A return to Edmonton

Last week, John's volleyball schedule took him up north to Edmonton for a tournament.   Not wanting to miss out on a chance to go back to my favorite city ever, I decided to pull the kids out of school (shhhh:) and make a vacation out of it.       

I had high hopes of taking the kids to all of the memorable places in that city that I love and miss.    

The legislature building, my secret fishing spot along the north Saskatchewan, the Citadel, Hawrelak Park,  the six places we lived at, and to top it off ...a nice leisurely stroll down white Ave after dark.   

(...haha just kidding - though that is something worth seeing;)   

Despite all of my well laid out plans, reality set in quickly.   

I was alone.  In the city.  With 4 little kids.    

So basically, our weekend went like this:

1.   We ate out a LOT, which the kids never get to do.    They were over the moon excited with the kids menu, crayons and games they got at Boston Pizza, and they wouldn't stop raving about the Jello they got for dessert.    

Jello!    

Other restaurant Highlights:   

* While standing in line at Wendy's one afternoon, waiting to place our order, I looked back to our table only to see Nate throwing the worst tantrum ever.   He was had reached "burn out" in a big way, and was literally on the ground kicking and screaming.   Abby was hovering over him trying to get him to get up.    

I just shook my head like everyone else and pretended I didn't know them.

*  Oh, and I learned quickly not to bother ordering anything for Nate unless it came covered in whip cream.   I wasted a lot of money before I realized that.  

2.   We went to see the Edmonton temple.  

As much as I love the Cardston temple, the Edmonton temple just feels like Mine!    I had just moved up there shortly after it was announced that one would be built, and I got to watch it come to life from the ground breaking to the dedication.   After it opened, we would often get to help with the cleaning of it - which I was always so excited to do.    

John even laid some of the paving stone on the temple grounds!!

3.   West Edmonton Mall pretty much trumped anything I wanted to do:)   

The kids had never been here before, and in truth have hardly ever been to an ordinary mall before, so they were quite amazed with what they saw.     This became apparent to me when they came to an escalator and FREAKED out in excitement!   

They ran to it and rode up and down with such enthusiasm you'd have thought they were on a ride at an amusement park.   People all around us in the Sears department store were laughing.

\

I pretty much could have ended it all, right there after the escalator ride, and the kids would have been happy, but it was just too much fun watching them take it all in.   

So we walked the entire mall.  

They stopped at EVERY fountain.

They looked in EVERY window.  

They asked for EVERY toy.

4.   We blew $20 in 4 minutes on arcade games.  

(well...$23 if you count the hurricane simulator that Sam went in, which really, why wouldn't you?)   

The kids had a blast, but I seriously never knew money could be spent so quickly;)  

5.  Oh, and then we wasted even more money at GalaxyLand! 

Ten minutes after spending a small fortune at the arcade - I threw out another $60 for a mere 40 minutes worth of rides at Galaxyland!    In truth, our passes were such that we could have stayed much longer then forty minutes, but believe me - forty minutes at galaxy land, with four kids is plenty of time! :)  

I didn't even want to try to get our money's worth.:)

But oh my, the kids enjoyed it!

6.   A highlight for the kids though was definitely watching the Sea Lion show.   Of course, it did cost more money, but I justified it this time by telling myself that we were at least being educational?   Besides, my feet were throbbing, and I really just wanted a place to sit down:)     

Abby impressed me.  During the demonstration she knew all of the answers to the trainer's questions, and she even got to go up and help at one point.     What a little smarty pants:)  

After we had seen and literally DONE everything that could be done at West Edmonton Mall, I crawled back to the van (with kids in tow) and made the short trip back to the hotel.   The kids wanted to swim in the pool before bed, and so despite the fact that hotel pools gross me out, I let them swim their little hearts out.  For a little while atleast. 

As they climbed back up to our room, and tucked their tired little selves into bed, I heard sleepy little  comments like:

"That was the biggest mall in the whole Universe!" 

and my personal favorite-

"This was the best day of my life."

And right then and there - I was filled up, and it all was worth it.   For me, that's what it was all for.

The smoothies by the pirate ship, the toy they each got to pick out, the underwater cavern...arcade games.....all so that they could have yet another  "BEST DAY of their life!"   

So what if it all ended up costing as much as a small house.

