Bag Lady

the day before a big planned beach day i realized i didn't have a bag big enough to carry towels, a blanket, bathing suits, water shoes, extra diapers, extra clothes, snacks, and my wallet & phone.  i had a vision of myself holding molly in one arms, holding hands with elliott with my other, towels draped over my shoulder, my diaper bag draped over the other, a back-pack, and a couple of reusable grocery bags.  the thought was so overwhelming that i almost didn't want to go anymore.  then i remembered i had a bunch of extra khaki fabric, a sewing machine, basic sewing skills and a bunch of saved pinterest links to simple beach bag tutorials.

a couple hours, some cutting, inventing and machine-sewing later i had a beach bag that looked so oversized i thought, "oh no, that's way too huge, i'm going to look like the weirdo at the beach who can carry all of my stuff and my children in my bag."  then i packed it and wouldn't you know it, it was the absolute perfect size.  it fit every little thing i needed and room in the front pocket for a collection of shells to bring back home.  i'm pretty proud of it!

i even added my own tag ;)

my fabric was a little dull so i made my own piping and sewed it in all the seams.  i think it added something special, i'm proud of how it turned out.

go make one here: canvas beach bag with elle apparel.

Welcome Lincoln David

just one month before candace's due date

 a very big congratulations to my brother-in-law ryan & sister-in-law candace on the arrival of

your first baby!

link!

lincoln david was born on august 25th at 10:15pm, weighing 9 pounds 2 ounces and measuring 55.5cm. he's the 3rd boy and 4th baby in the family now.
colin and i love his name, it was actually on our list of boy names, too, when we were having molly.

molly likes lincoln's nose

i've had the great pleasure and honour to have met him and held him twice now.  he's been sleeping both times, i have yet to see his eyes open.  he's really cute, he looks just like his momma!
we're all over the moon!

He's Four?!

birthdays.  they just keep coming.  every year feels like it went by faster than the last.

yesterday we celebrated elliott's fourth birthday.  we had a great day - had a pancake breakfast at denny's, played some games and won some prizes at chuck-e cheese's, came home to fly a new g.i.joe kite in the field across the street, had mac 'n' cheese for lunch, played lego for a couple hours, and had a birthday party with all of elliott's grandparents.  he was a spoiled and very happy boy, a whole day of his favourite things, and we were more than happy to give that to him.

i can't believe how much he's grown and changed in the past year.  he's learned so many new things (recognizing letters, simple math, rhyming, opposites, and countless wii games that he's got mastered - talk about hand-eye-coordination!), he's a lot more calm, listens great to direction, has a better understanding of the rules (and less desire to break them as often).  he's a sweet and generous big brother (most of the time), has the most creative imagination i've ever come across, he's got an ever-developing sense of humour (now including knock-knock jokes), and now he knows all about soccer from the summer soccer course he attended recently.  he still loves to cuddle, he still loves pancakes and mac 'n' cheese the most, he still has a never-ending abundance of energy, and he's still easy to get a great gut laugh out of.  he'll say something so wise and he'll seem so big one minute, and then he sprints across the field and still looks so teeny when he's far away.  it's hard to imagine one day he'll be graduating, buying a house, getting married, having kids of his own!  i'm content to slow down and enjoy every day with him.  he's hilarious, he's sweet, and he's mine <3

happy fourth birthday, elliott, i look forward to seeing what new changes this year brings!

One year old

Two years old

Three years old 

Four years old

Rich is Lief

i have a cousin named rich who i haven't seen since i was too little to remember (i've seen pictures), he's my dad's brother's son.  my dad just sent me and my siblings an email that rich lives in taiwan and has a great blog that we should check out.  i wasn't expecting this, this is amazing!  it's all about his life in taiwan (his name there if lief, he's married and has 2 boys, as far as i can tell), photographs (many photos have made it to magazine and newspaper covers), information, taiwan's culture, nature and people.  his photography skills are wonderful, and he's a great writer, he offers a neat perspective living there and being immersed in the culture that you may not find just traveling.

Bicycle in alley near Grand Matsu Temple, Tainan City, Taiwan

his son, vaji, at 1 year 6 months

his blog: LiefInTaiwan

his photography portfolio is also worth checking out: Rich Matheson Photography (gallery)

i've never been to taiwan and, to be honest, i've never really been all that interested, but this blog makes me really want to go take it all in.  take a look!
the link will be in my "favourite links" section from now on as well if you'd like to keep up with new posts.

sheesh!

i change my blog layout and header more often than i change my socks...
okay, that's not true, but i change it often.
do you like it or is it boring?