Summer is for …

MUD!

MK xo
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Disclaimer: No elephants were harmed in the making of this post.

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My baby is five today. Georgia is F I V E.

Kindergarten is around the corner. K I N D E R G A R T E N.

I don’t want her to go. I want to keep her here with me. I don’t care if it’s cliche, time flies people, at super-sonic speed. {sniff, sniff}

We kept it low key this year. Remember, I am the woman who tried to start a ‘Throw a CRAP PARTY Campaign’, and now I am following through.

Sam turned TEN on Monday, and Hayley is TWENTY-ONE next week. So June is a busy month.

This year’s invitation list included sisters, brothers (where applicable), Mom, Dad and guest. Georgia cracked me up and invited Lizzy’s best friend who is eleven. Both Sam and Georgia chose to have a weiner/marshmallow roast.

Does it get any easier? NOPE! For the lazy parenting set (to which I nominate myself president), a weiner roast is EASY.

Dessert was homemade birthday cake of the birthday childs choice.

Georgia wanted chocolate with pink icing and that’s exactly what she got.

If I don’t see you ’round, I’ll see you square!

MK xo
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Aren’t you happy Halloween is over? I’m not really a Halloween lover, it’s a lot of fuss for Candy. I do remember how much I loved it as a kid though, and I try not to be a ‘Scrooge’!

This year, I decided that the kids could be whatever they wanted, only rule … we weren’t buying any costumes or expensive supplies.

You saw Lizzy’s Headless Marie Antoinette (she won first place at school … YAY!). We did have to buy some spray foam and duct tape for this one, otherwise this was totally made from stuff around the house.

**EDIT: Lizzy’s Costume has been chosen as a finalist in the ScanDigital Halloween Photo Contest — to vote you just have to click on the ‘like’ link under the photo (it’s on facebook, so if you are a member there is no sign up … just one click) or go here: www.facebook.com/scandigital - Thank you! **

Sam decided to be a hobo. He did his own make up and used old clothing etc. I sewed some patches on his shirt for him.

His costume was inspired by one of my favourite bloggers –> Broke but Still Drinking. Read his blog, he is hilarious.

I was a hobo pretty much every Halloween of my childhood. Hmmm

Georgia as always was a little bit more difficult. For several weeks, she told anyone who would listen that she was going to be a ‘fashioner girl’. What exactly a ‘fashioner girl’ entails … we’ll never know. She changed her mind and decided to be a ‘witch with a dog’. Lizzy dug the witch dress and hat out of the dress up box for her on Friday for Sam’s school Halloween parade. It lasted about 3 minutes … she went ape-shit … apparently the witch dress is itchy and the hat covers her eyes. She went to the parade in an ‘I <3 NY’ tee and a ballerina tutu.

Halloween day she decided she’d be a black and white dog. That was fine, she had a clean pair of black pants and tshirt in her drawer and I planned to draw her a puppy face. Screw the ears, I was tired of her changing her mind.

Over supper, she started talking about how she was going to be a ‘girl who was scratched by a lion’. WTF!? Fine! Who am I to squash the dreams of a 4 year old diva child?

By this point, she was lucky I didn’t scratch her myself!

Her Dad took her trick or treating. I didn’t have the courage! Apparently she told the neighbours she was a ‘scar victim’.

Did I mention I am happy it’s over?

MK xo
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NOTE: I’ve been having trouble with the comments. If you can’t comment PLEASE let me know at kim (at) mommyknows (dot) com. Thank you!

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Edit: I have been having problems with the comments (some getting through, others not). I am hoping the issue is fixed, however, if you have trouble posting a comment please let me know –> kim (at) mommyknows (dot) com. Thank you!

Sam is home sick. He’s definitely not well, but not unwell enough to lay in bed all day. Truthfully in a non-H1N1 world he’d be at school. They sent him home yesterday, as he was pale, complaining of a sore throat and didn’t go out for recess. Apparently, if he doesn’t go out for recess … he IS sick.

I think he has a cold, nothing more. He is stuffed up and not much else.

