And today was my chance to reinvent myself a little with a new do. FINALLY after years of growth it was time to cut the bulk of my hair off. I went to a hair school called The Academy and spent a measly 15.00 (12.00 plus tax plus tip) on my haircut. I also got a shampoo, style and they were wonderful conversationalists. I did find that my hair is dry so now I need to get some deep conditioning (or go in for one of their treatments… again under 20.00… but I would need to have the time for it first!). I had a bunch taken off, layers put in and the front made to frame my face. 

So much shorter!

And the front. They straightened it for me to style it... not something I ever do!

There was a bit of a confusion with my appointment as the girl who scheduled me forgot to rewrite it as just a haircut at 11 and instead had me for a colour at 10. Thankfully they could still fit me in and Ken and the kids were able to find internet at a McDonald’s parking lot. The kids cleaned up their toy mess in the back of the van and enjoyed the colouring books I have in there for them. Ken used the iPad to check mail, work, etc. It was a little over an hour for me to finish so they were bored by the end of it. I stopped in at a dollar and more store next door after my appointment while I was waiting for my ride and got them a colour by number book to add to our stash. That is something that we have begun to realize with this super delayed move… we need to be prepared in ALL our spaces. It is a good practice to keep a full toy and activity bag in the van, along with snacks and some drinks in the back. A change of undies for our youngest… things like that. The diaper bag is always packed with a few extras and I am getting more in the habit of keeping a suitcase with an overnight for me and the girls so we can go out a little more and be without the boys.

So we are becoming mobile more and more… our next big venture is to be back to Grandma and Grandpa Mike’s to dog and house sit while they are gone to Nebraska. This works in my favour with the craft sale as well as it is in the same town they live in AND they have the room for me to spread out what I have and take stock. With my added duct tape creation I may just have the variety I want and need! But we shall see what gaps I have as well. 

So haircut… what else… right we also stopped off at Futureshop and got my Mother’s Day present! A brand new case for our iPad! Black and pink… with a lovely magnetic closure. Trinity thought I should have gotten the Hello Kitty one… but Ken vetoed that one before we could even get a close look at it! It WAS bubble gum pink. 

In the case with the stylus that came today in the mail

Anyway that got us back at Chris and Chris’ well past lunchtime so with a quick stop off at Walmart for a few food items it was time to put Echo to nap and pack the rest up with a picnic, schoolwork and sunscreen. Back to our favourite green area of course! 

Lunch on the green

We had some potty runs back to the house. I had a twin take a smaller one… it is a very direct route and they do not cross any roads so I thought I would give them the responsibility. They did a terrific job! After we got through our chapter of Farmer Boy it was time to move onto the park. There was a grandma with her two grandsons there and their sand toys which they willingly shared! We stuck around for a while but Trinity was wearing out and I had noticed that a couple items that were in our duffel bag smelled a little off. So time to head back for laundry, baths and changing of clothing. 

With one of the little boys

That ending the kids’ day and left us with dinner and putting them to bed. Ken and I took advantage of the quiet and walked to the local Mac’s together. It was nice to have some time outside the house together… alone! 

Would be a lot easier to craft if not for the fact that Echo decided to wear my Velcro dots like Nicotine patches

So I am pretty sure the weather did NOT get my memo – you know the one: “Stay at home mom staying home with SIX kids all amped up because one of those 6 is a not so often seen cousin… please send plenty of sunshine without heavy heat to allow for outside play.” Apparently what it REALLY meant to the weather was… RAIN oh and invite some brand new mosquitoes to join in on the fun… BAH.

Instead the morning was spent in a play-doh frenzy. I have been told that MOST of what they were making was off the game Minecraft but what I did notice was a lot mixing of colours of play-doh to see what happens which is just fine with me. Emanuel was especially proud of his bird with her eggs in a nest. 

Busy Play Doh artists

Not the best picture but there is a birdy with eggs in there

In the mail today I got a lovely package!! A very sweet lady who was in the hospital today having her 5th little girl sent our Echo some of her handmade hair barrettes. She figured that they would stay nicely in her hair… she was right! And the colours are so lovely. Below is a picture of all the bows – there were 4, AND below that her business card. I am going to link her on the side of this blog under her Facebook company title: Hairbows For Princesses. I am already enamored with her quality, wisdom in her colour choices (I just said Echo is our purple girl), the speed of shipping AND the simple fact that she is a lovely lady! Be sure to click the link and check her out… or contact her with the information on the below business card!!! 

Lovely lovely well made bows

Business card

The larger of the purple bows

There is not much to see on the stocking by the way of progress as I have been working on white bits on white aida cloth so far. BUT I am making progress… Tonight I plan on stitching some of the BLACK so at least there will be something instantly and immediately visible. 

After a lengthy quiet time in the rooms (sadly NO ONE napped)… it was back to go go go here… I found one of the neglected toy buckets with something called Trios in it and set the kids to work. Not to say that is was a harmonious play, because it really wasn’t! But they all seemed to have a pretty good time!

Jimmie and the Trios

Supper was a family favourite… for Ken and the kids anyway. They got to teach Jimmie how to make his very own pita pizza… and as a super special treat – the cheese on top was mozzarella! Usually we just use cheddar or marble but it was on sale! Apparently it went over well, though Jimmie wasn’t overly interested in trying the other family (except Trinity) favourite – baked beans.

Putting the ham on his pizza

Last minute change of plans and my dear, sweet Cousin Elizabeth came over to watch the 5 bigguns and let me, Karyn and Echo fly out on our own. This meant Ken could stay in the basement and work to meet his deadline and EVERYONE was happy. (sorry no pictures of the ensuing fun, but I am told Legos were involved as were Safety City things – where she works etc etc) She is moving to a new place this upcoming weekend and took a break in her packing to spend some time with the kids and get some baby cuddle time. This freed me and Karyn up to do some scouting out of ribbons for the August wedding (I found some white in the bargain box for 1.00 a skein… 2 skeins!). And lunch at the bigger mall… EDO JAPAN!

SUPPER

The amazing Cousin Elizabeth

Safe mess

Since we were there anyway Karyn convinced me to stop in at H&M where she caved and got Trinity a shirt (on sale of course)… and I got Echo part of her birthday present… BOTH on sale in the end and BOTH Hello Kitty themed!

The yellow is brighter than the picture

We both had pictures to pick up – Kodak Gallery of course… hers at Best Buy and mine at FutureShop. I really need to sit down and work on those scrapbooking pages now that I have so many pictures sitting here in the ready. Just not tonight. Tonight I have to go back to the bows and get done at least the cutting of ribbon lengths!

Tomorrow is another 6 child day, but not for the whole day. Jimmie is onto his next adventure – going to Grandma’s house for the rest of the week. I think she will be visiting for a while here as well. We started making Creepy Crawlers today to be finished tomorrow anyway… and there is of course, the need to tidy up post 6 kids adventure. There is so much to do to get ready for our next gathering – this weekend’s LAN party to thank the guys for helping us move! Yikes! OH and be sure to check out Petite Sheepette’s version of our hospital adventure on Fat Sheep’s site.

Echo and her smaller bow