Yates-Laberge Family Site

Named after my daughter’s middle name, this bag was completely designed by me, Paula, as a way to combine a purse with a messenger bag in a funky geometric shape. It turned out just as I imagined in my head!

Perfect to slip across your shoulder. Sewn with new, heavy-weight cotton fabric in light blue, brown background dots, and galaxy/spirograph (am I dating myself?..I Ioved my spirograph!) coordinating fabrics. Covered-button on outside flap for decoration. Inside lined with the dot fabric with a light blue pocket.

Bag: Width 15 in ( at bottom), and 11 in. ( at top). Length: 12 in (from top to bottom).

Strap: 36 in long (18 in. rise) and 2 in. wide.

This is the second in my line of eco-friendly, nature-inspired tote bags. Made out of a durable, recycled wool Army blanket and lined with a little blue and green flower print made from cotton placemats (new, never used). The front is hand-embroidered with a tree motif, also from the same lining fabric, and decorated with vintage buttons and more Army blanket wool. All recycled / upcycled materials are machine- washed before I sew with them.

Bag: 15 in. tall by 17 in. wide.

Handles: 22 in. in length (11-inch rise from the top of the tote).

I am glad to combine shipping on multiple orders. Just contact me for a quote!

This lunch tote is stylish and eco-friendly! Made of very cool wood grain-looking oilcloth and graphic flower oilcloth, it can be easily wiped clean. Closes with industrial-strengh sticky-back Velcro. A bit larger than a standard brown paper lunch bag, and much more kind to the Earth! This bag is not insulated, so be sure to add an ice pack!

13 in tall by 7 3/4 in wide by 4 1/2 in deep

I am glad to combine shipping on multiple orders. Just contact me for a quote!

I have always believed that there is a reason for everything. I believe that when we do go for others it comes back to us 10 times greater. Carma is my belief system.

On Tuesday night I looked into the eyes of a very smart woman who I was VERY VERY wrong about. My judgement of her as a person, educator, and advocate for children was wrong. 100% wrong. I took a swift non-committed meeting with me to mean that our family was of no importance to her. I could not have been more wrong. I was never corrected, I was simply shown her true face.

Time is the teller of all. Time brings a path to view all the good, courage, and love that we all have for one another. Sometimes our paths split but somehow we all remain on the same path…crossing here and there. Our path has brought us to Calgary and every day I am becoming more thankful. I can not verbalize the centeredness that we are striving and accomplishing. Our lives needed peace after the rejection of our families and then the rejection of our community catholic school. We simply could not deal with the rejection any more. Sometimes I feel we ran away but, now, I stand strongly and believe that we are here for a reason. We are here to heal….and the healing is beginning.

We met with a team of people at Andrew’s school this morning. They all came in an hour early today to help us figure out a path for Andrew. He needs a path that is full of light, self worth, and love. I am touched by the intelligence in one single room. The meeting was not mandated by any official policy, the meeting was called because the principal was truly concerned that our child did not love school with every inch of his being. She looked deep in our eyes and saw us struggling to mold and caress his soul into a calm body of water….and his heart is full of turmoil, sadness, and struggle. She saw it through us and that is why I know I was wrong to judge her trueness so prematurly.

I have no doubt. Not even one ounce of doubt that something good will come of our lives here in Calgary. I know in my heart that the pain we feel will subside for strength and growth.

The is a team being formed of specialists called a Student Resource Group. I have never met any of them but what they do best if figure out what Andrew needs in order to optimize his learning and help us as parents optimize his life at home. Technology is going to be used to help him with some hurdles in order to make his world more focused on the goal rather than the motor skills needed to accomplish them. The meeting lasted an hour. 1 hour. We both feel a sense of relief, peace, and honestly feel that everything will be ok…..one day….and that feeling just for a few minutes is the best part of today. I know it will subside and be replaced with worry eventually….but, for now…..it feels like everything has happened for a reason……PEACE.

Can you even IMAGINE 8 kids??? There is a marathon of Jon and Kate plus 8 tonight and we are sitting here completely content. Life is settling….seriously settling….for almost everyone.

Andrew is not doing well at school. He is just not comfortable….I think it may just be so many changes, so many people, etc. He just does NOT want to be there. He is settling a LITTLE bit at home and I am seeing sparks of happiness from him. ….but, things at school are not moving along at ALL. So….Claire and I told the school that since it was so close to the end of the year and he was just not transitioning well, we were just going to take him out…..ummmm……they were really really upset. The principal (remember her??) was VERY VERY sweet and honestly concerned. SOOO…. we have a meeting TOMORROW morning at 7:45 with the principal, vice principal, Andrew’s teacher, the resource specialist, Claire and I ……to figure something out. I was in his class with him this morning for the full morning. He is just simply OVERWHELMED with the noise, choas, movement, and length of each task. I am not going to blame his teacher…..it is just not anyone’s sole fault. There are some things that are just not anyone’s fault. They just ARE. …and we have to deal with them. So, on we go with courage….looking out for nothing but Andrew’s best interest. His best interest has NOTHING to do with a curriculum, nothing to do requirements…..his best interest has to do with what will make his mind, soul and heart feel at ease. Tomorrow….7:45 AM….I pray that we can all come together and get a clue of what may work…..

I will let you know what is going on tomorrow

xx
anne

I officially know WHY hockey is the ONLY sport they do in Canada!!! THE COST OF REGISTRATION!!!

I am BLOWN AWAY!!!

Andrew’s registration fee is $760.00 and Adam’s is $475. I thought that the little league fees of $170.00 were high!!!

Claire is hell bent that the boys are playing soccer. I enjoy them playing in uniforms that are less than their body weight! SOOOO…we have until July 15th to make up our minds.

