Yes, I know that this is the least of your concerns.

This is what I've been doing all day, yes it took me the better part of the day. I needed a new diaper bag* for Elliott and for some reason I had the motivation to work on it, so I went with it. I really like how it turned out, it's bigger than the one I had for the twins which is nice because that one was too small for one baby, let alone two.

I like the pockets and the loops I put on the inside for my keys, phone, wipes and sundries, however the outside pockets are giving me trouble. I was supposed to sew them on before I put the bag together and as always I forgot. Now that I have to sew them on by hand I'm wondering if they will be worth the trouble. I've attached one pocket with pins (as you can see in the last picture) to see how it looks and if it is a go, I will sew the other one on the opposite side.

So I'm trying to decide if the diaper bag looks to clunky with the outside pockets or if I should just forget form and go with function. As for function, these pockets will be great for bottles or whatnot's with the elastic on the top to hold everything in.

So, outside pockets, or not so much? What do you think?

*Emilie showed me how to make these bags a few years ago and now she sells them too!

Fun with the new Camera

I'm taking a Digital Photography class from the amazing Emilie Campbell and with only one class down I love it. It's reminded me of how much I used to love, love, love photography and how fun it is to play with a camera.

We bought the camera so we would have something to capture our new little wee one with. I do have a very fine SLR that my Dad* gave me for my high school photography class that works great. However, I didn't want to wait until I developed the film to know that I didn't get the shot I wanted or that all the pictures I took were super crappy. Not to mention getting film developed is like returning a library book, there is always tomorrow. With babies that doesn't work so much, by the time the film gets back you have lost maybe weeks and can't recapture how small your little one was.

With the twins we were in survival mode for about two months, so I do have some pictures of them really small but they are really bad. My favorite pictures** of the twins are the one's Emilie took of them when they were six months old. I could kick myself that I didn't get them to her sooner for pictures.

For me photography is not like riding a bike, I have forgotten so much. Even at the height of my photo craze I still had so much to learn. So I'm posting these pictures from my first clumsy photo shoot with Jane and Kgordee, I know I have a long way to go but at least my subjects are very cute.

P.S. No matter how good I get through classes and practicing, my kids will never pose for me like they will for Emilie, it's a fact.

*Never mind that he had been waiting for years for one of his own. When his company sold their old cameras to him he gave it to me. Dad's are the best.

**I'll have to post some of these as they are so cute in another post.

Done Doodley

I'm done with Elliot's sweater and his hat. I working on a hoodie now, I know, how many sweaters can one little boy have. I'm pregnant, if the lady wants to knit, let her.

It's Alive!

So let's be honest, my first attempt at planting my garden in the house didn't work. It was hideous, or at least it smelled really bad. I was so excited to start the plants before they could go into the ground but it all ended tragically.

Mostly I used manure that had been composted and miracle grow to water the plants with and I think that might have been too much. My real sin was covering the plants with a plastic tarp at night to help with the stink.

I know, what was I thinking, how much of a green horn can I be, how embarrassing for me and all that. Whatever. Live, learn and never invite animal waste products into your home again no matter how broken down they are.

Well I started again on Thursday and finished planting on Saturday, this time I just used potting soil and these great little peat containers that go right in the ground. But Camille, you might say, didn't you save yogurt containers for a whole year just to plant your garden. Yes, I did and I really can't talk about it. Gone, all gone.

Anyway, I am so excited that my little radishes are coming up after only a few days. Double Plus bonus, the kids haven't touched them and no more poop smell in my house! Hooray, I guess keeping it simple was the best plan. Thanks Dad for all of the good advice and the encouragement.

Fu Man Chu anyone?

And that's a cupcake in his hand, not poop!

Magic little totes

I've discovered the wonders of the "toy tote" on my twin’s ability to focus on one or two toys at a time and then actually put them away when they are done. We went over to a friend’s house to play a few weeks ago and I discovered her secrets.

I have always stored the kid’s toys in large tubs and because of their size the kids dump one over and have four or five toys or toy sets to play with. This works for about a half hour and then there are toys everywhere and both Josh and Jane want to be entertained by me.

However when I started putting the toys in smaller tubs (with lids, there has to be a snap on lid) the twins started really playing with their toys. An added benefit to the smaller containers is the easy and manageable clean up, asking a child to clean up a room full of toys is painful, this however isn't, it take two seconds and then they can move on to the next set of toys.

I love it, no more toys strewn across my house for me to step on and since the wees don't take naps anymore I have some time to myself during the day. Oh how I love our new toy organization, it isn't perfect but it works.

New Savings Plan

Josh is sitting on the couch reading his newly arrived Lego magazine.

"Mom can I have some money?"

"What?"

"Why do you need money?"

"For Lego's."

Long silence.