There is hope!

Today felt so great, the sun, the wind (cold, but amazing) We even saw a robin when we went for a walk after school, and the sidewalks were almost clear. Time to run Angie :). I think we'll be getting some more snow but I saw a bit of hope today just a small taste of Spring. It even smelled like mud. We had a really nice time with my family coming to visit for Easter, lots of cousin time for all the kids, lots of taking pictures and many many pots of coffee :) . I always feel so bless with the time we spend together even thought all 17 of us can get a small house feeling pretty full it's always very sad to see everyone go.

Come out, come out wherever you are!

Feeling kind of down from all these cloudy days since we've been back and the rain and the snow, all too gloomy for me. I can't wait to see the green leaves again, and open my windows, clean the garage plant some flowers, go on bike rides boys do I feel like complaining :( I'm avoiding my cleaning on top of that too much to do. Maggy is home for the third day, but feeling much better today. She took her brother to the dollar store this morning she couldn't stay inside any longer, she also picked her mommy up some coffee and cream you have to love this age :) Well I should snap out of my funk and go back to folding and ironing clothes. Hoping for a sunny week-end with my wonderful family.

Cousin Cuddles.

I should have knowned to wait before I told Joe his cousin was coming, I think he has said it, or sang it or chanted it over 60 times this afternoon " Isaac coming to our home now :)" He just won't stop I wish I could tape him ( not with duck tape thought that would be fun too ) 2 nights will seem really long here.

Highs & Lows

We are back from an other Sawatsky road trip and even though we might need a vacation from our vacation, if nothing else we created memories :) So here is a short way of summarizing our trip.
1. We had a week of great beach days, not super hot but great sun.
2. Nobody got sick until the last day.
3. Had lots of bonding time, playing bocce, looking for shells, shopping at the flea market, eating LOTS of Wendy's value meals, listening to good music, building sand castles
4. Had time away from home, work, school, SNOW :)
5. Enjoyed 50 hours of intense family time



And now the lows
1. Got an other speeding tickets, after 18 hours of driving the first day we were a bit eager to get to our first destination and 45 minutes short of getting there we got stopped.
2. On our way back our van got broken in and hubby's laptop, Maggy's camera and all of Jakobs's savings were stolen.
3. My Emma got really sick with a fever on the way home and has passed it on to all of us.
3. We have now had a taste of summer and will be very anxious to see this snow melt. I already miss the sun, the sand, the birds, the breeze.
4. I lost most of my pictures from our trip because they were already downloaded on Bartley's computer
5. I have LOTS of laundry

So by now we have learned that things happen and it's part of life and we have still feel extremely blessed to have had a chance to get away. God is good.

5 minutes

That's how much time I'm giving myself to post before we leave in 4 hours or so :) We're going to see my in-laws in Florida and very excited about it. We'll be there for 10 days including our 50 hour drives there and back. I'm feeling a bit nervous, not quit packed, but hoping to enjoy lots of time as a family. See you soon.

Don't Tell!!!

You know it's time to cook when you find this empty in the fridge :)

I think Maggy likes sugar :) There was only 1/4 of it left but still...

Recipe for " Happpy Toddler"

A new batch of blue KOOL-AID play-doh.
Some cold leftover pizza.
Lots of Ray Charles.
And there you have it 2 solid hours of fun with Joe.

February Loves xoxo

Well everyone's updating so got to follow the crowd :) it's been two months since I last blogged. We've had 3 b-days, Christmas holiday, and lots happening. It's been a good winter so far and lots to be thankful for. So I'm going to play along with Angie :) She's my friend...:) What are some of your new/rediscovered loves/likes? So here it goes


we are finally seeing little fingers and big ones too :) playing music in our home. After 14 years and many many trips to look at pianos we have finally bought a piano. Daddy and the kids are thrilled, I just listen end enjoy :) The kids are finally taking lessons for a REALLY good price and taking initiative to practice, even Joe tries composing his own tunes... " happy birthday to myself " is his favorite :)

I'm also loving browsing on all the wonderful artistic people that make things on the Etsy shops and have just found some amazing talents . Just found a fun piece and can't wait to see it in the mail.

Digging through some of my old CD's ( B.B.king) and discovering new one.

Shower gel from the body shop It just has that amazing, edible scent. The grapefruit one is also incredibly delicious smelling. I'm very protective of it as I have 2 other girls constantly digging through my stuff :) and using half a cup each time.