Can you really put a price tag on a child's "Best Day EVER?"

John would say that yes, actually...you can.

(Which is why I made sure to round down when telling him how much it all came to:)    

7.  Speaking of John,  we did actually make it to a couple of his games, and I LOVED getting to watch him coach.    His team consists of a great group of boys, and one of the boys was party of our tribe on Moroni's Quest so I really enjoyed getting to see him again.     

John's team ended up loosing during semi finals, but they had some really great matches.   

With any lucky, they'll make it to provincials.   

I'm about ready for another trip up there;)    

Who's the Bad Dog

My nephew Maddax turned TWO this past week, and when his parents throw a party they REALLY throw a party!!!   In fact, it is getting to be so that my kids look forward to Maddax's birthday more then their own:)   

I suppose I could try a little bit harder to be a cool birthday party throwing Mom, but I'm kinda the type to just throw a candle in my child's breakfast pancake, or plate of mashed potatoes and call it good. ;) 

Birthday parties and Me?   We don't really get along. 

But Birthday Parties and my sister in law Rachel?    Well those two pretty much go hand in hand!

Rachel and Brent went all out setting up all sorts of Carnival booths.

They had prize draws for the kids.

Lots of treats.

A glow in the dark dance.

And the best treat bags ever.  (Because really it's all about the treat bags right:)

Nate enjoyed going from booth to booth trying out all of the games.

Here's the sweet little birthday boy as he's being sung to.   

I love how excited his Mom and Dad are for him!

Maddax is a pretty sweet kid and is always excited to get some loving attention from his older cousins.   

My kids refer to him as "Mad dog" and really always have.   In fact,  I'm pretty sure they are actually convinced that is his real name.   

Nate however, unintentionally gets it wrong EVERY time and instead calls him "Bad dog."  

(For example, when in Lethbridge Nate often asks:  "Can I go play at Bad dogs house?")

Seeing as mere hours after wishing Maddax a happy birthday, he then decided to push Maddax down the stairs - I find Nate's "name calling" to be kind of ironic.    

My Dad would of said "it's kinda like the pot calling the kettle black!"

At any rate - Happy Birthday Mad Dog

From, Abby, Sam, Jess, and the true BAD dog:)  

Tender Mercies: in the form of Humor

I am convinced that the funny things my kids do and say are actually tender mercies from Heaven above, meant to brighten a moment and remind me to not ever wish these days away.     

I'm also convinced that, one day, I will look back and remember nothing of messy bedrooms, flooded bathroom floors, and kids whirling around a dinner table too hyper to ever eat.    

 Nope.  Instead- I'll remember moments like these:

*******

The other day Sam came up to me determined to get Abby in trouble distressed, with an official complaint that Abby had slapped him.    Abby was right behind him ready to state her defense.    The dialogue went something like this:

Sam:   "Mo-OM!   Abby slapped me!!!"

Abby:   "No Sam.   I didn't slap you - I 'high fived' your face!"

******

One warm fall afternoon, a few weeks back, our family went for a little walk down to the creek.    John was pushing Nate in the stroller, and as it often happens, John took off running and yelling,  making the stroller careen out of control, practically dumping a laughing two year old out of it as he went.    

John literally ran up the entire hill looking as though he'd gone absolutely mad. 

 The kids loved it!   

As Jessica laughed at the crazy scene, she grabbed my hand and sighed.  

 "Oh mom!"  she said.   "I'm so glad you married this guy!!!"

If you give a Moose a ...?

We've got a houseful full of sickos around here;)  

I actually kept all four of the kids home from church today. (I don't know, the slightest hint of even a runny nose and I start fearing we may have another dreaded sacrament meeting experience;)   

Anyhow, by the time I made it home after primary, the kids had watched more episodes of Veggie Tales then I'm willing to admit.   In a desperate attempt to get them a a bit of fresh air, we decided that a family drive was in order.    

It ended up being a Moose hunt!

We followed this Mama and her babe all the way from the Carriage Museum, along the Creek, then up a hill onto a residential street, along a green space that is across from my Sister Jewel's house, and then back down to the golf course road.    

After a while,  I kinda got the impression they were trying to avoid us?

How rude!:)

It's that time of year again....

