Steppin' Out 10/29

So even though Saturday was a very difficult one for Mama, we still tried to make it fun and make it ours.

Jeans: Old Navy
Sweater: Sirens
Scarf: H&MM
Jacket: Jessica
Shoes: my favourite fall moccasins from Payless


Posing with Mama, since we have so very few pictures together

Off to teh Pumpkin Farm we went to pick out our pumpkins this year. Owen had a great time running around the piles, picking them up....and throwing them like baseballs.



Then he saw a puppy and thought he'd chase after that instead



but this tiny one caught his attention!

Next, we went to Nana and Papi's for a quick visit, then home for lunch and off to the forest to collect branches and sticks for Mama's Christmas ornament display



First big ride in the wagon!



Running through the leaves while Mama gets her branches



I think that one might be a wee bit too big, Pal



please note rosy hands and cheeks...it was chilly today!



I freaking love this kid! Thanks for making Mama's tough day just a little bit better :)

That Time of Year

I write this post with the heaviest of hearts...and always dread this time of year.

Halloween is supposed to be full of ghosts and goblins...little kids dressed up as princesses and dragons, going door to door, asking for candy and just being cute.

It's supposed to be a time where Dads take their kids out, pull the wagon to unload said goodies and pillowcases in, while the Moms revel over the cuteness of the little ones at the door.

Not for me.

For me, it is far from that. Ghosts and goblins, absolutely...but of a different kind.

For me, it's a time for remembrance, to reflect, and to cry.

Very simply, Halloween makes me cry.

6 years ago while C and I were out with GodMomma and her bf at the time, at a Halloween costume ball, I found out from two police officers that my Dad had had a heart attack, and had died.

He died.

Like a scene in a movie, I let out a scream and crumbled against the wall. My Dad was my world, and my world had just fallen apart.

Halloween breaks my heart, and I hate it.

People continuously tell me to buck up and try to have fun around this time of year, but it seems nearly impossible. I dread the day when Owen actually wants to go out and get a costume, or worse yet, have me make one for him.

The last ones I made were the ones we wore that horrible night, and they were promptly thrown in the garbage.

I don't think I will ever look at Halloween the same. Alot of people out there try to reassure me that I will love it once Owen gets older and dresses up and the whole thing, but I know in my heart that I will always hate it no matter what brave face I try to put on or new tradition I try to come up with to try and make it happy.



I miss you, Dad.

Stocking Stuffers!

I'm so incredibly proud that I've finished up Owen's stocking, and in time for Nana and Papi to take it (with Owen's luggage) with them when they drive to Florida in a few weeks.

Last year was all about sippy cups, spoons, little travel sized rattles and cups for snacks...small stuff. Bibs...wipes...essentials.

I knew that I wanted this year to be fun, but not at a hefty price tag.

Since I'm at Michael's about twice a week (the running joke in our home is that it should be called Shannon's), I always scout out the clearance and $1.50 bins.



Then, when we were at Walmart, we stopped at the $5 movie bin



And while I was getting some groceries, I went over to the kids section and found a little car for $0.99



Then, I had to swing by the party supply store for some mask forms and went down the party loot bag aisle...most of which were $0.25 or $0.50 each



And the clearance section at Old Navy can sometimes yield some really awesome deals, especially when they have an additional 30% off!



So...total on his stocking, which will be overflowing...

Old Navy: $2
Party supply store: $2
Michael's: $7.70
WalMart: $5
Grocery Store: $0.99

Grand Total: $17.69

The dollarstore was great last year, but generally, I found that it was all really basic stuff and that he wasn't super interested in it, or it broke after a couple of times that he'd play with it.

Colouring books, bubbles, crayons, little cars, a new movie, memo books for on the plane ride home, a fun new rubber duck for the bath...all stuff that he'll use and get excited about!

Steppin' Out 10/22

My first ever Steppin' Out Saturday, and I'm seriously SO excited to join in the hop!! We went out to a cocktail party for the closing of the season at the London Hunt and Country Club...

Sweater: Old Navy
Pants: Reitmans
Shoes: American Eagle
Clutch: Nine West
Necklace: Dad's with my Tiffany & Co. "O" pendant

Bracelet: Pandora

Earrings: Foxy Originals

Like what you see?? Check out Mama's Closet for some new clothes, accessories and shoes!

Shop Our Closets

I've seen this on a few other blogs, and figure that it might be time to go through all of our clothes, accessories and shoes and start selling.

Owen is growing like a weed, and some of hi clothes (mainly summer) were worn maybe once or twice before he was out of them, and some of his itty bitty clothes from when he was born weren't even worn at all!

Then there's my closet...clutches that have been used once or twice, purses that haven't been used before...earrings worn once and even some necklaces that are funky and neat that I've never worn because I wear my Dad's chain everyday with my "O" pendant on it. Pants, skirts, tops and dresses...gees louise!

So...you'll notice next week that we're going to have a Shop our Closets tab on the top.

Stay tuned for prices, shipping information and pictures galore!! Have a great weekend!

Baby Shmizz Butt Paste Giveaway!

We all know that giveaways are a good thing when you're a busy mom! Winning things online can sometimes be all you need for Christmas gifts, and in this case...I'd really love for these to go directly into Owen's stocking!



Now, as much as I want to win...I suppose you all can enter too!

Head on over to Baby Shmizz to enter in her Boudreaux's Buttpaste Giveaway!! She got to review some really awesome NEW products and loved them all!

We've used the All Natural Butt Paste in the past, and loved it. It goes on so cleanly, not like Desitin that...does its job, but leave the thickest residue on your hands after application. Thankfully in our house, that's Daddy's job!

