Sunday to Sunday

Last Sunday I got to travel down to Bozeman to watch my sister in law Sarah perform in a piano recital.   John and the kids had to stay home, sadly, as they needed to be at school the next day.  It was just Nate and I who caught a ride with some of my other in-laws.    The ride down was pretty nice.  Nate was content to sit in his car seat and smile away.  I got to read, listen to Conference addresses and TED talks for 6 hours!    I did not play a SINGLE game of I SPY! 


It was a gorgeous day to drive through Montana too!

We arrived in Bozeman right in time for Sarah's recital.  It was fabulous.  One of my favorite things to do is to watch people do what they are good at.   It made me want to work on all of the things I enjoy and have been neglecting.  Sarah is so passionate about the piano and it shows in the way she plays.  She really respects the music.  

It was enjoyable to spend Sunday evening in Bozeman playing games, visiting with John's family (sans John) and cuddling with Nate.    I was so glad that John was willing to let Nate and I go.  He had to take the kids to church that day on his own.  Get them to piano lessons and school the next day, and then get himself to work on time too.  John seemed to handle it all just fine, much to my disapointment. 

I would like to think that their little worlds revolve around me, but spending two days without me for the first time ever didn't seem to phase them one bit. 

C'mon John.  You could have at least pretended to struggle.  They may have done great on their own, but I could not wait to get back to them.  

Abby turned 7 on Thursday.   This year she got THREE parties!  How does that happen?  I still don't really understand how a kid can be so spoiled - but Abby was in Heaven.  

She crashed her cousin Jaxson's birthday dinner by insisting on her own cupcake, candles and song.  The next day she invited her two cousins Ava and Mya over for a fancy party, and then Friday was her friend party.  It was such fun to have Abby's school friends over.  They are cute kids, and I took extra delight in embarrassing Abby any chance I got.  I had to.  It's what makes parenting so enjoyable!   

It has been a delightfully gorgeous weekend here.  Our kids have been running around outside without their coats on for the past couple of days.  We've opened up our windows for the first time this year,and it is so invigorating to smell the fresh air and feel a warm spring breeze float through the house.  Spring is almost here!!!

This became especially apparant to me this morning when I stole away (as I often do on Sunday mornings) for an hour or two of peace and quiet.  AKA: picture taking.   I love Sunday mornings!   I found a gravel road that seemed promising and followed it as far as I could.   It was barely 6:30 in the morning and the sun was just starting to rise. 

Snapped this photo of Chief mountain before heading back home. 

On the way back I stopped and watched a group of bald eagles circulating over a farmer's field.

  For a moment I wished that Jessica was with me as she LOVES eagles. 

 But that lasted a moment, before I was happy again to be alone.

I enjoyed stopping for a moment to watch these birds up on a hill.

  The sun was making it difficult to see, and I can't really tell if they are Canadian geese or Trumpeter Swans but they were making a beautiful sound. 

 

All of this was proof to me that SPRING is definitely on its way!

Happy Sunday!

Lucky number 7

The 4th of March is Abby's Birthday.   I find it hard to believe that she is already 7.    SEVEN! 

 People frequently stop me and tell me to "enjoy this time" in my life, because one day I will wake up and the kids will all be grown.      I am beginning to realize how true that is.   More and more I am experiencing little moments when I look at my kids (specifically this one) and wonder what happened!!   And where has my baby gone?      It is funny how the more kids I have - the more inxperienced I feel as a Mom.  Luckily, Abby is living proof that kids can survive pretty much anything!

 

A few things about the Birthday Girl:

*  She has a real knack for the dramatics.  If you dare ask her a question- you better be ready for her response.  She loves attention, and there are not many circumstances in which she would be shy. This became apparant to me years ago when I watched her (at the age of 2)  walk up to some teenagers who were smoking on a playground and say, "Hey friends.  Wanna play with me?" 

*  Abby is a HUGE help with Nate.  When she gets home from school, she scoops him up and holds him on her lap for as long as I need.  She has recently begun changing his diaper ON HER OWN.  I watch her talk to him and console him the same way I would.    As a result- she is often the recipient of some of Nates biggest and happiest smiles! 

*  Abby can speak FENGLISH.   To those of you who don't know, (as I'm sure very few would), what Fenglish is, let me explain it to you.   Fenglish is a made up language created by her and her cousins Ava, Ella and Mya.  It consists of replacing the first constenant of every word with the letter F.  (Ie: "I Love You" in Fenglish is "FI Fove Fou.")   I recently had to play an entire game of Battleship with her speaking this cursed language. 

