My new venture- revealed !!

So, yesterday I was complaining (kinda, not really though) about lots of things that I have on the go.  Well, here is my next newest project.  {Ava Marie Creates}  It's a new business where I create handcrafted floral inspired objects (mostly headbands for now) for girls.  My intention is to sell them to photographers for baby shoots, and to the general public. 

I've been busy creating my winter 2011 collection.  Go to facebook - well just click this link to my new page http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=2361831622#!/pages/Ava-Marie-Creates-/184684224875003

When you get to the page, click the LIKE button up top and then go on to the photo tab to see my creations. 

I'm really tapping into my creativity these days- it's fun !  Poor Dylan has had to model a few of my headbands, but he's not happy about it- because he is ALL BOY ! 

I'm working on opening my online shop at www.etsy.com - called AvaMarieCreates.  It's not up and running yet, but it will allow people from all over the world to easily buy my creations.  So please, tell your friends, pass the word on, and help support my new venture.

Tracy xoxox

Winter fun

So Carrie next door called today, last minute and asked if we wanted to come and play outside in the field.  Of course we did !!  Enjoy the pics.  The kids had so much fun with the fresh dump of snow. 


Ps.  this will probably be my last post until the new year.  We'll be in Calgary for Christmas, and then busy celebrating our baby boos 2nd birthday.  Awww, he's almost 2 already !!!


Enjoy the pics, and Merry Christmas Everyone !! 

(ready for our 5am car ride Donna?)



Aren't they the cutest little things together???



You fall- I fall

This time it wasn't Dyl doing the pushing :)

Dylan, can I have a kiss ?  cutest thing E.V.E.R.

We live in a great cul-de-sac

Cutie pie

Holiday Train

The holiday train rolled into the loops last week, and since lights and trains are two of Dylan's favorite things we had to go !

I think I'm becoming a true Kamloopian.  It was -5 and I thought it was FREEZING !   Which by Calgary standards is wonderful December weather.

he had fallen earlier in the day and his lip swelled up.  poor boo.

-oh- my- gosh-

It's busy busy here.  If you're a faithful reader, you know I have many things on the go.  My crafting, my new photography business (www.cherryblissphotography.ca) my part time job, my other part time job, my son, being a landlord, cooking, baking, and generally being a wonderful cookie cutter wife. Ok, the last one isn't true, but the rest are.  And, we are expecting to be foster parents in the next few months. 

My projects that are yet to be completed are immense.  I started, and deleted the list here because it's too long.

Lately when I read crafting blogs or things, I'm always saying, I can do that.... I can do that... why buy it, I can do that.....so inspiration hit the other day and I thought, well, let's see if I actually can do that.  So I bought the supplies.... and stole the glue which I had intended on buying, came home and tried.  I loved it !  It turned out beautifully, was cheap to make, let me be creative, and seemed like good mompreneur potential (ya know, a mom being an entrepreneur)

So, as I always do I jumped right in, started it up.  I'm working on a facebook page for my new business, setting up an online shop on ETSY, and have signed up for exposure of my new venture via an online giveaway.  So I'm fully in this one too.  So what is it?  Give me a few days to finish working on it, and I'll have some pictures to show... and some details to reveal.

Enjoy a pic of Dylan as you wonder what the heck I'm up to now....




Trying to get organized to get his shoes on... not exactly cooperating... but it was funny.



Cookie Exchange

We hosted a cookie exchange Sunday afternoon, and besides getting lots of yummy treats, we had lots of good conversation, and lots of fun !  I really enjoyed it.  We had a handful of awesome kids come to play !  


Dylan had his fair share of treats at the exchange, and so we ordered pizza after everything was done.  I couldn't believe after all that food, that he was still hungry !  But he was.  And he now refuses to have his pizza cut up.  He's almost 2, and he's a big boy.

Having said that, this is the second night that the big boy has slept in our little (queen sized) bed.  He's just not settling in his bed, and our solution- just for now is sharing our bed.  But i'm not too keen to keep this going.  Although I do have to say, it's nice to hear his soft gentle snore.  Unfortunately last night it was followed by a knee to my back.  Thanks Dyl.  