Off you go...enter away!

Christmas Is Coming

Right? Who's with me?

no?

Well, whatever. You'll understand shortly.

C and I were chatting the other day and I came up with a brilliant plan...like always.

We're going to be traveling for Christmas again this year and really, it's the last year that we can really take the time away, use part of our Christmas trip to Florida as a vacation, and have the flexibility to take Owen along for the ride without too much trouble. Next year, it'll be cookies and milk for Santa, stocking by the fireplace (hopefully settled into a new house...another post for another day), and just being home for Christmas.

C is traveling on the 15th with Owen and Papi, and I'll be joining them on the 19th so that I can represent at MommaT's son's 1st birthday party.

Since we're traveling pre-Christmas, my brilliant idea was to order all of Owen's Christmas gifts on Amazon and have them shipped to Nana and Papi's address at the condo.

Brilliant, right??

Well, C wanted to price compare and figure it all out, so off we went on Sunday morning to Wal-mart. It was good that we went too, because we got to test out toys on Owen, see what he really liked, what didn't get his attention at all, and what educational type stuff is out there on the market right now.

What did we decide on?


Shrek Memory Game - the kid is obsessed with Shrek and all of the movies. They literally are on a daily rotation, and you can often hear him yelling at Prince Charming, giggling at Puss and clapping for Shrek. This is perfect!


Hoops in the Tub - Owen loves his baths. You can say "Owen, is it time for a bath?" and he'll answer "Bah!" and climb the stairs to go directly to the bathroom. He splashes like a crazy person, and loves carrying balls around the house...so...hoops in the tub!


Mangnetic Letters for the Fridge - Owen loves to take the magnets off our fridge and walk around to put them on the wine fridge. I think he thinks that it's his own little fridge...little does he know it's a special one for Mama and Daddy! ;)



The Batmobile - Owen is definitely all boy and I love it when he mmmm's with his cars on the ground. Every little boy need a superhero, and C's happens to be Batman. The humble man, wanting to do good...without and super powers. Just man...with fancy gadgets and a cool car.



MVP pj's - for Christmas eve!


A play teepee - I'm VERY excited about this one for a few reasons. At our new (and last) home, I want to have an indoor play area with art station in our rec room, then a reading nook in our great room. Wouldn't this teepee be the PERFECT play area or reading nook, full of pillows (and action figures, Charlie the elephant and whatever else Owen can drag in there)??

Suggestions for a 1.5year old this christmas

If your son or daughter loves music, this will make a HUGE hit with them. Owen could NOT stop giggling at it, and it's now on his wishlist.


Let's Rock Elmo

Other things that he thought were pretty neat...tractors, trucks, cars, and Tonka machines.

I highly recommend taking them to a local Babies/Toys R' Us or Walmart to see just what they are interested in, then shopping around for the absolute best deal.

Next up is stocking stuffers, but I'll save that for another post!

First Haircut

As we are all aware, Owen looks VERY much like his Daddy. It's a good thing, considering I happen to think that C is very handsome but it also means that visually, there's not alot of Mama in Owen.

Unless you count his hair...


before - chowing on homemade Whole Wheat Pancakes with peanut butter

Big...bouncy...curls (moreso on the back and top)! And I love them..so so much!

So when C called Max&Oskar's yesterday to make an appointment to get Owen's haircut, I literally cried. Yes yes...actually cried.

I pouted all morning when we were out scouting Christmas gifts (another post to come later!) and kept saying that we just were goign to go home and have a nap and skip the haircut..

But...


Playing with toys before...


Sitting in the cool red airplane and watching Madagascar


All done, and with a brand new blue balloon!



Ok, so still very clearly handsome, but the best part...still curly! It's hard to see in the picture, but his curls are still very much there, and it got curlier the more she wet it and trimmed!! Yahoo!!

15 Month Appointment

We had Owen's 15month on September 27th, where he only got one tiny shot (Chicken Pox vaccine) and got to stand on the big boy scale to get his weight and height taken.

Slight gripe about that and then we'll move on. How in the heck do you take a 15month old's height on the adult scale?! Clearly, he's not standing straight with his heels against the wall...he's more interested in playing with the base of the scale, or the height adjustment arm

Anyhow!

Stats...wow...25lbs8oz

We really really thought that he would be heavier than that. Seriously, carrying him around on my hip is like carrying a cement block! We definitely thought 29 if not 30 lbs...but I guess since he's been walking, he's been getting leaner so it makes sense.

They measured him at 31"...which is absolutely false given that he was nearly 33" at 12 months.

Oh well!! He's a big boy, and lean and loving and wonderful.


Walking around the Club on Thanksgiving Monday, watching the horses and hounds

His new favourite thing is to give kisses. If you ask "Can I have a kiss" he'll lean in, open mouth, and give you a big sloppy one. If he's feeling silly, you'll get about 10 of them and he'll giggle, holding your face there.

Big milestone tomorrow that I am highly unhappy about...first hair cut. I certainly will be posting before and after pictures, as well as an emotional post from Mama.

Long Time No See!

Such a bad blogger...well at least a bad Mommy blogger!

Things have been slightly insane for us around here between weddings (3 weekends in a row!), Mama's birthday, Uncle Bry's birthday, Daddy travelling all over Western Canada...

busy busy busy

So I'm going to make some format changes around here.

I'm going to post updates once a week, on Wednesday's probably since that seems to be our down day throughout the week. I think that's a schedule I can stick to!

How do you Mama Bloggers do it everyday!? I can do it for Sweet Stella's but over here...ack!