*  Abby is the master procrastinator.  She can weasle out of homework after school like nothing else.  This usually results in last minute cramming during breakfast, thus causing me to vow each and every morning that I will never let her put things off ever again.   (Note:  It appears I am the slowest learner ever)

*  Abby has an amazing memory.  She can ramble off old movie lines, poems, songs, and scriptures without having to think twice.  John and Abby often quote movie lines together, and I am left watching them wondering what the heck they are talking about!   It's as bad as being left out of an "inside Joke."

*She's TALL for her age.  In fact I usually beg her a minimum of 50 times a day to STOP GROWING!  She just smiles...rolls her eyes as if she was already eighteen,  and assures me that everybody has to grow up sometime.     Duh!

*  I've been told that Abby treats everybody in her class at school with equal respect.  I can't think of a better compliment then that.  I know that at some point she will be confronted with that dreaded concept of "popularity," and (for the next what ... 40 years or so?) it will have an impact on how she is both treated and how she treats others.  So far though, Abby remains convinced that everyone in her class is equally cool- and I LOVE that. 

* She has a happy personality, and an over the top SILLY sense of humor.  She tells the lamest jokes ever, and laughs hysterically at each and every one of them.  She's her own audience- this kid. 

*  She's one of my Best friends. 

Nope -  I don't mind saying it:

"I Hope she NEVER grows Up!"

Our kids this week

There is nothing - absolutely NOTHING better then a sleeping baby!

I will forever love this picture of Nate.   Ienjoyed a rare moment this week when Sam and Abby were at school and Jess was playing at my sister Jewel's house.   It was just me and Nate. 

He chose to spend our time together sleeping.

I spent that time watching him.

This photo makes me laugh too. 

When Nate was younger we noticed that he had a slight "kink" in his neck. Sure a little bit of it was probably due to him being so young,  and undeveloped still.   But this was more then just an infant's floppy neck.  He really would  favor one side, and he seemed almost bothered when he had to turn it to the left.   After a few visits to our local chiropractor Nate had much more mobility and far less discomfort.  This is one of the stretching excercises we were taught to do with him.  We just hold him like this and let gravity straighten things out.  Every time I see this - I want to be hung upside down to.  Doesn't that look like the best stretch! 

 
 
 
 

This photo does NOT make me happy.

 

  Despite the fact that both kids SEEM to be fine, that is NOT the case.  Nate is unwillingly being held hostage and there is NOTHING that can be done about it.  Jess is one determined little girl and she has recently declared that Nate is HER baby. 

Not good. 

Back before Valentines Day had even come, John and I felt compelled to require a little bit more from our kids.  Specifically when it comes to clearing their plates after a meal.  Usually when we want to see results from our three oldest, we resort to bribery.   It is a tried and tested technique in our home, and it has NEVER failed us.   

In fact Jess STILL insists on clearing her table stuff, and STILL asks every time if "this means she can have a treat on Valentines Day."   Sure kid..  Do this for the next ...oh, eleven months, and I will be more then happy to pay up!

The kids have been playing extremely well together lately.  (They are obviously very bored:)  One day they played "soup kitchen."   It consisted of using every bowl and spoon I would let them use, and serving soup to all the customers.  

 

I got in trouble though when I took this picture. 

Abby looked up and said, "Oh please. No Flash Photography."

I really shouldn't be posting this picture, I know.  It doesn't reallly portray us as the classy bunch I try so hard to make us appear as.  One evening I had my camera out and Sam was obviously hurting for some attention.  

 Ergo - underpants on the head! 

On my sister Jewels fridge there is a quote that says something along these lines,

"If your Child is a hand full,

it is because he is not

often enough an arm full."

So what usually goes through my mind when Sam comes charging out of his room looking like this?

"Here is a kid who needs a HUG."

Very Very badly

Go Canada!

John and I have gotten very caught up in watching the Olympics this  year.    We don't have cable, as I only order that when it is General Conference time,  but we have instead been watching the coverage online.  In fact it is not rare for us each to be seen lugging our computers with us from one room to another because we do not want to miss a single moment.   I don't know why I haven't enjoyed it this much in previous years.  Where have I been?   Have the Olympics always been this much fun?