Hello Hello ! sorry I didn't blog on Friday.  Was I busy?  Not overly?  Did I have nothing to talk about?  No, I always have something to talk about... truth be told...I was laying low.  Keeping my nose clean.  Staying on the down low.  Flying under the radar, avoiding the fuzz.  Yup.  It's true.

Friday afternoon Dylan and I went to the loonie store to get just two things.  Supposed to be in and out quickly because it was almost his bed time.  I went down to the craft area to get glue sticks.  Put them on the stroller, and continued on.  Two packages.  $1.00 each.  Well, one thing led to another, Dylan saw buses, and cars and hats and we were in there for a while.  He had a handful of things while sitting in the stroller, and I had difficulty pushing the stroller because my hands were full too.  I picked the line with the friendly emo on the till.  He's always so friendly and seems like he cares how your day really is.  So chit chatting with my new 17 yr old emo friend, my total is just over $20.00 pay, go to the car, load up tired baby and bags and return to the back of the car where the stroller is to put it in the back.  And there it is...my stash of glue sticks.  I'd just stolen two bags of glue sticks because I wasn't paying attention. 

 I load up the stroller as quickly as I can.... duck behind the car, in case they are setting up a stake out, and crawl on my belly to my side of the car to get in.  Like bat man I quickly bound in, start the batmobile, and put it into reverse and peel out of the parking lot !  With a crazy laugh I head down tranquille, right past the police station, just to flaunt that I stole and am not scared of them.... well, ok, it didn't exactly happen that way...

In fact I couldn't believe I'd forgotten the glue sticks, but everything was loaded up, and Dyl was tired, and so we just left.  I felt like Wynonna Ryder, the woman who bought thousands of dollars of clothes and stole an earring.  So yup, I'm a theif.

To complicate the matter, when we got home on Saturday, there was-- I swear this is the truth-- there was a call on the machine from the police-- FOR ME !!  Seriously !!

But it was about an impaired driver I had reported last week, not about arrangements for my arrest.

Soooooo now that I'm already a fugitive, I'm planning with a friend to do something else illegal.  We are headed to Padova Sanatorium on Tuesday.  The signs say no trespassing, the internet says it's haunted, I say i'm above the law and we are going anyway !!!  :)  heheh  Search it online, it's really interesting

Sooooooooo if you don't hear from me by Tuesday night, would you please just give Mat a call and see if he has enough money for my bail.  I know it's close to Christmas, money is tight, but do you really want me sitting in jail over the holidays?

Talk to you all later

Tracy xoxox

blogging when you have nothing to blog about...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, hello there, thanks for stopping by. 

 How are you?....

Yup, I'm good thanks.

  Are you ready for Christmas yet? 

Ya, me either. 

Oh?? 

 Really?

Ya, it's open 24 hours until Christmas.

I heard they are open until 11 each night.

Ya, for sure !!

So what did you do last night?

Sounds like fun....

Ya, you're right, sounds kinda boring....

Ok, ya, I better go too....

Thanks for stopping by.

Yup, talk to you soon.

You too.

Bye.

WildLights at the BC Wild Life Park

Dylan loved all the lights, and was so excited to ride the train !  It was so much fun, and luckily, the weather in Kamloops has been pretty good.  As much as I miss Calgary, I`m so thankful for Kamloops weather.

Shout out

Giving a shout out to a certain someone who Mat tells me reads my blog every morning and enjoys it !  Yeah, that`s so nice.  So I`m giving you a shout out-- you know who you are  ;)

And, to go with it, a funny photo of Mat caught him at a bad angle, making an odd face...haha. 

The new and improved Mat & Tracy...

In preparation for Christmas back in Calgary, and for those of you who haven't seen us in a while, we'd just like to let you know that both Mat and I have been making some changes in our lives.  Extreme diets- hired stylists, beefed up our wardrobes and are just kinda amping it up a bit.  Change is good right?  We are working on ourselves, and we appreciate your support with our new looks.

