It's just water under the Bridge

Today it rained.   A lot!
I usually love rainy days, but for some reason today I let it make me feel tired and lazy.   Somehow though, I found energy enough to pick a fight with (it seemed) anyone and everyone who tried to phone me.  (poor sales rep from Telus;)    Then I got the bright idea to finish canning my pears and spent half the morning standing out in the rain processing the jars over a larger propane burner.  IN THE RAIN!   Then a pipe under the kitchen sink sprung a leak.   Not just any leak, but a geyser sized leak. Water was spraying everywhere!!! John was gone, so I had to find a plumber to come fix it, and finding a plumber who can drop everything and come help is NOT easy;)   At some point- Nate fell asleep on the basement floor because I forgot to put him down for a nap.   And by 5:00 we still had no running water anywhere in the house and I had no clue how to make dinner without water.  (Do peanut butter sandwiches count as dinner if I serve them with a toss salad?)

That was today, and in my opinion, it was pretty much a write-off from the very beginning.   

But the good thing about having a "not so good" day, is that it is a pretty safe guarantee TOMORROW can only be GREAT in comparison!

 It's all just water under the bridge right?

(photo taken at Lundbreck falls)

Enjoy this footage that I took of the kids singing the opening song at Family Home Evening tonight.   

(We often refer to Family Home Evening as "Monday Night Gong Show," but our hearts are in the right place.   Truly;)  

Oh and sometimes, it does go better then this.   

(Not always.   But sometimes;)

Autumn Days (...mingled with School)

A little over a week ago I got a call from the school letting me know that they had room in the preschool program for Jessica- if she still wanted to come.   (We've been on a wait list since the spring.)

I was thrilled and Jessica was beyond thrilled;)  

Her first day of school was probably, so far, the most exciting day of her little life.   

Now every morning she wakes up and asks if it is a "school day" or not?    

(Basically she's asking whether it will be a fun day ...or a boring day?)  

Sam seems to be adjusting to grade one alright.    He is thrilled to get to occasionally buy Hot Lunch and some of his favorite friends are in the same class as him which makes me happy.  

The most exciting news of the week for Sam is that he has begun to READ!    

We've been practicing every evening this week and it has been fun to see his confidence increase as he learns to sound out words.    He's getting it!   And I am so proud;)  

Last week on our way out to Wally's beach the kids found several owl feathers and of course brought them home as treasures.      Sam put his feather to good use by making a little head dress for his beloved sock monkey.    This little monkey seems to go anywhere that Sam does and it is a fight lately to get Sam to even go to church without it!

Fall seemed to appear this week along with the arrival of several pounds of peaches.   Weeks back, my sister Crystal offered to can some peaches for me, and I also ordered one box from a friend.   But then my father in law returned from Utah last Saturday with TWO more boxes!!!     Needless to say, I spent the first half of the week canning.   Seeing as this was my first time canning alone- it was a bit of a learning experience, but I suppose the only way to really learn is to just get right into it right?  

  By Tuesday though, I felt like an old pro!  My sister's neighbor Betsy joined me and it was oh so much more enjoyable!   (It's always more fun to do work when you can talk as you go right?)

I plan on tackling pears AND beets before I run out of energy;)   

It is such a fulfilling feeling though to go into my storage room and see the "fruits" of our labors.

(I know.   I'm just soo "punny"!)

On Thursday I woke up excited to enjoy this beautiful weather we've been having.  After cleaning zone 3 of my house, (yes I divide my house into zones and I clean one zone per day.  It's Awesome, and a little OCD all at the same time;)   I loaded up Sam and Jess and prepared to head to Waterton!   

Waterton in September is my all time Fave Fave FAVORITE place to be!   

Don't get me wrong- Wateron is fun and pretty all through the year, but during the summer months it can be soo busy.   I always get annoyed that I have to share my favorite spots with others.     

But on a beautiful fall weekDAY I can drive out there and essentially feel very much alone, and that's when I enjoy the park the most!

I called Jewel just as I was leaving,  to see if she would want to come with me and I was shocked and so happy when she said she would.     We had a picnic with the kids at the park, snacked at Wieners of Waterton and Big scoop, took pictures by Cameron falls and drove the roller coaster road before heading home.    Mostly it was nice to just get to visit with her a bit.    