 It is incredibly inspiring to see how skilled a person can be in their own specific field.  These athletes are all so accomplished and good at what they do.  Doesn't it make you want to find something to be great at too?


For me, without a doubt my favorite event to watch has been the Ice Dancing competition, in which these two Canadians took the Gold Medal!    When I was watching this event the other night,  Abby was laying in bed beside me NOT SLEEPING (the little stinker), and as she watched  along she let out a breath and said, "Whoa!  They are even better then ME!"    (I love how Abby has only recently managed to complete a lap around our local rink without assistance and suddenly she's an expert:)

(Photo Coutesy of the Vancouver Sun)

 She's right though.   It was a very moving Dance. One that I can't stop watching replays of.  In fact, I usually turn it on now while I cook supper, and try to dance along a bit on my own.  (Believe me, it's tough without a partner, but Nate gets a kick out of watching me.)

Even better then this amazing skate though, was when Virtue and Moir accepted their Gold Medals.   They both seemed so completely overjoyed and the crowd was crazy for them.    I was so happy when they stood on that podium and our National anthem began.   They sang O' Canada right along with everybody else in the arena and they sang it so enthusiastically, it was contagious!  I am convinced that we have the most beautiful anthem ever written.  

 Definitely, by far, my favorite award ceremony.   

So what Olympic moment has inspired you?    

It's my party- I can cry if I want to

I mentioned in my post yesterday that we celebrated Jessica's third birthday this week. My computer is up and running now, so I had to post a few pics of the event.


This was taken earlier in the day. Jessica was more then happy to help bake her birthday cake. She insisted on adding ALL of the ingredients. (most of which actually got in the bowl.)   And she insisted on MIXING it on her very own because she is, after all, such a big girl now. (most of it ended up on my blinds)

Of course the best part of any birthday party is when everybody stands around and sings to you.  Jess might look a bit shy here, but trust me, she was loving every second of it.    For a brief moment - she was on top of the world!

But no one gets to be the center of attention for too long. 

Three is such a tough age.

A lot of celebrating!

What a week!  So much has happened, but sadly all of my pictures are stuck on my camera, until my computer is working again.  So this will be a long post sans pictures, unless I can find some on John's computer or the internet that might apply.


Last Sunday we celebrated the Chinese New Year at my sister Jewel's house.    I LOVE Chinese New Year!    Jewel's home looked lovely and festive, and there was no shortage of yummy dishes.  Lemon Chicken, stir fry, chicken wings, lettuce wraps and peanut sauce, and the yummiest pot stickers (gyozas) EVER!  It is to date one of my favorite meals so far, because the food was ridiculous!   Seriously, I took pictures, and it is a shame I can't show them.  I want to eat the photo!     Jewel kept insisting that if her Brother in Law Lorin had been there it would have been yummier, as he apparently specializes in the whole Gyoza department.  I find it hard to believe a meal like that could be any tastier - but John and I would be more then willing to be the judges of that!

Happy Year of the Tiger everyone! 

 (this is not  our Nate just some zazzle.com  baby that is almost as adorable.  Almost)

The kids had no school all week so a lot of time was spent playing.    Our board games were used well this week, as well as several impromptu rounds of hide and seek.  I have made several observations about my kids as I've tried to play with them this week, but perhaps I'll save it for another post, when I can share pictures.

The highlight of this week came yesterday when we celebrated Jessicas 3rd birthday.  Three!  Has it already been that long?   Whenever I think of Jessica's birth I experience a broad range of feelings.  Within days of her birth my Dad passed away.  Weeks after that we learned of John's mom's illness.  That was the start of a very difficult year, but I was always so grateful every time I held Jess.  She seemed to me to be this little bundle of joy amidst a lot of sadness.    She still is that little spark of happiness and we are so thankful for her.

She milked her birthday for all it was worth.  She helped make her cake.  (Hence the batter on my blinds and walls),  and she wore her "princess dress" all day long.  She waited anxiously for HOURS for her cousins to arrive, and when they did she behaved like a true Diva!    Only when it is your birthday can you act like that. ...and only when you are three for that matter too.  




    She's lucky she's so CUTE!

Three Years Ago...

This little Ray of Sunshine was born!Since my computer is not working right now I can not share the photos I'd been taking this week of the birthday girl.  Hopefully these older pictures will do.



Some things about this kid:

     She has a little pixie voice that can scream bloody murder if you make her mad enough, but thankfully,  most people only know the sweet quiet side of her.

