Goodbye bad year. Let's make a fresh start

If you head on over to fatmumslim's page you will find all the details to the "Photo A Day" challenge.
I have had a great time with these challenges in the past but for a long time I just neglected my blog and "Did Life" for a while. A lot changes when you aren't keeping track. I will try to catch you up on my life changes as we progress.
I am planning to open up my life with a daily blog and journaling with some meditation mixed in. Cleaner mind, smoother life. Come along for a little ride. Feel free to do your own P.A.D Challenge. It can be very therapeutic.
So, no time to waste, January is just hours away. Let's say a hip hip hooray for January 2018. A fresh year... Let's try not to screw it up.

MIND THE BUMP

MIND THE BUMP

I was huge at only 5 1/2 months, but when you carry two you have double the load

And then i didn't fit any of my clothes anymore. I had to leave my t-shirts open and rising above the lump.draping a button up shirt over my shoulders never able to make a single button meet the hole of it's destination. I could only fit in my hockey jersey and my work issued white dress uniform shirt, which had pleats that created a tent. the only problem with being the only shirt that fit me, every store i shopped in, had people asking me where to find certain products. I would constantly have to apologize saying "I'm sorry i dont work here".  They would look at what i was wearing white uniform shirt and dark pants. i surely looked like i worked there. I would shrug and say "I don't fit in anything else anymore" I wasn't fat. I was PREGNANT and HOW! I remember one day when someone from work came up to me from behind and called my name, when i turned they were shocked at my size and said "HOLY, you look so slim from behind and you turned and POOF". they asked me to turn around 2 or 3 times, commenting on my appearance from behind and then admiring my belly for some while. This picture was taken just two days before my water broke. I was only 29 weeks, i can not even imagine what i would have worn if i had gone full term, perhaps a sheet wrapped around my girth LOL.

scrap that

the intention of this blog originally was to post a scrapbook page each week to share. so here we go. Let's begin. And if we start at the beginning, why not start here. The beginning of our family.
When i heard this song for the first time, I wept. So i was compelled to create this page. One Boy One Girl. with lyrics by Collin Raye.

Our first family photo. I am doing kangaroo care with the twins who are about 10 days old now. Finally able to hold them both. my boy and girl. who could ask for more
Paper and ribbon elements designed by me.

a caking we will go

 So i used to doubt myself. I was a cook, for a family, not a chef. and a baker? never. but slowly I started to try new recipes and joined groups to share ideas. Soon i was baking up a storm. It wasn't until I learned of my own egg allergy that it all came together.

I never liked to baked because eating cake was not something I enjoyed. NOW, I love to make and decorate cakes. and even bake egg free so i can eat them too.
Making cakes has taken on a new art form for me. Fondant is like edible playdoh, letting me be a child again, making shapes to add to my works of art.

 My first wedding cake was wonderful. I thought it would be stressful, and it was a little, but it was mostly enjoyable. The best part was seeing tears of joy from the bride when we placed the cake topper on.

 What can you do with cake? Well, what CAN'T you. a boot, sure, why not?

 I remember doodling all over my binders in school and pages and pages of notebooks full of scribble. marker, crayon, pencil, chalk, paint.... What about icing? YES, now I draw in icing!

 What's next? Well, I am not sure. Let's just keep trying new things and have fun while doing it!

And... Bake a cake and EAT it.

The Twins Turn FIVE

our cat in the hat party

the twins turn 5

When the twins birthday was approaching they could not agree on a common theme. They wanted a cake half cars and half barbie and i said they needed to agree. It is never easy to please both a boy and a girl at one party.

so i decided for them. and started planning. when they saw some of the decorations being put together they were

very excited that i had chosen the Cat in the Hat... here is how the party looked.

we had a Cat in the hat cake, i made it myself. we have mini cat in the hat cake pops, rainbow sandwiches, green eggs and green ham wrap sandwiches. as well as sneech star cake pops, layered jello parfaits and one fish two fish theme candy table. as well as dr seuss themed drinks. with a photo op and a fishing game and a craft. the kids had a blast and the party is the talk of preschool :)

we started with decorate your own party crown. then there was fun games. the kids got to build their own mini pizza with cookie cutter shapes to cut their pepperoni and cheese on top. there was plenty of food, for kids and parents. most of all, the kids at my parties always say it was the best party ever :) one time a two year old told me it was the best party he had been to in his whole life. now that is something to be proud of :)

OMG.... they are THREE

yup. the kids turn three...

here are some snap shots from the party

this is the cake


Emily and Ayden trying to get a little lick


waiting for cake


yummy yummy cake


the blue mustache


all the girlie cousins


circle of girls


craft time


foam fun


FREE PLAY


the princess of the party


and the prince

WHEW.... FINALLY A CHRISTMAS PICTURE

lets seee..... it went like this

TRY TRY TRY:

well i tried and tried and tried to get the kids to sit together for a holiday pic. Emily clearly stated "I dont want to touch Ayden" and ayden whines and tries to run away...

TRY TRY AGAIN:

repeated pictures or blurs and ducking head and pouty lips...

BRIBE:

begin feeding reese pieces candys (from our potty treats supply, for when they sit on the potty and do a little pee pee, its kinda working a little) giving them a candy for every smile ... usually one of Emily smiling isnt as hard as Ayden, or just to get them to sit still a while longer... oh no... not long enuf. a pic of emily smiling... and ayden ducking for cover...

ENTERTAIN:

with fake fart noises and tickles and pulling out all the stops i still get NO pics of them good enuf for ANYTHING

RETRIEVE:

get ayden from the playroom to try again. get ayden from the hall... the living room... behind the couch... umm where did he NOT run off to

GET STRESSED:

and take pics of Emily by herself while Ayden takes a break, she hams it up when it's just her. but only when i flip up the viewing screen so SHE can see herself smile. silly girl

GET MORE STRESSED:

take a few terrible shots of Ayden by himself... with Daddy tickling him at at times letting ayden hit him with a toy so that Ayden with laugh.. (Brian wispering to me hurry up it is starting to hurt)

GET DESPERATE:

stick my toes out and tickle adyen's leg and when he looks at me SNAP a pictre and say ENUF!!!

IMPORVISE:

Photoshop a picture of Emily and a picture of Ayden together and create ONE DARN FINE Christmas Card (even if i do have to say so myself)