Heavenly Shudders

Picture smorgasborg

2012-01-28T21:44:00.003-06:00

After our trip to Texas, I got to drive to mom and dad's to get Saba. I got to see mom and dad briefly as well as Jenn and her kids who came out to make me a fabulous French lunch. Her host family from France who she is still very much friends with, had sent a package from France for Christmas and I got there in time to get some crepes Jenn cooked up! There is nothing like the crepes in France. I've got recipes, but they actually use different kinds of flours for the different crepes. They have restaurants with all crepe menus called creperies and they are so amazing. The make salty supper ones (my favorite was ham and cheese) and they make desert ones (I liked hazelnut) and they even made flambe ones (ones made with liquor that they set on fire and YES- they were my absolute favorite!) Isaac was being so cute and growing up so fast. I'm glad we get to see each other more often than we did in Texas, but the visits are so fast and short that it seems like we actually have less time. And we've been terrible about skyping. We used to do that regular, but the kids get so unruly on it, it's not very enjoyable!! I've figured out that short skype visits can be sweet, but I have to remember when I've scheduled them! Anyways, Jenn and I haven't gotten on a schedule for them yet!

Victoria and her boyfriend Tyler got to visit with us some one evening and Emora was quite taken by them.

I love love our kid's school. I am slowly learning some of the reasons it is so special. For one thing it is a community school, not a public school, which means that they have a special emphasis on the community. This includes many, many activities in the year to involve the whole family. We get lots and lots of parties, festivals and family activities to share with the school community. When you live in a small town, this affects most of town! So when we go, we get to connect with a lot of people we have met, which is part of what is helping us feel like we have our place here. This was a Hawaiian party at school. We were invited to dress Hawaiian and bring a picnic lunch to share with our child(ren). I got there with my trio and look who all found us! They had a cute hut where Hawaiian looking ladies made pretenda coladas (coconut slushies- that were so yummy).

Another fun thing they have been doing is wacky snacks- letting kids and staff try things like pomegranite or humus on sweet potatoe sticks. We recently went to a world literacy night at the school. They had a table representing a place in the world with kid books based on that area, decor, flag and snacks: fortune cookies, sushi, pineapple, humus and flat bread, chips, salsa & sour cream ... They had games where we matched flags and country names and countries with words of greetings and pages of literacy activities to do at home, a map with stars on the countries we were exploring through food and reading. Then when we left, every kid got to take home a free book! So amazing.

We went to a program today at the library celebrating Robert Munsch stories and literacy and the kids each got another book! I was calculating how many books the kids have gotten this year from programs and I'm sure we're at 20 or more!

Yesterday we got to go to another special program- Brian presented his music and the chapman stick to the grade 1s and 2s. It was fabulous. He did so good!

The music teacher was laughing at herself a bit. She told us that Ivan has been saying that his dad plays a Stick for a couple of years now, but that she had never heard of it and didn't realize it was an actual instrument. When he told her he has a cd, she didn't know he really did play and have a cd and that it's a real instrument. Brian had Sheena come over and play some on the guitar so that he could explain the differences and how Emmett Chapman came up with the Stick. Another teacher heard the sounds and popped in, requesting for him to do a presentation for her grade 7&8s. He is also teaching bass now in town. He's been on the roster for a year, but suddenly he has 3 students. So he is really enjoying getting more into music since he has been here.

Emora's 3rd birthday and a lot of other birthdays

2012-01-27T19:56:00.003-06:00

I have 2 cousins (brother and sister) who live here in the Fort with us. They each have families of 5, plus us, family of five, add their sister and parents- an hour's drive from here and there are pretty much birthdays every month through the year. Sheena has a great party house, with lots of room, teenage facilitator and instruments, plus she doesn't mind hosting. So about once a month or every few months, we have a birthday bash. I always wanted to have family parties. There is not so much involved for several reasons... a lot of times, everyone pitches in with parts of it- food or cake or game or pinata in this case and secondly, if we are too lazy to organize, it doesn't matter- the kids all love to see each other and play together anyways.

Emora and Neve are 2 years apart. I realized when I took this picture that with each year, the age gap won't be so noticeable. Maybe they will be close buddies. Then again, Lanelle is only a year older, so Emora likes to play with her too.

All the January birthdays: I noticed they were all parent and daughter.

Jenn asked me what kind of birthday I was doing for Emora and I realized ackk- I should at least make a cake!! I usually do 2 box cakes, but I was missing a super easy chocolate cake recipe that we've made before. It is the most delicious cake, so half of it was that. It's always fun to me to think of a design and decorate it.

Emora was given a card last year that she just loved. It was part card, part puppet, part story. She has been getting me to read it and make the dog talk all year long. I didn't want to just get rid of it, but at the same time, she was about to be 3, so I decided to sew him a body and make him into a real puppet.
I told Emora she could name him and she wanted to name him "Emora". So creative! I convinced her to give him a slightly different name- so on his collar, on his button medalion it reads: "Emory"- our newest puppet.

Trip tales part 12

2012-01-25T19:42:00.003-06:00

The final chapter of our trip. OK, so I may have slightly ulterior motives in this. If you are from Abilene and thinking of making the long drive up, this is some of what you get to see (ok, not Brian in the van).

It's long, yes, but it's also flat, straight and dotted with breathtaking beauty. I love, love the light as you get North. I never knew what it was that made me relax (unconciously) the further North we came every time we drove, until one time, at a pit stop, Brian said that the light was weird. Then it hit me- the light felt "right" for that season and time of day, it was a different angle from the sun and it was what I was used to. Culture shock is not just a result of language and customs being different, but so often it's all the little things that add up.

I grew up where there are seasons, extreme seasons. It's part of the joys and the journey to anticipate and glory in each season. Abilene didn't really have seasons and it was one of the first big things I really missed having lived in Canada.

Smells, light, air, tastes, sounds vary depending on so many factors that we can not even calculate, but when you travel you realize- this is different, how exotic and exciting that life could have such a different feel to it in this place.

I like flying for the speed of it, but Brian has always preferred to drive. With a family of five and none of the kids being small enough for a free ticket, I think driving will definitely be our mode of locomotion back and forth. But it's not all bad. Brian likes to drive and I like to read and sleep (in between helping kids with stuff). The kids thought they were in hog heaven watching a billion movies all day long- blah.

Sometimes I made them shut it off and look out the windows. Look at the beauty I'd say! Tell me something gorgeous you see. They'd appease me a few moments, maybe pull out something from their backpack and quickly return to their long drive singsong "Can we watch another movie now!"

I was thinking how times have changed. We used to see animal farms as we drove the countryside and now the kids see wind farms. I found them mesmerizingly beautiful- like art in the sky, but my kids will not find them unique, just a part of life, like dvds and wiis and smart computers in class. I just hope they will remember to look up and breathe deep, find open spaces and drink in the gorgeous of nature, the treasure of friends, the deep benefits of family, the joys of travel and new experiences and memories created on a 2 day drive through open country.

Trip tales part 11

2012-01-24T19:27:00.003-06:00

Nearly finished up with our trip tales. It's about time huh? OK, so confession time, I still haven't uploaded pictures off the camera since we got back. I need to though. They are so fun to see on the big screen and then I can share them with you too!

We started our stay and ended our stay in Abilene at the restaurant we loved the most there. SzeChuan. We used to go before it got all fancy, when it was a little hole in the wall restaurant with the best food in town and amazing chefs who cooked behind a glass viewing area. Paula (in red striped shirt) is the person who first took me there.

So, our first night in Abilene we ate there and our last night in Abilene we so happened to get to eat there again! We had never been in the fancy round room, so that was a special treat. The kids loved the round spinning center. I was thinking I need one for the cupboards, but definitely not for my table as the kids kept spinning it and driving me batty.

We got to enjoy several family traditions. Staying at Wynetta's was amazing and she shared her tradition of making cinnamon rolls for breakfast that she used to do with her grandson when he was little. She wanted to pass on the memory to my littles and they sure did love it.

They also remembered our own tradition of Brian making sausage biscuits. I have to boast a bit about a super duper friend ;) Tighe bought and brought us the makings for sausage biscuits twice! I found that God often brings me best friends who are just like my husband- probably so that I can understand him better. She likes meat or protein for breakfast and that's exactly what she wanted as a treat from Starbucks. When I think treat, I'm thinking sweet and (unfortunately) fattening- definitely not sausage!! But oh, the joy it gave them all was priceless. I'm seriously thinking I will have to bite the bullet and a) find ground sausage here and b) pay some outrageous price for it so that the kids and hubby can relive that pure delight in making their morning food.

One of the last people we got to see was Trish. She had a wii game that was kind of broke. It had a disk stuck in it. Well, you should have been here the night the kids were able to fix it! Oh man, there was screaming and dancing and yelling and prancing. So I'm not sure if I should say thanks or ACK!!! since I have another screen tool to kick them off of all the time, but it was nice in -40 when we really couldn't tell them to go play outside. Not to mention that even when it is warm, it still gets dark here early and there is much of the night when they like to play still.

Trip tales part 10

2012-01-23T11:34:00.005-06:00

This is called- way too many pictures in one blog post.

This was the last time I got to see Tighe in person, on this trip ;( They say "parting is such sweet sorrow" but sometimes I think it's just sorrow. Especially knowing how much I would miss her and all our other friends. Before when we left, I didn't know how hard it would be to not have people around that I treasured so much and who had become such a vital part of our lives and support system. During our move, I was thinking about the long drive and u-hauling all our stuff and what might await us in Canada. There was none of that this time to shield me from the hurt of saying "goodbye- until we see each other again".

Thankfully there are phones and the internet, so we are not totally disconnected. Can you imagine what it was like for pioneers (my great grandparents) when they left Europe to cross a huge ocean, face the unknown and leave FOREVER their family and friends, to face harsh cold CANADA with barely anyone living close even, few tools and resources, crazy epidemics, without doctors, childbirth without hospitals, no phones, electricity, internet, plumbing, cars, airplanes, facebook... I am SO GLAD I was born now and here and to the family I was born into!! So I'm not going to complain that I miss my friends. It could have been much worse.

and see technology let me keep all these memories on little clear pictures...

what a lovely day, and what lovely times.

and we are adding to our repertoir of friends here, albeit slowly...

I am so so thankful to the Muirheads and the Koops, who immediately welcomed us in and befriended us- it's good to have cousins in town and my favorite memories here have their faces speckled throughout.

We are discovering the charms of small town and of Fort Qu'Appelle and the joys of school and growing and learning and being where we are meant to be.

It's not always easy, but we can cling to our treasure trove of happy days afar and here and know that we are very very blessed people.

The trip gave me lots of perspective adjustements. I realized that while it is way more expensive in Canada, prices shot up some in the States too.

I remembered again that Fort Qu'Appelle is incredible gorgeous and that we need to get out and let the beauty soak into our beings.

I remembered that we made a "fair trade" of insanely hot for insanely cold- maybe Brian and I are just people of extremes ;)

Abilene had a lot of great things to do for cheap or free, but there are things here too, it just took some time to find them.

I realized that while the miles are long, it's so worth the drive. Abilene has a lot of people who have shaped our lives and touched our hearts like no others can, but there are people here doing that too. Best friends are not made in a day, but in years, events and circumstances that mold us together. I am thankful and grateful for all the "best friends" I've had through the years. My cousin told me that I was not allowed to have so many "best" friends. But everywhere I've lived, I had one person who become a "bosom buddy" as Anne would say. I've come to the realization and acceptance that we don't always continue the journey relationally when distance comes into play- those people are still vital to who we are, but the Lover brings others alongside us for the next part of the trip. Somehow this time, I was able to snag at least one best friend along for the long haul. I'll always be thankful to Texas for giving me Brian!! and also perhaps for giving me some life long journeyers, who we can keep sharing our hearts with, who will not fade away in the tapestry of our memories, but continue to shed light in our journey thanks to connections of the heart and phone and internet and miles traveled to meet up over the years.

Trip tales part 9

2012-01-22T21:17:00.003-06:00

oh, oh, the trip has long been over now, but I haven't uploaded pics yet since we've been back, so you get more trip pictures. While in Abilene, we got to see my African friends, one of who now has a new business, a store and the family I was closest to who now live in a brand new home built by habitat for humanity. I also got to see Mamie's "new" baby- he was walking around! That's how long we'd been gone!!

We also got to go out to Shane and Marisol's where we have enjoyed many a bbq in the past. Marisol's family kind of adopted us while we lived there. Her brother lived across the street from us and her mom down the street. I actually first met Shane at school there and we were both surprised to see each other on Briarwood st. at a party. Their last name is McLoud. Their daughter battled leukemia most of the years we knew them. They are a beautiful family.

Happy Birthday Emora!

2012-01-20T20:22:00.003-06:00

Three years ago today, I entered the hospital with a big belly, my husband and mother at my side. With a little persuasion, Emora came into the world as a new president was sworn in. Our days have never been the same since and we are so thankful for our third bundle of joy. My first thought was that I got a different one! Emora did not look like a triplet to her siblings who 2.5 years apart looked nearly identical at birth. I remember Trish taking care of Ivan and Dominique and was so thankful for her short notice help. I remember them coming to the hospital to see her and I was thankful that for our last baby born, we had a great hospital stay and experience. Our friend and neighbor, Big Buddy was in the same hospital at the time and he got to be one of the first to great our new baby as Brian wheeled us to his room.