She loves Band-aids, and is always looking for some excuse to apply one on some part of her body.

She's got a warm smile and DIMPLES that melt my heart.

She loves the outdoors.

 She LOVES taking care of Nate,  (at least, that is what she calls it.)

She has a real flare for fashion!  Dressing up and playing house are her favorite things to do these days.  In fact when we play house - she is always "casey" and I am ALWAYS "Margaret."

She loves to help out in the kitchen - but I just learned today that she is TERRIBLE with a hand mixer.  


She says the sweetest prayers, and  gives the biggest hugs.

She has a feisty competitive streak to her.  Perhaps the result of being a middle child.  ( I know her pain)

We LOVE her something fierce! 

She's a good kid this one.

Happy Birthday Jessica!

This Past Week

It has been a busy week.  Which probably explains why it has FLOWN by!    I'll try to re-cap some of the highlights.

Abby was thrilled (on Wednesday), to go back to school in the evening to the science fair.  Who enjoys going back to school?  I guess a five year old does.   She was very proud of her cousin Ava who's science project was awarded honorable mention.   Good Job Ava!  We are proud of you too!!!

Speaking of 'how time flies"...Nate is now three and a half months old!  We have SOO much fun with this little guy it surprises me sometimes.  I don't remember babies being this fun?  This week he recognized his reflection as his own.  I love this age when they start discovering who they are.  He now loves playing in front of the mirror. What a vain little thing.

Poor little Nate caught a cold this weekend and it has worsened over the past couple of days.  I took him to the emerge today after church and he is now being treated for Bronchitus.  How does a baby get bronchitus of all things?  It's a shame he has such a bad mommy.   tsk tsk.

The biggest excitement this week has been the Valentine Festivities at the school.  I always look forward to the holiday decor that covers our kids' doors at times like this.  We had a lot of fun afternoons reading through valentines given, and creating some of our own.

This year for John, I made his favorite Banana Muffins.    Nailed to that 2x4 are tickets to an upcoming production of Anne of Green Gables.  So really- a gift for both of us!  (I'm so efficient!)

For the record I have NEVER (before today) called my Husband "Stud Muffin." Honest! I would never call him something so ridiculous as that.

I actually call him "Huney Bunch". 

No I'm just kidding - I don't call him that either. 

John borrowed some snow skis and snow shoes from a family friend.  Abby and him have already ventured out, and wonder of wonders Abby's getting the hang of it!  We plan on going as a family tomorrow as part of our Family Day festivities!  

Other news of this week. 

1.

We have enjoyed watching glimpses of the Olympics on the one channel that we sometimes pick up.    My friend Jodi Judd got to fly out to Vancouver and be a torch bearer out there just hours before opening ceremonies!!!  How cool is that?   She was interviewed for the national news, and when I watched the coverage that night and I was so proud of her. (And jealous.)  But mostly proud.

2.

John and I both gave talks in Church today.  As much as I miss our old ward, the people here have been so kind to us, and I am looking forward to getting to know people better.   It's a shame I made such a fool of myself.  Picture:  me standing up and bursting into tears.  

It happened.  (It was like the time in grade 4 when I gave a speech on animal testing and cried the whole way through it.)  Today was just as bad.  I didn't look to verify, but I'm pretty sure that I dripped snot onto the pulpit.  So much for making a good impression. 

But "Stud Muffin" on the other hand...

gave a great talk!

I'm so glad I married him!  Perhaps I can look smart by association. 

HAPPY VALENTINES EVERYONE!!! 

And Chinese New Year (if applicable)

A little Book Club Anyone?

I belong to the best book Club ever!  A group of  a dozen or so woman ranging in ages from 24ish to 80ish.  I look forward to our monthly visits and ALWAYS enjoy the books selected each month.  We've read some good ones.    Without this group I likely would not have found so many wonderful novels to read and enjoy.  I'm the type of person who can't just walk into a Library and find something Great.  Maybe I feel overwhelmed with all of the selection.  Perhaps I very literally "judge a book by its cover,"  and over look all those classics.  I just never find any gems on my own.  But I've always been happy with what is recommended. 

  I've recently begun reading to the kids each night as part of our bed time routine.  For the most part Abby is the only one who ever really follows the story- but my dull, monotonous voice lulls San and Jess to sleep in no time, which works out great.  For the most part, it's been a great way to end our busy days.

