To all the moms

John emailed this video clip to me today. He didn't include any message along with the link, but I still enjoyed this song. Hmmm...I wonder why he thought of me when he saw this...?

Today's Sunrise

A New Day

Earlier this week, as I was driving John to school, I just happened to be in the right frame of mind (aka: "calm enough"), to notice the morning sunrise. It was breathtaking. The eastern sky was lit up with the most beautiful shades of pink, red and orange imaginable. It had truly been awhile since I'd seen a sunrise like that before. I was tempted to grab my camera from the house and drive to the edge of town for a great photo to capture the moment. However, the day was already in full swing and it wasn't going to slow down for me to take some pictures. I made a promise to myself that I'd return at the EXACT time the next morning to get the desired photo.



SO.... bright and early this morning, I took John to work, this time being sure to remember the camera. I drove out a couple of minutes out of town where I thought the view would be the most spectacular, only to get a picture of this:



Sure it's pretty I guess. I mean, it's decent. But where are the REDS? The Pinks? That vibrant indigo? (What is indigo anyways. Is that a color?) Where was YESTERDAY'S sunrise?! It's then that I realized, like a complete MORON, something I probably should have learned in grade 5 science. "Oh yeah. Today is a NEW day. Perhaps the sunrise is different each day!" What a concept I've learned everyone. I'll have to remember that.


As for the rest of the day: Thanks to my AWESOME sister jewel, I was able to get into Lethbridge to do some much needed shopping without my two oldest kids. With only Jess to worry about, I was looking forward to a fun and successful trip. In theory, I was going to get to visit with my two sisters -in- law Luce and Rachel a bit which is always nice, and spend John's hard earned money. Those things alone should have made for a GREAT time. Too bad I forgot one little detail - I don't like to shop. I don't like it, and it didn't take long to remember why. In a few hours I was able to:

* spend a lot of money on food and renovation supplies. (nothing interesting if you ask me;)
* get busted trying to shop lift an empty shopping cart at winners (don't ask)
* Jess may or may not have fallen out of the cart. (ok...she did, but she was ok)
* and I may or may not have cried from embarrassment due to said "shopping cart incident" ...or I suppose...BOTH shopping cart incidents. ( I didn't cry. But I was sure red in the face. INDIGO RED to be exact!)

Believe me, it was a relief to come home and spend 5 HOURS unloading the van and putting away groceries. It meant this day of shopping was coming to an end. And the end of today is a very good thing indeed.

After all, the most important thing I learned today, is that "EVERY DAY is a NEW day." Some ... are just prettier then others!

So here is to tomorrow. A new sunrise. A less clumsy me. And not a shopping cart in sight!

Watch out!

Doesn't this look like a boy who is ready to conquer the world?

If you were to ask Sam, he'd probably say he was! It's been well over a week with NO diaper, and he couldn't be more proud of himself.

Look out world. We've got ourselves a big boy now!

This JUST in!

Isn't it funny when there is news to tell- it doesn't take long to get it out! I'd like to think that I don't dapple in gossip yet this post is bound to prove otherwise.

First I must explain my afternoon yesturday. It was a beautiful sunny day and so my sister in law and I decided to take our kids out to Waterton. It's been way too long since I've been there. Infact the last time I'd been out to Waterton it was November and we'd had a great time eating lunch at the Kilmorey lodge while snowflakes fell outside the window. It was perfect. So yesturday we decided to try that again. The lunch at Kilmorey was a lot of fun. Abby enjoyed coloring, and Jessica stared out the window and did everything BUT sit still:) After lunch we drove around the townsite a bit, took a few pictures and came home.

Today. The Kilmorey lodge is gone. It burned down during the night. If any of you have ever visited Waterton, that lodge is the first one you pass by as you enter the town. Such a sad turn of events, as that had become a favorite place for the kids and I. I'm so glad we got to enjoy it one last time.



On to other news:


I visited Abby's classroom today as the parent helper. I always enjoying being around kids in a school setting. Today as I was helping at one table, Abby came and sat down beside me, pulled my head down to her level and said:



Abby: "Mom! cameron* (I figured I'd better change these kids names:) is in LOVE with me. ...and it's for REAL."

