And then it snows!

We have rules.  We have rules that the boys come home and empty their bags, get their lunch dishes in the dishwasher, put their school homework on the table and then we start homework.

But then it snows.

The boys LOVE snow!  And I'm very glad they do.

Today the went outside for a half hour to play before dark.  Before doing any of their jobs after school.  Before anything was play.

I'm not calling them in until it really gets dark.

Sometimes snow is more important than school.

What did we do before cell phones?

We are camping this week with my parents.  The kids and I have loved every minute of it!  After a week at Nana and Papa's hanging out, then a week for Kyler at FCC with Amber and a week for Q and Lisa to hang out with Nana and Papa it was a good change.

The boys and I are in our "12 man tent" and the girls are with Nana and Papa in the rv.  Its been alot of fun.  We have had craft time, two libraries were built in the RV complete with sign out sheets, we have rainbow loomed, played games, played in the sand and had lots of food and campfires!

FYI Thank you Joanie for introducing my mom to "happy hour"!!

One thing I have noticed is the amount of people walking around with cell phones.  Please don't get me wrong!  I'm one of them!  But I'm surprised how many people don't look up anymore, smile at their neighbours or as how their day is going.  Now a simple run to the bathroom includes checking your phone on the way there and the way back and making sure nothing has changed.

I'm just as bad.  I'm always texting Arnold or checking up on something we feel we need to " Google ".  But I'm sure I had just as much fun, if not more, before cell phones.

Maybe next time, I need to make the time to unplug and enjoy nature. 

My heart breaks...

I feel as though this post will offend some.  And guess what!  It will.  But it wasn't my plan.  Remember that this blog is somewhere for me to get out my thoughts, feelings and share news.

My heart breaks....

My heart breaks for my grandparents.  On Friday my grandfather will be moving into a nursing home for a while.  My grandma needs some time to recover from not doing so well and in order to do that she needs more help with grandpa.  It can't be easy watching your husband slowly go downhill and need more help.  Grandpa forgets more and more but the one thing he does remember is his love for grandma.

My heart breaks for my parents.  This week things changed for them.  My parents are learning the ropes of how to care for aging parents more than anything.  They are having to separate grandma and grandpa for a while and are learning to deal with the changes.  It can't be easy. I can only imagine the emotional heartache this causes for them. 

My heart breaks for my husband.  Our plans for march break are thrown out the window.  The kitchen is slowly becoming harder to do with our childcare being canceled and my hubby will have a lot to deal with.  He is also dealing with changes that, with the kitchen, seem to be causing more stress than joy tonight.

My heart breaks for Kyler.  Today will be his first ever basketball tournament.  He is so proud to have made the team and so excited to be going.  It does mean he misses a day of school! But... The minute he made the team he called his Nana and asked her to come and was so excited for her and Papa to see the games.  And now they can't come.  Last night, when we told the boys all the plans for March break were canceled he didn't cry.  He didn't seem upset.  Arnold and I did our best to 'up sell' but it didn't work.  Kyler came to me and asked if we could speak in private and when we moved to a different room he broke down into tears about not having his grandparents at the game.  He had told everyone they were coming and he was so excited to show off for them and now he was devastated.

My heart breaks for Quinton.  He has been counting down the time for his march break with my folks.  He has been telling everyone that he won't be there for pizza day because he will be with his Nana and papa.  I made the mistake a few days ago telling Q that "Jack and Sam's Nana and Papa" would be picking him up.  He heard Nana and papa would get him and he was running out the door at school so fast.  Then came back in wondering why his Nana and papa weren't there for him.  He has been so excited to see the dogs and to play with them.  And when plans went to plan b yesterday, he was super excited to go see amber and Lisa.  Now... He is so sad that its not going to happen.

And I'm sad.  Once again, I feel as though all my plans have been thrown for a loop and I'm back to square one.  It seems that when I make plans that involve my children going away I need to almost double book them into something else as things seem to get messed up.  I'm sad that I don't have the time right now to celebrate the amazing things happening in our lives because we are scrambling to clean up messes more.  And I'm sad that I feel this way.  I do realize, contrary to popular belief, that the world is not all about me.  But sometimes... It would be nice.

Sometimes, my heart just breaks.

