Better Late Than Never..........

As life gets busier lately I am definitely struggling to keep up with recording the kid's milestones on the blog. I realize though that this is the "link" they will have in the future (as I am also notoriously bad at scrapbooking etc.). So better late than never.....here are the kids pics from the first day of school. Claire began Grade 7 with the same amazing enthusiasm that she exhibits every year. Evan was equally excited to begin Grade 5 and Miss Avery was in tears because she was not beginning school. She woke up early, insisted on me making her a lunch (although I kept saying she was not going this year), and wearing her backpack. She went with Daddy to walk Evan to school and about 20 minutes later I could hear the screaming as she headed back home. Soooo disappointed to not be able to stay. But we are making the best of it and making sure she has lots of her own "school work" to do with me every day. :) Another thing we are doing this year (that is a bit different) is not having an after school or extra activities. Partly because I have reduced my work load to comply with Ministry Standards for daycare, partly because not only is Alec in school but so am I and financially something had to give.  We are also focussing on Adam's Real Estate marketting so that is time consuming as well. In actuality it is kind of nice to have our evenings together, doing nothing but being a family. That, in itself, is priceless.

When I asked Evan what he needed for the new school year he said "a pencil"!  I LOVE boys!

Sibling love!

When I asked Claire what she needed to begin school she presented me with a spreadsheet! Lol....that's my girl!

This is Avery "before" realizing that she was not starting Kindergarten (depsite us telling her that she has 1 more year with mommy)

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!