Tis the season....

for MITTENSSSSSSSS!

I started my first pair today.. I'll probably try to get at least 3 pairs done for each of the girls to last the winter through. yay! I love mittens.

My Inner Child - Day 2

New Kids on the Block.

Enough said.

Blog Challenge::21 posts in 21 days about Your Inner Child.

Hear ye, Hear ye.. lol

Okay, so this is post #1 about my inner Child.

I think this challenge is really awesome because, as adults, sometimes we forget to have fun, let loose and really let that inner child out.

Sooo.. *MY* inner child LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES.... Water balloons.

YEa, you heard it, water balloons are soo funny.

Single-Mom'n it.

Recently, a debate on a message board I visit, frequently, spured some thoughts in my head. And we all know once I get thoughts in my head, they fester and turn and must at some point, come out.

Well, As I sat there, cross legged on the couch in the basement, with this really cool orangey, pinky, sort of melon-like yarn in my lap, with the startings of a blanket I am hoping will pass as good enough to give to one of my daughters for christmas, I was thinking about my experience as a single mom.

Its been 10 months since I have been a single mother. My children don't see their father, so I rarely get a "day off", (actually the last time I did was 2 months and a bit ago) and 100% of their day to day lives is governed by me. It is completely and totally 100% up to me and only me to make sure they are fed, clothed, behaving, clean, learning things on a daily basis, and above all else, feel they are the most important aspect of my world, and loved beyond all reason. This, while stressful, is also very liberating. Once you "got this", you feel like a million bucks, and that you can conquer the world.

I would have to say, that 10 months ago, I didn't think I would ever get to the point I am now. I am actually very at peace with my circumstances, and have some few very supportive, and amazing friends to thank for that. (Lisa, Heather, Julia, Brenda, Kirstin.. just to name a few) My kids are well adjusted, and I get compliments constantly about them in the last 10 months. I hear they are more relaxed, and calmer the majority of the time. While I don't think anyone means this as a dig or anything, I think its just a mere observation.

I think, overall, being happy and content with yourself, makes happy and content little people. I wasn't happy, and I certainly wasn't content for a very long time, and I think that once the initial shock was over, and acceptance came, that I became happy and content. Would I change things? The way they happened, sure I would. I had an extremely traumatic experience, and would have liked to completely skip that if I could have. I'm sure a lot of people would have liked that never to happen. However it did, and theres nothing we can do to change that now.

I wanted basically with this post to give a few tiny words of advice I think..

For single mothers, I wanted to say to do whatever you need to do to be happy. Accept your circumstances, most of us never ask for it, but it turns out this way, and we need to accept it, and be the best we can be. Being a single mother doesn't not equal a life of hostility and resentment. That's not healthy for you, or the children you care for. Accept it, Its not all that bad afterall (I'm a big believer in the - someone, somewhere has it MUCH worse than I), and be the best mother you can be. If your children's other parent is in the picture, no matter what has happened in the past, and what you feel towards that person, its probably better to just get to a point where you can both be at least civil to one another. Basically, do whatever you have to do to raise healthy, wonderful, good little people who will be an asset to the world when you finally turn them loose.

For people who know a newly single mother, I wanted to list some of the things that *really* helped me when I was going through it..
1. Stop in, Tell NSM (New single Mom) to get dressed, and do her hair because you're all going out for a walk. Sometimes, when Moms are trying to fit into a new routine and handle everything themself, they let themself slide, and we *really* need to be reminded we are important.. and that a happy mom = happy children.

2. Tell NSM you believe in her, and that she's making the right decision. Even if she doesn't seem to believe you.

3. Stop in, bring a new book for the kids, and read it to them, give NSM 15 minutes to do soemthing *she* really neeeds to get done, whether thats a quick shower, a load of washing, dishes, or a 15 minute power nap.

4. Let her know that it *will* get easier, with routine, and that she's a wonderful mother. (One of the moments in my early days that I still remember with tears, is the day my aunt came over unexpectidly. I wasn't even dressed, my dishes weren't done, but she told us all to get dressed, and we took the kids for a walk, and they chatted away in the wagon over timbits while we talked. ((she too has been a single mother)) At one point in time, she stopped, she looked at me, with tears in her eyes, and she said something to the effect of, "I know its not easy right now, but know that we love you, and we love your kids, and we BELIEVE in you. You're a wonderful mother, and I know you won't let these kids down.") It truely made a difference, the confidence factor, is huge.

5. Remind her, that someday, somewhere she's going to find someone who will treat her like the gorgeous princess she is, and that she doesn't have to settle until that happens.

and, lastly..
6. Bring over a box of tissues after the kids are in bed, and just let her cry if she needs to.

Maybe people will agree with me, maybe they won't.

My little girl, is such a girl

Teja is all signed up for her first real, official Dance class.

It runs Sept to May, and she's sooo excited.
She wanted this very cute Dance costume bag we saw, but I suggested I could make her one instead, at first she didn't like the idea, but now she's opened up to it.. so we're going to see what sorts of yarn we can find. If we can't find some nice yummy yarn, I think we're going to look into a custom made sewed one.

She's so psyched, and I'm so glad she's got something that she's excited about. I can't wait to see her start in a few weeks time. <3

My beauties

LOVE FOR MY DAUGHTERS
© Debra L. Cash

My beautiful daughters, I was blessed with two of you...
You will never know how proud I am of all the things you do.

You came into my world, so tiny and so small...
And I was in awe at the wonder of it all.

Then you placed your little hand in mine...
There was no denying, my heart was yours 'til the end of time.

I have watched you both through out the years, laugh, cry and grow...
And it is difficult to know, that someday I will have to let you go.

I just can't imagine, a day of my life without you...
Because you're a part of me and my love for you is true.

