Gardens, Schedules and Books!

Wow, this week.   I man, like...WOW!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, May is a BUSY BUSY month.   

(Busier then December, if you ask me, and December is pretty busy;)

Despite the fact that I feel as though I can barely stop to catch my breath, we have managed the past couple of weeks quite nicely as we: juggled both our callings, kicked off soccer season (we're coaching Jess' team), Jess attended the sweetest birthday party EVER, we painted the trim around the outside of our house, had a bazillion play dates (some didn't go over as well as others;), attended ward temple night,  and welcomed John's sister Rachel and her son to town, as she'll be living here for the month! 

Some particular highlights for me:

OUR GARDEN IS IN!!!

Perhaps I should say that most of our garden is in.   On Tuesday Max and John spent the evening rototilling and planting away.    In our backyard we are growing strawberries, rhubarb, raspberries, haskep berries, corn, potatoes, carrots, chard, and beets,  We'll soon add beans, squash, onions, and tomatoes!!!    YUMM!

I just LOVE going to my back yard and seeing freshly turned dirt.   John was a genius this year, and rigged up a sprinkler system that virtually waters our entire yard at once!  It's a little redneck, but I love it!!!  

On Thursday, Jewel and I stole away to Waterton for a couple of hours.    Jess was technically supposed to be in school, but I'd had enough with scheduling for this week, and just wanted to go!!!

It was nice to visit with Jewel a bit, as we've barely talked the past few weeks, let alone seen each other.   (It's nice to know I'm not the only one feeling busy;)

Perhaps, my favorite highlight of the past couple of weeks came when Sam discovered reading!

 Up until now, he's struggled a bit with it, we've always had to nag him to do it, and he's been pretty below average in his ability.  (According to his scores at school)    

Last week though, something clicked, and he's turned into a reading machine!!!    

We've made three trips to the library this week alone, he stays up in bed each night and reads for an hour or so, and all he ever wants to do is "get back to his books."    Before I went to bed last night, I went in to check on him and this is how I found him:   Fast asleep, lamp still on, and his finger in the page marking his spot!   It just makes me really happy:)

Of course, this new interest in reading conveniently comes at the same time we put a mandatory freeze on any and all "screen time."    (Inspired by John's brother Dave's family, our kids are now only allowed to watch TV, play Wii, and use the computers/ipad/ipod on the weekends.)   

Coincidence?   I think not!!!!    

It's not easy being 3

Today was a hard day for Nate (and let's be honest, probably for everyone who had to be around him;)

He had a friend come over to play with him this morning, and though he kept saying he was excited to have his buddy over, you sure wouldn't have known it.   He was an absolute bear, and literally worked himself into a "Time Out" in NO TIME!  (I personally hate time outs.  I don't understand what they accomplish, but then again, I'm probably using them incorrectly.   In truth, my kids could all probably benefit from a few more properly executed time outs.  I'm just weak;)

Anyways, ten minutes after his friend went home, Nate started playing with a next door neighbour.  Things went well.  ...for the first two minutes!     It wasn't long before she came running in, crying that Nate had pulled her hair.    (He had.  And pretty hard too.)    So, it was back to "Time Out" for him.  (Perhaps I figured it would work this time around.)   

This type of cyclic situation continued throughout the morning, and finally, after putting him in his room and holding the door closed on him one more time, I realized...it wasn't working.   

 Perhaps, I finally noticed his anguished cry on the other side of the door.   He didn't sound defiant.   

 He sounded miserable.  

Why do I always forget that kids have bad days too?  They are entitled to those, just like us parents, no?   I was so grateful for a friend today, who pointed out that sometimes, these little people we're raising, have a hard time communicating what it is they feel.    (I knew that.  I just think I'd forgotten it)

So, I decided to try a different approach.

I took Nate in my arms and told him that he was such a good boy, and that we were going to go play.

(For the record,  I realize that he had NOT been a good boy, and that he didn't deserve to go play, but I was hoping the positive reinforcement would possibly accomplish what FOUR time outs never did ;)

First, I took him to the store so he could pick out a treat to take to his friend and apologize.

 (He chose Cheetos which, if you ask me, is a lousy way to apologize, but whatever;)

Then we went and bought ourselves doughnuts, and ate them together at the park.   

Nate has been asking to go to the park for days, and I've always felt too busy to stop.  

Today we stopped.    

   

Nate was in HEAVEN!  

He ran, and laughed, and climbed, and smiled the whole time, and I couldn't help but wish we'd started our day out this way in the first place!