Me: ....pause....Is he? How do you know this?

Abby: "He told Hope, and she told me."

Me: (noticing that Abby is smiling from ear to ear, I can't think of anything to say)

Abby: "And mom. Mark* and Mike* KISSED me today."

ME: Hmmm. Like on the cheek right?

Abby: "No. Here. (as she points to her lips)

ME: PANICKING!!!! "ok, Abby....no more kissing. do you understand that."

Abby: "Ok"

At this point Abby ran off to play and I made a mental promise that I would start being the parent helper AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. I'm gonna have to keep an eye on this one!

Not 10 minutes later though, one of the boys (AKA the KISSER) looked up at me and said, "Your nose is really BIG."

That is when I vowed to NEVER be a parent helper again:)

There you have it. The latest gossip from this neck of the woods.

The loss of a historic landmark, Abby's first kiss, and apparantly my nose is big. Some news more ground breaking then other news,

yet all three facts very, VERY sad.

I had to take our van in today for some work. It's been long over due, and we realized that after getting stuck for the billionth time, the other day. You know it's bad when you're told your van has it's "Sunday Shoes" on. New tires are on the menu. And a brake inspection. Perhaps new breaks. Yowsers, I think this is going to be a bill that hurts a bit.

Many times I've asked John if he thought we could EVER get a horse. His answer is always the same, "They are SOO expensive." I don't know though, I'd take one of these over our caravan any day.

Frankly, I think John is just embarrassed at the thought of riding this thing to work. Where would he park?

In other news John LOVED the kids room. It took all day for me to paint it and get everything in place before he got home at 4:00. It was a bit stressful trying to make that deadline. A little bit too "Extreme Makeover" for me. Luckily Jewel and Luci helped by watching my kids.

I was nervous about the color I have to admit, but once I did this:

there was no turning back.


John came home and the kids were suspiciously lurking around the door, and he could definitely smell paint. He walked into the room and:

What John SAID: "Wow. ...It's BLUE!"

Translation (What I HEARD): Wow, you ROCK and so does this ROOM!

A chip off the old block.

When I was little I remember times when my Dad would ship us off to an Aunt and Uncles house, or to my Grandparents house for a day or two. Who knew why? In the moment, we had no clue why, - but to us it didn't matter. The time spent with relatives was always lots of fun, and we enjoyed visiting fun places like Calaway Park, and playing 'kick the can' with much loved cousins. When Dad would return to pick us up we'd say our good byes, get in the car, and head home. That's when we'd discover amazing things. Projects my Dad had been working on in our absense. One time we came home to find that Dad had labored all weekend re arranging the rooms so that Chad and Jewel each had bedrooms of their own. Gone were the days of us three girls sleeping in the same bed.
I remember the excitement as we ran through the house inspecting Chad's room that was now ALL the way down in the basement. After all, he was a big boy now right? Well, obviously not that big, because draped over his bed was some sort of dorky Star Wars comforter. Maybe it was Ewoks. Is that the same thing? Brimming with enthusiasm, to say the least, we ran back upstairs, shrieking like a bunch of 6 year old girls (ok we were, but so what) to see Jewel's new room. Dad had bought her a brand new bed and a comforter with peach flowers, because peach was her favorite color. PEACH of all colors? She also loved to decorate with ostriches, but whatever, that's her issue -I'm digressing. Finally, she had earned her OWN room, away from the two annoying snoops she'd previously dormed with. Oh wait- that was ME! I was mildly jealous, but even for Crystal and I, this was a big deal, made all the better by the element of SURPRISE!

Throughout the course of my childhood, things like this played out often, and it didn't take long to realize that my Dad enjoyed surprising us. He knew how sweet a good surprise could be and he LIVED for those moments. Who doesn't right? Right?


Perhaps that is why I've been planning on painting the kids room tomorrow, and still John has no clue! For those of you who might think this is wrong of me to do- it's not like I'm HIDING anything.

