Mary Poppins

I use to call my mothers bag a "Mary Poppins" bag, only because she would have (what seemed like) everything we owned in it. I would always want to go through it just to see what all she had in there! I was never allowed to because it was "bad manners to go through another persons personal belongings". I vaguely remember once, my dad needed pliers for something while we were out, and she actually had some in her bag! Her bag was always a massive beast that I always feared would eat me too (along with everything else it held). I never understood why she wanted to carry around such a large, bulky, gaudy bag. Now that I also, am a mother of three, I understand why.

With my bag always being maxed out to its fullest, I figured it was time for me to upgrade my bag to a much larger one. Meet my "Mary Poppins":

This bag is a monster! I finally finished making it today. Chase's first words were "That thing is huge!". We both laughed, but new there was no escaping it. Here, since I was transporting all my "luggage" out of my old diaper bag and into my new one, I was able to take a picture of the main stuff that I have to carry around on a daily basis. Meet my "Luggage":

Two water bottles

4 diapers and a thing of wipes

(one of) Williams "Woobie"

Change of clothes for Charlotte

Change of clothes for William

Three books

(brown flower bag) crayons and notepads for each child

(green flower bag) Finger puppets - *these come in handy at the ER and restaurants

(grey and red linen bag) chap stick, lotion, motrin, tweezers, band-aids, neosporin, suckers

planner and a pen

Wallet

This doesn't even cover the snacks, sippy cups, Jordan's Water bottle, Williams Max (teddy bear), and what ever else we need to bring.

It is amazing how much stuff you find yourself carrying around with you when you have multiple children. Every time I leave something out, it ends up being the day that I need it the most.

What do you carry in your "Mary Poppins"?

Sunday.... day of little to no rest.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and SUNDAY! Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest. Rest, was non existent in this household today. We have had a very busy day, and the day is not over! 

6:00 - Wake for Church

7:00 - Drive to the other side of the Island for Church.

8:00 - Church starts

We heard a wonderful message today from our Father Chip on the sacrament of Marriage. It was a wonderful message. Jordan and Charlotte loved their Sunday school!

9:15 - Church ends and go home

11:00 - Meet with Chases Guitar instructor, Mike 

1:00 - Leave for the ship so Chase can get ready to go underway tomorrow

2:00 - Leave for Target to pick up Williams Chlorine free diapers, only to find out that they don't carry them anymore!! WHAT?!? It is going to have to be time to start seriously potty training this little boy. While I was a Target, I did find these adorable socks for Charlotte (picture at top). Who doesn't love Target!?!

4:00 - Come home (finally) and start to do laundry from the week. Time to wash uniforms for Jordan, and clothes for Chase's underway!

It is 4:30 right now, and we still have three more loads of laundry, a run to the grocery store, dinner, and baths.  I have to admit, I am looking forward to this day ending, and being able to lay in bed and relax. 

I have also started to work on Invitations for the kids birthday parties. It takes me a little while to get them done, so I have to start now. Planning two birthday parties for three kids back to back takes a lot of prepping, especially when I am doing all the cooking, making and creating all the parting gifts, and invitations my self. Not to mention making all their birthday gifts.  Here are some examples of some invites that I finished yesterday:

(Three little Invites on top of my favorite homemade blanket)

Time to try and sit back, collect my thoughts, and prepare for this long week ahead. I miss my one and only day of the week for rest. 

"Gifts"

Jordan and I have been working real hard on some birthday gifts for my parents. We were inspired by Melissa Wastney from tinyhappy to make some dishes for them both. I sat down with Jordan had had him draw some of his favorite people, and I transferred them on to some dishes I found at a second hand store with a special paint pen meant for ceramics. We were all so impressed with the final product, and can't wait to give it to them today.  

Over the years, Melissa has been such an inspiration to me with her outlook on life, her beautiful crafts and cross-stitching, that I had to thank her personally and send her some sweet treasures from my home and my beautiful island. If you have a moment, please check out her shop and her blog, I have a feeling you will admire her talent just as I have.  I look forward to her shop updates every Tuesday on Etsy, and find it extremely hard to say "No" to buying just about all her stuff.  

I also received this beautiful piece from my dear and sweet friend Jennifer yesterday. Isn't it just gorgeous?! I am so excited about putting it up in my home for all to see. Thank you Jennifer!!!

Valentines Gifts for Family and Friends

I love to find old and used stuff or make things for gifts for people. It is so much fun to give a gift that is full of hard work and/or history behind it. 

HANDMADE

This Valentines Day, I am making a few small bean bags out of vintage napkins for Jordan's close friends (inspired by my sister-in-law). 

(the ones pictured are for his "Girl" friends)

I also made a sweet bag (hand drawn by Brayden, Sewn and embroidered by me) for one of Jordan's closest friends, Brayden. This was supposed to be a Christmas gift, but I did not finish it in time, so it's being recycled as a Valentines day gift.

For Family this year, we are making handmade Valentines, and as our gift, I am giving a personal picture (hand drawn by Jordan, and embroidered by me) inside each card. 

(as you can see, I have not yet completed the hands and feet yet)

-Have your child draw a picture on construction paper

-Then simply embroider over the lines

-Hang on fridge, or put it in a frame, and treasure always

For Jordan, I am making him a coloring book with pictures drawn by his mom and dad.

(I will post pictures when we put it all together)

VINTAGE

For Charlotte, we found an ironing board for under four dollars!

For William, we found an adorable little chair for his babies

 

For some of our close friends we found some adorable little puzzles.