Emora constantly cracks us up. She is very fun, except when she is extremely willful and then we are quite amazed and challenged with her incredible strength of perseverence! I am thankful I have another cuddler, even if it means that I am forced to lay down with her each day to get her to nap. It's not a bad thing to be reminded for 10min. (or more) each day to slow down and cherish, hold, marvel at people important to us.

We had a good day today. Emora woke before the crack of dawn, only I didn't know it was her. All I knew was that I was hauling one of my girls into our bed before my time to get up to do my early morning bank clean. I was so convinced it was Dominique, she felt so long and big. I realized it was Emora when I didn't see her in her room. Emora decided that for her birthday she would refuse to talk the first part of the day while she was told well wishes. We saw friends at the Outreach, and the library and went on an impromptu date at a new robin's donuts and 2 for 1 pizza place that opened today for her birthday! We did get a nap, although I still feel like a mac truck hit me. We are all fighting head colds, so we are glad the weekend is her. Tomorrow we will celebrate birthdays with a family party. There are 6 this month, all parent and daughter combos!

Trip tales part 8

2012-01-19T09:13:00.004-06:00

We got to have a night to hang out with the Truebloods. They often eat their supper at their restaurant or hang out there. It was a great place to dine when they were open, and it was also supper fun to be there when they weren't. The kids were extremely concerned about us going into a restaurant with the closed sign up, so I showed them who Joel was, told them he was the owner and that if he said we could be there it was ok. Then Dominique piped up saying "can I have a prickly pear lemonade then?" It was great, dancing space, music, ambiance and laughter, over amazing food, cappuccino and art, playing a game and dreaming of life's directions together.

My only sadness is that we don't get to be there more or that they didn't have the restaurant when we were there. Brian and I both got to be a part of some of their catering gigs though and that was totally fun. I love how Trish and Joel do things beautifully.

Their daughter Bella "taught" my trio how to make cappuccinos and they presented me with this!

Emora eating leg of lamb.

Chef Joel in his kitchen, creating masterpieces.

The biggest fork I've ever seen.

Healer, friend, supporter, inspirer, Trish in her garden spaces behind the restaurant. December and she pulled up some little carrots for supper! She also has a bunch of lettuce and herbs growing. The only thing we are growing this time of year in Fort Qu'Appelle is icicles! But I am dreaming of our garden in spring. I bought some cheap, cheap end of season seeds. They are nestled away in the cupboard.

Meanwhile it's about -40 here! I walk around in warm slippers, a long sleeve shirt and sweater, sometimes with a scarf around my neck, drinking hot tea or coffee INSIDE the house and I had to fight with my daughter to take ski pants to school (she says she doesn't need them since they are having indoor recess). I fought with both her and her brother to put on a long sleeve shirt over their t-shirts. At the end of the day, I found their discarded shirts in their backpacks. Are they part heater or something?! Amazing!

Trip tales part 7

2012-01-18T11:39:00.003-06:00

Enjoy the weather Abilene, we sure did! I left off the last post with us at Fort Imagination in Abilene and I still had more pictures from that relatively warm day.

Here in Canada, it's cold these days, I mean really cold- freeze the snot in your nose as you walk to the car cold, frost on the inside of the van cold, big chunks of ice on my indoor window cold, mop sticking to the ATM frozen door cold, jean stiff burrrrrr cold. So Emora and I made muffins and drank hot apple cider (for me) hot choc. milk (for her) and look at the beauty through the windows- braving the outside only to drop off kids at school and pick them back up. Yesterday we had apple crisp with caramel swirl ice cream for desert and it was so comforting. All I wished for more was a hot fire and good book!

It was Brian's birthday Sunday. He and I got to eat out Friday night and the next day, he went into the city to have a day to himself. Sunday he started a new brew that he is looking forward to trying.

Ivan's ski trip was cancelled today. They are still having school it's -40 (where fareinheit and Celcius meet) so a bit nippy to be skiing, but not cold enough to cancel school. They have been having indoor recess, which my kids love, but I'm sure it's driving the teachers a little batty. Grace to them all today and through the week. They say it might get up to just -1 by the weekend. That would be crazy, but nice.

These dress up pics were taken as the kids were playing at Olivia's house. They are dressing up in her little dog's outfits and lifejacket. We had a fun lunch there and time together.

thanks go to Olivia for sharing pics too!

Trip tales part 6

2012-01-14T21:17:00.004-06:00

I hope you're not bored with these, I still have lots to go! That's the thing with digital, you can take tons and tons of pictures. Here was some of our fun with a visit to the Vann's farm. Joey and Angie earned the super duper amazing friends by helping us with the crazy drive North upon our move. Joey drove Brian's truck and Angie and I took turns driving the kid mobile. Whoever wasn't driving was on dvd, snacks and calming kids duty. Emora was pretty young then and I do remember at one point getting in the back because it was the only thing to keep her happy those long hours in a van driving to Canada. Brian was master navigator and uhaul driver, picnic spot picker, potty break enforcer and wind break.
But back in Texas, the kids didn't seem to mind being in confined spaces, they loved being in the dog crates and played that they were doggies for quite a while.
We got to see the goats...and walk around, have fun food and catch up.

This is another very talented friend of ours. Olivia is a pro photographer. She took some pics of us before we left Texas. Angie had made some of them into a poster and gave it to us this visit. It is an amazing treasure that captures that time in our life and made me realize just how little the kids were just 1.5 years ago!

We had a fun morning playing at the park. This was my favorite swing there. It's shaped like an adult chair so that moms can swing in it with baby. I first sat in it the year they built it, when Ivan was born!

Here I am with Elijah, Tighe's youngest who is so very cute! Almost makes me want another one, ALMOST, but not quite.
Tighe is so gorgeous! Love this pic of her ;)

Can you tell Olivia's a photographer? I love how photographers will get to whatever position to make the shot.

Here is what she saw- an amazing bouquet of faces. Thanks again Olivia! You are an amazing woman ;)

Trip tales part 5

2012-01-13T20:59:00.002-06:00

I still have a ton of pics to share from our trip, but I am not taking many these days since we got home, so I guess I have plenty of time to post until I have a little file of new ones.

The weather is so crazy this year... barely any snow, really warm days interspersed with really cold days. It's weird! This was our first week to be back and I was surprised to see that I do not hate the school schedule as much as I thought! It was actually kind of nice! ack, there I said it.

Today was fun, it was Hawaian picnic day at school, so we did our best at being Hawaians, ate on the gym floor of Ivan's school with a bunch of cousins, aunty and uncle, school friends and people we know from in the community. They made us pina colada ice drinks (sans rum) and it was a great way to start the weekend- with a school party.
Do you see our old house behind the girls? We were visiting our former neighbors, going in their homes and saying hello. Dominique kept wanting to visit whoever lives in our old house, that we do not know. She kept saying "let's go in that house!" We couldn't of course, but I think we all wanted to walk through and see what it is like now. We did drive through the alley and saw our old yard and the kids were very thrilled to see our art work still on the fence.

These were our neighbors across the street. Very precious people who helped us a lot.

This was in Bontera Blue- a very classy restaurant by our very classy friends. Brian got to play there one night and I had the best steak, the best sweet potatoe fries and the best lemonade EVER!!! I'm serious. The lemonade was made with prickly pear puree (the fruit off cactus plants). It was all exquisite and we are so impressed with our amazing, talented friends. We have lots of talented friends which is so very, very fun ;)

Paula is a terrific friend who went with me to watch Brian and eat. Oh yeah, we walked in on rose petals and listened to some fabulous live music!

New Years eve we spent at Grandma Wynetta's house. Dave and Amy Sue were friends of Brian's from his college days and while they no longer live in Abilene, we and others were able to convince them to come so that we could see them and meet their wonderful trio. The kids loved watching a movie together while the adults got caught up. They live in one of the hottest places on earth and us in one of the coldest, so we should really figure out a way to share homes in the miserablest times of the year! They are in Arizona and said that some days this summer it was even too hot to swim in their pool! They said people would order in big blocks of ice to put in their pools for a pool party! So I'm going to picture hot pool water as I dive into the cold lakes this summer ;) Lap swimming is really way better in cooler water and maybe the kids will acclimatize some this year?? Or maybe I'll get a wet suit ;)

Trip tales part 4

2012-01-12T15:26:00.003-06:00

We got to stay at the palace Wynetta. Wynetta is an amazing lady with an amazing house. After Brian and I first met, we wrote each other a couple of snail mail letters and I remember him telling me about Thursday nights at Wynetta's. She would invite anyone who wanted to come over to her home for a meal from their church and a lot of college singles would come weekly. She has touched a lot of lives with her meals, her open home and the refuge she provides physically and spiritually. I'd spent a lot of time with her in her home, but this is the first time I had the privilege of living there. I'd never realized just how spacious her home is and her heart matches the generosity. She gave us a key and free reign as long as we spent one evening with her which we gladly did.

Lots of kids have played on these, most of whom are now adults.

Paula in black and Wynetta in blue.

Dominique lassoing the car. Yep, there's some Texan in her.

and a bit of Canada in all three! The adults were in long sleeves enjoying the sun, but the kids were HOT! and all insisted on taking off their shirts. I remember the first Christmas I was in Abilene, my family all came down to be with Brian and I. It was warm and dad wanted us to get his picture on the front lawn with his shirt off while he sunbathed! It wasn't that warm, but he wanted to show that it was December and hot enough to take his shirt off!

Thankfully it was warm for a bit when we got back so it wasn't too much of a shock to our system. It's cold enough now. about 0 F or minus 20 C. Yesterday the wind chill made it feel like -31C.

Trip tales part 3

2012-01-11T21:54:00.004-06:00

We had a fun and loud night with the Baiers (Tighe, Greg, Isaiah, Lily and Elijah) our first night in Abilene after supper. It was like old times, with music, instruments and laughter. So much fun.

We also got to see some old friends. I found out that my former little sister with Big Brother's Big Sister's Shayshay as we knew her lives in Abilene again. She is now all grown up, 20 years old!! We were matched when she was 7! Time flies I tell you. She has 2 gorgeous kids. Her daughter was taking a nap, so I only got to peep in at her. I was glad to be able to see her. A part of my heart will always reside wherever she is.

Another dear person to our lives and our family was and always will be Big Buddy. We loved his hat the day we visited. We got to see some of his drawings and he gave several to the kids. He doesn't have much space or privacy, so that's hard on him, but his memory is great and he seemed in pretty good health for a man in his mid 90s!

Trip tales part 2

2012-01-10T20:36:00.002-06:00

It was a long drive, especially on the way there. We used to drive Abilene-Stoon, but not with kids. Now we live 3 hours closer, but were headed to Houston, 6 hours farther. We did it in 2 days, which we decided to never do again. It was a bit much, but at the same time, there are not many good places to stop to stay the night. There is a ton of road, but not many big centers. We drove the first day from 6am until 9pm and stayed the night in North Platte, Nebraska. It was a nice hotel, but we were too tired to try the pool, so we were sad at missing that. But we were able to get up the next day and be out by 7:30 on the road. Dominique was reading the signs as we were coming in and kept thinking that North Platte was actually the North Pole. She was so excited that we were going to sleep the night at the North Pole!

Emora had the best travel quote though. Brian had some of his music and was listening to Bob Dylan. Emora said "this is Spanish. Is this Spanish?" If you are not sure why she said that, type Bob Dylan into Youtube and listen for about 10 seconds and you'll soon find out.

From the looks of it, it may seem that they were delightful angels on the trip. Actually they were really, really great, but mostly when the dvd player was on and they were all really good about getting out and going to the potty on command for every stop so that we didn't have to make unscheduled stops.

In Houston, the kids went with Nana and Papa to the Nutcracker, the children's museum, the zoo and a park (over the week).

Brian and I enjoyed our own museum excursions and walk in the park. This park is not far from Nana's and his old neighborhood. You do have to drive to get there, but it's worth getting out. There are some animals there and we have memories with the kids here through the years.

Once in Abilene, we went to our favorite restaurant our first night into town and look who got to come too? My bestest friend Tighe, her hubby and kids dropped all plans (or non plans) and joined us for the evening.

The kids and I stopped by our old library the next day and went to the kid's program. It was fun to say hi to Miss Darla who remembers when I first started going when Ivan was a baby and the library in our old neighborhood was not even built yet. It was fun to hear the kids say over and over "that was a good memory". Ivan and Dominique both remember the grand opening of the Mockingbird branch library. Emora was just one or a few weeks old (the time line is a little sketchy in my memory).

Ivan's other "this was a good memory" was making sausage biscuits in the morning. Tighe loaded us up with food and brought us the makings for sausage biscuits TWICE! I had very happy boys. This was a morning food staple for us in Texas and we have either not found it here or balked at the price. I may look some more, because the joy they had making and eating them was priceless.

