{This Moment} ~ A Week Apart

Two moments spanning a week.
From Goodbye at one airport, to Hello at another. These boys sure missed their Daddy!

*{This Moment} is inspired by Soulemama

Happy Acres Farm

Spruce Grove, Alberta


We do love a farm, and this one? This one is a freebie! You don't get a lot of those these days, so we relished it, and then made sure to make up for it by buying lots of tasty muffins from the cafe at Happy Acres. By we, I mean my mom. So, yet again, a FREEBIE!

Playground, playhouse, trampoline, and MINI-PONY'S(!!) among other things.

On top of it all, they have "7 acres of chemical free fruits and veggies" for the pickin', and farm fresh eggs for sale. 

Did I mention they serve up a mean root-beer float? And have this awesome guy wandering about?? 

His name is Sprout, in case you were wondering. 
Another young visitor let me know that very important detail, but not before showing me his battle wound from sticking his finger in Cricket's cage. 
Ps. "Cricket" is a cockatoo, and a bitey one at that. Hands at your sides, curious ones.
 

Check out the grins on these two...

An afternoon well spent!

A Mother's Day Apron

    

One of the few times I have "gone out on a limb" and just created what was in my head, and this half apron is the outcome. I had this vintage thrifted towel put away for AGES to make something for my mom, and after tossing around a hundred different ideas of what project would suit it best, I finally settled and went for it.

The towel itself is completely uncut. I added a waistband, bias tape, and a pocket.

The waistband is from the Yard Sale Wrap Skirt in Heather Ross' book Weekend Sewing. Instead of using her pattern for the shorter side piece, I simply used the longer pattern piece for both sides of the waistband. I sewed the waistband together except for the bottom edge of the 2 centre pieces. I gathered the towel at the top, placed that gathered edge between the two centre waistband pieces, pinned in place and then stitched through all 3 layers along that same edge.

I used a bias tape maker, and found that it is just as simple to create bias tape without one. It does guide the fabric, but you still need to do most of the work. Maybe I wasn't using it correctly?... I'll have to look into that, because I have heard other's say they thought the bias tape maker was wonderful.

~The waistband, pocket lining & bias tape fabric is by Denyse Schmidt for the Hope Valley Collection
~The pocket fabric is Speckled Sky from Cloud9 Fabrics for the Maman Organic Collection
~The small piece of lace was thrifted, as was the vintage towel

"Airborn"

I expected to write a post about my difficulties in flying solo with two little boys last Thursday.
I expected to share a tale of tears, exhaustion, and a possible breakdown (mine).
I, at the very least, expected to share a tale of a flight attendant desperately trying to keep a wriggly babe happy whilst his mama changes big brother in the teeny on-board toilet.

3 hours and 40 minutes in the air, and a blissful (aside from the crazy back and arm pain that comes with holding 23 pounds for that length of time) 3 hours of it saw Owen snoozing, Levi viewing two cartoons, becoming bored, and happily opting instead for snacks and cloud watching.

My two babes never cease to amaze. I am a thoroughly spoiled mama.

It was a feat, mind you, to squeeze into that toilet. Big brother stood patiently next to me while I changed little brother. Then little brother sat in the very corner of the change table while Levi lay across it (half hanging off) while I changed him. No complaints from the little ones, only giggles at the crowdedness of the situation and we, all three, had a happy little chance to stretch our legs.



I can only say that these two boys, at no fault or feat of my own, were born to travel.

St. Albert Farmer's Market

A fine Saturday at the St. Albert Farmer's Market. According to their website, it is Western Canada's largest outdoor farmer's market. I can attest to it being the largest I have ever been to. I loved (perfectly fitting to my own interest's) that there were as many or more handicraft booths, as there were selling food. Too bad the Westjet checked baggage limit isn't higher!

A Simple Gift For Daddy

I suppose these things are best blogged about beforehand. You know, to share a helpful, and incredibly simple idea, in a time of need, but I just can't take the chance of my Mr. seeing what I'm up to. Also being one of my biggest supporters, I know he would look. Hey, there is always next year for you to try this one out. It would be a dandy birthday surprise as well!

Levi and Owen coloured on an 8.5x11 piece of card stock.
Owen's orange crayon scratches are just barely visible in behind Levi's marker drawing. Owen had a brief chance with the markers but, I tell ya, he doesn't waste a moment that one. A marker was veering toward his mouth the second he picked it up. He did have a little crayon nibble as well, but not before sharing a teeny bit of his colouring skills for daddy.
Levi get's more into colouring by the day, and I love it! He was incredibly proud, giving this gift.

