Hallowe'en Mummy Craft

This is a super easy and relatively mess free craft to do with kids.  

Easy + mess free = 1 happy Mummy! 

All you need are popsicle sticks (or coffee stir sticks), plastic or wooden spoons, glue & strips of fabric.

Glue the popsicle sticks to the handle of the spoon for the legs and one across for the arms.

 While you are waiting for the glue to dry, find an old t-shirt to rip in strips.  This was a great activity for the girls. It kept them amused and away from the glue! 

 Once the glue has dried, start wrapping the mummy. I found it easiest to start with the head and finish with the arms.

 Draw on some eyes, and Ta-Da! You have a mummy!

This one happens to be my favorite. 

Why is it...

...that my girls put up a fight when I give them water to drink BUT are more than happy to drink the pool water or rain water that accumulated in a toy cup that was left outside?

...that my girls are reluctant to try new foods BUT they will gladly eat sand, dirt and leaves?

...that my girls have this amazing ability to make colossal messes in a matter of seconds BUT it takes them forever to help tidy away one toy?

...that my girls can play quietly BUT as soon as I get on the phone they start screaming or singing or fighting?

things my kids have taught me

There is no doubt about it, being a parent is a tough job! My girls challenge me in ways I never would have imagined.  I am learning from them everyday and hopefully I am doing my part and they are learning from me too. Here are some lessons I have learned. Some were easy, some were hard, and some have contributed to my ever growing love of wine. As you may know already, my girls are only 4 and 2 so, I expect there will be thousands more lessons to be learned in the years to come! (I may have moved on to scotch by then.)

1) There is nothing better than getting a heartfelt hug from your child - especially the ones that come out of the blue.

2) Never assume that they have eaten the food that you have given them. I have found on numerous occasions {hours, days, weeks or months later} fruit, granola bars, crackers and raisins -  half eaten, squished behind cushions, under books and in shoes!!

3) My patience can be easily tested.

4) Yelling at the top of their lungs in a crowed supermarket will usually result in them getting a treat to quiet them down.

5) That I am smart, strong, beautiful and brave.

6) The more I say NO the more they continue to do whatever destructive, mess making thing they were doing.

7) They can outlast me any day in the dinner wars.

9) Singing out loud and dancing is a great form of exercise. I may look like a fool to any onlookers, but my girls think I'm freakin' awesome!

10) Don't fight over what they wear. Let them choose and wear whatever they want (within reason).  It saves a lot of time and tears in the end {yours and theirs}.

11) It's important to take time for myself. I am a better person, mom and wife for it.

12) I will always feel guilty for taking time for myself.

13) Screaming at my girls never works. I know this, but I will still continue to do it.

14) There is no such thing as a quick getaway! It usually takes at least 30 minutes to get everyone out the door.

15) Being called Mom is a really huge and amazing responsibility.

16) To always try new things.

17) Be the best role model that I can be.

18) Getting kicked in the face in the middle of the night is not a fun way to be woken up.

19) Hearing your child breathing deeply in their sleep is such an incredible sound.

20) That I can change a diaper in the middle of the night without turning on the light.

21) Night terrors are a lot harder for the parent then they are for the child.

22) That time really moves at an incredibly fast pace. Treasure every moment - the good and the not so good.

23) Sand can find it's way in to every single nook and cranny in the matter of seconds!

24) Kids are super creative and innovative. Ketchup, mustard, hummus, yogurt and apple sauce are all perfect for finger painting. Doors, floors and walls are all great canvases.

25) Hearing your child laugh is the most amazing sound.

art of music

My husband and I are big time music fans. For our wedding, we made sure we chose EVERY song on the playlist.  Yes, we are that hardcore. However, neither of us can sing (doesn't seem to stop me though), and neither if us can play an instrument.  Our love for music is one of the things that brought us together and we hope that it will also play a major role in our girls lives. 

Here are some fun, music inspired kids books that we have picked up along the way - in our quest to mould our girls into musicians.  

Yellow Bird Project - colouring book

Montreal-based, nonprofit Yellow Bird Project, have created this really cool indie rock colouring book that is hand illustrated by artist Andy J. Miller.  Each page pays artistic tribute to a different Indie Rock band, from Bon Iver to Iron and Wine.  The book also includes other activity-book fun, like a maze and connect the dots and 100% of the royalties go to charity, now that's rockin'!

Sunday in Kyoto - book and music CD

Contains a collection of 14 Gilles Vigneault songs performed by Canadian singers including Patrick Watson, Thomas Hellman, Coral Egan and Vigneault's daughter, Jessica.  Sunday In Kyoto contains fun music for kids with an artistic twist.
Gilles Vigneault is a member of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and hailed as one of Canada's most important music figures of the 20th century.

Lisa Loeb - book and music CD

Pop star Lisa Loeb definitely brings the silly with her fun filled songbook.  The CD contains 4 original wacky songs that are very catchy.  I have found myself singing a few of them - thankfully, only around the house.

Being connected

We do lots of travelling. Not necessarily to far away destinations, but we like to be on the move. Short trips to Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto. Or longer trips states side or exploring the county (PEC that is). We do this partly because I'm a stay at home mom, and, well, I get fed up of being home, and partly to spend quality time as a family.  (At least that's how I sell it to my husband).

Of course most of these trips are wonderful.  Showing the girls where we grew up.  Discovering new places together.  But naturally, some of these trips are terrible. The kind that you know the second you leave the house it was a mistake.  BIG mistake.  But you keep driving anyway. Screaming all the way - you and the kids. Threatening to pull over. To throw the dvd player out the window. To leave them at the next rest stop. And to vow NEVER to travel again - and yet we will. Because amidst the chaos, there are memories and traditions being made.

The beauty of family vacations is that you learn about one another, good or bad. As a parent, you have more time to spend really being there with your kids.  No distractions. No household chores looming.  Nothing to divert our attention.  Ah, the joys of being connected.

A glimpse into our future.

Tweeting: family vacation = epic fail!

Another online shopping purchase completed!

Now if we could just get our girls to do the same.

Crafts - for crying out loud!

I am always trying to find fun things to do - that entertain my girls for longer than 30 secs, and that don't require a massive clean up afterwards!  Keeping in mind that I have 2 fairly young girls on my hands, I feel my options are limited.  Ok, so what you need to know is that I really love tapping into my creative side, I find it quite therapeutic. BUT...when I attempt to do crafts with my girls, I feel I need therapy when it's all done.  Take yesterday's project for example.  One of my less inspired ideas, necklace making.  I know, what was I thinking, small beads in tiny hands - and mouths - not to mention our old home has a slant to it. [At least the beads all roll to the same spot on the floor]

The plan: The girls would sit happily and make their own necklaces, while I would create personalized aprons for them with iron on transfers. We would laugh, sing songs while we crafted and it would be a great bonding experience.
Reality: Beads on the floor, the girls fighting over beads, and lot's of "MOMMY I MEED[sic] HELP!", "Mommy, MOMmy, MOMMY!!". I promptly looked at the clock.  Sadly it was too early to pour myself a glass of wine.

We all pushed through, picked the beads up off the floor, wiped away the tears (mine included) and finished the necklaces together.  While they were enjoying their new jewelry, I was able to finish making their aprons. Yes it was chaotic, yes it was loud, and yes it was fun (just look at their faces).  

  Here are some pics from our crazy crafts!

"Is it just me, or do these crafts stink?"

"I gave up my nap for THIS?"

The final product!

Before

After

The final product!