Monday, September 17, 2012

Do you blog? I... did.

I was going through my bookmarks today on my computer and I"m surprised at how life changes so much.  When I first started to use the bookmarks everything was about, finding a house in Toronto, libraries, kid things, what to do with kids in Toronto, the weather, my online "family", and more. 

Now things are coming around again.  I find I'm starting to bookmark things that are about babies, what to do with kids in Toronto and my online families.  But I'm also bookmarking things like sports pages (kyler), online games (quinton), wii games for kids (both boys) and so much more.  Many more things that I ever thought I would.

I also went through my bookmarks of blogs.  I personally LOVE to blog.  I may not get to do it as much as I could but I love blogging.  It kinda gives me a place to put my thoughts down and enjoy the fact that while they are private thoughts, sometimes they help people. 

As I travelled through my bookmarked blogs I noticed alot of people stopped blogging.  For example, a friend of mine from online.  She last blogged in November 2011.  It was a post about her family getting a new front entry way.  At first, I was a little bummed that nothing else had been updated, but then I remembered how much her family has changed.  She is now expecting #3.  They have refinanced their house and had to do some work on it to complete everything.  As well as with working as a nurse and her oldest starting school it's super busy.

Another favourite blog of mine hasn't been posted in for a few years.  This mama of 2 girls and a boy is so busy with her photography business and her own work as well as taking care of those cuties, it's no surprise that the blog hasn't been updated.

One more of my well lurked blogs is a friend of mine who went to Ireland.  She is there on a missions trip.  With being so busy during the summer (like most people are) blogging has slowed down.  I really miss her updates and her joys and struggles and well as prayer requests.

While I miss reading my blogs and seeing them updated all the time I can't make people do it :)  But for now, I promise to try and blog a bit more.  And yes, I'll try and include pictures :)

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Wait, what's that? Right... quiet!

Our lives are slowly getting into pace.  And I'm so thankful to God for that.

The first week in September Kyler and Quinton announced our "family secret". 

We are expecting.

And we are worried, scared, and frightened that after telling the boys, and our family, that something bad will happen.  I think it's something you never get past after a miscarriage.  I mean we SAW Baby Casey's "sac and egg".  There was no denying that there was a baby growing in there and every day, every hour, every minute past the miscarriage date we praise God. 

We thank him for our blessing growing inside me.  We are excited, blessed, and so happy for this little one.  Every morning and every night our little bean gets more kisses and hugs than I do!  She/He is so loved by Kyler and Quinton (not to mention mom, dad, Nana, Papa, Grandma, Grandpa, and everyone else!).

We told family and friend at the beginning of the month about this blessing from God.  We even got to show off a little photo of our bean!  My ultrasound tech was AMAZING and let me have a picture of our little one early (9 weeks and 4 days) so I could show the boys where this little one was.  And what does Quinton do with the photo?  Runs back to his teacher and goes "Look what's in my mommy's belly!!  And it's my Birthday Present!"

After that it was a free for all.  I told the girls at youth group, my friends(family) online, Arnold told his work, we told the people who we talk with all the time and everyone is excited.  We are surrounded in prayers for this little bean.  And I know, more than anything, that we are blessed. 

Kyler started school with Mrs. J.  He loves her!  He loves his class, his teacher, his friends, and the fact that things aren't *too* different from Mrs. B from last year (I will post pictures soon).

Quinton is an SK and he isn't learning much this week.  He's informed all of us after school that this first bit of school is for the JK's and not the SK's.  They aren't learning anything (haha).  He loves that he has Mr. Brown again and that his friends are with him in school.  I don't have the heart to tell him that one of his best friends will be leaving for 4 months + in a few weeks.  I'm so worried about him and how he will react.  But so far so good.

Arnold's doing alright at work.  Still getting into the grove after being gone for vacation for a week and a bit he isn't happy all the time.  But that's ok.  September seems to do this to everyone.  This weekend Arnold has headed up north with some friends from Church and is going to a men's conference at MBC.  He is excited to be going and really enjoys the speaker.

Which brings me to me :)  I'm doing ok.  So far no morning sickness, however I do have some times where I'm *sure* I'm throwing up but nope :)  Q and I had the flu last weekends so we are getting over that.  I'm enjoying my days.  I've got energy again (thank goodness) and I'm loving it.  I've volunteered in Q's class about 4 times so far this year.  It's alot of fun.  On the days I don't have Ian or Dr's appointments/ultrasounds, I'm in Mr. B's class.  I've also got an invite to help out the music teacher/librarian as well.  It's nice.  I'm enjoying helping out in the school.  I've labeled all the workbooks, the bell work, anything that goes home, stuffed mailers, got the reading folders ready for the SK's, helped with snacks, the paint centre, backed bags and unpacked bags, as well as getting anything and everything I can to make Mr. Brown's job easier.  Thankfully, it has been nice and easy and chilling out around the school.  It's fun. Really. 

