Skating

Anthony got to go skating with his class on Thursday and he had a blast. It was his first time on skates this year, he went once or twice last year, but he did so well!

He went from this... to being able to skate around leaning on a pylon, to not having to use anything.
I was SO proud of my little boy. He didn't get frustrated or give up!
(An accomplishment in and of itself!)
And he was one of the only J.K kids left with skates on at the end.That's how much he loved it!

His teacher with some of the grade 4 kids

(reading buddies to the J.Ks)

William.

I think it is awesome that they get to be in the same class.

Unfortunately, I ran out of film before I could get a class picture. I will have to get one off one of the other moms!

ARGH....

Tired, frustrated....

and now some pictures.....

(that have nothing to do with being tired or frustrated)

What I Spent Yesterday Doing

I got to spend yesterday afternoon outside taking pictures, so nice. They pictures above that I didn't take yesterday, were the ones I played with last night on photoshop, and I'm kinda happy with how things turned out.

Yesterday I FINALLY got a picture of an abandonded grain (I think) elevator that I have been WANTING (desperately) to get a pictuer of for the last 3 years. But I have never had my camera on me, or if I have, I have had fidgety childern along for the ride. So I went yesterday and got some (I hope) good ones. I'm excited to see how they turned out once I finish that roll (did I mention that I can not WAIT until I get my digital camera this summer?!?)

Went to the library today, the kids had an AWESOME time and I got a book on CD. I figure I can be productive when I listen to the radio while I am cooking dinner :) We'll have to see how I like listening to my books (I'm not a big *noise* person so it may not work!)

Anyway, I am off to eat Heavanly Hash ice cream and watch Criminal Minds!

Wordless Wednesday (aka how to spend 2 hours)

A Break

We were talking about transitions at MOPS yesterday, with transitions being things like moving, getting married, having kids, being a stay at home mom. It got me thinking. I love where I am in life, but there are times when I feel like a part of me is being lost. I get so consumed with my kids, which is a good thing at this season of life the little ones need my everythign from me, but there are days when I long to be able to have space to breathe. Just a little!

Troy is home today, it is exam time for the high schools, and Anthony is at school. I am thankful that today I can have some space to breathe, time to do things that often get pushed aside for lack of time. I love that Troy can help out when he doesn't have to be at school.

Today was dress up like a favourite storybook character in Anthony's class. He dressed up as Jack from the Magic Treehouse series (he LOVES them!). And Thursday he goes skating AND gets to wear his jammies to school. He is VERY excited about that!

Well, I am off to spend some time with just me :) And I plan on enjoying it. Have a wonderful day my blogging friends.

I Heart Faces - Kids

The i heart faces blog is once again having another contest. The theme this week is joy. Hopefully this picture of Owen captures it! He loves his Jumperoo.

Life

Life, sweet, adventurous, crazy, life. Yesterday Anthony was testing Mommy's patience...again. Seems to be the theme of his life lately. And nothing is working. That being said, yesterday I had to struggle not to laugh at one point.

Anthony was asked to sit and work on printing letters in his write on/wipe off book. I left him at the table so I could talk to Troy. Anthony had said he was done and that he did a good job, so I asked him to bring the book out to me. He did a good job alright....colouring his ARM! So I sent him to timeout cuz he KNOWS markers are ONLY for colouring on paper. I went to talk to him after he had been sitting for a while to find that his face, was BLUE. He opened his mouth and his tounge, teeth and gums were also blue. My darling boy had decided that he would lick his arm in order to get the marker off. He looked ridiculous and I was very glad that I had not booked family pictures for yesterday like I was planning! Today it is mostly gone, although I think it would have been funny if he had gone to church looking like a clown!! Ah well.

I love the Baby Blues comic strips. They make me smile and there are many times I can see a reflection of my life in them. (like the milk jug one above...!)

Once again it is FREEZING out. My kids are stir crazy and I am looking forward to spring...heck, even temperatures in the -10 range would be a blessing!!!!! But it is winter and really, it could be worse. So I will be thankful for the milder days that are strewn here and then admist the cold and try to be creative with things that will keep my kids busy and out of trouble for the days when going outside is just not going to happen.

May the rest of your weekend be filled with joy and smiles, love and warmth.

I needed a laugh tonight, how about you?

I needed a smile today. It's been one of those days...we went to the library, turned around and came straight home from the library and it's been like that ALL.DAY.LONG! Just a little weary tonight. That being said I did manage to get the kids outside after dinner (of ordered in pizza cuz, did I mention I was DONE?) and they ran off some of that pent up steam (did I mention i HATE Jan and Feb in Northern Ontario?) Now they are in bed and sleeping (yes, sound alseep...ahhhh sweet bliss) and I have been playing on the computer. I stumbled across the following on the Christianity Today website under Momsense and it MADE. MY. NIGHT!

