Brrr......

It is Coooold outside!! Like-REALLY cold!
We are expecting a lot of family this weekend for our nephews baby blessing. Unfortunately some of the family had to turn around and return to their homes due to bad driving conditions. They might be relieved to know that the other day our area was officially the 2nd coldest place on the PLANET! (second only to Antarctica!) Geesh!

Praying for one of those famous southern Alberta Chinooks right about now. In the mean time Abby has kept busy compiling her Holiday "To Do" List.

It's quite long as you can see.

Some of the things on her list include: decorating, making fudge, create a popcorn string for the tree, put up Holly and Mistletoe, and Hot Chocolate. Lot's and lots of Hot Chocolate!

Sounds like the perfect antidote for a chilly week.

STAY WARM!!!

Predictions

John has been watching the weather lately with bated breath.  You see, earlier in the year, we experienced a lot of fog.  Like...a LOT!   The foggy weather seemed to last for days at a time in the early days of spring, and we even had fog in the summer!  (Actually, that isn't very shocking considering the cool and drizzly summer we had.)

Anyways- John was reminded of the old Farmers Almanac prediction that predicts snow 90 days after a fog.    Perhaps the Almanac really calls for "precipitation" - but let's just say snow.

Well back in the summer, whenever we experienced a foggy day, John would go to our Calendar on the fridge, turn ahead 90 days and leave his weather prediction based on the intensity of the fog. 

And what do you think he predicted for November 17th?

"SNOW DAY!"

Alright, so his prediction is off in a couple of ways, seeing as it was the surrounding school districts that just got a SNOW DAY, and on the 16th of November - rather then the 17th. 

But he's close right? 

And we certainly did get a LOT of snow today.

  I'm actually OK with this change in weather.  It makes setting up our Christmas Tree seem a little less impulsive.

   And I've not given up on John's prediction- 

 I'm still banking on that SNOW DAY tomorrow!

Blending Memories

Could anything be better then a four day weekend?    That's exactly what we got this week thanks to Remembrance Day on Thursday and then a PD day on Friday.      On Thursday, we joined many others in town at the local civic center and enjoyed a hour long ceremony before gathering outside for a moment of silence.    John and I always look forward to the Remembrance day ceremony.   There is something about being silent as a large but unified group of people that sends chills down my spine.    \

Another thing that gave me chills was hearing the young choir (made up of Elementary Students) SING the words to "In Flanders Field."   It is a beautiful poem, and one that always makes me reflect on those who fought for our freedom. 

After the ceremony, John went to his Dad's house to help with some work, and I snuggled up next to my baby boy for a pleasant afternoon nap while the other kids watched a movie.   Ohhh that was cozy, and I think I'd be ok if we spent EVERY holiday in that same way.     I think Abby may have been inspired by the holiday because she came upstairs later that day holding her puppy dog "Clover."     Poor little guy had just returned home from war and was nursing a few battle wounds. 

I'm happy to report that Clover is doing much better now, and is probably back to being stuffed between couch cushions and being chewed on by a hungry, but cute, one year old boy.    Tsk tsk..    How quick we forget what some dogs go through.  

Later in the week all of those hair ribbons resurfaced again, only in a different way.

Over the course of a couple of days, Abby and her cousins kept themselves happy filling every inch of their hair with every bow/ribbon/barrette possible.    They actually got quite inventive.   At one point Ava was sporting a pink frilly bath sponge over one pony tail, while Abby had a toy lizard weaved through hers.    Once they'd completed their hairstyles and felt happy with it all, they did what anyone with their amount of energy would do.   They choreographed a couple of dances.     Oh it made me laugh so hard to hear them plan, and practice, and plan some more.    Watching them perform their dance, (while looking ridiculous like that) reminded me of me and my three sisters when we were young.   There were many days when we would slip our puffy church slips over our clothes and make up dances on the trampoline and THEN go perform them for anyone unfortunate enough to be within earshot.     I don't think we ever felt dumb about it either- though ....we should have.    I still remember the moves Jewel taught us to "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul! 

Ha Ha.   Oh dear.  Let's forget about that one.

On Friday, John and I went on a Date!   I think the last time we went on a real date was back in the springtime before I got sick.   Jewel and Kendall watched our kids for us so that we could go into Lethbridge.      We spent a little while shoe shopping for some shoes that I could wear to church.   (I still can not fit into most of my old shoes due to swelling, and I've grown tired of limping around in crummy payless footwear.)    Luckily, we found a very lovely (ahem) pair of shoes without any heel and lots of padding inside.   I had no idea how much difference a good pair of shoes could make, but I already feel as though I don't limp as much when wearing them.    Anyways, after shoe shopping we headed to Costco to buy a new food processor to replace the one that I broke last week.    We had planned to take advantage of the evening sans children, however after running those two errands my feet hurt and we decided to just head home.  There I was, food processor in one arm, and a brown pair of "grandma shoes" in the other, limping to the van complaining of my aches and pains.  

