My "Daughter"

Isn't she just the absolute most beautiful thing you've ever seen? This is Tink Jr, the closest thing I have to a daughter. She's my niece and has always called me "Sissy" but we're not sure why. She's practically my clone in every way. We're both stubborn, giggly and a bit ditsy sometimes.

I used to see her almost every day, but she moved to Alberta with her dad, and I haven't seen her since August! We talk every single day, though, and I'm planning a trip up to visit her next spring when she graduates. It should be a whole lot of fun, because we're also planning a road trip to Edmonton to hit the West Edmonton Mall! The only difference in me and my Jr is that she doesn't like to shop!!! Imagine my dismay! But I'm sure she'll make an exception for shopping at the West Edmonton Mall with me...

What else can I tell you about Tink Jr? Well, she's incredibly smart, she hates math, and she is a fantastic cook/baker! She wants to be a pastry chef and she loves cats.

She's my pride and joy, and I love her so much. I can't wait for us to be together again.

XOXO Tink Jr! Hope you're having a great day!

I Sat Down and Scrapped!

After many failed attempts at getting my butt in gear and scrapping, I finally hauled everything out last night and scrapped. There was a sketch challenge on Croppin Frenzy and I decided that it might be just the thing I needed to make myself get back into the swing of things. It worked! This is what I came up with!

It's Angel sleeping when he was a month old, and is one of my favorite pictures of him. He looks so...well...angelic. LOL. This is a terrible picture of the layout. I can't wait to get a new scanner so I can start scanning my layouts in instead of having to take a digital picture. Maybe I'll whine and plead with Pan and see what he says about springing for a new scanner for me this week.

Yesterday was a fun and profitable day for me. My mom and dad came to visit again, and they were so taken with Angel that neither of them wanted to put him down, which is unusual for my dad, who isn't a "little baby" person. Thought I'd share some pics of them with the baby, too.

Here's the proud Granddad with his newest grandson. Both my parents were all amazed that Angel can now get his fingers into his mouth to chew them with little or no effort. He's been doing it for ages, so I wasn't quite as impressed. LOL

Angel is a BIG boy, weighing in 1 ounce shy of 14 pounds at our doctor's appointment on Monday. Maybe that's why my dad wasn't hesitant to pick him up and play with him. He's sturdier than most 2 month old babies and he's really alert. He loves to be played with. He loves his Grandad!

My mom wanted a picture taken of her and Angel in his new pyjamas she gave him for Christmas. He's also got the bear she gave him for Christmas in this pic too. Aren't those pyjamas the BOMB??? They look exactly like little men's pyjamas and have Tigger on them.

Angel loves Momma. Even her voice over the phone makes him smile. All three of my boys have a very special bond with my mom, and she's the kind of grandma that everyone should have. She plays games and does puzzles. She makes cookies and lets them help. And, of course, she never comes to visit without some sort of treat!!! She's always pleasant and fun, and she gives the best hugs and kisses.


She got the title Momma (pronounced "Maw-Maw") from my nephew Adam (who is Angel's godfather) because he couldn't say Grandma. It stuck, and my boys call her that too. It's adorable to hear. Even cuter is that Adam and Tink Jr. still call her that too, even though they are 18 and 16 years old! She loves being "Momma", and I think it suits her.


We bought Angel a new swing yesterday. When Poptart was a baby, we had the Ocean Wonders swing. I sold it last spring when we decided that our baby days were over - at least for a long time. A couple of weeks later I found out that I was pregnant. Great timing or what?

Whoever said that a swing was an unnecessary item was a LIAR. Babies need to be able to see what's going on around them, and a mommy can't be expected to carry the baby around all the time! So yesterday I decided that I wasn't waiting any longer. Angel needed a swing.

This one was only $75 and I think it's adorable. Not as fancy as the Ocean Wonders one, but it does the trick. It has 3 recline positions, 5 speeds, and 5 songs/sounds for soothing. I also like the fact that the top is open. MUCH easier for getting Angel in and out. He fell asleep in it twice yesterday!

And yes, that's my foot trying to keep the swing still for a picture. Isn't that a cute sock? His Majesty picked out those socks for me for Christmas. I'm a snowflake fiend. It was the theme of our wedding, actually.

I also picked up some toys for the boys' Easter baskets yesterday and an album for the King's baby pages, but if I can find a 12X12 album with Noah's Ark or a giraffe on it, I will use this one for Angel. Poptart has a Winnie the Pooh album, because that was his baby theme. The King's theme was Noah's Ark, but I would settle for giraffes or jungle animals with a giraffe among them because they are his favorite animals and he collects giraffes. I bought him a pair of giraffes with their necks wound around each other yesterday. It plays "Hooked on a Feeling" and they dance to the music. He named them "James and Mommy". How CUTE!!! Being a mommy gives me such a warm fuzzy feeling sometimes, and the giraffes were well worth the $9 after that. (Original price $35, so I got a WICKED deal.)