I'm rediscovering my days alone with just my boy, as I finished babysitting I have much more time with him. We've been swimming a couple of times together ( with his girl " Rory" of course). It's been nice and much more quiet around the house which means still very loud. He's been using his imagination a lot more. building fires almost every day, which consists of dumping any small objects in a big pile like 1000 piece puzzle, monopoly money and there you go you have it, his project, just now he walked in grabbed a music book and nail clippers and said it's for my fire :) I might want to redirect his interest before I have a pyromaniac on my hands. He loves putting his hands on his hips when he shows me. Makes him look much more serious :) He's also enjoyed things like drawing circles all over his body, or anything that requires lots of clean up but how can I resist him when he says " you my best friend mom" OK so he's number 4 and I'm just a big wimp!!!!

So this is my first attempt at blogging again.

My Maggarilla..

I once again should be in bed getting ready for an other day, but no instead I'm enjoying a nice cup of peppermint tea. I ran outside with my hair wet this morning and now my throat hurts. I love this time of day, where I can think without interruptions. I'm feeling like my life is just passing by and there we go heading towards an other Christmas more birthdays. My baby is turning twelve in just over a week and it is so hard to wrap my mind around it. There are days as a mom that I want to run away from everything and life becomes more than I can take, and then other days when it's all going by to fast and I want to restart everything with all that I have learned, but that's not how life works and I wouldn't be who I am now. I was talking to a girl at work who also has a 12 year old and asking if they got along well ( trying to make conversation) and then she starts describing her daughter with swear words after every two words and after 10 minutes goes" I guess not!" I really didn't know what to say. My baby has her faults like everyone else but she is truly an amazing girl full of love and compassion and weeks like this when we have so much on the go, I don't think I could survive without her.
She comes home from school today and says I'm here to help what do you want me to do? last night after I came back from my waitressing I gave the kids their allowance which was exactly what I had made that night (not a long night) and she didn't want to take it. She said I can't take your money that you worked so hard for! I am so thankful to God for her beautiful heart and hope I can be the mom and friend she will need in the years to come.

#46

Well I can't sleep tonight, I have TOO much on my mind so I sat down and came up with 46 things that were on my mind, taking lots of important space inside my head. Even now I could add an other 5 just because my brain can't stop. In a way it's good for me to get down on paper what is inside because I can actually deal with each thing properly, some things " can" be fixed quick like going to Wal-Mart tomorrow and buying the kids winter boots and underwear, and then I can be down to 45 but some things just need to be given to God so they will probably stay on my list for quite a while still, but they should be off my mind. Because they aren't for me to worry about.
Mattew 6:
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I think a lot of times that If I wasn't reminded of this I would probably need lots of therapy because I'm really good at worrying and it doesn't do nice things to me, but God is good and patient with me and I'm very thankful for his love. So now I'm off to bed to listen to the rain or is it sonw??? either way, it sounds nice.

Changing Sky!

I wonder if my neighbors think I'm weird always taking pictures of the sky :) But that was the sky at 4:00 p.m yesterday after all the dark clounds of the morning.

We're not scared...

This was the sky at 10:30 this morning, and after waiting for it to clear, and it wasn't, we decided to head out anyways. Maybe it was the smashing of the goldfish crackers between your fingers contest that the boys had. Maybe the dumping of all the Halloween candies in the basement or the dumping of all of my sewing basket? No I think it was the way the walls were slowly closing down on me and making me feel a bit crazy that made me head outside for a peaceful break. So after getting to the grocery store and having my bicycle trailer FULL of groceries with two toddlers that are getting really tired and a 4 year old that is letting me know that she is "STARVING", I realized that my two tires were completely deflated. So I quickly became that crazy women in the grocery store that was trying to keep everyone away from the bulk candies that are right by the cash!!! BRILLIANT concept isn't it?. We managed to get back on her way. So maybe it wasn't the picture perfect"peacful walK" but we still made sure to stop for picture, the park, and finally naps and a big cup of coffee to enjoy the rest of this day.


Look what my mommy found! "MY" boots, "My" Wain boots.

Sharing some love...