It was an incredibly hot date for sure;)

I suppose this is when I should mention that we got home and once again, the first time I tried to shred cheese with this new processor- I broke it.    Is anyone sick of how redundant this seems?     John got mad at me, which doesn't happen often.    Honestly though, I don't think it's my fault that it broke this time.    Luckily, Costco has a great return policy right?   

And our family has officially been bit by the Christmas bug.      John put the lights up on our house this week, and yes, go ahead and take note ...the tree is up as well.     I think we got a little carried away.    We'd meant only to put up the exterior lights, but then the kids started begging to do more, and seeing as John and I both have short fuses when the kids start nagging, well we just sorta caved and set up everything.    We sure feel bit silly now, and I'm pretty sure I'll be sick of these lights by the end of the month, but whatever. 
  

Seeing as the Christmas spirit is just brimming around here, the kids have begun making their Christmas Wish lists.     Thanks to the Sears Wish book, multiple letters have already been written to Santa, all containing a short list (including cut out photos) of toys and gifts that they would hope to receive.   Which, let's face it -they likely won't.    I mean really, Sam has his heart set on a Pogo Stick.   Can you picture Sam on a Pogo Stick?  He'd kill himself trying, AND THEN...he'd pick up that stick and probably kill someone else out of pure frustration.   No....a stick of any sort is the wrong sort of gift for Sam.   But I'm not the one who has to explain this to him.   It's all  in "Santa's" hands!   

These little wish lists serve a really important purpose in our home.  You see, they help to keep the spirit of Santa alive and well, therefore making the whole "Santa Blackmail" that I resort to each year all that much more effective.   

 For example, I have more then once said something along the lines of : 

 "Sam please be nice to your sister.  You don't want Santa to put you on the naughty list do you?"  

Or  "Oh Abby you really changed Nate's diaper?  Well, I'm sure that Santa will remember that.")  

Or my personal favorite and hugely overused, "Kids!  Go to bed RIGHT NOW or Santa won't come at all!"

Works like a charm every time.  

I know that this is probably a little manipulative, but it makes parenting so.much.easier.   

It's not right, and perhaps I should do a better job of teaching them the most important things about this Christmas rather then focsing on Santa so much.   

I'll get to all that good stuff though ...promise. 

It is after all- still only November!

Is it summer still?

Wow, we are being spoiled here in our neck of the woods. Here it is, already the first week of November and my kids were wearing SHORTS to school!!! The kids' bikes are still being ridden (is that a word?), the side walk chalk is still being used, and many other summer time activities are being enjoyed  as we all ignore the date on the Calendar and pretend it is really the middle of July. The only thing I wouldn't let the kids do this week was set up a lemonade stand.

That would have been just tacky.

Aside from the Awesome weather,  there are a few other things that have brought us a lot of happiness this week. For starters- John is officially finished coaching for this years Volleyball Season!      YIPPEEEE!!!    In all fairness, I think I'm adjusting to the whole coaching lifestyle, and it really did go by somewhat quickly. But we are very VERY excited at the thought of having John around just a little bit more.

Yesterday was John's final league tournament in Lethbridge, and even though they did not place to high in the standings they still played well.   He must have had some time in between games to do some shopping because John came home later that evening carrying a large gift.

For ME!

I actually cried when he gave it to me. I know this isn't necessarily what every woman would want as a gift, but it will make those little kitchen tasks that cause my joints so much discomfort that much easier. I think it was John's little way of saying, "I understand your pain."

(Or perhaps it was John's way of making a peace offering for cutting off Nate's hair last week, against my wishes.)     Hmmmm.   Whatever John was trying to say with this gift- it worked.    Unfortunately, within two minutes of using it - I broke it.      So...until the replacement part arrives, it is back to the boring ol' cutting board for me.


One of my favorite things about the fall is the late time in which each day begins.    The sun is literally rising as the kids prepare and leave for school.   The other day Abby rode off on her bike, and I watched as she petalled away against a beautiful backdrop of vibrant pink, orange, and purple hues. And I just adore these large windows in our front sitting room. 

                                              
The early morning sun streams in brilliantly and makes our house glow for a few precious minutes. Love it! And I LOVE the fact that we don't have to get up at 5:30 am to enjoy it, like we do in the summer months.

Speaking of beautiful mornings.    Is there any thing more awesome in the morning then a happy and cuddly baby!   I don't think so.

These Charlie Brown Pajamas once belonged to Sam!      It's scary to see Nate fitting into them now!



I've spent the week trying to sort through the boxes and boxes of kids clothes we have downstairs.   The playroom has become my work room and is now filled with labeled containers, and piles of baby outfits everywhere.   I'm attempting to sort what Nate will still use, and what we don't need anymore.    It's a big task, and one that packs a lot of emotion as I remember how cute my kids have looked in each.and.every.outfit!   But, it is time to give them away and I have several bags set aside for one person or another who hopefully will get some use out of them. 