It's been a while!

2012-01-08T21:57:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year to you... I've been to Texas and back since I last posted, so lots to update...

We left the day after our 13th anniversary, which we celebrated by packing and attending the kid's school Christmas concert- it was great, if not a little unromantic, besides, we were going back to the land where we met, what could be more romantic than that? We passed by the city where we had our first real date- York Nebraska. We'd each driving 12 hours to get there and here we were on the road again, now with 3 kids in tow!

Nana and Papa gave us plenty of time to revisit and rekindle times sans kids. While they took them to the children's museum, we went to the museum district to look at exhibits at our leisure.
I love the way nature captures it's own fun- like this ivy climbing over everything.

Our favorite was the photography museum.

Here's the house where Brian "grew up" on Weatherhill, so he likes to go by it and point out where his room used to be.

This was in front of the map store. Yep, he's a nerd, but he got us there and back, so I'm not complaining. Apparently there are other people who like to look at maps too, in fact he's reading a book about them- doubly weird if you ask me.

The kids were totally looking forward to going to the nutcracker which they went to Christmas eve with Nana and Papa.

We got to see an old friend of Brian's in Houston and spend the evening together, petting their guinea pigs and playing dance something or other on their wii, which we ironically now own.

Dominique was recreating a monkey she saw on the cover of her drawing pad. She loves to draw.

I have about 100 more pictures to post!! So I hope to get on here regularly to tell you all about it. But I can't be tucked away too much, the weather here is gorgeous!! Right at freezing or sometimes a bit above. This is really warm for here, so we are just going to have to be out and about some while it's nice.

And we are still in recovery mode. The house is not yet clean or orderly, but we will get there some day, maybe ;) We got back late Fri. and the next day, I drove to Saskatoon, saw my parents, sister and her kids briefly, drove back and stopped in Regina for a huge grocery shop to make it home after another long day on the road. I want to stay right where I am for a while now ;) It's always good to get away and gain some perspective.

my little performers

2011-12-26T22:52:00.000-06:00

Last year at the Christmas concert, Ivan looked terrified, but this year, he looked terrific!

He performed in a play that he performed for his classmates. He was supposed to do it for the school Wed., but we won't be here, so the teacher is going to take his place. But Brian, Emora and I got to watch it and we were so proud of him. He worked hard at it and did really well.
I was a little surprised to see that Dominique was a bit scared looking on stage. She is always performing for us at home with gusto, but I guess it's different with 500 people watching and big lights (I really have no idea how many people were there, but it was packed).

Emora had lots of fun watching the performances and hanging out with auntie and uncle and cousins. I think in the pic with Mike, she has her best ever smile for the camera. Usually she makes a fake looking smile, but I took the picture on the sly while they were having fun and the true delight was all over her face!

we wish you a Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T06:07:00.001-06:00

May the peace that passes understanding fill your heart and home. May the Lover of our souls inhabit your day. May you have grace and not fretting, love and not anxiousness, appreciation and not frustration. May you hug, kiss, laugh and enjoy today... as the world pauses, may peace reign.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T14:43:00.001-06:00

Eenie meanie miney moe

2011-12-23T14:37:00.002-06:00

I didn't teach her this. It amazes me how she picks up these rhymes who knows where!

It's like I'm not gone

2011-12-22T22:56:00.002-06:00

I like how blogger lets me post things to appear later. When you read this, we will be in Texas, but I'm actually typing it before I've even packed our bags! I wish facebook did that too so that I could post here first and there after. Otherwise everyone will see them on facebook first, unless I save them ;)

Here are some more sweet moments from our short stop in Saskatoon. Imogen and I got to do a name puzzle together that I'd made for her.

Andrea had made personalized cookies for the kids. She put a word on them that described them. So cool Andrea! I love personalized things.

Andrea also did some German traditions with them like lighting the insense burner, and candles and putting out decorations- even though it wasn't the 24th! (when she used to celebrate Christmas in Germany).

Here's a full view of the puzzle. Under the flaps 1,2,3,4 are pictures of her at those ages. It was so fun!

I had to get a pic of my brother and his wife in the spot where he proposed to her at Christmas time 5 years ago. They get the patience or stick to it award for sure. They dated for years, most of which was long distance (like, very long distance, across an ocean long distance), had a years long engagement and spent their first married year apart since they had to wait on immigration and Andrea wanted to finish her studies. We are all so glad all that waiting was finally over about the time we arrived in Canada, but I'm sure not near as glad as my brother was!

Some more pics from Saskatoon

2011-12-21T22:51:00.002-06:00

Baggett trio: Ivan, Dominique and Emora (in red) with Wallace duo: Imogen in skirt and Isaac on the end. They sang for us ;)

A couple of fairy princesses helping grandpa with his computer.

Brian and my nephew chilling out.

waiting not so patiently to open presents.

2011-12-20T14:47:00.000-06:00

Watch out Justin Beiber, here comes Ivan!

Happy Anniversary babe!

2011-12-19T07:43:00.000-06:00

We had a whirlwind trip to Saskatoon this weekend. We left after school and arrived late, then came back Sun. morning. Sat. we decorated mom's Christmas tree, took some pics and went to Imogen's 4th birthday party.

I think this was the first party we've made it to, so that was fun. She had a swim party and then we were in a room with jumpy castles, a craft, snacks, cake and face paint! The kids had a blast and I was so glad Dominique had gotten over being sick just in time. She'd been running a fever a bit right up until that morning. She really wanted to go swimming!

We left Saba with the grands who will take such good care of her.

Happy Anniversary Brian! The day will be hectic with trying to get ready to leave early in the morning and with all the last minute running around, not to mention a dress rehearsal for the play Ivan was supposed to be in, the Christmas program and packing... but maybe we can celebrate in Texas ;)

pointe

2011-12-18T12:23:00.000-06:00

Victoria (my cousin's daughter) has been so excited about her pointe shoes so she came over one evening with them to show Dominique. She gave a little historical overview of them and showed how she is learning to dance with them.

The kids were very attentive. I thought it was so cute how Dominique had taken a very ladylike pose to listen to her cuz. She also went and grabbed her dance shoes given to her from another cousin.

Beautiful, beautiful...

kid pics.

2011-12-17T12:19:00.000-06:00

These little gems were taken by the kids all on their own, when I told them to take a picture or two of Brian remodeling the bathroom. I'm guessing Dominique was taking some liberties to ensure that the entire experience was well documented.

I'm trying to get all my postable pics up before we head out. It'll probably get pretty quiet on this blog while we travel and enjoy time in Texas!

Christmas excitement budding

2011-12-16T12:06:00.002-06:00

We are about to head out for Saskatoon tonight so that we can celebrate Imogen's 4th birthday and a bit of Christmas cheer before we leave for Texas. And the grandparents are going to keep our grand dog for us while we are away. Dominique was sick yesterday so I am carefully watching her today to determine if she should go or not. She dragged herself out of bed on her own, got dressed and ate a bit of cereal then squeaked out "is today the swim party?" Poor girl, really wants to go, but she is much better today. She did have a slight fever, but nothing like yesterday. OH, go away stomach and sinus bugs!!

The kids are so excited and with good reason. Trips, family, Brian and I are excited too!!

Dominique the smart shopper should have been with me while I got my niece and nephew gifts. She just informed me that the gift I'd gotten a month ago for Imogen is something she already has! I wished I'd informed her earlier! But I figured out something last minute, so yeah!!

It's been pretty exciting, finding and being given gifts/thanks from work and kids. I don't work much, and yet got 2 gifts for my work cleaning the bank and a little something from the library and Brian got a couple of bikes from his boss!! So exciting. I'd been wanting to get a bike all summer and was going to use my birthday money once the Christmas mayhem was over. Now I can move on to something else on my wish list ;)

It also doesn't hurt knowing that we won't be having all the school schedule and early morning clean schedule and life as general schedule, but seeing sights and friends and family and lots and lots of special moments... ah, so nice to anticipate and enjoy rest/renewal/recouperation and regrouping. Especially at the end of the year, it's nice to reflect and go back and look forward...

Reindeer festival

2011-12-13T07:32:00.003-06:00

Our school is so awesome! I took the kids to the reindeer festival this weekend. There were real reindeer! I actually didn't know that reindeer were real until I was an adult reading National Geographic- not even all that long ago! Then my cousin said they are also called cariboo! OK, heard of those.

There were tons of crafts at booths all through the gym, a couple of Christmas themed games, hot chocolate, ice cream sandwiches, cookie decorating, pics with Santa (we don't really do the Santa thing, but the kids still wanted to get their picture taken and it actually came out really nice) and it was all for free! We ran into lots of the same people we have known some, so that is fun.

I posted this pic to remind myself that I do love this munchkin. She's been pushing the princess complex a bit too much lately. She got me up about 5 times last night and about 8 times the night before and she's wanting me to carry her everywhere now, even from one room to the next. Then she'll want to bathe herself, dress herself and she went up on stage with her siblings who were doing their performance for GLOW- a Christian after school program Ivan and Dominique go to. She walked up with the big kids and I thought it would make a huge scene to try to get her down, so I let her stand up there with everyone else singing "away in a manger", not knowing all the words, just like her siblings.

Some days I've let the big kids help Emora get dressed. Dominique does better at the mechanics of it than Ivan, but then I have to deal with her wild, wild combinations. This day in particular was a doozy. Dominique creations all the way. And yes I did let them go out in public like this. But on school days, I do give Dominique a final, "yes" or "tone it down" on her wardrobe selections.

Goodbye little reindeers- see you next year ;)

Cousins' visit

2011-12-12T16:22:00.002-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, my cousin Lin visited with her 3 kids. Jac's tooth was really loose, so she asked her sister Harley to try to pull it out. They tried many positions. Ivan was giving Jac the peace sign in the first pic to encourage her. It didn't come out that day, but I'm sure it's out now!

The kids performed for us, of course. We aren't quite sure what to call their ensemble- "youthful mayhem energy"- perhaps?

I remember my siblings and I putting on plays for our parents so it was funny to be on the receiving end.

It was nice to visit and Lin shared the best ever pizza making recipe. We've made it since and while I missed the ease of frozen pizza, I'm not sure we'll ever buy one again! Thanks Lin!

more creative madness

2011-12-11T15:59:00.004-06:00

I don't know why it tickles my fancy to recreate something useful from an item that would have otherwise been discarded, but here I was at it again! Once Emora had her bed done, I realized she needed a bedside table. We were using her toy chest, but that wasn't practical since it opens from on top. Every day we were facing sippy cups and books all a jumble. Brian, knowing my fits of creative lunacy, had saved materials from past projects. Like the square he'd cut out of countertop for a sink he'd installed and the sink cabinet from the bathroom downstairs. To my credit (or inability to conjure up a good concept), I am allowing him to throw out the old sink (plastic) and toilet (in bad shape).

So back to the latest... I made a butterfly design to go with her emerging room theme and cut the design into the countertop. The cutting of each line into the top was the hardest part.

Emora and I painted black on the edges where I had carved away the top surface. I sliced tons of slits into the wings (the very hardest part)- so that I could put color into the wings. I'd paint each wing the desired color and wipe it off so that the lines are fine threads of color. I screwed it onto the cupboard which we made shorter and added a shelf to inside, then painted the white dots and several coats of gloss varnish. Oh yeah, I used a couple of buttons for eyes.

I am going to get her a lamp and eventually paint some butterflies on her walls, but we are not sure if we are going to repaint her walls another color first. That might be nice, since they are a bit of a drab blue tone now, as originally painted when we'd moved in. It feels nice to be making her room into something since she lived in the crazy everyone's room for so long. The tricky part is that she does not have definite leanings toward colors like the others' did. That makes it easy in a way because she is flexible, but then I don't know either what gives her joy as opposed to her just following along with what the others say or do. All with time, we figure each other and ourselves out I guess.

One thing for sure, she does not lack in personality and loves to make us laugh. Here's hippy girl with our pathetic effort of a tree. This is the top of our tree. Since we will be gone so much of Christmas and I didn't want to deal with a tree in Jan. when we come back, I let the kids decorate the topper of our tree with their own ornaments. Each year I either make them an ornament or let them pick one out from the store that they will get to keep and move out with some day. A friend told me of this tradition of hers and I thought it was so precious, I adopted it with ours. They are getting a little treasure trove of ornaments loading with memories of Christmasses past.

from chairs to beds...

2011-12-10T19:03:00.004-06:00

These were chairs that were given to us as a vestige from Brian's past. He grew up with these chairs and matching table. Unfortunately the chairs were getting damaged. The seats needed to be recovered again, but the mesh backs were disintegrating, plus they were very bulky for the space we had, so I thought I'd use them and the mattress supports from a day bed to build a couple of beds for the girls.

First I took apart the 4 chairs and cut out the mesh back. I used a jigsaw to cut off parts not needed, recovered the seats and then recruited Brian. I had a hard time screwing pieces together and so did he. We quickly discovered that oak is very hard wood and went through lots of drill bits, but after much effort, we managed to make some durable pieces. I really should have been more attentive to detail and done lots more work to finish them nicer, but lost motivation in that regards and was moving on to another project.

