When Life Is Just Normal or What is Normal For Us... My Daily Life

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I love when things in our household seem to be just normal. When nothing seems to be super exciting in either direction just the normal life events in this Bipolar Mom's life. I know people love to post pictures and share how exciting or bad their week or weekend has been but I love to embrace when things are just daily life.

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We decided to run our errands earlier in the week so we would have no where to go on this past weekend. There were several places that we had to go so with our kids bundled up we headed out. One of our destinations was a craft store! Now I usually go into a craft store by myself which is often a disaster but my husband wanted to go. I could not help but to get excited because my husband has this idea for this outside Christmas tree decoration that he would like to make for the house this year. We also helped our son pick out a gift for his speech therapist for their last session before he transfers over to the school. Also for completing his speech with his EDIS we let him pick out an item at the Craft Store. We ended up with a toy truck from Melissa & Doug (which is a company that I love) you would have thought we bought him gold! He has been playing with truck non-stop! What I love about this toy no lights, no batteries, and no noise. Not because we do not like those type toys because we have plenty of those in the house but because they are so simple :) . Of course Daddy had to get Caydance something too so there was a My Little Pony stuff animal wrapped in her little fingers and I knew it was a battle I was happily going to loose. It is okay to do the just because once in a while :) .
Our weekend is normal cleaning, crafting (well I was crafting), playing, family movie night, routine, filling out next weeks schedule, a couple of melt downs, and talking to the Grandparents.

The movie we ended up choosing was Free Birds! It happens to be really cute Thanksgiving movie for the family and enough humor to keep the adults in the family entertained! I thought the movie had a really good message. For the people who have Netflix you can watch it there.

There start of this week has been so slow... I realized as I type this it is only Wedensday..

We have already been filled with hubs physical therapy, Caleb's final speech assessment, dinners, playtime, figuring what to do with the cold weather, and we are only half way there...

So as you can see this Bipolar Mom's Daily Life is not always full of ups and downs. I am feeling normal... thing are normal...and that is PERFECT TO ME!!!!

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When One Door Closes, I Will Go Through A Window :The Closing of Gifts By Vaughn but The Birth Of A New Venture!!!

I am not exactly how to start this post off so I will just start typing...

I am a crafter and I have been dabbling in crafts ever since I could remember. Well a couple of years ago I decided to open a small craft business and sell my handmade goods just like many others have done. So I picked out a name got my first round of crafts made and GIFTS BY VAUGHN was born! 

Property of Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

Business was slow but slowly trickling in. I however was full of ambition, ideas, and complete confidence this would be a huge success!!! I had support from my family and friends but I learned very quickly with all that in ambitions, ideas, confidence, skills, and support from family and friends it was hard. There were things I had to learn very quickly the business side of the craft world. I had to learn about advertising, policies, shipping, time schedules, watermarks, inventory, bills, and book keeping (the list really could go on). I had the hardest time trying to figure out why it seemed to come easy to others and I was struggling to make sense of it all. I had the passion... didn't I? 

Yes I had the passion for the love crafting but not the passion for the business. Which I discovered you need have equal parts to make your business successful! If could never get them balanced and the more I tried the more passion I lost in crafting... and that is something was truly heartbreaking to me. Crafting is something I love to do and here I am dreading to have to crochet a hat or make another bow. I should not be loathing something I love to do....

So the question I had to ask myself is it worth it? 

Property of Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

The short answer is no... owning/running a small craft business was not worth it. I was losing to much of my self in the process. So I made choice to close down GIFTS BY VAUGHN. At first I had mix feeling about this but the more I thought about it I knew I was making the right decision. I knew I could still do private sales but I knew I would be free to be truly creative again. That is truly what happen... I started feeling like me once again in the creative side and wanting to get in my craft room once again. 

Property of Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

There was something that I did miss on my page and that was daily interaction on my page. So I decided to open to along with this blog a Facebook Page : A BIPOLAR MOM AND HER DAILY LIFE which can be found here https://www.facebook.com/bpmomandcrafter83?ref=hl . When I first open this page in September I had slight reservations on how people would accept or receive my page. However, the response has been overwhelming and positive!!!! I had no idea that opening up this page would grow as fast as it did and the people who come just to follow and support me. More importantly people have come to me since the page has open about their story or just needing to talk. It has been just amazing what this page has done already and I am excited to see where this page is headed. I can only hope for continue positive growth. 

So as I sum this up... yes one door may have closed.. but I closed that door  and decided to go through a window instead! 

A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life! : Trick or Treat A Little Late BUT tons of pics!

A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life! : Trick or Treat A Little Late BUT tons of pics!: Image found on Google Free Images Please Contact for credit or removal I am a little behind on my post but I am still getting use to t...

Trick or Treat A Little Late BUT tons of pics!