Last week, we bought our first box of Mandarin Oranges,  which pretty much means that I can start playing Christmas Songs all day long.     (I've agreed to wait only until after Halloween before cranking  out the Celine Dion and Harry Connick Jr!)

It's that time of year again:)!

  Three years ago - this little Dog Wood was the scrawniest and sparcest thing ever, but a neihbor of mine had assured me that it would eventually grow to be a beautiful bush with the most gorgeous red leaves in the fall.    

She was right.   I look forward to watching this bush change to a deep burgandy.

It's that time of year again!

I'm pretty sure that the Autumn Weather brings with it the most glorious morning sunrises, and there have been several mornings when I've run out of the house (leaving behind partly made bag lunches) to capture a radiant sky before the Sun lights it up entirely.   

Not to be out done, Autumn evenings also seem to bring the most spectacular SunSETS!

It's just that time of year again!

There is nothing better on a cool blustery fall day, then a pot of soup cooking on the stove, half an hour before it's actually time to eat.   I'm experimenting with soups this year, and this Chicken Gnocchi soup did not disapoint!    Check out the recipe Here!

Yup!   It's just that time of year again!!!

By mid week.....

This week brought an end to all of the renovation work on our house.  (Yay!!!!)
 The windows, eaves, roof, siding and a door have all been replaced and all of the contractors have moved on to other jobs.      There are still a few more phone calls to make to adjusters, some receipts that need to be submitted, and some cleanup that needs to happen, but for the most part - we're done!   I can literally feel myself relaxing more and more every day, and I'm pretty sure that John is going to buy me something really awesome to thank me for dealing with all of this stuff on my own.
  (And let's be honest, when I say "he's" going to buy me something awesome, I really just mean that I actually already have bought me something.   But at least I feel like I kinda deserve it now?;)  

Due to a manic outburst of energy I had last week while John as away at a volleyball tournament, I was fairly committed to making some changes to our bedroom this week.  

The first thing I did was get rid of the royal blue wall and replace it with a much lighter color, which makes the room look larger.    Then I ordered a custom made barn wood headboard which is so so charming.  I found some new curtains for cheap cheap online and ordered the most darling comforter EVER.    (yup.  That's the awesome gift that...ahem.. "John" got me, and I LOVE it!)

    

As a finishing touch - I cut a couple of twigs from my crab apple tree and put them in a vase by my bed.    I did that for no other reason then that Pinterest told me to, but I like the calming effect  those branches have  on me.
It's my own little way of bringing Nature inside, I guess;)

Now every time I walk in my room it always seems to be saying to me,
"Come on in and relax.  Ignore all that chaos around you!"

(Of course,  this room also seems to be saying "C'mon!  Purple carpet was so twenty years ago!"  but I'm trying to ignore that, and just be happy with what I can change:)

If you were to ask John what the highlight of the past few days has been, he would probably say that it was the supersonic free fall of Felix Baumgartner.

 Basically, this guy (Felix)  hopped inside a Helium Balloon, ascended 24 miles up into the atmosphere,
and then ejected himself from the balloon (ON PURPOSE), falling at record breaking speed, from a record breaking height.   He now holds a record for the longest free fall in history.  

Apparently this was a really big deal, because on Sunday morning, as John was watching the re cap of the jump,  I glanced over at him only to see that he was literally crying,  he was so excited.
 CRYING!!!     

Frankly, I'm still a little puzzled about that.  

I mean, when our first child was born -  John didn't shed a tear.

But some stranger goes and breaks the sound barrier and John thinks its the most amazing thing ever? 

Meh.

I don't mean to brag or anything, but after literally growing not one,  but FOUR human beings and then personally delivering them to this PLANET ....
I just kinda find this guy's glorified sky dive to be a little underwhelming, that's all:)  

But whatever.
To each his own, I guess;)

Tetanus shot anyone?

I'm not sure when this photo was taken, but it must have been awhile ago because Jessica looks TEENY!!     Also, we still had not added the fourth lattice and vine to the front of the house to complete the "old folks home" look that we must have been trying to achieve;)   

At any rate though- it gives you an idea of what our home looked like prior to the hail storm this past July.     Reddish brown roof and yellowy beige siding.

