these lips are getting ready to eat mamas lemon bars :)

really sketchers..

talk about blatantly ripping off someone.. how do people have the nerve to do stuff like this.. 

bobs literally made the exact same shoe.. the same tag.. put their name on it.. and are even offering to donate a pair to a child in need.. I am all about the child in need.. but come on.. there wasn’t another way to donate to children in need!?

I got your back Blake Mycoskie..

I got anything you want actually ;)

my brain is mush..

July 30th, 2011

like.. really mushy.. no thoughts are being stored in there anymore.. I used to think I had “baby brain” with Olive.. but no.. this takes the cake.. and its big things.. like..

• did I mail the rent cheque? I have had to email her to ask :0  
• did I throw Brixton in the car before I left? is she in her seat in my driveway?
• did I eat today? 
• did I feed Olive?
• did I put makeup on before leaving the house? aka conceiler.. 
• did I drink any water?

it is scary.. I feel like I am going to be the mom that leaves her house without a shirt on.. and not realize it until I get somewhere.. I forgot to pay one of our bills for 2 months now :0  seriously.. and I am all about organized financing..  

I hope it returns.. and this isn’t the start of the rest of my life being the person who forgets kids homework.. or that it was my turn to bake class cupcakes.. 

we finished off our day of fun in the sun with some frozen hot chocolates.. mmm

mine of course looked nothing like this one.. it was more of a half blended glass of chocolate goodness.. sans whip cream.. 

I also thought of that diabetes commercial down here where it shows the mom giving her kid “just one treat” and then another and so on.. because I was that mom today.. and I never realized it until I handed her the frozen drink.. and then quickly drank it myself before she realized it waschocolate.. first I bribed her with a Starbucks pink  cake pop.. just so she would walk fast in the heat.. then I gave her a rocket Popsiclein the sun while we pool’d it.. and now this.. I just love the pure joy on her face when she gets a treater :)

on a really exciting note.. I saw myself in Olive today.. I saw my wholeface.. it as wild. because I birth Haffners.. I almost NEVER see my face in her.. but today I walked past her and saw it.. I would also like to point out she was dropping a deuce in the bathroom and she was glaring at the wall with her head to the side.. haha.. but it was there!!

Papa stopped by and took Olive for a walk and some ice cream.. she “led” him to the toy store in the town center.. and came out with a treaters.. 

to be a fly on that wall :)

July 28th, 2011 ( thanks Di )

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE … 

enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to…
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour… 

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. 

a youth she’s content to leave behind….
a past juicy enough that she’s looking forward to
retelling it in her old age….
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra…
one friend who always makes her laugh… and one who lets her cry…

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ……. 

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family…
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored…

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. 

a feeling of control over her destiny…..
how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW… 

how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship….

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…. 

when to try harder… and WHEN TO WALK AWAY… 

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW… 

that she can’t change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect…but it’s over…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW… 

what she would and wouldn’t do for love or more…..
how to live alone… even if she doesn’t like it…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. . 

whom she can trust,
whom she can’t,
and why she shouldn’t take it personally…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW… 

where to go…
be it to her best friend’s kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods…
when her soul needs soothing…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW… 

What she can and can’t accomplish in a day…
a month…and a year..

I am woman..

I am training her to be a domestic goddess.. just like her mother

(insert laughter here)

Oliver Twist Mr. Bumble.. you named him so yourself..

July 25th, 2011

yesterday.. we were in the sun ALL day.. I am learning that we only really get one good day a week here.. so we were not coming in.. and alas.. its raining cats n dogs.. we were those neighbours.. you know the ones.. they usually have a car that doesn’t work parked in their driveway.. trash everywhere.. you can hear the mom yelling at her kids from inside the house.. haha.. 

we were planning a beach day all day.. but reality set in at 1030 am and I knew we should just set up shop at home.. naps could be had.. babies could be cooler inside.. and we could enjoy ourselves.. so I ran over to rite aid and stocked up.. finally.. chairs.. water balloons.. beach balls.. and coronas.. it was perfect.. 

the package said 150 water balloons.. and 150 water balloons we blew up. give or take ones that burst on the hose.. it was fun.. and a great way to stay cool.. and Olive loved them.. they will be purchased again.. you will notice the pool on the edge of the road.. haha.. thankfully Olive listens.. and we wanted it on grass.. the driveway just isn’t as comfortable.. getting Olive down for her nap/rest time was not easy.. I don’t blame her. outdoors with her daddy and mom.. fun in the sun.. and now she had to go indoors.. but we appreciated the downtime of two sleeping babies and a lawn chair.. until my mom ears kicked in and i heard her

mommy? mommy?