Our Friday Family Movie Night was a HIT this week as the kids got to see Toy Story 3 for the first time!   I don't know who enjoyed it more, the kids...or John!  
                                     
There is one particular scene in which Buzz Light year is accidentally put into "spanish mode" that was especially funny to the kids.   There is something about watching Buzz dance the Flamingo that literally had my whole family in stitches!     It makes my heart feel good to hear the kids laugh that much, and I'm really looking forward to the future re-enactments of that scene that John will surely grace us with;)

We also spent some time this week preparing our garden and yard for the winter.   Things were really neglected this past summer as I was not able to get out and weed, and care about it as I normally would have.     I was shocked when John and his Dad came in for dinner after tilling and carried in their hands several fat, juicy red STRAWBERRIES!   Strawberries in November?    That's a first!    It felt good to get the old growth pulled up and tilled into the ground.   The flowers in our front flower beds are cut back, and I'm beginning to think that we might actually be ready for winter.

Though we are definitely enjoying the wait!

The fight I never got to have

 I don't like to highlight the moments in which John and I don't see eye -to- eye.   Mostly because it doesn't happen often that we don't agree, and when we do, it usually turns out that I'm right anyways.  And who wants to brag right?  

But here is a little story for ya.  It is titled:

 "The Day my Husband Betrayed Me."

One day, one measly week ago, John looked at Nathan and noticed that our bald little baby had indeed begun to sprout some actual hair.    Not just little baby fuzz, but actual bonafide hair.   I was thrilled!  John was not.  Instantly, he set his jaw firm and square and vowed to give Nate a haircut as soon as possible.

Well, I don't like to fight, but I must admit, I absolutely put my foot down.   I mean the kid barely even has any hair and John wants to go cut the precious little bit of it off?   Who am I - if not my child's advocate?  Right?   I tried to argue diplomatically and give John a chance to explain why, WHY on earth should our little boy not get to have a head full of  hair like everybody else.  

John's explanation:   (Something along the lines of,)   "blah ...it just looks shaggy....blah....Don't you remember that talk President Hinckley once gave in which he discouraged boys from dressing too casual and ..sloppy...blah blah blah, and do we want sloppy and casual kids...blah blah blah, ...then why even set the precedence...blah blah blah. "

My Rebuttal:    "Uh...but...He's ONE!!!     And let's be serious, it's not like I'm trying to pierce his ears or slap a tattoo on him or anything.    I just want to see what one of my boys would look like with hair.   I mean for real, what if there is some adorable natural curl lurking there and we have no clue?    Besides, winter is coming, and it would only help to keep his head warm right?" (I was totally going for practical with that last part)

All in all, I thought my argument was not only valid, but superior to John's.   Still,  his handsome jaw remained firmly set.  So I took a different, more desperate approach.  I begged John, literally BEGGED him to give me ONE MONTH to just enjoy Nate's cute little fuzzy hair.    One itty bitty month, and  then John could cut it as much as he pleased.

Sounds fair right?     That - was barely over a week ago, and I can not tell you how much I have been looking forward to actually being able to rub some gel into Nate's little locks this coming Sunday and finally style it a bit.  

Well,  tonight the kids and I were having dinner without John, when I glanced over at Nate and it hit me like a load of bricks.    Something was different.  Something was very wrong,  and I could not believe that I had not noticed sooner.  

Do you know what I noticed?

Nate had NO HAIR!!!!     John had cut it!   After only 1 week- John had buzzed all that cute wispy feathery hair right off!!!

And behind my back even!   I honestly don't even know when he found the time to do it, or how he was able to do it without me knowing - but somehow gosh darnit- that wiley little coyote actually cut Nate's hair!      

(Don't let this photo fool you.   Nate is just as ANGRY about it as I am.)

I tell ya, that John is tricky.  Sure, he's handsome, I'll give ya that, but the man is NOT to be trusted.

He'd just better not be surprised if I bring Nate home with a nice TATOO!

I'm thinking "MOM" would look nice!

One Year Already

It is a little bit difficult for me to admit that it has already been 12 months!    1 year ago today I was in a hospital room holding a brand new baby.  MY baby.    Pregnancy with him had been long... so, so long, and I remember so many times promising to anybody and everybody that "this was the LAST time I was going to go through that pregnancy garbage."    Then one day it was over, and he was here.   9 lbs 3 ounces of pure sweetness!   That first week home with Nate was a rough one, as the same day that we brought Nate home our other three kids came down with the Swine Flu.   For TWO weeks we all had to wear face masks around him and I remember how badly I wanted to bring him close to me and kiss his little face- but couldn't.   
                                        



Oh, but what a dream baby he has been!   He has been a happy, smiley boy from day 1, and we could not have possibly enjoyed an easier first year than what we've just enjoyed. 
He LOVES to talk to people, and spends most of his days merrily following his older siblings around.   He is running now, eating everything, and flashing his gorgeous smile to anyone who looks his way.   

I shudder to think that I ever whined about carrying this special little boy.    Recently we were told  that we should not have any more kids.   Instantly I wanted to take back every complaint I ever made.    What's a measly 9 months anyways?

 I'd do it a hundred times more for another Nate!

Happy Birthday Nathan!

We love you!

                                 

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