Lazy Lazy Morning

I love being lazy, especially in the mornings, and my whole family knows it)

So on Thursday morning, when we woke up and remembered that there was no school, the kids instantly began pleading to be able to make a big breakfast.   

Too which I HAPPILY agreed, because it meant I could lay in bed a few minutes longer and listen to the melodic sounds of eggs splattering on the kitchen floor, and milk being spilled, ...and kids fighting over who gets to stir what.

Abby did a pretty good job of delegating out the responsibilities.

Naturally, she was on pancake duty, as she's already mastered the task.   She does a great job measuring out each ingredient and this time, she even took the time to use frozen blueberries to make faces in each pancake.    

Sam was in charge of stirring the bacon, (which was organic- I was so thrilled to have found it:)!     

He was slightly nervous about getting splattered, hence the oven mitts:)

Jessica's job was to stir the eggs.   Unfortunately, it was also her job to crack the eggs, which we likely won't ask her to do again any time soon:) 

Part way through the breakfast prep John joined in to make one of his killer breakfast smoothies.    (Hint: we've discovered the key to an amazing smoothie is pineapple.  You're welcome:)

We all feasted on a ridiculous huge breakfast, before the kids scurried off to begin their day of play, and John rushed off for his PD day meetings at the school.

There I was.  Alone.

Just me and 3,458 dishes, measuring cups, and utensils to clean!!!  

(I'm thinking it probably would have been easier to just cook it all myself:)

When dinner time makes me laugh

Dinner time yesterday made me laugh.

Which makes this post one worth writing, because on most days - "Dinner Time" makes me cry:)

(think: four kids complaining about what I made, while Nate undresses at the table, while three glasses of milk get spilled, WHILE my Father in Law looks on)   

That's what dinner time is usually like. 

Today though, it was so unusually funny to me:

First of all, I had NO idea that my kids found politics so riveting.   

During dinner I set up our computer so that John, Max and I could watch the election results as they came in.     What I didn't expect was that every single one of our kids would be glued to the screen to:)   Occasionally Sam would rush back to his plate to inhale some noodles (when we demanded it),  but then he was right back to the computer constantly refreshing the page to make sure results were as up to date as possible:)    When numbers would change, Sam would absolutely freak out, ensuring everybody (probably within a two block radius) knew which candidate was in the lead.     

This continued throughout the entire evening, right through snack time, and right past bed time.   Abby was awake as the final results came in, but poor Sam fell asleep beside me while listening to the live coverage. 

Seriously.  Their interest shocked both John and I, and I'm convinced they just loved the fact that there was a race going on:)

It also made me laugh when,  after dinner,  we caved (for the third time since Nate's birthday) and lit a candle in Nate's dessert and sang to him all over again.   

He loves it.  And the rest of us go along with it because it's easier then arguing with him;) 

(Perhaps he's like me, and likes to celebrate his birthday all month long?)

Abby came home from school yesterday with a brand new recorder that was assigned to her in music class.   She's officially got "recorder homework" now - which is awesome right!!!   All I can say is that I am so thankful for her wonderful music teacher who made the class learn a few notes before they were aloud to bring instruments home.  Apparently, her teacher didn't want the kids driving their parents crazy:)!!! 

After supper, as the kids poured over the election results - Abby sat on the stairs and serenaded us with every song she has learned so far.   ("Hot Crossed Buns" repeated a gazillion times:)

As a side note, she sure is enjoying this new instrument, and is trying her very best to take care of it.   I had to chuckle a little when I went in to tuck the girls in bed and found that Abby had meticulously placed her recorder in it's "special spot."

Are you kidding me?    

I'm sure she meant nothing by this, but it has inspired me to begin preparations for our next Family Home Evening lesson immediately! 

Nice Abby;)

Oh, and this next thing isn't really funny at all (unless you get a kick out of the notion that I fed my family a whole foods, organic kind of meal consisting of little more then Rice Noodles, Shrimp and Butternut Squash?)   Considering they are all ridiculously carnivorous - I kinda do find it funny:)

Luckily, my family LOVED it and they didn't even realize that there wasn't half a cow on the table for them to eat,  it was that good!

Go HERE for the recipe.

Potty Training Woes

I've been trying to potty train Nathan.   