Image found on Google Free Images Please Contact for credit or removal

I am a little behind on my post but I am still getting use to trying to maintain a regular blog my Bipolar world and daily life. It is a lot harder than I thought. So huge props to the ones that have really successful blogs I know they put a lot of work in it!

My House On  Halloween! Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

So Halloween has come and gone in this household but it was sure an event in this house! We usually go all out in this household but because Christopher was and is still recovering from knee surgery there was a limited stuff that we could do for Halloween like going to a corn maze, festivals, pumpkin picking and so on. So it required me to do a lot of thinking of what can we do here! 

As I stated in my last post we did tons of family movies nights and not mention pumpkin carving and painting. You can read about that here Weekend Wrap Up ....

Pumpkin Carving : Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

Something that we allowed this year was let Caleb pick out his Halloween costume. So we all went to a Halloween store and he walked up and down the isles taking in everything it was a little bit overwhelming but he decided to be one of the cutest pirates ever. I also decided that whatever Caleb decided to be for Halloween I would make Caydance's costume to match it or pair it off it! So I decided she would be Tinkerbell and I would make it! So I set off making a Tutu Dress. I have only made a tutu skirt before but it was fun overall and I would do it again. I am not sure when we let Caydance pick out her first costume probably when she ask because I am having fun making them.

Caleb in his pirate costume 2014: Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

Start of Caydance's costume: Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

Caydance's Tinkerbelle Costume: Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

The day of Halloween I was not feeling the best but I made sure to put on my best face because I would have to take the kids around the neighborhood. We got the kids ready and let them play outside as we finished up the outside and pull out the wagon for me. I do not think we could have asked for better weather!!! It was perfect not hot or cold the best Halloween weather ever:)

Well I loaded up the kids in the wagon and we headed off to explore the neighborhood! We live in military housing so we live in a huge housing community. Actually two housing communties are back to back. I have to admit I was a little nervous being by myself and how my little ones would react for a couple of reasons. 

Playing in the wagon Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

More wagon fun: Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

Taking turn with the wagon: Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

1. This was the first time I was out on my own. Last year my Daddy help take the kids around while my Mom and Hubs manned the house because hubs was also recovering from a procedure. The previous year was Caleb's first Halloween so we only went to like three houses for pictures ops then manned the house the rest of night.

2. I am not sure what is about the Military but we really get into our holidays and Halloween is no exception! I think it is because a lot of military service members often miss out holidays, special events, birthdays, milestones, and annevessarys that we tend to go all out for them. We are no different and love to decorate and just love to have a great time and have fun!!! However, just like many parents I am not sure even though you try to teach them the people walking around the decorations around are not real even if they seem scary. 

One of the most decorated houses in the neighborhood: Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

3. Finally this reason is not so much a reason of being as nervous but rather to see the progress my son has made. Caleb has a speech delay and when he is in a new situation he often will not speak until he is comfortable. Even though he gets really comfortable really fast and he will start talking in his language or say words I was unsure how trick or treating would go. We did practice tons at the house :)

Caleb: Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

When we first started I think they were just enjoying the wagon ride more than anything. The first couple of houses. I had to walk Caleb to the first couple houses and take him to hold his pail out. No matter how much we practice he would not say "Trick or Treat". He did say Hi, Bye, and signed please. I had to explain to a couple of people when he did the sign for please and others stood it right off the bat. I assume they either know some who is deaf, baby signs, or speech therapy. It is always nice when you do not have explain what your child is not doing when he is communicating :) . Caleb was also very good listening to directions very well by not reaching into the candy buckets and waiting his turn. He also grabbed two pieces of candy one at a time for his sister and him when there was just a bucket left out. He also was not afraid. I am not sure if it was the conquest of candy or he realized it most of it seemed fake and fun there was "nothing" that could really get him. I mean  I was shocked of some of the stuff he walked up too. NOTE: Most people here take off their mask to let them know it is just a person underneath but this year no need too. The only thing that freaked him out was this large type talking doll but in all fairness that thing freaked me out too! He also did an awesome job not eating the candy! I was seeing kids left and right just stuffing candy in their mouths and not that I do not let my kids have a piece from their haul (just like I did when I was little) I want to check it properly (I am not saying that parents do not check it there I just prefer to wait to I get home) when I get it home he also held onto his sisters bucket and only handed it to her next house.
I am not sure Caydance really thought about it all except loving her costume. As soon as the costume came on she knew she was a little fair/princess and the twirls and dancing begun. She also was trying to find her feet under all that tulle. She is always an amusing site for sure. I do not think this year she was really into trick or treating. She is still a little on the young side to understand she is almost 15 months but most people thought she was just about to turn 1 and this is her second Halloween. I cannot believe she was just over 3 months last year <3 . Caydance basically wanted to keep getting in and out of wagon and just walk! She got very tired of the whole trick or treating real fast! However, I noticed that among that a lot of young ones passed out in strollers or being carried by their parents. I always enjoy the sites of Halloween. So I ended up taking Caydance back to hang out with Daddy which she had a lot more fun running around the yard and checking out the costumes.