Holy cow, I've rambled on forever! I was going to post a new pic of Tink Jr. but I'll do that tonight since this post is already a million miles long! Must be all the pictures. ;-)

Ciao!

Baby Book Blues and Scrapping Thoughts

I have NOT been scrapping like I should. I have three baby books that are all going unfinished while I put off my scrapping daily. So far I'm almost 4 years behind on layouts for His Majesty's book. Poptart's book is doing much better, since everything in his book was a little more recent and easier to remember the details. Angel's book is almost up to date, considering that he's only two months old and - shame on me - there aren't a whole lot of pictures of him yet.

The layout that I have on today's post is one for Angel's baby book. It was my first time playing with Heidi Swapp Ghost Letters, and now I want to use them on everything! You can do so many things with them! I edged these with acrylic paint so they would stand out a little bit.

So tomorrow night I am going to get down to business. I'm going to finally really scrap my heart out and get some layouts done for the baby books. I am going out to the mall tomorrow with my mom, so I'm going to pick up three new albums, one for my Book of Me, one for His Majesty, and one for Angel. I'm going to try to avoid buying anything else though because I just placed an order with Tracey from Croppin Frenzy and I really shouldn't spend any more. She has the cutest monthly kits on her site and she does monthly specials! You should check them out. Link in my "Favorite Places" links.

Another place you should definitely check out is Christine from Christy's Playground (in my favorite blogs). She's got some big plans...and they're going to be awesome! I'm really looking forward to seeing it all take shape. Wonder what I'm talking about? Go check it out for yourself!

Well, it's time to go talk to Tink Jr. on the phone! More tomorrow!

What Makes My Neverland...

I'm not going to pretend to be one of those wives who is constantly in awe of their husbands and thinks he's perfect. I'm not. I totally see the faults in Pan, and I have to admit that sometimes (probably far too often) I tend to point them out to him. We have our disagreements, and there are moments when I just have to scream or I just might strangle him, but then there are times like tonight.

Tonight I remember why I fell in love with Pan. It's not something in particular that he did that made me remember it. It's just that tonight my heart is overflowing with love for this man that came into my life and made my Neverland just what it should be.

Not everyone knows this - not because we've tried to hide it, just that it's not something that comes up in conversation - but Pan is not the King's biological father. Pan and I met when His Majesty was just my Prince of Wails, only four months old. We were so far from the people that we are today that sometimes I have to wonder what happened to me.

We met in the porch of Windsor Pentecostal Church. Friends introduced us, and ironically enough, the friend that introduced us was a guy that I was seeing at the time. Guess in retrospect it was a bad move on his part, but there was an instant connection. Some might call it love at first sight, others might call it pure chemistry. I don't know what it was, but alarms went off in my heart - the place that I had build solid walls around. The King's biological father had hurt me so completely that my heart lay in ruins. I was a single mom with a tiny little boy that needed me so much...I wasn't about to let someone come in and destroy me again.

That night we talked to each other so much that we scared ourselves. We kept trying to place distance between us. Pan was reluctant to let his heart get involved because he had an unnatural fear of children and he knew that I had a baby. But something happened because two months later, we started dating - but with rules. We were never getting married, it wasn't even a concern for us. We were best friends - who happened to be dating. No plans for the future. We'd just take one day at a time and see where it went.

We were engaged by July and got married 364 days after our first date. And I don't have a single regret. He is an amazing father to all three boys, a loving husband, and to quote Tami "deliciously gorgeous". I am the luckiest woman alive to have his love, and I don't appreciate him half as much as I should.

Once again, as I do so often, I have turned to music to tell my story for me. So here it is. For you, Pan. The man who changed my life. The man I could never live without. My love, forever.

Here Without You - World of Warcraft

Here is one of the reasons I love to play World of Warcraft. This game is amazing. The graphics are visually stunning and you can really make a story out of it! Enjoy...watch it and then try to tell me that you don't want to at least play it ONCE!!!!!

This game rocks and I can't help it...I'm addicted.

I'd also like to add: Whoever made this movie is a GENIUS!!!

Happy Birthday to Tami!!!

Well, it's Tami's special day today, so I have decided to devote my blog post today entirely to her. She is my best friend, and let me take a few minutes to tell you why.

Tami and I met online at a scrapbooking forum and began chatting on MSN some months ago. I have met a lot of people online, but this was different. She and I instantly clicked and within days were more like sisters than strangers that had never met face to face. Before we knew it, we were very best friends. We chatted late into the night and sometimes even the wee hours of the morning. I shared everything with her, even my most intimate secrets and the dark thoughts that I didn't dare to voice to anyone else.