Dominique's is pink. It has the seat part of the chairs as further support on the end of the bed.
With Emora's blue bed, I used the arms from the one arm chair we had to make a foot board also. Her's was a lot harder since the mattress support was shorter than the mattress, meaning that I had to add some extra pieces to the length to make the mattress fit. I also used two side pieces that we had left over when we took our bunk bed apart to make Ivan's bed and the guest bed. I stained the length pieces so they would match better.

The head boards arch away from the wall, which gives a perfect spot for Emora's nighlight. It is so pretty lit up at night.

Project #1

2011-12-08T21:18:00.003-06:00

The kids seemed to recover quickly from their colds although there is still some coughing and tiredness lingering, but it's taking me forever to get over it! I've been trying to rest, taking naps each day, especially on the days when I just have Emora, but I guess that doesn't make up for being up most of the night because I can't breathe or because kid's need help at night or both. Brian has had a couple of days off work and that may be what gets me over this. Yesterday he went to the city and did our errands. Today he ran kids to and from school and did lunch, supper... while I slept- all day and I'm ready for bed again. Thankfully I slept today without the aid of Nyquil, which I have been abusing! I'd borrowed some from the neighbor when we discovered the pharmasies close early in the winter and didn't have the instructions. I took the regular dose and it didn't do anything, so 4 hours later, at 2:30 am, I took another dose and was then able to breathe and sleep. I did that a couple of nights and we got our own bottle, big bottle of medicine, only when I read it, it said do not overdose and to have only every 6-8 hours! After a night of 2 hours of sleep, I decided I did not die by taking 2 doses so close together, and pray my liver can handle it in light of the fact that I so need rest.

Happy that today, I got rest and I'm hoping for a good night of sleep. I think I'm finally on the mend...

Meanwhile, Brian got the bathroom done. The girls thought it was funny having a toilet in the guest room.

From a kid's perspective as they took the camera to document progress.

We are still going to make a couple of box shaped shelves and I'm going to paint designs on the white cabinet/bench hiding the water softener and sump pump.

Next up... bed pics and a side table...

more pics by Sheena

2011-12-04T20:45:00.002-06:00

I loved how Emora was posing here. It was so ladylike and grown up. We didn't put her in this position, she did it all her own.

The did these poses on their own too.

And these ones!
My sweet girls are sleeping in their completed beds tonight. I'll have to upload the pics to show you the slow, ever so slow transformation. I'm a bad judge of time. I would think it would take us an hour to screw the pieces together and it would take half a day. I have to give tons of credit to Brian who was the brawns of the operation. He was also a bit picky about things like- it not falling apart or being weak- piddly things like that!! So now we have super sturdy new beds recreated from the bed supports of a day bed and 4 dining room chairs (all of which were falling apart). So exciting.

We are still recovering from our colds, so it may have to be a bit of a calm week again, although my cousin and I are swapping kids a couple of days so that I can get into the city solo on Tues. and she can go with just one baby on Thurs.

Still recovering

2011-11-30T19:17:00.002-06:00

I've felt a cold coming on for some days now so I've been resting lots, and trying to ditch sickness quickly. I don't feel so bad, but after a nap, I feel WAY better. Unfortunately, Ivan seems to have gotten it too. I kept him home from school today. This morning I was wondering if he really should be home as he was watching a video, wanting to look at picture albums and read, but he had a great nap this afternoon and has gotten worse. He now has a mild fever and sounds like he's got croup. We just picked up some more children's tylenol, but he took one taste and is refusing to swallow it. He is terrible with medicine he doesn't like- even if I get it down him, he has a history of immediately throwing it up, so that makes me leery of forcing it into him.

Poor guy is groaning and moaning and finished 3 chapter books. I sure hope the girls don't get it.

Here are some more pictures taken by my cousin Sheena.

Our hearts are with several of our friends going through very difficult situations, so even as we are joyful that the bathroom is nearly done or that we are generally healthy and so thankful for each other, our hearts are heavy for others who are grieving relationships and dealing with their brokenness. We could all be there so easily so we are also humbled and reminded to give thanks as well as be a friend and most of all follow the path the Lover has placed us on and not give into the ways of our broken world. We are so ingrained in our culture to place ourselves first, but that is the fastest way to fall fast and hard and drag down a host of people with us. It's a delicate balance to be healthy, careful to love ourselves without putting our own needs above others.

pics by Sheena Koops

2011-11-29T09:06:00.002-06:00

My cousin took some pics of us.

I'm fighting a bit of a head cold, so I'm trying to rest lots. Yesterday I let the girls do computer and crawled back into bed. A couple of extra hours really helped.

Today, Ivan and Dominique are in school and Emora takes a nap anyways, so I'm hoping we can nip this little bug and be done with it.

Brian is getting the basement bathroom renovated, so that is exciting and I've been slowly getting the girls' beds built. It's slow going since I need Brian and his tools to do it too and the bathroom has been the real priority.

We are racing a bit since we want these done before we leave for Texas and the weekend before we go, we'll be going to Stoon to see everyone real quick and drop off Saba for her vacation with the grandparents ;) Thanks mom!

These pics were taken by my cousin in the high school library. We do have some little readers in the family and that makes me very, very happy. They are such sweetums.

video time

2011-11-28T13:41:00.002-06:00

Sorry I've been so delinquent. We had a super busy weekend with 2 sleepovers of 2 sets of cousins and a trip to the city with a library story time in town, then a library visit in the city, swimming all afternoon (4 hours) with the kids jumping off the diving board (big highlight), a run to get groceries, 1st cousin sleepover, then other cousins coming from Saskatoon for fun and sleepover. Yesterday we got to visit the Community Outreach Center as a big gang and later I took the kids skating. Ivan and Dominique are getting better and better at skating without the assistance of a bar, so that is so fun.

Today I'm fighting a cold, so trying to rest up-- but outside it's totally gorgeous so I feel bad missing out on the nice temperatures.

friends and family

2011-11-21T20:11:00.002-06:00

Dominique took Emora and my picture one day. Can't remember what the occasion was.

It was fun to watch Neve light up to this book. Babies are so amazing. She was totally getting into it and it's so incredible to think that this little person is understanding things and relating to people and her world in her own way.

Dominique's got a best friend in her class. She and Sierra love to play together and they are quite sweet. But Dominique does drive me a bit batty when she begs everyday to play with Sierra!

Today started off a bunch of uncertainties and scheduling mayhem, but smoothed right out with some help from the neighbor and promises of help from others, that we didn't actually need in the end. Sometimes I like a quiet day-- especially when it starts off looking a bit too crazy!

she wore her jeans!

2011-11-20T21:43:00.002-06:00

I don't know how I managed to have 3 kids so particular about clothes, but then I don't like fussy clothes, so I guess that is my own particular taste too. Dominique and Emora like "fancy" clothes and Ivan likes tight pants (tight on his waist) and t-shirts. Even though it's cold, he has yet to wear a long sleeve shirt. So Dominique and I painted on some of her least favorite pants that she thinks are too boyish. She will have to wear them because the only pants she has been wearing are knickers and socks or knickers and skirts and socks. One school day I made her go back to her room and tone down her clothes. She had tights, knickers, socks, a skirt and dress on all in bright contrasting colors. She looked like a clown! Really, I'm trying to encourage her free spirit, but not so much on school days. Then I try to give her a bit more guidelines clothing wise. Today she tried on her jeans and a long sleeve shirt. She looked so normal and so schoolish- it made her seem older-- so strange! It was cute, but we love her wild ways too. Hopefully she can be some of both and find lots of avenues to express her love for color.

We get lots of hand-me downs, which we so appreciate. Emora got this in a bag of clothes and she is so proud of it. She wanted me to get the camera and take her picture. Well, of course, I had to oblige. I thought it was cute how she kind of looks like snow white too.

The big kids and I had a blast tonight. I left Emora and took Ivan and Dominique to the public skate. I actually got to skate some and the big kids got some personal attention with me too, which we never get when Emora is along. By the end of the evening both the big kids went across the ice without the bar to assist them! It was glorious. They had the biggest smile on their faces and are all excited to try again next week. We will get to go to the pool this week too. We have Friday off from school, so we're going to all go to the pool and we'll see if Ivan will brave the diving board. I'm sure Dominique will want to do it again. I LOVE seeing them learn something new. So amazing!!

Snow pictures!!

2011-11-19T17:25:00.004-06:00

This was after our first snow. We didn't have much, but enough to pull the sled and make a little pile. An Abilene, Texas size snow fall- when we used to borrow snow from all the neighbors to make a half snow/half grass snowman. A day or so ago, we got a huge dump. In fact, I shoveled snow for about an hour today, but haven't taken pictures of it yet.

I used to joke with the Texans that we went to school being pulled by sled dogs. I guess the truth now is not so far from my story then as the kids pulled Emora to school.

My mom and aunt Carmen came for a quick visit last weekend. We showed them around a bit and got a pic. beside the icy water of Echo lake.

Better go make some supper, hummm may be pizza night since we are having a fun inside day. After shoveling, Dominique and I painted flowers and butterflies using stencils on several of her pants that she refuses to wear because they are not pretty enough!! And our big excitement for the evening will be a movie from the library and desert of hot chocolate with ice cubes laced with cinnamon and marshmallows. Dominique wanted to do an "experiment" today. She saw a video where kids put grapes and cereal in ice cubes, but since I didn't want to drink soggy cereal and I didn't think the kids would either and since we don't have grapes right now, I figured cinnamon and marshmallows would be fun in drinks and oatmeal to cool them down- after they are heated. Kids are so complicated some times!!

trying to do too much...

2011-11-16T20:33:00.003-06:00

I realized as the kids were going off to school that maybe today would be a good day to go into the city. I think of this at 9am, not last week or even last night, when I wasn't sure if Brian would make it home that night or if the roads were bad causing him to delay. He made it home and was taking the big kids to school, they have GLOW right after and after that Brian could pick them up, so that left me an open slate.

I threw some food in a bag, my lists in my purse and a kid in the van, trying to make some quick calls to get the day organized a bit better.

I got fabric for the girl's headboards, spent 1.5 hours in dreaded WALMART doing dreaded SHOPPING, got a bed for Emora (thankfully it fit in the van), got calls from cousin Janet who went the extra mile and found transportation for the kids to GLOW. That was a good thing, or we wouldn't have had time to get groceries. Emora was a GEM the entire time in the stores and I gave her some more food to snack on while we did another 1.5 hours in Superstore!! By the time we got to the cash register, I realized I was totally wasted tired. I asked Emora if she could drive me home and she said she didn't know how to work the van. Smart girl!

Usually when we go do an errand and swim in the city, she crashes on the way home, but this time she cried and whined 30 min. of the ride home instead- she fell asleep the last 15 min. and the time it took me to unload everything, then when I had to take her out of the van, she cried and whined another 30 minutes while I put things away. By the time Brian walked into the door with the big kids I was about comatose on the couch!

It's hard because it does not seem worthwhile to make the drive in and just get one thing done, then have to turn around and do more a few days later, so I'm always trying to get WAY TOO MUCH done. Emora was so fabulous all the way through, until the end when she basically said "that was insane!" and I have to agree, but I don't see much of a way around it.

We have everything we need for the beds now. We are reusing and repurposing all the materials except the cloth material I got for about $15 and the one mattress we bought. Emora was so excited about her bed and can hardly wait for me to finish it for her. I made a dent in the Christmas shopping which is much better in the done state than in the dreaded state and we have vegetables in the fridge which makes me so happy! We need some chill and play days I think.

Brian being gone made us feel like we were spinning a bit to just keep afloat with everything... it's so much easier when there are two of us to manage.

picture probs again

2011-11-14T21:37:00.002-06:00

experiencing technical difficulties again- failure to upload pictures again. I'm hoping this will resolve soon. Meanwhile, I'm making slow progress on my chair beds. My handyman is gone, so that sure slowed things down and the fact that it's back to school/work week. I've discovered that Brian and I make a good reno team in that I have lots of ideas, but I'm not always sure how to get to what I'm imagining and I really don't like power tools. I'm pretty comfortable with the jig saw, which is not really a safe tool, but one I've used a fair amount. I'm terrified of most everything else- really hate the circular saw and don't like the drill (I'm always breaking bits and stripping screws). But when I can have Brian's capable assistance, wow! I tell him what I'm thinking and he says "you could use this, or this", then he uses the scary tools without breaking bits or stripping screws. It's great! I do have to get into the city though to get material and I should really get started thinking about Christmas. I am the worst shopper imaginable and so I really dread getting gifts for people. I always feel like I haven't done and good job at it and I'm really quite miserable in a store. I'm not much good at receiving gifts either. I wish everyone could just KNOW that I love them without me having to find something that they may just hate. Other people I know have such a gift for finding the item that really fits and means something to others, but not me!