Enjoy!!

Definition Changes for Mothers Of Preschoolers:

Birth control: play group at your house with six of your friends and all of their kids.

Birthmark: those annoyances that mark the fact that you have given birth (sagging and/or loss of breasts, varicose veins, stretch marks and failure to remember anything).

Birth weight: what the scale registered before you had children, which your scale may never see again.

Diaper wipes: wet, soapy cloths used for cleaning counter tops, dusting furniture, wiping down the inside of cars and making dirty sneakers clean (do not use on mirrors or windows).

Hotel: foreign word, definition unknown.

Night waking: a symptom that develops in every mother from the first moment you step into your home with a newborn and usually ends once the child has moved out of your house.

Quiet time: the moment of time when you realize that your toddlers have been quiet for too long and you then discover they have been up to no good (sticking feminine pads all over the bathroom walls and cupboards or attempting to apply mascara to the baby).

Romance: falling asleep on the couch with your husband while watching a rented movie and sharing a bowl of popcorn (usually around 8:30 p.m.).

Rooting reflex: when the dark hair roots on your head begin appearing more quickly than you remember and have taken on a much grayer tone.

Soft spot: eyeing your pillow with wishful thinking at 3 p.m.

Time out: girls' night, frosted brownies, blogs, cheese fries, lattes, date nights, shopping, magazines, MOPS and anything else that helps your brain refocus.

Linda Vujnov is a freelance writer who lives in Orange County, California, and enjoys speaking at MOPS groups. As a married mother of four children (ages 2-12), she gathers many amusing stories through her daily experiences.

busy busy mischeif makers....

Oh the trouble (although in the picture they are ACTUALLY playing NICELY with toys!)these two can get into when left to their own devices.....sigh, makes this momma crazy trying to keep an eye on them ALL. THE. TIME.
Boy oh boy is Owen fast, he can make it from one side of my kitchen to the other in under 6s...what is the need for this (ahem, amazing) skill you might wonder? The cat food dish. APPARENTLY he does not get enough food from mommy (and brother and sister) so he has to resort to the cat's dish, either that or he likes the taste cuz there is definately enough crumbs on the floor under the table that the cat food shouldn't be all that enticing! Ah well, there are worse things to ingest!
Alexandra will very very quietly sneak about the house and ever so slowly get into all sorts of trouble. Like the other night, after she was supposed to be in bed mind you, I heard something upstairs (and Troy and the cat were sleeping on the couch) so I go up to see and there is my sweet girl, moving the ironing board out of the way of the counter so she could continue to push the kitchen chair closer, in order to climb up into the cupboard to get a glass. SERIOUSLY!??!
There is NEVER a dull moment in this house, I can tell you that!

I Heart Faces Contest Week 2

I stumbled across i *heart* faces that has weekly contests of pictures of faces. Not that I take great pictures or anything but I thought it would be fin to join in. The more pictures I take, the better I will get. . .right?

Here is my entry into the Kids category:

My 2 1/2 year old daughter

Photography Lesson

Hmm....this is why I don't let Alexandra play with my camera! I think she needs a few lessons in photography, what do you think? :) I had left my camera on the floor when I went to pick Owen up and came back to find her trying to take pictures! Ah well, at least she wasn't walking around the house with it!

On Hold

There's stuff on my mind tonight, stuff that I know would be easier to figure out if I sat and wrote it down, but I'm not sure what my motivation is for needing to put it in writing, so I think I am going to hold off, and rather than type it for the world to see, I will resort to the old fashioned pen and paper way. It takes longer, but it is definately only between me and God that way.

I'm don't know why I am pensive tonight, have been much of the week. There are things bothering me, things that are frustrating me and emotions that are too close to the surface to be able to coherently and respectfully write all that is on my mind.

I am SUPER excited that it warmed up today and that the kids can actually be playing outside tonight. I am also praying for a sweet friend of mine who is in labour with her second as I type. Her first labour was 22 hours so I am praying that this one is faster and easier for her. God is faithful and will sustain her through the hours though, of that I am confident.

Going to put a little boy to bed now!

Your Gonna Miss This....Moment

I know I will miss this: in the not to distant future, Anthony will no longer want to dress-up and dance with his sister. I love that he BEGGED his sister to let him wear the princess dress. Itr made my heart smile to see them dancing together.

Head on over to Pam's blog for more Moments.

