Outnumbered

Melted crayons are a lovely gift to share!

I saw this project online last year, but never got to try it with the boys...then, with Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be a great way to use up all the broken crayons around our house. @Greek_Momma had also recently written a post about reusing and recycling to make homemade gifts and ... I had my inspiration!

It's super easy & super fun.

First, I bought a non-stick pan from Michael's (don't forget your 40% off coupon!)

Then, we peeled off all the paper from our broken crayons. (Tip: Get your french manicure AFTER this project, not before...I had blue nails by the end of it!)

Next, heat the oven to 275 degrees - I set the timer for 15 minutes, but it actually took less time.  We had a few jumbo crayon pieces in the mix and those took a bit longer to melt.

Once they cooled a bit (and the risk of spilling hot wax on myself was decreased), I put them outside to cool. I've read that some people put them in the freezer, but you definitely don't need to do that for the project to work.

After they had cooled completely, I turned the pan over and they fell out fairly easily. Be sure to pop them out over a soft surface (I used a placemat) so they don't break.  For the smaller circular crayons, it was a bit trickier to get them out. I put the pan upside and had to hit the bottom of the pan with a kitchen spoon (nothing like taking out frustrations on a muffin pan. haha)

THEN, my middle guy had a great idea for this project to make it even better -- CAMO crayons. He picked out all different colours of brown and green and put them in the smaller muffin tins.  This is his creation, I was pretty impressed! 

We are planning on giving these out next week in some homemade Valentine's with a tag that says:
This crayon was made for you with love from ___________ (insert child's name here)

Hope you enjoy this as much as we did!! 

Don't forget to leave me a comment & let me know how it goes!

K.

Mommy & Son

People think 3 kids is alot.  It is busy, yes, but one thing that I ponder when we discuss 3 vs 4 children (besides money!) is the time you actually get to spend with each child. 
We are blessed to have a lot of family time together but  I think it's so important to have one on one time with each individual child.  Even if it's once every few weeks I like to have an outing with just one of the boys.  It's so special for them, and for me.

Poor Jax is overdue for his mommy/son time.  Since he's in school I'm at work during the week it can prove difficult to arrange our special time together. Luckily, with the long weekend we are able to get away and see a movie together.  He's been reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid so we decided that would be the perfect date.

This is the trailer, it looks pretty funny!

 

This mommy & son time is yet another way I am trying to seek out balance for my family and for myself and to be honest it's a date I've been looking forward to for weeks!

J is at such an age that he's really becoming more involved with his friends/peers and he is definitely more social.

I realize that's perfectly healthy and normal; but I think this time together is also extremely important so that I can catch up on what's going on at school, with his friends, and I can get an idea of what's happening in his life in general.   It also gives him undivided attention, no interruptions (from those pesky little brothers)!

I know my little man is growing up much much faster than I ever dreamed he would (where did the last 9 years go?!!?!) but I am so happy that he still actually likes to talk to me. (Here's hopin' that lasts) 

As I reflect on our family life, and how quickly time is passing, it really makes me recognize how important it is to soak up every single little moment I have with them. 

I'm so excited for this fun opportunity to spend time with one of my main men...just mommy & son.

 

Rockin' it Sammy style

Or should I say rockin' it Dave Grohl style.

Either way, we love music around our house...whether it's The Wiggles, oldies, R&B, house music, or rockin' out to  Brian's favourites....we always seem to be dancing.

Here is a pic that Brian took of Sammy rockin' out to the Foo Fighters DVD that Santa brought to daddy this year. 

And in case you can't tell from the photo, neither feet have contact with the floor here. Check out the bilateral foot jump & the tongue sticking out - like a true rocker, gotta love it!

 
 

Part of my Heart

I love my job. I love my boss. I love what I do and the opportunities I have at work.
 
Regardless of the fulfillment my job brings me on so many levels, most days I'm subconsciously thinking of what life would be like as a stay-at-home-mom.

I get up some mornings and think of how I was awake giving Sam his ba-ba of milk just an hour ago & how I'd love to stay in bed and snuggle...

I get up other mornings feeling like I'm the Queen of the professional workin' momma world. 

I had one of those mornings this morning.  I was ready to go, lookin' half decent, wearing half nice clothes, looking like a half normal woman! I was ready to conquer the world!

Then I heard it.

"Mom!"

Pitter patter of feet.

"Mom. Mom! Mommy!"

It was Owen who had sleepily wandered out of his bedroom and was calling for me. I quickly scooped him, kissed his little blonde head and hugged him tight.

My moment lasted about 60 seconds...Brian wandered into the hallway too and said he would take him back to bed and lay with him...it was a little early for him to be awake.

Straight through the heart.

I sauntered downstairs for my usual morning routine and waited for my coffee to brew...and once again I wondered if I was making the right decision.

Once I got moving again, I thought of the fulfilling and enjoyable work I do. I did everything I usually do every weekday morning. Coffee, check. Lunch, check, Lipgloss & mascara, check.  I got in the car and drove my usual drive on the usual route. Yep, I made it.
I made it to work this morning....

 

.....But not without part of my heart left at home.

For the love of boys

When I was first pregnant, I knew I wanted to find out the sex of the baby.

I just immediately thought it was a girl, not because of any mother's intuition I had, but just because I knew nothing about boys so I just figured....why would God give me a boy?  I wouldn't be a good BOY mom.
I was a girlie girl, I liked pink and pretty things. Never was much of a sports fan, either playing or watching. 

When I found out I was having a boy, I was overjoyed nonetheless - it came as such a surprise, how exciting!

Then it sank in...how will I know what to do with a boy?

My first boy was born 9 years ago today. 

Having boys has made me get out there and do things and try things that I might never have experienced.
I have come to love anything BOY - Hot Wheels, trains, video games, hockey, baseball, fishing...all these things I had little or no experience with before have become my ENTIRE ever-loving life...and I am so grateful! 

I find it hard to believe NINE years have passed...how does time slip by so quickly?  


 

 

My big boy is growing up to be a very intelligent, imaginative and hilarious little person. 
I find myself asking him questions about topics that I often don't know the answer to, and he certainly has all the right answers.  I'm often left in awe of all he knows already.  Topics such as hockey and trains are definitely his area of expertise.

He was my inspiration to make myself a better person....I am sure that I would not have gone to nursing school and graduated at the top of my class, if he wasn't around to motivate me. 

His sense of humour is makes the entire family laugh, and he's a good friend to many. 

Happy Birthday to my wonderfully special nine year old boy.  May all your dreams come true this year and the years ahead.
Thanks for being my inspiration and thanks for making each and every day of my life better.
Happy Birthday Jackson!!