Happy 4th Birthday Anthony!!

Anthony James

On September 10, 2004, I became a Mommy for the first time. I got to hold my little 'ball' of boy (he was born with baby fat, some nice chunky legs and cheeks so he really was a ball!), and cuddle him and kiss him and rock him to sleep, all for the very first time.

I am so blessed to be able to call this little (er, big as he would remind me)boy son. Where have the years gone? It truly seems like only yesterday that we were driving back to Atikokan to take you home and introduce you to Tigger (our cat). Anthony, you have grown by leaps and bounds. Your sense of wonder is incredible and you never cease to amaze us with the questions you ask and the knowledge and understanding you have of the world around you.

Although you LOVE to test limits and try patience you are also more than willing to give cuddles and kisses. Your smile and laugh freely and never hesitate to create adventures in our days.

Anthony, you love your sister and brother so very much and are already protective of them. It makes my heart sing that you take such good care of them. God has given you a kind heart my oldest son and I am forever grateful for that. As you grow, it is our prayer that you will continue to show compassion to others, that your inquisitivness and strong will will be used for His glory. Anthony, I love your imagination, you are a knight or a ninja or a kitty or a cowboy depending on the day (or hour).
Happy Birthday my sweet boy!
This picture was taken last summer, my how he has grown!!

ARGH!

Insert frustrated/exhausted/at the end of my rope sound here:___________________!!!!!

Hope you're all having a good Monday.

First Day of School

I am back from taking Anthony to school today. Well, I didn't actually take him, he got on the bus (without any screaming fits today!!!) and didn't even want to turn around and wave so I could get a picture (so our picture is of his back! And I will post it once the film is finished!) His teacher seems nice enough, this is her first year teaching kindergarten although she has been at the school for 5 years. She was DEFINATELY nervous this morning, but that was understandable as there was a room full of parents as well as the kids she is going to be teaching.

Anthony listened to everything he was told and sat really well and followed the rules (at least this morning). His school has a balanced school day so there is a 'nutrition' break at 10:30 and then lunch at 12:45. The parents left after the 1st break. Anthony wasn't really sure he wanted me to go but he didn't fuss after he spent a few minutes cuddling. It's official, he is now a 'big boy'!!!!

It seems quiet in the house without him and Alexandra has already asked a number of times where he is! It will take her soem getting used to to be on her own Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Now we wait until 3:40ish for the bus to come and drop him off to see how the rest of his day went. There will only be 15 kids in his class so that is a good thing. His first 'offical' day isn't until Thursday Sept 10 as the other half of the class is going on Tuesday. So aftet today he will go again in a week (bearing cupcakes for his birthday!)

Hope your days is filled with contentment and smiles!

Troy is offically supply teaching (the same 3 classes) for the next 2 weeks (at least, maybe longer) at the high school he was at last year, which is a HUGE blessing. As we thought it would be at least a week or two before he got any work (there was a restructuring of teachers). So the fall routine has started in our house. The school bus stopped outside our hosue today, not realizing that Anthony is in J.K and therefore doesn't start until Thursday. It threw me for a loop. I KNOW he wasn't supposed to go today but still, seeing that big yellow bus pull up, stop and then honk (as we were not waiting for it). He's a big kid now! But I think I have convinced him to actually get on it on Thursday and that I will follow it to school in our car (seeing as I have to be there for the morning anyway!)

Friends were going to the beach again today, sort of one last swimming spree before the end of summer (or at least the start of school). I wasn't really sure I wanted to go with them (1 mommy, 3 kids, TONS of sand toys and diapers and blankets and.....didn't think it was a good idea) but, seeing as everyone in my house was awake by 6:30am and it already felt like a full day had passed and it wasn't even 8:45, I decided that we too would go to the beach. (That and it was SUPER hot and humid in town and those that read my blog on a regular basis will know that I DON'T do HOT and HUMID very well...read "one cranky, impaient mommy') SO...to the beach we went and it was what this little family needed. I had SO SO SO much fun just playing with the two older kids, building sandcastles and 'belly slamming' Anthony into the waves (cuz it was really wavey today, which is unusual for this beach). Owen slept the WHOLE 2.5 hours we were there. It was GREAT and much needed to get down and have fun with the big kids. They played nicely with their friends and Sabrina (mommy to the other kids) and I actually got to goof off and horse around in the water too (read: splashing and pushing and getting eachother VERY wet!) I am so thankful that God blesses me with days like today when I am at the end of my rope and just can't seem to get out of the rut I am stuck in. He is so gracious and I am one thankful mommy tonight.

As I write this, the kids are out with Daddy and the wind is blowing a nice cool breeze with the promise of less humidity and heat tomorrow. The baby is sleeping (er....I take that back, baby is SCREAMING), the kitchen is clean and all is well.

Hoping that all is well in your lives tonight also. Blessings!

My Day (aka anyone want a cat?)

Today is hot and sunny out and I am in the confines of my basement blogging...why? Because I can. My kiddies are sleeping (or out shopping with Daddy) and I have a few minutes to myself (which, I must admit would be better spent picking up 'stuff' and cleaning but.........) so I thought I would blog. Cause I'm addicted to it :P

We went back to school shopping this morning and I got some cool snackes to stick in Anthony's lunch box (multi grain cheerieos, candy-coated chocolate chips and raisins), some indoor shoes (with bob the builder on them), some t-shirts and long sleeve shirts (gotta love 2nd hand stores!). Get home and feed the ravenous animals lunch (sometimes I swear I could be a keeper at a zoo...) put them to bed (after catching Alexandra trying to suck toothpaste out of the tube (again)......might be a sign that we need to brush her teeth more than we do!) and started some laundry.....

