas, lots of ideas but I do not seem to bring all of these ideas to completion. Well ladies, I am proud to announce and have picture proof of these completed ideas!

My house, is absolutely cool, however when you walk in you barely see a family living in it other than the mountainous amounts of stray toys, clothes, shoes the kids leave everywhere. I do mean everywhere, this one time at band camp, I climbed into my bed and found a little kid sock hiding in the sheets. How it got there is a mystery but none the less the sock had made refuge amidst the sheets. I question the husband, but he never has any legitimate answers, a lot of dodging and weaving on his part. Go figure.

So what was I blabbing on about? Oh yes, projects. The point is the house is empty of pictures, decor, just about anything the little touches do to make a home. So I was empowered in the last few weeks with some, funny I did not think of it before, TIME. Who would have thunk time would be an aid?

I finally put some stuff up on the wall in the kids' rooms, organized the kid's bathroom, and cleaned up my bedroom and closet. A handful of completed activities that have made me smile. So without any further distractions, here are some pictures.


Itsy posing with Tinker Belle

The Big Easy was unavailable for photo op. He regularly avoids any publicity with one comment, "No Cheese Mama!" The boy is creature of habit so change is not his favourite activity, minutes after he was tucked into bed he calmly said, "Ok Mom, take down the stickers off the wall". I said boy the stickers are there to decorate your room, he say "Oh, ok, to decorate my room. Please take them off the wall." After a few moments of negotiation, the wall decor remained where it was placed.

Dinos and princesses, couldn't ask for a better combination.

I have been forever wanting to put something in the kid's bathroom to harness the ever moving bathing products for the dirty little monsters. Finally I was surprised to find this little jewel to make my bath times a bit easier.

Em is a big Kindergarten student and apparently they believe in copious amounts of homework. This little beauty is perfect for her room and quiet time for me to spend time with her. I have plans to stencil the kids' names on the back of their chairs and on their walls. I plan to have a similar pattern for the boy but with trains and cars instead of butterflies and dragonflies. I also bought a lamp for each of the kids and their tables so they can see the beautiful art and homework they create.

More to come!

The Final Descent to Some Normalcy, 3rd planet from the Sun, Project Proof for the Doubters

Ok, you wise guys, yeah I am talking to you Vitamin D! For those doubters I can actually do some crafty stuff, feast your ever loving eyeballs on this. I actually completed a project for the house and did so in two days. It would have been sooner but I had to wait for the paint to dry. This while three kids were home and with the kind and gentle help from my mom. I bought a little table for Em a year or so ago, so she could sit in her room and color. The table and chairs eventually made it into the kitchen for the kids to eat from but now since they have their own rooms I wanted to spruce things up a bit.

I had the stamps for five years and finally they got used for something I think is pretty damn cute. I painted the table and chairs for Itsy Bitsy's room. I have another table on the way for the Big Easy which will be different stamping colors, and a desk and chair for Em's room. I am pretty stoked! Looking good right? So finally there is proof and it is digital soooo HA! OPAM BABY! LOOK OUT THE CRAFT TRAIN IS STEAMROLLING TO YOUR TOWN AND I AM THE ENGINEER!

Finally I begin to see the clouds, 3rd planet from the Sun, part 3

We try to get to the snow at least once during the break. I didn't think we would make this year, the break was running short and Bri had been really sick just a few weeks before. The stars and planets realigned in favor of a trip so we packed up the kids and the sleds, salami, water and headed up the hill. We have a favorite place we go, it is quiet, and the most importantly devoid of many travellers like us. It gives us a little bit of a chance to control the injury factor and keep to a minimum. Anyway, the kids had a blast, I got to bust out the camera and just enjoy the freezing cold. I wouldn't want it any other way. Behold my little loves at play!

One foot hold up in the climb out of the Mariana Trench, 3rd planet from the Sun, part 2

Christmas Day was filled with lots of excitement. The family was coming over, Santa had come to the house, but I had a secret inside scoop that Santa was bringing a special boy present. The Big Easy received a turn out suit so he looked like a mini firefighter. E's uncle is a Captain in our local fire station, and the boy LOVES the trucks. This is not to diminish the fact the girls LOVE the trucks as well, a visit to the firehouse is really a special treat. The kids feel like the prince and princesses of the firehouse and the guys make every effort to be accommodating to all of the questions and squealing. So on Christmas Day I took all three of the kids to their Uncle's fire house as well as a friend of the family firehouse. Two, count them two firehouses in one day, the kids almost had their brains explode with excitement. And well, mama had a bit of fun too. The pictures I think tell the story for themselves.

Bitsy chillin' with her Uncle.

Serious discussion with Uncle in regard to when he can stay at the firehouse.

"It's hero time!" The Big Easy explains the finer points to changing into an alien form to save the universe. He suggests maybe the firehouse adopts the same policy.

The Uncle pointing out the history of firefighting and the "Coolness" of it all.

Bitsy offering her uncle a bit of lip refreshment with her blue glitter Cinderella chapstick. The boy still mesmorized by the history of firefighting.

This is firefighter Bitsy loading up and ready for action. This is when I took them to the second firehouse of the day.

Unfortunately there is a height requirement of all firefighters, they need to be able to see over the bottom of the window. I tried to see if there was a loophole but it seems there is no negotiation on the point.

Although I think the Boy was ready for duty.

So were my girls, tough little ones, I feel sorry for the boys that try to date them.

The kids got to ride, yes I said ride, in the fire truck without me. If only you could have been there to see the smiles.

When they finally came back they took some pictures with the Captain.

The Boy looks so handsome in his jacket and hat. He was not comfortable in the bibs but I think now that he sees the "big" firefighters wear them he will too.