Just a cute picture of " the boys" even though there is 7 years between them I love to see them interact with each other, finding that Joe has snuck into bed with his big bro in the morning for a few cuddles before Jake has to go to school that's a good day for Jake it means Josef didn't wake him up with his typical " GET UP RIGHT NOW!" we have to work on his gentle side a bit more he is fully charged ALL the time ready for action tiring his mommy out big time, but bringing lots of joy and smiles to all of us.

Perfection

I love pomegranates, I think it makes me think of my childhood. My dad use to always buy a couple of theses around this time of year and it was such a big deal, so exotic to us :). Now for just a dollar you can get them in just about any grocery store and they are so so good its amazing to me how accessible it all is to us now. So while I was suppose to be getting ready for work today, I grabbed one, and you HAVE to sit down or stand still while you eat it not to get the juice all over you, so instead of spending my 45 minutes cleaning I started eating this perfect little fruit and then taking pictures for 30minute. It is so rare for me to be alone at home, there is always someone staying back and usually if everybody leaves it's only a window of an hour or less, before something else happens, and it was worth every minutes today. Time to savour, be quiet and enjoy a bit of life. So my house is still in needs of some TLC but when does it not? it's a busy crazy house full of life that I sometimes try to turn into something it is not meant to be for the time being. Enjoy your week!

Bye Bye October...

A little bit of Friday frost that actually stayed on the ground until past 9 this morning I'm ready for Winter. Today is also my beautiful mommy's B-day so as she requested here are some Pictures of the kids on Alloween except for Jake that had already disappeared with his friends dressed as a hunter.


j'aurais bien aimé être avec toi aujourd'hui je t'aime très fort gros bizous xox et Bonne fête.

Accepting Change

Well my taking it step by step new found motto is being tested. What was meant to be a nice day with my love ended up being cancelled because of well… life (he had way too much on his plate) but saying I was dumped kind of sounds good. . So here it goes 10 things to do when the day doesn’t go according to plan 1. Call your favorite girls to come to the rescue and help you plan your day so full that you don’t have to face your responsibilities at home ☺ 2. Take a nice looooong walk to your friend’s house because you have no car and you will not stay home. 3. Pick up a diet coke and pomegranate on the way at the grocery store just because you can. 4. Stop to let the unknown husky lick your son all over, and smile at the glow on his face (Joe) even though you wouldn’t let that big furry smelly thing come anywhere near you. 5. Decide to switch you original coffee plans to coffee+ the farm (just because you can). 6. enjoy a beautiful lunch at the farm and even squeeze in some shopping (when will I have enough baskets) 7. Pick up a free coffee on your way to one more store just one more mommy promises.
8. Make a bit more time to go to you’re the nursery to see all their new Christmas stuff and pick up couple new ornament for your tree (that hubby will after question you on??? Aren’t Christmas ornament suppose to be shinny not a solid chunk of wood??? ) Well I like wood + I wasn’t shopping with him ☺ ( shopping with girls does have it's perks.9. Make it back home to realize the cleaning lady never came and then realizing you are the cleaning lady. 10. Just be thankful that even though your plans changed you at least have amazing friends, a beautiful gorgeous sunny day and freedom to plan a great day with your son. there will be an other day to be out with the one I love :)

Just Us!

This morning we're enjoying the warmth of our house, the fireplace I even turned on the heat for the first time ( it's very very cold out there ) french toast, some tea and hot chocolate and I think some afternoon naps for very tired munchkins. A day with no expectations, no plans and each other to be with :) I think it's going to be a good day. Daddy is leaving tomorrow for an other 5 days so we'll enjoy the quiet moments when they come even if they seem fewer and fewer.

Taking it step by step.

Lately I'm trying to take each day as it comes or it all becomes so overwhelming to me. I've been able to find some work in the last month and it has been really good to know that it's not hurting our family time and it's helping with all the extra things that seem to always come up. I feel like the kids at the beach just going from one rock to the next, trying to find a safe dry spot to land. Do you ever wonder why we play that game taking the risk of slipping, getting wet, hurting ourselves I guess the challenge is still worth the risk. Through all of this process I have had to remember to give ALL of my uncertainties and insecurities ( their has been a lot of those) to God and it has been so wonderful to see the ways he has answered our prayers as a family and his faithfulness. Thank you for praying. The walk has been nice so far :) and I feel I have been stretched in good ways.

I've got a secret...

It still doesn't feel like fall, and no one here is complaining!!!

Daddy's day :)

Whishing my daddy a very happy Birthday!