Blah blah blah

I'm sick of snow, I'm sick of being tired all the time, I'm sick... well just my attitude. My daughter (Bronwyn) on the other hand is sick - throwing up etc. Lots of clean up and laundry and yet the house still looks a total disaster. How is that possible?

But, spring is coming as is a new day. My prayer for tonight is that Bronwyn sleeps well and is restored and that Mari sleeps well and I am restored! Gavin - well he's doing great. Bossy but great.

Love to all our family and friends.

Mari is a creep

Well a creeper. She is just one step from crawling - I can't believe the little stinker. I tried to get some video of her with my little camera (I have no clue how to get the footage from the video camera onto my computer) but it was out of batteries - of course!

Other than that we are holding steady. Its been a quiet week. Today we took a long walk that involved the park and cinnamon buns - nice!

We found lots of ice to crack and crunch. It occurred to me that I was teaching my son to dawdle. My best friend, Ali, used to complain that I was a dawdler - well I was. Today I was teaching my son the fine are of taking your sweet time.

This memory lead me down a bit of a trip through my rosy past. I was telling Bronwyn how lucky she is to have lots of girly stuff. I had two older brothers and I often got their hand-me-downs.

I was remembering how in grade 4 Bonnie Nicholson had a Holly Hobbit lunch box. It was beautiful. It had a separate compartment for the sandwiches and fruit and a little thermos for soup as well as juice. Oh, I thought that Bonnie had really arrived. I didn't say anything or act jealous. I had years earlier been the one to inform Bonnie that Santa wasn't real. She didn't take it well, and well I got into T-rub-el! So I minded my business, but secretly I was so jealous. Of course you ask, "Well, what was your lunch box like? I couldn't have been that bad." Well...

I had a bright orange plastic lunch box with a big sticker that read - Get off the track for Eddie Shack. Couldn't get worse eh? Yah.

Anyhow - I appear to be babbling - sorry.

Gavin and Bronwyn were just at the table having a cookie with milk. Bronwyn who really doesn't like milk asked for more. I said really and went for the fridge. She corrected herself and said - "No, not milk, cookie." Sigh.

Oh dear, I best go either rescue Daddy or the kids - not sure yet.

Great days

When I woke up this morning I would never have imagined that today would be such a great day. We woke up to LOTS of fresh snow. After a week of spring and warming weather this was disheartening. Just yesterday the neighbors were over and the kids were playing in the muddy sand box and the puddles all over the yard.

The kids all crawled in bed with us and played and goofed. Mari tooted really loud and caused a great deal of laughter and hilarity.

We decided not to go to church. Our street hasn't been cleared all winter and we had serious doubts that we'd get off our street let alone any further. When we told the kids we were staying home Gavin asked for waffles.

In our house waffles don't happen without whipped cream. Wes agreed to make the 5 minute hike over to the nearest 7-11 and get cream. Then I suggested, "Why don't we ask the neighbors to come over?" Cheers all around -particularly the kids. Wes walked off to the store while I phoned over and invited the neighbors for waffles.

We did a quick clean up and then I started cooking. I had two assistants when I started, but by the time I was cracking the first egg they were both in time-out. While we have two little wooden chairs, which are identical, they both apparently needed the same one. A bitter war ensued, which ended in the proverbial time-out.

The Harckhums arrived, just as I was realizing that I only had a tiny bit of baking powder left and not much floor and hopefully enough syrup. Mari had been neglected so long that she fell asleep in her excersaucer. Daddy finally moved her to a more comfortable spot.

It was chaos, but great fun. We are so lucky to have such great neighbors. They have become good friends. As we munched on bacon and waffles (I kept mine separate. For those who are wondering - bacon with syrup is gross!), Wes and I both commented that the waffles didn't taste quite right and that they seemed a bit funny. Our guests were happy, the kids were happy and the waffles were edible.

I then decided to heat up my coffee. I opened the microwave door to insert the coffee and saw a bowl of melted butter. Half a cup in fact, the very 1/2 cup that was mentioned in the recipe.

Aha - so that is what I missed - I knew there was something! Everyone had a good laugh, mine was a phony laugh though. If you know me, you know I am cheap and laughing over a half a cup of melted butter - well what the heck am I supposed to do with that! Later in the day we had a very big bowl of popcorn. While I made the popcorn, Mari, once again her tears falling on deaf ears, fell asleep on her little play mat.

We also played outside and I made a little tunnel through a small bank for the kids - perfectly safe! Wes went out several times through the day to push various stuck vehicles and help them on their way. Really, not much of anything was getting by on our little loop.

We had frozen pizza for supper (not my favourite) because we were all so worn out. Daddy also managed to get some work done in the basement, while I cleaned up the wreck of a kitchen and did more laundry, the white load in fact - you know all the socks and undies - sigh!

While I had a shower, I'm averaging 2 a week these days, Daddy got the kids in pjs and ready for bed. Now they are all sleeping (even Mari) and peace reigns, for now...

So all in all - a surprisingly great day!