....anyone want a cat?

She decided that her litter box was too dirty (not my job, I do diapers and puke but not litter boxes) and thought it would be a good idea to use the pile (er, mountain) of dirty towels to do her buisness in. Didn't realize until I started loading the machine and little bits came rolling out of the towels. ARGH! Silly silly cat.. but seriously, I wouldn't want to go in a dirty toilet, would you?

Tomorrow we are off to the beach and a campground for a swim and hotdog and marshmallow roast, one of the last 'big' outings of the summer. I am excited, hopefully it's as nice tomorrow as it is today.

School Buses

Anthony was SO NOT impressed to be riding the school bus today at the First Rider Program. I only got him ON the bus because I went on with him (read, dragging him up the stairs kicking and screaming). The volunteers were being very um helpful (yeah, that's it, helpful) in telling me (within his earshot) that "it's o.k if you want to go on with him (um, i don't thanks), just sit at the back and he can sit at the front" and then (when I got on with him and we was STILL flipping out) "well, if he's that upset about it, just go ahead and sit beside him dear."

First off, I am NOT a dear (and please do NOT talk to me like I am 2!). Secondly, if they had just kept their 'helpful' comments to themselves, he would have gotten on all by himself. Ah well. I truly wasn't in the mood for his meltdown today so maybe, just maybe, it was a good thing they 'helped' :)

That being said, Anthony told me he wasn't really ready for school and he wanted to stay home with me. Now I'm not sure how much of that has to do with the school bus (it's big and yellow and a little scary, I can see his not wanting to), how much of that had to do with the fact that my brother just left and he's missing him and how much of it is a 'let's see what kind of reaction I can get from mommy when I say this!'

The Anthony drama continues.......

scattered

Tonight is the last night of visiting with my brother (Stefan) and his girlfriend (Antoinette). We have had a wonderful time together and I am going to miss them when they leave.


I love birthdays and I love being busy and having visitors. I'm just not sure I like having them happen at the same time (combine that with the Olympics and I'm toast!). I am T.I.R.E.D! I'm not really feeling it but I am very very crabby with my kids (which is a sure sign that I need more sleep). Sadly, I can't see that happening really soon....Owen is on a growth spurt and eating up a storm.....around the clock! Maybe getting up before the kids and focusing my day on what REALLY matters might be a good idea :)

Since my brother and his girlfriend have been in town we have been doing a whole lot of tourist type things. It's been great as most of the touristy things have been outside and involve nature of some sort (like waterfalls and mountain tops and warm sandy beaches!) I love being out doors. It has always drawn me closer to the Creator and I just love the beauty. Some how it always makes everything right, that perfection and beauty and intricate detail. My world is right after a day outside, regardless of what has transpired that day.


I am finding it hard to believe that the sumemr is almost over. Anthony starts J.K on Sept 4. This saturday he has a first rider orientation thing to go to for riding the school bus. My little boy is getting big. He is excited and MORE than ready. I have been so blessed watching him grow and change and challenge!

Speaking of Anthony, he has been such a good little boy lately. We were having a lot of trouble with his behaviour where he would fight EVERYTHING and it would become a battle of wills or he would do it, but VERY rudly. It took about 7 days of sending him to time-out the first time he did ANYTHING he knew was not appropriate behaviour, and a whole lot of praying but he is no longer challenging every little thing (read only about 50% of thigns!)or responding with sticking out his tounge or throwing toys when he is mad. So we are, thankfully, making progress!

This post has been everywhere tonight and I apologize for that. There are thoughts running circles in my head and I need to get them out but I'm not even confident that what I am typing is coherent!! Thanks (if you've made it this far) for bearing with me and trying to follow the ramblings of one very tired, scatterbrained mommy tonight.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Happy Birthday Little Girl!!

Alexandra

It's hard to believe it's been two years since we were blessed with your arrival. I can't begin to imagine what life would be like without you. God gave you to us and we are so very grateful.

We love you sweetheart.

We love your mischief and smiles, your tantrums (that make it seem like your small word is over) and your joy. We love that you are such a sweet, caring little girl. Already concerned about your brothers and how they are feeling, wanting to make them happy and have them smile at you (that is when you are not poking or screaming at Anthony!) You have a kind heart little girl and your Daddy and I pray that you will never lose that.
You have brought joy, tears, frustration and laughter to our family. Alexandra, you love life and feel everything so intensely. Your Daddy and I long for you to grow up loveing Jesus, looking to Him as you grow into the young lady He has created you to be.

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY

ALEXANDRA CATHERINE

Today is our day to celebrate you Alexandra! This is your special day.

I love birthdays. I love making my kids (and husband) feel super special on their birthdays. In this house, birthdays are a big deal. They get decorations (complete with balloons....my kids have a thing for balloons, which I understand, as I too have a thing for balloons (give me a bunch of helium balloons and I'm happy!)!) and their choice of what to eat, cake and a party with their friends. Their birthday's are they day that God choose to give them to us and that, my friends, requires celebration. My kids have a purpose in life, even if they do not know what it is at this point, they have a purpose and a reason for being here. What better reason to celebrate is there than that?

Note to Self....

"Self, when wanting to make cupcakes for a party, make one cupcake before hand to make sure that it is actually do-able so as not to waste 2 hours, 8 cupcakes and close to 6 cups of icing in the process. Thanks"

Trying to make Swiper the fox cupcakes...will post pictures of the ones that worked. Will leave to your imagination the state of the kitchen, the amount of garbage and the disaster cupcakes :)

Am super tired and frustrated (gotta love that need for perfection) so am on my way to bed!