Piece of {Lego} Cake

So we are working on this Lego Character display (to be posted) and I thought it a Brilliant idea to just sort through the Lego pile. Yep, just casually collect the pieces scattered around and piece all the characters together before their new home is ready. Because that would only take an hour or so. NO. We were two hours in & I think I was trying to remember the last time I felt so annoyed & defeated. I would like to point out that this was about lunch time so we took a break. Unfortunately,  I am very busy doing everything else on my list to return to the dungeon, I mean.... Maybe tonight I'll have a helper older than 7 & one of those new action films playing.

Happy Tuesday-

Stephanie

Instagram : livingchildhood

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Weekend Bonding

My husband doesn't always have the most consistent schedule. He works with VFX & Advertising which means that during those ever important deadlines times we barely see him. Last month he was working 19+ hr days and it was all a blur. I think the kids went a week without seeing him & that's ok. 

When he is here he is present and tries to maximize his time with each kid which can be a challenge. Props to him for trying. He loves to take them to the museums, trails, exploring events or incorporate them into a design project. When all else fails he'll invite them for some video game time or a movie which I have become OK with. 

  

 Making plans to modify the fort loft bed.

Quality time with a loved one is awesome no matter who it is with. 

Happy Sunday. 

-Stephanie

Color Change

Mixing it up


It's amazing what modern children have access to. Games, books, toys, a myriad of items have flooded the market all hoping to find their niche in a billion dollar industry. From toys with images of fine art, beautifully illustrated stories, to computer generated games & ideas or $0.99 rubbish, we have only a little clue as to absolutely everything they come in contact with. Toss in any phone or game App , and you widen the gap between what we had during our childhood & what they have.

Bingo, Memory, Letter & Numbers, iTouch & in-process Dino Sock Puppet

Today at lunch while I finished eating, my son, playing on this , mentioned that he was going to paint his pumpkin orange. Earlier this year we learned about the color wheel so I asked him is he remembered what colors you mix in order to make orange. He confidently replied " Green, blue & red." Slightly confused, I reminded him that red & yellow make orange.  "You're so silly mom! Red, Green & Blue make Orange!" and the kid promptly opened up his app and showed my just how RGB make orange.



Silly Me.

Self Love

Being True to Oneself

One of my fondest memories of the girls would be from ages 3 to 5. The period where dressing themselves with total disregard for any rules of fashion was law in our home. Some of their ensembles would make you squint your face & raise an eyebrow. Our eldest went on a walk one day with her grandfather & came home in this black velvet number adorned with shiny sequins & glitter - along with a matching bolero. This was her self titled "Vegas" dress & she LOVED it. She would pair it with rainboots or tennies and go everywhere in it.Our middle daughter enjoyed LOTS of color, bows & princess attire, but somehow she was always well put together. She still is quite the fashionista.

As our third child, a son, began to reach that dress up age, I was wondering if he too would find a unique combination of articles to wear. To my suprise, he enjoyed wearing full costumes everywhere we went. Dinosaur, Dragon, Woody, Max & most recently, himself. He refuses to let us cut his hair, claiming "It's part of me Mom!" and it has besome quite long and wild - Think Mad Hatter

I am quite proud of how each child has chosen their own path. They mix a little mainstream with a hint of their own personal style & it comes across quite well. They carry it, own it & enjoy it. I Love it.

Foundation Love

As humans we have to grow. We either grow together or apart, there's no standing still.

We have three kids - 13, 9 & 4 and as the mom, it is very rarely that I feel guilty for our weekly date night. Everyone has their needs met throughout the week and mom & dad spending time together is a necessity, not a luxury. They have grown up with us having our time & is just part of our routine. I think they are at the point where they enjoy when we go out. We always come home laughing and refreshed - we are better parents because we are happy and secure. We are creating a solid foundation.

It is a balance. We give our kids everything to make certain they are happy & secure. When we take care of our relationship, we are modeling the importance of tending to the foundation of our family. We are providing the kids with the tools they will need as they become adults entering into their own relationships, and that's not something to feel guilty about.

My parents had "bill day." Who gets excited about paying bills? It wasn't until I was married that I understood why. They would go out to lunch, pay bills, shop & only they know what else. All I know is that no one was allowed to go with them & they came home (late), happy. They were married for 55 years until a sudden passing. They had "their day" for as long as I can remember. Along with unconditional love, it is one of the most important things I learned from them.

The kids are going to grow up and move out & you'll be stuck with your partner so you might as well make certain that they are your best friend from the start. It is much easier to maintain something than to try and fix it once it is broken.