Easy Valentine's Craft

My sister Britt has been making crafts lately and she recently made one out of a canvas. So she inspired me to get my canvases out that I bought a while ago and make something with them. I wanted to do something to do with Valentine's but that I could use after since i'm not really into the whole valentines decorating thing. Anyways so I wanted to make a heart out of paper rosettes, so I looked online and found this tutorial for the rosettes, painted the canvas cream and stuck them on. I had everything on hand and it was super easy.

It turned out pretty cute I think, and after i'll just put it in the girls room!

New bed!

Presley and Jayci have been sleeping on their crib mattresses on the floor for a while now and they really needed a change. So since we won't be going to Edmonton for another month or so to get them new beds, we brought up our other queen bed from the basement for them to sleep on for now. We had to rearrange their tiny room and now it looks all hideous and empty, but i'm going to hang some stuff and make it "cute" this week. They LOVED the bed and were jumping on it forever, so we're hoping it wore them out. I'm hoping it works out ok, because they were to the point where they would roll over and fall off the mattress. They are just getting so big!

I don't think I ever mentioned I got a video camera for Christmas!! I was so excited!! We have to get used to having it and actually video things now, but I love it. So here is a little video of the girls in their new big bed!

Please ignore the ghetto curtains...

Obviously I'm not worried too much about this house looking good, but once we buy, i'll FINALLY be able to go nuts decorating!

By the way, this -30C, sucks. At least we've been productive while being stuck indoors and have organized a lot in this house. Only 13 more weeks give or take until baby, and that's IF I go full term! I've been early both pregnancies, twins 7 weeks and Kyla 3 1/2 weeks. So we shall see!

I'm feelin it

I've been super lucky so far with this pregnancy and not "feeling" pregnant (other than the morning sickness at first) but as soon as 25 weeks hit, I was definitely feeling it. I had to go to church on Sunday by myself with the girls and we hadn't been in a couple weeks. Last week we were on our way, first week at 9:00 instead of 1:00, and we were early and everything. We got half way there and Kyla all of the sudden threw up in the van and got super sick. So we turned around and came back home. Dustin works every other weekend so I have to do it by myself which normally is fine, but man this week sucked! He had to work and it was our first Sunday at 9, which wasn't too bad, but it was just go, go, go. I don't know if I can do it by myself anymore with the 3 girls. I don't get stressed about it, I can just feel my body not being able to keep up with the girls. I came home and my legs were so swollen, which I haven't had yet, and I couldn't even sit down because they needed to eat and go down for a nap. They killed. I definitely didn't move off the couch much for the rest of the day.

So I just wanted to post the latest on it, since i've noticed some changes lately. I'm getting closer and we realized how close it really is. I have 14 weeks left. 14 weeks ago seems like yesterday so I know it'll be here way too soon.

I'm second guessing our names. I do that a lot. I am psycho when it comes to baby names and kind of obsess over them. I had one name picked out right after the twins were born which I knew would be our next baby's name if it was a girl. Then someone I knew had a baby and used the name. I was so mad. Ok, no she didn't know I had it picked out but I hate having the same name as someone I know, especially because I like more uncommon and more unique names. But then I think, who cares, if we love the name then use it, right?

I have 3 girls names and 2 of them I LOVE, one of those is the one I picked forever ago, and the other I think we like a little better and the 3rd I don't think we'll use, it looks cute but when you say it, it sounds weird. Boy names are done, as I said before, Dustin picked it out. Maybe we'll have a boy and we won't have to deal with the name drama of a girl. Then there is middle names... oh goodness, I have NO ideas for middle names.

So i'm going back blonde, this is getting ridiculous! As much as I liked the brown and I know lots of you did too, I have white roots every 3 weeks! I don't have time to get my hair done every 3 weeks. I'm a soon to be mom of 4 kids, 4 and under! Even though I do it myself, it's still a pain. I need something low maintenance right now, and blonde is the only way. So i'm hoping to be a darker blonde with some highlights. I streaked it already once, but of course it's a process, so we'll get there.

26 weeks. Crappy picture but that's what I get for taking them myself and they don't focus properly. Meh.

Anyways, so life is pretty low key right now. Ok, no it's not, I just pretend it is and that helps me get through it. Kyla is having some medical issues right now that i've been super stressed about and we're taking her to the pediatrician next week and might have to go to Edmonton to get some tests done. I don't think i've ever been so stressed and emotional in my life. It's hard seeing your child in pain and seeing her not being able to live her life to the fullest, and she is such a happy outgoing girl. It breaks my heart. I'll get into more detail when we find out what's going on. Dustin gave her a blessing on Sunday and the next day she was almost back to the Kyla we know. We just need to figure out what to do to help her get 100% better.