The "Other Mother"

When I was a little girl I remember getting the most devastating news of my life (at the time), my eyes weren't shaped right and I couldn't get contacts.

Me!?!

4 eyes forever.

What a disappointment. 

What heartbreak

I totally remember sitting on the front porch of our house on Glady's Street.  It was a wonderful picket fence, nice and white and beautiful.  There was this little gate for you to come into and sit down.  My parents had put chairs in the front with a little table. 

I had finished school for the day.  It was a rough day, but on the bonus side I wasn't bullied that day on the way home.  Things seemed to be looking up.  It was exciting for me.  I was going to hear when my appointment was for my contacts so I could look just the same as everyone else.

I skipped across the front yard and opened the gate and sat down with my mom.  I must have looked so excited because she immediately said "Hunny, I have some bad news"..

And then things went downhill.

I cried.  And cried... and cried.

Just as I was sure my life was completely over, a blue Volvo pulled into our driveway after being waved down by my mom.  Mom's best friend, Joanie, came over to see what was wrong.  My mom said to her "Mandy needs her other mother right now.  She was just told she can't have contacts".

Joanie did her "awe baby!  we can get you some awesome glasses!"  and pulled me into a huge hug and let me cry.

That's not the only time I've had my other mother come and help me. 

When Otis died I called her and she walked away from her company and cried with me on the phone.  I was having one of those "I can do anything" moments.  You know... after a loss, you never have those moments without breaking down.  And Joanie was the one person who I knew I could call and she would understand.

Sometimes I feel that the "Other Mother" is something every child should have.


My kids do!

My kids met their "Other Mother" when we moved to this area.  Q was 2 and K was 4.  Arnold would take the boys to the park and come back talking about the adults there... and some chick named Lori "who had boys around our kids ages".  Little did I realize how she would become a big part of our lives!

When the boys were 4 and 6 we were moving into the school system with both boys.  I could see them at school and slowly got to visit with the moms out there after school and I got to know Lori more.  Ever since then she has become a regular part of our lives and family.

Lori and Gabe have 2 boys, Jack and Sam, and they are my children's basic best friends, if not "brothers from another mother".  They hang out, fight, play, and enjoy their time together a lot now. Every day after school Lori makes sure the boys get home while I get my home ready for the evening.

Earlier this week was my prime example of the "Other Mother".

Kyler and his friends built a huge fort.  The kids were given a warning, over the announcements, to leave each others forts alone.   After school, Lori was picking up my boys and her son found Kyler in a corner crying.  From what I understand some of the bigger kids felt it was their job to "make sure the fort was 100% secure" and they kicked it down and threw a lot of the snow chunks into the puddles so they melted.  Kyler's job was to protect the fort afterschool and he blew it.  He was devastated.

Lori ended up taking him into the office, along with some other kids who had seen what happen, and they left a list of names of who had destroyed someone else's fort.

On the way home from school Lori told my boys they were more than welcome to come over to their house for a bit and make a new snow fort in the backyard.  My boys jumped at the chance.  Kyler even told me through his tears that "Lori knew how to make it all better".

I have to admit I did cry a little when they went to her house.  She knew how to make it better right away.

My boys came back after a little while and were so happy.  They got to play with snow dye and had a great time.

As my son says when you ask him "Who loves you?"  "Lori does!"

And I'm perfectly ok with Lori being my children's "Other Mother"

The Perfect View

Have you ever looked out on your back yard or down your street right after a beautiful snowfall?  Everything looks just perfect!

I will always remember driving to band practice one early morning when I was in High School.  The snow had just fallen on Lakeshore road and it was beautiful.  I even stopped the car and got out and looked.  I had always wished I had a camera with me that day.  Just to see the perfect white covered roads.

Sometimes I even get that look in our own backyard.  The snow is just beautiful.  It covers the dead grass, the over grown bushes, the kids slide and swings, the fence and makes the whole world look so wonderful.

And then....

And then something happens.

Nothing big, nothing so horrible, but just enough to mess with my perfect view.

And yet, somehow it makes it even more beautiful!

My kids play in the backyard.  They run around leaving tracks all over the place.  Then run around until they fall down laughing.  Then jump off the picnic table and giggle the whole time.  The boys throw snowballs at each other, at the back fence, at anything they can.  The run all over and make a huge mess!