Fall definitely seems to have reached the mountains and I am sure that in another week or two the park will be full of the most gorgeous colors EVER!    Have I mentioned how lovable Waterton is in the fall?

It makes me wonder how a person could possibly live in a place that didn't experience all four seasons.   

I guess I'm just lucky!!!

The end of Summer

We've had such a fun week you would hardly know that it wasn't summer break still.

Of course, it helps that Monday was Labour Day,  thus providing an already much needed break.  I think it is just part of being married to a school teacher but I LIVE for any and every holiday.  In fact,  I truly don't understand why people have to work or attend school on Halloween.  Or St. Patrick's Day.  Or during National Volunteer Week for that matter.  

 (Yup.   Perhaps you haven't heard that the 2nd week of April is dedicated to celebrating the volunteers in our country.    Call me crazy, but I just think having the week off to actually go "volunteer" somewhere actually makes a lot of sense.   I'm just sayin'.)

Anyways.   Labour Day.  Luckily- there was NO SCHOOL!   

I knew it was going to be a good day when I woke up and didn't have to pack a single lunch bag;)!!

We took the kids to Frank Slide  and they had a fabulous time exploring the interpretive center and walking/driving along the rubble.    I was impressed that, for the first time ever,  it felt as though we weren't just breezing through a museum.  The kids actually wanted to learn about what had happened to the people who had lived in that town.    So Sad!  

On the way home we pulled over to check out Lundbreck falls and ended up spending more time there then expected.    John of course had to do some fishing and so the kids and I spent an hour or so searching for snakes.    Luckily- shortly before leaving they got lucky and a snake swam right up to where John was.   The kids were elated!

And I was disgusted.   

(I don't care what my kids or ANYONE says about it - snakes ARE slimy!)

The rest of the week was spent:

* Harvesting the garden

* Going on walks

*  Making lots and LOTS of trips to and from the school dropping off back packs and forgotten lunches.   (Have I mentioned I could use a break;)  

* Playing at Wally's Beach!   (It was perfect there yesterday and the kids are determined that we go back this weekend.)

* And cleaning!   I got a burst of energy and cleaned out every closet/cupboard and room in our house.   For the first time in a long time I feel like I might actually possibly maybe be a bit organized!

 I've been thinking a lot lately about the fortunate life I get to live.    Sometimes I get too distracted with the "hard" things going on, and I easily lose sight of all of the blessings I'm surrounded by.   

Perhaps that's why I look forward to each and every holiday so much.   

 It gives me the chance to reacquaint myself with what matters most!

(Though I do think another BREAK is in order;)

Why Bother?

Sometimes when we go somewhere with the kids I try to discreetly get some pictures of the kids.  

  I keep hoping for a nice updated photo of each of them that I can hang above our piano.  

Somehow, they are always one step ahead of me, already anticipating a photo.

Could they not cooperate just once?

{Dig Deep}

I had a conversation with a friend a couple of weeks back and I find myself still thinking about it.   It was one of those conversations that will likely stay with me for years to come, and I'm pretty sure my friend has no idea that something she said-made such a big difference.   

At the time, I had been struggling with something.    I had made an important decision about something that has bothered me for a very long time and I found myself now dealing with the consequences of my own choice.     (It's always so much  easier when we can blame our "trials" on other people or events.   Not so easy when you have nobody to blame but yourself;)

On the day that I ran into this woman, I was struggling with feelings of regret, insecurity, and complete and utter disappointment in myself.   I truly felt miserable, and as I sat at the edge of a local pool and watched my kids swim I prayed that my sunglasses would do an adequate job of hiding my tears.   

That's when she came and sat beside me.  

When she asked me how I was doing, I quickly gave the most fake yet positive answer I could muster up.   Whether she accepted my answer or not- I don't know.   She didn't press or pry.   However, she did begin to share something that she had learned for herself several months back.

She spoke of a time when a lot of people where really counting on her to "show up" and preform to the best of her abilities.   Yet she felt exhausted, and un well, and she worried that she didn't have it in her to do what she needed to do.  

Her husband's advice to her was simple, but profound.

 "DIG DEEP."