So that's life lately. I thought the new year would be great but so far all it's been is stress and exhaustion. I get a decent amount of sleep so that's good and the girls are so easy going and happy. It's mostly Kyla with her condition, and the frustration of being held back because of the pregnancy. Not much longer. I don't know which will be worse though, 3 kids and pregnant, or 4 kids! I have an appt tomorrow finally, it's only been a few months, ha, but i'm sure things are going good still!

I'm super grateful I have a seriously incredible husband, and good friends who love and help me when I need it. I'm super blessed.

My Girls

I never got pictures of the twins when they turned two, and I don't know any photographers up here that are decent. So since my wonderful husband got me Photoshop for my birthday and we have a nice camera, I figured i'd do them myself while they are still 2. I also of course had to get some of Kyla, she was eating it up and loved being infront of the camera. She's a natural I tell ya and does it all herself.

These were quick and painless and I think they turned out pretty good for having no idea what i'm doing. I'm no professional but at least I can now take decent pics of my own kids!

Kyla

Presley

Jayci

It's a new year!

2010 was a crazy year and seriously flew by! We accomplished a lot and i'm so glad because at the beginning of the year we wanted to dedicate this year to one thing, to complete 2 years of schooling for Dustin no matter what and we did it! He almost didn't go the second time due to finances but we didn't let that stop us from doing it, and we are so glad we stuck to it.
So we accomplished school! That's huge. Now he has one more year (2 months) to do in Sept and then he's done forever!!

Kyla started preschool in September! She is a big girl now for real, and amazes us all the time. I have to remind myself she is only 4 all the time.
She was talking about how only boys go to college and not girls, (she was watching Toy Story 3 and just assumed) so I told her that girls go to college too. So I gave her a little explanation about how she can be anything she wants to be when she grows up. She said, "I want to be a doctor!" Dustin and I were like, "that's a good one hun!" then said says, "...or a stop sign..."
Dust said, "well I don't even think you need to go to college for that one!" We tried so hard not too laugh and of course she got mad because we thought it was hilarious, and so random. She's our mini me around here and keeps everyone in line.

And finally, the obvious, we found out we are expecting #4 in April! Shock overload here! But we are now super excited and I can't believe i'm going to be 25 with 4 kids. Who thought I was able to do this? Not me that's forsure... but like with the twins, you just do it and it's possible! (I think)

So last year was pretty crazy. This year we have a couple things planned, the first of course to have a baby. But I want it to be non-eventful. No flying to Edmonton, or a million trips to emergency or constant "is that a contraction?" and freaking out about preterm labour. I know twins is totally different, but it's always a worry once you've been through it. So far this pregnancy has been awesome, i've been lucky, so lets keep it up. I want it to be easy this time. My water breaks on it's own, go to the hospital a few hours later we have a baby. That's not too much to ask is it?

The second goal is to buy a house! We are hoping by fall to be in a house, or sooner if possible. I can't wait!

The third is to get Dustin on out at the plants, instead of through the union. It better shifts and a lot more little bonuses for working actually for them.

So that's the plan so far! Of course we have little goals for ourselves here and there but those are the big ones.


New Years was so much fun. During the day we took the kids to the big New years day event down at the new Mac Island park and they had a ton of fun. It was a little chaotic but the kids didn't know any different so they loved it.

Then that night we headed over to our friends Kimball and Becky's with Jill and Travis and played games and ate food and had a ton of laughs! We wanted to do something low key and it was perfect. There is a picture with Dustin in it, but it's just him and I and it's disgusting of me so it will not be shown. Sorry hun.

So that's it! Here's to a new year with lots to look forward too!

Happy New Year!!

Christmas 2010!

Ok I did it. The Christmas post. Short and sweet. Sort of.


I never thought Christmas could be so laid back and easy! This year was just that. I never stressed about gifts at all, or meals (thanks to an awesome sister in law) and we just enjoyed every minute of it! It was just us this year and I was nervous being our first time but it was great! I love that the girls are at the age of understanding everything and we have our own little family unit to enjoy holidays with, it makes me feel so grown up. So we loved it!

We spent Christmas Eve at Jill and Travis's having their annual Christmas fondu and did all the Christmas eve festivities there, such as the nativity, pj's, a candy cane reindeer craft, and watched the cartoon nativity after acting it out.

The Nativity

Making candy cane reindeer


The kids in their pjs

Our fam in our pj's

When we got home we put out milk and cookies, Kyla wanted to put eggnog out instead of milk. I think Santa was happy about that decision, but I had to have her cut down the amount of cookies she chose (6) to three, which I think Santa was also grateful for!
The girls got "reindeer food" from Nursery, so we let them put it all over the front yard for them to see to find our house on Christmas eve. Jayci was passed out when we got home and wouldn't wake up so she got to go straight to bed, but Kyla and Presley got to do it and they loved it.