Here is what our house looks like now:

    

I have to admit, I will be so glad when everything is finished and contractors stop coming.    They really didn't tiptoe around my flowers like I'd asked them to.  They tore up our grass in several places leaving behind gargantuan patches of mud.   And one of them spilled his coffee on our deck and now we have a giant splatter stain burned into the wood.  

  The most annoying part though is the Nails!   I never realized how many nails end up on your lawn after work like this is done.    Every day I walk over our front and back yard scouring every inch,  and I always seem to find at least a dozen more nails, just waiting to be stepped on by a cute little foot;)     No matter how much I try to keep the kids (my own and the neighbours) off of it - no one seems worried at all, except for me, which I am told, is no surprise.

I'm pretty sure this can only end with a Tetenus shot for someone;)  haha.  

Despite all the cleanup that has come as a result, I'm super happy and lucky to have the work almost complete.    

Now to begin on the INside of the house!!!!;)

Dear John

Dear John,

The kids have been asking about you all day, and none of them are very happy with the thought of not seeing you until Sunday morning.   They've started to ask and nag so much in fact, that I've started telling them you will come back when (and only when) their rooms are clean;)

Ha!

Truth be told- I kinda wish you were coming home tonight too.  I just know I'm not going to sleep very good.   I'll probably move the big sofa in front of the front door just like I do when you go on Young Men's camps.    (It just feels safer with a sofa blocking the door, you know?)    Luckily, none of the kids wanted to sleep in their own rooms, so we are all camped out together on the basement floor watching Annie.   

Oh hey, a beautiful flower arrangement was delivered to me here at the house, and I was so excited because I realized you were surely missing me too.   

Turns out - they weren't from you.

I figured with you away at the Volleyball tournament, this would be as good a time as any to do some work around the house.   So.....

Right after school the kids and I went down and bought a few cans of paint.  (I knew you'd try to stop me, so I made sure to wait until your bus had pulled outta town;)

  You know that bright Blue "accent" wall in our bedroom?   

Well...it is now more of a greenish, grayish, beige sorta color?   Not quite what I expected, but no worries, I think I can still bring it all together.

   

  I thought of you about a hundred times as I painted, because I know how particular you are and how much you insist that "things be done right" and all.  You'll be happy to know that this time I actually used that green painters tape along the edges.

And actually took the time to do all that annoying "cutting." 

And I used a drop sheet.

And even applied a Primer first!

Those four things really helped improve the quality of my work.  Who knew?

I suppose I should let you know that this evening a couple of high school students needed a couch to sit on while watching the football game.   So I gave them ours. 

  (I figured you'd appreciate and admire that act of kindness on my part.)   

Of course, it meant that we'd probably have to buy a new couch.  

(Done and Done!;)

It was a really productive day, and I probably should have stopped there, but I had just enough energy still to want to carry that greenish, grayish, beige sorta paint color on into our en suite bathroom.

Which meant - the wall paper had to go: 

Twenty minutes into the removal process I realized just how much I dislike removing wall paper.

 ("stupid, dumb, boring, hate it!":) 

Man I wish you were here to finish this job for me.  

Who knows?

  It may just be waiting here for ya when you get back:)

SLEEP WELL!!!

Love, 

Your Wifey

Even the Pumpkins are cold!!!

Oh me oh my, I'm starting to think that Autumn has come and gone around these parts.    

The leaves have mostly fallen, the vibrant colors are gone, and we've got....

SNOW!

Snow, again!

(Wasn't I the one begging for snow just a few short weeks ago?)  

The thing about snow is that it looks beautiful and lovely and cozy as it is falling, but the novelty of the winter season inevitably wears off just as soon as I realize how stinking COLD it is!!!!

I mean - Check out the pumpkins that currently sit outside our front door?

Jessica felt the need to bundle even them up this morning?

(She's so attentive that girl:)

 There is one good thing about this cold weather though, and it is that I start making lots of yummy soups for dinner.   There is nothing better then throwing a bunch of stuff into a crock pot  and letting it simmer away all day, while the snow falls down outside.  

I'll be posting all of my favorite soups of this season on THIS here Family Food Blog and hopefully  my lovely sisters in law do the same:)!  

(Their recipes are always the Yummiest!!!)

STAY WARM!!!

Thanksgiving Weekend

I'm pretty sure that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays!

And Autumn is my favorite season!