Our typical day looks like this:
6am - up to pee, I swear sometimes it's earlier!
6:30am - Arnold's alarm goes off
6:45am - out of bed and upstairs
7am - News time!  and breakfast
7:30am - on days that Ian comes, he shows up around this time
8:15am - Sophia comes over
8:35am - out the door and off to school
8:50am - everyone in school (volunteering if no Ian, if Ian, come home)
11:10am - head to school to get Q and Sophia
11:30am - home and time to clean up and have lunch
12:45pm - nap time for Ian (depending on pickup times)
1pm - TV/Movie off and kids outside or downstairs to play while Ian naps
2pm - back upstairs/inside and colour/read book time
3pm - off to school to get Kyler
3:30pm - home from school and Sophia picked up
4:30pm - time to make supper!
5:30pm - Ian picked up
6pm - eat! (earlier if we can)
7:30pm - bed time!

Mondays (in October) are Aqua fit
Tuesdays (first of the month) are the C&C/Young Adult dinners
Wednesdays are youth/mens bible study/school council meetings (oh yeah, Arnold got nominated for Treasurer:P)
Thursdays are swimming (in October) or Arnold's running around day
Friday we travel (if going somewhere) or we seem to have some plans that day.  It keeps us very very busy!

Today the boys and I are home alone (as I said before Arnold is up north) so we have done some running around, cleaning, gardening, more cleaning, and had lots of fun...

Can you believe it... it's quiet!  NO WAY!  Yep... it's quiet in my house (hence the blog post).  My boys are napping.  Thank you Lord for little mercies like naps :)

My turn!  Have a great weekend!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

You Can't Make Me!

You Can't Make Me go back to reality, not yet at least :) 

I'm writing my blog post from my parents house in Sarnia.  Last Saturday we headed out from Toronto, 4 little kids in tow and drove to Amhurstburg Ontario.  We left the house around 10:30am or so and arrived at our "cottage" around 4:15pm.  What a trip!  We had lunch, and 2 potty/walking breaks.  And when we arrived we loved it!

This place was a castle!  It had 1 master bedroom with a king size bed, a view of the beach and an ensuite bathroom/shower/walkin-closet.  The room next to it was a queen size bed.  Then a bathroom, which could be closed between the sink and the shower/toilet side.  Then another room with a double bed and finally the room Arnold and I had.  A King size bed with a beautiful view of the beach.

The main level had a family room/dinning room.  A large kitchen with a mini eating area there (table with 4 chairs) and then another area for sitting and watching TV (number 2) and a few sitting chairs.  Sliding doors to the deck and then a mudroom/laundry room with a door outside and a bathroom.   And still another bathroom and a den with a pull out couch. 

WOW what a house!

Outside was a deck off the sliding glass doors/mudroom door and then 2 steps down.  You walked to the back yard and another deck with a picnic table and umbrella and 4 chairs to sit on.  Then a few steps down to the beach and you had wonderful sand to play on, a mini layer of seaweed that had washed up on the shore then the wonderfully warm water (which got cooler as the week went on).  It was a beautiful beach, beautiful cottage, just beautiful!

We spent time on the beach, in the house playing games, a trip or 2 into walmart, out on the fishing boat we borrowed, sleeping/napping, and 1 day out at a little play area/animal farm/greenhouse.

All in all a wonderful vacation.  I managed to read 3 books, nap, take some pictures, nap, never cook (THANK YOU BECCA!!), nap, play on the beach, nap, and just enjoy myself!

This will be the last vacation like this!

Now we are at my parents house.  We head out tomorrow morning after breakfast and drive up to Owen Sound to deliver the boat we borrowed.  Arnold and Lisa LOVED the boat, so much.  It was well worth it.

Our plan is to get home to Toronto Sunday night and use Monday to prepare for school.

Our life will be changing this September.  K and Q are back in school, we have a new daycare girl for before and after school care and we have Ian, until December when his mom goes on mat leave.  I'm hoping to work at the school at least 1 day a week and help out in Mr. Browns class.

I hope to update with some pictures soon.  For now... You Can't Make Me go back to reality :)