'Title'.... :)

Today is the first time in a really long time (like since before Owen was born) that I have curled up on the couch in the middle of the day and vegged in front of the t.v. I ignored the baskets full of clean laundry that need to get put away, the dishes that need a home (because seriously, the dishwasher really isn't their permanant residence....it just feels like it lately), and the quilt I am indulging Anthony with (he wants an airplane quilt....complete with 3 1/2 inch squares and an appliqued airplane w/mouse pilot...)and I laid there and watched t.v mindlessly for an hour. And you know what? It was GREAT! And now that I have pulled my lazy self off the couch, I am (of course) blogging!

Sabrina offered to come pick up Alexandra, Owen and I so that we could make it to the playschool at our church. It's the first time since Sept that I've made it (being a one vehical family sucks sometimes) and Alexandra had a blast and guess what....she's napping!!! That in and of itself is reason to keep going back as she is in the process of phasing out the nap (and this momma ain't ready for that!)

The past few days have just been really really good. Yesterday the kids and I braved REALLY COLD weather (it was something like -40 degrees celcius with wind) to go to the library for storytime. They LOVE it SOOOOO much and I wanted to get out of the house (cuz seriously, this cold is here to stay and I realize I live in northern ontario but good grief, my nose hairs should NOT freeze the INSTANT I open the front door!) So, despite the disbelief of Troy, we went to the library and had fun!

I love how God gives me days that are easy and filled with happiness and fun. They are great reminders that His mercies truly are new every morning. I mean yesterday, I even got to go to the grocery store BY MYSELF. (that's a big deal in this hosue!)

Little things, like sharing over coffee with friends, reading the kids library books for an hour while curled up under blankets on the couch, not letting the fact that Alexandra missed the bowl COMPLETELY while cracking an egg yesterday bother me or watching Owen try to climb all over me to get the toy just out of his reach all are total evidences of God in my life and I love it. I am so filled with His presence today, and that has seriously been missing for a while. It is amazing how it makes me feel like a new person. :)

I can't believe today is already Thursday. This week has just flown by and...the best news, my mom gets to come visit in a month!! So excited!!!

A Sigh of Relief

Today I got to share at MOPS. It was supposed to happen prior to Christmas but our last meeting was cancelled due to a snowstorm (YAY!) so today was the day and was I ever nervous. I am not a big public speaker, especially when it has to do with sharing about my life. That being said, I am glad that I did and thankful that it went (I think) well. I do feel much better now that it is over though :)

I realized over the weekend that I could count on one hand the number of people that knew my whole story and that it was probably time to share it with a few more in the hopes that they could be encouraged by what God has been doing in my life. For He has done some AWESOME things in my life and what better way to thank Him than by lifting praise to Him in the form of my story?

I wanted to share with you guys the verses that I used while giving my testimony. For they have, over the years, impacted me in different ways. Each has been significant to me on more than one ocassion and each time I have been lead to these verses, I have learned a new Truth.

Joshua 4:24 -- "He has done this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God."

Ezekiel 36:26 -- "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

1 Peter 1:8 -- "Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." (this was the verse that was read when I was baptized.)

Pslam 30:11-12 -- "You have turned my wailing into dancing you have removed my sackclothes and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever."

A visit (or two) with Cath

Catherine, my dear, sweet, friend, was in Thunder Bay over Christmas visiting with her in-laws. I know the trip was long for her and by the end she was more than ready to get back home, get her little one on to some sort of routine, and unpack (both the boxes that come from moving (which they did shortly before coming up ere) and the suitcases from her trip). But I am so very thankful that she was here for about 3 weeks. I got to spend a lot of time with her, more then we have in a long time (given the 2500km distance that normally separates us!).

There is something about having a close friend, it doesn't matter the amount of time or the distance that separates, we can always pick up almost exactly where we left off.

God definately brought us together when we needed it most, and I will be forever grateful for that.

I miss her like cray now and am already counting the days/weeks/months until July and our trip to Southern Ontario so that we can visit again!

Here are some pictures from her visit! Declan at 5 months

The 4 kids together

(my kids LOVE Cath and were sad that she had to leave)
Who says you can't poke your friend in the eye
every once and a while?

Catherine and Alexandra

I am thankful for the friendship we share and grateful that it has stood the test of time, trials and distance.

A Photoshoot

Mom...we're done...

I do have better pictures, and I will post them, but these made me smile so I thought I would share them with you tonight.

