Summer List Check-in #2

Despite the busyness of learning our new family dynamics, we've taken the time to play. We are all enjoying having my David home on paternity leave and we're taking full advantage of our time together. Let's get right into it!

 On the go with Micah in the Mei Tai carrier

My view from the front seat...all three are crammed in the back seat.

• Dance in the rain: David and Abigail did the honours of checking this one off our list. Abigail loves jumping in puddles and was quite excited when David invited her to play.

• Home recording studio: David set up the microphone with Garage Band and we recorded our family song All the Gingras babies (a spoof off Beyonce's All the Single ladies). I don't know how to share it here, but if we can figure it out, I'll be sure to.

• Fireworks: The local baseball team has sponsored nights where they shoot off fireworks after the game. We listened online until a certain point and then we woke up the littles for a late night adventure. Malachi cheered and clapped and proved himself a Gingras through and through (we all love fireworks).

• Visit 5 Winnipeg landmarks: the Forks is a go to outing for us and we counted that as one landmark for our list. We enjoy walking around and along the river, especially.

• Walk 5 bridges: We've walked 2, the first one is the Forks Historic Rail Bridge ( no picture) and the second one is the Provencher Bridge.

• Assiniboine Park Steam Train: We had our House Group year end wrap up at Assiniboine Park and several of us went on the train. Our littles were so tired, but they enjoyed themselves a lot.

If you missed our summer list run-down or our first check-in, click on the links to catch up. As always, click on the images to enlarge them.

Handmade Goodness

I can hardly believe it's already the end of June! Seriously, where did the month go? I have been remiss in showing off some lovely gifts made for me and my littles. This does not reflect how I feel about them, just the busyness of life right now. So, let me show you some loveliness!

My Mom made both Malachi and Micah blankets (Abby's had hers for quite some time). The top one is Malachi's and the bottom one is Micah's. They're about the size of a crib mattress which makes them perfect to grow with for quite awhile. They're so soft and plushy! Malachi instantly sat on his saying, "oh, wow!" Micah sleeps on top of his right now, it makes for a soft bed. 

Mrs. Wendy made Micah this lovely receiving blanket. It's soft flannel and the lace is a nice non-itchy kind. This blanket is bigger than your average store bought receiving blankets which is great.

This pile of goodness is chocolate mint lip balm! I pinned a recipe for this on Pinterest and only half seriously asked if anyone would make me some. My friend, Jenni, wrote back saying that she would! Awesome! Imagine my surprise when my package arrived with not one, but eight containers! Oh, and it's so yummy and super soft feeling! Love it!

I obviously haven't had much craft time this month, but I did start a project that I hope to finish in the next couple of days. This is the fabric that I got with my gift certificate and with the help of my David's great math skills, I squeaked out just enough for this project. It's time for me to make a new mei tai for my babies. I've been rocking the same one since Abby was a baby. It was my first one and quite rough in construction. I'm liking how this one is turning out so far. 

Finally this little project I "whipped up" for a birthday boy. Considering how many craft sittings it took to actually finish the project I can't truly say I whipped it up, but if you have uninterrupted time this is a quick project. This is recycled magnets turned into alphabet magnets. Abby has declared that she would like some, too. I was given a whole stack of magnets that were for a company advertisement and this is the first thing I've tried with them. They turned out okay, though not as "wow" as I had hoped. You can find a tutorial for the basic concept here.

A Newsletter Feature!

Just before Micah was born I went onto Flickr to post some pics of my latest baby shoes. I haven't frequented Flickr much lately, but it's a great site for inspiration - it's been around longer than Pinterest. I am mrs angry turtle on Flickr, if you care to look me up. To my delight and surprise I realized I had a message in my inbox from Kathy, owner of Pink Chalk Fabrics. Kathy told me that she loved my Nikki tote that I had added to her customer gallery and that she would like to feature it in one of her newsletters! I am still so flattered. As if that wasn't enough, she also said that she would like to give me a $20 gift certificate to her shop as a thank you. Woo hoo!

So, if you're visiting from a link from Pink Chalk Fabrics, welcome. It's so nice of you to drop by. If you're a regular reader, "hello, I'm glad to have you here".

Stay tuned to see what I ordered with my gift certificate - I'm excited about the project I have in mind!

Flowers, flowers and more flowers!

I love cut flowers! The morning after we had brought Micah home (Saturday), our dear friends and landlords brought us up some breakfast and these lovely roses. Aren't they beautiful?

Then after several long sleepless nights, David came home from errands with Abby and brought me a bouquet of flowers and an add on of baby's breath. He knows that I like to play at arranging and wanted me to have lots to work with. I spent a good hour with jars and flowers working out various arrangements that I could then put all over the house. One bouquet can go a long way. Abby has her own little arrangement, too. I love that David "gets" me and when the salesperson suggested he look at their ready done arrangements, he declined saying "thanks, but my wife likes to arrange her own." I LOVE my husband!

Abby's is the middle one above - and she's very proud of it.

I love these PoP Shoppe bottles!

This trio is now in my bathroom

Abby is copying my photography

this is by my kitchen sink

and this one on my table.

Introducing Baby Micah

...and our first summer list check-in 2012!

You may recall that "have a baby" did make our summer list and what a great way to start the summer! We are pleased to introduce to you

Micah Daniel Gingras

Born June 1, 2012 at 3:20 am

Weighing 8 lbs. 6 oz

Measuring 21½"

Our littlest 'little' started his journey into this world packing quite a punch (I'll share his birth story some other time), but we are so glad he's finally here!

So, here's a quick check-in on that list:

• Have a baby (check!)

• Finger Painting - Abigail covered this one during one of Malachi's naptimes. I'm not sure I'm ready to loose him into that world of mess, but Abigail certainly enjoyed herself.

• Sidewalk chalk - another great naptime. Poor Malachi doesn't know what he misses or maybe Abigail doesn't know what she's missing (I know I'd rather be napping)

• Go to Half Moon Drive In (okay, so this wasn't on the list, but it should have been!) We love the drive to Lockport and it makes a nice morning to lunch time family adventure. I love their onion rings!!!