I bought the paint, and put it in an easy to see place at the BACK of our closet underneath a VERY easy to see blanket. I mudded and patched up the walls and he hasn't noticed, and I thought surely when I removed all shelves, pictures and wall decor he'd suspect something, but nope ...notta. I'm thinking that it has something to do with the fact that it is finals time at school, and he has barely taken a break to BREATHE, he's so pre-occupied. (I may or may not have been banking on that.)

I'm not even the least bit worried about him reading this by tomorrow either, because ...well...he doesn't read this blog. By posting this though, I've covered my bases. If he doesn't like it, all I have to say in my defense is, "Hunny It's not like it's been a secret or anything. I posted it on my blog for goodness sake." Yeah, That's what I'll say, and when I say THAT, John won't have a leg to stand on AND it will prove that he doesn't ever check in here, and he'll feel bad for THAT and forgive me for doing THIS without consulting him. Or on the other hand, he'll like it. You see - Win Win.


This time tomorrow the kids will be sleeping amongst a sea of soothing WATER COLOR BLUE, and John will get to experience a bit of the excitement my Dad always tried to create for me and my siblings. Lucky guy. Sure, I admit, John won't be coming home to a room of his very own. Nor will he have a super cool new Star Wars blanket. So in reality, I suppose this will have very little resemblence to my cherished childhood memory.

But I can betcha one thing.

He IS going to be surprised.

pray he likes it people.

Kick It!

The cold weather has set in (again!). Most of my day yesterday was spent shoveling, turning up the heat, re applying socks to three cute little pairs of feet, and getting the van stuck. It was a productive day. Our finest hour came at the point of total boredom. The kids NEEDED something new to do. In desperation I let them all put on their swimsuits. Actually two out of three of my kids wear their swimsuits every day no matter WHAT I say, I just happened to bestow my approval this time.

Once they were all ready,I turned on Janis Saffel's workout CD titiled KICK IT, and we did some of this:

I decided to turn the work out off once I realized the kids were doing better at it then me.

But that wasn't before Sam pulled out THIS move!

This is NOT part of the workout.

On another note, as I was downloading those photos I found this one:

After the kids evening bathes John and I usually come across these 3 little bundles lying on the floor. They like to pretend they are "ROCKS" and my job is to move those little boulders back to their room where John is often waiting to dress them and return them to their normal state of happy little kids. The problem is that as soon as I lift and move a rock to it's room and leave to retrieve another then they all run out of their rooms and plant themselves down on the floor again like this. This routine goes on ...well as long as we have the patience to let it. The kids think it is a HOOT!

After lugging them back and forth- I'm thinking, that I don't really need a work out video after all.

Thanks anyways Janis Saffel- but I've got three kids!

Three things to smile about! atleast around our place

1.

I LOVE this photo. Can you even tell what it is?
I know I take some fascinating photos eh? If you guessed, "a pile of dirt" - you're right! Dark, wet, healthy, wonderful soil. Home of my future garden. It is funny how it took a few weeks of unrelenting cold and heavy snowfalls to bury this earth, yet a Chinook rolled in last night and in less then a day it is half melted. I've never seen such a melt down before, but I'm sure loving it. It's been nice to spend the day NOT shoveling.

Seeing that beautiful brown dirt makes me want to grab a shovel (but NOT a SNOW SHOVEL) and plant something. Did I once say that I "never wanted to garden again?" Hmm. I can hardly recall that now.

2.

We've been working hard on potty training Sam these days. He's done pretty well so far. (it's amazing what success you get with a handful of cheerios, and gumballs for a reward) We're feeling a little hopeful that soon, fingers crossed, having TWO kids in diapers will be a thing of the past!

Though I do have to say that cleaning the bathroom is a whole new experience now. Yikes!

3.

My Christmas gift to John arrived in the mail today. Back in the spring I'd posted about a maple syrup experiment we did with some trees in our yard. A Day in our Lives!: Truly Canadian Eh!!
We basically boiled the sap down and made pure ORGANIC syrup. It was delicious, all 4 ounces of it! Since then, John has been fascinated with the "tapping" process and is determined to mine the sap from all of our maples. He's even eyeing some trees further down the block as well. I had been looking for some authentic sap buckets and spiles for days leading up to Christmas, wanting to give John a great gift. No luck though. Those things are hard to find here on the prairie. One last effort, phone call to my awesome, clever, helpful and sometimes slightly crazy (I fear) brother who knows eBay like nobodies business...and, oi la we've got buckets. Thanks for coming through for us as always Chad!

