Rachel Lake

Another Fever & Homemade Valentine’s Day Cards

March 27, 2024February 16, 2024 by Rachel

You may have known that Valentine’s cards for kids sell out in January. I did not. As they say in the internet world, I was today years old when I learned…

My son’s class newsletter for February came home with him and there was a note about the number of students in the class and how to address the Valentines cards. We thought we would just pick up some corny cards at Walmart but couldn’t find any anywhere. We checked Amazon and they all came with some sort of extra junk – something else for everyone to just take home to throw out. I feel like we’ve really taken everything so far with the gifts and the goody bags for every single thing, but that’s a rant for another time.

We have a bunch of craft supplies here so I decided it would be no big deal to make cards for the 15 kids in his class and the 13 in the other pre-primary class (his class got split midway through the year so many of his friends are in the other class too) and his 5 teachers. No biggie.

Baby Girl versus RSV

February 14, 2024 by Rachel

Well friends, today I bring to you the story of my first 911 call. The story of an ambulance, police car, and fire department all outside of our house within minutes. It is a dramatic story, and at first we thought it completely unnecessary, but soon we found ourselves (that’s little miss and I) checked into the hospital for a two night, three day stay. Baby girl vs RSV. (Can I blog more about being sick? I wish I had other things to write about!)

2023 Recap: 1000 Hours Outside Challenge

January 19, 2024 by Rachel

Alright, late on the recap but I wanted to write down a quick synopsis on how our outside time looked in 2023. We totalled 642 hours outside. There were 56 days where we didn’t go outside at all. I’m trying to view these numbers with as little judgment on myself as possible, and allowing the excuses of: a rough year of weather, constant pregnancy illness, a literal province wide order to not spend time outside etc, to account for the lack of hours I felt we got. Hopefully this means we can EASILY beat those numbers this year. Our worst month was January with just under 16 hours (yikes but also that looks to be about all we’ll get this year too haha) and our best was August with 98 hours. So close to 100! I think a sub goal this year will be to have two months with plus 100 hours.

Wheel of the Year: Tarot Cards for 2024

January 18, 2024January 18, 2024 by Rachel

One thing I do at the start of every year is a Year Ahead Spread with my tarot cards. I’ve done this for the last three years now, using The Gentle Tarot. Last year it correctly predicted I would give birth in October and not September like had I bet on. Check out last years spread on my Instagram here. I’m not all about tarot as a predictive practice, but I do find sometimes it has that element to it, so it’s fun to see what the year has in store, and even more fun to reflect back afterwards and see if what you pulled rang true for you.

Here are my cards for 2024:

12 tarot cards lay face up, one for each month of the year

On Surviving Long Car Rides with Toddlers & Babies

December 30, 2023 by Rachel

It’s that awkward time between Christmas and New Years, where none of us really know what’s going on, we only know that we’ve been eating well and drinking good and soon some semblance of normalcy will have to return. I’m currently sitting in the middle seat of the middle row of our minivan, trying to keep all three kids somewhat entertained so we don’t have to listen to the screaming that inevitably comes with a long car drive with toddlers. We are returning from our Christmas in Cape Breton and it’s about a 5.5 hour drive if you did it straight, however takes us about 7 hours usually, give or take.

Late Night Writings: On Transitions

December 4, 2023 by Rachel

Baby Girl had her two month immunizations today. Saying it gets easier with each child sounds horrible, but I can remember how much I cried with my first when we did this. It was awful. He cried and I cried. I really feel like it’s almost better for them when I can hold it together. She was upset for a bit but I think I had enough of a reassuring voice and calm demeanour and she was okay after a minute. Or, the more likely scenario in which I receive no credit – she’s one tough cookie.

An Afternoon Trip to Point Pleasant Park

January 18, 2024November 16, 2023 by Rachel

We had a great afternoon this past Saturday with our friends at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax. After a bit of a cold got the boys of the household down for a few days and what I thought was (going to develop into) mastitis knocked me out for 24 hours, we were desperate to get out of the house and refresh ourselves with a social visit and some outside time with a few of our favourite people.

Adults and children entering Point Pleasant Park in Halifax, NS

Top Ten Ways to Avoid Sleep

January 18, 2024November 7, 2023 by Rachel

Can we talk about how hilarious doing a toddlers bedtime routine is? If it wasn’t for the fact that it’s the last thing at the end of the day when I’m exhausted and barely able to stay awake myself it would undoubtedly be my most favourite part of the day. Heck I’d entertain a lot more of his requests just to see how much stuff he can come up with! The tricks and excuses my four year old uses to try and stay up later are an endless rotation of hilarity. Water? Needs it now more than ever. Lotion? Hasn’t cared about it ever in his life but suddenly requires his body be lathered in it! And hmm, how is his tummy? Why, of course, he must poop! But wait, after a few long minutes, it turns out he doesn’t. Maybe he’s hungry, he didn’t eat any dinner after all. And by the way, where is that obscure stuffed animal he saw one time and didn’t like but now suddenly cares most about? He NEEEEDS it to sleep!!!

Two toddler boys asleep in a bed of pillows and blankets

(two sleepy toddlers when they have finally run through every single stall method they can think of and eventually pass out)

Fall Farm Visits

February 15, 2024October 30, 2023 by Rachel

Who doesn’t love a few trips to the local farms this time of year? Despite being 40 weeks pregnant, I managed to attend ONE of the classic fall activities – pumpkin picking – despite my reluctance to move from my bed. After birth, we loaded up the mini van and managed another short visit to a different farm with all three kiddos for some outdoor time. Here’s what we got up to for some fall activities in the Annapolis Valley.

kid in pumpkin patch at spurr brother farms

… and then there were three.

January 18, 2024October 26, 2023 by Rachel

Baby Girl is 3 weeks old! We have been adjusting to our new routine, although things are about to get mixed up again as my mom heads back to Ontario this weekend. She has been staying with us this past 6 weeks to help out and really been a lifesaver. She arrived about two weeks before baby girl was born – of course we anticipated the baby’s arrival much earlier, but as you know, she tricked us all by being my longest pregnancy by about 6 days.

I discovered a few days ago that she loves our wrap. Now that I’m able to walk more, it’s been nice to be able to wear her and push BB2 in the single stroller. Our double stroller isn’t my favourite and if BG eventually becomes content with stroller rides I’d like to possibly upgrade. But for now, I am happy to keep her close and cozy. We have had a few random days of nice-ish weather so I am taking every opportunity to be outside. I must admit our 1000 hours has taken a downward dive this month but that’s fine. I am excited to try again next and hopefully beat this years total.