Muddy muddy boy

We were at Mom and Dad's on Sunday, as usual. The kids were having a blast outside in the warming weather. We have had so much snow this winter that it is muddier and wetter than normal. Carissa and Bronwyn sat at a little table and had a tea party. Robbie tried his best to have fun by sliding down a bit of a snowbank. Gavin, well Gavin found some mud. Not just a little mud - a lot. Cindy had to go intervene at one point as the other kids were complaining that Gavin was throwing mud balls at them. Oh...

I had to strip him outside and take him in to the house half naked.

Boys!

Prayers again

My heart is heavy again tonight for our friends Kim and Ben. Quinn, their son, is having serious health issues again. A rare but possible side effect of the heart transplant has emerged. Now I usually ask first before publicly asking for prayers (but I think Kim will forgive me??).

Please pray for Quinn, healing isn't enough at this point - it also needs to be fast so Kim can manage more easily while Ben is away.

God Bless you our friends you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Will winter ever end?

I for one am sick of it!!

Here are some pictures of our recent adventures.

In my defense

Gavin always defends himself when I catch him in some misdeed.

Example:

Me - Gavin don't hit your sister.
Gavin - but she hit me first, or she wasn't listening to me or she did blaah blahh blaah first.

You get the idea.

Bronwyn is a fast learner. This happened this evening. Bronwyn and Gavin were laying on their little pooh couch fighting for space. Gavin cried at me and I saw Bronwyn kick him in the head. I scolded her and told her not to kick her brother. She responded, "Ganna's hair got in my kick."

Poor country

Oh, my heart is just aching today. This news story has just frustrated me and caused me great sadness. There should be a limit to how much one nation should have to endure let alone a good man who is trying to help.

Just when the news couldn't get worse... it does.

Spring is coming

I can feel it - spring is coming.

More importantly I'd like to solicit prayers for Wes' cousins' wife Karen. She has been struggling with her health for the last couple weeks and they have finally diagnosed her with Lupis. She has been in a very bad way and it has been a very scary situation for their family.

Please pray for Karen and Darren. Pray for the Doctors who are caring for her. Also pray for their little two year old boy that he may soon have his Mommy home and his life back to normal.

Thank you for your prayers and God Bless you all.

Little dancer

I was a huge Degas fan in my earlier years. I still am, but not nearly as much as I was at one point. Here is my little dancer!

Parenting without caffeine

It can apparently be done. I have know Mormons who do it and have lots of kids too. So it is possible. I just wouldn't advise it!

Mad mad weekend

We were crazy busy this weekend. But it was lots of fun.

Friday after preschool we met up with Val and Megan for a quick ice cream treat. Then we came home and had a quick play with Max and family. Saturday we had Mel, Cadence and Kalia over for some fun play. Then in the afternoon I had a visit with Katherine (a bit of adult company to help me keep grounded!).

We were at Mom and Dad's yesterday again. So busy busy busy.

It is snowing today and the temperatures are going to be a bit colder this week. Heck as long as it isn't -30 I'm good. I must admit though I am looking forward to spring. I love just being able to go out with the kids in the morning and letting them play while I work on my tiny little patch of garden.

I never used to really care whether it was winter or summer. But since I have had kids the summer is just so much easier and more fun. I find kids play better when they have lots of space to run around.

So if we all cheer to ourselves maybe spring will come sooner.

Gavin on God (again)

This conversation happened very early yesterday morning.

Gavin - Mommy is God our boss.
Me - Yes, he is our boss I guess.
Gavin - So we do what he says, right?
Me - Yes, we need to do what God wants us to do.
Gavin - So he's the real boss?
Me - Yes (Feeling slightly curious about the religious thoughts)
Gavin - So that means that you aren't the REAL boss - he is.
Me - silence - it is just too early to respond to this!

Time flies

I seriously don't know where the days go. When I was a child there were times when time seemed to stand still. It took forever for things to happen. Now I just turn around and boom a week is gone! Yes, that fast.

I have had a great deal on my mind lately - lots of things that I'd love to share on the blog - you know deep thoughts etc. But, I just can't get the thought to last long enough that it makes it to the Internet. So you can be assured that while I may still be a deep thinker I have a very short memory! For now you are spared my thoughts and inspirations - you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Highlights since my last post -
Making cupcakes with my children only to have the little ingrates decide that they were "yucky."

Deciding to take the kids swimming on to spend the afternoon in various parking lots unable to get a parking spot. I was feeling lots of love toward humanity on Valentine's day.

Having fun play with Max and family - we are so lucky to have such great neighbors.

Great roast beef at Mom and Dad's house.

Having Bronwyn spill a glass of water and say quickly - "Oopsies, dats alright dats alright."

Being inspired by my son's observation that we are in the van and it is moving, the stuff outside isn't and neither is the stuff inside the van. I am encouraged and hope this means that he won't do as dismally as I did in physics.

Having my hard working husband take a whole day off to spend with us.

Watching Mari not only roll over but somehow get herself tangled up on the frame of her little chair. She's a mover!

