Payne Lake Lodge

This past weekend John and I joined some other families in our ward at the nearby Payne Lake Lodge.  

I wasn't sure what to expect, as I'd never been there before, but we had a great time!   The weather was pretty chilly, but the kids kept themselves occupied playing pool, Foosball, karaoke, and exploring.   After the kids went to bed, the adults stayed up until almost 2:00 am just talking!  

It's always fun getting to know others!!

Picnic in the pasture

A couple of weeks ago, Sam came home with a little Fir Tree start.   He instantly planted it in a bucket of garden soil, but we knew we were going to have to find a more permanent place for it soon.   

This past Monday ended up being the perfect day to plant a tree, and we decided (very last minute) to make an event of it.    Sam wanted to plant it out at the "Community Pasture"  (a place where local farmers graze their cattle) because that is where we always go to cut down our Christmas tree.    

So we packed a lunch, and off we went.  

Oh yeah, and we called my sister 10 minutes before we left and asked if her family wanted to join us. 

We've not been seeing much of each other the past several weeks, so it was fun to reconnect!

As per tradition, Jewel tried to get all of the cousins together for a group photo.   

However, as per tradition, this proved to be easier said then done:

1st attempt.

2nd attempt!

3rd attempt!

Then a war began.    And we gave up.

(Doesn't this photo make you think of The Hunger Games!)

Eventually, we remembered why we'd come out here in the first place.     Sam grabbed his tree-in-a-pail, John grabbed his shovel, and we started our little hike in search of the perfect spot!

  Down the hill.....

Through the woods....

And across the creek.

Occasionally, some of us would find ourselves in a little predicament of sorts.  :)  

After a few short minutes, John found the perfect little patch of grass, where Sam's tree would grow big and tall.  (I'm pretty sure John was more excited to plant this tree then Sam was;)

Sam did stop playing with his cousins long enough to pour a bucket of creek water over his newly planted tree, one last time before leaving.    We've made plans to come back each year to see how this tree is doing, and I wouldn't be surprised if one future winter day, we cut it down and use it for our Christmas tree.   (We like to be ironic like that:)

Until then though, we'll just pretend we did Mother Earth a great big favor!!!!!

A bit of Dam fun, Tailgate parties, and Waterton to boot!

John's brother Ben, his wife Kat and their two kids came down on Thursday night for the weekend.   Combine that with the fact that John's sister is still here from California, and we had the makings for a full on reunion party.   (Canadian style;)

On Friday we ventured out to St. Mary's for a bit of fossil hunting.  ...in the rain. ...and the wind.

Darn this weekend!   The forecast for May long weekend called for cloudy skies, showers, and wind.

Perfect.   

The kids didn't seem to mind that it was so cold.   Within minutes they'd taken off their coats, socks and shoes and were digging in the sand like it was a regular ol' day at the beach.

Nathan has taken up "Sand Surfing."    

(Note:  Winter boots and shorts are totally the rage up here in Canada;)

Due to the fact that it was May long weekend, there was not a camping spot or picnic table in sight, we had to get a little creative with our picnic.    John threw all the seats down in the van, and we served the food out of the back of Ben and Kat's Nissan.    It may have been a little redneck, but that's how a tailgate party is done, no?   

Luckily, John's family is pretty chill and the bad weather (and lack of picnic area) didn't seem to dampen anyones spirits.     In fact, this turned out to be a practice run for our outing to Waterton the next day.

On Saturday we drove out to Waterton for hotdogs.   ...in the rain.  ...and the wind.

(are you noticing a pattern?)

Once again, we optimized the sto and go feature that is perhaps the one thing I like about our van.     (Take that all of you who refuse to buy a mini van.  Can you fit four adults, 6 kids, 10 hot dogs, 10 pops, and 3 large orders of sweet potato fries in YOUR vehicle?  I think not.)

After enjoying our lunch, courtesy of Weiners of Waterton, we headed to the indoor pool for some swimming!   It was awesome because we had the pool, sauna, and hot tub to ourselves.   My two year old nephew Maddax is a maniac in a pool and out swam everyone.    Sam and Abby made it their personal mission to get me soaked, despite my efforts to keep my hair dry.  John played and played and played.   I disappeared for a half hour  the sauna.  And then Uncle Ben bought everyone ice cream at Big Scoop.  It was great!

This scene made me laugh.   We drove by as a guy was flying his remote control hover craft, and there was a whole herd of sheep enjoying the show!  haha.  I bet they don't see that everyday.

It really was a fun weekend with them.  Rain, Wind and All!!!!!

Front yard flowers. (In May)

I have a love/hate relationship with May.

I loathe it because of all the busy-ness that it brings.   Sports, coaching, schedules, concerts, ceremonies, recitals, later bedtimes, house projects, mowing, pruning, and weeding.   I never answer my phone any more (and people thought I was bad before!), my calendar is full, and the piles of laundry to fold are once again reaching epic proportions.

I love May though, with all my heart and soul, because of the very same things that make me feel so busy!   The sports, the concerts, the ceremonies, recitals, later nights and yes - even the mowing pruning and weeding.  

I'm thinking I need to just focus more on the moment, and enjoy the wonderfulness of spring without letting the busyness of it get to me.    These flowers that have popped up in our front yard help. 

I used to think these flowers were called Hyacinths, but now I don't think they are.    All I know is that I stole them from the yard of a member of my ward, just days before she moved away. 