Which brings me to the lessons I learned today:

One:  There is a distinct possibility that being 3 isn't always as easy as I think it is.    

Two:  Every day should begin with a trip to the park.

Nate's dinner. ...Every.Single.Day

I'm without a camera for the next few days and have had to resort to using my phone a bit more to snap photos.   I came across this one the other day, and though it is really too blurry to share, I think it typifies our evening "dinners with Nathan" perfectly!

Usually, when we call everyone to the table, Nate comes late, says "Hi" to Grandpa, looks over the array of food prepared, and then puts his head down and angrily sulks away.   He's never interested in what I prepare for dinner, and I refuse to make something special just for him, or force him to eat something he doesn't want to.  What to do?   Despite the fact that a large part of our dinner hour is spent listening to Nate play with Sam's lego in the other room he usually manages to saunter back in towards the end of dinner hoping to score some dessert.   But John and I are totally on to him;)    

Lately though, we've discovered a few favorites that Nate can never refuse.  

Corn on the cob, Watermelon and Bread and Butter are sure fire ways to get him to join us.

He also insists,  on wearing his "bib" (the very bib he refused to wear as a baby, but suddenly can't eat without.)   And, of course, he has to cut his toast up into little bite sized pieces.

Nobody can say our kids aren't refined and dignified!   haha   

How Animals eat their food

Often when my kids go to my sisters house, they come home with an arsenal of new YouTube clips to show to us.   The clips are always safe and clean, of course, but not necessarily too smart.  haha.   For example,   my nieces were the ones to introduce us to the likes of  "Kid History",  my personal favorite "Guy on a Buffalo,"  and now the latest - "How Animals Eat Their Food."  

                                       This stinkin' clip (posted below) was an instant hit with my kids, and they've watched it repetitively all.day.long!    In fact, when Grandpa came for dinner tonight?  ...He had to watch the "movie" first, before we could eat!!     (Poor Max, he's probably never exposed to so much stupidity as when he comes to our house for dinner.)

My favorite though, was during BREAKFAST this morning, when Sam tried to re-enact the you tube clip himself.    It was almost as funny as the video that inspired him.   

And his "Lizard" moves?  Truly Epic.   Had me laughing well into the morning:)    

Feel free to watch this you tube video, and see for yourself if you are needing some clarity in regards to the photos above;)   

Oh, and SORRY in advance.    

(You can blame my nieces for the minute and a half of your life, you'll never get back;)

           

Time Out for Women

Last weekend we attended "Time Out for Women" in Lethbridge.   

It's basically a two day seminar, for women, in which we listen to mormon musicians and authors, and motivational speakers.     I've gone a couple of times before, and enjoy it, but this year I helped a bit AT it!   Jewel recruited us to join her team and help promote it.    (I didn't realize that Jewel had such a big hand in the behind the scenes work for this Lethbridge event, but then again, I really had little idea of what my role was to be either;)    haha.    

I ended up helping on Friday night (Jewel's team was in charge of the service project), LOVING the speakers (and the near front row seats we were given), AND enjoying great music.     Saturday though, I flaked out and found someone to fill in for me.    

Highlights of Friday were:

*  shopping with Crystal at the jean sale next door (when we were technically still on shift)

* collecting non perishable food items for the service project

* Getting to wear a cool tag because I was TOFW "staff." 

* Getting to go in doors and rooms that said "no public entry" and official stuff like that.

*  Watching Jewel manage her team of half a dozen women.    

* Watching as two women brought a BRA to Jewel and declared that they had to get it to "one of the presenters ASAP!"    haha.    (I still think they were just trying to get in without a ticket:)

* Listening to one of my favorite speakers, and falling in love with the violin!    

* Driving home with Crystal and learning of her horrendous TEXTING abilities!   Truly, truly Terrible.

All in all, it was a fun experience, and I'm glad I got to help with a small portion of it.   

Grade 3 was a cinch

This past week, we were invited to attend a assembly/ceremony honoring the kids who did exceptionally well on last years big government exam.  (It was broken down into three separate tests - Math, Reading, and Writing)   Granted, this was Grade 3 we are talking about, but I remember how much Abby worried about those tests.   You'd of thought she was writing an entrance exam to College or something, the way she stressed out at the time!  She couldn't even sleep!    

Turns out, she did really well, and we got to go watch her (and many of her classmates) be recognized for the achievement.    Abby received recognition for excelling on the Math and Writing portions of the Government exam, and she actually got a medal for getting 100% on the reading portion of the test.   

I was super proud of her!  