Hearing this evening that Wes' cousin's wife is finally starting to do a bit better. Karen we have been praying for you and thinking of you.

Deciding that I am finally too tired to even be cranky.

Going to Cochrane with Val to meet Hope and kids and go for a swim and lunch.

Having long visits with all of Wes' aunts.


Our life has been very blessed and we are very thankful. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wes' uncle as he is in the hospital. We love you Uncle Gerry.

Valentine's Day

As a reminder of how important happy heart day has become for our family, we got a phone call from Bronwyn's cardiologist this morning. Dr. Harder has presented Bronwyn's case to the surgical team and they are pleased and think it looks like the surgery should be very straight forward. We are on the list, it should be about 4 months, she is not considered urgent in her present state of health. So mid-June is the rough time line for the next surgery.

The kids have embraced Valentine's day. Gavin has learned to associate holidays with candy. He said yesterday, "Holiday's are when we get together and eat lots of candy, right?" I said, "Well, not ever holiday." Then I started to think about it and well, OK Canada usually isn't a heavy candy day. Neither is Victoria day or Remembrance day. But Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's, Easter - the kid has a point. It seems we treat our way through the winter holidays for sure.

Bronwyn helped me shop for the Halloween treats - she likes to shop our girl. She kept putting things in the basket and saying, "Ma have dat," or "Ma need that." She is really a chatty girl lately and a lot of fun.

Mari is doing well - getting over her cold nicely. She is such a smiley little thing. At night sometimes I can (even in the dark) tell she's smiling at me. What a cutie pie. This week she has cried herself to sleep on the floor a couple times, waiting for me to attend to her. Poor neglected little mite.

We are going swimming today with the neighbors. I'll sit it out with Mari but the rest should enjoy that. Maybe I'll get some pictures.

Hope you all have a very happy Valentine's. Eat candy!

Mostly on the mend

We are almost all healthy. Mari just needs to shake the cough and get some sleep. I could use a little too. This is short post as I am headed to bed IMMEDIATELY. Just wanted to let you all know that the kids are getting better and are once again into all sorts of mischief.

We've been sick

First Gavin got it. Then Bronwyn. Now Mari has it. "It" is a bad head cold with a heck of a cough. Gavin is the one who seems to have been the hardest hit so far. Although the hardest for me is listening to Mari hack. There is something just so scary about a baby with a bad cough. Gavin is on the mend today though.

Gavin's preschool is doing skating classes once a week through February. Today was his first class. He hasn't been a skating enthusiast up to this point. In fact, he generally tires of it quickly and wants to quit. I think doing the classes and forcing him to stay for the full hour will really help. He was still pretty tired today and got frustrated easily. At one point he was laying on the ice refusing to get up, saying - I quit! I quit!

I thought I'd upload a couple pictures. I love the one of Gavin with his new buddies from church. Wilson and Sarah and their kids met us at Mom and Dad's for supper last Friday night. Gavin had a blast playing with them.

The following night we went over to Max's house (I guess Matt and Natasha's house in reality) for pizza. It was great fun too. Sunday was the usual fun at Mom and Dad's. That was followed by two days of coughing and tissues! Wow - what an awful lot of tissues.

Rolling and rolling

Mari is rolling. She rolled over for the first time last night and today she has been rolling all over - not just back to front but also front to back. I am beyond amazed - it is not only amazing that she can do it but it is also amazing that we discovered it. Why is it amazing? This child is never on the floor. Don't know where she developed the technique - it certainly wasn't from practicing.

I have tried to get video. But as soon as I stand near her with a camera she smiles and chats to me. No sooner have I given up and turned my back and whoosh - she's over. That just shows what a little lovely she is. She won't busy herself with rolling when she can talk and smile with Mommy.

Quiet time

There isn't a lot of quiet time in this house. Particularly in the evening. That is wrestle time in Gavin's world. If Daddy doesn't agree to wrestle it is even noisier as he has a crying fit. Bronwyn chases after them joining in whatever fun is going. Usually saying, "Carry me up."

But for now all the kiddies are asleep, even Mari our pain in the butt sleeper. She is snoozing in Dad's arms. Time to breath, consider how dirty my teeth feel, wonder if I should have a snack or not, or just putz away on the computer. Ahhh...

Bronwyn recovering

There has been a bit of a strange dynamic in our house today. I told Gavin he had to be very careful and gentle with Bronwyn today because she would be sore. Bronwyn who heard that understood it to me that today things were to go her way (or the highway). There is an old English murder mystery series - Rumpold of the Bailey (I think). He used to call his wife "She who must be obeyed." Well today that could have been Bronwyn's title.

I am hoping that tomorrow she is a little less tyrannical. For today I was just happy to see her feel so well.

Speaking of tyrants I may become one if I hear the term "a historical" event one more time. Really - what is wrong with "an historic?" Not fancy enough? Does the al add any value? Between hearing this repetitively yesterday and the coffee shop that WAS OUT OF CREAM (Really, I'm not making that up), I was just about driven around the bend while waiting for Bronwyn's cath to be finished.