   I guess I should have asked her what it was that I was stealing;)  

This lovely green foliage has already doubled in size, and I'd be perfectly happy if it overtook my entire flower bed!   Again, I have no clue what it's called, but it reminds me of lettuce.    

The tulips on my front lawn make me especially happy each year.    I still think back to the fall of 2010 when I was struggling with poor health and a crippled body.   One particularly pathetic morning, I looked out my window and saw a neighbor of mine, on her hands and knees, planting tulips for me to enjoy in the spring.     

The kind gesture made me happy then, but even happier now!     

Aren't tulips beeeeeautiful!!!!!

These flowers are definitely part of what I LOVE about May!!!

My family, and the gifts they give on Mothers Day....

Yesterday was a great!   

It started with breakfast in bed, but only after the kids had given each and every home made Mothers Day gift possible!     Then, it was off to church where we heard from a couple of awesome return missionaries.   For supper, we packed up a picnic and drove out to Kimball Park.   It was a perfectly relaxing way to end a lovely day.

As I sat at a picnic table watching my family eat/play, I couldn't help but consider each of their very different personalities, and I marvelled at how intrinsically those personalities play out in our family.   This was definitely true on Mother's day, as the gifts they gave me were absolute snapshots of who THEY are.  At least in this moment in time.   

Abby, for example, is now 10, going on 14!   She's painfully determined to be heard and acknowledged as an adult, even when what she is saying is still so...grade 4 of her.  
I sometimes wish she'd be content to just stay little, but anytime I ask her to,  she just rolls her eyes, sighs and says,  "Whatevs Mom!"

For Mother's Day, she gave me a book of poetry, a stick that she had carved MOM into, and a little matchbook style packet of sewing supplies.    (You know, because I am "sew" special;)    I couldn't help but laugh at the first poem in the book, titled "I LIKE..."   It's a witty composition of the things she likes about me, contrasted with the things she doesn't like about me.

(ie: "I like it when you let us watch movies, but I don't like it when you don't give us popcorn," or  my favorite "I like when we go on vacation, but I don't like it when we're only there for less then a week.")

Typical.  Always campaigning for what she feels she's entitled to.   Haha.
   Heaven help us with her in a few years!   

Sam is a real character!    He's an actor, a comedian, and a dirt covered 7 year old boy all rolled into one!  It's impossible for me to even guess what this kid will end up being like as a grown up, but I think it's safe to say - he'll be making making people laugh!

His gift to me consisted of a stick, again with MOM carved into it.  (He and Abby never go far without their pocket knives these days;)   He also gave me a fill-in-the-blank type letter, and a HANDWRITTEN card that was all Sam.  It went like this:

"Dear Mom.   

You are the best Mom ever.   But you are a bad player of baseball.

But still, you are the best Mom ever.

Get me a ninjago watch PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!"

You better believe I was touched by his genuine expression of love! :)

Jessica is our little bundle of sweetness.    That's simply all there is to say.

She's kind, cuddly, creative and loves "everything about the whole world"!!!!  

She helped me pick tulips the other day, and secretly kept a bunch aside to present to me on Mothers Day.    Of course,  she also had a plethora of adorable cards/gifts that she'd made at Kindergarten.   But my favorite gift from Jess was the paper cup model of our family. 

   See?  There's John on the far left.   I'm next to him (with the big nose I might add;) and each of our kids!    Just one big happy paper cup family!!!    That's us:)

I snapped this picture of Nate while the rest of us were eating our chicken salad sandwiches.  

  Nate refused to join us for the picnic, but that's only because it would have involved actually sitting down to eat.   (He doesn't go for that much on a good day.   Throw in a slide just a couple of yards away, and it's a done deal;)

Deep down though, I think he's glad to be a part of our family, and I'm sure he loves me.   Really, I think he does.   For example, when I tell him to "hurry along" and he responds by saying, "no way Mommy poopy pants!" 

 Well,  I think that's really just his way of saying...I Love you!

Some people just show their love a little differently, you know?

Waterton- Twice in one week!!!

John's sister (Rachel) has been in town for the past couple of weeks, and will be or a few weeks more.    Her husband though, unfortunately has to stay back in California and work.   (I know..."has to stay in California."  Boo hooo;)   ANYWAYS, this past weekend, he surprised Rach and flew out to be with her for Mother's Day.     

Naturally, we decided to plan a party in Waterton, because really...he flew all this way to hang out with us to, right?     Here's what made the day great:

* They actually caught a butterfly with the butterfly net.    (Usually it's just used as a weapon;)

* We made tinfoil dinners (could use some fine tuning)

* I found Natural All Beef Hot dogs for our wiener roast.    (I have a phobia of Nitrates, but veggie dogs are gross, so I've always felt lost as to what to do?  ...until now!;)

* Jessica was re-united with her BFF...Thor the dog.  (She didn't leave his side all day!)

* Nate ate a bun.   Like, he actually ATE something!!!   He was sneaky about it, but food literally went into him.    It was a miracle;)

* We sat on the rocky beach and watched the kids throw rocks. 

* Sam and Abby inherited pocket knives and spent a large chunk of time "whittling sticks."

* We saw lots of herds of mountain sheep, some deer, and a tonne of people. (Felt like May long weekend)

* We came home and enjoyed barbecued burgers.   They were sooo good!

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!!! ;)