Monday, October 8, 2012

50th Anniversary

Not many people get to celebrate 50 yrs, but our Village did and what a wonderful weekend we had.


It being Thanksgiving weekend my parents came to celebrate with us. Friday night started off with a Welcome Reception, where a local Harpest played vendors had tables (I was one) and beverages were available (I may of had one of those too).

See my first display of clothes






There were also celebrations held at the Golden Years Senior's Lodge and later the Band Lovely Bones played at the curling rink for those that wanted to dance. Unfortunatly after working all day and then setting up as a vendor 8 o'clock came and I was ready for bed.
 
 
Saturday started with a Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Legion, and at 10 o'clock my parents went on a hike at Mile 53, which was at one time a busy little railway town. I took the kids to the Magician Clinton Gray who was very entertaining, and entertained everyone young and old in the audience.
 
There were many other activities we couldn't take in but wished we could have: Avalanche awareness by Iliya Storm, Prospecting for Gold with Joe Gagnon we also missed.
 
I did manage to get the kids from the magic show to the Big Foot Poker Walk. We followed our map around town on the newly completed Big Foot Trail going from business to business collecting cards for our Poker hand. We ended at the Visitor Information Centre where we turned our hands in and the kids got free cotton candy.
 
We then raced home to quickly cook dinner and get back over to the Legion where Duane Steele played for us. I love it when Country Stars come and play at our small local venues it's so much more personal. Not many other places do you get to chat with Country music stars face to face and you don't stand in line for hrs for a signed CD.
After the concert I took the parents back to my place, dropped them off and went to pick up the girls who a friend was watching for me. Then off to bed we went, but most everyone else from our Village headed off to the airport for a concert put on by the Famous Players Band. What a night I was told, where else could you dance on the tarmac, there was free camping and shuttling back to town so there was no drinking and driving.
 
Sunday started off early with my parents heading on a Helicopter Flight. Yellowhead Helicoptors offered flights this weekend only $50 a person to fly over the proposed Glacier Resort.
 
 
My parents had a beautiful flight..
I headed back to the Information Centre to be ready for the Anniversary Celebration where the Mayor gave a speech, Duane Steele sang and cake was served to everyone.
 
 
The Harvest Dinner was served from 4-6pm and then Drive In Movies began the first one as for the kids Chronicles of Narnia and then Grease showed from 9-11. Where else could you catch a Drive In Show!
 

Happy 50th Anniversary Valemount
 
Here's to 50 more!
 


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Life in Balance

Being a single mom, means life is all about balance. Some days there's more of it then others. Just like any parent you worry about:
Am I spending enough time with the kids?
Did I spend enough time with each (if you have more then one) of the kids
I was I too short with any of them?
Was the dinner you made (or bought) healthy enough?
Is the house clean still standing
What are you making them for lunch tomorrow, do you have enough fruit, veggies etc. A parents life you are constantly thinking about others. We have to remember to take time out for ourselves. For me that means sewing that's what I do for me, which really isn't for me because everything I sew is either for my girls (I'd sew for my son but he's not one for ruffles) or orders for dresses.
I'm so very tempted to take sometime for me tonight and not sew but our Village is having it's 50th Anniversary which is going to be so much fun! Ok back on topic, on the Friday night at the reception dinner there's an opportunity for local vendors to put in a table. I of course put a table in, but then quickly panicked that I needed stock for my table so off to the basement I went. Well as soon as I could which means after work, after supper, after baths and then after girls are in bed because sewing with Baby B is an adventure in it's self. You wont know how many time's she has climbed up and spun the tension dials on my serger, I cry every time.  So once the girls are in bed I can devote my evening to sewing, so around 8ish give or take an hr I can begin. I usually last until 11 or midnight but tonight  (I didn't even have to cook thank you thank you Sofia and the kids skipped the bath) here I sit and gasp it's only 8:15 I should be sewing, I only have 2 more nights to accomplish my goal and I've run out of energy. Life is all about Balance and tonight I'm going to balance my head on a pillow.
Balance it's everywhere in Life

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Day 2

The second day of our trip took us to Calaway Park, I have to say I've been here before many times as a little girl. I spent the first 7 years of my life living in Cochrane AB. Not that I can remember any of those trips, but the one thing I do remember is after riding the roller coaster for the first time, when getting off I told my mom "I left my heart on the ride" mom said well then lets go get it and I don't remember but mom said I freaked out and refused to go again. I guess I found the ride a little scary then again I was 7.

This must not have scarred me for life.. I love the thrill of rides of all kinds.

I do have a love for rides that is not shared by my children. I convinced my eldest to join me on a ride. That is until it was our turn to get on the ride, my son then bailed since I'd already stood in line I got on by myself.....


I love rides, unfortunatly my two little ones thought I was never coming back and cried the duration of my ride, Fortunatly for me I couldn't hear them and had fun all by myself.
AJ did manage to get a few rides in on his own, not sure he's ready for the HWY yet but it's a start.

The boys had fun soaking strangers, although they did not stay dry themselves.
 
The Balloon ride was a big hit, we watched them go round and round and round.
 
 
LB's favorite ride of course was the Carousel, all in all Calaway Park was a great place to go.
 
Come back for Day 3!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

End of Summer Post

It's been a few months since I've had time to update.. Life's been very busy working full time chasing 3 kids, daily trips to Day Care then home for dinner there never seems to be enough time in the day. Even the weekends are packed, I'm not quite sure what gets accompished but Monday arrives much to quickly for my liking. I'm occasionaly able to squeeze an outfit or two out of my sewing room but not as often as I would like.

One of the best thing we did was get in a summer vacation, it was only 10 days long but it was one of the best trips I've taken with the kids.