yes.. I just said I have mom ears.. I cant hear my crying baby when she is one foot from my head.. but my daughter upstairs in a house with a window closed.. this I can hear!!

we looked up to her room.. and there was her sweet little head looking outside at her family.. still having fun! we were dying of laughter.. we thought she had passed out from all the fresh air.. but the whole time.. she was looking down on us wondering why she wasn’t out there.. she looked like Oliver Twist.. of course we ran up and got her and she bolted out of her room yelling balloonies and bathing suit!! 

this is the first time ever.. my little red head got a burn.. and a light one at that.. but I felt horrible because I am all about sun protection.. we are the family with hats and swim shirts.. and I chase her around 5 times a trip going. more lotion.. more lotion.. she is a red head.. she burns easy! and I get sun stroke if i have no hat on in 5 minutes.. and I love the beach! so leaving after 5 minutes is not an option.. this and I figure she has her whole life to tan/burn/wreck her skin.. so I wont start young.. 

our happy baby.. 

mmm plate of hot dogs.. 

for two days now I have wiped this girl out.. no naps.. to the point that she has not eaten dinner both nights :0  she sits in her chair swaying back and forth asking to go to bed.. we walked to the grocery store yesterday and she just crapped out and wanted her daddy.. she has never been one to fall asleep in my arms.. ever.. I remember when our first baby sitter watched her at 4 months old.. and she stopped in work after to tell me how it went.. and she mentioned how Olive fell asleep in her arms and so she just put her to bed.. and I was so shocked and jealous.. she didn’t do that for me.. so the next night I held her squirming flailing body for hours until she fell asleep in my arms..haha ..so it was nice to have the neck cuddles from my first born.. 

there has to be an easier spot to store this ;)

sunshine lollipops..

July 24th, 2011

yesterday was a full day of sun here in the Mill Creek town center.. I say this because lately it has been half days.. starts off sunny.. you go buy the bbqgoods.. and its cold and cloudy by dinner.. or you wake up to rain.. mentally let yourself cross over to lulus and hot comfort food.. and its sunny by 4.. but yesterday was all day sun.. and we enjoyed every minute.. 

I bribe my children with cool popsicles.. and Im not afraid to admit it.. 

remember hearing the bells of the ice cream truck.. 

mom.. mom.. please.. can I have a dollar.. please.. I will do the dishes.. clean my room.. anything.. 

you had to think fast.. cause you never thought to ask, I don’t know.. the 8 hours before you knew it was coming.. its when you heard the bells at the end of your road that you finally click in to ask.. and you only have minutes to get an answer.. so we would bargain anything.. 

Olive is all about firetrucks.. for months now.. every siren that drives by (I would like to mention we are 2 blocks from the firestation) she is at the window looking for it.. sirens sirens sirens.. so this car was a hit at the park.. this little girl ran up as olive was walking towards it.. I don’t need to add that she looked like a little turd.. I will take the higher road and leave that out ;)

I was sitting in here first!!!

(no child.. you were actually over there on the slide).. but I stepped back and let olive deal with it on her own instead of running over.. of course olive ran over scared and confused.. I just stared at the girl and mentioned “everyone shares here at the park”.. thankfully she left within seconds and olive got to play on it.. cause what I really wanted to say was..

get out of here you little shit.. go pick on someone your own size.. my little 2 year old is finally venturing out and leaving my side.. don’t wreck this by being a bully.. but again.. I took the higher road ;)

the park lasted an hour.. and we came home and set up our pool we purchased at the last sun freak out.. 

our pool dance party.. 

because our back yard loses shade at 2pm.. we set up our little hub in the front yard again.. and it was much better.. although she did ask for the cooler again.. haha.. remember how much fun it was to fill up a pool! was any other child like this? being able to be the one who holds the hose.. and how it never filled up fast if the hose was in the water.. it had to be held above the water.. 

B’s first bathing suit.. 

of course she is just like her mama.. she wanted the sun chair.. where she could “rest” not the giant pool I spent all that time blowing up.. and of course.. we had 4 people walk by and laugh.. and 2 sets of neighbours look over and say something.. no shame.. I think they were laughing at the beached whale filled with water.. not the one drinking water ;)

we wrapped up the day with a little bbq.. and some more shawshankredemption.. the cable company needs to stop airing this movie.. I cant say NO!! ever!!

want..to..cut..hair..short..

before and after

(thanks jen)

olives photo shoot..

same shirt.. different pile..

someone is 2 months old today :)

fun in the sun clouds/thunderstorms..

