This is what happens when your coffee cup leaks in your purse. First it leaks, and then I guess you don't notice right away, and then there is this smell. Not like sm a "newborn baby" smell, or "fresh cut grass" smell. No, more like rancid coffee and cream. With a side of grunge. Pretty much disgusting.

Kind of fun to see what random stuff comes to the top when you dump everything out. Always interesting to see what crap you are hauling around. I remember Patti saying once that her purse was so heavy and it was a pain but she didn't really think about it. Then she was digging in there one day and found their video camera - it had been in her purse since their vacation. This shit happens when you are a mom. Why wouldn't you have a video camera from a month ago? Why wouldn't you have 16 dirty kleenexes? Why not a sippy cup of some mystery fluid now congeled into a solid?

I'm starting to think I should be thanking that coffee cup. I think it did me a favour.

Lucky Duck

You will never believe it.  I sure don't. But...

I won the iPad tonight!  

Thank you Cara, this is really exciting.  Happy first birthday to little Weston.  I sure hope I get to meet him someday!

As always, I feel so lucky.

More Felty Felts: Coasters!



Sarah's housewarming gift: punctuation coasters!

Question: "If you were a punctuation mark, what would you be?"

Fun randoms. Unfortunately I'm not sure my recipient appreciated the fun, nor the random. Hmm. I'm pretty sensitive about these and basically need them to be loved unconditionally. That's about the biggest reason why I don't usually make them for people and definately don't sell them to anyone. What if they didn't buy them? GASP! But I love that frog and really love the blue flower.

"Put a bird on it".

Maddie: Mommy, if you tell me where you hid the presents I promise I won't look.

My dad's bear - a REAL antique!

From my Auntie Barb, I've had these since I was little.

Our new tree! This is the first time in our 15 years or so living together that we've had a new tree. We had a real tree once. That was a bad idea. From then on we had a series of strange hand me down trees. The first one was about 3 feet tall, the next one 5. This one is max height with the angel on top. I love this angel and it reminds me of my friend Jolleen. She gave it to me in a "white elephant" gift exchange. Let's just say we don't share the same affection for this angel!

Maddie is so excited. She is much more into Christmas than ever before. We put the tree up last night and this morning she padded into my room and her first words were "Is it Christmas yet?"

Might be a long four weeks after all...but I like it b/c I feel more excitement this year than I usually do. I feel more in the spirit. That's a nice feeling.

Yes, Madeleine's baby has her ears pierced.

Maddie did it herself.

Jason and I are starting a pool - who wants to guess how long it takes before Maddie starts her "Can I Get My Ears Pierced" campaign?

Madeleine Jane Dictionary Update:

Timportance = Tim Hortons
ordermints = Christmas tree ornaments
casseroles = salad rolls or fresh rolls
re-poppiance day = Remembrance Day
skabetty = spaghetti



Location: In the truck with Jason, sitting outside of Canadian Tire. An elderly couple walks by:
"Daddy, those people look like they are about to die".

ok, kids:  here's what I want for Christmas. I want an iPad, or a laptop. 

What?  You won't buy me one?  Well, then here's what you can do:  Get $5 and donate to Love is Not a Colour (see I made it easy, just click on it) and when you win the iPad (or laptop) then you can just wrap it up, spank it on the bottom, and give it to me.

Deal?  Deal. 
It's easy peasy, lemon squeezy people so just do it.  For me. Please.

Seriously, $5?  That's one Starbucks Latte or 17 Tim Hortons dbl dbls(which we all know are gross and you shouldn't buy anyway...)   You can do this.  AND it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

ok....GO!

(thank you)

Happy 5th Birthday, Mackenzie!

I hope your day today is full of adventure and fun. You are an amazing little girl. You are kind and seem to have an unending source of love and affection for your brother and Maddie. I feel so lucky to be your auntie. Your enthusiasm and spirit are infectious and I love being around you.

Happy Birthday. It is so fun watching you grow up.
Love, Auntie Jenn

Maddie decided she wanted to create a birthday painting for Mackenzie. This was all completely her own idea.

At the moment she is calling it "A House in the Mountains".
The title does change from minute to minute, but so far this is my favorite.
Especially since that is Mackenzie's favorite place to be.

Me: Maddie, did you copy that from something?
Maddie: yes
Me: where? Where did you see my name?
Maddie: It's in my head.


It's in her HEAD?? Officially the smartest kid in THIS house!

You know what I hate?

Lights that take forever to warm up.  Ugh.
Hello?  My high school gym called.  It wants its lighting back.


But that's pretty Negative Nelly...so here's what I like:
1. emails at work from Treena
2. digital scrapbooking (Shutterfly, I heart you)
3. felt.  Pretty much anything to do with felt. I like buying the wool sweater at Value Village, I like shrinking them, I like cutting them up and making them into other things.  I like taking bits and pieces of scraps and making something new.  That seems to calm my head and give me energy. 
4. I like when Jason encourages me to ride the bike (he's been doing it for a week or so and already loosing weight, now that I know this whole "exercise thing" works I'm more motivated to give it a try).

