Fit For A Princess.........

It's been crazy here lately. Overwelming actually. We are in the midst of a total kid bedroom overhaul as Alec heads off to school, Avery moves out of our room (yay!) and Evan moves across the hall into Alec's room. It seemed like a good opportunity to really update and freshen up the rooms. Anyone who has ever had a teenage boy probably understands what I'm saying. And who couldn't resist making a special place for a little gal to rest her head at night. I am happy to say that except for the occassional trip downstairs to "visit" mommy in the night Avery has settled in very nicely to her new room and is seeming to love it.  Alec heads off on Saturday morning to college and we will be beginning the renovation to turn his room into a great spot for a preteen boy to hang out in. Details will follow and I will do my best to document the transformation along the way. For now.....here is Avery's new room.

The closet is VERY small and previously had a bifold panelled door.....quite the finger pincher! I opted to remove the door, install some oversized pine shelving that I stained a weathered grey. Adam trimmed out the interior with baseboard to match the wide baseboard that is the room and then replaced the hardwood flooring where the closet had been attached to the floor. I finished off with baskets to hold her clothes (someday Adam will build a trundle for under the bed but for now this works wonderfully) and some cute accessories!

The vintage stencil wall was a real challenge for this mama!  Math is not my strong point but I am incredibly prone to attention to detail so after a long 7 hours of measuring, levelling, measuring and double checking (only got one chance to put each one on!) the starry wall was born. I think it turned out pretty cute and really adds some interest to her wall.  She is loving having her Pottery Barn kitchen in her room and has been busy inviting us for tea time.

Her lighting was actually compliments of her big sister who was ready for a more "teenage" fixture in her room. Adam put the light on a dimmer and it's quite pretty at night when we are reading bedtime stories.

The bedding I bought many months ago (when the exchange rate was not quite so painfully bad). The bedding and pouff came from one of my favourite stores.....Restoration Hardware Baby and Kids. The flannel and layers of velvet blankets make the softest little nest that she can't resist. The little cotton pouff make a spot to have a seat to read her a book or a little "step up" to help her into the bed.

Her bed is Pottery Barn but I scored it on Kijiji.....brand new, never assembled and 1/2 the price!  I sure do love me a great deal! The bookcase (which has now been filled with her favourite books) was also a Kijiji find. It's a Pottery Barn item as well but again it was brand new in the box and alomost 1/2 the price of purchasing it in the store. Her little owl was made from a lovely lady on Etsy and coordinates perfectly with the colours and cosy theme of her room.

As you can see it meets the approval of Avery and her big brother does not seem to mind having given up his space for his little sister. He's excited for his own room......I believe there is going to be a wall mounted TV.....and that's pretty good incentive to move rooms when you are a 10 year old boy!

Happy Birthday Dad! 80 Years Looks Good On You!!

Last weekend we loaded up the car with 3 kids, our regular pile of clothing, stuffies, pillows, and enough shoes to keep even the pickiest pre-teen and her little "diva" sister happy.  We also packed up 6 racks of ribs, 12 chicken breasts, 2 jumbo pies, 2 tubs of potato salad, enough fixings for ceasar salad, a veggie tray, a fruit platter, 36 homemade chocolate chip cookies, 3 bottles of wine, 5 containers of lemonade (plus a lemonade dispenser), an an assortment of cutlery, helium ballons, plates, platters, napkins, candles, streamers and presents.

Sounds like a typical day around here?

Well, this was no typical road trip up to Muskoka.  We were all geared up to celebrate my Dad's 80th birthday.   The weather was poised to be rainy (but thankfully it held off till after dinner) but that didn't dampen our plans at all. We even managed to keep it a surprise until about an hour before guests began to arrive. Adam and I handled the majority of the cooking and prep but there was no shortage of offers of help from friends and family.  In the end the day was just how I hoped it would be......relaxed, fun, and full of well wishes for my Dad.  And what could be better than that?

Dinner is served............

On your 80th you get to have whatever your favourite cake is....even if you are diabetic!

I had this cool printable done....love it!

Adam cooked up a feast...despite the 30+ degree heat

The weather cooperated and everyone relaxed outside

Friends and family.......Aunt Peggy still rocks it!