I'm also usually making a lot of gifts, but this year I feel tired of that whole process too. So I'm not sure I'll really be making much. But then I flipped the calendar and realized with us leaving for Texas, I don't really have much time to get things rolling and since I have to do any shopping in Regina, that complicates it even more!!! How about I just tell you all here and now that I love you???

OK, enough whining, I'm sure you didn't come here to hear any of that and I really can't complain. We are doing well. The kids very quickly got over their sorrow of missing Star, Brian is doing what he loves. My girls give me hugs everyday and huge thanks for the beds I'm creating for them and I just put the down comforter on the bed so I'll be cozy even with Brian gone. I had several offers for a bed mate tonight after three little ones begged to watch Clone Wars and now fear the dark- but I told them all to get over it. I love to cuddle with them for naps, but not to get a good night's sleep. So off to bed I go...

construction zone

2011-11-13T21:08:00.003-06:00

It was a bit of a crazy weekend. Brian was surprised at quitting time last Thursday when his boss told him they would take the day off. It was so great for all of us to have a day to sleep in and rest. Then mom and my aunt Carmen came for a quick overnight visit. The kids LOVED playing with them. The next day we showed them around a bit before they left. Brian went into the city to get some more supplies for the basement bathroom renovations and supplies for transforming our vehicles into winter ready transportation. It's better to drive on winter tires, so he's trying to find at least 2 for his truck and the van needs a bit of work to get it's summer tires off and winter tires on, so that was his main focus- as well as picking up his new amp. He's really excited about it. It weighs 25lbs and is the size of a carry on bag as opposed to his 70lb amp that is the size of a dishwasher (well nearly). He loves it already and gets to use it Monday and Tuesday when he goes to the booming metropolis of Estan (I'd never heard of it) to do a prophetic music workshop with one of the G7 group he's a part of out of Regina.

We had a shock this weekend though when Star was run over and died. Not fun. But a chance to talk about life and death, about living well and the treasures we have in friends, family and all living creatures. Whenever faced with a death, it makes us value who we have even more. We went from tears to thankfulness that we are healthy and so fortunate in the lives we get to live. We had a little ceremony and buried Star next to Tinker. Next the kids wanted to make crosses for them- which of course I let them, even though I really don't want to make our backyard look like a cemetery! They did a fabulous job painting them though, so I really can't say no to them.

Meanwhile, Brian and I have started on some projects. He is working on the final basement job- redoing the bathroom. He is building a cabinet/bench to house our water softener and sump pump, will mud, repaint, level the floor, tile and install a new sink with cabinet and toilet. I started to reconfigure our dinning room chairs into beds for the girls. The chairs are from Brian's childhood, but they were starting to fall apart and even if I had figured out a way to redo the backs on them, they were really too big for the small space we have for a dining room. But I didn't want to chuck them out, as they were not only solid and beautiful (at one time), but also have sentimental worth. The girls both need bed frames and we had 4 chairs, which means that I can use 2 chairs for each. I disassembled the chairs and noticed that the seats are the perfect shapes for butterflies. I will put new fabric on them and make them the head board fastened on the chair backs. The front legs of the chairs and seat frame are all supporting legs. I'll get pictures as we go, but already Dominique is sleeping on her partially finished bed and hugged me a thousand times for it. It's so much more solid then her jicked up bed that was our temporary idea for the last year!

walk up flag hill

2011-11-09T10:53:00.002-06:00

Big thanks to Janet for giving me these pictures. I had similar pictures that I accidentally erased! It was such an amazing morning, still warm and the light had an soft orange glow to it.

It hadn't snowed yet.

Now everything is blanketed in white and the kids are enjoying smashing ice, throwing snow balls and experiencing the different textures and designs that snow brings.

I enjoy that some too, especially when it sparkles like so many diamonds on my front lawn. I'm not crazy for diamonds, but the glitter of snow is quite mesmerizing and I'm not sure how else to describe it.
These orange hills were breathtaking too- especially with the sky so blue and dotted with perfect white puffs of clouds. I love all the colors of fall and will return to this time and place in my mind when the whites and greys of a long winter seem a bit overdrawn.

Smiles to you and hope you enjoy the day, each one is a gift no matter how we wake up in the morning!

More from halloween

2011-11-05T21:14:00.004-05:00

It's been a super awesome weekend! I got to be part of a video/skype baby blessing for my bestest friend Tighe in Texas and it was so encouraging. That got me missing her and my friends their some, so after I was done, Brian and I got out the calendars to figure out our game plan. We are totally going to have the kids ditch some school- so that we can spend some time at the grands in Houston and then with friends in Abilene.

I woke up this morning, thinking that there are not near enough hours in Saturdays. I wish we could double it. My wish list of things to get done needed a good 35 hour day, but I was able to get a couple of monster items off the list and calling people to make plans for our Christmas vacation perked me up some more.

I went ahead and cleaned the bank today instead of my usual Sunday afternoon so that we can go skating tomorrow during public skate time and also enjoy an afternoon off. While cleaning, I kept picturing us on the road headed to our former "home". It'll be so lovely and several details have already been taken care of, so that's way fun.

We didn't get up the flag hill, but Ivan was gone with Brian all day to the city, I figured one fun thing a weekend was enough. They got supplies to refinish the unfinished basement bathroom, so that is getting me so excited too. Once that is done we can really say the renovations are done. Of course there are other things we dream of, like replacing rotting windows, but some of those things are maintenance or improvements in my mind, not really a part of the basement renos.

The only bummer with him finishing the basement bathroom is that I may feel like I have to clean it then!! Right now there is only a cement floor and the toilet is destroyed by the hard water, the sink is plastic, so none of it cleans well and even if I clean it, they still look terrible, so my solution is to just give it a very rare swipe with a cloth so that it is not totally revolting. I mostly just ignore it though- which has been pretty fun ;)

Rumor is we could get our first snowfall tonight, so we'll see if we wake up to a white blanketed town. If we do there will be many squeals of delight from some very excited kids. They've been wondering when the snow would come while I was thankful that it's held off and been so nice so long. We got all the summer toys into the shed this time in preparation. Last year, we'd left stuff out and quickly realized that plastic is destroyed pretty fast under 4 feet of snow. It did make spring thaw exciting with treasures coming up through the snow banks though.

I should be in bed!

2011-11-05T00:09:00.002-05:00

I'm going to make this short and sweet, because I should have been in bed an hour ago, but I finally got some photos uploaded... more to come. There was a fun program at the library that we got to attend. Whenever there is a kid activity, we try to get there, because it's pretty special to have free programs in a small town like here. We are also trying to take advantage of free skating times! I've been terrible for not taking them, but got corraled into taking them today and it was so much better! The first time Emora wanted me to carry her. This time I told her I was not at all going to carry her and did she still want skates on. She did and did so much better. Now I'm pumped to figure out times to take the girls each week, and I also need to find times to take Ivan. I also promised him we'll try to go swimming when he can go some weekend. Dominique found her courage to try the diving board and can jump off all on her own and swim to the side. She LOVES it, so now Ivan of course wants to prove that he can do what she can do. The weather has been amazing beautiful. Freezes over night, but warms up in the day and since I lost so many pictures from our hike to the flag and since I promised I'd take Ivan up there on a weekend, I'm kind of thinking we may want to go tomorrow.

Andrea- the super pretty face paint is from the kit! See how good it is! I don't know why it goes on so professional looking, but it's fabulous!

And, another reason I hadn't blogged in so long- see those HUGE pumpkins? Over 60 lbs of pumpkin? It's now all pureed and in my freezer, or a freezer nearby ;) oh yeah, pumpkin muffins here we come. There is nothing like a warm choc. chip pumpkin muffin to chase winter blues away ;)

sorry, crazy week!

2011-11-03T12:35:00.002-05:00

ack, it's been so long. Sorry it's been a bit of a crazy week. I fixed our problem with pictures not loading, but in doing that I accidentally deleted some pictures and I'm bumbed a bit by it because they were so amazing! But Janet may be able to supplement and Brian posted a few on facebook and I posted some here already, so we will be able to retrieve some and it's not like we don't have a ton of pictures anyways! I found a location where our computer had saved every picture we had ever uploaded, or snagged from the internet, there were over 5000 pics on here and some 300+ videos. No wonder it was a little full! I am a bit bewildered with the internet and web cam age of how to manage our pictures. It's not like in the film days where you had a manageable amount of pics and stuck the negatives in a file or box, now we have hundreds and hundreds of pictures every couple of months it seems like and it's a bit of a chore to backlog them, and then what do I print off? Do we even look at these in albums still? When we do it's so fun and it was great fun to watch some old videos on the computer. Dominique was so little and talking like Emora does now, but with her own manerisms. It goes so fast so the pictures and videos are great for remembering and treasuring all those precious moments... but sometimes I wonder how healthy it is to be so dependent on technology.

I have avoided the computer for a week nearly! We were a bit busy with halloween and a trip or two into the city for swimming and fun, then I really felt like I needed a vacation, so I stuck my nose in a book and checked out of regular programed life. That was fun. Then I've also been so tired. I need to refigure my life again- like getting to bed earlier or something. With cleaning the bank so early, it's hard to get to bed early enough to get enough sleep. I'd have to go to bed when the kids do! Blah, blah... it's all so un-important!

Little joys this week: The kids had such a blast trick-or-treating-- the neighbors loved seeing them and filled their bags before we'd left our street! I'm serious, I had to go get grocery bags after just 3 houses. It was cute too seeing our neighbor friends come to our door about 5 times! I do have pictures of their costumes, I just need to upload them. Also- dad, I've been thinking of you as I have found wagon-wheels in the kids' loot. Eating them has brought back my own halloween memories, since that is what my dad used to give out. There is way too much loot in the house and I'm not very disciplined to stay out of it I'm afraid.

Better go, the house needs some attention today since I ignored it yesterday and the day before, and the day before... ;)

Still walking at Echo lake

2011-10-29T20:41:00.001-05:00

Once we got our way through the maze of roots, we walked across the boat launch parking lot, which is now covered in sand and were greeted with majestic, yellow filled trees against a blue, blue sky. I love these colors! Blue is my favorite color, but when it's decorated in whites and yellows, it just pops out. The birds were all over the grass, until we came through so noisily clomping through the brush- at which they all took off and went to laze in the water.

Emora took this one of me, I sat her in a spot and told her to find my head. I have a few other shots of my feet, but she got me here!

And of course I had to get her!

The colors and textures were such a feast for the eyes.

Still on our little walk

2011-10-28T20:29:00.003-05:00

After we left the washed up dock/sitting area, we walked along what used to be a path through woods near the water. Now it is right on the water with some very interesting decor. Like this mock volcano all covered in green residue. I'm guessing it's a former tree's roots. The tree is long gone, and these are it's remains- I suppose.

Speaking of tree roots, here was some kind of art display. I found the bleached white wood so beautiful. I almost took a piece home. I may have to go back and get some. They had fascinating twists and were so soft.

Here you can see the tree tipped over with the roots.

These are the same roots along the water. I had to heave Emora and our stroller over some of these obstacles.

I loved the textures in this spot along with the colors and shadows. It looks like another world altogether.

We saw some pretty reds in the trees.

I liked how the green was popping out along this tree's trunk. No matter the catastrophe, the earth is so amazing in it's strength and will to sprout new life again.

walk to echo lake

2011-10-27T23:01:00.000-05:00

The weather has been gorgeous, gorgeous, especially for October. It is warmer than normal this time of year, AND the hills continue to change colors, reds have been coming out more and on a blue sky day, the yellows on the trees look like they are gold falling from the sky. Emora and I were out doing errands. There were some things I was looking for for the house and didn't find anything in town, plus I HATE shopping, so the morning was not exactly fun for me, then Emora spotted the bridge and suggested we go on it, so we ended up doing a very late morning tour of the lake and beach in town. I was so happy we did. Seeing the colors and sun playing on the water, in the bushes, on the leaves was food for my soul. I snapped a ton of pictures. Seriously, from 2 walks I have over 40 pictures to share with you and those are just my favorites! The light right now is incredible. It feels like it's a setting or rising sun, only it's just the regular daytime October sun- and we can get out and enjoy it!

We walked out onto a little sandy outcropping near the dam and got a different perspective of the lake.

I loved the big clouds in the water.

There used to be a big sitting area with benches hanging over the water here. You can see the cement posts ripped up and a section of the platform. It had walls too that the water sent on it's merry way during the flooding.
I could have watched the way the water sparkled in the sunshine for much longer than Emora would allow, but now I have this photo to remember it by.

Speaking of my little adventure partner- here is the grand lady herself with her grand ideas- thanks for changing our morning from drab and narrow to resplendent and bigger than life Emora!

party time!

2011-10-26T22:40:00.001-05:00

Here are a bunch of pics from the party. It was only 2 hours, and I had a ton of games planned, but we whipped through them in no time and I had to come up with some last minute unplanned games. It was a good thing the weather was fabulous, because we didn't realize how much space you really need for that many kids. Seriously, he only invited 5 or so from class, but then they have siblings (some of which we accidentally forgot to invite) and then there are cousins and the neighbor kids who he plays with everyday and wow- we have actually gotten to be a small part of a few people's lives since we got here! It was nice to realize that last year we didn't know anyone and this year we could fill the yard to overflowing with people we know to some degree.

