Makin' Mukluks

I get asked on a regular basis to make mukluks for folks and I have turned down every request. It is not that I don't want to, it is that I don't really know how and the cost of making mukluks is a lot. I have no clue if people would be willing to pay what they are worth. The most common request is for canvas topped ones with smoked moose hide bottoms and also for ones with the top made out of beaver. Smoked moose hide is beyond expensive and sometimes just finding a quality piece can be a challenge.

But I wanted something new to try.

So this week I went through some patterns I had been given and tried the first one- a canvas top one with moose split on the bottom. The plan is to use my cheap hide for the process of perfecting the pattern and then shell out for the pricey stuff. But a fail. Wholy crud was it ever ugly. Not what I wanted at all. So then I pulled out the pattern a friend in Whitehorse gave me and wow! Perfect! I ended up recycling a beaver coat I had purchased and again using the moose split for the bottom. I think I did alright for my first try! The pattern is nearly the same as what I make my baby booties from.

Check them out:
I still have to make linings for them and ties for the top. I have no clue how to make yarn ties, so thank goodness for the internet. I am betting someone has a tutorial online to teach me how to do it.

Normally on the top of the foot that would be fur too, but I didn't have enough beaver to do it. I kinda like the look of the increased leather. Other more talent people would add beadwork, but even though I was taught how to bead when we lived in the NWT, I really don't like doing it. I have no talent for making pretty pictures out of beads.

For my first pair of fur mukluks, I am impressed with myself! Now readers- I need feedback on ways to make these better. Any suggestions? Or maybe you have a fantastic source of smoked moose hide that you want to share with me? Or idiot proof directions for making yarn ties? Please share!

And my friend in Whitehorse who gave me this pattern is going to send me her pattern for canvas mukluks. How lucky am I! Thanks Lena!

Healthy Pancake Fail and Recovery

Yesterday in an attempt to sneak some veggies into Hunter, I added some sweet potato puree to his pancakes.

Fail.

He stared at them for a while (they had a nice orange brown colour), took one nibble and then said, "Mom, these pancakes are yucky for my tummy." He refused to eat anymore.

Meanwhile, Cavan ate two pancakes lickety-split and then screamed until we passed him Hunter's plate.

Whenever I make pancakes, I make enough that the boys can snack on them for the next day. This morning I gave Cavan one as a snack and Hunter requested one for himself. He stared at it, took a bite and then said in a surprised tone, "Mom, these aren't so bad after all!"

Silly kid.

By Myself?

In the past three years I have not had a single day to myself. I have had three days spread over those three years where I was able to spend the day with Matt with no kids- two of those days were spent shopping to stock up on supplies while we were down south and the other was the day I was in the hospital waiting to deliver Cavan, so I don't know if that counts!

Three days in three years. That sure isn't much.

I love being a mom, but the lack of me time has been a struggle, especially when we went to having two kids. Last fall and winter I was eating to cope with what I believe now was postpartum depression and I was exhausted all of the time. I thought then that my desire to have more me time was selfish, but I am now coming to realize that it isn't selfish- it is necessary!

My husband is fantastic with giving me a break when I need it. He does most of the bedtime routine with the kids and they spend a lot of time outside with him so I can clean or cook in peace. But that break is never more than an hour or maybe two- enough time to clean and maybe have a few minutes to return emails without a kid in my lap.

Last year a friend here in town started operating a dayhome and I began sending Hunter there once every couple of weeks. It gave me some quality time with just Cavan and I was able to get a lot of house work done while he played with Hunter's toys without fear of his big brother taking them away. I found it worth the money to have that break for a day. Plus I get receipts and can always claim that expense at tax time.

This Friday my friend has space to take two kids and I have been going back and forth on the idea of having an entire day to myself. One minute I am thinking things like why am I wasting money when I don't work, am I not a good enough mom to take care of my own kids, how horrible will Cavan be since he is so sucky for mom right now, maybe I should keep one kid at home and on and on. But then I start thinking that yes I need the break! I have a list of sewing ideas a mile long that I want to try, I want to go fishing without kids, I want to go berry picking without kids, I want to go quadding without kids... Now I know that is more than I can do in one day, but it still gets me excited about eight hours kid free.

Talking with Matt last night he told me I deserve the break. We have decided that once a week I will send one kid to the dayhome and once a month we will try to have both kids go for the day. And on these days I will not spend the entire day doing housework. I will spend time doing tasks I want to do such as sewing. It will cost me about $230 a month, but that isn't a bad price to pay for my sanity!

Vacation Part 3: Francis Lake

We spent five nights camping at Francis Lake up here in the Yukon. It is only about a three hour drive from Faro and is a gorgeous lake with a fabulous campground. The campground was very clean (same with all but one Yukon campground we have ever been to), had huge spots with many sites right on the lake, beaches full of rocks to make boys happy, and the every friendly Yukon squirrels.

My parents camped with us and we spent a lot of time out in my father's boat. The fishing wasn't all that great, but I got a lot of relaxing time and Matt drank a lot of beer so we were happy! I even got to read three novels and start a fourth while I was there. Amazing how many books I go through when the internet is no where to be found!