So far we've read:

Tale of Desperaux
Where the Red Fern Grows
Charlottes Web
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Sign of the Beaver
A Christmas Carol


Currently we are reading Anne of Green Gabels and I am loving it! I grew up watching the movie, and the book is every bit as good!  That usually is the case though, isn't it.

 

The problem is we are halfway through it, and I am fresh out of ideas of what we should read next.

So....what was your favorite book as a Child?

I'd love your suggestions!

Three stops for us

We had a family baby blessing to attend this weekend.  It meant for us- a trip to Calgary.  Something we don't do often enough!

Stop 1:  To say we were excited to stop by my Brother Chad's house doesn't quite go far enough.  I don't know who was more excited.  The kids, or John and I.   It seemed as though we could not reach their home quickly enough.  My three oldest were "just dying"  (Abby's words, not mine!) to see Cringer the Cat and to play with Ella, Tyson, and Mason.  John and I were equally excited to relax and enjoy the hospitality.   As far as hospitality goes- they pull out all the stops.  We LOVED the Num Tok (a Thai specialty), the Hot Chocolate Cake, pizzas, and every other yummy food we ate.   Crystal drove out with her kids and joined us for dinner- so it was a real party.  Here is a quick little fact about Heather.  She  can cook!  We've never gone to their home without sampling/devouring some new creative dish or desert.   You can tell she spends a lot of time preparing each meal.  And it seems that as soon as one meal is done - she begins making the next.   The thing I admire most about her though is that she seems to enjoy it.  And if she doesn't?  Well that makes it even more admirable! 

Feeding two extra families...while holding a baby?    Piece of cake!

As always, I recieved a great camera tutorial from my brother, and slowly but surely I'm starting to really understand my camera a bit better thanks to all of his tips.  One day it will actually show in the photos I take. 

Stop 2:  By Saturday evening, we'd eaten until we were fat AND we'd torn Chad and Heather's house apart, which meant it was the perfect time for us to move on.   A trash and dash of sorts...   So it was off to Crystal's house in the city.  A few years ago when John was a student at UofC, Jeremy and Crystal moved their family into the 1 room basement suite and let us have the much larger top floor of their home.  They were so good to us that year- and still are.   We always enjoy going back there. The kids went to bed quickly (a sign of a great day), and John and I stole that oppportunity to run down the street to watch a basketball game.  Our high school boys were up there playing in a tournament.  It was fun to see them play, seeing as we've never gone to a home game.   We spent the rest of the evening eating (big surprise) and chatting.  

Our kids were very happy to wake up the next morning and realize they were still visiting cousins.     After a stellar crepe breakfast and yet another mess...you guessed it.  Time to move out.



Stop 3:  Of course the weekend would not have been complete without attending the baby blessing of our newest niece, Marilyn Grace.   John's brother Ben gave the most beautiful blessing and his wife Kat hosted the most delicious brunch afterwards.  (again with the food, I know!)  Ben and Kat are a pretty striking couple with a drop dead gorgeous baby! Seriously... a real beautiful Family! 

Marilyn has the sweetest, most dainty features, and longest lashes.  The cutest thing though is that she has this little "squeak" when she breathes, and the most adorable "snort" when she cries.  I have a feeling this is going to be one musical little babe.  She reminded me of a little squeaker toy! 
But a very cute squeaker toy.



The drive home went smoothly.  All weekend there has been this thick, heavy fog that has never really subsided.  In attempt to keep the kids awake in the van we played "I-spy."   It went something like this: 

"I spy with my little eye something that is...white."  

..."Is it um...the fog?"

...."Yes!  How did you know?"

Repeated a bazillion times.




Thank you so much to all of our family who welcomed us this weekend.  We really did enjoy each and every stop along the way!

I'm starting to wonder...

Why I even try.

Point a camera and this is what she does.

But, oh she's just so cute!

Lucky for that.

Quote of the Day

"If you didn't see it with your own eyes, or hear it with your own ears, don't invent it with your small mind and share it with your big mouth."
- Taken from my friend Natalie

 

 This quote was posted on my friends facebook status for a few days.   I liked it the moment I read it. You know you've received some good advice when it makes you feel a little bit guilty.

For example, I now really regret ALL those times I talked bad about the West Side of town. 

Remember. Back before we ever moved to the West side.

Turns out- it really isn't so bad over here. 

Who knew?