Then we came home and had Christmas morning at our house with just us. The girls were nice enough to let us sleep until 6:30 but we had to wait for Jayci to wake up so it was around 7am when we got down to open presents. The girls would open a gift and then say "more presents!"

With their Santa gifts
Kyla got her Dora guitar (probably the most annoying toy and the twins play with it more than she does!) the little girls got Dora dolls.

The girls damage after. The girls got way spoiled of course.
Notice the fight breaking out already over toys. Good thing she had one exactly like it that still had to be set up. We were prepared for all fights!

Kyla got a leapster Explorer game thing which she is addicted too, a paint easel, a cd player for her room, and some other random things
The little girls got pretty much the same thing. They got leapfrog reading pens and books, Dora lego sets, and a ton of other stuff to the both of them or all of them, like playdo ice cream set, dora bath toy thing, books, princess stuff and other things I can't think of.
Grandma Francis got the girls a princess castle which they love and soe big foam princess puzzle pieces for the floor. They love them.
I got an ipod, ya i've never owned one so I thought it was great! A jewelry box FINALLY, some needed clothes, new boots, jewlery and other odd things here and there.
Dust got his ipod dock, a skeet shooter (ever boy needs a toy right?) and I got him the game Taboo which we both have wanted to buy forever but never do, and some clothes.

Kyla loves her painting easel.

So we then headed over to Jill and Travis's again for Christmas dinner. Thank goodness I have a sister in law who loves to cook eh? We had Turkey and everything that goes with it. The kids just played with all the new toys and Kyla and Emma sat beside each other playing their computers the entire time. Emma got the same one for Christmas, so that's all they did. Nothing like spending good quality cousin time together.

Getting ready to eat.

Some hotties

Our fam on Christmas day!

We got Grandma and Grandpa Petersen's and Purnells gifts a little late so we got to have 2 Christmas mornings. The girls got spoiled forsure. Kyla got a Hannah Montana blanket she is obsessed with, and princess stuff, and the twins got new bears, and well everything else in the picture you can see, which is a lot. Thanks for all your gifts!

In our family we use boxes from our pantry or wherever to put gifts in to wrap them, and everytime Jayci and Presley would take off the paper they would say, "food!" or "red box!", and walk away. Who knew granola bars and a red box would be enough for them. I'll keep that in mind for next year.

This was the "red box!" face!
Hilarious.

Christmas was a hit, and so much fun. Oh wait I forgot one thing. The reason we took it easy on each other this year was because we got a new tv! It was more Dustin's thing, he's been wanting one forever! So he hit up the boxing day sales and scored pretty dang good. It's a 42" which is way more than what we need in our place, so we love it! He also got a new stand that was 50% off the same day. I also sold our old tv and stand on kijiji within 30 minutes of posting it that same day! That's including them picking it up! Score!

It's looks tiny next to Dustin eh?
Everything looks tiny next to Dustin though...

Oh and i'm 24 weeks prego. Guess it's about that time for a little post on that. Holy time is FLYING! Way too fast.
I'm feeling great! Nothing too exciting is going on, it's been forever since i've been to the doctor. because I was so sick for my last appointment which I booked later than I was supposed too and they were booked until mid Jan after that one, so that's my next appt. I'm counting down the weeks and it is not enough to prepare for a 4th child! I'm kind of freaking out. The good news is we do have everything we need. Just clothes if it pops out a boy, and to organizing everything that we do have. Other than that, we are set.

Here's my belly last week. Yes I know i'm big, but I don't care. I don't really care about how "fat" I am or am getting. I'm embracing my curves, after all this might be the last time and I want to enjoy all of it and make the best of it. I think i've finally accepted i'm pregnant.
Besides this is nothing compared to twins!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and a has a Happy New year!

Dear Santa

We finally wrote out the girls Santa letters the other day, and i'm hoping we will get the return ones before Christmas. If not i'll have to figure something out!






The little girls of course had to have me draw Dora and Boots, and they are obsessed with the Disney princesses lately so I added that to their list.


Kyla asked for a computer, Dora guitar and rainbow color (paints) I actually have no idea what the rainbow paints are, she just wants them because Emma asked for that. I guess I should find out what they are!

I am loving this posing stage Jayci and Presley are going through. They actually make decent pictures, and are so dang cute. So the other day I got a few randoms of them.

Jayci white, Presley pink

The signature "head tilt"
Now I have to get one of the 3 of them doing it.

I was hit with some sort of flu bug yesterday but I woke up at 5am throwing up, and was non stop all morning. It definitely wasn't morning sickness, this was way worse than anything i've had this entire pregnancy. Dustin stayed home thank goodness and I slept ALL day. I couldn't keep anything down, but that's the only symptom I had. I felt disgusting but didn't have a fever or chills, I just couldn't move. I'm doing way better today and can actually eat a little and drink some fluids, i'm hoping no one else catches in in our house before Christmas!

ps: I am so not ready for Christmas.