We want to hear how you do it, Moms! Are you a mom in Edmonton, a career mom, a stay-at-home mom, an entrepreneur mom, something somewhere in between? Contact us (hello@urbaninfant.ca) to be profiled!
Tell us about you, your children and where you live.
My name is April, and I’ve got 2 natural children and currently 2 foster children. We live in Sherwood Park.
What do you do?
First and foremost, I’m a Mom. After that, I run 2 businesses. Bumblebee Kids is a baby and kids store that specializes in fun and hard to find stuff for your little ones. I also design and create all of the decals for Got Something to Say Vinyl Design. My life is a schmoz of really good and really bad, and it somehow seems to work. Usually.
Do you have help? (incl childcare, housework, personal assistant)
I’m blessed with a very supportive and helpful husband and a lot of family and friends. I am very grateful that when I ask for help, or a listening ear that they’re always available to me. My children are also at the age where they’ve become useful. I haven’t vacuumed or cleaned bathrooms in about 3 years, which works out well as I have been overrun by dirty laundry. Boys are gross.
Best hobby?
Hobby? Does showering and shaving your legs count, because I seem to get to do that so rarely, that it’s become a treat. I do enjoy reading when I can though.
Extracurricular activities for you?
I’ve kind of been forced to become a home body over the past few years, so people usually come to us. When I am able to escape the nuthouse, I usually just meet friends for dinner or a coffee and a visit. I am also a little bit of an Internet junkie so the majority of my “free time” is spent surfing the web, while watching my PVR’d Reality TV shows.
Extracurricular activities for your children?
Volleyball. Softball. Basketball. Football. Handball. Swimming. Etc. Etc. With so many kids and their different interests, my husband and I usually end up going in opposite directions with kids in tow. Thankfully, our oldest is about to get her driver’s license and can start carting herself and the other shorties about. I am SO looking forward to just being able to show up for game time and not have to sit and wait through “warm-ups”. 
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What does a typical family day look like to you (Saturday/Sunday)?
We spend at least one day of the weekend together as a family. We started going to church on Saturday nights so we can sleep in on Sundays, and love it. The husband usually cooks us a nice breakfast and we will quite often end up at my parents’ house and let the kids run amuck. We eventually give in to the numerous requests for slurpees and a trip to the mall at some point as well.
Who cooks dinner?
I do the majority of the cooking and I hate every minute of it. I have actually been known to totally forget about cooking until the smalls start circling. I am NOT at all patient in the kitchen and could care less about making things from scratch or looking pretty. I make good food, but it’s not fancy and at least one component will come from a jar. If I get more than 2 different food groups on the plate, I consider it a success. Don’t like it … there’s the peanut butter.
How does the grocery shopping get done, by whom, with the kids, and do you use coupons?
The husband and I usually shop together, but he probably does more of it than I do. We’ve used coupons but usually only if they’re hanging on the shelf. I rip them out of magazines and newspapers all the time, but I never remember to take them with me. I do recycle them though, so hopefully one of those dumpster diving couponers is getting some use out of them.
How often do you buy something for yourself?
Not too often actually. I spend all my money on everyone else, and I’m okay with that. And frankly, once I’ve paid the 6 cellphone and cable bills, the money’s all gone. )
Do you exercise and if so, how/when do you fit the time in to do that?
I exercise daily and have recently begun teaching a yoga class three days/week. Okay, that was a total lie. I hate exercising and cannot convince myself to do it. It is one of my goals though as I am on a weight loss journey, but I still hate it. I need motivation or inspiration or something.
Favourite movie?
I love silly fun movies like Grown Ups & Despicable Me. I like to laugh and have a really hard time getting into deep meaningful movies.
Favourite nookie song?
Seriously? I think it mostly consists of “where are the children and did you lock the door”? Obviously, romance is alive and well at our house.
Favourite beverage special coffee, cocktail?
I used to have a slight Coke Zero addiction, just a little one. But, I had to give it up so I’ve moved on to Decaf Lactaid Mocha Frappucino, followed by a handful of Tums. I am wild and crazy like that.
Favourite pair of shoes?
As long as they don’t have heels, I’m good with pretty much anything. I’ve got huge feet though, so I usually just end up buying what fits me. Because of that, I’ve got some seriously ugly shoes but my feet are very happy.
‘Cannot leave home without it’ item?
My phone, Reactine and Nexxium. Texting and the defeat of allergy symptoms and stomach acid rule my days.
Thank you for sharing with all of us April! Thanks for being an Urban Infant reader!
