liar, liar

     We have been dealing with my four year old son being creative with the truth lately. Just the other day he cut the slipcover on the couch, and then told me the dog chewed it. Creative, right? In talking with other parents of his classmates, I know he is not the only one, and that makes him "normal" I guess. I also know why kids lie. It isn't rocket science. He is trying to avoid getting in trouble, avoid disappointing his dad and I. What I don't understand is why adults lie. Good question, right? Kids don't fool us with their lying, so why do adults think they can?
     Is it so important to keep up with the Jones' that you spend money you don't have buying home decor, dishes, or expensive accessories? Do the people who worry more about how they LOOK to others, than how they TREAT others think they are fooling anyone? Is living on credit cards and lines of credit so worth it? Our lives changed last year when I stopped teaching. We are learning to live on less. Do I like it? No. It sucks. I miss just going to the mall to spend money. Not shop, but spend. But I don't. I have come to terms with the fact that I don't need a million pairs of shoes. That I can wear $25 dollar sunglasses. I don't need the $200 ones. I am okay with buying my kids clothes from consignment stores. I use coupons. And I don't hide it. I don't try to live a lie where money rules my life. Do you?
     What about the people who lie about others? The one thing I know about telling a lie is that it is so hard to keep track of that lie, who you told it to, and how to not slip up. It has come to my attention that a very good friend of mine, and I have been talked about to mutual friends. And the words that were said were unflattering, and untrue. I am amazed and appalled that this still goes on with people I know. Amazed. I am glad that I have gotten rid of that part of my life, but I am saddened that someone feels so badly about their own life that they feel the need to take my friend down with them.
     I think I feel the worst for the people who lie about who they are. I would like to believe that we live in a world that is more accepting than the one my parent's grew up in. I feel horrible for the people who have to hide who they really are because they can't be true to themselves because of their religious beliefs, or pressure from friends and family to be who the world characterizes as normal.
     So what is my lesson from all of this? I have learned that I need to focus on Cohen's truth telling. I need to praise his good behavior. I need to celebrate him when he breaks a rule and tells the truth about it. I have also learned that I can't destroy who I am by allowing people to lie about me, and about my friends who matter. I have to remain true to who I am, and be true to the people who are in my life.
     That is all.

more pinterest inspiration

first let me apologize for the quality of the photo. it is a good old instagram one... i kinda love instagram, but it isn't the greatest for web stuff, you know, like on your blog.....

tomorrow is green day at school, and from what i understand, there is a sneaky little leprechaun running around avery's classroom. they have set their traps and hope to catch him tomorrow. i promised a rainbow to distract him. this is the rainbow. :) 

they have also just finished up their color unit in science, and were talking about roy g biv, and all the colors of the rainbow, so this is perfect. i was tempted to make upside down leprechaun cookies, but i for one don't like sugar cookies, two, i think icing a bunch of leprechauns would make me insane, and three, the kids in her class need more fruit. we all do, for that matter, but i thought rainbow fruit is much better than sugar cookies. 

tonight was also the irish concert in town. my little monkey danced like a highland pro.... i will post about that tomorrow.

look at me! back to blogging! who knew?

Timbits

Last week was Cohen's last day of hockey for the year. It was quite a year. It started in October like this. Cohen cried every time we put him on the ice. He would throw his gloves off, or just lay there. He was frustrated because it was his first year skating and he was on the ice with a trainer. My hats are off to his coaches. There is no way I would have had the patience with a crying kid on the ice the way they did.

And it is because of that committment that Cohen, at the end of the year, was this guy. He can skate alone, get up by himself, and shoot a puck. In my opinion, he was the most improved player on his team. I know I am biased, but the growth he made in a few short months is amazing. 

That said, I don't want to grow up to be a hockey mom. Timbits is great because they don't have games, and they just work on skills, and then play some scrimmages amongst themselves. I am not looking forward to hours in an arena, driving to the ends of the province, (and other provinces for that matter), and the cost of new equipment every year. Hockey is a major committment from a family, and I only have a complete family half the year. I am certainly not going to discourage Cohen from playing, but he did tell me a couple of weeks ago that he is only going to play hockey until he is seven. Then he is going to start curling. (((SMILE)))

More Pinterest Fun

I have two kids who absolutely love love love dinosaurs. Avery eats, sleeps and breathes them. She was so excited to hear about the dinosaur fossil discovery about an hour from our house. She is talking about dinosaurs constantly, and both her and Cohen love to play with their vast collection. So, when I saw an underbed storage tote converted to a dinosaur play area I was excited to make one of our own.

 The purpose of this is to stimulate the tactile senses, while also fostering imaginative play. My kids excel at imagination. And this just kicks their fun and imagination up a notch.

 All you need is an underbed storage tote, and a bunch of dried peas, beans and lentils. I went to Zellers yesterday and totes were on sale, so that was exciting... and then I went to Bulk Barn, and stocked up on $25 worth of tiger, kidney, mung, lima, and pinto beans. I also got some black eyed peas, yellow eyed peas, and yellow, red, and green lentils. 

 When I dumped all of the peas and beans in the tote, I had a hard time taking my hands out! It certainly kicks the fun up a notch... 

Now, what I should do is a make a pinboard of all the things from Pinterest that I have pinned and made....

Addicted.

I have an addictive personality. I know that. I know if I find something I really like, I can find myself hooked almost immediately. It is a good thing I have never tried highly addictive drugs, because I am sure I would be living behind a dumpster somewhere jonesing for a fix.

So, when I decided that rather than continue to buy crocheted hats and blankets off of etsy for my studio, and make my own, I had no idea how hooked I would get. Literally hooked. 

So, I knew how to do crochet chains. My grandma taught me when I was eight or nine. But I haven't done anything except a scarf until now. I googled how to crochet in the round, and TADA! I have found a new addiction. :) I followed a pattern for the sleeping owl, and everything else has been something I figured out on my own. I am kind of stoked about how quick these come together! I have also had quite a few requests for these, and this means that I have a bit of spending money for Vegas!

That Was Fast

Well, that didn't take me long. Thanks to the artsyfartsymama blog I finished this planner for the year last night. I used some old MME Fine and Dandy line to cover it, and voila! 

 This is the front cover. I tied a pen on with some leftover ribbon, and hopefully won't be left stranded when I need to make a plan!

This is inside the front cover. I sealed an envelope, covered it with patterned paper, and opened the right side to hold bills, receipts, or other straggly papers!
I can't wait to get started!
TFL

A new year and a new plan

Last year I made a bunch of resolutions. Just about one for every aspect of my life. I made one for scrapbooking, one for reading, one for weight loss, one for finding time for myself, and one for family commitments. This year, I am making one. It isn't because I didn't resolve all of last year's. In fact, I achieved a lot of the goals I set for myself last year. But this year, I really need to get my life in order. I have found that being a W(at)HM is tough. I think it is even harder than when I was a W(away from)HM. I can always find something else that needs or should be done and work gets put to the side. I can't afford to do this in 2012. I have secured some major photography contracts, and procrastination will not be my MO this year.
So, my goal is to get myself a bit more organized. A normal, overused, predictable one, but one that I need to meet. I hate meal planning at the best of times, but with two kids in two different activities, plus my weekly curling league and having a husband who works away half the month, meals often are my most dreaded part of the day. So, part of my organization is going to be doing meal planning while Grant is home. This way, I can get input for meals even when he isn't here. We spent the morning making lists of meals we love, ones we want to try, and ones for the crazy nights of the week. I am looking forward to this part of the day (kinda).
I also found a weekly organizer printable on Pinterest.  is EXACTLY what I would have made for myself if I had the time. EXACTLY. You can find it here (www.artsyfartsymama.blogspot.com) if you want one too. I printed it off today, and tonight while Grant and I watch Season 2 of Dexter, I am going to make a simple cover for it. So, I guess for the fifth of January I have done not too bad! 


Now, speaking of Dexter..... holy schnicky! What a good show! Is it bad that Grant and I are bonding over a serial killer?