This entire week has been  a long and much needed exhale…things have gone smoothly…the kids have been CALM….and nothing major has caused more than a few minutes of chaos in our house. I feel like we have been waiting for this week since we got here. …and..my GOD!!! IT FELT GOOD!

Lessons learned this  week…

1. Don’t DON’T DON’T go and ask your child’s teacher how they behaved EVERY DAY!! It causes TOO MUCH STRESS!!!  Why didn’t ANYONE tell me???!!! I have talked to Andrew’s teachers EVERY SINGLE day since preschool!!! Most parents just smile and wave…I check in….and USUALLY are told of one thing or another that he did ….so, inevitably it starts our afternoon off with a negative note!! I am not uninterested..but, I guess I finally “get” that I don’t need to know EVERYTHING about EVERY minute of his day….WHY DID IT TAKE ME THIS LONG TO GET THIS?????

2. I am in LOVE with our Wii and big brain academy was MADE for Claire and I !!!! We love it, we love competing, and I think “playing” with your partner is one of the healthiest things that can happen in a relationship! Some how, some way….the Wii is helping …..odd huh…

3. Hearing my son compliment me in another room…when he thinks I am not around….is heart warming, brings tears to my eyes….and simply renews my spirit in motherhood. After eating yummy cookies yesterday that Karen brought over, I thought I would give my hand at some…I got frozen, already shaped, as pre-done-as-possible cookies and put them on a cookie sheet today They were warm when the boys arrived home from school. Mind you, they were ALL STUCK TOGETHER in a Tupperware container….but, nonetheless,….warm THEY WERE DELIGHTED with my effort…. Tonight when Claire went in to check on the boys and cover them up before we went to bed, Andrew woke up a little…..and mentioned what an amazing “cook” I was…and that my cookies were the best he had ever tasted!! ohhh….if he only knew…..but, my goodness….it felt SO SO GOOD

4. I was 100% correct about our nutty schedule. It was WAAAYYY too much. Setting limits was the RIGHT thing to do and having dinner as a family for 3 nights in a row was the NECESSARY thing to do. EVERYONE needs balance….EXPECIALLY US!

5. Karen is a heck of a playdough maker and ROCKS for making some for Adam. He is SO IN LOVE with molding this soft home-made concoction into a plethora of snakes, people, and a billion other shapes!

6. I really don’t like  a week full of rain….I love the sun too much.

7. The airline price hike has freaked us out a bit…..and the thought of paying 3,000 to fly home is nauseating.

8. I may have to get braces to stretch out my mouth due to grinding my teeth so hard for so many years….I just think it is ODD…100% ODD!!

9.  I have lost 35 lbs since moving to Calgary and it feels DAMN GOOD! I am going to celebrate with a few new clothes this weekend

10. Google calendar is even BETTER now that I can view it on my phone internet service! Google calendar keeps our lives COMPLETELY ORGANIZED!!!!!!!!

I am off to sleep and wish for some word from some of you. I am missing my friends and wanting to connect this weekend.

Anne

Birthday Boy, originally uploaded by EuroBoysNh.

Mr. Adam is now uses two hands ….six fingers…..can you believe it?

sometimes Google just does not have the answers…

Our family is struggling…trying to make our way…trying so much to feel “normal”. We have been here in Calgary for 2 months. So short…but yet, a lifetime…

The boys’ sports schedules are creating chaos and not allowing for needed family time. I am cutting the schedules in half and making 2 week nights a family centered night. 2 weeks of sports, every night, is TOO Much. Claire rushes home, always too late, and goes to one field…I am at the other…we come home, rush to bed…and start over…I am officially calling a time out! It was a complete error to have 2 sports at once and I must say….it will NEVER EVER happen again. You can only enjoy something if you are there 100% in mind and body…..if we are NEVER really home….how can we learn to enjoy..embrace…and love home….and family.

The move has made us face grief. Grief due to the sudden loss of familiarity. We all show it differently. Andrew has no appetite and is angry.  Adam is scared of being alone and needs assurances that we will not abandon him. Claire is angry, confused, and withdrawn. I am roller coaster that keep bouncing from bleakness to semi-okness..with a yearning for organization.

I wonder if the focus on normalcy is a deterrent to normalcy.

Today I kept Andrew home from school because he needed time with me. One on one, just he and I. We went to a store and I put him in the basket…and walked. …and walked…for almost 2 hours….just so I could get him to talk. He sat in his PJ’s because that is what he wanted to wear. A 7 year old in pirate pants would not stop the world from spinning…and it gave him a sense of self…and a bit of control about his world for a while. Andrew spoke of being angry, of needing his friends, of feeling like he needed to punch, his words just made my heart bleed at times.  I listened today. I said very little. He needed an open forum with no rebuttal panel.  We made it to the garden section. I told him that it was his job to pick the flowers for our new yard. He could choose any colors, any types, any size. I gave him a blank pallet. He immediately began to search for orange. He asked if the “made” and orange flower, as we were surrounded by red, pink, purple, and white geraniums. I said that God makes every color imaginable. He said he wanted orange because it would make me happier.  I offered my beautiful boy a slice of choice and he gave me back a heart of compassion. I saw that he wanted my heart to be happy again. He once asked why I loved orange so much. I told him it  reminds me of the sun, loud music,  running and skipping in the rain, and happiness that can never be stopped. He wanted to fill my garden with orange…this child, my gift from Ukraine,…made my world seem OK.

The choice to keep Andrew home made a difference. A small difference for both of us. He learned that I really was listening to his pain and I learned that my little baby boy will one day grow up to be a gentle and giving man. 

I am thankful for today.