Busy Moms Unite

Put up your hand if you're a busy Mom!! "Me" and you too I bet! Is there any other kind. Busy and mom go hand and hand like moody teenager, terrible two year old, chocolate chip cookies and milk, Mondays and coffee. Like your left shoe and your right shoe. If you come visit me at my studio today you will see these are the shoes I wore out of the house today. I threw them on to carry pieces of wood out to the van for the studio and forgot to change into my real shoes!

If you are a Mom it's a safe bet you are busy. If life isn't busy enough for you just try taking your little tyke to the grocery store, dentist or for a needle you quickly see how the simplest mundane task can take up half your day.

I recently picked up Kelsey from school for a dentist appointment. Since I was only a block from the sitters and Carson has been wanting to spend more time with me of late I decided I will swing by and pick the kids up early and then have an Ellie cuddle at the dentist. Wrong! I ended up chasing Ellie around the office and playing goalie to the "cavity free picture wall" as the two kids manhandled the display of pictures. Hey the Brick is next door to the dentist why don't I pop in there quickly and pay my bill. Sounds like a great plan. Now here is the dilemma do you leave your kids in the van locked and belted in happy with a DVD playing, the E brake on and the doors locked to run a one minute errand or do you drag them all in to the store. I have been burned in the past by escaping toddlers and run away vans so now I am in the drag them in the store camp. I pull Ellie out only to realize she has crapped her pants. I ended up changing her in the back of the minivan with a lone diaper I dug out from under the seat and wiped poo that was half way up her back with a stray sock from the back seat. That one went straight in the garbage as I can never find the match anyway.

That errand went a little better than the dentist so hey why not try one more while we are out and about. The mall is just across the way and I have pictures to pick up. Unload everyone again and into the shopping cart. The baby is the only one I want in there and she wants out. The four year old and six year old are jockeying for position inside and outside of the cart leading to screaming brothers and a swerving crazy woman pushing a wobbly wheeled cart across a bumpy parking lot with hair flying, purse dragging and receipts and gum wrappers falling out left and right. A quick pick up of pictures while the boys are distracted momentarily by the self serve photo kiosks and then back to the van. Ohh but wait here is a lady with a booth selling subscriptions to the magazine Prairies North. I love that magazine. Maybe I will stop for a moment to sign up for a subscription and we start chatting about photography and writing. I am sure I made a fabulous impression on her as the boys took off to the candy and pop machines by Safeway then made their way back to dig in my purse for coins and then ended up fighting on the floor over Ellie's toy which ended up launching into a nearby store and hitting someone who was standing at the till buying something. I was mortified and dragged Carson over to apologize. The customer and clerk held their mouths as they were laughing. This led Carson to believe he was funny and he refused to apologize so I left with all the kids in a huff only to get a call at home 10 minutes later that I had left the pictures at the mall on the magazine table. I am sure they will be calling me soon to start photographing and writing for their magazine!

These experiences lead me to believe that any mom is a busy mom because on haircut, one doctors appointment or one trip to the store can turn into a half a day ordeal which can take the other half of the day to recover from and may lead a husband to come home at the end of the day and say what happened here today? I thought you didn't have any big plans why is everything a disaster and you are crying in the corner.

Yesterday Ellie had her 12 month needles. Yes needles 3 of them. Good thing the Public Health Nurse is on the ball because I thought they were her 18 month needles since she is 18 months old but apparently somehow 12 months flew right on by without my noticing. Carson also got one needle so I had to think ahead to my parenting strategy of not telling him he was getting a needle and making him go first. He turned the color of a tomato and screamed his head off and then had no interest in watching his sweet little baby sister get jabbed three times in the arms and leg. I had brought earplugs for him because he insisted he didn't want to hear her scream and we couldn't locate Olivia's ipod earphones but the earplugs didn't cut it as Carson covered his ears and continued to wail. I on the other hand react with hysterical laughter in these situations.

During the developmental check for 12 months old they want to know can they use a spoon, say words, gesture etc. One question was if Ellie finds a pen will she make a scribbling motion on paper. Unfortunately yes and on the walls. But one better she loves to get a pen and my cell phone and pretend she is playing DS with her big brothers and sister. They need to update the developmental charts.

For those of you who like to play the who does the baby look like. Here is half of Carson and half of Ellie. I would say the look alike what do you think??
The store is also busy. Here are some new arrivals. Soother straps to keep the soother clean or a toy for the baby within their reach.

Grobags to keep baby warm and covered in bed without too many blankets in the crib.

New flowers for headbands and clips for little girl's hair.

New spring hats that my talented mom is making.

Here is to all the busy moms out there. Maybe we can meet in the park over Easter Break as we try desperately to keep our sanity!

Making Buns

For first time dance Moms and Dads getting ready for pictures, recitals and competitions can be overwhelming. Olivia's fabulous dance teacher has printed out step by step instructions and held costume, hair and makeup sessions at the studio to help us out with real live models. I can't wait to photograph all the sequins, sparkles and feathers this weekend!!

