Scenic Saturday

Finally home on Saturday where I can do a Scenic Saturday!

"Hey Mom!   Take my picture!"

Possibly a future hockey player in the family...

We can't remember what Matt told him to say, but I love the look on his face.

First day of K4!  Not sure if you can read the board, but I just asked them a
few questions I plan to ask them every year.  And I learned
that apparently she wants to be a kitty when she grown up.

Cheese!

This is the little sweetie that keeps us on our toes.

We have a HUGE rut in our  driveway (no paved driveway for us!).
Whenever it rains it turns into what we lovingly call our "pool."  

Let's just say it provides lots of entertainment after the rain!

Yes, we had bath time RIGHT after this little excursion....

Check out her feet - gives you an idea of how deep this is.

Hanging out with Daddy at camp!

Attempting to play golf.  Which is very hard when the club is taller than you are.

When we weren't golfing at camp, we were swinging.

Is it just me, or do ostriches kinda freak you out???

Checking out the lions.

The lovely zebras that inspired my dream the other night.

We followed this peacock around for quite a while.

Our brave boy getting a tooth filled. 

 Until next time....

Random Thursday

I don't even know where to begin with what all has been going on.  Its. Been. Busy.

Last week we were at Sandy Cove Bible Camp where Matt was the speaker.  We were all supposed to go on Sunday, but since we had just listed the house on the market the day before, I decided to stay behind that night and finish getting the house ready in case there were any showings.  Well, trying to super clean a house by yourself with four young'uns is pert near impossible.  I didn't get it done.  Then we got a call on Monday that the house was scheduled for a showing Tuesday night.  So I then had a major fire lit under me and stayed behind another night to get everything ready.  I had to call in reinforcements and asked my friend and her teen son to come help me.  SO thankful they came.  We got everything done and the kids and I were able to join Matt for the rest of the week.  Not without me being exhausted, though.

Lest any of you have images of an incredibly messy house that would take me that long to clean, let me explain.  If you have ever sold a house, you know there is a HUGE difference between "livable clean" and "please buy my house clean."  My house is usually "livable clean".  Its impossible to have it "please buy my house clean" all the time with kids.  Just plain impossible.  When the pics are all up online I post a link.  But they are not all up just yet.

We have had two showings so far, but no offers.  Not that I expected things to go like last time.  Last time we sold our trailer in 10 days.  Actually, I think it was less than that.  That's pretty rare.

After camp, we spent a family weekend with just us.  The kids needed some undivided attention from Matt and I.  So we went to a city about 2 hours from here, stayed in a hotel (Leila's FAVORITE thing ever!), went to a zoo, and went miniature golfing (Liam's FAVORITE thing ever!).  It was really fun and nice to just be together.

This past Tuesday Matt and I had to travel to a different city 2 hours from here for me to meet with my surgeon.  I'm not sure how much I have mentioned on here, but I need to have a lump/tumor removed from my right shoulder/arm.  Its been there for quite a few years, but in the last three years or so has grown considerably.  It is starting to cause tingling in my fingertips and makes it so I cannot lie on my right side.  So we are going to attempt to remove it, as long as it isn't to intertwined with nerves.  Well, my surgery is now scheduled for September 19.  I am eager (and maybe a little anxious) to get it over with, mainly because its gonna be a long recovery.  Due to what he will have to do to get to the lump, I won't be able to move my arm for at least 6 weeks.  I will be in a sling with my arm strapped to my side.  Then I will have to do some physical therapy to retrain my arm. to be used.

In case you didn't know, I am right handed.  As in I am completely useless using only my left arm.  Believe me.  I have been practicing.  I can't write worth anything, I can't pick up my kids, I can't open anything except maybe a door.  I can't do much of anything.  So, ya.  Its gonna be fun.  Thankfully my mom and dad are flying in to help.  So glad for that.

Matt goes out to Alberta to candidate at a church on September 13-17.  Yes, he gets back 2 days before my surgery.  We are still praying for God's direction.

We started school yesterday.  Liam is a big 'ole 1st grader (Grade 1 for the Canadians!) and Leila is in K4 (preschool).  Two days down and its gone pretty good.  Definitely a bit more tricky having two in school and two not in school.  I'll share in a future post some of the things I am implementing to make them run smoother.  But first I have to make sure it works!  Ha!