Avery made some new friends and meet some Great Aunts and Uncles see hadn't seen before

Cutting the cake!  Avery helped Grandpa blow out the candles

A little cuddle with Grandpa before heading home from a great weekend

Grandpa and his girls!

Happy Easter................

I hope everyone is having a wonderful long weekend.  We had set aside this weekend, not only to celebrate Easter and the beautiful Spring weather, but to also toilet train Miss Avery.  Unfortunately our little gal came down with a nasty cold and started to run a fever Saturday afternoon.  We ended up having to return to the world of diapers as we tucked our little girl into bed for a marathon sleep.  The good news is that she awoke feeling much better, just in time to check out what the Easter bunny brought for her.  And now we are back in "big girl undies" and hoping that today will be a successful day. :)  Either way, we are so proud of her and all of a sudden she seems so grown up!

The outdoor portion of the Easter Egg Hunt - Eggs filled with money even motivates Alec to join in on the fun!

Evan is on the hunt!

The chilly morning never took away Claire's smile!

Those bare legs make me shiver just looking at them

No smiles from our sick little girl.....but she did seem happy with her new water table and toys......that we set up in the livingroom because it was too chilly outside.......and then it started to leak....lol

Ah Winter............

Why do you torture us so?

Am I the only one who is beginning to think that the ground hog was wrong?

I'm off to shovel..........................

A Week of First Times............

Hello!  It's been a whirlwind around the house the last few days.  The majority of the excitement has centered around our oldest, Alec, but whenever you have a large family there seems to be exitement (or at least drama) most of the time.

It has definitely been a week of "first" experiences.  We are so proud to pass along that Alec was accepted into all of the colleges he applied to. He will be moving to Orillia in September to attend Georgian College for Police Foundations. He hopes (and I'm sure he will succeed) to pursue a career in Police Services.  I think he will be amazing in his chosen field and both Adam and I couldn't be more pleased or excited for him.  We have been busily filling out paperwork, applying for residence (he will share an apartment with 3 others...yikes!) and starting to figure out what he will need as he officially flies the nest!

The other excitment was the purchase of his first car!!  I remember my first car as if it was yesterday (give or take 20 years).  The difference was that it was my Dad that purchased my first car and although it was exciting it was a bit of a bummer that I did not have any real decision making power in the purchase.  Well, Alec has been working hard and I'm happy to say he researched, searched, and purchased his first car on his own (with a little bit of fatherly support from Adam).  He is super excited and loving his first set of wheels.  And I'm getting used to trying not to worry every time he gets behind the wheel.  When does that ever end?  Or does it?

These "firsts" couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Way to go Alec!

I Will "Owl - ways" Love You.............

I finished up these cute little guys today.  I also did another order of 48 more traditional "heart" shaped cookies for a resident Valentine's Day party at our local retirement residence.  I think these are my favourite though and gave me the opportunity to try a painting technique that I hadn't done before.

This order will mark the end of "How The Cookie Crumbles."  I will be taking a break as I get ready to head back to school (online) for the next 18 months and prepare for a change of direction in my life.  Change is definitely good and, in this particular case, long overdue.  Although it's been an absolute blessing to be able to work from home for the past 11 years, watch my kids grow and be present in their daily lives it's time to focus on the next 10 years and where Adam and I want to be.....hopefully retiring and taking the "Freedom 55" option!   So yes, change is on the horizon and I am nervous, excited and slightly afraid.......but also ready for the challenges the future holds.  Wish me luck!

A Little Bit of Christmas............

I thought it would be nice this year to try and capture a few pictures of the house decked out for the holidays.  We spent yesterday at the local tree farm choosing our family tree.......a beautiful White Spruce!  The remainder of the day was spent pulling down the big tubs of decorations from the shed rafters and setting about to add some holiday sparkle to our little house.
Inspired by our new rustic table I wanted to focus on colours and details that would be traditional and have a distinctive natural vibe.  Living in a tiny house though, with 6 people and a busy daycare during the week also meant that any decorating I did didn't overwhelm the space or take up too much valuable floor real estate. :)  I still have a few more details and DIY projects I want to finish but so far I'm happy with how our little bungalow looks cosy and inviting.