Small town Life for ya

I recently made a trip to the states. As in the United States of America. I think it marked my fifth time probably ever being ouside of this country- and definately my first time crossing the border alone.   I felt both nervous and excited all at the same time.  I always love a road trip!

I went all the way to Babb to get the mail.

Okay, so it may not have been much of an adventure but it was a very pretty drive. It is always neat to see the different sides of Chief Mountain.

Here is the most familiar view.

And then there is this view of the mountain. Once you cross the border it changes a little. And check out this American Horse that ran into the photo.

It was running along side the road outside of the fence.
They are so backwards in the states.

I love Horses. Love them. I wanted to take this one home with me since it apparantly seemed lost.  Finders keepers right?  Unfortunately,   I figured I might have some problems explaining that to the boarder guards.    Plus I forgot my lasso at home.

I wasn't quite expecting to see this horse though as I entered town. I came upon him just a few blocks from my own house.

I don't know why it surprises me to see horses roaming the streets of town.   It made me think of that early morning when we first moved here from the city, and were woken up by the melodic mooing of a bovine that was standing right outside our bedroom window.

Why should a horse on 7th Street surprise me?

After all, this is the same town in which the teachers drive their tractors to work.

Yup, this is my kind of place!

Blog to Book!

A couple of weeks ago I ordered a published version of our Blog, and it just arrived today! I Love this book even more then I thought I would.   Despite the fact that it is filled with my obnoxious and sarcastic undertones, it has proved to be a fairly accurate journal for our family. 

We started this blog sometime on March 3rd 2007, with a quick post introducing our then 3 children.   It was only hours after that, that we learned of my Dad's sudden death.

Two weeks later we learned that John's Mom was ill, and we made the spontanious decision to move down south. This blog has journalled all of those events and everything inbetween.

Of course, there are far more happy memories packed in this book. Like this beauty.

This was the first time I ever let Abby dress herself for kindergarten.

And, for the record, this entry also marked the LAST time I ever let Abby dress herself for school!

Every single trip we've ever taken out to Waterton is in this book. The pages are laden with beautiful photos from every season, not to mention loads of picnics with family.

Mind you, some pages are tainted with the occasional entry about John's remote controlled plane and his adventures in flying.   Like the time he fastened a smoke bomb underneath his plane.

Consequently, and enjoyably (for me at least) this book documents every single crash as well.

We've had fun looking at the photos.   The kids have been reminded of our trip to Disneyland that we took a couple of years ago, thanks to John's Brother. I cringed when I recalled the time I ran over our neighbors cat "winky" and took them a plate of Banana Berry Bran muffins as an apology. We laughed at the time we drove up to Cameron Lake to fish for our first fishing trip of the year. We had hauled up our dingy, ores, life jackets, and fishing gear only to find the lake completely frozen over still!

It's been so fun to look through these pages and remember the every day moments in our lives over the past three years. All 350 pages are proof that I have a pretty darn near perfect and blessed life!

Priceless!!!

The best part about being married to a School Teacher

You know John tricked me once. When we were dating.

It's true, he did.  He said he was going to be a doctor!    Now it might seem as though I married him just because of that prospect, but that isn't why I married him at all.

I actually married him for his looks.

Anyways, a couple of years into our marriage when he decided that he wanted to be a school teacher instead of a doctor, I felt a huge wave a relief.   I really was so glad.   I hear that teachers get paid just a little bit less then doctors, but the hours he would have logged in the medical profession would have been deadly!

Deadly for me- not him. I'm high maintenance that way.

So when John began his teaching career,  I have to admit I had expectations of an 8:00-3:30 sort of a deal. I figured that John would walk through the door with the rest of the kids right after school.   But that hasn't been the case. In reality it is more like 5:00.    FIVE O'CLOCK!!   What the heck? That's like normal home time for other peoples husbands.    I married a SCHOOL TEACHER!   And let the record show that school ends at 3:30! (actually school ends earlier then that- but hey I can be reasonable)

I sometimes sit at home and wonder what John does in that hour and a half between 3:30 and 5:00. Why would someone choose to stay late after work?  His answer is always that he's "prepping."   But I don't believe him.   Nope, not one single bit.