What possessed me to take pictures? Well, they ARE my kids and I DO find them adorable..but apart from THAT obviousness? I figured it was a good way to pass the time between 3:30 and dinner seeing as Troy was at work and it was just the kids and I. They had a blast and the older ones were thrilled that I let them change clothing a couple of times.

Today was a good day. Alexandra and I got some time together with Anthony at school and Owen napping. She is a good helper when there is no one else around! I am getting weary of her screeching fits though and I am at a loss on how to handle them. . . it is something I know that I need to tackle but I just don't know how. . . any suggestions???? Cuz nothing that I have tried thus-far has had any impact once so ever on stopping them!!

I was thinking today, in the midst of cutting 3 1/2 inch fabric squares about *stuff*. Life and where I'm at and where I want to be or what I would do if I could do anything. And you know what? If I could be anywhere or do anything I think I would choose to be here, in the midst of the chaos and love and joy that is my life at this moment, this season. . . sure there are times that are tough and moments in any given day where I stop and wonder just what the heck I have gotten myself into, and was this REALLY what I signed up for? But truly, my life is where it should be at this point and I am CONTENT with that. The only things I would change? I would have a little more time to take pictures and quilt. Because I know that I could become so much better at both if I was given the time. But I am content, completely, with where I am and what God has blessed me with. I have wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember. That and a teacher and I find that I am both to my three kids. I was asked the other day if I miss teaching.....nope. Will I ever go back? Maybe, if that's where God calls me when the kids no longer need me at home ALL the time. But if I never end up in a classroom again that would be o.k.

Sorry, I am rambling....I am tired but passing time waiting for Owen to get up for his bottle. And to pass time I am typing because I can! But as a result you guys end up with ramblings and incomplete thoughts so I think I will end this rather LONG and probably pointless post!!

Hmm....

"Mommy, my bum farted"

"Oh, well did you say excuse me?"

"No mommy, it was my bum, not me!"

And there you have it, apparently if your bum fatrs you don't have to say excuse me...at least in the mind of a 2 year old!

Look what he can do!

Owen is so proud of himself. And MUCH to his brother and sister's dismay he now feels the need to go after their toys. I mean come on.....he is a *big* boy after all!!!

Owen also thinks he can stand by himself and is constantly pulling his hands free of mine while I am holding him, and then he falls (and giggles hysterically) because he can't yet stand alone!!!

Sunday

Sunday we woke up to snow, and a fair amount of it at that. Thankfully Troy decided to shovel part of the driveway before he walked to work so that I could get out in the car to take the kids to church.

Sunday started off great.

Sunday Anthony, Alexandra and I played in the snow before church while Owen napped.

Sunday I got locked out of my house while going to start the van so it would have a chance to warm up. This is the 2nd time a sweet child of mine has locked me out of the house.

Sunday I nearly got projectile vomited on. Alexandra has taken to throwing up when she gets upset (and she was upset because I got mad at her for locking me out of the house....)

Sunday I DID NOT want to drag my three lovely children to church by myself. And frankly, I'm not sure why I did. After cleaning up the puke I was ready to curl up and cry and not go anywhere.

Sunday I got into the van, drove to church, sang worship songs, dropped my kids off at sunday school/nursery and listened to a message that I REALLY needed to hear.

Sunday I cried, I prayed, I was convicted, I was forgiven and I was very very very thankful that I did, in fact, go to church.

Sunday I felt like God was speaking straight to this wayward heart with the message about Grace (His grace and the grace we show others) and anger from the book of Jonah.

* * * *
I was so glad that I took the kids out of the house when all I really wanted was to hide from the world. It has been a long time since a sermon has impacted me as much as the one Kevin preached on Sunday did. I'm not even sure I can articulate what it was that struck me, I just know that it was what I desperately needed to hear. I love how God works. And despite the fact that I don't like crying in public (the whole vulnerability thing) it was very much needed and such a release. God is SO good and I am overflowing with thankfulness.

They think it's summer

I love that on freezing cold days, my living room warms up nicely, it's south facing and although that is not so nice in the middle of summer, it is perfect in the middle of winter!!

On one such *cold* day, Anthony decided that he was going to take it upon himself to rearrange the livingroom (whatever...I'm trying to let go of the little things...) so he could play swimming pool with his sister. They would climb up to the back of the armchair and jump off. Well, Anthony would jump and Alexandra would get stuck and loose her nerve (which was fine by me cuz I really didn't feel like taking a trip to the e.r for broken bones on such a *cold* day). Then they would run around like crazy, flop on the floor (the water) and pretend to splash around. This lasted for close to 2 hours. I was really glad I didn't get mad at them for moving the furniture around! Splash!

Yes they were down to diaper and undies by the end!