As soon as she said those two words I was struck with how applicable that advice can be to anyone in any situation and I felt an intrinsic desire to do just that.  

Perhaps down deep is a strength that we rarely have to tap into, but is there nonetheless.  A strength that perhaps God only knows exists within each of us.    And maybe these painful experiences in our lives can actually be very exquisite moments, when we come to see (or at least get glimpses) of that strength hidden somewhere within.  

The key is to embrace it.    Learn from it.   Dig Deep.

And you just might even astonish YOURSELF!

"Pain is an invitation to surrender to this greater universal love. It’s a demand to breathe more deeply. It’s the guru that won’t leave you alone. It’s the master that forces you to let go of control so that you can release yourself from the future and the past-- and discover your True Self right now. Your True Self doesn’t need things to turn out a certain way for it to feel secure and alive. Your True Self has master tricks up its midnight blue sleeves, and stardust on its eyelashes.  It has more options than you know how to count."  Tama Kieves

Back to School for half the fam

Well it's that time of the year!  

Time for the obligatory "Back to School" post, seeing as today was the first day of school.  

I have a love/hate sort of attitude when it comes to the first day of school.   

I love it because it marks the beginning of schedule and routine;  earlier bedtimes, and less mess throughout the house.

I hate it though because it marks the beginning of endless bag lunches, entryways full of coats, shoes and backpacks, and most of all I hate it because it means John is gone again for another 10 months.  

(I know I know- nobody cares about my sob story;)  

But really- it is hard, after having him around all day every day, to suddenly have him around only after he is finished teaching.   And coaching.   And marking.  And prepping.   And ....

(Do you hear that sound?   It's me playing my sad sad song.) 

John on the other hand was as giddy as the kids this morning and it was all I could do to get him to hold still long enough to snap this photo of him.  

One click, and he was gone.  

(The nerve!)

Sam had a bit of anxiety this morning about "all day" school,  and his mind was a little caught up in the typical worries that plague a 1st grader.

"What if it rained during recess?"  and why do his "socks feel so bunchy in his runners?"   

You know-those kinds of worries;)

Luckily all of his concerns melted away when he met his Teacher and entered his classroom which is commonly known as "The Monkey Class."    

One look at his very own desk, full of his very own school supplies,  and he was in Heaven.  In fact, he and could barely give me the time of day to even let me snap a photo!

(The nerve!!!)

Abby had no anxieties at all and happily walked into Mrs. Hall's classroom without looking back.   In fact I wanted to snap a photo of her but got the whole "don't Mom, you're embarrassing me" vibe, so I was forced to back off.   

Seriously?   Can you not even take a break from your oh-so-cool grade 3 life to let me snap ONE photo?!!!

(The nerve!!!!)

{insert the photo I wish I had HERE}

After Abby and Sam were dropped off, Jess, Nate and I returned to the van ready to paint the town red and celebrate our own "first day" of the school year.   

Jessica was a little bit disappointed about the fact that she wouldn't be going to pre-school so I took her to the dollar store and let her pick out any toy she wanted.   

And nothing cheers up a 4 year old girl like her own purse FULL of make-up!

The remainder of her day was spent applying make up and then washing it off.  

Then re-applying it, and washing it off.   

Even Nate was included in the fun;)

John wasn't too happy about coming home and finding make-up on his little boy.  

But I figure that if he has the nerve to go and start "working" again then he can't blame me for what happens while he's gone now can he?

Garden Fun!

I'm loving the flowers that have bloomed this month!  The lilies, gladiolas and babies breath are by far my favorite.    Oh and I'm also quite fond of the virginia creeper.   And the beebalm.   So basically, I like them all;)   The onlly problem is that I have convinced myself that as a whole, my house looks like a home where old people live.  

  Not that that is a bad thing necessarily.  It's just that I truly think the only thing our front yard needs to complete "the look"  is a bird bath or two.   

(Please, somebody stop me if I ever try to secure some large, fake plastic butterflies to the siding.)   

Below are a few of my favorite garden plants this month including a shot or two of our vegetable garden!

Note the handy dandy cold frame that John built me for the tomatoes!

It's made all the difference and it's looking like I'll actually have lots of tomatoes to give to my Sister.  

