Working like a Man

So, I'm not sure if it's proper blogging etiquette to blog about other people's kids, but frankly, I don't care, and I'm going to do it.  My dad has a really nice shelf in the garage.  On top of it rests all sorts of junk: skis, tennis rackets, boxes of old clothes to be donated. You get the picture.  What many onlookers don't know, the shelf is actually a disguise, for if you pull off all the crap, underneath lies beautiful old car, a Triumph TR6, in desperate need of a little love. However, it's spent many years as a shelf, forgotten.

Until Benny came along. My 9-year-old nephew, Ben, decided that fixing up the car would be a great project for him to do with his grandpa.  So, after hours of trying to get grandpa going he finally took matters into his own hands and started uncovering the relic.  Eventually my dad had to get involve, and together they have started to work.  So far they have spent two full days taking apart the exhaust, the engine, and other stuff I know nothing about.  I love it!

While I absolutely love both my Grandpa's, I don't remember doing anything like that with them. I hope when Eli's a little older he can find something to do with his Grandpa, too!

A Toddling Toddler

It finally struck me this morning just how grown up Silas is getting: he brought me a shoe to put on him, and he walked to get to me!  I know, CRAZY!  He's supposed to be a baby still, but he's definitely entering the realm of toddler. I don't mind so much.  I love to watch him walk, hands held high in the air like he's in some kind of stick up.  For the upcoming winter it will be so much nicer to not have to worry about putting him down on the dirty ground because he will be on his feet, not his hands and knees.  He will soon be able to keep up so much better with Eli, his favourite person on earth. Still, with each step he takes I am reminded of how he will not be little forever, how precious these sweet moments of babyhood really are.  I already miss the little guy!

But hey, no use crying over that which you can't change, right?  So, let's celebrate! Put your hands up for our talented little walking man, who just loves how clever he is and loves to show it off.

In my other life

Believe it or not, I was somewhat crafty before the world of mommy and blogging and such.  I've always liked to make things, and one thing I always wanted to make was my very own saddle.  So, a few years ago, before Eli was born, I went to Saddle Making School and made my very own, full blown, western riding saddle. To prove it to you, here's a picture:

Purdy, ain't it?

Well, after I made the saddle, I decided I needed to try my hand an some more leather work, so I convinced Adrienne to go back to saddle school with me to make chaps... and make chaps we did!  We spent a whole weekend and worked our tails off, and came out with many pairs of chaps, plus a few other trinkets.  Wish I had some pictures to prove it, but I can't find them. (Interestingly, on the weekend in question I happened to be exactly five weeks pregnant with Eli, and morning sickness hit in full force.  Sitting in a closed room surrounded by leather did nothing to help the ailment.  For the rest of the pregnancy I couldn't so much as touch leather with my bare hands. I couldn't stand the smell of it either.  This was problematic when I had to drive in vehicles with leather seats, put on my leather shoes and saddle my horse with my leather saddle. Luckily the aversion went away after Eli was born!)

Anyway, that was 4 years ago, and of that trove of treasures we made, which we planned to sell to pay for the adventure, I still have four pair of chaps. These I do have a picture of:

Also very purdy, if I do say so myself.

So, in an attempt to FINALLY get these off my hands, I am listing them everywhere I can think of.  But, the exciting part is, I am listing them on MY NEW ETSY SHOP!  That's right folks, I did it, I started a shop. Right now it's not to flashy, I've got no banner and I've only listed the chaps, but I am hoping to get to listing some of the growing pile of baby goods I've got cluttering 'the room.'  Don't worry, I'll keep you posted! And hey, if you've always wanted a pair of authentic western chaps, now's the time!

Last Year

Tomorrow is October 1, which means I have to start thinking about Halloween.  As a mommy who doesn't love Halloween, I've done pretty good in the past, but this year a lack of money and lack of imagination is plaguing me!


If I could find a me-sized hot dog costume, I know what I'd be for Halloween. As it was, this was quite possibly the best costume EVER for a 4 month old baby! What's that you see in the leaves? Why, that's Eli, as a hot dog.

When Eli was one, we dressed up as the characters from Robert Munsch's Paper Bag Princess, one of my favourite books of all time.  Best ending ever:  '"Your clothes are really pretty, and your hair is very neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum." And they don’t get married after all.'