Abby's friend received a special honor of getting 100% on all three tests!   That's crazy (in a good way;) and I take confidence in the fact that Abby has such smart friends.   

                         

Grandpa came to watch as well, and Abby was thrilled to have a fan base.   haha.  

                      

I'd like to say she gets the brains from me, but...

who are we kidding!!! ;)

Spring is winning

There are certain times in a year when the morning light comes shining through our front windows telling us that it's a new season.    When spring begins to arrive, we are blessed with radiant beams illuminating our breakfast table.     

I just love it!

We've all been waking up a bit earlier these days, and in much better moods too.   But then again, how could that not be the case when the Sun is already up and shining so bright.

Speaking of shining sun, we've had lots of great days that brought us out of hibernation and out into our front yard.   Some like to use their weekends Ripsticking.   

Others like to focus on their artistic abilities.  

While our aspiring basketball players get to finally practice some of their skills.  

Sure, sometimes we wake up 10 hours later to inches of cold white snow again, but that's not the point.

The point is ...that Spring is coming!   

(at least, that's what I keep telling myself;)

Conference Concessions

This year we scored with the best Conference idea EVER!   

You know how it's always hard to get your kids to listen to the talks with you, and you print off 100 sheets of paper, put it in a cute little booklet, (essentially killing a tree in the process), and then spend tonnes of time and money adding said booklet to a basket full of crayons, candy and paraphernalia, all geared toward keeping your child quiet?

What's that?  You've never gone to such ridiculously great lengths?

LIES!!!!

Everybody jumps through hoops to get their kids to listen, and that has pretty much been my General Conference strategy with my kids for years.  It usually results in paper strewn all over the floor, candy eaten (and fought over), brand new packs of crayons snapped in two and bored kids.

   ALL before the opening song is over!!!

This year though, we got a great idea from the Children's friend,  to open up a General Conference Concession.   It worked better then I ever expected!

(Oh yeah, and we used to set up our tent in the living room for the kids to sit in and listen, you know, like the Nephites who pitched their tents toward the temple?     We do dorky things like this, to get our kids to listen.   This year, I got lazy though, and had John make a makeshift tent instead;)

Anyways, back to the concession.   What we did was, minutes before conference began, set up a table full of treats.  (Cookies, jube jubes, Reese chocolates, cheesies, trail mix, cheese and crackers, water and V8 Juice.   Okay, the V8 was for me;)    Abby made a sign that stated the price of each treat, and instantly dubbed herself the one to run the concession.   We then had four bowls full of tokens, and taped to each bowl were the words Savior, Testimony, Scriptures, and Prayer.   Any time the kids heard one of those words, or heard a talk about one of those words they could take a token.     Concession was closed during talks, and opened up during musical numbers, which was when the kids could redeem their tokens on treats of their choice.

Never in a million years, would I have expected it to actually work, but I'll be darned- it did!

It was CRAZY!!  No CRAFTS, coloring pages or word search pages at ALL!   They sat and listened, hanging on a speakers every word.  Sure they were just waiting to earn another token, but who cares why they listened.  THEY LISTENED!!!!!    When the choir would stand up to sing, they would rush to the table, purchase their goodies and then return to their spot on the floor exclaiming that "we should do this every year!"     (I'm pretty sure they enjoyed the "buying with tokens" part more then even the "eating" part of it;)    

Jess and Sam watched an entire session on Saturday, as well as the entire morning session on Sunday!

Nate on the other hand, avoided the family room at all costs, occasionally calling out to one of us to wait on him hand and foot.    I really didn't expect him to try and listen though.   For starters, he's three, but he's also a heathen to boot!;)

Abby surprised me most though, by watching all four sessions with John and I, and get this...she took NOTES!    She was slightly obsessive about needing to write quotes from each and every one of the Apostle's talks, and she even drew diagrams!

At first, I was really proud of her, and often found myself mentally giving John and I props for raising such an outstanding daughter.   But, by the time the fourth session came around, she started flicking John and I anytime we began to even remotely doze off, and I'd be lying if I said her enthusiasm didn't get to be slightly annoying.   haha   

 I mean, doesn't she know the fourth session exists for the purpose of cuddling and napping?    

Sigh...We'll have to fill her in on that next year!

Super Day in Waterton

Earlier this week, we were extra thrilled when our friends (the Spencer's) called up and invited us to join them in Waterton.    John and I had already been wanting to take our kids for lunch out there,  and so we sorta just combined our plans and made a day of it together!