July 20th, 2011

her crazy get me out of this car face.. 

I am throwing in the towel.. the summer towel.. maybe by doing this.. the sun Gods will hear my woes and grant me a freakin tan!! I am about to go spray over here!! and I hate those.. well actually me bedsheets and clothes hate them.. and the smell all night hates them too.. but you get the point.. gross

we headed up to Canada for some events.. and it was rainy weather.. and I packed summer clothes for me and the girls.. I thought I had rocked out the one suit case for the 3 of us.. but alas.. I had no clothes in there for me.. and I never factored in the stop at my mamas house.. I was planning on stealing my sisters clothes once I got there.. so I was the in-denial person running around abby in my flip flops.. and one token pair of pants I brought..  awesome.. 

I thought that by heading to the Okanagan I would get my sun.. I had the trip cancelled until literally the morning of.. the ironic part was.. it wasn’t B who was giving me sleep troubles.. it was Olive.. up twice a night! crying.. wanting me.. NOT sleeping. the night before we literally pulled an all nighter.. except from 3-5am.. I have never had that loss of sleep before.. except when I was 21.. child free and drinking at Bostons until the wee hours of the night.. (cementing my Haffner last name ;) but the morning of.. my mom came in to say bye.. they were leaving.. and I got that twang of jealousy.. that feeling like in high school when I would be too scared to go to a party on the weekend at the gravel pit.. (I think I just confirmed I went to school in Mission.. this statement seems normal) and then in the morning I would beat myself up all week about not going.. (I hope my daughters are like this.. haha)

so I woke up.. threw everything in the car.. fed the youngest.. and left.. and didn’t tell anyone I had changed my mind.. which was hard.. because the whole morning I received text messages asking how I was.. are the girls ok driving home.. and do you have post poartum!? lol.. I made up the last one.. but they were thinking it.. 

when we arrived.. I did my signature horn honks the whole way up their long drive.. and it was a fun celebration.. 

my favorite part of the drive.. that first stretch of blue water.. and pulling into westbank.. 

I love westbank.. correction.. west kelowna! I wish they weren’t trying to make it into Kelowna though.. that place is growing like a weed!

the girls were amazing.. we did the token diaper change on the front seat.. feeding at a brake check song and dance.. and I clearly watch too much CSI because I always think as I am bending over someone is going to attack me and steal my car full of babies!! its horrible.. and I need to stop wearing lazy lounge clothes on drives.. I ran into someone I knew and I look like a hot mess.. 

the weekend was filled with fun.. kids activities.. and thank you Judy for spoiling the kids rotten!! it was perfect.. when Olive would get antsy on the way up.. I would promise bubbles.. sidewalk chalk and colouring.. without of course having any of those things.. and Judy pulled out these giant bags for each child filled with these exact treats!!

classic egg on spoon game! used to be my favorite at sports day.. 

for the first year EVER in the Okanagan.. we were able to have a fire.. aka.. no burning ban.. it really changed the dynamic of the night.. smores.. marshmellows burning.. the heat.. it was so precious to see Olives first campfire.. it made me want to take her camping.. 

white rabbit white rabbit.. 

I am so glad we went.. because the way she played with her new idol Dayton and Heidi was amazing.. to just have free run in a yard made me want to move.. she was wiped.. had long naps.. bed early.. she was KO’d.. and her new word.. compliments of Mr Dayton himself..

"aweeeeeeeeeeeeeeesome

everything is “awesome” and “cool”.. and “remember mom”.. 

I enjoyed some paralysers.. and lots of yummy food.. and if my baby would have actually napped.. even ONCE for an hour.. I would have relaxed in the warm muggyness of clouds and got a cloud burn.. I will take anything at this point.. 

my new favorite outfit courtesy of Superstore.. found in the baby aisle.. haha.. but fits her like a glove! I love my blue stripes ;)

thankfully I think I possess another little baby driver.. can I get an AMEN! of course this was just our first venture.. and it may have been a one off.. but it gave me hope.. with the exception that Olive fell asleep MINUTES before the Merritt info center.. aka my bathroom break.. and I man’d up and kept driving.. two sleeping babies was not worth stopping for anything.. until she woke up seconds after passing it and by then we were already on the next part of the highway.. but thankfully she passed right back out.. and it was worth the trauma ;)

we are home now.. and it feels amazing.. I think I should go away once a month like that.. because it makes you appreciate the little things at home.. the lamb swing.. the microwave.. the comfort of a routine you didn’t know you had until you left it.. 

ahh.. 

home sweet home.. 

this is the view from my sisters porch.. 

my chubbers..

my smart girl..