And watching General Conference is my favorite way to spend two days!

So...needless to say - this was pretty much the BEST weekend ever!!!

What we did:

* Listened to our Prophet and Apostles and heard some amazing things (my personal journal is full of things I need to do and improve on.  I love it!)

*   Took an Autumn walk with the kids along the creek

* Did some yard work in preparation for winter.  Unfortunately the recent snow and rain prevented us from getting it all done;(

*  Played our favorite board game with the kids (CLUE:)   Except that playing clue with 4 kids is pretty much the most tedious thing ever.   John had a blast:)

*  Sewed curtains for the kids.

* Snuggled and watched How to train a Dragon in the middle of the DAY!  (super cozy)

*  Ate an AMAZING turkey dinner with some of John's family.    

* Ignored the pile of Laundry on my bedroom floor waiting to be folded.   (It's amazing how well I can overlook FIVE loads;) 

* Invented TWO fabulous recipes that use Turkey dinner leftovers.   

It was a pretty sweet weekend for sure!!

Prior to the weekend, I had hung up on our kitchen wall a giant sheet of paper where the kids could go and record the things that they are grateful for.     It turned out to be quite fun.    

John was thankful for...? :

Well...John didn't really contribute to this, but I'm sure that is just because he has an aversion to big permanent smelly markers;)   

I was thankful for:

Prophets, Beautiful fall Colors, Waterton, Sunrises, Our Health, My kids, John, John's work and our Home.   

Nathan was thankful for:

His ability to scribble.

Jessica was thankful for:

Grandpa, Bears Hump, Zena,  Daddy and Birds

Abby was thankful for:  

Grandma's pumpkin pie, Grandpa and Grandma, Gladiolas, and the World

Sam was thankful for:

Volcanoes, and Vampires and his Mom;)

Now there is a kid with a heart full of Gratitude.

I'm just glad I rank up there with Volcanoes and Vampires;)

5 things

Well, it's been a big week around here, and I just wanted to journal a few of the highlights..ahem...and low lights?:)   

1:   NEW HOUSE!!!   (sorta:)

For starters, our house officially has a new roof, some new windows,  and is in the process of getting new siding!!!    It was a bit frustrating trying to pick a color to say the least.   I had spent three weeks asking the opinions of anybody and everybody who ever gave the slightest inkling of interest, and still bothered other people for advice even if they didn't care;)   In the end, we pretty much flipped a coin and placed an order for a dark pebble clay color.    

The morning that our contractor was expected to arrive, he phoned me and explained that my choice was actually not available, but that he could list off a bunch of options for me to choose from.    

  So after all of that worrying over options, I pretty much chose the color of my siding OVER THE PHONE!!!!    

I was more then beyond excited to get rid of the old yellow color that was once our home, and the kids (for some reason) have been beyond excited that the contractor wrote "Hi" with tape on the front of our house.   Sam actually asked if it could be left there and not covered up!! haha.  

2.  It SNOWED!!!

Another exciting event this week came with the first snowfall of the year.    The first snowfall is my most favorite time ever!   The flakes are always so big and beautiful, and it always brings with it the feeling that Christmas is just around the corner.   

I'm pretty sure I am the only one in these parts who was excited about this;)Perhaps I just love the first snowfall so much because it covers up all of the work I hadn't gotten to yet in the yard.

If I don't see the weeds, then it's practically as though they are not even there;)

3.   We built our first Snowman of the Year!!!

Wednesday morning, Jess, Nate and I went out and built this snowman with a cute little kit that Auntie Crystal had made for us.     The kids had such a blast, and I was really quite proud of our creation.

I must have been a little too proud of it though, because later that afternoon, while Jessica was at school I watched as a couple of cute neighbors came over and playfully beat it down, smashing it to pieces.    

I felt completely justified in getting after them for it,  until later I saw their Dad quickly rebuilding it before Jess got home from school.   

Yup.   I pretty much felt like a piece of pooh.        

That's right.   Neighbor of the year award.  Right Here.

4.  The last of the Canning is DONE!

 Over the past few months I've had lots of opportunity to practice the whole Canning thing.  I usually just let Jewel do it all with...ur...I mean FOR me, but this year I was determined to learn for myself.   

Perhaps not the wisest decision.