We started out by having lunch at Vimys, one of my favorite places to eat in Waterton.   Mandi's sister and her family joined us too, which was awesome.   (She'd brought along animal crackers, which I'm pretty sure was the sole reason Nate did not have a complete break down as he waited for his food!)

  In total there were 14 of us, and I think our kids behaved quite remarkably, all things considered.

After we ate, we went over to the park so that the kids could run off some steam at the playground.

It was nice to sit in the sun (and it was SUNNY!) and visit.  Conversation was often interrupted by the occasional impromptu snowball fight, or the call from one of our kids to give them a push on a swing.   The weather was so nice, that the kids kept trying to get the spray park going.   They were all like, "Where are our towels?"   and we were all like, "It's freaking barely APRIL!!!"   :)

Of course, we had to do the obligatory stop at Cameron Falls for pictures and then headed to Emerald Bay to roast Marshmallows.    

We brought the marshmallows.  The Spencers brought a MILLION other treats!!  (yup, we're flakes;)

Mandi even came prepared with Easter Eggs filled with treats for the kids to do an Egg hunt.
 It didn't matter one bit that Easter had already passed, because this was an Egg Hunt in WATERTON!!!    How cool is that?!

We're 99% certain that the kids found each and every egg we'd hidden for them.

And one kid got extra lucky and found a TICK too! ;)

Before heading home, we drove up to the hotel to see the view, and it was truly so rare to be up there with no wind at all!   

 John kept trying to fly a kite, but it wouldn't fly!!!  haha.

Mandi and I took tonnes of pictures, and I couldn't get over how the lake below was clear as glass.  

That NEVER happens. 

I snapped this shot using a specific setting on my camera and it turned out so funky, but it gives you a good idea of just how calm it was!

Such a great Great Day!

A stopover at Chads house

This is my Brother, his wife, and two of their four kids. 

Chad tells the coolest stories, makes every conversation interesting, and is very fondly referred to as the "coolest uncle ever."

Heather, makes the most delicious meals, and always has something special waiting for us whenever we pop in for a visit.    We never leave without John asking me to get a certain recipe;)

Ella, Mason, Tyson, and Deacon are all fairly close in age to our own four kids, and therefore, provide endless hours of entertainment as they whittle wood, and explore wooded paths together.   

Just a few of the reasons why we ALL love visiting their home!:)

Picnic in March

I recently offered to help a family in my ward, who were leaving for Easter Break, by taking their church cleaning assignment for that week.     I figured the kids would be happy to perform a little service, but in the end, Jessica was the only one willing to come with me.   The.only.one.   

She washed chalkboards, sprayed cleaner, and emptied ALL the garbage cans!

She was such a hard little worker, and to reward her for her help, I took her to Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone.   (Only, ...she chose the Grilled Turkey Sandwich instead.)

We sat on the lawn in front of the temple, and had our first picnic of the year.   The wind was a bit cold, and the ground was still wet from recently melted snow, but Jess didn't seem to mind.   

I'm really praying this one NEVER grows up on me;)!

Happy Easter

My heart is full this Easter Sunday.

Of course, if you were to ask my kids, the highlight of their day would have been the fact that the Easter Bunny snuck in sometime early this morning and left behind all sorts of sugary madness.  For me though, what I enjoyed most was fast and testimony meeting today at church.    Oh, and the sun is shining, and it is a beautiful BEAUTIFUL spring day!  

Here are a couple of papers I found today that made me smile and I think pretty much epitomizes Easter in our home this year.     (At least from my kids perspective;)

Jessica drew this during sacrament meeting:

Abby left this note for the Easter Bunny last night:

Clearly, Easter means different things to each one of my kids ;) but I'm so grateful for what it means to ME!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Easter Friday

On Easter Friday we did the obligatory "Egg Painting" which I can't stand doing.    

So much mess, if you ask me, but the kids enjoy it, so Egg painting it is!;)

We tried something new this year, (perhaps because there are actually KIDS in our cul de sac now;) and had an Egg Hunt with the neighbors.   It was fun for the kids and Jess won the golden egg for the second year in a row.    

A bit of Easter Role Playing

This past week, I found myself scrambling to find a good lesson idea for Monday's family home evening.   I knew it had to be Easter related, and I really want to do or teach something that would help the kids think more about the true meaning of Easter, and less about some dumb bunny, you know?

(plus that "dumb bunny" is giving them nothing but piggy banks and a little bag of mini eggs this year, so I really don't want the kids putting all their hopes into that one basket, if you know what I mean:)

There is MORE to Easter then what the Easter Bunny brings, that's all.

