So for real, I am having trouble keeping up this summer. The kids and I have been so busy, enjoying our new hometown, exploring, making friends, and adventures.

If I do not get Ethan out of the house daily, he digs in my plants and tears my apartment to shreds. The kid has so much more energy than Becca did at that age. Yet Becca had a mini backyard in California to play in where Ethan is trapped in our apartment. It may just seem different.

We are in constant motion. This week we went to the Natural History Museum, the Library, an ocean beach and to various playground numerous times. We also visited our family doctor to discover the bumps on Ethan’s face, arms and back were NOT chicken pox, rather bug bites as we initially thought, then talked ourselves out of.

I miss quiet days of lounging about, however summer is so fleeting up north and really one must enjoy the weather while it lasts. Besides the children love the adventure and exploring. Winter will come and blanket our surroundings with snow, leaving us to be crafty, creative and bounce on our beds for hours and hours.

If I have not come by to your blog, returned your email/phone call, Facebook etc … please know that I want to and I will, just not yet. Let me check the forecast … a rainy day will work

All this time exercising is definitely cutting into the rest as well. I feel so good and it is starting to show (thanks for all the comments on our photo this week!) I run four nights a week and swim three. I have worked up to 50 laps in the pool in half an hour. My goal is 64 laps as that equals a mile (head games to keep it exciting). I had to switch it up, because my muscles did not like running every night. However for me, the every night thing matters. It cannot be random. I do take nights off but once a week max.

Sorry for the random, fly by post. I have like a dozen posts in my head, waiting for me to slow down and wirte them. I have pictures to share and ideas to express … just no time …

How is your summer going so far? Best yet? Need for improvement?

Have fun with more Wordless Wednesday.

.. more concerning Becca’s birthday. I am quite proud how it all turned out and so glad that I put forth so much energy to make it just right.

There were a few things I focused on for Becca’s party. I wanted it to be relaxed (no crazy pressure, no ponies, no psychotic clowns), environmentally friendly (as little waste as possible) and most of all a reflection of Becca. Becca being a huge nature buff, there was no question the party should be held outdoors. Being we do not have a backyard, the next best was our local playground. It was a little frustrating to prepare the food to be transported, but in the end it was worth it.

Waste was so minimal I was shocked. We took our own garbage bag (I did not want to fill the playground garbage, trek it in trek it out), as well as our compost bin. I had purchased plates from Target, so we were covered there (And they are cute for future picnics!), the only garbage we had were from the two not so environmentally friendly items we had. Becca adores balloons, so there was no question a few had to be present at her party. She also specifically asked for those annoying squeakers, so as wishes go it was a pretty attainable one. I will be looking to see if I can create a squeaker of sorts that can be reused, rather than squeaked, chewed (ew) then tossed.

The food needed to be kid-friendly and economical. So peanut butter and honey it was! The kids loved it and it was easy to prepare and move. We had vegetables, hummus, watermelon, crackers and of course the cake. I made way to much cake (I also prepared cupcakes, somehow the cake did not seem “enough” I was wrong!) I made the cake and icing from scratch then decorated it with nature items. I also tinted the icing with a splash of peppermint to give it a “green” taste!

Becca’s crown was created by me, based on a pattern in the book “The Creative Family” (great book by the way, very inspiring). I wanted to give her something extra special, created by her mom, just for her. She has had to compromise so much this past year, she deserved an extra little something. I am going to work on a crown for Ethan as well over the winter months, so he too can be extraordinary on his special day.

Presents I am always terrible. I try to be low key, but I want to give the kids tools to explore their creativity and imagination. Becca received a second hand bike early as part of her gift, however when I saw the kitchen for $50 (!gasp!), I HAD TO BUY IT! For real the same kitchen retails for over $170! She also received a collection of new books to read, as well as a Leapster (from her brother). Every gift giving opportunity J asks me if I am going to go low key and I agree, then as time goes on I collect little things here and there and next thing I know the children as spoiled *blush*.

Are your birthday parties for kids low key or out of this world? How do you decide what to buy the kids?

My dear sweet baby is now four. It happened in an instant, yet the last four years have been so full of adventure.

(I created the crown for her special day!)

Becca is the most resilient little girl. Enduring endless moving, good byes, making new friends, saying good bye to her cherished pet, creating new places to call home, all with grace. She amazes me everyday and I am honoured to be her mom.

(Becca had a party at a local playground)

This year has been particularly difficult. Being three is hard, in itself, without the other nonsense. Yet Becca has turned four and blossomed. She is curious, exciting and adventurous. She rides her bike, climbs, jumps, looks at her books, loves a good story and adores her friends. Swimming, hikes, nature and dinosaurs all rank top in her world. Cats, butterflies and fairies have captured her attention. She is learning her letters and numbers at her own pace, enjoying the process of recognition. She takes great pride in all that she can achieve.

(Becca about to blow out the candles)

She played soccer this year, although she now tells me that rather than soccer she would like to take ballet! She has become smitten with dresses and all things that are girly. Yet still gets down and dirty to play (gosh how I love her!) When we went on vacation she had the opportunity to reconnect with her best friend, who she misses dearly.

(Becca waited till her birthday to open the gifts from her Grandparents and Auntie)

Becca has fallen in love with her brother. Ethan, although “Mr Destructor Man” is also quickly becoming a faithful companion. She introduces him to others, and ensures that Ethan is included in play with others. She gives him random drive by hugs and enjoys wrestling him ot the ground (little does she know it will not be long till the table turn).

(We found this wooden kitchen for an amazing deal, Becca loves to pretend!)

Becca truly is an amazing little girl. She forever has changed me, becoming her mom was one of the greatest moments in my life. Making me, and all that surround her better people, just by knowing her.

Happy Birthday Boo. We love you!

(I hope to upload some photos on Flickr later today)

.. Had one of those days that never ends?

It is not a bad day. Rather it has been a fantastic day, full of creativity, laughter and fun. Yet it is still not over. I feel like we packed in a summer worth of activities in one day! It helps that it is a rainy day, keeping us indoors, only to face one another. I am going to be so ready for bed when the time comes.

I have been extremely busy with preparations for Becca’s fourth birthday. She is so into the planning process. We are making homemade playdough for her friends that attend the party, then she helped me design the Thank-You & Recipe card. We also worked on some bean bags today (made of my old socks! they turned out rather cute if I do say so myself).

(Becca is in love with the one in the front and has not put it down since I sewed it!)

Becca has received birthday packages in the mail, causing her to almost burst with curiosity. It is so cute to watch her anticipation build and that twinkle in her eye.

The house has been torn apart, put back together again and torn apart again so many times today my head is spinning. I am in awe how much the children have done.

(They look innocent enough don’t they?)

I apologize for my lack of presence out there, all this sewing, stitching, planning, cooking, baking, shopping … it is all keeping me very far from the computer, in fact I actually have UNREAD email (blasphemy). I am enjoying the children so much in this moment that it is consuming me. Life has never been this good, this easy, this amazing.