We got up early saturday morning and drove to Calgary AB which is 534km which would take the average person less then the 7hrs it says but when you have to stop to nurse one child and stop for bathroom breaks for the other two it sure drags out your travel time.

 We stopped on our way through Jasper Glacier Park and took in the waterfalls, some enjoyed them more then others.
 
AJ Climbed up the first set to check out the higher set of falls.

We stopped in Banff to meet up with my friend Leigh and her kids and since we live so rural I don't own a cell phone... "Gasp" I know how old fashioned of me.. ok i own one but it's a pay as you go, and even bought time to go on it but realized once we were on the hwy it had been so long since I'd added minutes to it my number had been given away.. oh well obviously I wasn't using it much.
sorry no pics of Banff it was so crazy busy there we were happy just to meet up with Leigh and nurse the babies and then get back out on the hwy and head to Calgary.

Baby B    LB   My friends son sleeping under the blue blanket
First day there we checked in to our hotel 1 room 2 moms, 3 girls and 2 boys lol we shared 1 queen bed and 1 king sized bed and an air mattress for all of us and the kids.. Believe it or not the kids all went to bed each night without a fight.

Okay on to Day 1 The Zoo

The kids loved seeing all the animals (we didn't make it over to the North America section) where we live it's not unusual to see Deer, Big Horn Sheep, Elk even the odd Bear or Grizzly don't get me wrong these are all wonderful animals but it's nice to expose the kids to some of the more exotic animals on our planet.



We made it to the Zoo nice and early, if you get there early enough you'll get to see some of the animals being fed. We made it just in time to watch the Red Panda eat his breakfast.


The Tigress had triplets this summer and we got to watch them playing with each other and their mom.


One of the many handy things Big Brothers are good for... a lift above the crowd.



Both the girls loved the Elephants (don't you just love the coordinating outfits I'm such a sucker for matching girls)
4 out of 5 of the kids (the littlest was sleeping in the stroller)
She even had a coordinating outfit to match my girls I drew the line on dressing the boys in pink (which I know they were very greatful for)



I love how patient AJ is with these two he waited eagerly for the "Train" with them and then walked along while these two definatly enjoyed the "Train"
Pure Joy on these two happy faces


 Stay Tuned for Day Two's Activities......................................





 
 
 

Thursday, May 17, 2012

I'm Back....

After 2 months I'm back, I returned to work in March, you know not sewing or child raising work but my 9-5 job. Don't get me wrong I quite enjoyed staying home with the girls for my year but I also enjoy working outside of the home. So instead of 2 jobs returning to work has bumped me up to 3 that I would almost call full-time jobs.
Job 1: Mom (that sums it all up
Job 2: Seamstress, Designer and Creator
Job 3: Administration Assistant

In between working at the office and keeping three kids fed, clothed and relatively clean I'm still turning out a few creations. I even have started taking orders for outfits. I am loving it.

Here are a few creations I've come up with. Most patterns of course are from my favorite company Create Kids Couture.

Hannah's Pillow Case Bubble Romper Pattern by Create Kids Couture(their pattern is free on Fabric.com)
Hannah's Pillow Case Bubble Romper Pattern by Create Kids Couture(their pattern is free on Fabric.com)



Felicity's Peasant Top/Dress Pattern By Create Kids Couture



Natalie's Ruffled Butt Romper, Pattern by Create Kids Couture





Elena's Peasant Dress, Pattern By Create Kids Couture





Custom Order Knot Dress
Meadow's Summer Dress, Design by 4 Funky Funk's Yes thats Mine.....

Daisy Sundress, a mix of patterns some from Create Kids Couture
Combination of Helen's Maxi Dress and Faith's Shirred Sundress



Jelly Roll Bubble Dress, Custom Order Design by 4 Funky Funk's another one that's all Mine


Hope you enjoy my Photo Bomb, I sure enjoyed creating these dresses...

* On a side note everyone asks "When do you find time to sew?"
My response "When B wakes up at 5am, I get up and take her downstairs to my sewing studio (that's what I call me new space in the basement) and sew until 7, then get ready for my job away from home"

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

It's been a while

It's been a while since I posted on here, needless to say I've been busy. Aren't we all?
I've returned to work yay (ok I do like working and it definitely helps pay the bills but I'd rather be at home with the girls and sewing). I've been busy getting some custom orders done... I love the patterns from Create Kids Couture,  they are easy to follow and easy to sew.
Doesn't it look like a Bumble Bee

I love the ruffled butt romper it's too cute.

 
So hopefully I can post more often, but if I don't then you know I'm busy sewing and forgetting to take pictures.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Valentine's Day


Happy Valentine’s Day everyone

We don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day with lots of gifts and cards, instead (because I remembered a day ahead) the kids each got a small box of chocolates and a card from their grandparents who had just been here for a visit the day before.

What we did do for Valentine’s Day was have everyone’s favorite dinner….. Spaghetti , with a little red dye in the water to turn the noodles “Pink”  and of course red meat sauce and “Pink” Lemonade. LB thought it was pretty neat to have pink noodles..

Gourmet at the Funk House
Baby B enjoying the pink noodles
      







We even had cupcakes with pink icing not made by me, I bought them at the local grocery store this time.




The kids had such a blast with dinner tonight, might have to be creative a little more often.











I felt like I failed Valentine's Day this year, I just did not have time for baking as I’ve been busy building my pantries.. yes that’s plural I have two pantries that I’m putting together, one is finished and the other just needs the top cabinet built and lifted up. (these are very heavy). So I can build it I just need to have a friend over to help lift it.



See my half finished kitchen it’s almost done…yay

On a very exciting note I get to test a pattern for a company, shhh it’s a secret so I can't show you until they release the pattern on their website, but I’m super excited it’s sew cute!