So just remember, no matter how old you are or where you may be...
There's someone who needs you and loves you and that someone is me!

I am..

I stole this from Cat's signature on a message board that I go to.

I read it, and it struck me as awesome.

This says a lot, and I think it's completely true. There is something I have always said, and thats that I will never regret anything I have done in my life, because it has made me into who I am. And if I am happy with the person I have become, I can't regret the things that made me that way.

Lately, I have had some things on my mind that have sort of been bringing me down, but I think I am finally at peace with them. And that's good, I feel better.

Sometimes I still feel a bit bitter about the last year of my life, but I quickly realize if things had not happened this way, I would probably still be married, and probably still dealing with the same fights I had been for years, and neither of us would be happy. I definitly would not have Eric, and for him I am very thankful.

It's true that love hurts, but I don't think it should be hurting your self esteem, and your self worth, your values.. I think it should hurt when you say goodbye, and it should hurt when you just can't find the words, but it shouldn't hurt who you are.

...

I have been tagged?!

haha I've never done this before, so here I go. I hope I do it right.

The Nitty Gritty details:
It’s a random tag, and here are the rules!
1. Link to the person who ‘tagged’ you!
2. Post the rules on your blog!
3. List 6 random facts about yourself!
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post!
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by commenting on their blog!
6. Let the tagger know the entry is posted on your blog!

1. I was tagged by Jocelyne, who is my man's momma. Visit her blog here
2. Post rules on blog - yep.
3. 6 random facts about myself:

a. I took fertility medicine to get pregnant with my first daughter, and until I was 20 weeks, the doctor warned me he thought it could be twins! The second time, I had no idea I was pregnant until almost 10ish weeks along.
b. I only sound like an idiot. I graduated everything with honours, even college, 6 months pregnant. yay me.
c. In an ideal world, I would have a gaggle of children, live in the forest and only have solar energy. I currently think 3 or 4 will do however, and before I'm 30.
d. I love fishing. Even if I'm not that good.
e. I went shoe shopping with the lead singer of the Wild Strawberries, in a concert at Barrie when I was 14ish.
f. I secretly would be in school forever if I could. I love school, I love learning, and I nevah want it to stop.



-Tag 6 people:
1) Erin
2) Hilary
3) Lisa
4) Pamela
5) Dara
6) Lorraine

Momma's getting crafty!

Here's a sign/poster I made for the girls room last week.. I heart it.
I used some Scrapbooking Paper Eric's Mom gave me back in April, and some cut out cardboard letters that slightly sparkle. SO cute. And, how can you go wrong with Beatles lyrics?



Also, I added some butterfly goodness to the girl's room.



It's getting there - not quite done, but getting there.

Vote for Pedro.

hahaha. perfection.

Nothings Better

Well, not much.. Sitting back, in your INXS t-shirt, watching your gorgeous, healthy, incredibly happy children dancing to INXS on youtube. What could beat that? :) Well, It's up there anyway.

Phew! That was close!

I'm knocking on wood, but my computer was working like hell, and I don't exactly know exactly what it was that i exactly did, but Its working again, and I'm greatful!

It was the weirdest thing, I could view SOMe websites, but not all websites, and most of the ones I wanted to view, I couldn't. Anyway, I got rid of the virus I had, and I now have a fully functional, *working*, webpage showing computer.. for now.. Please knock on some wood for me.

Glasses Shopping!

True Story.

A while ago, I had been searching online for a cheap way to replace my vulgar, disgusting current glasses, that I never wear because they make me look horrible. haha That's the first time I came across Zenni Optical $ 8 Rx Eyeglasses.

They have tons of frames and lenses. I thought to myself while I was looking through them, "Candice, how can they give you cool looking glasses at such a cheap price?" But looking farther into it, I discovered that they don't use a middleman, and manufacturer the glasses themselves. That's cool, as it means I get stylish new frames from Zenni, on an awesome budget. Which, as a single Mom, we all know is the most important thing.

I was also a bit concerned about their stability, and how much I could trust them, because I had never heard of them before. But when I was looking into their prices, I also found that they keep prices down by spending really little on advertising, and that they had been on FOX News!

The only thing still stopping me from ordering, is the inability to try them on and look in the mirror, smile, pout, do all the random, weird things people do when they try on glasses. But, for $8 plus shipping, I may just have to give them a shot.

Well, its August.

It truely has been an awesome summer, so far.

August brings getting ready to go back to school, and Teja's almost ready now, she just needs indoor shoes. She's excited as it looks like both Katie, AND Ezekiel will be in her class.

It's also August first, which means Eric and I's Official Anniversary. 5 months today since our very first date. However, we met just over 6 months ago. mwwwah! Love you baby. I have no idea what I did before I met this man, honestly.

In other news, Emma broke my camera yesterday, so I went to get a new one. I got a good deal, so I'm happy, and It's a really nice camera. I'm having fun playing with it.

Other then that, not much, the four of us are hopeful we're going to have a quiet weekend this weekend, as it's been a while since we have. No plans, hanging out, maybe some random around the house stuff, but nothing too daunting. Thank goodness.

I've decided to sign Teja up for Dance classes this year, and she's very excited. Thanks to my friend Kirsten, she's got everything she needs, pink dance slippers, pink tights and a pink suit, and a pink skirt. All from Kirsten's youngest who outgrew it for this year. It fits Teja perfectly, so I'm very excited I don't have to buy everything, and that pushed me over the edge and decided to sign her up. She's going to have a ball! Its once a week, for 1/2 an hour from Sept - May, with a big recital at the end.

Anyway, not TOO much to report. Just everyday stuff. I'm going to try to get the butterflies on the girl's wall today, if I do, I'll take some pictures and show you all.