Last night I had a dream that I was outside with my kids when a mommy Zebra and her baby came into our yard.  And they had horns on their heads.  The baby zebra was getting ready to charge and head butt Liam, when I yelled, and ran to him, pushed him out of the way.  The zebra then started to head butt me and stomp on me with his hooves.  Liam was screaming for Matt to come out of the house.  Then I woke up, feeling like I had been beat up.  Maybe I shouldn't visit the zoo too often.

Liam had to have another tooth filled.  Well, actually, it was a filling that should have been done last year when we had to have him put under anesthesia, but somehow this one was missed.  Anyways, he did AWESOME and sat there like a big boy and didn't cry at all.  I'm sure the bribe of getting to go golfing (real golfing, that is) with Daddy had nothing to do with his bravery.

Leila has to have a filling done this Monday.  Somehow I don't think it will go as well, since last time she wouldn't even let them take x-rays of her teeth.  But I'd like to be surprised.

Libby still thinks the walls in the house are big coloring pages for her.  You may ask me why I have markers and things within her reach.  And I will tell you that I don't.  She's just really, really good.

Lexi is now 7 months old and scooting all over the floor.  She just started getting up on all fours last week.  I'm not ready for this.  I think I'm busy now....

The new favorite movie in this house is Finding Nemo (or "Meemo" as Libby says).  I'll admit I'm glad 'cuz I like that movie too!

It is very, very stressful living in a house trying to keep it clean and ready to be shown at any given time.  I think the new common saying in our house is, "Don't make a mess."  I'm not sure how long I can take this.

I'm REALLY wanting Fall to get here.  It seems everywhere I look I am seeing fall/harvest stuff coming out on the shelves.  I want to make pumpkin cookies and bread.  And I want to wear sweaters and boots. And I want to listen to Christmas music.  I want to go outside and smell fall.  And snow.  I want snow.

I've recently read an article my sister-in-law posted on her Facebook page regarding modesty on women.  I have done much thinking and searching on this very topic lately, seeing as we have three daughters.  Matt and I have done a lot of talking about "standards" and such.  When I get all my thoughts together, I will write a post on it.  I think some of what I think now will surprise you.  It surprised myself!  Ooooo... aren't you so curious now? ;-)

Finally, after quite a few months, I finished the Hunger Games trilogy.  I don't know what I think except that I was left, well, disappointed.  I hate it when it seems like an author just drags out a whole series, then in like the last two chapters seems to just quickly wrap it up in a hurry.  Irritates me.

Now I've started a new series by Lynn Austin called "God and Kings."  They are Christian fiction based on actual Biblical events.  The first one deals with King Ahaz and Hezekiah.  Pretty interesting so far.  I only started them because I got the first one for free on my Kindle, and I really like that author.  So far, so good!

Well, suppose that's all for now.

Until next time....

Somewhat Normal

Its been a nice, somewhat normal week, although I don't think we ever have a "normal" week.  I don't even know what normal is!  But it was a LOT less hectic.  Since Matt finished up the outside of the house, he has taken a break from home renos, which is great.  I don't mind that there is some stuff (like all the window sills and trims) not done.  Its been nice having Daddy home and inside a lot more than he had been the last month or more.  The kids are enjoying it, too.  Leila especially seems to be extra cuddly with Daddy, which he is soaking up!

Matt did have to take a day trip on Wednesday to attend the funeral of the father of a man Matt has been counseling and recently led to the Lord.  So he was gone all day Wednesday.  As for the rest of us, we have been hanging out at home for the most part.  The weather has been quite cool - cold, really, and it is VERY windy, so staying in is preferable.  But I don't mind it too much.  I've been enjoying plenty of Christmas music, as have the kids.  Although their two favorites are Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells, so we listen to those about 10 times a day - each!

Liam's doing well in school.  Oh, we have the occasional day where he has more trouble concentrating, but who doesn't?  He is loving learning all this new stuff and gets so excited about the next day.  Actually, we have been doing school on Saturdays, too (aren't I a horrible mom!).  But he actually wants to and I don't mind one bit.  I know that we will miss some school whenever the baby is born, so staying on top of it now is a good idea.