I spent the day home with a sick kid today.  She was in bed and out cold before 7:30 which is pretty early for Miss Maddie. 

Late in the afternoon she came up to me and started to crawl onto my lap.

- Mommy, I need a hug.
- Come here.  What's happening that you need a hug?
- I don't know, but it keeps happening.

And that my friends, is the sound of my heart breaking.  Again. 

Headline:
Scientists Discover List Gene

After over four years of clinical observations, scientists have officially identified the List Making Marker. The LMM appears to be linked maternally although can also have some paternal influence. Individuals with LMM are generally organized, occasionally overwhelmed, and have a tendency for procrastination.

Scientists also believe literacy skills to do not need to be fully established when the List Making Marker becomes apparent.

Yet another Painting Project.

I managed to squeak this one in just before the weather turned too cold for spray painting in the backyard.  Bought this mirror at a garage sale last summer for $10.  Tell me that isn't a steal.  The black/blueish was a nice contrast, but I'm feeling there is enough going on down here, so I wanted something understated (and shiny).  I scrubbed it down in the tub (dirty!) then hauled it out to the backyard for a good spray.  I used Heritage White.  There's not a whole lot of spray choices, but I really like this one and it's what I would have wanted anyway.  It's like a cream.  Turns out is EXACTLY like my creamy walls.  Wasn't going for THAT much understated but now that it's done I think it's a happy accident. 


The picture below is crap tastic, and my ego is really getting in the way of putting it up.  But, everything is a process right? What I want you to see is the mirror (leaning against the wall until my Dad comes and has time to help me hang it - that thing is a beast).  But also check out my picture rail.  It's a built in necessity when you have a bi-level, but I like how easy it is to put stuff on.  I was thinking of doing a picture collage on this wall, around the TV, but now that I have these up (I've tweaked it since this photo and I think it is looking better).  Anyway, now that I've done this I will likely just keep it this way.  Less hassle.  Note the big flower - that's a gift from Lisa.  (thanks!)

I've been felting a lot lately.  I'm on a Christmas ornament roll these days.  I'll take some pics and add them on here. Maybe onto the felty felt section, although frankly I have no idea how I did that the first time.  Can't seem to do it again.  Not sure what I'm going to do with the ornaments.  They will likely end up as gifts for some lucky (?) folks.  Better be on your best behavior if you want to get felt up....


Nighty night.
j

So...I've been getting a few threatening emails, texts and a phone call lately (you people know who you are). Apparently I've been a bit overdue on posting. I don't even have a really good excuse except maybe we haven't really done anything "blogtastic" lately? I have been reading a lot of different blogs in the last little bit. Oh, and watching way too much Madmen, but that's for another day. But back to the blogs - they are great and funny and offer something and sometimes I think "really Jenn, a blog about your kid and dogs and your lists? Really?" But then I get emails saying "where the hell is the blog updates" and I think. Ok. This blog is what it is and if you read it great, and if not thats ok b/c I know Maddie will and it's really for her.

It was my turn to host Splurge the other night and I was so excited to have everyone over and sit in the basement. It's really a perfect spot for having friends over. The space seems just the right size to curl up and have a good "cluck fest" as Lara would say. That's sort of the problem with the house now - I like the house. I like the space. I just wish it was in the city. People don't want to treck All The Way Out to Warman. They think it's so far (and when I complain about that they say "B/c it IS far, Jenn"). So, just in time for winter, I'm wishing we could move into the city again. I think I'm basically waiting for the Teleport technology to catch up so the move could be quick and painless. And then I look at Morgan - she is all moved in snug as bug. Like the whole thing never happened. And I think: I could do that, I could get organized and pack up and move to the city. Sure we could. Except the whole thing makes me feel overwhelmed and tired just thinking about it. And so we stay where we are. Way out in the boonies. Far from civilization (well, far from all my friends). I'm fairly confident we'll move into the city someday...just not real sure when (or how) it will happen.

So, anyhoodle.

Winter has arrived and it came with some good "Snowman Snow". Maddie and Jason made this guy (complete with coal for eyes). I still remember making a snowman in our backyard with Pam and my dad. I should try and find that picture. Or did I post it on here already?

And our favorite winter treat: Snow Candy! Yum yum yum. My teeth hurt just looking at this picture.

Yesterday we invited Jackson and Mackenzie over to play in the afternoon. Jackson wasn't 100% decided on coming to our place (and leaving his Noah, his latest bromance) until he established that indeed, Uncle Jason would be there. Then he was all "Noah who?"

Jason decided, as if he wasn't already a Super Cool Uncle, that he would take Jackson flying. Jason has been wanting to do this for a long time, but wanted to be sure Jackson was old enough and would enjoy it. I think the pictures below say it all. Jay said Jackson kept saying "roger" into the mic. And then he looked over at Jason and said "This is really fun". Apparently he's also a natural flyer - when Jason gave Jackson control of the plane he did really well. FYI - not everyone is a "natural flyer". Some of us are convinced we are about to spiral to our deaths if given control of the plane. Not naming names, just sayin.