 I use the term "trying" very lightly, because I basically plop him on a potty, rig up a movie just beside the bathroom door for him to watch, and then....I leave him alone.      I know, it's pretty sad to think that after having four kids, this is the best I can do. 

Are there better ways to go about this?  

Probably.

But when it comes to potty training - there is no such thing as a good way, that's what I say:)  

Sometimes  though, I'll admit, I leave him a lone for a little too long and he ends up getting bored (even with a movie playing nearby) and begins unravelling the toilet paper, virtually covering our entire bathroom floor with a pillowy blanket of two ply.  

One day it was particularly funny, because I'd come upstairs to find that he'd once again begun playing with the good ol' TP - only this time it had rolled into his room and under his bed.   For the life of him, he could not figure out why, no matter how hard he yanked, that roll was not coming back out from under the bed.   

 It just kept unravelling....   

Sigh.  This is all so very cute right?

And I really am a good Mom right?

Okay-forget trying to reassure me and just tell me what works, as I've clearly forgotten how to do this. 

Just how exactly do you potty train a three year old?!!

The Feast

Several weeks ago, our Bishop stood in front of our ward and told us all that throughout the weeks to come we'd all be enjoying a "Feast."   What he was referring to was the sequence of meetings we would be having throughout the month of October.    It began with General Conference, continued with Stake Conference a week later,   and concluded by attending the live Broadcast of the Calgary Temple Dedication.     (If you ask me it was feast enough to not have to battle a rowdy crew of kids during sacrament meeting, or try to maintain reverence in Primary....but it ended up being much much more then that:)

In the dictionary the definition of the word "Feast" says  that it is "to experience something with gratification or delight."  Truly, this past month was just such an experience for me.   

Below are some of the thoughts that I took delight in over the past few weeks.  They are things that I am scared of forgetting, because I know that it is exactly what I personally needed to hear.  

****** 

Elder Uchtdorf's talk was a beautiful reminder to me to use my time each day more wisely.   I am always going through my days, wasting time while complaining that there isn't enough of it.   Go figure:)    The most profound thought that I got from his talk titled "Of Regrets and Resolutions"  was this one:

"I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem.  I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished.   I can't see it!

Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day.  

 When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved.  He knew the infinite value of the people He met.   He blessed them, ministered to them.   He lifted them up, healed them.   He gave them the precious gift of His time."

As soon as I heard President Uchtdorf, I too tried to picture, in my own mind, a time in which the Savior perhaps did "hurry" about.   But it is such a silly notion, and goes against all I believe Him to be.   I instantly felt a little bad for all of the times that I literally rush and run around acting like all the things on my to-do list are so very important, when really they just simply are not.

This talk makes me want to slow down.

To notice more around me, and to just BE.

(Be more calm,  be more aware, be more in tune, and be more kind.)

In short BE more like my Savior.  I know that if I would take that one message to heart, it would have a profound and tangible effect on the atmosphere of my home.  

*****

Elder Holland will always always always be a favorite speaker of mine!

His talks are not the type you can just read.  No, he is a speaker who must be listened to, or better yet Watched!  This talk titled "The First Great Commandment"  is definitely a must SEE kinda talk.  

Not only is Elder Holland and amazing story teller, but I love how he takes a scriptural passage that I have heard my entire life, and brings it to life, making me see it in a new way.  

Favorites from this include:

"What I need, Peter, are disciples- and I need them FOREVER!

I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs.    I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith.  I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do.  Ours is not a feeble message.  It is not a fleeting task.    It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history.  It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world!"   

I am not certain just what our experience will be on Judgement Day, but I will be very surprised if at some point in that conversation, God does not ask us exactly what Christ asked Peter:  "Did you love me?"  I think he will want to know if in our very mortal, very inadequate, and sometimes childish grasp of things, did we at least understand one commandment, the first and greatest of them all.  ....He may remind us that the crowning characteristic of love is always LOYALTY!"

******

The theme at our recent Stake Conference was The Rescue and our leaders desire is that we all will notice those around us who are in need of being rescued.   Though I LOVED all of the talks that were given, there was one question that was asked during a talk that has continually stood out to me.   It was this:

"What are you willing to do for a miracle?"