   In June and July I made both Raspberry and Strawberry freezer jam.  (Easy Peasy;)

In August I made crab apple Jelly.   

It didn't set though, so I had to open it all up and try it again.  Now I'm scared to ever eat it.    

Then I tried Pickles.    

Some of the jars didn't seal.  And the garlic in the sealed jars turned blue.   BLUE!!!    

(I'm still so mad at those pickles:)

Then I tried to do pears and Salsa.   

The pears may have worked out ok, but I accidentally doubled the amount of tomato paste in the salsa and am not really sure what we have now.   

I guess you could call it a "chunky CHUNKY, extra mild, very tomatoey salsa." 

Then FINALLY this past week, I processed my beets and turned Max's tomatoes into tomato juice.  

Pretty sure those two turned out ok, and it's about time something turned out because I was ready to give up on the whole 'self reliant' thing.  

 Luckily, now we have dozens and dozens of jars of food that I may resort to using if, and only if, our lives depend on it:)

5.  I feel this need lately to Lighten Up!

I'm going through a bit of a phase these days where I seem to be painting everything I can get my hands on.    And painting it all white!   Candlesticks,  picture frames, benches, shelves....all of it- white, white WHITE!!!     

It's on the verge of becoming an addiction, and I'm pretty sure that our kitchen cupboards are the next in line to get the treatment.  John insists that it would be a mistake because apparently "some wood isn't meant to be painted...blah blah blah."  

It's just a shame that John's not around very much these days to stop me;)

Terry Fox Run

Last week, Abby's grade participated in the Terry Fox Run, and Abby was so excited to get to be a part of it.   

So excited infact, that the night before, she carefully laid out the clothes that she was going to wear.   

(She debated between capris/jogging pants.   Sigh...what to do?:)

She also packed an extra bottle of water.

And before leaving the house, she had to stretch and warm up a bit.   

Most importantly though, she made sure to fill out her card that showed who she would be running for.   

(Grandma Hardy AND Grandma Rausch)   

This event was a big deal to her, and so I figured it might be fun for Nate, Jess and I to go and meet up with her.    They ran around the track for 20 minutes, and simply did as many laps as they could during that time.   

I was impressed with how determined Abby was to keep moving, though I will admit, she talked and visited as much as she ran;)    Nate and Jess did a great job trying to keep up as well.

After they had all finished running, before the students left to walk back to the school, Abby came and wrapped her arms around me, and said, "Mom. Thanks for...you know...stopping all your busy stuff today and coming to be here with me."

It was a slightly cheesy moment, but I did give myself a mental pat on the back for being such an awesome Mom.    

JUST KIDDING!   Actually, what I felt was a huge sense of relief that even though this girl is growing on me, (faster then I'd like her to), she still kinda likes having me around.   

I'm just really grateful that she hasn't grown out of that yet.   

Fingers crossed that she never clues in to how UNcool this Mom of hers really is!!!

Remote Control Man

Sam came to me the other day with his newest creation- this time, something he insisted would be useful to me.    ("Mom"  He said.  "I just know you are totally going to like it!")

What is it, you ask?

Oh nothing much,  just a remote control that literally controls Sam's EVERY move!   

That's right.  

He assured me, that all I had to do was say what it is I wanted Sam to do and then press the right button.   And whammo!   He obeys!!!!

He then proceeded to outline to me what each and every button is for:

I mean this kid really covered the bases, from a red indicator light, to the up and down volume control.   (yup...I can make him talk quieter;) 

I got a kick out of his "make you Cool" button, and couldn't help but wish I'd had a remote like this when I was in High School:)

And a "MUTE" button? 

Be still my heart!   Surely this device is inspired and sent straight from Heaven above:)   

Now, I admit, I was a tad bit skeptical at first that this little remote would actually invoke a response the way Sam promised it would.    Lo and behold, one night a couple of days ago, I actually had a chance to test it out.    

John was at Volleyball practice, and the kids were not going to bed very well.  Nope, not well AT ALL!   (To put it mildly- they were pretty much running circles around me.)   Anyways, all I did was point the remote at Sam... I said "Lay down under your covers and go to sleep" ...pressed the correct button...

and HE DID!!!!

Say WHAT?

I'm thinking I could of used this three kids ago!!!!