 Poor Jared had to be Ronald the Bum, and Eli wasn't a very ferocious dragon, but so, so cute!

Last year, naturally, the boys dressed up as Buzz and Woody.  Eli would do it again this year if the costume still fit.  Look at Silas! He was only 6 weeks old.

So, that leaves me where?  Charlie Brown and Snoopy?  Animals? Firefighters? Cowboys? Really, the possibilities are endless. The funny thing is, Halloween is on a Sunday, so we won't even be going Trick-or-treating, but for some reason this seems like an important thing to do as a mother.  Any brilliant ideas, please send them my way!

Cousins!

The very best thing about living in Calgary is not the weather, it's not the room we live in, it's not even the fact that my mother does all the grocery shopping... it's that Eli and Silas get to play so much with their cousins.  Okay, let's be honest, at this point Eli does most of the playing, but I'm sure Silas will catch up soon. I absolutely love it! While we tend to spend a lot of time with my sister Alice's kids, this week has been chalk full of all the other cousins too.

First of all, on Sunday afternoon we had a big Wiebe birthday party for all the babies born in September/October. I tried to go unnoticed, but I got sneaked in somehow, and Silas and I were both spoiled, thoroughly.

 Jolayne whipped out her mad cake making skills with this fabulous train cake.

 Singing to everyone.  Silas was remotely interested!

Silas opening gifts. I'm not sure how Eli survived all by himself on his first birthday?


After the festivities at the Wiebe's, we spent Monday night celebrating Uncle Aaron's birthday, gorging ourselves on pancakes.

On Tuesday morning my mom, as is tradition, took Eli to Build-A-Bear for his third birthday (3 1/2 months late). I'm not kidding, he was so stinking excited!  They left early, went straight to Build-A-Bear to buy his bear, then went on the Carousel and out for lunch.  I just wish I could have followed them around with a camera... but alas.  When they got home a few hours later Shann had brought her youngest kids over, Andy came too, they all brought their own Bears, and we had a real party.

Eli running up the stairs to show me his "Storm Trooper Bear." Apparently he saw it on display and wouldn't be talked into anything else. I guess it's a guy thing.   Mom bought Star Wars outfits for all the kids' bears. It was a dream come true!

If you can't tell, that's Darth Vader, Storm Trooper, Princess Leia and Hans Solo. Rad.


Then, tonight, we went with Matt, Shannon and their five kids, and Alice, Aaron and their four to Edworthy Park for a wiener roast.  The kids played hard and got dirty, just what kids should do.

 Jared asked Eli if he ate the dirt. He said, "No" as he spit some out.

 The closest thing to a smile that I got out of Marlie in the two days I spent with her.

 I love fall!

 Here they all are!  Silas was not a happy camper.

 Cute little cow diaper, with the ears sticking out and all!

My niece Marigold, who's about the sweetest thing!

 And my favourite picture of all: Silas started walking this week, here he is with his daddy, and Woody. Love, love, love this picture. 

Going on a leaf hunt, I'm not afriaid...

The good weather seems to be holding out here in Alberta this week, and so to enjoy it we walked to and from church yesterday. Despite being in high heels and nylons, it was thoroughly enjoyable! As we walked we pointed out to Eli all the different colors of leaves, and decided to go on a leaf hunt, collecting as many different colours and shapes as we could. By the time we got home, we had a real bounty!

There's even a flower, and a single pine needle in there!

After we laid out all our leaves, we searched through our stash of felt and matched the leaves with the different colours.  Eli's job was to arrange the leaves.

Then we took those felt pieces and traced circles on them.  I cut them up, Eli passed them to me as I sewed them, and we came out with a beautiful garland inspired from the leaves we collected!  Eli was happy to be able to pick out which leaf went with which coloured circle.

 Okay, so there were no purple or blue leaves, but I thought the garland needed a little more colour, so I sneaked those in!

Check it out at:

Get Your Craft On

My Little Piece of Heaven

There is one place in the world that I would rather be than any other in autumn in Alberta.  It is a ridge in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains just outside of Bragg Creek, Alberta.  Today, for the first time in four years I rode my horse up to that ridge with my best friend and my baby sister, and I was in heaven.  I hope everyone else is managing to enjoy this beautiful weather and the amazing fall colors. Life is good.