The boys were dirty within minutes of waking up and by the end of the day I am pretty sure they were dirtier than the ground in our site. They had a blast playing with their grandparents, taking turns driving the boat, poking at fish, throwing rocks, swimming, driving their gator around he campground, picking up girlfriends from the site next door, eating treats from grandma and chasing the squirrels. The weather was around 30C everyday, but it still cooled off in the evenings making it nice for sleeping. This was the best vacation with family I have ever had! I hope we can do it again another summer for sure.

The bugs were nasty though!
Both kids were covered in bites and Hunter even had this one right at the top of his butt crack!

Rubbermaid baths were mandatory for these kids every night!

And they didn't mind one bit!

And every night we got a shower too! My parents brought a shower tent and a propane water heater- what a treat!

Relaxing with a gorgeous Yukon view!

My father's boat!

Cavan driving the boat. The poor kid had so many bites on his face he looks as though he has chicken pox!

Cavan napped on the boat every morning!

Hunter taking the responsibility of driving the boat very seriously:

The cold lake felt great with the hot weather!
So one afternoon Hunter wanted to try swimming in the lake with his water wings. He wanted to catch up to his grandpa who was floating past at that moment. He stepped into the water and declared it too cold and ask me to carry him out deeper. So I did! Once I got about mid thigh he told me that was good and to let him swim out to catch the boat! So I obliged and dropped him into the cold lake! That kid clambered up me so fast I am not sure his swimsuit even got wet!! I had a good laugh, and he decided he would wait for the boat to come to shore to get him.

Playing peek-a-boo with grandma on the boat:


Cavan is in the silly grin phase and I love it!

Little boy underwear drying on the line. I just loved how this looked!

Dad and his little fish:

Matt caught a gorgeous trout!! Had it been just 1/4" longer we would have had to have thrown it back. Instead it was turned into fish burgers and is now in my freezer. Yum!

Hey you! No drinking and boating!

Happy times:

Dirty feet, dirty bums and of course no pants or shoes:

The boys and their grandparents:

And my huge trout! We had to throw it back because it was too big!

Vacation Part 2: Heading North

After spending five days at my parents place we headed north to Fort Nelson for a night. The next day we continued to Liard Hotsprings- one of my favorite stops on the drive! After that it was a night on the side of the road, a night at Simpson Lake and then we finally hit our destination of Francis Lake. The boys continued to travel like champions other than one barf fest by Hunter- all of which was contained in a bucket thank goodness!

Daredevil Cavan had no fear!
Hunter on the other hand was not impressed at this picture posing:

Wildman!

Running the boardwalk at the hot springs:

After the hotsprings we headed up the smokey highway.
The smoke was coming from the Cassiar fires in BC.

Camping in a pull-out on the side of the road and the boys were in heaven! Rocks as far as the eye can see!
My northern boys:
The smoke got much worse as we pulled into Watson Lake!
The colour in the sky was so interesting.

Next installment: camping at Francis Lake!

Vacation Part 1: Redneck Fun

Two weeks of vacation and nearly 700 photos and videos to sort through! I am breaking up the posts into a few parts to get it all in.

We headed south with the truck, camper and trailer on the Robert Campbell after Matt ditched work early. The kids were happy as clams to start their vacation and were so well behaved we got home an entire day earlier than we had planned! We covered 1500km in 30 hours- not bad for rain, two little boys, bison on the road, pee-breaks and a seven hour sleep! The RC highway was in great shape until the end where it was pouring rain through a nasty patch of construction. At one point we were going sideways through six inches of mud, going up-hill and hoping we would make it! Luckily we did- unlike a number of other people we heard about who had to get pulled through the mess with dozers.

The family was surprised to see us pull in the yard ahead of schedule! The quads, beers, and roasted pig came out for a fantastic redneck get together. The main reason we went down this year was to see my grandparents who drove up to my parents place. My boys got to meet their great-grandparents and my grandpa was giddy to see all of these little boys running around!

Other than relaxing at my parents place, Matt and I got an entire day kid free in Grande Prairie to shop, we saw other friends in the area and Matt drank even more beer! We were only there for five days and then headed north again.

Our unit on the way south:

Cavan is taking after his dad....

Both sides of my family enjoying the get-together:

Tires make comfy beds:

Double trouble!

Four generations! My mother's parents in the middle:

All the great-grandsons:

My boys loved playing with their great-grandpa:

The boys and their great-auntie Wenda:

Cavan trying to make off with his great-grandpa's truck!

Hunter making cake with his cousin Damon.
Look at the tongue of concentration on Damon!

Me driving the kids around on the RZR.
The little boys were not impressed that I had stopped!

Rub-a-dub-dub
Four dirty little hillbillies in the tub!

Splashing in grandma's pool:

Visiting with their buddy Gavin!
I have know his dad since I was in grade 3 and his mom since grade 7!

And a random meeting! Our friend Amanda who worked in Kugluktuk with Matt was in northern Alberta for a family reunion. She came back from Australia where she is currently working for the reunion and we drove over to see her! She hadn't seen us in over two years and it was great to visit with her and her new boyfriend.

Cavan swinging with Uncle Travis:

Everything is John Deere in our family!

Searching for frogs in the old dugout with grandma- of course Cavan is there without pants...

Wishing he could reach the pedal:

Next installment: the hot springs and the drive back north

This Photo Says It All

We just came home from the best two week vacation I think we have ever had! More stories and photos to come, but I just had to share this one of us taken just this morning on the beach at Francis Lake: