Checking In

It's been a bit of an overwhelming week for me, but I am loving the fall and I get to see my Mama and Daddy tomorrow!!!! Let's do a quick check in, shall we?

• Here's the view outside my kitchen window. This is our first fall in our house and I love being surrounded by trees and watching them change colours.

• Last weekend we took a nice drive out to Lockport. We stopped at the Captain Kennedy House (didn't go for tea as we decided to save that for a date adventure instead of a family adventure) and walked around the gardens there. They are beautiful.

• My David bought me a whole wack of jars for our tea collection. I love the result. I'll show you more pictures and tell you all the details soon.

• One of my personal challenges in motherhood is teaching my children how to help and then letting them. This takes way more time and isn't exactly helpful... yet. I keep working at it, after all aren't we all works in progress? I stopped in the midst of the helping one day to take this picture. As I learn and grow in my role as a mother, I'll learn to appreciate this more.

• After showing you my latest wallets, a friend commented on facebook that she loved the wallet that I had made for her, too. I didn't even remember making her one at first. I thought it would be a fun trip down my sewing memory lane and show you the wallets I've made. I don't think they are all here, but this is a good representation. 

I sewed this style many times, but was never quite happy with  how insecure the cards felt.

I switched to clutch wallets and though I am still tweaking little things, I'm much happier with these.

• In case you're wondering, my David is loving his new job. We as a family are especially loving having him home at the same time everyday (well, except for the monthly staff meeting), and every weekend off together.
• Here's a typically conversation with my Dolly these days:

Dolly: Why don't you like Wow Wow Wubzie? (a really stupid tv show)
Me: Well, it's just a little sillier than I like.
Dolly: Well, you need to get $8 and get a van and drive far far away and go tell Wow Wow Wubzie, "stop being so silly".

• Check out these cool gourds that David bought for me to decorate our fall table with. 

Clutch Wallet Twins

Recently a friend posted this picture on Instagram

Caption reads: @mrsgingras this has been a well loved crafty gift indeed! Thanks so much for this lovely wallet, but I think it's time to find a new one! I've loved it dearly! xx

I made this wallet years ago... back when I first started sewing seriously. I was so flattered that Leanne had been using it all this time and loved it enough to wear it out. I instantly wanted to make her a new wallet. I don't make wallets in that style anymore, I have learned to love clutch wallets instead.

I had been wanting to try adding a more functional zipper pocket and this gave me a good opportunity to try it out. I ended up making two. I wanted one, so I made twins.

The zipper colours are the only real difference.

Leanne is a Canadian, living abroad, so I snuck in some flags. A little reminder of home.

The good news is that she likes it and I do, too.

Does this clutch look familiar? It should I've made some before. Tutorial can be found here.

Baby's Build-a-bear

As promised, here are the build-a-bear friends that my littles were blessed with. Micah's bear, Mister, was a gift from Auntie Cake (Kate). I love his little baby face and think he's perfect for a baby gift.

Malachi's monkey, Ooo Ooo, was a gift from Grandma Ang. Malachi named him Ooo Ooo, and still calls him that.

Both boys sleep with their friends, every night. Here's Abby with her Betty Bunny, a gift from Grandma when Abby was a baby.

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Build your own high-quality photo books at Shutterfly.com.

Just ordered a photo book of my maternity pics from Malachi... better late than never!

Checking In

• First day of school today! No one in my family is actually attending school this year, but for the first time since I've been out of school today is significant. My David begins his job as an EA at the King's School today. I also begin my solo parenting job here at home. We've had a wonderful three months of having David mostly at home (he worked part time). We had some adjusting to being a family of five, some summer adventures, a big road trip and most importantly, family time! I miss my best friend already, but I know that this job is going to be a great fit for our whole family.

• I recently received the coolest postcard in the mail. Teapost! Thanks, Crystal and Matt.

• My newest baby is 3 months old! What?!

• May I introduce you to some of my friends? These are some of the lovely ladies that I have the joy of knowing and raising children beside. This was taken at our night out in July.

• My middle "baby" isn't a baby anymore. Malachi is rockin' a big boy bed now.