Tonight we went out to eat for supper, and on the way home we were all singing all types of songs.  Liam wanted to sing the ABCs so we did.  Then he asked Matt if he Matt knew how to say them backwards. Matt said he didn't think he could do it very easily, so Liam said that he could.  And then he started it up.  The first time he did miss J and L, but then he tried it again and said it perfectly - and just as fast as he says them the right way!  I was shocked as I had not taught him that, and have no idea where he learned that!  But makes me proud!  Just a further reminder as to how wonderful these young minds are and how easily they can be taught!

Leila is our busy little bee, as always.  She is a great helper when I am cleaning up, and loves to read and has finally started to show a real interest in coloring.  She hasn't seemed to interested before, but now asks to color all the time.  I love it!  Recently we had been going through a very rough time with her at bedtime.  My kids have always gone to bed well and I have never dreaded bedtime, for which I am thankful.  But sometime in July she started this whole screaming and crying for an hour or more at bedtime.  It was so frustrating!  Nothing seemed to be working - we tried different means of discipline and such.  But one day it dawned on me that perhaps she was afraid of the dark.  So we bought her this uber cute night light and beginning that first night with the light, we have had no problems!  Duh, Mommy!  The poor girl must have been afraid!  Took me long enough to figure it out!  So now we are back to happy bedtime routines!

Libby is little Miss Mischievous!  She is into everything!  She is so much busier at this age than the other two ever were!  Keeps me on my toes for sure!  Since I am not supposed to lift her, we are debating about changing the crib into a toddler bed (yes, we have one of those fancy shmancy cribs that converts - although we have never converted it because we always needed it for the next kid!).  That way if Matt is not home I can still put her to bed without having to pick her up.  But I don't know that I am ready for her to have that freedom yet!  With Liam and Leila, we went straight from the crib to a regular twin bed (I'm sorry, but I just don't see the sense in spending money on a toddler bed!), and they each did well.  In fact, to this day, Leila STILL does not get out of bed until we come and get her!  Strange but nice!

Anyways, I don't think Libby will stay in her bed.  She loves climbing up and down on things, so I think it would be too much freedom right now.  But we shall see.  I have my dr. appt on Tuesday with the OB, and we should know more then about what is going on with me and the baby, so we will decide then depending on if I am put officially on any restrictions.

This coming Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving, so we are having a big celebration at church on Sunday.  We have sort of a Praise service, then the Lord's Supper, then a potluck turkey dinner.  It should be great!  The church provides the turkeys, one of which Matt and I are cooking.  It is a 27lb tukey and let me tell you - it is HUGE!  I had to clear a whole shelf in my fridge for it!  Tomorrow it is going to enjoy a nice water bath so it will be all defrosted in time to cook it!  We have never cooked one that big, so we sure hope it turns out okay!  Don't want to let the church people down!  Fortunately, another girl in our church is a cooking one too (although a little smaller - like 17lbs) so if we royally mess up on this one, at least we know there will be some turkey there!

Well, I am off to bed!  Have a wonderful Saturday and Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!  Check back on Monday as I plan to post a "special" Thanksgiving post along with a book review.  Ooooo....the suspense! :-)

Until next time...

Just the Facts

Fact - We have a cat - her name is Katie.

Fact - We had our first mouse in this house since we moved in.

Fact - The mouse was in MY bedroom!

Fact - Our cat did not chase the mouse.

Fact - I'm mad at our cat.


Fact - I am feeling so much better now.  I think morning sickness is mostly in the past.

Fact - Liam is always asking me what color our new baby is.  What color is a baby in the womb anyways?

Fact - Libby calls herself "Baby."  Think this is going to be a problem come January?

Fact - Leila thinks my belly button is the baby.  So if she happens to get a glimpse of it she gasps and says, "Mommy, I saw the baby!"

Fact - That was probably a little TMI - right?

Fact - My current craving is chicken flavored Ramen noddles.  Weird.

Fact - I haven't had Ramen since my sophomore year of college.

Fact - We find out in one month if its a boy or girl.


Fact - Liam is starting K5 in just about 3 weeks. Or maybe 2.  I haven't decided yet.

Fact - My sister is coming to visit in just over 2 weeks!

Fact - My sister lives in the Caribbean, so I don't see her often.

Fact - I love my sister.

