Why I Haven't Blogged...

Sorry for the last totally random post :). I was trying to show my Mom that photo and it was easiest just to make it my most recent post...don't you love talking over the phone and showing things over the internet?

Anyway, this is a photo laden entry with just a part of the explanation about why I haven't blogged much this summer. Here are my excuses for July...

Had to take these three monkeys to see some real animals!

Had to take this kid to his candy store!

Had to introduce my kids to the joys of roller coasters (which they loved)!

Had to view some of God's gorgeous creation.

Had to make sure we didn't get too used to summer - though it was fairly hot for being the Columbia Icefields.

Had to step back in time at Fort Edmonton Park (we even learned how a switchboard works...those girls must have been quick!)

Had to get some omelettes...oops this egg doesn't work!

Had to spend a fabulous evening at the beach!

Had to learn how to drive one of these (really, my sister MADE me!)

Had to see how the open road was!

Had to make sure this one got his chance to eat sand (others chose to build with it rather than eat it).

Had to try out tubing to see what kind of daredevils my kids are.

Had to spend some time learning about God.

Had to check on the plants that he planted back in April.

Had to experiment with new modes of transportation.

Had to check out the local curling scene (yes, that is my family and yes, this is July - in fact, this rink didn't even put ice in last winter my Mom tells me...just in the summer ;) ).

Had to learn to make snowballs (isn't summer fun? This was actually the scrapings from the curling ice).

Had to help Grandpa mow the lawn.

Had to help Grandma bake.

Had to sail the seven seas with Buzz and Woody.

Had to check out a museum with a really cool caboose.

Had to take photos with Grandma & Grandpa & Great-Grandma.

Had to sample some tasty treats. (My friend from New Zealand came for a visit and brought these. They sound odd but are fantastic - and very addictive - so Kelly if you're reading this...next time you come visit - these are a great gift!)

Had to see if good would triumph.

Had to check out some more powerful transportation.

Had to fulfill that need for speed.

Had to learn to swim with some awesome cousins!

Had to spend time playing with same cousins.

Had to witness some nuptials.

So, there you go (if you're still here). Those are my excuses for July...do you think they're good enough? Soon I plan to get up my excuses for August!

Until next time...

This page

Real Mom Moment

Well, readers of my blog (however few or many of you there are) can I be honest with you? This week has been a new challenge. Xander is now in grade 1 and I had been warned (by many people) that the adjustment to all day school can be rough. They aren't used to going for that long and they get tired and it can take 4-6 or more weeks to adjust. So, I was trying to be prepared for this, especially since Xander was still napping every couple of days during the summer. I tried to steel myself to be patient and compassionate and yet not let him get away with everything because he's tired. The week actually went better than I had expected, though, there were definitely moments where I really wanted to just lose it. My usually obedient and mild mannered child showed more attitude than he ever has. However, mostly we made it through those moments without too much trouble. Then came this morning and church. I was sitting with the kids while Jason ushered and when my dear son was asked to do something by me I got nothing but attitude. So, we left the service to have a little chat. It wasn't the best start to the morning since I now had a headache and still had to sit through a sermon and teach 2's & 3's. Of course, the sermon was on perseverance - I guess that was probably a good thing since that is really what I need to do right now! It was also communion Sunday and as I sat there before communion I was just praying...I'm trying, I'm trying...what can I do? Then I heard it...maybe that's the problem. There's an awful lot of I's in there. It was one of those "ah ha" moments. God promises to take care of us - Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. If that's not a promise that a mom needs to hold tight to, I don't know what is! After that, 2's & 3's were no problem...and even enjoyable!

Until next time...

Happiness is...

...the little things. Like realizing that, while your front door is still annoyingly out of commission, you can take the screen out of the window next to it to get the mail and meet the bus.

I promise I'm working on some photos. I've got about half of them edited!

Until next time...

You Learn Something New Everyday...

...sometimes whether you want to or not. I don't have pictures ready to post yet but we had an eventful weekend. We attended my cousin's wedding (sans children) and got to see several relatives we haven't seen in a long time. It was quite fun but exhausting. If that wasn't exciting enough, we came home to find out that our house had been broken into. They didn't really take too much...a couple little things but we obviously didn't have what they were looking for. Unfortunately, we now have a door that really needs to be fixed. I am thankful that no one was home at the time and stuff is all just stuff. That truly is clear to me. Today we had the first of the door guys out and he was trying to determine what needed to be replaced and what didn't. This is my something new...I had to un-barricade the door and used a drill for the first time in my life. Apparently you don't have to be handy to give quotes on doors so I had to actually phone my husband at work to figure out how to work the drill!! We also had company on the weekend (more than one set) so it was really an eventful few days. I met my newest nephew for the first time, too! I'll post some photos a bit later...I'd forgotten how snuggly newborns can be! Anyway, almost everyone is gone now and life is sorta back to normal (plus swimming lesson fun!).

Until next time...

We're Baaack!

Well, I guess I should no longer be on hiatus. We've been back from vacation for about 10 days now but I haven't gotten around to blogging. We took a week just to get back into things (and work on potty training, which is now going fabulously!!) and then we got into a busier time. We're currently doing swimming lessons with my brother's kids and spending some time with them like we do each summer. It's fun but keeps us hopping! The kids are loving swimming lessons and then they get to play at the playground afterwards. It's incredibly tiring too! They are so pooped out by the afternoon and ready for their naps.

This weekend we're hopping up to Saskatoon for a wedding. My cousin is getting married. It's just going to be a quick trip and we're going without the kids so it should be different - we haven't gone anywhere without the kids in a while!

So, I don't really have any photos at the moment and this is pretty much updated now. Maybe I'll be back with photos later.

Until next time...

Hiatus

Well, I won't get my next post up on what we've been up to for a while because we're going on vacation!! It's small and local but, still, hopefully we'll have some fun. If you want to follow our vacation wanderings you can check us out on our travel blog.

Until next time...