I love her.. 

ladies with babies.. 

babies born weeks apart.. left to right.. apparently I liked green that night!!

what  a bunch of cutey patooteys!!

daddy turned 35..

July 19th, 2010

a little blog back track.. but because I was on my mini vacay.. I was trying to stay off the computer.. which was easy.. because there was no time for it.. :0

because life has a way of working out like this.. I have spent the last 3 months with no set plans.. and then in one week I had a shower.. Dustins birthday.. and a family camping trip in the okanagan..  the shower was great.. 4 babies.. all born within weeks of each other.. and I was spoiled.. rotten.. my teeth actually have brown spots ;)

and tons of other really cute outfits.. and treaters.. the worst part was.. I left a couple days later and wasnt able to sprawl out all the goods and see what I got.. again.. I do it at Christmas as well.. :)

so this year Dust met us in Canada to celebrate his birthday.. some family members eating Italian food.. cant go wrong with that.. this was by far the most different birthday we have celebrate.. aka.. we have 2 children.. mama was exhausted.. and me and Olive had pulled an all nighter the night before with the exception of 2 hours.. phew.. the kiddies stayed at grandma and grandpas house.. and we enjoyed our dinner with two hands.. and it was hot ;)

anytime I eat Italian.. I must start with fried mozzarella.. it is a given.. I have no control.. i usually don’t care if it wrecks my whole appetite.. it is my kryptonite.. you get the idea.. we ate and ate some more.. and finished off with some Tracey cakes.. this was my first Tracey cakes experience.. and it was worth the dollar dollar bills y’all.. 

mmm lemon..

and because I knew the Haffners would be at this dinner.. aka chocolate haters.. or haters of all sweets.. :0 I purchased 4 lemons.. and I laughed when they were passed around the tables.. and they grabbed them right up ;)

it is hard to believe that Dustin is 35 sometimes.. we had a “half way through life” moment the other night.. it was wild.. in 5 years.. he will be 40.. next thing I know.. my kids will be graduating high school and I will  be drinking lemonade in a rocking chair out front!

but for now.. I will try to slow down our life moments.. and enjoy the fact that he is just 35.. and Lord knows I like my salt and pepper hair ;) its to bad woman arent allowed to age as gracefully.. 

Happy Birthday Dustin Ronald George Haffner!!

daddy turned 35..

July 19th, 2010

a little blog back track.. but because I was on my mini vacay.. I was trying to stay off the computer.. which was easy.. because there was no time for it.. :0

because life has a way of working out like this.. I have spent the last 3 months with no set plans.. and then in one week I had a shower.. Dustins birthday.. and a family camping trip in the okanagan..  the shower was great.. 4 babies.. all born within weeks of each other.. and I was spoiled.. rotten.. my teeth actually have brown spots ;)

and tons of other really cute outfits.. and treaters.. the worst part was.. I left a couple days later and wasnt able to sprawl out all the goods and see what I got.. again.. I do it at Christmas as well.. :)

so this year Dust met us in Canada to celebrate his birthday.. some family members eating Italian food.. cant go wrong with that.. this was by far the most different birthday we have celebrate.. aka.. we have 2 children.. mama was exhausted.. and me and Olive had pulled an all nighter the night before with the exception of 2 hours.. phew.. the kiddies stayed at grandma and grandpas house.. and we enjoyed our dinner with two hands.. and it was hot ;)

anytime I eat Italian.. I must start with fried mozzarella.. it is a given.. I have no control.. i usually don’t care if it wrecks my whole appetite.. it is my kryptonite.. you get the idea.. we ate and ate some more.. and finished off with some Tracey cakes.. this was my first Tracey cakes experience.. and it was worth the dollar dollar bills y’all.. 

mmm lemon..

and because I knew the Haffners would be at this dinner.. aka chocolate haters.. or haters of all sweets.. :0 I purchased 4 lemons.. and I laughed when they were passed around the tables.. and they grabbed them right up ;)

it is hard to believe that Dustin is 35 sometimes.. we had a “half way through life” moment the other night.. it was wild.. in 5 years.. he will be 40.. next thing I know.. my kids will be graduating high school and I will  be drinking lemonade in a rocking chair out front!

but for now.. I will try to slow down our life moments.. and enjoy the fact that he is just 35.. and Lord knows I like my salt and pepper hair ;) its to bad woman arent allowed to age as gracefully.. 

Happy Birthday Dustin Ronald George Haffner!!