Smock it to me baby...

I meant to post these pictures ages ago, but they got lost in the shuffle. My mom, with whom I credit much of my craftiness, resurrected her talent for smocking to make Lexi a beautiful blue summer dress a couple of months ago. I vividly remember posing for family pictures at the Sears studio as a 3 or 4 year old in my own white smocked dress with my little sister, and my mom kept the dress and passed it on to me. Lexi won't fit into it for another year or two yet, but until then, she's got this snazzy blue number. This will have to be next on my list of craft techniques to learn, along with quilting. I've also been itching to take up knitting again, and plan on fashioning some window coverings for Lexi's room, as well as our closets.

We've been keeping busy over the last couple of weeks. Our roof has officially been repaired (ouch, that will hurt the Amex, but it had to be done), and Lexi has been tagging along while I run various errands and go to appointments in preparation for back to work. I did manage to sneak off yesterday for a couple of hours to have my hair highlighted and cut at Refresh Salon in Port Moody. While I do love love my stylist in Kits, I just cannot stomach the drive into Vancouver (and the parking, and the price tag) so I'm thrilled to find a great place close to home. I saw Natalie, and I'll go back for sure.

I'll be heading into my 2 schools next week to set up my classrooms. I'll be coming out of library and Resource this year and going back into the classroom. At my main school, I'll be doing a Grade 1/2 class share for 3 days a week, and for my other 1 day a week, I'll be doing a straight Grade 1 class share. I do love that age, but it will be exhausting. I have Thursdays off this year instead of Fridays, which I'm a bit disappointed about, but since this was the FIRST year I didn't get laid off, beggars can't be choosers. I'm looking forward to the new challenge.

Nana's Visit

It's been a busy (and blessedly a COOLER) past couple of weeks here chez Johnson. Lexi's Nana came to visit us for a week from her summer home in Nova Scotia. Doug took the week off work and I was giddy with excitement at the prospect of having not 1 but 2 extra pairs of hands. I managed to sneak off for a haircut (had not been touched in 9 months) and do a bit of shopping.

Of course Lexi got spoiled rotten with books, clothes, toys and attention. We got over to the Island for a couple of nights, and Lexi was able to visit with her Great Grandpa, and meet her cousin Henry who is just a wee three months old. Nana's house was full of fun undiscovered territory, including the novelty of stairs, which we must have traveled about 3,452 times.

Back in Vancouver, we managed a trip downtown to shop on a very crowded Robson Street (and Mommy squeezed in a much wanted shop at Kiehls). Mommy and Daddy had a date (a WHAT?) and caught the new Harry Potter movie and dinner. Nana and Doug took Lexi to the Aquarium and she loved watching all the creatures swim around.


We had a wonderful time with Nana and look forward to her return to BC in the fall.

The countdown in on until I return to work. School starts a bit late this year so I've still got 3 weeks. My teaching assignment for next year (and beyond hopefully, if I do not get laid off yet again next year) will be 0.6 Learning Assistance on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at one school, and 0.2 library on Wednesday at a different school. This leaves me off on Fridays to be at home with Lexi. I am thrilled. Now I've just got to cram in all the things I said I would do this summer that I haven't done yet!

Working Moms - The Good, the Bad, and the UGLY

Well, I survived my first week back to work (barely).

The Good:

- Lexi loves spending time with her Oma. She hasn't cried when I hand her off and doesn't appear to miss me too much while I'm at work (she does carry around a T-shirt I have worn to put in her crib, and apparently likes to sniff it though).

- Doug will get to do some Daddy days with her, and had her my first day back to work. I'm sure some wonderful bonding time will happen over iPods, and a shared loved of beef and remote controls

- it's been nice to turn that part of your brain on again, and I've been reminded that I do love teaching

- yay, a real paycheque again!


The Bad:

- I feel like I there are never enough hours in the day anymore (for things like laundry, making babyfood, showering, and brushing ones teeth)

- My house in a MESS

- I'm not there to see every little thing Lexi does


The Ugly:

- I REALLY miss Lexi during the day. A lot.

- my commute, especially coming home. I hate sitting in my car wasting time on the Lougheed Highway when I'd rather be playing or reading with my family.

I'm sure things will get better as the days go by and time ticks down to summer. As for right now, I'm going to enjoy a cup of coffee and some bacon, and relish every moment of being able to put my baby down for her nap today!