At first my heart fell.  My perfect view out the back yard.  The view that I admired every morning and night was totally destroyed.  There was no beautiful landscape.  No freshly fallen snow. 

Now it was just trampled all over.

And yet, somehow it makes it look even more beautiful.

It reminds me of my babies when I look out there now. 

How much fun they have even in those few minutes after school.  How their backyard is even still an adventure. And how much I love them for being so much like me.

While My Perfect View may not be the crisp clean backyard in the snow, it is totally my family!

**If you visit my house please apply this to my home.... cleaning up when you have children is like shoveling snow in a snowstorm!**

What do your kids do?

Today I realized my kids do ALOT in our home.

For example this weekend the boys did:

Their own laundry (bring it downstairs, put in washer *clothes only or towels only* and started with soap, flip to dryer *emptying lint traps* and started with bounce sheet in it, empty dryer to couch and put folded clothes away in their own room.

Made muffins (found bowls, ingredients, mixed in mixing bowl, cracked eggs, added water, mixed, put into muffin tins, put in oven.  Daddy took them out of the oven.  then put on cooling racks)

Did own homework (science, math, reading, etc)

Yard work (raked the lawn, put in bags, did some lawn cutting, put sticks out and put the bags and containers where they belong, did compost as well)

Did housework (swept the floor, did dishes, cleaned the table, put towels away, put kitchen stuff away)

Cleaned the front area (paired down shoes, organized area they change clothes, put donations into a pile, cleaned and organized the black container for toys, threw out toys they were done with or were broken)

"Winterized" their room (put their shorts away, went through hand me down clothes they liked, put all the clothes away, washed their sheets on their beds, made their beds with clean sheets, put up shelves in their room and downsized their "trinkets")


As you can see my boys do a lot.  I am so proud of them for being so helpful and so amazing when it comes to our day to day lives. 

We are blessed.  What do your kids do?

Got Bread?

A few years ago my dad reluctantly gave me the family bread maker.

It has such good memories.

When I was younger I remember my dad taking the bread maker with us on family vacations.  The one I remember the most is going skiing.  We would spend the day on the slopes and then Dad would make bread.  It was so nice coming home to the fantastic smell!  It was amazing.

We now have our family bread maker.

Our family has now been using it for a while now.  Almost 2 loaves a week.  It's very very rare we don't make bread during the week.

This past holiday we got a few loaves of bread from my parents.  We just finished the bread this morning and now are in need of a few more loaves :)

I guess it's time to start our family tradition again... and get that maker going!

Thankfully... it's a whole family thing.  The boys help make the bread and they love every step of it!

So tomorrow morning... we will have to start a new loaf so we have something for lunches this week :)

Single parenting

I'm not an expert by any means.

I'm not an expert in parenting, teaching, marriage, music, ANYTHING!!

I don't pretend to be an expert.  I may know a lot but I'm not an expert.

This week I am experiencing something I have always known I could never do.  Ever.

I am going to be a 'single parent'.

Arnold is heading out for the week.  He is attending a computer conference in San Francisco. 

And I am going to be mommy and daddy this week.

Its a busy week for us.  We have basketball tonight.  Tomorrow is cooking club.  Thursday is swimming.  And Friday night my friend is taking the kids to the indoor playground.

Not only that but we have picture day on Thursday and pizza day on Friday!!  That should help this week fly by.

While I will not have to deal with the kids with no help this week (I will have some help from friends - my brother is doing 12-7 shifts every day this week), and will not be doing it all on my own, it is my married version of single parenting.

I pray Arnold loves his time there and learns a lot.  I also pray that I can make it through the week with the boys.

So here we go!  Let's see how I can handle it!!

6 more days!

That's right!!  6 more days!

This mornings board at school was our nice reminder that there is only 6 more days of school left!!!  Which for teachers (who weren't counting today) it was really 5 days!  One whole hand!

Last night was our Christmas concerts at school.  Actually, one was in the afternoon.  But they were great.

Our week has been busy!

On Monday we dropped off our teacher gifts!  Mr C (Q's teacher) got a "book of gift cards".  Ms. G (K's teacher) got a jar of gumballs and a GC.  Then the office staff and those I work with 1 on 1 got my "exploding box" gifts.

Tuesday was preparing for our concert.  It meant for a super duper busy day!