Why do I love Tami so much? The list is too long to put in one post. She's the best friend I could have ever asked for. We disagree sometimes, but that's okay, because we respect each other's differences. She's open, honest, caring and always there to lend a sympathetic ear or a shoulder to cry on. She's funny and smart, always has a great witty comment to make about things, and is fiercely loyal.

She's my own personal cheerleader, psychiatrist, comedienne, and advisor. She makes me laugh and comforts me when I cry. She helps me put things in perspective, and when I'm being unreasonable, she doesn't tell me that; instead, she goes right along with me.

Really, I can't put it into words why I adore her. I guess I should just sum it up by saying: because she's Tami, and I wouldn't have her any other way.

Okay, my words just can't do her justice, so I'm going to borrow the words of Brandy to say how I truly feel. Here's to you, my best friend!!!

Best Friend
© Brandy

Whenever I'm down I call on you my friend
A helping hand you lend in my time of need
So, I'm calling you now just to make it good
What else can I do for you hear my plea
Friends may come and friends may go
But you should know that I've got your back
It's automatic
So never hesitate to call 'cause I'm your sister
And always for you in love
Whenever I'm down with all that's going on
Is really going on just one of those days
And you say the right things
To keep me moving on
To keep me going strong
What else can I say?
Friends are there through thick and thin
And I've been told that
And I believe that it's automatic
Call me when you need a friend
'Cause I'm your sister and always know that
I'll be there for you
When you're going through things that you need me
You're close to me my friend
You can count on me
Call me when you need me
Or can't take it anymore,
I don't know what I'd ever do without you
From the beginning to the end
You've always been here right beside me
So I'll call you my best friend
Through the good times and the bad ones
Whether I lose or if I win
I know one thing that never changes
And that's you as my friend!

Happy birthday Tami. Many many more and may we celebrate together next year. In Tuscany!

Poptart's Fat Lip...

Well, he's finally done it.

I knew it was coming, but I still wasn't able to stop it.

Poptart has a fat lip.

How did this happen? Well, it was a result of disobedience, but I'm fairly certain that he still didn't learn his lesson.

He has a blue Rubbermaid tote in his bedroom that we keep his toys in. It's in his bedroom and not the living room because he likes to use it as a stepladder and I'm always terrified that he's going to fall and hurt himself. So yesterday when he decided that he was going to dump all of his toys out onto the floor and bring the tote into the living room, I said "No."

Did that stop him? Absolutely not! He brought it out anyway. So what did Mommy do? Well, Mommy took that tote from him and took it right back into the bedroom without further ado. So he brought it out again. Mommy, being tired and frustrated, said to heck with it, and left him alone. When my back was turned, Poptart decided to try a new trick with the tote. He decided that it might be fun to sit on the edge of the tote to watch television like he does the arm of the sofa.

For anyone who has ever considered trying this (I don't know why anyone would but you never know these days) I would like to offer you a little lesson in physics. Sitting on the edge of a tote without an equal weight on the other side will cause the tote to act like a see-saw. And you will end up on the floor.

And if you're Poptart, you will manage to pierce your lip the old-fashioned and painful way: with your tooth.

I didn't panic, for once in my life. I very calmly got a cold wet towel and cleaned his lip, then got an ice pack for the swelling. Strawberry Shortcake was on television and she was a great help in distracting Poptart from the fact that blood was flowing from his beautiful pouty lower lip.

Long story short, Poptart got a fat lip and this scrapping mom just had to take a picture for his baby book.

Just A Little Something I Did

Was playing around on Adobe Illustrator...this is what I came up with. Enjoy.

As the World Turns...

Someone falls off. Or so a friend of mine once said. Today, I think it's going to be me. I feel exceptionally tired and I don't have what it takes to cling to the edge anymore. I think a freefall off the world is just what the doctor ordered.

So here I am, letting it all go. Why can't I just get off my butt and do what needs to be done instead of sitting here blogging about the boring life I lead?

It's not what I had pictured life to be. I had pictured an immaculate home, angelic children in clean, adorable outfits, and me, well-groomed and manicured, sipping coffee as I blog about my wonderful life.

Instead I haven't been keeping on top of the laundry like I should be...there is a mountain of it next to my laundry room door. The dishes only got washed last night because Pan took pity on me and did them for me. My bedroom is a disaster and my bathroom needs to be cleaned again. The children are in pyjamas until after noon, if I manage to get them dressed at all, and then it's usually overalls and a t-shirt. Something that within an hour is stained with Kool-Aid and covered in chalk or crayon marks in Poptart's case, spit-up in Angel's case. And me? My hair, which hasn't been washed today, in a messy ponytail and chipped nail polish as I blog about my boredom. I don't have coffee to sip on, because I don't have the energy to go and make it.