Ivan decided on a music theme. This was pin the guitar and recorder on Ivan. Enjoy the view of the cutout out now, because it was quickly massacred by a wild gang of boys with 2 seconds between activities at the near end of the party.

We played "simon says" how to dance to the music. Jordan said they should all do the "worm", I suggested the twist.

This was a very hard ball toss game.

I couldn't have been happier with Ivan's pick for his cake design and hope that all my kids always want this cake! It was the easiest decorating ever! At first he said he wanted a French horn cake and then a 7 layer cake, so I had reason to be terrified at the task, then he came out with a ribbon and polka dot with smarties cake- so great!

The kids were loving the games, but I really needed a bunch of adults at each station so that there weren't such long lines.

We made up a story about a musician and his wacky mishaps.

The full crew- ok, now I'm counting 17 kids? Seemed like about 100!
I was pretty shocked at the nice gifts he got! And it was so sweet to see how excited the kids were to have him open what they gave him. There were also lots of hand made cards- which I totally love!!
He felt very very special with all the attention and fun- but I think we're going to have to limit our numbers some. The weather won't always cooperate for us each year mid October- I'm afraid!

got pictures!!

2011-10-25T19:49:00.003-05:00

We got our traditional picture made. I need to post the line up so far again as it's always fun to see how Ivan has grown. We had a wonderful birthday week with lots of fun.

Brian and I got to go on a date. We had a fancy supper in "the city" and caught a movie- which was not muppets, but this display was too fun to not get a picture at.

That week I also got to go swimming and to the library and with birthday money, I've gotten to spoil myself some- today I got a couple of coffee mugs made here in town by a local potter. My coffee was so luxurious in it!

We had 18 kids I think at the party, maybe it was 16, however many it was, it seemed like a mob of kids. We were very thankful that it was not too cold out, as we last minute decided to host the party outside. That was a super idea, because we really wouldn't have fit in the house!!

One of my birthday gifts was some more face paint. I tried it out today and couldn't believe how nicely it works! I'm not sure why it responds incredibly well- if it's the paint or brushes or both, but it makes amazing pictures!

We've gotten to go exploring a couple of times in the last couple of days, so I have mounds of fun pictures. I never used to post landscapes, but have LOVED my cousins pictures of her Fort Qu'Appelle walks past the treaty four grounds. Sheena is an amazing writer and is reflecting on the treaties and how to struggle through the injustices and promises, our responsibilities and muddling through the present realities. She's also an amazing photographer. She and her husband took our wedding pictures in fact. A few years ago ;) I'd never posting landscapes before, since this blog is really about life with our kids, but her pictures always make me smile, so I thought maybe you'd appreciate seeing the beauty too.

What do you enjoy most from this blog? What do you like to see or read about? Cause really, it only makes sense if you are enjoying it.

Foxy guitar lesson

2011-10-21T17:50:00.002-05:00

This pic was from my cousin. I guess the high school mascot walked in on Ivan's guitar lesson and decided to play some too. Auntie and Ivan said that he wasn't very good at guitar- but what fun! Speaking of fun, Brian and I get to go on a date tonight! We are being all grown up with a sitter and a drive to the city for dinner and a movie! Birthdays are good for something! It'll be nice. I think our last date was our anniversary in Jan! We are also planning lots of dates in about 16 years, when the kids are (maybe) moved out ;)

Tomorrow I'll get some more pictures on my camera as we celebrate the day my life changed forever when I had Ivan and became a mother. OK, so it's just his birthday party, but that day was so significant for us, a real landmark in our lives.

This is his first party where we are doing the "invite some friends to come from 2-4 party". He's so super excited. I hope it won't be total mayhem, but I think we've got about 20 friends coming, so I can hope all I want, but mayhem will probably be the agenda- which is why you just do it for 2 hours until next year?

I have lots of games planned, so that will be fun and JOY JOY- Ivan picked out the easiest cake design. We are having a music theme party, but he didn't want a music themed cake. He saw a cake that looked like a present- rectangle with dots and a ribbon- so we frost the cake, plop on some MnMs (or smarties here) and they had used fruit leather, but he wants frosting in an t. Yipee for easy ;) I just wrote drink boxes on my little list of last minute items to get.

He has already had such a wonderful week. We both have. And we are so greatful to all our friends and family who love us!! Thanks to all. ACK- I just remembered we didn't take our traditional boy on my lap picture. I'll have to go do that now!!

2011-10-18T17:31:00.003-05:00

Still not sure how to get those pictures out of IPhoto. It won't be many that I lose if I won't ever get them out, so at least that's good. But I don't have anything else new uploaded, so you get my boring words instead!! We had a totally fun day today. Brian took Ivan to school for breakfast and a book (a program they are running all week), a got to listen to some of my new music that I got with birthday money as I worked this morning, then headed into the city with the girls. We DID NOT do shopping!! YIPEE. Brian did it for me Sat. so we are OK on groceries and stuff. So nice. Instead, we went to the library and stocked up with two huge overfilled bags. I got novels for me, documentaries for Brian and I, movies for the kids, Geronimo Stilton books (8) for Ivan, Star wars books, princess books, French books for story time and some for at home, French cds, halloween themed books for story time and some books just for fun. Yep- I can do a lot of damage in an hour!!

The girls and I ate a packed lunch on the way to the pool and then got to swim for a couple of hours. It was so wonderful, although I do miss getting to get real exercise doing laps and really pushing myself, I do love to play with them and try to move as much as possible while there with them.

Tonight we are going skating- apparently there are quite a lot of open skating times at the beginning of the season. Dominique has been BEGGING to have a playdate with a friend from her class, but we really don't know them, so I don't want to go drop her off, and her off days are with her at home dad, which would be a bit awkward I think, so her mom and I came up with skating tonight. It'll make our day really, really full, but overflowing with fun! The girls conked out for a bit on the drive home, but I think they'll be sleeping really great tonight!!

technical difficulties

2011-10-16T16:41:00.002-05:00

I'd have a few more pictures on here, but we are having some space issues I think. Some sites have not been working, but I think we just have too many pictures on our desktop, so Brian has been getting them backed up so that we can hopefully get full access to things again. Brian got this picture onto our desktop and I'm not sure how, since the ones I'm trying to drag aren't dragging!

Life is full of excitement in the Baggett house with Ivan's birthday approaching. Dominique and Daddy went to the city yesterday to shop for birthday while Ivan and I created props for games. He's got his invites sent out. This will be his first birthday where we've really let him just pick out some close friends. Of course those close friends have siblings we also play with, so there are about 16 kids invited, but I'm sure not all of them will make it and I think 3 of those are mine ;) Ivan and I painted 2 cardboard guitars, a recorder and a cutout of Ivan. He wanted a carnaval theme, not exactly sure what that is, but he said dancing, singing and music playing, so I'm going with an instruments theme. Instead of pin the tail on the donkey, we are having them put a guitar and recorder on him. And the bean bag toss game is a throw a "rock" (for rock and roll) into the cardboard guitar.

Speaking of music, Dominique bought herself a harmonica yesterday along with a present for Ivan. She was quite pleased with herself and has been playing it lots with delight and joy. OK, I need to get the littlest down for a nap. Although Emora does like to say "naps are HORRIBLE!" she still needs them.

Pretty, pretty

2011-10-13T10:40:00.000-05:00

The colors here are just breathtaking. This was the last time I was at the town lake. I've noticed that the trees on the hills have dropped most of their leaves, leaving great swaths of black/dark trunks, but the leaves remaining are bright yellow. When the sun hits it, it looks like the hills are speckled in candle light that flutters and quakes. I'm loving how the hills transform, how everything around us is getting ready for the next season. We saw big flocks of birds in the harvested fields while driving to and from Saskatoon and I got to tell Brian what was told to me a long time ago... that the birds fatten up in the fields before their big migration South for the winter. Nature is so fascinating and smart too. How many times do we just spend our resources, not thinking about the upcoming journey that will require strength and stamina, working together and in harmony. So often we just do what feels good at the moment, like blogging instead of cleaning my house- ack- did I just write that? heehee

Remember to stop and smell the roses today, or notice the colors, or kiss a child, hug a baby, tickle a spouse, do a kind deed, take deep breaths, stretch, smile, sing, dance, create, journal, live lovely.

2011-10-12T22:19:00.003-05:00

Pre-thanksgiving get together. The weekend before the weekend of thanksgiving, Jenn and her family were able to come for a quick night stay at our house. The kids were so happy to see each other and I got to pull out my facepaints and do some hair, get in a little visit- so nice. It's great that the kids will get to grow up in each other's lives more than just once a year.

another artist date

2011-10-11T11:34:00.000-05:00

A weekend or two ago, Dominique had a birthday party to go to at a friend's house on Pasqua lake. It was a good 20 or 30 min. away and she didn't want me to stay there during the party. I was given very specific instructions, many times all week long that I was to leave and come back to get her when it was done. I wasn't quite sure where to go since I didn't really want to drive all the way home just to return 2 hours later, so I took a novel with me and tried a beach I haven't been to yet. The day was hot and while I enjoyed my book, I also would have loved to swim a bit as some other people did. There was lots of action, a man taking a snooze in the grass, other men fishing from the shore, several boaters coming through and geese enjoying the water too. It was fun to have a different perspective. I usually go to Echo lake in town and that is the beach scene I painted for our hallway, so it is quite familiar. Throughout this summer with the flooding, we headed to Katepwa. And while all the hills look similar, I was quite pleased to note that I could recognize these hills as being different ones. The landscape is not quite the same, the feel there quite a bit different. For a city slicker, I'm thinking that my horizons are expanding. I remember in Africa how us "white folk" would get lost in the villages where there weren't street signs or logical layouts for neighborhoods. But in these hills, I'm a total newbie and learned very quickly in the winter on one of my walks, that getting lost is very easy and every hill does not neccessarily lead to my awaiting vehicle!! I'm not sure if awareness of one's surroundings is a lesson taught anymore, unless you are a hunter, which I very much am not, but I'm trying to be more aware, because the beauty is right there to fill me with joy and renewing, but I have to go slow enough, with eyes open, to see it. I visited one friend who lives on Mission Lake. She has the most amazing view from her dining room and kitchen that I have ever seen. Yet she told me that after a while you don't really see it! As I gazed over the blue waters framed in colorful yellow leaves from the trees, a pair of binoculars hanging ready to gaze geese or pelicans as the grace the sky- I couldn't believe that you could ever miss seeing that beauty and yet I know life- how often do I overlook the precious moments, the beauty in each day out of business or agendas or distractions. I am thankful to live somewhere that demands to be gazed at and hope that I never get too busy to stop, see, listen and appreciate the gorgeous landscapes before my eyes.

so proud!

2011-10-10T11:19:00.000-05:00

The girls are now finally, on occasion, letting me do something fun with their hair. When they are willing to let me fiddle, they say they are going to the "mommy hairdresser". I also morphe into "mommy dentist" on occasion, but "mommy hairdresser" is way more fun! Dominique liked this hairdo so much, that she wanted me to take pictures of it and pose for them.

Meanwhile, Emora swaps from wanting to be the baby and wanting to be a big girl. Most everyday, she wants me to lay down with her for her nap, then pick her up and put her in a stroller for the walk up to the school to retrieve the big kids, but this day, she decided she wanted to push the stroller. And when she decides she wants to do something, watch out!

Twice a week, I get the kids at the high school where they are doing art and music with auntie and uncle. I laughed when I saw Mike with his lunch box, asking him if he could really fit his lunch in there. I told him that Ivan's lunch box was at least twice as big as his. So then we had to show him Ivan's lunch box. The other funny part is that Ivan had wanted to be all grown up, not getting a character box and opting for a more adult looking one and Mike is obviously still a kid at heart!

But for wanting to be all grown, Ivan is still just a kid, with bad dreams on occasion and sleeper pyjamas ;) My working solution for bad dreams is to tell whoever it is that he/she can sleep on the couch, so we found Ivan like this one morning.

I've been a terrible blogger!!

2011-10-09T23:04:00.003-05:00

Sorry I haven't been very good at keeping up with this blog! Maybe I can make up for it tonight and get several posts up ;)

We had a nice, but short time in Saskatoon. We left after work Friday- about 6:30pm and to my surprise it was already dark out. The light has change here so suddenly. I usually go clean the bank at 6:30am and it has always been light out until Friday when I went out and it was dark. Then Friday afternoon, I'd packed books and coloring books for the kids and they couldn't see anything either!

The kids were very excited to go to the grandparents and who wouldn't be- we arrived about 9:30pm and they were given hot chocolate milk, pumpkin pie and rum/raisin ice cream as a pre-sleep snack!

We did some errands in the morning - in the big city of Saskatoon! (I'm from small town now remember). I think Brian nearly knows the city better than I do now- but he doesn't have the memories I do- the non-existent HiLo mart where my sister and I used to walk with empty pop bottles to exchange for candy, Grasswoods road is not just the road to the new walmart, but was part of our bus route and I'm always amazed to walk among the towering trees at mom and dad's that we planted as sticks in the sandy, barren soil.