Wednesday got crazy.  A fun morning to get the concert ready and to get the kids excited.  Then lunch and onto the concert.  We had our concert from 1:30 until about 2:30pm.  Everyone was gone by 3pm.  Which is nice.  I even got my first "teacher gifts" :)  I loved it!

On Wednesday night. it was my boys turn.  The parent council did a great job with our baskets so I spent most of my time doing the raffle.  A friend of mine one the VIP seating.  It was big cushy seats at the front with no one in front of you.  It was great :)  I loved it!  Her hubby couldn't make it so I did.  We got front row seating, and they waited on you!  There was a bottle of water and a juice box to start.  Then you got a tray of grapes, cheese and cracker.  After the next group you got carrots/cucumber and dip in a cup.  And last was a tray with cookies on it!  It was all so great!  The kids did a wonderful job serving.

Then to add to the fun I won a basket!!  The boy basket.  I seriously bought 2 tickets and they were the ones in there :)  I'm so excited for it.

The boys sang so well.  You could hear Q over EVERYONE!  It was so funny.  And Kyler did a great job.  He did a little "saying of favourite things" during the first song in the microphone and the second song was a dance.  He loved it and did a wonderful job!

Then today... the "6 more days" of school left was so fun!  We all had a wonderful day, even with the wind-chill.  They called indoor recess for the classes.  So no one played outside in the morning.  All the kids came in ASAP and then we only went out for 10 minutes at lunch.  I swear it took more time getting the kids ready than it did to play outside!  We did play "What time is it Mr. Wolf?"  with them to have them run around a little then it was time to go inside.  We did a train to walk around and "pick up" everyone around the area then back to the gate and in the classroom.  I read the kids a book and then they were off to gym.  Great timing!

All in all a great day!

Here's hoping tomorrow is just as fun!  Then we are on our last week of school.

Happy Christmas!!

What a crazy few months this has been for us!  We have done so much in such a short period of time.  Here's a uber quick update:

Arnold - has been amazing and has bought our family a house, ripped up the flooring and a diving wall, redone the wall and ceiling, redone a new flooring, dealt with plumbing and a few other random things (the joys of owning a home!!)  He is doing ok at work.  We just had his kids Christmas party this past weekend.  All in all he is keeping busy

Kyler - Is really enjoying grade 3.  He loves Fridays when he gets gumballs if he was a good kid that week.  We got his report card and there are a few things for him to work on but generally doing ok.  His favourite thing is to watch mindcraft youtube videos right now. 

Quinton - loves loves loves mindcraft.  He is our little builder man.  He has spent hours building and destroying things on mindcraft.  He is doing well in school and loves playing with others.  Right now he is working on his printing.  We hope it gets better as time goes on.

Me - I'm doing ok.  Keeping super busy but it's going ok.  I'm down to one job now (only working at TDSB instead of at Forward as well) but enjoying it a lot!  I'm getting extra hours and slowly working on getting our house unpacked.

So for the general gist:

We started "looking" at home around the last weekend in September.  We got a phone number of someone who would be selling a house the Thursday before the long weekend.  Went to look at that house on the long weekend, put an offer in on the Monday (I believe) and had everything settled by that Friday.  It was such a short period.  We closed on the house October 22nd and began working on the house.   The carpet needed to come out, and the tiling in the basement, as well as the ceiling in the basement.  We had to put in new flooring (right down to the subfloor) upstairs, and put in some new carpet in the basement.

So far it's going ok.  It's "odd" owning a home but I'm loving it!

I'll do more of a home post soon but for now that's where we are!  Tonight we started our first day of advent with the boys and their lego advent calendar that daddy rushed out to get this morning.  Mama's been slacking on these things.

I'm excited to see how December goes for our Christmas time, as well as our first Christmas time in our new home!

I think next year we may stay in Toronto and celebrate here!!

Anyway... happy Christmas!!  I'll be back again soon, I promise :)

What a Summer!

I'm sure this is a crazy post to be putting up but I feel like our summer is over!  I don't mean like our summer is actually over but it sure feels like it.

Our summer has been a world wind of adventure.

It started the day school was over!  Arnold and Quinton headed to Edmonton/Calgary and went to visit family.  It's a tradition for our family to go and visit Alberta family.  When the boys "Graduate" they get to go.  Since there is a graduation ceremony for the kids from SK to grade 1 our boys get excited to go to Alberta.

