And so the weekend comes to a close… MORE snow… MORE cranky kids BUT we are together. I keep trying to remind myself of that very special gem. No matter what, these past 15 days we have been TOGETHER! And with 5 kids that is a feat in and of itself. There will never be a way for me to say thank you properly to the people who have made it possible for Ken and myself to keep the whole family together in one place. I cannot wait until we are back in the position to return the favour once again. 

My afternoon was where all the fun was (well for myself at least) today… Karyn came and kidnapped me for a few hours… we went to Michaels (ribbon and felt were purchased…) where I saw CUPCAKE patterned duct tape. Do you think if I ask REALLY nicely the duct tape fairy will bring me a roll or two? I think I could do some really neat crafting with that!! Anyway, then we went to Superstore and then to the mall for a snack and then to Karyn’s to… well clean her car out and then JUST SIT AROUND! 

My iPad had its debut at her house, we chatted, we sat around… it was wonderful. Then she brought me back to my family, hung around with the babies and was on her way.

Baby time!

I have continued crafting and last night finished 5 more bows!

Silver with snowflakes

Red and white

A bit of pink

Some chicks

Love-ly

The boys and I are planning on starting reading Farmer Boy this week. I am not sure what all we will do for it without our printer and usual supplies but I am sure we can come up with some fun activities and maybe create some mini books ourselves. I know that we can easily do our illustrations and write about things, maybe I can make them a wordsearch or something… do I ever miss my printer!!! But, Ken assures me it is only a matter of time. Limbo will NOT be forever! We just need to get creative!

So tonight I am still trying to craft as much as possible. After all, no need to waste time when I have the materials at hand that I need! Now if I could just get my hands on that duct tape… I even have my cutting tools here with me!!!

Techno baby

And Easter is over… we are back with the Chris’ and hopefully this is our week of completions… Lots of calls to be made that is for sure! Sadly I didn’t get around to blogging Easter Monday… a combination of travel, frustration with some situations and of course the worry over my sister in law’s health (add to that her being out comic con babysitter for the boys at the end of the month and…). She is still in the hospital of course and her mom flew into Alberta (from Texas) tonight. Thank goodness! I am on call if they need more help later but it looks good. Once surgery is done recovery is supposed to be relatively short. 

Our Monday was a rather nice day. We woke up at Grandma’s, had breakfast, played outside… enjoyed the morning… I finally got a chance to try on the classic lolita dress I bought last year to have mom examine it. All we had to do was alter the elastic around the arms and I am in business… of course all the accessories I have amassed so far are in storage BUT I have the dress and a crinoline I have plans for altering to be more… poofy. 

Tv...

Outside fun

And of course cute baby

We had lunch, tidied up, said good bye to Gypsy and it was time to head back to Chris and Chris’ and return their van. The kids were rather unimpressed as they were sure we should have stuck around longer (mom and Mike had to head to the city and left before us so they were hoping we would stay until the grandparents returned). If we can sort out our van purchasing the hope is to head back to visit in the near future. 

Don't forget Gypsy...

And the binky she ate

Do not forget the great peeps experiment that the menfolk here HAD to try… apparently putting a marshmallow peep in the microwave is considered scientific to grown men! I have to admit it WAS funny.

After microwave and before microwave

Of course, we are still in a holding pattern on the van AND the rental… first proper business day after the long weekend… BUT our homeschooling board was open so today I was able to not only get my PO number BUT also get to Staples and pick up our very own iPad 3! Funding covered our iPad and extended Apple warranty but I am going to have to save up (or get for my birthday in June hint hint) a cover. VERY exciting. 

iPad in all it's glory

I also got a couple packages of special markers, a phonics hands on sort of thing AND a bucket of craft supplies. So hopefully that will help with the boredom somewhat. 

Today we made use of what we have around us for our one school activity. I took the inside cardboard piece from one of the seasonal boxes of chocolates shaped like a bunny and we used that as a template to make some simple Easter books. The twins wrote some of the stuff they did for Easter, Emanuel made some lovely pictures and Trinity did her own thing. We used stickers mom had for the eggs that were left over and there you go! Something fun and pretty. AND something they can show the facilitator. 

Making Bunny Books

We are still progressing but I am keeping it rather low key. I look forward to returning to our things and our own space so that we can jump into our homeschooling more fully and with more mess and bother. 

With Storytime too

I have been working on bows lately. I have some I completed tonight but the ones from a few days back I have pictures of… I am trying to use different colour combinations and play around with things more. It keeps my mind occupied and is helping me create a stock pile for a craft sale I have agreed to be a part of in June. A friend back where my mom lives is doing a charity drive and wanted me to sell my crafts. I give them a door prize and 10% of my sales! I have asked some other crafty friends to join in and hope we can fill a table and maybe even sell some things! 

Pretty in purple

I combined two patterns with matching colours on this one

Lots of red

Gotta use that Halloween ribbon

In fact, today after work Karyn made the drive out to school me in iPads and to visit with the kids AND to drop me off some socks without mates that Victoria was able to spare! Random socks are the best!

SOCKS

Miss Karyn and Echo

A pro with the iPad (this is Karyn's white one)

Well tomorrow will hopefully continue our positive trend… I am going to do my very best to help it along! But for now I have bows to finish, an iPad to learn and Apps to find! 

Don't forget ECHO'S grandma sandals!

Has it truly been a full week since we moved out of our rental and into… well still working on that! We are doing as much schooling as possible even on Good Friday and trying to keep things as fun as possible for the kids. I have started cutting up the math file folder games I bought last funding run for the twins. They are grade 2 level and not too complicated but at least they should take up a few minutes of their time. Though I think it takes longer for me to cut the pieces out. 

Keeping DADDY busy!

We made Easter themed paper chains today… thank goodness I remember the cardstock and the stapler (and staples)… Always a keep busy activity and nice and cheap. All 3 boys made some chains for Aunty and Uncle Chris! 

Paperchains

I have officially finished my Easter themed owls… Echo has one that she got after her surgery, Trinity will get another and the boys will get either one of the Easter, a St. Patrick’s Day one or a Valentine’s Day one for Easter. I think they turned out super cute! 

Easter-riffic

Don’t forget the felt bunnies… I don’t have them all on clips but will in time! 

Some buns

Tonight was a game night for the adults… Canadian Monopoly… the kind with the machine instead of the cash. Not too late though as mid game (she) Chris got called by work and asked if she could work tomorrow early. 

Monopoly!

Easter themed snack

I have been hard at work on some stacked bows… most with THREE loops… I will have to post pictures tomorrow if I can get around to putting them on the French barrettes. I figure if nothing else I can work with what I have on hand here at Chris and Chris’ and keep creating! Though I AM missing my buttons, feltie stuffing and velcro dots. Anyway… after that rousing game of Monopoly that I lost VERY badly it is time to get back to bows and crafting and then bed! Gotta keep life busy after all! 

Speaking of bunnies..