  Soooooooooooo, get ready, get set, this is the NEW us !!! 
we know you can`t stand the wait anymore....
you can`t stand the drama...
You are super curious.....
Wondering what`s going on.....
It`s bugging you....
Well wait no more....
Here we are.....
In all our glory.....
Scroll down....
Drum roll please....

Sooooooooooooo........... I was sitting eating breakfast with Dylan yesterday, and had my current copy of US magazine out.  Dylan picked it up, saw the above picture on the back, pointed to the man and said ``Da-ee`` (daddy) I said, Ohhhh really ...... I asked who the lady with Daddy was, and he said `` Ma-ee`` (mommy)

Guess Dylan thinks we are supermodels.... that`s ok, we`ll take that.  Good for a laugh anyway.

Tracy xoxox

CHRISTMAS DECORATING

We bought our tree last weekend, and with Mat being gone a couple days this week, we didn't get to decorating until late in the week.  Here is some of the decorating fun...

YES, HE DREW ON THE WALL, BUT IT'S JUST CHALK.

HE LOVES THIS- SO I SAID GIVE HIM A KISS... AND THIS IS WHAT HE DID...HAHA

NO DYLAN, THEY ARE NOT BALLS, THEY ARE BOBBLES, THESE WE DON'T THROW...

LOVE THE CRAZY LEGS !

10shots on the 10th of the month

This was lots of fun... the mission, to take 10 photos, on the tenth of the month- one every hour.  Here they are, unfortunately they started early.  5:20 am to be exact. 





5:20- HE'S UP... WAYYY TOOOOO EARLY !





 



6:20- I'M BACK IN BED RESTING, DYLAN IS BESIDE ME WATCHING CARTOONS ON TV.  MAN I'M TIRED.







7:20- I'M TRYING TO GET READY, DYLAN HAS CLIMBED UP ON THE COUNTER, IS SITTING IN THE SINK, AND KEEPS LOOKING AT HIMSELF IN THE MIRROR.  HE ALSO USES MAT'S TOOTHBRUSH, AND THEN THROWS IT ON THE FLOOR.  (SORRY I NEGLECTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS MAT)  HE ALSO USES SOME OF MY FOUNDATION, AND WANTS MY CONTACT CASE SO HE CAN PUT HIS CONTACTS IN TOO.




8:20 WAITING FOR OUR FRIENDS TO ARRIVE FOR OUR PLAYDATE.  DECIDE TO FOOL AROUND AND DO THE KISSY FACE CAMERA HELD UP HIGH POSE ALMOST EVERYONE HAS ON FACEBOOK.  FIERCE HUH??  HAHA






9:20 AM, FIND DIEGO SITTING IN THE WINDOW OF THE BATHROOM.  AS I COME NEAR HE PURRS, I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TALK TO HIM FOR HIM TO PURR.  HE'S GOT IT MADE !!

10:30 DYLAN HAD A PLAYDATE AND CRIED WHEN HIS FRIEND LEFT.  I WAS TOO BUSY TALKING TO GET ANY PICS DURING THE PLAYDATE !  D'OH !!

11:30 MULTI TASKING.  GETTING DYLAN'S DINNER READY, PLANNING MEALS FOR THE WEEK, MAKING A GROCERY LIST, AND ENJOYING DIET PEPSI.

12:30- IT'S NAP TIME, AND THE LITTLE MUFFIN ISN'T COOPERATING.  ONCE I GOT HIM OFF, HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO SLEEP.

1:30 I LAID DOWN TO CUDDLE WITH MAX FOR A BIT.  HE'S THE BEST CUDDLER, AND WITH A LACK OF SLEEP THE LAST WEEK, BOY AM I TIRED....

2:30-  OOPSY I FELL ASLEEP.  DYL WOKE UP AND WE CUDDLED IN MY BED.  I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS PICKING HIS NOSE UNTIL I SAW THE PIC.  WONDER WHERE HE WIPED IT?

3:30- OUT SHOPPING, HERE'S MY STASH SO FAR.  KASHI BARS AND DIET PEPSI.   A GIRL DOESN'T NEED MUCH MORE.



