Its 2015

Well here we are in 2015 and I haven't posted for yet a again for a very long time but well life is busy and hard with 4 kids. The new year has left much to be desired but it can only go up from here right? so much has happened and changed and we are only 22 days into 2015.  Lets see if I can catch you up as fast as possible so we can move on from here.

• We said goodbye to "Tanner the Wonder Dog 
• We said goodbye to Ella's friend from Girl Guides who was tragically taken far too soon.
• Camden has rejoined the Public school system and seems to be doing well. 
•  My Birthday is in 3 days so that is a positive - 31 this year. 
• I will once again be appearing on stage in "Who's Under Where?" 
• Sawyer hasn't slept in a very loooooog time!
• We are hopefully planning a trip to Florida in the near future.

That about catches us up. Things are off to rough start but we are hopeful the new year will turn around soon. 

Where have I been?

So I've been missing for a little while, OK a loooooooooong while.  We basically lived at the lake and beach all summer and only came home when necessary.

 It was heaven. We are all deliciously golden. The kids blonde and tanned and for once in a very long time I'm not pasty white.  The kids grew and blossomed at the beach this year.

Sawyer learned to walk and run at my parents lake place. So may firsts for the kids from sleeping in a tent to first sail boat rides.

 We went on so many adventures, exploring every aspect of sand, water and nature we encountered. It was an amazing experience and I wouldn't trade a single moment of our lake side time.

 I've also started a new adventure Writing  content providing as my dear friend would call it but doesn't sound nearly as exciting as the previously mentioned.  I've been writing/content providing for an amazing company called Lil' Helper and they make Cloth Diapers and other accessories.  Please check them out because they are absolutely amazing and I said that even before I provided blogs (see that T- just for you baby...haha).

Here are a couple links to their blogs that I wrote so far if you care to check them out. You may recognize a couple of the cute kids in the pictures....

Six Tips for Back to School

and

10 Reasons Why Real Parents Choose Lil Helper Cloth Diapers

ABOUT US on their Blog  is where I am included in their About Us which makes me feel slightly more important then I did before.

So I guess that is what I have been up to.  The kids are amazing and Tanner the Wonder Dog ( as in I wonder how its still alive ) is still gracing us with its presence.  I'm starting to think Mike is right and it will in fact out live me.

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and September and I will now try to actually keep this thing up to date as its basically a online scrapbook for my kids.

Hugs and Love to you all! - Jen

Camden's 5th LEGO Birthday Bash

     My little man is 5.  I'm not even sure how time flew by that fast but I am guessing it probably had something to do with having 2 more kids in that time span..  Either way, Mr. Camden is a big man now.  He chose the LEGO theme again this year, which is really no surprise.  So here we go, all things LEGO. 

The T-shirt I designed and made him using my own mini figure creation.

One happy little big guy in his Transformer LEGO shirt. 

"CAMDEN"

LEGO head balloons and a LEGO city balloon.

LEGO banner.  The LEGO guys say "5" on them and the yellow pieces are long yellow bricks. 

(Sorry these are horrible pics, the downfall of an iPhone camera)

LEGO cups, plates, heads, cheese and crackers.  Individual dip and carrot cups were a must  when the average age of the guest was 4 years old.  No one wants to share a big dip with goobery 4 year olds.

LEGO men stuffies and giant LEGO block for decoration.

Mini figure head treat bags.

LEGO Ninjago Suckers

Balloons!!!

Mini Figure cupcakes.

Our LEGO race car test track.

The Master Builder Medals for everyone after they raced their LEGO cars.

Everyone loves Playdough.

Building their LEGO cars.

Racing their LEGO cars. 

LEGO presents!!!

More LEGO!

Make A Wish!

     Camden has a fantastic 5th birthday party with all his friends. He grinned ear to ear all day long and was thoroughly exhausted afterwards which is always a sign of a great party. Happy 5th Birthday Camden. XOX

An American Girl Birthday Tea Party

     

     This year Miss Ella asked for an American Girl tea party for her birthday theme and well I thought it sounded like a great idea. How could I deny her a girly tea party on her 9th birthday? Lets face it she doesn't have many doll playing hears left and generally what my baby wants my baby gets. 

     Ella had a few requirements for her party:

• Everyone dressed up in their fancy party dresses
• Everyone's best doll/teddy/stuffy tagged along
• We had to have doll treat bags and big treat bags for the girls
• Her doll Kit needed a new party dress to attend since it was Kit's party as well. (Kit was a present from us on her 7th birthday) 
• Rainbow bit mini cupcakes for the girls and dolls
• Fruit kabobs for a chocolate fountain (this was a last minute idea) 
• Tea party for the dolls

I handmade this dress for Ella's doll Kit as per Ella's request.