While the big and little boy were in Alberta I was in Sarnia with Kyler!  We had a great few days there.  Between playing in the pool, having friends over for Canada Day, going to church and visiting our vacation was packed full.

We came home in time for Kyler to get his first tooth pulled from the dentist and for me to work for a few days.

Kyler and I picked up Arnold and Quinton and our fun began!

We had 2 days as our family of 4 and then the fun arrived!

Amber and Lisa arrived and we started the fun.  We did our first week at Forward Baptist Church for Kingdom Rock!  It was so much fun.  It was a half-day day camp.  We got there at 9am and then we were home around noon.  The kids had a lot of fun.  And cute t-shirts to prove it!

That weekend we chilled out and played at home.  Sunday brought us into a new week.

A New week of fun!

We started the Zoo camp.  Zoo Camp was for everyone!  All 4 of them headed out at 8:25am and I picked them up at 3:30pm.  We had a lot of fun.  Every day the kids came home with something new they had learned and were excited to start it all over again.  They had a great time and really enjoyed the Pandas.

That Saturday morning Aunt B came and picked up the girls.  So started our week alone.  While it was alone things got crazy!  We didn't really get any downtime but hey, that happens, right?

We headed to Sarnia on Friday.  Kyler, Quinton and I went to get Arnold from work.  Since he works late Monday to Thursday he gets to leave half day Fridays.  We were on the road and very little traffic!  It was great.  We stopped in Cambridge and picked up the girls early and then we were *so* quick that we even stopped and dropped off the coats that needed to be repaired at the Columbia headquarters in London. 

The 6 of us arrived in Sarnia in time to see the moving truck moving out the last of my grandparents things from my parents house.  While on the way home my mom had texted me and told me they were thinking of moving. 

I went into high gear that week.  I worked on the basement on Saturday and Sunday and we got the rooms cleaned up, took 4 trips to Goodwill and even got some taping done to paint a few areas in the house.  Monday I finished up the rest and got some painters out to work on the house.  The Student Painters came out and did our house and I got a "break" on Friday.

During this week the kids were at Temple Baptist Day Camp.  This year was so much fun for the 4 of them.  I dropped them off around 8:50am or so and picked them up around 4-4:30pm.  They had a blast!  While we did have to visit the lost and found table at least 3 of the 5 days it was still a great time by all.  I really loved hearing the things they had learned and how much fun they had.

By Friday we had a great pool night.  The kids played in the pool ALL NIGHT!  Finally, after doing glow in the dark time, I kicked them off to bed around 10:15pm or so.

Saturday morning Becca started her trip down to Sarnia.  The plan was to do some shopping for the kids.  You know... Back to school shopping :)  Becca ended up having a tire blow on her van and no spares.  We had to send backup (ie Arnold and Dad).  They went out and fixed her up.  All in all it took about 3 hours more than expected. 

Mom had to go to work by then so Arnold, Kyler, Quinton, Becca, Amber, Lisa, and myself hit the malls.  We went to Children's place, payless, Wal-Mart, Bonnie Togs, and home again.  Lots of crazy times.  We got almost everything.  I have to say the "Do you really need that?  If you buy it Auntie M is getting rid of the SAME out fit you have at home" works :)  Got to love carrying the money from mom and dad :)

We got home and showed our treasures off to Nana and Papa.  Then Aunt B and Arnold headed out to get our vans fixed.  Ours was there but Beccas needed a new tire for it. 

All of us headed out that night.  It worked out well as my parents listed their house on the Sunday night.

We had a few days to chill and just veg in front of the TV or elsewhere.  I think the kids really needed it.  This is the first summer things have seemed so hard core.  It was great for me as I really needed to get work done and having them in camps during the day was fantastic.

Monday evening (after we had a great lunch with friends) Aunt B brought the girls back over for the week.

This week they are doing Swim Camp.  So far it's been a bust but hey!  Tuesday they showed up and the pool had no chlorine in it.  It was horrible.  Wednesday it still wasn't fixed.  So I had to sign a waver saying the kids could go on the bus and go elsewhere for their lessons.  No big deal for me.  Wednesday was ok since they were all out at the Toronto Island.  They had a great time. 