Anyways, after a little bit of perusing online, I came across a great idea that inspired our very own mock "last supper."   Sunday night, at bedtime, I told the kids that dinner the next day was going to be extra special, and that everybody needed to arrive dressed up like a person who lived when Christ lived.    (Abby talked about it non stop from that point on, and even offered to wear her costume to school, you know, so that she'd be " all ready for FHE."    I told her no to that in a hurry, because the last thing I wanted was for her to go to school on passover Monday looking like some sort of religious fanatic, you know?)

By 5:00 the next evening though, all the kids had found something to wear, and even John and I managed to throw on our old Moroni's Quest costumes one more time.    We all looked pretty darn snazzy, if I do say so myself!  ;)    Jessica made me laugh, because she insisted on being one of the "wise men" and bringing a gift.    I think she got her scriptural accounts mixed up a bit, but hey...she brought the wine, so it's all good!!!   ;)

We ate on the floor, in the front room, and for dinner we had wine grape juice, fruit, nuts, flat bread, lamb skewers (but it was really chicken, don't worry;) olives, and hard boiled eggs.     It wasn't a yummy meal by any means, but the kids literally ate it ALL!   They even tried eating olives, which makes me wonder if they'd eat anything I put in front of them, so long as I give each meal a theme and let them come dressed up?     (Huh.....I'm going to have to see what I can do about this in the future.)   

While we ate, we talked, and I used this time to teach the lesson.

We discussed some of the things the Savior taught at the last supper.  We talked about how He served his apostles.   Sam stepped out of character a time or two to tell us about some struggles he had riding the school bus that day.    And then we talked about Judas, and how he left the supper early so that he could go and perform his act of betrayal.

It was at this point that Nathan (who seemed to have really only come for the wine:) stood up, threw his costume on the ground, and climbed the stairs to my room, proclaiming to us all that he had to go and play the "compluter" instead.   Well, Abby and Sam instantly declared Nate "Judas" and accused him of "leaving the table"!!      hahaha.  

He's a wicked little boy, but I sure love him!  haha

In all honestly, it turned out to be a really fun Family Night, and I think it is exactly what the kids needed to connect with the true meaning of Easter.    John was a trooper and played right along, and I think this may even become a yearly tradition.  

And who knows?   Perhaps our little heathen child might experience a change of heart and actually want to join us next time! :)

Check out our Family Food Blog for a really easy Easter Treat idea! 

The nice way to "EGG" a place....

When I was younger, I remember certain times of the year, when our church meeting house would get "EGGed" by a group of non-lds kids in town.    This always happened every Halloween for sure, but occasionally other times as well.   In fact, I vaguely remember one time when my Brother and some of his friends,  hid out in the bushes surrounding the church (I want to say with water hoses?) in an effort to catch the culprits in the act.    I'm not sure if they ever did catch who was doing it,  but you got to give my brother and his friends props from trying;)  

Anyways, I suppose that might have something to do with the fascination I've always had with this notion of "Egging" a place.   On one hand, I dread it.   Loathe it.  And Fear it.   (I am constantly warning John that he'd better not be a boring teacher, or else his students might come egg our house.)   On the other hand, there is this part of me that would really, REALLY enjoying throwing eggs at something, myself!   (I'd put it on my "Bucket List" of things to do in this life, if I didn't still think it was absolutely moronic.)    

Anyways, this past week at Activity Days I told the girls that we were going to go "Egg a place," and their initial reaction surprised me a bit.   We have 12 girls in our group, and I'd say about HALF of them were a little too excited at the idea.  Heck, they were thrilled!!!

(Future "Eggers" for sure;)

I had to quickly re-direct their focus and assure them that, this time, going and "Egging" something was going to be a GOOD thing, because we were about to commit a "Nice-ness."  

  Luckily, they were all still on board with the idea, so there might be hope for them still;)         

14 Easter Eggs containing testimonies, kind words, and happy thoughts about Easter posted on our Bishops office door.   I'm not sure if the putty will hold until Sunday, but that doesn't matter.   

The girls had fun doing it, and I'm pretty sure I got that whole "Egging" thing out of my system, once and for all!   :)

Just one more day until Easter Break.  

EEEEKK!!!!

Jessica, put your socks on!!!

One morning as everyone was getting ready for school, I told Jess to make sure she put some socks on.  

She went off in search of a pair, and the next thing I knew, she had constructed her own very little ...um...sock puppet?...using some of my jewellery.    

Can you believe she actually wanted this tacky thing to stay put all day?   Luckily, she settled for a picture with it instead;)