The party table complete with pink lemonade - everything according to  the birthday girl's specifications.

Both sizes of treat bags

The doll sized ones

A small ice cream, bottle of "pop" , party favour, mini chocolate bar , doll candy sticks (we made these) and a doll sized balloon. 

Ellas Dolls up top and cut outs from the magazine  below

Balloons and Kit patiently waiting

Birthday Banner and Tanner 

Adorable Bunting Banner and the cupcakes

Kit again waiting for her friends

Mini Raimnbow bit cupcakes with pink and purple sugar and sprinkles.

American Girl Photo Op

The prettiest American Girl doll I've ever seen.

The girls getting to know each other and their special guests

The girls writing nice things about each girl at the party. A little nice ice breaker/confidence booster.

Painting doll sized bird houses

Decorating tea pot shaped cookies

Opening her gifts from all her friends. 

    Ella had an amazing 9th Birthday Party.  She thanked me a million times but the real thanks was seeing the delight on her face and non stop grins.  It made all the hard work worth it.  I love to make my girl happy.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Pictures of Camden's Lego Birthday from Last weekend

Say A Little Prayer - Update on Mom

     Today if it's not too much to ask, I ask you to say a prayer for my mom. I know some of you don't pray, so do whatever it is you do instead. If you could send your good thoughts, meditations, positive vibes, and healing wishes we will take those too.  I know my family and my mom would appreciate it.

     A couple of years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. We were positive and mom went through radiation like a champ. That was that. She rang that gong at the cancer clinic with pride while I stood by her side and cried like a baby . I was happy to know that terrible "C" word was out of our lives and I had more time with my mom. 

      We had a few months of peace or maybe a little more ( my timelines may be slightly skewed as life with 4 little ones causes you to misremember things, baby brain if you will).  The cancer came back or rather a new type of breast cancer. The first type was slow moving this time it was a little more aggressive.  As suggested by the surgeon she had a bilateral mastectomy ( removal of both breasts). She rocked that surgery! I mean she didn't even take any pain meds after. It soon became apparent that something wasn't right. The side that had previously undergone radiation was not healing. I'll give you the short version but basically mistakes were made or not recognized and my mom was full of infection. Four months later and we still have an open wound that has finally started to scab over. It's finally healing well but it's been months of home care, surgeons appointments, an emergency surgery to get it under control as well as a secondary infection that was picked up in the hospital. 

    On Christmas Eve, we noticed mom was a bit off. She was confused. By Christmas morning 4 am she was in the hospital.  After rounds of blood work, she was released but getting worse mentally. She required constant supervision. Mid January she was admitted to a hospital 40 minutes away to a geriatric psychiatric wing to get her back on track as my mom does have a history of Bi Polar which is easily controlled by medication. The hospital was horrid. They refused to share information with my dad who is her  next of kin and is responsible for all medical decisions (power of attorney). The whole 6 weeks was a waste of time. They did absolutely nothing for my mom. Fast forward to a few weekends ago. My dad went up for his usual visit and at the end they let him know she was being transferred to our hometown hospital. No reason, no notice. They said she was fine  but needed medical/nursing care nothing mental health wise. That I can assure you was a flat out lie. They needed the bed. Moms own doctor wasn't even notified. They just dumped her. I have spent hours with my mom caring for her with the rest of my family which I do happily because I love her. As the days pass on it's getting harder and harder to see the person my mom once was but I know she's in there somewhere. Every once in awhile I'll say something that moms doesn't like and she lets me know, just like her old self. Its rare to see her smile and the good days are few and far between.  Over the coming days and weeks as we await test results and formulate a plan, please keep mom in your thoughts and prayers.

     I miss my mom.  Yes I see her every day but its not her. My mom is full of life, quick with a joke, a twinkle in her eye and doesn't miss a thing. She danced every weekend, loved to get a hold of the grand kids, bake and cook up a storm.  My mom never left the house without her hair done, lipstick on and heels to match every outfit. My mom should be soaking up the sun in Florida not scared in a hospital room for months. We should be planning the kids birthday parties together and discussing Easter plans.  I just miss her.  Her daily phone calls or visits to check in and see what we are up to. I miss her coming over for supper or to help  me bake or for a tea.  I miss everything. My mom is my best friend, my cheerleader, my confidant.  We know what each other is thinking without a word.  Without sounding lame (which I probably already do with the whole my mom is one of my best friends thing) we are kindred spirits. So if you can find a minute on this dreadfully snowy day, please send a prayer, a plea, a good thought or wish, healing vibes and all that jazz her way, we would sincerely appreciate it.

I'm the toddler on Mom's lap. 

     

     

Wordless Wednesday - peanut butter dinosaur fossil cookies