Lisa and I are chilling.  See, she is too little to go!  So instead she has hung out with Uncle Jack one day, then a babysitter (Anna) the next.  And today we are going to the movies.  If only Auntie M could read the right movie theater we would be set.  hopefully I've got it right now.

Sunday morning everyone comes here and we do our family day at the zoo.  We are pretty excited.

Oh and this week... my parents sold their house and bought a new one!  Their closing date for both houses is August 30th.  Our last day on the houseboat!  Was an exciting week!

Because of the sale being so quick it means that Arnold and I are not getting our week alone with no kids.  I have to work (I need the hours as I'm not working the last week in August).  So I'm going into work on Monday and Tuesday.  Thankfully there is no bulletin to be done so I'm just going to be getting those little pesky things done that need to get done.  Hopefully it helps get the office in order. 

Right now (which means things ALWAYS change) I'm thinking of heading out on  Tuesday around noon or so.  I'm hoping it gives me light traffic.  I'll head to Sarnia and start packing.  I'll pack Tuesday night, Wednesday and Thursday.  I'm aiming to come home on Thursday night and have a half a day with Arnold and no kids.  Then we will pick them up in Cambridge on Saturday, as planned.

This is where our family of 6/7 ends.  Amber and Lisa get to hang out with their grandparents for a week and our boys are doing the Boys and Girls Day camp at the end of the road.  I'm really excited for them.  Their adventure is going to the movies!! 

During the week I'm going to be working at church (hopefully getting 4 bulletins done in one week) and then, if time allows, decluttering my house!

Becca, Amber, and Lisa arrive on Thursday night!  Arnold, Kyler, Quinton and I will be taking Lisa up to the boat and Becca will come on Saturday with Amber and Jack.  Mom and Dad will be arriving then as well.  We are out on the boat for a bit.  Mom and Dad need to come back on the Wednesday.  We have the boat until Friday.  Then we all head down and help them finish moving.

I believe we are going to stay in Sarnia that weekend and "camp" in their new big backyard!  Finally we get to camp AND use the tent we got 2 Christmases ago!!  (I'm excited for this!)

We will head back to Toronto on Monday and Tuesday... School starts.

See how our summer seems a bit crazy?

It's almost Back to School!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

shopping that is :)

Today the boys and I are going through their closets in an effort to see just what they need for school in September.  On Saturday, August 3rd, we are doing our "Big Back To School Shopping".

Our boys are so blessed that every year, just before school starts, Nana takes them shopping and gets them "Set to go" for the year.  When they started school it was buying a backpack, getting indoor runners and getting socks, underwear, shirts, pants, ect.  The whole list.

Each year things change a bit.  I won't let both my boys get backpacks at the same year (mainly cause they are $30.00 and they both don't need to buy one each year).  So this year it's K's turn... but both backpacks are good to go so no backpacks this year.

Kyler does need a new lunch bag, but Q's is fine (since this is his first year of doing lunches at school it's barely been used since we got it 2 years ago).

Quinton will need new pants this year, as he has grown like there is no tomorrow.

Kyler need new socks (even though we just got him new ones)

And slowly we will figure out just what everyone needs.

So for now I venture into the boys closets and get their "back to school shopping lists" complete... wish me luck! 

If there is no movement from me on FB in a while, sent help!!

Happy Estimated Due Date Otis!

Every since the boys found out there was a baby in my belly they have known that this baby would come close to Quinton's Birthday.

Quinton feels the same way now.  Not that Otis will come now but that his birthday should be close to his.  Since there isn't really any "easy" way to explain this we have decided to have a little celebration tonight.

We found a local bakery and got some "mini cupcakes".  And tonight we are going out for dinner (keeping with our burger theme we are going to Five Guys and Fries).

When we come home we will celebrate our baby's EDD!

We love you Otis!

The Race Begins...

It's official.  The Race Begins Today!!

You know that race I'm talking about... the one where you are going somewhere and need to get backed up and ready to go.  In our house it actually started on Sunday when I had Arnold take out the suitcases.  Then they sat around for a bit until Arnold put them in the "proper rooms" for everyone.