I loved this question and find that I ask myself this several times throughout each week now.   When I think of all of the things I want to change, or all of the people I know who desperately need rescuing - it has helped to ask myself - what am I willing to do?

Of course, the key is then to go and DO IT, which proves to be much more challenging for me:)

******

I absolutely love this time of year when we can listen to our Prophets and Leaders and then try to implement the things that we have learned.   I've forgotten so much of it in the past few weeks BUT I'm grateful for what has remained.   

The Gospel is true.

I just really need to be better at living it!

What Friday Night looks like at our house

We take our Friday nights VERY seriously around here.   

Here's how a typical family movie night goes down:

1.  We clean the house.   (a clean house is a MUST for this type A personality:)

2.   Abby helps set up the hide a bed

3.  Sam and John make the popcorn (two separate bowls because they can never agree on seasonings)

4.  We spend approximately a gazillion minutes trying to agree on what to watch

5.   I make apple cider

It's pure perfection!!! 

Back to Back Birthdays

I still remember three years ago trick or treating with the kids, amidst serious contractions, walking from door to door but wanting nothing more then to call it good and go home.   

Every house we went to, someone would joke and ask "when was I ever gonna pop?" (I hate that phrase:)    John would then joke back about how determined he was to keep me walking all night long if he had to, so long as it induced labor.   

John really REALLY wanted to share his Halloween Birthday with our little baby, and it was quite apparent that that was a distinct possibility.   

Unfortunately, I couldn't quite make that happen for John, as Nate decided to arrive in the wee hours of November 1st.    

Still though, it's pretty fun to celebrate these two boys so close together.  

 With Halloween carnivals, trick or treating, John's Birthday and then finally Nate's birthday....it really makes for a Week of  long PARTY!!!!

Naturally, I had to make the obligatory carrot cake with cream cheese frosting...in the shape of a ghost... with flaming eyes!   (Ever since John was a young boy his Mom would make him a carrot ghost cake with flaming eyes, and I've always tried to carry that on, despite the fact that my cake obviously pales in comparison to what he got growing up;) 

Nate was a complete menace on his birthday, and literally demanded that everybody remember that it was HIS birthday!!!!   (I suppose, given the fact that he's been asking for the past 364 days if "today was his birthday" he was a bit entitled to revel in the moment. But it seriously got annoying:)

A lot of mothers blog about their kid's when they have a birthday, and share all sorts of wonderful developmental milestones that their kids have passed.  It's always makes for such a sweet read so I figured I'd do that too and share a little bit of who Nate is at this point in his life.   

So...at THREE years of age - Nate can:

*  Say most anything he wants to say, his vocabulary is really quite broad.  

(His favorite words are: No, Dangit, "Ok Poopy Pants," and GET OUT!) 

*  He LOVES to play with kids.  (...so long as they don't touch his toys, but share all of theirs:)

* Can terrorize an entire nursery full of kids.   ...with ease;)

* Can ride a "Big Boy" pedal bike all by himself, and would cruise all the way to his Aunty Jewel's if we let him

* Can say prayers by himself (though I hope God has a sense of humor:)

* He can hide under clothes racks in shopping stores like nobody I've ever seen

* He LOVES animals, and stares out our window watching our neighbors dogs for hours on end

*  He's obsessed with his cousin Dane.

* Can do a somersault off our couch

* He doesn't like to ever be alone

* Can color quite well.  Especially when permanent markers, the wall, or his Face are involved:)

*  He gives the BEST kisses on the cheek 

* He gives the best apologies EVER.   (Practice will do that:)

* at this point in his life, he still thinks the world revolves around him

* He absolutely melts my heart with his big brown eyes!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Halloween Fun, Mixing it up a bit, and a Super Cool Giveaway!!

Yesterday was John's Birthday!    37 years OLD, can you believe it?  

He celebrated by driving his team to Lethbridge for their last league game of the season.   

I tried to be a good wife and I made 15 Halloween cupcakes for him and his team, and secretly recruited one of his boys to deliver them and ensure that Happy Birthday was sung.    Apparently though- the JV boys were travelling with John, and I didn't send enough cupcakes for them, so it ended up being a really lame idea. 