So today, instead of trying to cling to the edge of the world and make an effort to achieve my fantasy, I'm going to let go and fall off. When I finally climb back on, I'll be sure to blog about it. ;-)

Where Will These Feet Take You?

I have to confess, I love baby feet.

I hate adult feet. I think that feet as a rule are icky. Maybe that's why I love shoes so much...they cover up the nastiness that are people's feet. No foot fetish here, I can't stand feet.

But there's something about baby feet that is totally different. They're so soft, sweet and pure. They have yet to take a step towards their goals in life. Just like the baby they are attached to, they are blissfully ignorant of what lays ahead. They know nothing of the hurt and corruption that they will likely face on the long road that lies ahead.

I love to play with Angel's little feet. I love the way he curls his toes and the softness of his little heels. I love to kiss the tiny little toes that look like wee berries. I like to wonder where his feet will take him.

Will those feet ever take steps on foreign soil? Will they run carefree on a sandy beach? Will they splash in the ocean? Will they follow in the prints left by the feet of other great men?

Will these feet carry him to a battlefield to serve his country? Will they walk the halls of a hospital as he cares for others? Will they kick a soccer ball or football in a championship game? Will they dance on a stage? Will they lead him to the altar to marry his true love?

Wherever they lead him, near or far, I pray they always lead him home.

Happy Birthday to My Sweeties!!!

I'm a little late posting this but I want to wish a very happy belated birthday to my "nephews". They are my cousin Janet's boys, and I have made them honorary Lost Boys.

So here's to you, Donald, who turned 8 on February 5th:



And you, Isaac, who turned the big 5 yesterday!!!


To my precious nephews, my OTHER Lost Boys, Auntie Tink loves and adores you. I can't wait to see you again so I can spoil you rotten. Big hugs and kisses to you both on today and every day!

Also a big happy birthday to Dusty's boy Teryn, who also turned 5 yesterday! Happy birthday T-Man!!!!!

Upside Down

Ever hear a song and just think that the lyrics remind you of someone? Well, every time I hear the song "Upside Down" by Jack Johnson (from the Curious George soundtrack) I think of Poptart. The song just suits him. So I couldn't resist including the lyrics of the song on a layout with this, my favorite picture of him.

Turn it upside down, Poptart. If anyone can, it's you.

So Tired

I have got to stop staying up so late. I am so tired today I can barely function. I apologize if this post makes no sense or seems disjointed somehow - I am truly exhausted.

It's barely past noon and already my day has been packed full of activity - and just a bit of insanity. I got up early with the baby and bathed him while Pan bathed Poptart. Then he watched the kids while I showered and dressed. We all went out to get the kids immunized. (insert sarcasm here) Oh fun. (end sarcasm)

The visit with the nurse was a nightmare. Poptart has never been so uncooperative in his life. He would not do anything she wanted him to do, and when he got his shots he screamed like a banshee. I think they heard him in the next town. Angel cried through the whole thing too, especially the needles. They are both very big boys. Poptart hit the 90th percentile for height, and 2 month old Angel is a whopping 13 lbs, 3 oz!

Now Poptart is asleep in his crib, Angel is asleep in his carseat and Pan is asleep on the sofa. I'm the only one still awake, and just barely. Maybe I'll go for a nap too...

Yesterday With My Parents

My parents came to visit yesterday and it was great! I have missed them so much! It was great to just get a chance to shop with my mom and talk about things. The older I get the more I understand my mom. I used to think that she was just trying to restrict me and take away my freedom and fun, but now I see that the things she was doing was to protect me and make me a better person. I hope it worked. :)

After our shopping trip we came back to the apartment and took some pictures. What do you think? Do I look like my mom?

Ironically, before we took this picture I was wearing my pretty new shirt, but I changed it because I didn't want Angel to puke on it. It's not the best picture of me, that's for sure. I almost didn't post it, but my mom is adorable. :)

We also tried to get a good picture of my parents with all three boys. This was quite a task, since first His Majesty wasn't looking, then he was bending over, then Dad wasn't looking and so on and so forth. We finally came up with this, which is a decent picture I suppose.

Serious red-eye because I haven't had the chance to edit yet. :S

Procrastinating

Here I sit at 11:09am...I have to leave the house in less than 40 minutes and I am still sitting here in my pyjamas. I don't want to move. I'm so tired. I got about 2 hours sleep last night, how much does that suck? I have to go back for my follow-up appointment with the optometrist so that I can order my contacts. Then I think I'll nip over to the mall and do a little bit of shopping. Maybe I'll get some new scrapbooking supplies. I know I'm going to pick up the pink scrapbook I found for my Book of Me. That has to be started ASAP.

Okay, this was a quick update...more later. I have to get ready and I have to order pics from Walmart before I do! Eep!