He was definitely up to helping me make a lunchbox out of Kool-Aid Jammers drink packets.

You’ll need:

Sewing machine
Thread
15 clean, dry drink packets
Tape
Ruler (or measuring tape)
Stick on velcro fasteners

Slice open the bottom of each packet. Wash, rinse and dry each one out.

Your lunch tote will consist of 5 parts: 1 front and 1 back (each 2×2 packets each), 2 sides (2×1 packets each) and a bottom (2 overlapped packets)

If you are a competent sewer, you could just start sewing these parts. However, because I am a beginner, I decided to tape my pieces together first.

You don’t need to tape each and every seam. Just here and there, enought to keep them from slipping and sliding while you are sewing.

The front and back are made using a 2×2 pattern like the piece above. The sides are 2×1 stacked vertically.

The bottom is a little different.

You’ll need to measure and then overlap two pieces to this length.

Once you have the 5 pieces taped and ready sew up the seams.

We used a zigzap stitch with a bright coloured thread. Sam did most of the sewing. In the above photo he is sewing up a back piece.

I think the orange thread Sam picked out looks great.

Here he is sewing the overlapping pieces that make the bottom of the lunch sack.

Once you have your 5 pieces made, you can start piecing them together.

Start by sewing the sides to the bottom piece. You’ll end up with a long narrow strip.

Next sew the back and front to the bottom. You should end up with the above. Sew up the 4 side seams, I sewed from top to bottom, carefully lining up the top edges taping with a tiny piece of tape and then sewing.

If you want a ‘brown bag’ style sack, you could be finished now. Sam and I were making this sack for Lizzy and I wanted her to be able to close her lunch sack.

I cut the 15th packet in half, folded over the cut end and sewed it to the top of the sack.

Then we added adhesive velcro fasteners.

Below is the finished product:

I hope you like it! What kind of creations have you made from recycled items, or what’s on your list?

MK xo
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I’ve mentioned Canmore before. We love it. The scenery. We love it.

Everyday we walk downtown, along the wooden boardwalk, along a sleepy creek. Did I mention that we love it?

I can’t help, but stop to photograph flowers in the meadow.

It’s bright and sunny.

The kids interrupt, “can we play in the creek”.

“Sure, but don’t get your clothes wet”, I say.
Continue Reading

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Sam is having a sleepover. The activity of the night is highly addictive computer game. When his buddy arrived, they went straight to the laptops.

That was 3 hours ago, buddy still has his backpack on.

Continue Reading

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Under my supervision backyard activities include: swinging, sliding, a little tree climbing, trampoline jumping, the odd home-made zip line (that never work) and impromptu boxing matches (Lizzy please quit hitting your brother).

When Mr. MK is in charge, however, it really gets …

all lumberjack like, and destructive.

Don’t be concerned, he comes from a long line of lumberjacks. REALLY!

According to Mr. MK, that dead tree needed to come down, NOW! Sam was just the man to do it.

It’s all in the swing …

and the placement of the tongue. That’s in his genes too.

These are the pretty flowers beside his hospital bed.

JUST KIDDING … these are the pretty mum’s on the dining room table. The part of the house where I’m in charge and everything is perfect, ’cause I can blow sunshine out my ass. Can’t you just see the sunshine in this photo?

Sam’s fine … the tree isn’t!

His first fall … “TIMBER” … with a little help from Dad and a hoe (a garden hoe that is!).

MK xo
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Sam and Lizzy participated in the Jasper Junior Olympics this weekend (downhill ski event). Their team won gold in the dual slalom event! Woot.

Georgia and I stayed home, for a whole host of reasons: money, logistics, and most of all GEORGIA (ack).

As usual, I waited to take my project 365 photo until late yesterday evening. I have very few pictures of Sam, AND he was clean just out of the tub so I forced asked him to sit down and let me take a couple shots of him.

He was thrilled.

Me: come on Sam-bug smile …

Nothing

Me: remember that time you farted the alphabet?