Now, when our neighbors start complaining about the buckets John has hooked up to all of their trees I'll just tell them it is my trixy, password stealing, oh so funny, brother's fault. Take it up with him! Speaking of HIM, my brother's family recently returned from a week long trip to Disney land! CHEMT_

3 (and a little bit).
sigh...Disneyland. Now, THAT makes me smile too!

Back to School

Good bye lazy mornings, and slow pancake breakfasts.
Good bye jogging pants and pajamas. You've made our days quite comfy!
Good bye turkey and ham dinners. We've gotten fatter thanks to you!
Good bye Christmas tree and cozy nights reading next to your glow.
Good bye wonderful long weekends with family and loved ones.
Good bye "silent" phone. Darn you, you've already begun ringing again.
Good bye Daddy. We've had fun playing with you

Good bye HOLIDAY .
We can't wait until you come back to us again!

Lift where you stand

I love it when the Conference issue of the Ensign comes out. Usually what I do, when we receive our copy is immediately turn to the section that contains the talks given at the priesthood session. I am convinced that some of the BEST talks ever come from that meeting. This year was no exception. If you have not read Elder Uchtdorf's talk titled, "Lift where you stand", I hope that you will.


For me this was the type of talk that inspired me to a) be satisfied with who I am and where I am in my life 2) be more humble with what my role is right now d) be a "lifter." I realize that may not even be a real word, but the message behind it still counts. I spent last year trying to notice and SAVOR the good things in my life. This year I wanted to focus on a word that would help me improve who I am, to myself, and to others. I wanted to STRETCH myself a little more. That is why the word I chose this year is:


______________

LIFT

(where I stand, of course)

Part of Speech: verb
Definition: promote, improve
Synonyms:
advance, boost, build up, dignify, elevate, enhance, exalt, hike, raise, support, upgrade, revitalize
Antonyms: demote, depress, dispirit, weaken
Roger's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third EditionCopyright © 2008 by the Philip Lief Group.

___________________________

Not a fancy word like I'd originally wanted to find, but believe me this will stretch me. ...A whole LOT! I LOVE the synonyms associated with this word.

I want to RAISE above my weaknesses, I want to BOOST those around me, I want to SUPPORT John more, I want to DIGNIFY my kids and family, I want to ENHANCE our daily life in every little way possible, I want to LIFT WEIGHTS and improve my physical strength, I want to REVITALIZE so so SO much!

I plan to use Elder Uchtdorf's talk for motivation, and perhaps I'll share my learnings along the way with you. Thanks again to Nikki for inspiring me a year ago with this New Years Challenge.

(to learn more- go to Nikkis's blog and read about the Handel's Challenge)

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Looking back

With the year drawing to an end, I've been reflecting a lot on the events of the past 12 months. At this time last year I was contemplating my what my New Years resolution(s) would be for 2008. I was inspired by a friend to try something new. Instead of making a list of several changes/goals for the new year, she suggested finding one word that would become our theme for the next year. One word, that would mean something to us and encompass all that we want to accomplish in all aspects of life. I loved that concept and after several days of thinking I decided my word for 2008 would be savor. My goal seemed simple, it was to savor all the good things in my life. Enjoy them. Relish in the goodness that I've been blessed with. I wanted to learn how to relax and appreciate those things that matter most. I had hoped to learn how to never take things for granted. Although this might seem lofty and as unattainable as any other new years resolution I could have made, I promise the results have been amazing. I've not perfected this, but having the focus to savor the good things truly opened my eyes to just HOW good things are!

We did more, travelled more, and experienced more as a family this year then ever before. It seemed as though, the moment I decided to "enjoy" each aspect of my life, was the moment life got really really good. Maybe this goal just helped to open my eyes wide open to what has always been here. The only difference now is that I'm learning to appreciate it and be grateful for it.