4:30- ON THE WAY HOME, MINOR ACCIDENT ON TRANQUILLE.  WE WERE STOPPED SO I SNAPPED.



No need to point out that my 10 pics on the 10th of December is actually 12 pics on the 10th of December... just enjoy and be oblivious to my screw up. 

And to finish the day, we ended up taking Dylan to the lights at the Wild life park... but for those pics, you'll have to wait till Tues.  :)  So is my life as thrilling as you thought?  :) 

Santa

This being Dylan's second Christmas, and  him being almost 2 years old, he has a lot more awareness of the season this year.  Thanks to Grandma, he's saying HO HO HO.  When he

 looks across the cul-de-sac he says

"HO HO HO- BOOM !"

How cute is he ???  And for those of you who are not in Kamloops and ask how much snow we have.... THIS is how much.

It happened the other night.  You wouldn't believe it if I didn't have a picture. 

Max and Dylan. 

First time for everything. 

 Making progress almost 2 yrs later.

Monkey see....

Our little monkey is a sharp cookie.  Literally...haha....get it?  COOK(ie) anyway, he's a big copy cat.  The other day he watched me take apart his crib.  I later found this.

YUP, he found the screwdriver, and knew to put it in a screw.  He was trying to take apart his bed.  Didn't get very far, but he sure catches on.  The other night he slept in our bed for about 15 min at 1 am.  I always sleep with a teddy bear over my head, covering my eyes.  That night Dylan kept saying NO NO, and removing the bear.  Guess what he did tonight when I put him to bed.  Yup, bear over his eyes.  We cough, he coughs, we laugh, he laughs.  He's learning so much.

Big Boy Bed

He's really proud of himself for sleeping in the bed.  He smiles and smiles.  I dismantled the bed last night so he'd have plenty of room for his big boy bed.

His animal themed pictures and accessories are coming down.  To be replaced with new trains, cars and truck pictures I painted him for his birthday.(shhh it's a surprise)  They'll go up after we get back from Calgary after his birthday.  He's really growing up.

Sad to see the crib go.

Thank you beautiful crib for keeping our baby safe.

Cookies

Just wanted to share this really neat cookie recipe.  Might have to whip some of these up....   go check it out


http://www.crazydomestic.com/2010/12/melted-snowman-cookies.html

Late Monday Night posting

It's late Monday night, and I'm posting (as the title might have clued you in to)  haha.  Dyl and I had a busy day of doing nothing.  He's just gone to bed.  In his B I G     B O Y      B E D !!!  Few months ago I was ready to move him to his big bed- asap, then I read an article that said one of the biggest sleep mistakes parents make is moving a child too quickly.  It recommended moving around age 3.  So armed with this new info, I'd planned on keeping him in his crib until then, or until I had no choice but to move him.  Well, he's 23 months, and a few days, and we had no choice but to move him. 

He went for his afternoon nap on Sunday, was fussy, making a bit of noise, and so we just left him to it.  Suddenly BOOM, followed by a loud cry.  I went in right away, he was on the ground, obviously he had fallen out.  Poor boo.

So in came the big boy bed last night and he did well.  Afternoon nap today- great.  He's now in it for the evening.  He LOVES it.  When he woke up this afternoon I went in and he was sitting there waiting for me.  Now the bed is only inches off the ground, but he didn't get up.  So I said right away, "you may get off your bed Dylan" and he did.  haha  He waited for my permission!  Cool !!

So we'll keep you posted on his progress.  But this is a HUGE milestone for him, and for us.  He REALLY isn't a little guy anymore.  Sad. 

(he refused to pose laying down- best I could get)

Backlash to my blog?

Soooooo some how, some way, for some weird reason, my number that tracks the amount of people that visit my blog is dropping.  Weird.  Mat just pointed it out. Very odd. 

Anyway, I was late posting friday's blog, so here is an extra one.  Normally I don't post on weekends.  Here is Dyl in his cute new shirt.  He was standing transfixed today, not listening to me... any guesses why???

YUP, STILL LOVES HIS SHAUN !