Caydance's shoe would not stay on this is are flower bed: Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

Caydance and the wagon: Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

Caleb and I parked the wagon and set out for a little more trick or treating! With having two kids it is often hard to spend quality time with just one of them. I enjoyed every minute of it walking with my little man holding my hand. He was even talking to me and holding a small conversation. It was sure a memory that I will always have with him. We actually called Grandma that night :-) he was actually telling her about that night of what we could get out of the conversation. He kept telling her Mommy and me! Then patting me... it was like he was proud of just me and him.

Well the night ended with a light meal, showers, and each picking a treat from the bucket.

Even though the next day was the first day of November it was still Halloween weekend. So we spent most of the day outside enjoying the weather. However, I decided to a Halloween fun meal for my little ones. Which included bloody spiders, purple green beans, banana ghost, and bread bones (sorry no pictures of the bread bones they came out a little...umm naughty like).

Halloween themed dinner : Bloody spiders, mac and cheese, purple spiders, and banana ghost: Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

Between baths and picking up the living room the kids decided they would find new uses for Halloween buckets besides putting candy in them....

I am proud to be their mom:Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

Only my two! They were putting them on and then head butting each other :) :Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

Proud to be their mother! : Property A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life

So that was our Halloween Weekend.... hope you guys had a great one!

A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life! : Weekend Wrap Up To Include PUMPKIN POOP AND WITCHE...

A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life! : Weekend Wrap Up To Include PUMPKIN POOP AND WITCHE...: I hope your weekend has been a great one!  Our weekend was full of pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting, and a fun movie themed snack!  ...

Weekend Wrap Up To Include PUMPKIN POOP AND WITCHES NAILS

I hope your weekend has been a great one!

Our weekend was full of pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting, and a fun movie themed snack! 

One of my personal favorite holidays is Halloween with the pumpkin patches, movies, decorating, and all sorts of fun activities However, this year with hubs recovering from knee surgery there is not a lot he can do in terms of walking and the more stressful events on the body. We stress family time as a whole so this would include him and with our kids being so young and him being here I would feel horrible going to a pumpkin patch or a fall festival without him. As a military family there are often times we have to do so many things without because he is gone to include huge milestones so when he is here even if he recovering from knee surgery it is family time and we will find a way to enjoy it! 

So I went to the grocery store and bought a very nice pumpkin and two little ones so we could still carve and paint the pumpkins. Christopher loves to carve pumpkins and for him to pick out a design for a jack-o-lantern is very much like a woman picking out a pair shoes for an outfit! However, once the design was decided upon it was time to get messy!!! 

Property of Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life: Daddy Cutting The Top Off Of  The Pumpkin

Have you ever noticed with little ones? When you encourage your little ones to get messy they are slightly hesitant but if they find the mess themselves they are all for it? 

Property of Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life: Caleb not sure about the seeds

They were not sure of the pumpkin guts but they most mess with it! Which made this mommy very happy!

Property of Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life: Caydance was the first to go all in! 

Property of Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life: Well if Caydance can do it I can do it! 

When it came time for the cutting of the jack-o-lantern mommy brought out their little pumpkins to paint! Which I must admit was a hoot ! Caleb had a blast painting his pumpkin while Caydance enjoyed painting herself! 

Property of Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life: Picture of  the Painting Pumpkins aka Messy Messy! 

After they had showers we snuggled down for a movie... for the life of me I cannot remember the title. I decided instead of popcorn which is the often go to snack in this household for movie night that I would do a Halloween themed treat! Now I know this is not super healthy and only a sometimes treat but we had PUMPKIN POOP and WITCHES NAILS!!! or in others word bugles and cheese balls! The pumpkin poop was the kids favorite! I tried to show Caleb how to wear the bugles on his fingers but he was not having it.  

~I found the Pumpkin Poop and Witches Nail Idea on Pinterest~

Property of Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life: Pumpkin Poop and Witches Nails can be found on Pinterest 

After it got dark out side! We turned on the Halloween lights and broke open a glow stick to see are Jack-O-Lantern glow!!!! Caleb had the honor of putting the glow stick in the pumpkin and he thought that was the neatest thing ever!

Property of Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life: Not our best work for Halloween decorating with one man down. I hate that half of my tree is out. Christopher promised to figure out what happen to it.

So that is what happen in the household of Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life House Hold! 

Have a great Halloween! Stay Safe!!! See You next Week!!!

A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life! : Pen Pal Crafts ... Why Did We Not Think Of This So...

A Bipolar Mom and Her Daily Life! : Pen Pal Crafts ... Why Did We Not Think Of This So...: Pen Pal Crafts Version 1.0                                                                                 I am sure some of you have h...