This weekend John and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. 7! That's a pretty good number if you ask me. Sure it isn't quite a decade but it is more then 5. More then 6 years even! 7! Wow. Looking back on the past 7 years together there has been so much change. Some adversity. Lots of weakness (eh heh...moving on), and tonnes of learning. I shouldn't want to change any of that. Not a thing. If I've learned anything this year, it is to be grateful for every up and try to acknowledge the blessings in each down as well.

So here's to 7 more. And 7 more after that. And 7 more then. Actually here's to forever together. I'll be savoring it all!

All wrapped up!

It is amazing to me how we can spend days and days, even WEEKS, preparing for Christmas and then once it finally comes...it's gone- way too quickly. Christmas this year was great for us, and here are a few of the things we enjoyed most.

1: SANTA. This year I`d arranged for a home-visit from our own personal Santa Claus. Actually his name was Dan, but the kids don't know that. We made them answer the door when Santa came and they truly just stood there not knowing what to do. It was so funny...and a little awkward too:) Once they actually let Santa in the kids warmed up to him.

He brought them each a little present, let them sit on his lap, and he even inspected each of their stockings and made sure they were adequate for his visit later that evening.
Thanks Santa! It was a great way to emphasize the commercialism of the season. I mean it was a GREAT way to kick off the night. If the kids weren't excited before-they sure were after that visit.







2. Our very first (made by us) Turkey dinner! Well, maybe it is our second-I`m not sure. The thought of making a Turkey AND stuffing that wasn`t stove-top was a tad bit daunting to me, but I think it turned out ok. Not quite as yummy as this turkey photo, but ok.
We made sweet potatoes (My OWN special recipe;), stuffing, potatoes, gravy, pomegranate salad, etc. John and I were getting a little worried that we`d have to have this meal alone. Seeing as my in-laws failed to be there for us this year. (Yes Jordan and Luci that is a shot at you two!  We missed ya) Luckily though,  my sister and some of HER in-laws came through for us. We were glad to have a fun crowd and a houseful of VERY excited kids. It made for a fun time, and I have since been only mildly concerned about giving everyone salmonella!



3. Lights Galore. After supper we headed out for our favorite drive around town to look at the lights. These were two of our favorite homes.

Only a couple of times did Abby beg us to go home so she could go to bed. I think that had something to do with the fact that Santa told her to get to bed early tonight!








4. Preparing for Santa. It was fun to watch Abby lovingly prepare for Santas arrival. She lovingly set out a glass of milk, a plate of cookies, a bag of reindeer snacks, and carrots. Once all was arranged perfectly, both her and Sam ran off to bed without any instruction from us. Who knew it could be so easy
It kinda got me thinking. Do you suppose it would be wrong to tell the kids Santa is coming, even if it is NOT Christmas? I would be willing to splurge on a gift even.










5. Christmas Morning. The kids LOVED waking up and seeing all of the presents awaiting there unwrapping. One by one they plowed through those gifts getting more and more excited with every one. As a parent it was great fun to watch.
The rest of our day has pretty much been spent sleeping, reading, watching movies and eating. The kids have loved playing with their toys. Abby and I spent a large part of the day hand painting all of her new ceramic princess figurines. I think I had as much fun with this as Abby!










6. Snow play
Do NOT worry. To off set our laziness, John and Abby ventured out into the snow to build snow forts. This is likely a project that will continue through out the holiday.



It was a great couple of days. We hope that yours was equally wonderful!