Then this morning Jack headed out.  He is going home to Sarnia tonight instead of tomorrow with us.  He has a few things he needs to get done and is heading out faster.  So instead of hauling his suitcase with him to work then on the train he packed up his backpack with some PJ's and a days worth of clothes.  We will be bringing his suitcase with us (which is now sitting at the front door so we dont' forget!)

But this afternoon/evening, our craziness begins. 

Today, before bed, I need to get the boys to pack all their stuff for the Easter weekend at my parents house.  Which needs to include 1 "nice" outfit, 1 "semi-nice" outfit, and 2 days of "other" clothes.  Socks, underwear, pjs and "must sleep with toy" are always a must.  As well as their homework (which will come home tomorrow).

Then I need to pack myself up and get ready to go.

But the worst has to be packing my husband.  Mainly cause I don't... and then it's this mad rush for him to get his bags packed.. which always results in "hunny can you grab..." text messages.  Not that it's a problem, I'm just blessed I can be home to do this for him, but also that everyone else sends the same message

So tonight... the race begins.. we need to pack up our clothes and get moving!!  For this weekend we are in Sarnia for the Easter Bunny!!

Marriage Mondays ~ Think Ahead

I've been talking alot about little notes of love.  How those little gestures can mean so much to the other person.  Today is no different.

We all know a few weeks ago was Valentine's Day.  We know for us it is never a "big" holiday.  We always chill out at home.  Infact I don't think we have ever been out ON Valentine's Day.

This year was going to be different.  A girl from school was going to babysit for us.  Her first time babysitting and a great treat for us to go out on Valentine's Day.

The week before I spent alot of time trying to figure out just what to do for my husband.  I mean he has everything he wants... me!  Right!?!  I'm sure there is more he wants but I would have to be enough.

I still wanted to do something super sweet.  So Sunday night I came up with a "plan".  On Monday I was going to get up early and mail off something for my husband.  Then reality hit.. I had a daycare girl on Monday morning and if this was going to happen it was going to happen EARLY!  And I do mean EARLY. 

So Monday morning I kicked my hubby out of the house in record time (well not kicked, but strongly encouraged by completing some of his tasks). Then the boys and I came up with 14 reasons Arnold is my valentine.  The boys were a "Great" help by suggesting things like "can play on the wii with us".  Here are a few of my suggestions.

Loving Husband

Amazing Father

Hard worker

Good with your Hands

Godfearing Man

Strong in Every Situation

Attentive to my Needs

I quickly signed and sent the card away before my daycare girl got there.  Oh yeah, I'm that good!

 

Every day during the week I got more and more excited about when his card would arrive at work.  Turns out, that it arrived perfectly on Valentine's Day.  And he was the *only* one on the 2nd floor to get his card.  I love it when things work out perfectly!

I, was *so* blessed.  My husband feels that showing the boys, by example, of how to love the woman in their life.  And true to his word, he took the boys out the night before and they bought flowers and hid them in the house (I'm still not sure where the hiding place is!).  Valentine's morning I woke up to 2 bouquets of flowers at the top of the stairs, complete with sweet cards.  Quinton gave me beautiful orange tulips and Kyler gave me some colourful mums.  Arnold gave me pink (almost purple) roses.  Everything was beautiful!

I am one lucky lady. 

While thinking ahead of Valentine's day is always a good idea, it doesn't have to stop there.  Think ahead about a date, or special date coming up.  Even just another day of the week.  Those "just because" cards are the best.

I dare you.  I dare you to think ahead and drop something in the mail for your special person in your life.  See what a difference a card can make!

First Times

I have been experiencing alot of "first times" lately.

There was the 1st time seeing the OB on Monday and not being pregnant
The 1st time going to the BP dr on Thursday with no one but my trusty man Q
The 1st time my meds have changed alot
The 1st time going to swimming lessons with the boys and seeing my friend who is having her baby this weekend
The 1st time going to my own swimming lessons and having to tell everyone that we lost the baby (it was known that we were pregnant)
The 1st time having to seriously explain to someone that if I did get pregnant again I could die
The 1st time going clothes shopping and actually knowing this was my size, no more "pre-post" baby body.  This is it (and getting better!)
The 1st time leaving the boys home with their uncle for a whole weekend!
The 1st time going on a couples retreat
The 1st time telling people we have "2 boys at home and 2 babies in heaven".

Alot of "1st times".