Fact - I got to talk to my best friend, Teresa, on skype 2 times this week.

Fact - My best friend lives in South Carolina so I don't get to see her often.

Fact - I love my best bud!


Fact - We are beginning some major renovations on our house, beginning with a new roof.

Fact - Our roof is in pretty bad shape and is starting to leak.

Fact - Its been raining a lot so we have had to postpone the roof reno several times.

Fact - Tomorrow its supposed to rain.  And Tuesday.  And Wednesday. And...

Fact - We are also putting in new windows, adding more insulation all around, and getting new siding.

Fact - I hate spending money.

Fact - I am trying to decide if I want a garden door or just stick with a stupid sliding door.

Fact - That's a hard decision.

Fact - I hate sliding doors - but they are so much less expensive!

Fact - Stay tuned for lots of before and after pics of the house.  Can you guess what color of siding we are going with?


Fact - My husband surprised me last week and bought me a Kindle.

Fact - I have been wanting a Kindle for a long time.

Fact - Books on the Kindle are so much cheaper than anything I can get around here.

Fact - I love being able to pick out a book, buy it, and start reading it all within 3 mins.

Fact - I love my Kindle!

Fact - Any suggestions on some good books to read?

Fact - Coming soon - I have several "Book Reports" that I will being doing.  I haven't done one in a long time!


Fact - This past week my sis-in-law, Michelle, and her two daughters came to visit.

Fact - We had never met my nieces in person.

Fact - We had lots of fun with the cousins!

Fact - They live too far away (Alberta).

Fact - I hate that!


Fact - I bet your tired of reading the word "fact."

Fact - I'm tired of typing the word "fact."

Fact - That's all for now.  I think it pretty much brings you up to speed on our lives.

Until next time...

And So It Began...

Liam doesn't realize this, but he has now begun the school phase of life that will last at least 18 years - probably more.  But at least he is still excited about it now!

Yesterday, our first day, was crazy but very good.  It is funny how I find myself reacting to new things we encounter in parenting.  When I was expecting Liam, of course I was nervous - having never had a baby before I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  And all you mothers out there know that being a mommy is absolutely NOTHING like babysitting!  So, when we come to a new phase in life - especially Liam's since he is our first and each new phase he comes to is not only new to him but new for us too - I find myself becoming a little unsure and sometimes anxious about the situation.

Take, for instance, eating solids.  I put that off with Liam for the longest time because I wasn't sure how it was going to go, and not sure how to do it exactly, and such.  And, of course, it all went fine.  And I was so glad once I started.  The same was with potty training.  I was really apprehensive about starting it, but once I did, it went so smoothly and all was right with the world (sort of!).

All this is to say that I was the same way with starting school.  A big part of me was so nervous, that I almost didn't start it yet.  I wanted to put it off for a while longer.  But, we went ahead and started - and he loves it!

We wake up in the morning, he eats breakfast and then gets dressed.  He then has his Bible time with Daddy, and "off" we go to school.  At first the whole video thing was a little confusing to him, especially when the teacher "talks" to "the boys and girls watching."  I explained to him that meant she was talking to him.  He got it much better today, and is getting involved and all.  He will stand when told, recite with the class, and laughs at the funny things they say and do.  He is so attentive to it all.  The only thing we really need to work on is him sitting properly in his seat.  I'm not going to be completely as strict as they are at the Academy with how he sits, but I do want him to try not to squirm too much and to not sit with his feet tucked under him, which he likes to do (just like his mommy!).

The videos are only a part of the day.  The rest I do, either reinforcing what was taught by "Mrs. Wasser" or me just introducing it myself.  I am adding a little of my own things to it, too.  I thought it was cute today - we had the video turned off and he was working on one of his coloring papers.  He was sitting there, neatly coloring in cirlces in the lines, when he nonchalantly asked me, "Mommy, are the other boys and girls coloring too?"  I laughed and told him, yes, I thought they were.  It is cute - he doesn't realize that this was recorded several years ago.

We do 3 of his subjects, then he gets recess where he goes and plays with Leila.  She actually sat in on some of it today, during the Phonics part, and she was even repeating after the teacher when Liam was saying, "I says i as in Indian.  I says i i i."  Hmmm... Maybe she will catch on and learn some this year too!