The kids are making their own memories in Saskatoon. The pools where we swim, the library where we went in the summer for library shows, the acreage at grandpa and grandma's where they pick potatoes, play soccer with auntie, play with Imogen and Isaac and get read to by the grands.

We are stuffed already and heading to another thanksgiving bash tomorrow on the "real" day here at the Koops'. So much to be thankful for...

the changing scenery

2011-10-04T10:06:00.000-05:00

I'm really enjoying seasons here again. I remember in Texas, that is one of the things I missed the most was having real seasons. I didn't mind the heat so much and I didn't mind not having freezing cold weather. I missed the snow some, but I'd forgotten how much of our life was marked by the changing of the seasons until we came back. The air and light changes, the trees change, the entire landscape is undergoing it's slow transformation before winter hits in full force. I've actually heard people here say that they look forward to winter or a kid say that winter was his favorite season. Now I won't go quite that far- but there is a bit of a festive air that the colder temps bring. I was very pleased that Brian was the first to say this, not me! I think it's quite a positive sign that he called our first night frost "festive" and not "miserable, horrid and sign of another arduous winter"- you know, something along those lines! The first time that I saw the train rolling along through the hills beyond the lake, I thought Thomas Kincaid had probably drawn inspiration from this little piece of the planet.

I noticed from this vantage point that you could see Fort Qu'Appelle nestled between Echo lake and Mission Lake. It's so very amazing to live here for someone like me who LOVES water!!! So many of us who live in town think it a bit funny how people are gagga over having a house ON the lake (one of the 4 lakes that is). The houses ON a lake cost crazy amounts of money, way, WAY more than the houses in town. And then when it flooded, we were all thinking how thankful we were to not be on the lake. Yeah, I don't have to be that close I kept thinking. Of course, then I visit a friend or two who live on the lake and I take it all back!!! Even with the threat of flooding or the big winds, or the constant fear of my kids drowning in the yard (that would be a biggie), it would be so crazy cool to have my coffee out on the lake and go for a swim or a little canoe/Kayak excursion from my yard! But I'll settle for in town and frequent visits. My artist dates pretty much consist of a trip to where I can see the water and look at the birds and immerse myself (physically or just mentally) in the blue.

This was again on the ridge over looking our town. I "borrowed" a bike and had a blast going on a little adventure all on my own.

You can see some of the reds and oranges speckling the hills.

The wind was blowing a bit and I thought the grasses so beautiful as they swayed in unison to the unseen force.

moving right along

2011-10-03T12:26:00.003-05:00

We feel like we have gotten into some kind of routine around here, so that is nice. Of course a little variety always seems to come along, some not so nice- like Dominique dislocating her finger or our kitten getting attacked last week (both are recovering nicely). And some nice surprises like Jenn and John coming down for a night with Imogen and Isaac. It is always so amazing to see how much the kids have grown and are developing even in a month. When we were there last month, Isaac was taking his first steps and now he made it down the stairs, crawling backwards! Incredible. Then I also got to have such nice little conversations with Imogen, it's so fun as they grow up and you can see more and more of who they are emerging.

Ivan is getting to where he enjoys guitar more and more. He's slowly building up some callouses. Both he and Dominique love going to their art class after school with uncle Mike at the high school.

Emora likes having some days to ourselves and some days to share with Dominique. It is really a nice way to do the transition, although it can get hairy trying to figure out which day Dominique has school and all our other activities. I am really liking discovering more and more who Emora is all on her own without the big kids influencing her, although I am always surprised at how little time we do have (she takes huge, huge naps in the afternoon).

We are so thankful to get to be a part of our cousins lives here and especially with it being so hard to get to know people here in a small town, it was nice to have people we already connect with, who have to love us and know our story some already. We got to go witness Victoria giving her life to Jesus in baptism. Here she was after, radiant with her grandpa, my uncle Bill. And with her singing "this little light of mine".

The temperature has been changing here and the leaves are glorious. I don't know if it's the temperatures swinging or the harvest dust, but everyone seems to have the sniffles, so we are taking it easy today. Laundry, muffin baking and maybe painting some cards, resting. Dominique and Ivan were outside all day with the neighborhood kids biking and playing and came in with scratchy voices and dripping noses, but do you think they would slow down a bit just because I told them to? Dominique and her dislocated thumb were wrestling yesterday with Ivan and today she was trying to convince Emora to slide with her down the stairs on a blanket! That girl! Yesterday, a neighbor kid came to our door telling us that Dominique was bleeding, but she couldn't even stop playing to get it attended to. She has all sorts of scabs, bruises and a splint and keeps gobbling up adventures, life and learning with great gusto.

Treaty 4

2011-09-29T15:54:00.002-05:00

I've always thought of Canada as being so young compared with the rest of the world. When I got to go to France and see old castles or even to Texas and drive through old towns, Canada seemed so young. I remember as a kid going to Saskatoon's 100 year anniversary.

Now that I live where Treaty 4 was signed between the crown and First Nation's people, I have a different perspective. There are people living here whose people have lived here many, many generations. The land seems older somehow and even non First Nations people who grew up here seem to come back and stay.

There is a lot of heartache and pain in this area as well as a lot of beauty and rediscovery.

This year is already so different for us than last year. People have seen us around and we are slowly starting to make connections- beyond our cousins.

I'm so thankful the cousins were here though as they have helped us meet people and as we already had an easy friendship with them. I'm not sure we would have survived the winter without them, but as we look to the future and our lives here, we know that there are other people that are or will become our "people", our fellow travelers on this journey of life.

Dominique dislocated her finger the other night and I got to have my first visit to the hospital here. In the ER, I recognized two women who have children our kid's age. The nurse practitioner who relocated Dominique's finger has a daughter in her class and was talking about play dates. It was nice that not everyone was a complete stranger. We are starting to have our own little history and connections here.

a little canoeing

2011-09-26T20:06:00.003-05:00

Some time ago we got to take the family out for a little canoeing.

It was mostly fun. Brian and I are still not very good at steering, so that was the not fun part. But it was beautiful.

Now just a few weeks later, everything already looks so very different. Fall has arrived and the hills are covered in ribbons of color. Janet and I took our youngest ones who are not in school to the town beach today to play and gaze at the colors.

I think we're going to try to hike up a little hill Wednesday that I haven't been to yet and I'm sure it will be a great picture op!

When we were canoeing, we got to explore this house a bit. It's in very bad shape, but right on the lake and so intriguing! Makes you wonder who lived there and how their lives went.

We've been doing a lot of reflection lately. A year ago, we were just starting to settle here- getting the house renovated and Ivan off to school. Now here we are with two off, the house more or less done, we have work and some acquaintances/friends. We still have a ways to feel like we really belong here, but this winter will be a far cry from last year when we felt so unsettled still. So that is nice to look forward to as the weather changes. Also, we may get to go to Texas at Christmas and so we are thinking of that "long ago" place in our lives. It seems like ages ago with all the change we've been through.

a bit of countryside

2011-09-25T18:00:00.003-05:00

My cousin lives on a road that has a section now closed due to flood damage. Part of the road has fallen away and apparently it would be way, way too costly to repair it, so it is closed to vehicles, but is now the totally perfect walking/biking road. I've driven up to their house (our first temporary residence here) and borrowed one of their bikes a couple of times for a little cruise/ artist date.

The sights are always a feast for the eyes.

I get up to a hill that overlooks the area.

This time, some dark clouds were building and I got back in my van, just as it started to rain, then into my house right before it started to hail.

That was a couple of weeks ago and the way the weather was going, you would have thought winter was around the corner, but now we are in shorts and tank tops again in a surprise heat wave- only now the leaves are vibrant yellows and reds, oranges, browns and greens. So fun. I am learning to love this time of year in all it's colors- also a reminder of the season when we officially started our lives here, with school, house and so forth.

Growing up so fast

2011-09-20T15:36:00.002-05:00

My kids seem to be on an accelerated growing program. I guess all kids are and that is why everyone says that they grow up so fast! Emora has lots of cute expressions that I find even more humorous coming from a 2 year old. Sometimes she tells me that "naps are HORRIBLE!", she likes to ask for "milk, a little bit, a little bit hot" (she never says warm, it used to be "nice"- like she wanted the water "nice", not hot or cold, but for her milk warm it's "a little bit, a little bit"). And our newest favorite "Mommy, the kitty cat is drinking my blanket". Apparently our kitten was weaned too early, which may be why she is a bit fixated on nursing. She sounds like she is drinking and leaves disgusting wet spots on Emora's blankets. Apparently Star has decided that Emora is in deed grown up and that she is the new baby of the house. At least she was easier litter trained than the human babies of the house. Her other bad habit is to be up on the table and counters and to steal food. She's even jumped onto the table and snagged food from under our noses WHILE WE WERE ALL AT THE TABLE EATING! She's fast I tell you. But recently the kids left a water gun out and Brian asked how it was working on the cat, which I had not used yet. So today, she started squirt gun training to get her off the table and counters. I'm not sure if it's keeping her off yet, but it's quite fun for me ;)

Dominique thinks she's all grown up too and in some ways she is. She is reading everyday (level 1 books). She loves school and is very picky about her wardrobe (I did NOT teach her that!) I wouldn't be surprised in fact if she becomes picky about my wardrobe too once she is a true fashionista (ie. teenager). She likes to ride her bike and wants to ride further and further without me at her side. She also requested that I not stay at the birthday party with her this weekend. "Just drop me off" she said. Oh, yeah, you think it's so easy huh Dominique!

Meanwhile, Ivan wants me to hold his hand or take him home and not venture out beyond what is familiar. So I'm having to suck it up a bit with Dominique that she doesn't "need" me so much, but with the oldest, I'm having to push him away a bit.

I don't know how well it's working, and yet, he thinks he's all grown up too. He is such a little bragger, saying he is the best at everything and knows everything, but irony or ironies, he has very little real self confidence. When approached with anything new, from an activity to a place, to a new author for a chapter book (I'm not joking), he balks a bit. Of course that trait plays to his advantage too. He rarely had skinned knees, and Dominique does all the time. His room is very nice and tidy, he is mister organized and Dominique who loves adventure is a bit more chaotic. So we are trying to help Ivan be less prideful and more humble, less fearful and more assured and confident.

I'm not complaining, as parents that is our goal to raise compassionate capable children and they seem more or less on that path, but it really does happen so very fast!

Darling Emora

2011-09-19T20:24:00.002-05:00

I had imagined that I would have all this time with Emora this year with the big kids in school. Well, it's just not what I had imagined. First of all, Dominique is only gone half the time, then there is the school schedule that cuts up the day and then regular life, like errands and we want a social life too- add that all up with super long afternoon naps and we don't get near as many moments alone as I had thought!

I guess that makes the moments we do have that much more precious.

I love it when she tells me "I love you too" and gives me the greatest bear hug ever.

I love how she snuggles up and gives me loads of kisses when I put her down for her nap.

I love her super huge words and expressions. One of the cutest: "naps are horrible!" Yeah, some days she doesn't want one, but she still needs them.

She wants to be all grown up and do everything the big kids do, but just can't all the time.

I think it does get easier with the 3rd though. The big kids help mother Emora too and she's in such a hurry to be big like them, that she seems to become independent earlier. Yes, some times she is terrible, but 2 is a really amazing age- still so loving, learning so much, fascinated and amazingly cute!

apple harvesting

2011-09-14T20:48:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that it was only last week when we picked apples. Hard to believe because of all the work it took to harvest, then freeze them in all their various forms. I've now got applesauce, apple puree and apple crisp in the freezer and a big bucket of apples yet in a fridge for eating and impromptu apple muffins or apple crisp. I figured out some short cuts for those last minute sweetness cravings.

Also hard to believe because it was so hot and this was just last week and this morning I had to scrape frost off the windows because I didn't think to park in the garage. We thought of it for tonight. Who wants to be scraping windows at 6:30am?

Then there has been all the fun to be had. Treaty 4 celebrations are now underway in the Fort and I took the girls Tues. Ivan went with his class today and the girls and I will go again tomorrow. It was awesome. There are a dozen or more teepees set up and in them are facilitators telling stories, doing activities, explaining and sharing the First Nation culture. We enjoyed it a lot and got to cook bannock over a fire, eat fried bannock, have wild mint tea, wild cranberry juice and a mixture of elk pemmican, lard, berries and sugar with wild herbs- all harvested in the area. Although we'd been to a pow wow before, we were mostly clueless because we didn't know all the background meanings of things, but this time, the announcer explained the history of the dances, what they were telling in the dance and information regarding the costumes, traditions...

It was also especially fun to hear some of the older audience beside me singing the songs the drummers sang along with them. Not knowing the language, I had no idea what they were saying, but apparently the songs change with time and the announcer kept saying that these drummers were singing the old songs.

The kids are going to have their first round of after school art/music lessons, so we'll see how that goes. We are looking forward to it. Emora and I are LOVING our time together. So far we haven't done a lot of anything special- like quality time. It seems like once we run an errand and have lunch it's already time for her nap and running back up to the school. But I feel like we are still in recovery/transition mode.