And I have to say, I may not have enjoyed every single one of them, but I'm slowly growing through them all.

New Years Party Part 2

First of all

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

I hope that your New Year Eve was wonderful!  We had fun.  So to add to my photos from before here's kinda how it went:

We started at 5pm with the boys (see the balloon).  Q got to pop it (we used a fondue fork) and then we got started on our hunt!  Arnold delivered the gifts beforehand and we went on our walk to check them all out!

First was mag lights.  But somehow I didn't get a picture uploaded..

Second was airplanes:

After that was glowing glasses for us to see a bit better!

Then we had bubbles.  When it's freezing out you can get the bubbles to freeze!  So we did try but no luck:

We got home and Arnold had some time to read a book with the boys.  They are so cute.  Each of them began reading parts they remembered (for Q) or actually read some pages (for K)

Kyler popped 6 o'clock's balloon and we began our fondue:

And I just couldn't resist sharing this photo:

Quinton popped the 7 o'clock one and we began some Wii Games.  Everyone one a trophy:

Quinton didn't want to play wii but instead he won for the best hair!  Seriously it was GREAT :)

Kyler popped 8 o'clock and we had our meat fondue.  It was so good.  We also got to put on our "fat pants" AKA PJ's and we put on our new socks:

We had dinner and it went a bit longer than expected, and Q wasn't up for 9 o'clock (which was going for a walk) so we hung out at home.  But Uncle Jack did get to pop and K read it upside down for us:

Kyler popped our next balloon and we had dessert!  The chocolate was SOOO good!

After our dessert we ended up getting 11pm a bit earlier.  We got the bed ready for the boys (the couch) and we hung out until midnight:

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

New Years Eve PARTY!

Hey Readers,

Things have been a bit crazy here.  I've wanted a bit of time to recover from losing Otis, then end of the year at school, Christmas, and now I'm hoping for a fantastic new year.

I did some "pinterest" checking about things to do to celebrate new years.  I wanted something good to do for our family.  So I came up with some plans.

First off, I decorated our tree.  Today we "undecorated" the tree from Christmas things and tonight, while
the boys were napping I redecorated it with a New Years Theme:

It's all decorated with necklaces, noise makers, horns, "2013" glasses, hats, and balloons.

I am so excited for the kids to see the tree :)

There are balloons starting at 5pm and they look like this:

One side has "5pm" on it along with a hint about what we will be doing during that hour, and then on the other side is clock.  Kyler can read the clock (or is learning) and Quinton can read the time written out.  The kids pop the balloons and then find out what we are doing.  Each balloon has a little write up of what we will be doing.  For example... 5pm is a "the fun begins!  Head out on a hunt and see what joys you can find"

The kids will then head out on a hunt around the neighbourhood.  They start at our house with a clue and continue on to the next 4 houses we know.  Each house will have a bag with a treat and a balloon:

We got them new flashlights

They will get little airplanes

Glow in the dark glasses!

Bubbles, but they will freeze when it's below 0 :)

When they get back they will do 6pm (Fondue begins - cheese and bread) and we will talk about their goals for 2013:

Then at 7pm we are doing some Wii games/board games with the kids.  They are really into it now.  And we have a little container with some trophies in it for them, as well as the container will be our families time capsule

8pm we will be doing the Meat Fondue.  Arnold is VERY excited for this part.  The kids will be encouraged to put on their "fat pants" (ie pjs) and new socks:

9pm is time to walk around the neighbourhood and see the lights.  They will be given some glow sticks to go out and walk around:

10pm we will have dessert fondue (fruit and chocolate and marshmallow dip) and make some noise makers:

11pm is movie time!  I could only think of one movie that is a new years theme in it.  It's WTP Seasons Greetings.  We will watch it and the boys get to have their own bowls and fill them with goodies (goodies are still packed away)

11:45pm we will be undecorating the tree.  Getting some hats, noise makers, necklaces, and the poppers :)

Then once the movie is over we send the kiddos to bed, and us too!

Thank goodness for my waffle maker!  I've made a batch and put them in the freezer for quick breakfast on the 1st!

Anyway I hope I have given you some hope and maybe some ideas for next year.

Happy New Years!  May this coming year be better than the last. May God grant us the wisdom to use the experiences from 2012 to make us better people in 2013.