(I won't ask for much in return- just a couple dozen jars of her salsa-that's all;)

Oh and I love this shot of the whole famdamily happily working together.    (Nathan exluded;)   It was time to harvest the beans this past weekend and John and I were determined that the kids help with the process.   

So while John and I told them stories of when we were little- they picked the beans off the vine, and we all basked in the awesomeness of being together.  

That lasted about 10 solid minutes. 

That's when the kids got bored and John and I lost all resolve to involve them at all.   

But you'd never know that by looking at this picture, now would you.

When I love him the most....

As mentioned in the previous post, my kids recently spent an entire week at my sister Crystal's house.   

Though I am eternally grateful for her willingness to watch them for that amount of time I have noticed some changes in Nate that have me feeling a bit unsettled these days.   

Little changes, here and there, that when added up tell me that Nate is not my baby any more.   

I don't know what Crystal did but I sent him there a baby and he came home a little boy, (who thinks he's a BIG boy;)

And it seemed to happen in one week!  

Instead of bottles and sippy cups,  I have a boy determined to do everything on his own.   Pour everything HIMself!  MAKE everything himself! 

Instead of bad sleep routines and late afternoon naps,  I have a boy with energy to burn and a determination to keep up with his older siblings like never before!   

This kid has a mind of his own now, when only a week ago I only thought he did;)   

It makes me sad.

And a little happy.  

... But mostly sad.   

Luckily, there are those moments at the end of every day, (or during an ever increasingly rare afternoon nap)  when he climbs up in bed and insists that I lay beside him.    For a few minutes I am glad again.  Glad that he still needs me to lay with him.   Glad that he still needs to twirl my hair in his fingers as he dozes off to sleep.   And glad that when he's asleep, he still looks like my little baby!

Even if he doesn't think he is;)

And that is when I love him MOST!!!

***********

I love this picture of Nate below.   The night he got back from Crystal's he insisted on taking this container of her homemade brownie bites to bed with him.   Every time I tried to take it from him- he woke up crying mad and it would take even longer to settle him.   

Love this determined little boy!

A Week at Auntie Crystals!

The kids recently just got back from a week long stay at my sister Crystal's house.    John and I had some things we needed to get done in the city for a few days,  and we knew the kids would enjoy themselves so much more in the thriving metropolis of Rolling Hills Alberta.    

Population - I'm guessing maybe 60.  

 On a good day;)

Actually Crystal and Jeremy live on a quaint acreage outside of Rolling Hills and I'm not kidding it is probably the most charming home that I've ever seen.  (It made me feel bad for all the times I made fun of her old fashioned country lifestyle)

Seeing as we've never left our kids with anyone before - the thought of leaving them for a week was a pretty big deal to me.   However five minutes of being there and I knew my kids were going to be JUST FINE!  

Some of the things they enjoyed:

*Crafts- and LOTS of them!    The kids painted, glued, cut and Abby even sewed her own sock monkey

*  Sam loved the pulley contraption that Jeremy rigged up which enabled him to basically hang the kids high in a tree.    Beats climbing any day!

*   They travelled into Brooks one day and played at the Splash Park

*  Sam has many stories about the time he ALMOST caught one of the bunnies;)

*  They had all the space in the world to wander and explore

*   When they would get bored Crystal and Jeremy would simply build the biggest fort ever- INSIDE

*  And my favorite pictures were the ones of their afternoon Tea Party on the front veranda.   It looked like a lovely time indeed, and Jessica is STILL talking about it!

Not only did Crystal and Jeremy do all these fun things with my kids- but they soothed them when they were home sick, fed them the yummiest food ever,  got Nate to sleep through the night WITHOUT a bottle, and loved them like they were their own.  

My heart swells with gratitude when I think of my Wonderful family and the special role they play in my own kids' lives.    They are lucky LUCKY kids to have such a fabulous Aunts and Uncles!

When the cousins come to visit...

A little over a week ago John's sister Sarah came up for the weekend to visit and we ALWAYS love it when they come!    Her two boys Caleb and Malachi are quite a fun duo and their styles of play are so imaginative and creative that my kids never do get enough of them.   

That Friday we headed out to Waterton with very little "plan" and ended up having the BEST time!   