I glued the card stock to a piece of blue bristol board. Added a recent photo of the bubs. Wrote Happy Father's Day 2012 with a white gel pen onto the blue board, and took this baby into Staples to have it laminated for a fiver.

And there you have the Father's Day Breakfast placemat!

XO

A Second, First Haircut

Yesterday, our second little boy took a giant leap from "baby", to "kid", with his new do.

He was doing great, but a few distractions became necessary toward the end...

And, presto!

Gone are his fine, multi-length, wispy baby locks.

The same woman did Levi's first haircut, and she is incredible to be able to cut a head of hair that does not remain still for even a second. Cut's like the wind, she does!

Quick Recap:

Little Brother...

Big Brother...

Probably both boys last hairdresser cut for a good, long while. Daddy's trimmer will be the new hairdresser - hope old papa bear's patience can take it! 

{This Moment}

{This moment} is inspired by Soulemama, and beautifully done by so many. It reveals a moment from our week that is special enough to stand alone, without need for expression, or explanation.

XO

TRAVEL TUESDAY: Madrid to Barcelona, Moving Day!

Here is a reasonably average example (though tipped to the better end of the scale) from one of the travel days on our last trip.

8:00am - Wake up!
Jim and I start packing up the last little bits, putting the apartment back to how it was when we arrived, dress, and wash up.

8:45am - Get Levi and Owen fed, washed, and changed.

9:15am - A final tidy, and scour for possible loose ends.

9:20am - Out the door, dropping the garbage and recycling in the bins outside on our way. We walk 10 minutes to the subway with Levi in the stroller, Owen in a carrier on my front, a small backpack on Jims front, and our main packs on our backs.

9:45am - Arrive at the train station, and have breakfast at a cafe. Levi has a croissant with Jam, and Jim and I have Coffee, fresh OJ, and toast drizzled with olive oil, and spread with a tomato paste - Yum!

10:15am - Buy water and browse the magazine shop.

10:27am - RUN LIKE MAD!! We just found out we are in the wrong spot and have 3 minutes to get to the right spot, and we have to worry about putting our bags through security. Even though we´re on the level of track 3, we have to run upstairs and then take an escalator back down to our train.

10:30am - Phew! I´m sitting in our seats with the babes, while Jim folds up the stroller and stacks the bags on the luggage rack at the end of our coach.

10:33am - The couple behind us moves to give us space, or possibly to get away from the ensuing ruckus. Either way, it is fabulously helpful.

10:33am - 1:22pm -
*1 nap for Owen (A good one! YAY!)

*2 feedings for Owen (One at the beginning and one at the end)
*3 Mandarin Oranges
*1 visit to the food coach

*3 Nappy changes (between the two)

*Several strolls
*1.5 Litres of water
*Some puzzling (We just bought one book that has 5 small 4 piece puzzles)

*1 episode of Backyardigans on the ipod
*Random minutes here and there of a spanish dubbed film where Mel Gibson is losing his mind (accompanied by his beaver puppet) - Is this a reasonable example of art imitating life?
*Lots of trying to keep Levi from climbing the seats (means going for more walks)
*4 visits from train attendants for seat checking, the drinks and snacks cart, the newspaper/magazine cart, and to bring us Lindor chocolate - yes you read that last one right!

1:22pm - Arrive in Barcelona!
Subway and walk to our new apartment, phoning our hostess from the first payphone we see to let her know we´re almost there.

2:00pm - Arrive at the apartment. Go over all the details (appliances, keys, layouts, heating etc.). Some confusion in our past communication causes differing amounts from what was expected - an amount we paid previous was a deposit and not a part of the total amount owed. Jim leaves with the owner to visit a bank and finalize payment.

2:30pm - Unpack, put all clothes in drawers, make any necessary child-friendly rearrangements to the furniture (to prevent falls out of bed, other injuries, or broken stuff).

3:00pm - Venture out to find the nearest park and explore our new neighbourhood, first stopping at the downstairs bakery for a sweet treat (of course).

Find a huge park just down the road with a public library right next to it. Owen and I head over to the library for a peek and 2 seconds of free web browsing until we are courteously pushed out. Meeting Jim and Levi back at the park, we find a giant (slowest ever in the world) zip line which gives us a good couple of laughs.

4:30pm - Come across a former bullring turned 5 level Mall called "Arena" which has 360 degree views of Barcelona on the roof. Amazing.

5:30pm - Have a noodle dinner at a restaurant called Udon (Our 2nd as we enjoyed this place once in Madrid as well).

6:30pm - A quick grocery shop for the next couple day's breakfasts, snacks, and drinks and then  "home" for relaxing, planning, and sleeping!

xo