Pictures by Elijah

(In case this picture needs clarification: This is soup. He added water, dirt and sand. Then he mixed it up and stuck his finger in to taste it. He contemplated the taste for a moment and then he went to add more dirt.)

I think it's time to buy him his own camera. Or maybe buy me a new camera. Yeah, I like option two better :)

Cleaning the windows

Like most kids, Elijah loves to spray things. He loves it when he can help clean the windows or mirrors. So he was thrilled when I let him clean the patio windows. I asked him how it was going.

Elijah: Good.

Me: That's great to hear.

Elijah (with a great deal of conviction in his voice): Yeah, I love it mom.

Learning to ride

New BBQ, costly. Empy box, priceless.

Happy birthday Elijah - Part 2

Sometimes we as moms just need to let go of our own expectations.

Tomorrow is the friend birthday party for Elijah. I had grand ideas of what we were going to eat and do. In the midst of the planning and doing I came across a child's birthday party on Facebook. It looked like the mom had spent A LOT of time. As a casual observer I felt the freedom to judge the ridiculous amount of time that she had obviously spent. Until I realized that while my theme was different, I was that mom.

So we're having burgers, chips and veggies. There will be no eleborate birthday cake. (Although it's not for lack of trying. Attempt #1 involved cupcakes which ended up being lopsided due to my oven not working properly. Attempt #2 involved a 9x13 cake that was going to be a rocket. Icing was made. We were ready to go. Apparently the cake did not want to come out of the pan and subsequently it came out in pieces.) So we will have a icecream cake from Dairy Queen.

The thing is, I know that Elijah doesn't care. What I make for him will not be viewed by him as a reflection of my love for him. He just wants to know that when he's hungry, there is something to eat. When he needs a hug, he wants to know that someone is there to cuddle with.

A few weeks ago he said "Mommy, I yuv you forever." I'm pretty sure that's with or without an elaborate birthday party.

Happy birthday Elijah - Part 1

Family Birthday party. Mommy made her little Buzz Lightyear a rocket cake. He is happily enjoying his Toy Story toys - Buzz, Woody, Rex and Barbie are having a great time.

I ain't no Vera Wang

...but I do now own a sewing machine.

Last weekend I finally purchased a sewing machine. I'd been wanting to buy one for a while but I always found that there was something else I wanted a little bit more. I really wanted to finish the Christmas stockings that I started right after Lillian was born. So I spent a chunk of a nice last Saturday afternoon putting together the stockings that I cut out and embroidered back in 2009.

Being behind the sewing machine brought back some fond memories for me. I remember sitting in my parents kitchen sewing Barbie Doll clothes on my mom's Bernina. I smile at the memory of going downstairs to the box of material scraps that my mom kept. From there I learnt the basics of patterns and sewing.

This set the stage for my Home Ec sewing adventures in Junior High. Grade seven was the customary pair of pants. (Red plastic as I recall. All the rage. I do believe they also had a pocket. Bonus points for difficulty.) Grade eight involved a sweatshirt. No real recollections of what that was. But grade nine. Oh, grade nine I remember. We got to choose our own project. And I chose a Raggedy Anne doll. I'm not sure what part of it appealed to me but whatever it was I was fully engaged in making this The. Best. Raggedy Anne Doll. I spent hours sewing that hair and embroidering the face. While others sewed housecoats (which may or may not have had seams down the back :)), I was busy making a doll which I ended up calling Zamboni. No idea why. (I am proud to say said doll now sits in my daughters room.)

The funny thing is that I don't actually enjoy the process of sewing. In fact, I told my mom halfway into the sewing of the first stocking that I remembered not liking this. But the end. Now that's a part to enjoy. There is something rewarding about seeing your idea come to fruition. To have sat in our cramped living room with a newborn last Christmas imagining what stockings for our family of four would look like. And then seeing them complete.

Welcome to my life Husquvarna. (Yes, that's right. My sewing machine is made by the same company that is A-mazing at chain saws. How could my sewing not have real, raw power?) I imagine we will have a story or two to tell down the road.