(Makes me wonder why I ever even bother to make a plan;)

 For a couple of hours we played down at "Driftwood Bay" (granted that might not be it's official name;)  which is a spot John and I have never really explored.    The kids splashed in the water, built all they could, buried themselves under the course pebbly sand and more!  At one point I grabbed my camera and tried to photograph all of the individual projects everyone was working on:

Along the shore- Sarah, Mala and Abby collected rocks and made pretty designs under the water.    Can you guess who did what?

Further down the shore Caleb successfully made a large lean-to all on his own!   This was especially impressive seeing as earlier us "adults" had tried to build one only to have it crash down dangerously more then once.    Sometimes you've just got to leave things up to the kids eh?  

Max even got frustrated watching us parents struggle with the lean-to and eventually he stepped in and showed us how it's done-building one of his own too;)

John got this bright idea to find the longest poles possible and implant them upright all along the shore.   He clearly used his fence building skills to solidify those tall posts;)

And last of all Jessica created a stick garden of sorts that she happily spent the afternoon "watering" with her  water gun!

I'm telling you- there was a LOT of creative energy flowing that day!!!

But that's just what happens when the cousins come to visit!

Other highlights of the day included playing up at Red Rock Canyon, a picnic and a hike up to Blakiston Falls.  John and I couldn't help but notice how much better my kids do when Caleb and Mala hike with them.   No complaining.   No whining.    No "how much longer?" or "why do we have to do this?"

Everything is fun when the cousins come;)

Oh and what would a trip to Waterton be without a Bear sighting?

(or two)

(or three)

I swear there are more Bears this year in Waterton then in previous years, and they are always so close to the town site.   

Perhaps they were just as excited as we were that the cousins came to visit?

Motivational Monday - Perspective

I took this picture a couple of years ago.  It's only about a 5 minute drive from my house and it's one of my favorites. It shows perfectly the exact view and image of Chief mountain that has become so very familiar to me.


The same year that I took the photo above, I joined my family on a vacation down to Kalispell.   Prior to that time I had not been to the states very many times and  I was surprised to really notice Chief mountain from a different angle.

Do you see that tall narrow peak?

It's still the same mountain.

Yet it's not the same mountain I had always thought it was.

What makes the difference is simply - where you are standing.

___________

I think there is a life lesson in that thought,  and even now, I sometimes look at Chief and let it remind me how different "things" can seem depending on where I am at.  

 And  at this moment- I'm grateful to be standing where I am.


****************

"One of the great blessings the gospel gives us is the lens through which we can see with proportion. Special perspective comes from the marvelous and overarching principles of the gospel." -Elder Maxwell

Sam strikes again!

Remember that video of John sleeping that Sam had made several weeks back?    I had truly been impressed at that time to learn that Sam even knew how to record movies let alone do something so clever as to video tape his Dad in such a funny way.

However, this past week John came across even more footage (this time on our cell phone), made by ...none other then Sam himself.     

I'm afraid this kid is shaping out to be a real Steven Spielberg in the making.  

  Granted Sam's technique is quite raw and unrehearsed, but the dialogue in this particular footage had John and I laughing hysterically for quite some time after.
  My favorite part is when he confesses to Jessica about all the times he was mean to her back when she was a baby.    CLASSIC!!!!  

PS:   It might be hard to actually understand what Sam is saying part of the time, but hopefully you hear the funny parts.   Or perhaps this is just one of those moments when you have to be the parent to actually enjoy it;)

Cute + Awesome= my kids + their Dad

A couple of times this summer we have gotten the kids out after dinner to enjoy an evening bike ride.   We try to tell the kids that the exercise will be good for them.    Somehow though, we always wind up at the nearby park, and Jess almost always gives up before we are even half way there. 

 But it's fun just the same.  

I got a little chuckle last week as I surveyed my family while they prepared to leave.   For a brief moment I wondered if I should really let these kids out in public.   Aside from the fact that I looked horrible, I couldn't really say that my kids looked any better.     In the end I decided that it really doesn't matter what we look like and I should just accept and embrace my children's styles of choice.  

It's who they are!

Abby for example rocked a pair of pink plaid shorts and a black checkered hoody.   

Most kids wouldn't be able to pull that off with the flare that Abby does.