There we go, don’t ask me why, but fart-talk always gets a smile out of the XY chromosome set in our house.

Mr. MK: Tell mom about Lizzy’s ASSGAS on the way home.

Me: pardon me?!

He’s beside himself by this time. ASSGAS … how stinkin’ rude!

Me: OK, that’s enough guys (DAD), time for bed Sam.

Sam: goodnight Georgia. Ewww … you must have ASSGAS!

Me to Mr. MK: Look what you’ve started?!

Georgia: I don’t have ASSGAS! AHHHH!

Sam and Mr. MK: Bwahahaha …

Georgia: I don’t have ASSGAS! AHHHH!

Sam and Mr. MK: Bwahahaha …

Sam and Mr. MK: Bwahahaha …

I know Dads are grown men, but really and truly it’s not safe to let them travel with the children on their own … ASSGAS?

Psst … I won’t bother to tell him, about the time I taught them the musical classic:

On top of Old Smokey,
All covered with sand,
I shot my school teacher,
With an old rubber band.

I shot her with pleasure,
I shot her with pride,
For I couldn’t miss her,
She was forty feet wide.

I’m kind of mature like that!

MK xo
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Photography 5/365

I most likely won’t make you look at all 365 of these Photography 365 images. It’s just that while I am wallowing in the house, really getting a feel for my new recluse status, I haven’t got much else.

Sam’s not big on the photography thing, just about the time this image was taken he tried to slip away from me into the brain-numbing clutches of his DS. I put an end to that in a hurry! He whined, “awwwww … is this going to be like that time in the summer when you took pictures of me ALL day?”

He’s a good boy, quite often funny, although not on purpose. Just the other day Lizzy was admiring some new earrings …

Lizzy: What does genuine crystal mean?
Me: It means they are real crystal, not fake or pretend.
Sam: WHOA, COOL! You can mail them in for CASH you know Liz!

He’s obviously been watching these cash for gold commercials –> http://cashforgoldusa.com/?cid=11&gclid=CNio7OGStZgCFRQhnAodSj7UUQ (I shouldn’t really give them a link, but since there is a recession, maybe one of you TV’less sorts with loads of spare bling and no moola in the grocery fund may find this handy).

Georgia also gets sucked in by the ads. I recently scolded her for wild splashing in the tub. It was outrageous, some splash’age is expected, but she’d some how managed to get an inch of water on the floor. Then she suggested I buy a ShamWow!

Any funny stories for us?

* * * *

The first of many winners for the the ‘Happy Book Day to You ~ the Series’ Giveway is:

I counted down the list (twice to be sure), and the winner is: JennB

Happy book day to you, happy book day to you, happy book day dear JennB, happy book day to you!

Email me!

MK xo
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Sam and Lizzy are in downhill racing this year. Sunday was their first race.

Here comes Sam. My first thought when I realized it was him was, ‘for the love of God, do your coat up!’ Then I snapped out of it and started taking photos.

As you can see, he’s enjoying the run. He was also taking in the crowd, he managed to holler out a HUGE, “HI MOM, HI DAD” as he whizzed by, which earned him a round of applause, cowbells (yep, they ring cowbells), and laughter.

He liked those cowbells! I’ll have to have a little chat with him about wind resistance –> DO UP YOUR COAT!

Go Sam Go!

Here comes my girl. Unlike her brother she is focused on the race, not the crowd. She skied really well.

Will ya look at that sky? It was a glorious day with temps around 5c (40+f), not a cloud in the sky. It was seriously GOOD for my cabin-fevered soul.

Go Lizzy Go!

Mr. MK is in charge of skiing, therefore, I didn’t even get out of bed when they left the house at 6:30 a.m. If I had aroused, I would have insisted she braid her hair. The rat’s nest … AHHH!

Then again, I was in charge of getting this wild child ready at noon, and she doesn’t look much better!

Not to be outdone Georgia managed to get in a little downhill speed herself.

It was a great day, in a fabulous city! Winter really does have it’s ups!

How was your weekend?

MK xo
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