Are there signs of fall where you live?

your time is running short

2011-09-11T18:30:00.002-05:00

It's still hot enough here, but I'm not sure how long it will last. The mornings and evenings are cool enough for a light jacket and pants, but the day gets real hot. Today I was in a t-shirt instead of a tank top and was so hot walking down the street. I went to the town beach and the water has gone down quite a bit. The grass has dried out and there is a little bit of beach after the retaining wall now. Several parents were out with their young kids and I got to watch canadian geese diving into the water for food. I've gotten the geese mixed up some with the pelicans, as they fly overhead but I think I'm realizing the differences now that someone said the geese have black wings and fly faster. You have to learn to look for these things when you're just a city girl!

Like these morning glories... I will miss them when they stop greeting me in the mornings, they have made me a glorious welcome as I drive up in the wee hours of the day. I think they come back, but do I cut them down to the ground? I think so. And what about the rest of the plants? I hope to bring the herbs in and keep them alive through the winter, not sure if that's possible, but I'll give it a try.

Our first week of school was a blur of activity. Running the kids back and forth, waking Emora up from naps, figuring out where to pick up the kids, not having near as much of the day as I thought I would, and the most exciting part: APPLE HARVEST!!

Dominique's kindergarten teacher has a farm and 3 apple trees that she invited Janet and I to harvest. We took our kids out there Wednesday and picked a ton of apples. So since then, I've been making applesauce, apple crisp, apple puree and even a little apple juice. I also kept some for eating and gave a ton away. It was fun, but I'm also glad that I'm done with them and that I have such wonderful food to pull out during the long winters here. I decided that I would love to have this as a yearly ritual, but I'm also glad we don't depend on it. Mrs MacPherson's mom came out to be our hostess, helping with the kids and giving us all snacks and a good visit after the picking was done. She was telling us about making 900 preserves one year. I would not have liked that!

So it's all well that ends well. Here I had been so sad that we didn't get a garden this year, but I have been the recipient of lots of garden produce from my parents, my neighbor, cousin and most likely my uncle will be bringing more our way. Then I was sad about not planting an apple tree, and yet here I was elbow deep in apples all week. It was really fun too because the kids and I have read lots of books about harvesting apples and this was the first time we got to really feel a part of it.

I'm really loving how lots of people garden here and how lots of people share garden stuff. So yummy and fun!!

1st day of school pics

2011-09-07T22:50:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is Dominique's first full day of school. She went for a half day on Tuesday (they call it a staggered start and invite half the class to come for half a day so that they can have a first day in smaller groups). She was so exhausted after that first half day, so I'm wondering what a full day will do to her. We are trying to get them to bed earlier, but it's still hard getting up in the morning- especially for the beauty sleep queen Emora who unfortunately now has to be woken up in the morning and from naps due to the school schedule.

The way the angle came out in this pic makes Dominique look gigantic compared to Emora, doesn't it? Kind of funny and maybe a bit symbolic, if I wanted to get deep and philosophical, which I don't.

Ivan had so many materials to bring, they didn't all fit in his huge backpack.

Dominique requested a princess backpack for her birthday in the summer. I thought that was a win/win since she needed a backpack for school anyways and I could tick something off that school supply list in July!

Ivan thinks he's all grown up now that he's in grade 2. He wants to walk home from school by himself (which I'm not letting him do). He doesn't want me to wait for him in the hall anymore. He's changed his favorite color that he loved since birth (from green to blue) and he decided he LOVES writing (I'm hoping that will stick beyond today). I still haven't really had a chance to meet his teacher much, since I'm not waiting for him in the hallway. I keep thinking I need to get in there to at least say "hi, I'm Ivan's mom"- even if that will be SO EMBARRASSING for him!

I asked him if he was now too big to give me a kiss at school and he looked around the playground to make sure no one was there and gave me a quick peck ;) Glad he's not totally grown up yet!

Mr Sandman

2011-09-05T20:14:00.000-05:00

Last week we went to the beach for what we thought was a last beach day, but that was before we knew we would have a gorgeous-extra long weekend! We got to go canoeing yesterday and again today and swam a little bit, but the kids didn't get very adventurous today without their cousins at the beach. All they had was mom and dad!

These pics are all from last week's beach adventures.
This is one of our friends with the mermaid a couple of ladies built with the kid's help. I didn't talk much with the ladies, but they must have had some artistic abilities because this was one of the most elaborate sand creations I've seen there this summer- and they had lots of little helpers, which can help or hinder the process!

After the mermaid, the kids decided to bury Arwen, then Ivan in the sand.

He got a bit dirty.

We are LOVING playing at the beach and getting out to the parks to enjoy the amazing weather and nature around us. It was so great getting to see the pelicans so close and fly just 10 feet or so over our heads while we canoed. Emora was pretty terrified of the canoe yesterday and today, but once we are out on the water about 20 minutes, she finally stops crying and settles in for the ride. I'm hoping she will come to love boating, but it may take her some more times out to fully appreciate it! I have to admit, it can get a bit scary since we are not very experienced canoers and when some of those waves come up or a motor boat zips by, I was telling the kids "wee, look at the fun waves" all the while paddling my best and hoping we don't capsize- which we didn't! I wish they rented water equipment here. I would love to try out kayaking and these stand up paddle boards I've seen and see how much fun it would be to know what we may want to invest in.

beach day

2011-09-04T22:08:00.001-05:00

Here are more pics from the beach day. I have enough pics to post a good 3 times on it, so I split them up by kids. Yesterday was Emora and today our other little princess on the water.

OK, I know these pics are very similar, but I just couldn't decide on my favorite! Which one do you like best? I'm needing to make prints some time in the near future and I can't print them all!

Out of all my kids, so far Dominique likes the water the best, and Emora the least, but we'll see if that will change with time.

Last week's beach day

2011-09-03T21:57:00.002-05:00

I was thinking we were having our last beach day last week so I took a ton of pictures. Enough to last us all winter maybe? It's been cold the last few days and fall has arrived suddenly, a few rain storms and even hail, but then I was told it's supposed to get in the 30s (90s farenheit) this week, so maybe we're not through with the beach yet!! ;) I do love being able to drop everything and head out if the temps are right. Of course the big kids will be in school, but that doesn't mean Emora and I can't go have some fun, maybe scrounge up a friend or two ;)

I got to go on a lovely bike ride the other day. I just love how walking or riding a bike lets me slow down and really notice my environment and nature.

I went down a road that is now closed due to flooding. It's now a perfectly charming bike trail and led to my favorite cliff overlooking the valley. I got to spy on some pelicans and spotted a blue herron again, so that was great fun!

I'm hoping we will get out in a canoe in the next day or too. Long weekends are so awesome!

Mr Smartypants business entrepreneur

2011-09-03T15:34:00.002-05:00

Ivan informed me this morning that he was going to buy his own ipod. "I just have to sell 5 rocks for $10". I asked if he really thought he could sell rocks for $10. He said "well, painted ones". Dominique suggested that he sell pictures instead. Before an hour had gone by, he had quite the operation. He'd made a sign that said "pictures for $10", then he had half a dozen neighborhood kids making pictures while he rode his bike. I heard Fiorella come from her house saying that her mom would not give her $10 and Ivan told her "well, you can't buy a picture then". I told him $10 may be a little steep. Brian offered some change to the girls who were drawing and they said the money was for Ivan! Later he changed his price to 6 cents. By that time there was a huge pile of paper and markers all over my steps, and papers flying off into the driveway, one paper airplane in our pine tree, caps and uncapped markers strewn about and Ivan still biking. He was quite sad that he hadn't sold a single picture after all his organizing. I reassured him that he would probably get some money for his birthday. He lamented that it was AGES away and I told him we are already Sept. and that Oct. really isn't that far from now!

We didn't get into a discussion about paying his laborers. I think they were creatives that worked for the love of art!

The boy hates to pick up a pen, pencil, marker or crayon, but apparently he can get a product if need be. I'll have to watch that he doesn't hire his sisters to do his homework in the future!

We got a surprise of a super long weekend off. Brian got Fri. and Mon. and is playing a gig Sat. night. Sheena is playing tonight and to support her we are going to go and eat super there too, which means I don't have to cook ;) And after being grand central child care this morning (maybe mayhem sorter is a better designation), it is now calm on the street, Emora's sleeping, the big kids are playing with their best friend Fiorella and when Brian gets back from an errand, I am going to snag a bike and go for a bit of a ride- see how my knee does ;)

Happy Birthday MOM!

2011-09-02T14:19:00.002-05:00

Told you fall is coming! These pictures were taken at the bike park. It's full of trees, ravines, neat nooks and crannies and at least one garden snake. We saw it. Thankfully snakes aren't poisonous here, but I still don't like them.

The leaves here become so pretty when they are getting ready for winter. Can't believe it's coming again. I'm not sure if I really want to say bye to summer yet, but I don't think I have much of a choice.

At the same time, the kids are so very excited about school and we are excited for them too. I put Dominique's calendar up. The teacher is focusing on colors the first month and suggested that they could where the color they are studying each day. I'm pretty sure Dominique has all the colors in her wardrobe, but she did request for me to sew her a green shirt with a fairy on it- which I'm totally not going to do! I can tell she's going to get right into all the activities with gusto and great imagination!

Ivan still hates writing, but he's read a lot this summer and I'm hoping the teacher will have all sorts of great tricks that will help him focus and not hate writing quite so much. Ivan wrote a comic (since his dad has been creating a comic). It was very imaginative about a 5 headed alien, but there were no words, just pictures. We told him that if he wrote what was happening others could understand it better and he said they just had to figure it out.

Happy Birthday mom! Hope you have a good day.

Stollen photos of stollen moments

2011-09-01T14:06:00.003-05:00

I have to give credit to Janet Muirhead, my cousin's wife for these pictures of our lake side picnic and canoe lesson evening. It was an amazing night, just way too short! I do think it gave us the confidence to take a canoe out on our own, so I'm hoping we can squeeze that in some day. Maybe on the long weekend. There was a note on the bank I clean saying that they are closed Monday, which means that I don't have to go in the next morning to clean since I'll have done it on the weekend, which means I don't have to go in for early morning cleaning on the first day of school!! Another yipee! The day will already be a bit crazy. I take Ivan and his huge load of school supplies at 9am, then Dominique at 1pm- with her huge load of supplies, then pick up her and Ivan at 3:30.

It'll be nice to have some built in exercise again, but I don't really like the running back and forth schedule wise.

Our front flower beds with all the extra plants I was given are about to have a taste of fall. It's rained the last day or so and is already so much cooler. I don't know if we'll get some more hot days, but I was noticing at the lake a couple of days ago, that there were some yellowed leaves in the water and some trees are already changing color. This is the season when we moved in and were just starting to really call this place "home", so fall will always have that connotation for me now.

YIPEE!!!

2011-08-31T16:46:00.002-05:00

I'm home with Emora napping and the kids at the library program. On the way there, I was thinking of how much I enjoy our Wednesdays- that we all go to a fun library time in the morning and then- oh delight, in the afternoons, the big kids go and Emora and I come home for a much needed nap (both of us) and an amazing afternoon for me to have time in the quiet house. I was thinking- what am I going to do without these great Wednesdays and then I remembered that this will be half my year! Every other day, the big kids will both be at school- all day! WOW and the year after that, the big kids will both be at school all day, everyday! DOUBLY WOW- which means that most the time I will only have to be active parent to 1 kid most the day- TRIPPLE WOW. Sorry, don't mean to rub it in, but I'm just so happy that I get to enjoy the best job ever and that just when it got super crazy, it all gets to quiet down for a few years. Yeah, I know, I still have the trio after school and on weekends and all summer, but those are much more cherished when I get to have an afternoon of recharging or a day at the beach - or an artist walk... all those things that help us to feel energized and so blessed to be a part of this world.

I love, love, love having talented relatives who will invest in my kids' lives and journeys. Here Victoria is giving my kids a dance lesson. I'm trading the Koops' talents. I'll do a little cleaning at their house each week in exchange for private lessons (dance- by Victoria, art- by Michael, guitar- by Sheena). I love trading services!!

I've also loved the birds around here. Wildlife in general is just so fun, but most steer clear of us except the birds. We just realized why we see so many from our house. We are on a direct path between the lakes, so we often have flocks of seagulls, canadian geese and pelicans go right over our yard from Echo to Mission lake. I went on an artist walk a couple of weeks ago and loved watching these geese and seeing all these seagulls. I also got to watch a blue heron for a while. I really wanted to run out into the field and scare up these birds, but I resisted.

LOVE, love this girl! I'm looking forward to discovering who she is even more as she is at the perfect age to be discovering the world and doing things, but so far is always copying the big kids. It will be fun to see who she is all on her own without the big kids influencing what to do and how to do it.

Love our progress on living here so far. While we don't know many people, we are getting some names, learning the town, more settled in the house, although we still have a pretty good list of things to get done and know the routine this year much more than last!

It's going to be a good year ;)