I got a kick out of Sam's outfit only because of his socks.   

Earlier that day I had come home with 12 brand new pairs of socks for him to wear and he was SOO excited!

I think he tried on half of them within the first hour!

Really though- Sam and Abby have nothing on Jessica.

Her outfit is truly the one that made me nervous to venture outside of our cul de sac.  

I mean - what exactly does this outfit say?

More importantly what does it say about us?  Her parents!

I think what Jess was trying to convey with this outfit is:

"I'm cute and awesome and I don't care what people think!"

And she's right!

Speaking of Cute and Awesome:

I think I see where the kids get it from!!!

The moment when all is right

The other night we went on yet another fishing excursion.   

Not far - just to St. Mary's.  

John's Dad came along with us this time, and I always like it when he comes along.   

It gives me a reason to sit in the back of the van with the kids.

 And sitting in the back of the van with the kids - is a real treat!

For fifteen or twenty minutes (each way) there are no dishes to do, no calls to return, and no messes to clean up.  

In fact - my entire TO DO list is left at home, and the only thing there is "to do" in that moment is talk and visit with my four little ones. 

It's quality time I tell ya.  

Abby tells jokes.

Sam tries to shoot me with his laser nerf gun.  

Jessica gives a detailed play by play of every animal she spots out the window.

And Nate watches on - smiling and sometimes dancing from the confinement of his car seat. 

When they ask- I tell them stories and try to make them as good as possible.  

We're all together.   We are all happy.  And for a little while- they think I'm funny.

It's a precious,  PRECIOUS moment!

Dear: Dad

"Please please please PLEASE can we get a dog?   The neighbors are getting sick of sharing theirs."    

Love from, 

Your kids.

...and wifey;)

Sam's Birthday Party: Next year...the kids will sign a waiver form!

Sam turns 6 this coming Sunday, (August 14th) and he has been begging me for about a hundred million days now to let him have a birthday party.    I can't say I love Birthday parties and I realize that makes me a lame boring old mom.   I think my lethargic attitude about Birthday parties has more to do with my lack of creativity then anything.  

 Combine my parental patheticness with the fact that Sam's birthday is in the summer and you can understand why our cute little guy usually misses out in the party department.   

This year though- I was determined to throw him a "Real" party.   

And according to Sam it had to include "real friends.  Not just sisters"    (His words-not mine.)

  

* So his big day birthday celebration began with Jessica and I setting up the annual "Wall of Fame" which we do for the kids when they have a birthday.   For a week or so our kitchen wall is covered with some our favorite and most embarrassing photos of the birthday kid.   I LOVE this tradition as it brings back lots of fun memories.

*Then it was breakfast in bed.  All of Sam's favorites:  Eggs with cheese, vanilla yogurt with dumb dumb cereal (don't ask;), and a cup of milk that he got to drink with his new silly glasses straw!   Thanks for that Aunt Crystal!

*Then it was time to party!!!!   6 kids, ('cuz he's 6)  one big bounce house, water games, cake, ice cream, launching home made rockets high into the sky, and a home made Pinata!   John made the pinata himself after Sam requested to have one shaped like a rocket.    I was so happy John made it because who wants to spend $25 on something that a bunch of kids are just going to beat to death?    (sorry-have I mentioned that I'm a lame mom?)

The hit of the party was without a doubt the game John made up where kids took turns sitting on a giant inflatable skidoo while he sent them flying across the slip n slide.    

Luckily there was only one collision.

Oh and there was also that one time when Everett went flying right into the Raspberry patch, but other then that- it was all good.

(If Everett's parents are reading this: -Don't worry. He enjoyed the ride!;)

All in all - it was a lot of fun, and Sam can finally say that he got to have himself a party.  

And you know what- he deserves it!

This boy is such a special part of our family.  He's a little bit crazy.  (certifiably;)  He's LOTs of fun.   He's happy 99.9 percent of the time.  He's a sensitive boy who feels deeply.  He's an entertainer.

 And he's still willing to cuddle with his mommy.  

This kid is definitely worth celebrating.    

Happy Birthday Sam!!!!   

**********

John made up this video of his super fun and SAFE (sarcasm intended) activity he did with the kids.

I'm thinking a waiver form might come in handy next year.