Recess yesterday actually ended up being several hours due to me having an eye appt.  I haven't had one in over 3 years, so it was time.  Most of you may not know this, but I have terrible vision, especially in my right eye due to an injury when I was young.  Anyways, I see the best when wearing contacts, but have been out of them for over a year now.  IN order to get new ones, I needed an updated prescription. So, while we were at it, I got new glasses as well since the eye place here does buy one get one free.  All I will tell you right now is that I am excited about my new glasses, as well as having second thoughts.  I went a little out of the norm for me, but Matt assures me they look good.  I will just tell you that my new glasses are the same but different.  New, but not really.  Get it?  Ha!  I should get them in a day or two, so I will reveal them in the near future.

Well, that's how our first two days of school went.  I will give updates throughout the year on how it is all going.  I am personally LOVING it.  I can't imagine sending my little boy off to school right now, so I am enjoying having him home with me, but still learning.  Below are a few pics we have taken yesterday and today.

The office before we fixed it up.  This was how it was when we moved here.

How it looks now(the white wall is where the mural was.)

My desk (and Matt's).  This was a great buy we got at a 2nd hand store for a really good deal.  The best part was it was still in the box, brand new!  Took Matt a long time (like over 2 hours) to put it together.  There were a million pieces (it seemed) and included a manual with 27 steps to put it together!  But I love it!

Liam's little corner.

First day of school!

Showing off his new pencil case.  He LOVES his pencils!

Excited to start!

Listening very well.

Standing and reciting with the class.  It is so cute to see him doing this!

Had to include this pic of Leila in her new outfit from my mom.  She looks SO grown up here!

Until next time...

I Just Can't Believe It!

Tomorrow begins a new phase in our lives.  Tomorrow, our little boy "goes" to school.  Tomorrow Liam starts K4.  I just can't believe we are here already.  He's still my little baby!  But as much as I am not ready for this, he is ready for it.  He needs to be challenged and have more stimulation than just the few things I do with him.  I have noticed for about the last 3-4 months he gets bored more quickly with just playing.  So I know that he is ready.  I'm not.  Don't think I will ever be!

We have been working on getting his classroom all set up.  Its not quite ready yet, but good enough to get going.  I am very particular in wanting to have a separate place for him to "go" to school.  That way it is a place different than where he plays and where we spend a lot of our time.  That way, he will know when without any question when it is time to concentrate on school, and when it is time to just play.  I am so thankful that we have the extra room to do so.  I definitely did not want to have school at our kitchen table. Not that there is anything wrong with that.  I just didn't want to do it.

So, as his mommy I have his pencil case all stocked, his new outfit ready to go, his daddy gave him a "school" haircut, and we are both feeling a little bittersweet about the whole thing.  As his teacher I have his papers all ready with their name written on them, his classroom (will be) all set up and ready to go, and eager to begin seeing him learn.  Of course, we are doing video school for this year, but there is still a lot that is taught by me.  I am trying to remember all that I learned in M&M (Materials and Methods, for those of you who were not education majors at PCC) and my other teaching classes.

He is so excited about school.  Tonight, before bed when I was praying with him, he prayed that he would get to go to school tomorrow.  We have been talking about it for weeks.  He is excited - for now at least!  Ha!  The thing I am really going to have to work on is keeping Leila occupied and out of the room during school.  She is really a VERY busy girl and gets into a lot of stuff.  I know a lot of people say that about their kids, but she really, really is.  She honestly does not sit still for 5 mins.  No, not even 2 mins!  She does not watch videos.  Believe me - I have tried!  Sometimes for my sanity I turn on a Curious George or something and have them watch it while I have some quiet.  But not her.  She will not sit down and watch anything.  Reading to her consists of reading about 5 words and then she gets up, tries to get the book from your hands or turns the page or just plain walks away to something else.

My goal with Liam starting school is also to work more with her on sitting down and focusing.  I am going to get some papers/books for her age to work on and start working with her, since it will not be too long before she is in school, too!  I would much rather work with her now before she needs to start school, then be all stressed about it when she has to start.

So that is what is going on here with us!  Be sure to check back for updates on how it is going!  I am quite excited.  I will take pics of the classroom and Liam and post them sometime soon!

Until next time...