This little arrangement sits by the front door to welcome everyone into our home. I originally made it for the front step but I liked it so much that I let it stay inside instead.

I downloaded the artwork, printed it onto some cardstock and put it into a silver frame.  The star I found at Dollarama and then perched in on some vintage books....a .Charles Dickons classic "A Christmas Carol"

Our little living room and dining room.............

I've had so much fun decorating our new table. Sheepskin throws, a grey linen table runner and vintage box filled with Pointsetta's put me into the festive spirit

I printed these little holiday sayings onto cardstock, added a few natural elements and tied them onto my lanterns with some jute

A little corner in the diningroom.  I just added a few little touches and a favorite picture from our beach vacation last summer

  

 

Our Christmas tree! A collection of handmade knit figures, pinecones, ornaments the children have made over the years and some special Villeroy and Bosch ornaments that I buy once a year.  I added in plenty of red balls, some tin stars and a few handfulls of jingle bells that Avery picked out at the store.   It may not be "design worthy" but each little decoration holds a special place in my heart.

A copy of The Nutcracker and some more beautiful Poinsetta's find a little corner on the media console

I didn't do too much downstairs but did manage to add a burlap pillow...."S" is for Sit........or maybe "S" is for Santa

I found this rustic crate at my parents house and "borrowed" it for the holidays.  I just love how the flowers look so pretty in it and I like to think of all the "stories" that this crate could tell if it could speak

Fall.......A Catch Up Post!

 Fall is by far my favourite time of the year.  I love the way life seems to slow down in the Fall, the kids are settled into school and extra cirricular activities and we all settle into a predictable schedule.  I also think Fall is one of the lovliest times of the year to photograph nature and the kids.
We always look forward to our Thanksgiving Weekend we spend in Muskoka.  Being a "country gal" at heart I always look forward to a walk in the woods.  I have this strong urge to feel the crunch of the leaves, the beautiful colours of the leaves, and breathe in that musty air that reveals the end of the summer and coming hibernation. Unfortunately when I announce that it's time for the annual walk in the woods I'm not always met with joyful enthusiasm.  This year, Claire asked me what I was looking forward to for Thanksgiving.  My answer was quick and simple.......I wanted EVERYONE to take a walk in the woods with me.....WITHOUT MOANING, GROANING, COMPLAINING, OR WHINING!  Much to my amazement my request was granted. And even better?  Everyone had so much fun!  We hiked into Hardy Lake which is a small lake surrounded by government land in the small town of Torrance.  My mother actually hiked into the same lake on Thanksgiving Day as part of her family tradition ever since she was a young girl.  It was just so cool that I could carry on the tradition with my kids!  The kids had a great time claimbing rocks, navigating swampy parts and checking out the beautiful lake when we arrived. Willow joined us and was a happy....muddy....and wet dog by the end. :)  It was the perfect way to work up an appetite for dinner.
Enjoy the pictures............

Can you spot them at the top?

Willow quickly discovered that if you jump off a rock into the lake you had better know how to swim.....silly puppy!

At Chudleigh's Apple Farm!  Where Avery experienced her first hay slide, decided that ponies where "too big" to ride, had a close encounter with a baby goat, and had a blast on a tractor ride. More great family memories and it seemed like yesterday that Claire and Evan (heck, even Alec) were experiencing their "firsts" at the apple farm. 

My three littlest ones! 

Avery thought it was hilarious to steal Daddy's hat

First  tractor ride!

Sampling the apples is always the best part!

Pumpkin patch fun!  Today we headed over to the local pumpkin patch to find some contenders for carving this Halloween. We weren't disappointed and although I told the kids we'd just get one this year somehow we ended up with 3 pumpkins, a handful of gourds, a squash and 4 pecan butter tarts. How did that happen?

Claire and Avery having some sisterly love!

The colours were so beautiful and the nippy weather made it the perfect Fall day

Avery thought it was more fun to be pulled around than walk......she's not spoiled......much!

Avery was quite interested in this old tractor