Here is the step by step instructions on how to make a dancer's bun.

Part hair horizontally across the top of the head from the front of one ear to the front of the other ear.

Move these pieces our of the way, then pull the rest of the hair securely up into a high ponytail at the crown of the head.

Once the ponytail is in, part the front section on the dancer's left side, the gel and comb each piece around the side and back to the name of the neck (like a headband).

Tie the two sections with a small block or clear elastic, and bobby-pin the small ponytail towards the bigger ponytail.

Take the whole ponytail and wrap around the elastic into bun shape.

Place one- two hair pins in the bun, wrap hair net around, take pins out and shape bun flat.

Once bun is flat, place hair pins (not bobby pins) in all the way around the bun (may need quite a few)

Note while doing the ponytail, it is helpful if the dancer can pull her head down to the floor as you pull up to get a nice tight, smooth ponytail. While doing the bun, it is helpful if the dancer can push her head back into your hand to get the bun as flat as possible.

See you at picture day!

Mom Find of the Week

As of mom of toddlers for the last 13 years I have come across some pretty neat things. There are always those items that come along and you say,"why didn't they have that when I was pregnant or when my baby was little." I would like to share one of those finds with you.


GroBag Duvets & First Bedding Sets

I have Space Race, Cats and Dogs and Cheeky Monkey in stock at my store. Stop by to see them for yourself.

grobag® first duvet bedding set is an all in one duvet cover, bottom sheet and pillowcase set, that has been cleverly designed to make it easier for your little one to move from a cot to a first bed. If your little one is about to make the transition from a grobag® baby sleeping bag to duvets and sheets, then this is the perfect solution. The ingenious design of the grobag® first duvet bedding sets means they'll have the safety and security of a baby sleeping bag without the fear of them falling out of bed or pillows going over their heads.With the grobag® first duvet bedding set, the cover can be securely attached to the fitted bottom sheet using a zip system on both sides, so it's easy for your little one's to get into bed, but you'll have the peace of mind that they can't fall out! Plus the pillowcase is also attached to the bottom sheet - eliminating the risk of it going over their head in the night.
Integrated duvet cover, pillowcase and fitted sheet
Keeps bedding in place
Makes moving to a big bed easier
100% Cotton
Toddler bed size fits beds up to 70cm x 140cm
Suitable from age 2 and a half years plus
grobag First Duvet

The grobag® first duvet is available to complement the bedding sets, with the added benefit of 2 top corner poppers the duvet and covers can popper together meaning changing is easier and duvets slipping down inside the covers will be a thing of the past! The toddler bed size is available in a 4 tog option, which is the maximum tog rating for this size of bed.
Integral poppers system to clip duvet and bedding set together at the top for easier bedding changes and to prevent duvet slipping down inside covers.
80% polyester, 20% cotton outer with 100% polyester filling
Washable at 60ºC to remove dust mite allergens
Suitable from age 2 years plus
Toddler Bed Size - 120cm x 150cm

Telemiracle 34 Olivia's school choir

Our family was so excited to hear that Olivia's school choir had been chosen to perform at Telemiracle 34 in Regina this weekend. We made a weekend out of it with Pat's Mom and Dad joining us from Foam Lake. The kids had a great time water sliding and visiting. We went out for supper with friends and learned that when you are going out to eat with a group of 12 which includes six kids you should consider a restaurant with a buffet or a play room.

Here we are at the show. Ellie was missing her morning nap so she took advantage of a snuggle with Grandpa!

Carson loves Telemiracle Teddy.
This was the best shot I got of Pat from the audience since he was hiding behind his sign and was on the phone for the entire hour. I don't think he is as comfortable on stage and with a camera as other members of the family but everyone at home spotted the "Innovation" green shirt and there were a few comments about his hairline. Great job Pat we are proud of you for volunteering and representing the CU!
Ellie woke up just when Dad was done his shift.
The choir led by the fabulous Celia Hammerton.


Their check presentation to Bob McGrath of Sesame Street Fame.

The kids sang a story with Bob. They sounded great and Olivia answered Bob's question about the story. No stage fright for her.


One of the other talented performers from Spiritwood and she was only 12 years old. Amazing.
Amazing Ukranian dancers from Saskatoon.

Teddy.
The Swift Current Kinsmen and Kinnettes.


Who needs a call? Swift Current and the Magic's very own Collin Powers.

Here are some shots from backstage. Friend and fellow photographer Greg Huzsar shot these for the Credit Union. Greg is the same photographer who shot our Today's Parent feature. He is a great guy!

Our local Kinsmen club has a unique fundraiser where they bring an ugly car to your house and you either keep it on your lawn and donate money and pass it on to someone else for a donation.

Only at the Rokochy house would you not only get a donation but invited in for a drink and asked to pose for a picture for the blog with kids who are ready for bed and in gotch! What good sports.