Sure he might do a little bit of that "prep" stuff, but does he really need that much time?  One day I'm going to ambush him.   I'll show up unannounced at his classroom at the end of the day and then he'll be busted.  I already know exactly what I'll find.   I'm pretty sure that I will find him sitting at his desk watching old episodes of the Rick Mercer report (because apparantly that's where he finds great clips on aorodynamics and gforce), or catching up on his Ted Talks or tinkering with his airplane.    As soon as he sees me he'll grab that red pen of his and pretend to be marking or ahem..."prepping."

I suppose I might possibly catch him dissecting a toaster (or some gadget that has long since left our home) for parts that he'll need for an experiment the next day.   But he thinks that kind of thing is fun to do, so even that doesn't count as work.   That's my whole point!   I am undeniably 100% certain that I am probably pretty correct in suspecting that he is most likely, maybe staying late after school because it is FUN for him.

How dare he! 

What nerve to be having an enjoyable time, while I'm here... fixing dinner, .... trying to get the kids to stop snacking before dinner, ...while keeping them busy , YET QUIET so that they don't wake the baby.  Why on earth would he not want to rush home for a peice of that? 


And when do I get to have any FUN in a day?

I'l tell you when my day gets FUN.   It's at Five O'clock when John walks through that door and the kids practically throw themselves over the banister and into his arms yelling his name.   It's when I'm so happy to see him that I want to do the same thing, but hold back because - well I'm not a kid and that might look silly.  It is when I get to hand the baby off to him and finally have the use of both of my arms again.  It's when I watch him get the kids hyper right before bedtime and I pretend to be mad when really I just feel so happy that he's such a "hands on Dad".

It's when the kids fall asleep, and John and I can talk without interuption, or settle in to watch some of our most favorite M*A*S*H episodes. 

It's when I realize that there is no such thing as being "on call" when you are a teacher.

 I guess I should just sit back and be happy with this whole 8:00-5:00 gig.

It really is quite sweet!

This past Monday, as soon as the kids were at school, I loaded up Nathan, a tripod, and my camera and headed off to Pincher Creek. I recently bought a new lens from my brother and I was anxious to test it out. The drive was gorgeous, as we've been enjoying some warm temperatures, and the sun was blazing! It is actually a very scenic drive too- which was my hope. Unfortunately this new lens has completely thrown me off. I've realized how LITTLE I know about the equipment I have. Not a single good picture to show from the trip!

But I did find some beautiful homes that were located in the most picturesque spots. I can't decide which one I like better. This lovely home in the valley-

Or this home up on the hill-

Oh - alright I'll take them both!! 

Abby has continued to improve on the piano, and this week marks the first week in which she practiced EVERY day without complaining!  And it only took a series of small daily "concerts" to pull that off. 

She's a sucker for an audience-no matter how attentive they may be.

Today at church we had an interesting experience.  During the opening prayer, the power went out, and remained out for the duration of the meeting.  At first I wondered if they would cancel sacrament meeting but things went on as normal, without any major disruption.   In fact the lack of lighting proved to be beneficail - at least on our bench.  The kids were as calm as could be!  It was a first!!!    It was actually a cozy little meeting.  Sam, Abby and Jess were surprisingly docile and each time I'd look over at John and Nate - both fast asleep (hee hee) I had half a mind to slide over on the bench and join them.    But the thought of actually hearing a talk for once was enough to keep me awake and alert! 

By the time we got home, the power had still not been restored and so we had to get a bit creative.  Ironically last week at church our Bishop had encouraged the ward to spend a day without electiricty.   No electricity at all.  You know, to get a sense of how we'd fair in that type of circumstance.  John and I didn't do that challenge.  We'd planned to.  But the week went by and we just never committed to do it.  Not because we didn't agree with what the Bishop was trying to prove.  We did.   It was more because I thought that I could already IMAGINE perfectly well what that would be like, and I didn't want to have to experience it in real life.

So there we were today- experiencing it anyways, and wishing we'd had a practice run before it really mattered.  John was able to get the gas fireplace going with some battery power.  We huddled up in the basement together and enjoyed chicken noodle soup that we heated up on the BBQ. 

After we ate we all sat back and listened to John as he told us stories of when he was Abby's age.  Like the time he burped in class and got in trouble by the teacher.    For the record, that happened to be the first and LAST time he ever caused trouble in school.    But that grade 1-  it sure was a rebelious year for him:)

Just as soon as I started to enjoy the coziness of the family time, and not a moment sooner, the power came back on.   It was a fun little Sunday adventure and an important lesson in emergency preparedness that apparantly God was determined to teach us slackers.
One way or another. :)