(That's what I get for being a try hard:)    

While John was at his game, the kids had a delightful time trick or treating and they were absolutely enchanted by one of our neighbors, who Nate believed, was a "real live WITCH with a PET WOLF even!"    (technically, it was a stuffed Hyena that her hunter husband acquired from a friend, but I didn't want to burst any ones bubble:)   

We trick or treated for less then an hour, but came home with enough junk food to last a millennium.   As soon as we got home, the kids had to dive into their bags inspecting every last treat and eating a third of it right then and there.    Of course, they insisted on turning on the fire, and watching a Halloween Movie at the same time.    How cozy!  

Oh to be a kid again!!!

***********

I am pretty sure that I am experiencing some sort of an identity crisis these days, and it is manifesting itself in what I do to my poor house.    It seems like all my free time is spent trying to make changes here and there to our place, and I seem to conveniently wait until John is out of town to do so;)  

     And the other day,  I made John call an elderly woman in our ward to inquire about her home which she will eventually be selling.  What gives?

Why do I feel so unsettled in a house that I really do love?   

Who knows.  

   Until I figure it out though- nothing is safe, and I'm thinking that I probably need to ban myself from Pinterest for awhile.  Heaven knows,  I don't need anyone giving me any more ideas;)

To say John was shocked to come home the other day,  and find our front door a new shade of Avocado Green would be an understatement.    To say he liked it, would be a LIE:)!    

In fact, I think the exact words he used were...."Painting the door is cool,  but that is just not a color you would ever find me wearing.   EVER!"  

I keep waiting for him to come around and like it, but so far it's a no go.   (He is open to a deep maroon color though?)   Last night I asked him to pray that his heart would be softened, ...or at least that he would come to accept that our front door does not have to resemble the clothes in his closet:)    

At any rate- that's what I get for trying to be all cute and decorative.   

(aka:  a "Try Hard":)

**********

Oh, and here is a link to a really fabulous Giveaway that AshleyBennet Photography is doing.   She's an AMAZING photographer here in town, and she's created the most darling custom holiday prints that can be changed throughout the year.   I LOVE it!    

All you have to do is GO TO HER PAGE and follow the instructions!   

POOF - you'll be entered to win, just like that!

(Disclaimer:   Please don't think that by sharing this info with you that I actually want you to go and enter.   I don't.   I'm simply mentioning this to increase my own chances of winning- not yours;)

   

A return to Edmonton

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

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

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

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

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

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

So basically, our weekend went like this:

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

Jello!    

Other restaurant Highlights:   

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

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

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

2.   We went to see the Edmonton temple.  

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

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

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

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

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

\

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

So we walked the entire mall.  

They stopped at EVERY fountain.

They looked in EVERY window.  

They asked for EVERY toy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

But oh my, the kids enjoyed it!

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

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

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

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

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

and my personal favorite-

"This was the best day of my life."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who's the Bad Dog

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

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

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

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

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

They had prize draws for the kids.

Lots of treats.

A glow in the dark dance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

At any rate - Happy Birthday Mad Dog

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

Tender Mercies: in the form of Humor

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

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

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

*******

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

Sam:   "Mo-OM!   Abby slapped me!!!"

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

******

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

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

 The kids loved it!   

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

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

If you give a Moose a ...?

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

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

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

It ended up being a Moose hunt!

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

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

How rude!:)

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

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

It's that time of year again:)!

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

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

It's that time of year again!

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

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

It's just that time of year again!

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

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

By mid week.....

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

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

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

    

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Meh.

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

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

Tetanus shot anyone?

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

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

Here is what our house looks like now:

    

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

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

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

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

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

Dear John

Dear John,

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

Ha!

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

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

Turns out - they weren't from you.

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

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

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

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

   

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

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

And I used a drop sheet.

And even applied a Primer first!

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

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

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

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

(Done and Done!;)

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

Which meant - the wall paper had to go: 

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

 ("stupid, dumb, boring, hate it!":) 

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

Who knows?

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

SLEEP WELL!!!

Love, 

Your Wifey

Even the Pumpkins are cold!!!

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

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

SNOW!

Snow, again!

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

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

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

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

(She's so attentive that girl:)

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

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

(Their recipes are always the Yummiest!!!)

STAY WARM!!!