Re-post- (my favorite christmas)

I never go Christmas shopping without thinking about my favorite Christmas 24 years ago. My siblings remember this year well. My mom was ill. Together her and my Dad had decided that they would not purchase a single thing for us but instead, they each would make us something. My mom made us all matching pajamas. My Dad set to work building something. ...something big. For weeks and weeks our basement was "off limits", while my Dad labored on our gifts. We could hardly wait to see what it was. On Christmas morning we woke up and went downstairs to find the most beautiful playset I had ever seen. I still have not found a playset that would match this one. It took up an entire room. This playset was big, it had everything, real dials, faucets, a dishwasher, food...the works! My sisters and I played in that room for years, (with the odd invation from my brother and some of his He-Man.)
I recall very little about that time in my life...but I do remember the hours spent with my sisters in that little room. Perhaps that is the gift my Dad wanted to give most of all. As he knew we would be losing our mother, perhaps what he wanted to give us, more than anything else, was the ability to just...play. To be kids. Even now this playset occupies a room at my sisters house and all our girls love it and use it as much as we did. Now that was a gift.
So as I contemplate what to give my own kids now, and when I get tempted to just buy "anything" off the shelf or think it doesn't matter, because Christmas isn't about presents anyways; I'm reminded of that year, and I'm inclined to think that maybe Christmas can be a little bit about "presents", IF we find the right one.

Luckily, if I fail to find something great for my precious three, I can always take comfort that they do know about the greatest gift of all. Yes, the real meaning of Christmas. Thank goodness for that

The reason for the season

Yesterday we spent all afternoon baking and delivering treats to some of the friends and family in our ward. Cinnamon buns, buns, chocolate caramel crackers, pop and a basket of carrots for that family who doesn't do flour, sugar or salt. They're home grown carrots OK!
I LOVE delivering things to other families, and the kids enjoyed it this year too. Abby liked being able to carry everything, and SAM liked being able to climb through all of the snowdrifts while we visited. On the way home snowflakes started to lightly fall as John and Abby sang Christmas carols, altering the lyrics ridiculously. It was a perfect evening.
We feel pretty much ready for Christmas around here. The gifts are wrapped and hidden, fridge is packed, treats are delivered. Even Abby has prepped and wrapped a gift for Santa and it is lovingly sitting under the tree. I'm not sure what she put in there - but ...it'd better be GOOD! Just kidding.


I'm including a recipe for the yummiest chocolate covered crackers ever. Make this. You must.


Christmas Crackers

1 Package of Saltine Crackers
1 cup of butter
1 cup of sugar
some chocolate chips

Lay some parchment paper on a cookie sheet and lay out the crackers side by side. Melt the butter and add the brown sugar. Simmer this for three minutes. Pour over the crackers coating each one. Bake at 500 for 5 minutes. Remove and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over top. Spread the chocolate. Let cool. Break it all up, sit down in front of a good movie OR SLIDESHOW and enjoy the wonderfulness of this week.

....or give them away I suppose:)

On that note: Here are a couple of slideshows that have been sent my way via email. They've helped remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. We hope you enjoy them as well.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Christmas Fun

We've got the flu at our place. I'm elated. I'm not even being sarcastic right now. Though that might sound like something awful for a nurturing mother like me to say, words cannot explain my relief that we are all getting sick now, rather then next week. We've done the whole Flu during Christmas thing before. Not fun. Of course, this does make me question the validity of FLU SHOTS and I can't help but wonder why, WHY did I rush to Pincher Creek and force my children to be poked by those horrible needles? Every year I take the kids to get the vacinne, and every year I ignore guilty feelings I have due to the controversy of the flu shots. Once and for all can someone give me the low down? You know. Yay or nay on the whole debate. What are the risks, why is it so controversial, and WHY do we still get the flu?

Like I said though - it's all good. By the weekend all will be well again around here.

I took Abby and Sam out the other night to a nativity display hosted by another stake. It was really nice to see so many different styles and cultural depictions of the saviors birth.
Just outside of the church they were putting on a live Nativity show, which the kids desperately wanted to see. It was freezing, blasting cold out though, and I must admit I did feel a twinge of guilt when I told Abby that they were "cancelling the show" for the night. "Then why is Mary riding on that donkey?" Abby asked. Turns out she also noticed the half dozen youth dressed as angels sitting up on the roof of the church too. Busted. Why are my kids tougher then me? When did that happen? Still, we braved the cold, went, saw it, and enjoyed a little bit more of the Christmas season.


Since I titled this post "Christmas Fun" I'd better post something at least mildly fun. This is a great medley that I saw on Melissa's blog last year. 


!
Only one more week 'till Christmas