Saturday, 11 April 2015

Penny's Day

 The most exciting part of a birthday is
EVERYTHING!
Penny has had her birthday bash planned for quite a while.
She wanted to go "camping"
so we headed up to a beauty of place.

It was snowing when we got there so we found
an enclosed camp kitchen with some fireplaces
which worked
perfect for her hotdog menu!
We roasted hotdog and ate chips
had some cake
and
all with our favorite people.

She loved it.
She got some candy
(I am not sure why we spend any money on gifts when it's the candy that is the most coveted!)
and some money
a new outfit
a warm and cozy quilt
and
roller skates!

A fantastic birthday.

Monday, 6 April 2015

Snow Distracted

I have been knitting Andy a sweater.
(It's been a long while....)
I keep getting side tracked 
It gets put down
And I find other things to do.

So yesterday as the snow started to fall
I pulled it out.
I have three rows to go!
And then buttons.
But
I am SO close!!!

Sunday, 5 April 2015

Easter Bunny and More Important Things

This little picture pretty much sums up our Easter Bunny experience.
It is simple.
Exciting
but
we don't put too much fuss into it.

We spent Thursday colouring eggs
and 
that night we hid them.

Friday Morning
(after a Thursday memo down a local bunny hole)
That tricky rabbit came.

Everyone was thrilled with the hidden treats.
Andy spent the rest of the day packing around his ninja turtle bucket!
The girls flipped and flopped all over in their new footwear.

Friday afternoon was spent preparing our Easter meal.
we spend the evening eating foods that would of been prepared in old Jerusalem.
The kids love it.
Dusty and I love it.
Sometimes we invite people over
but
it was just us this year and it was perfect.
We then spent the evening going through a little Easter activity
that represented the last days of our Savior.

Saturday and Sunday have been quietly spent eating treats and listening to messages of 
Christ.
I am pretty sure as a kid I would of thought this was
"stupid" or "boring"
but
I look forward to this time with our kids
and
surprisingly
even when given opportunities to skip this
my kids choose not too.

This weekend fills me with gratitude for all the gifts I have been given.
I am so grateful to be a mother.
I never had an intense yearning to have children
but
as each of them have arrived
I feel more and more like this was always what I was meant to do

I am so grateful for my parents and sisters.
For the lessons I learnt in my childhood
and growing up on an acreage.
I am thankful for my Dad and his patience with us tagging along on hunting and fishing trips.
For the skills (sometimes forced) in cleaning animals
and
helping me understand what it takes to physically put food on a table
and where it comes from.
He taught me what honor means.
What integrity is.
I am grateful for my mother.
She taught me to never limit myself. What you can do if you work.
She gave me stories and taught me about my family and "roots".
She gave me expectations to live up to.
That is a gift without measure.
My sisters have let me learn what it is to love someone
even
when you don't agree with them.
They teach me about talents
I appreciate how beautiful a family is with differences.

I am grateful for Dusty.
I tell him everyday.
even when I am mad.

I am grateful for our house.
For our animals.
for every lesson
learnt every day.

I cannot measure my gratitude for God
for His Son.
For letting me live each day
For letting me make all my mistakes
For letting me learn all these things
For giving me a chance to hope
to believe
to know

I know that we all walk different paths.
I am grateful He is here with me on my path.


Wednesday, 1 April 2015

Waiting

If you look closely there is hay smashed in with the nose crusties. 
We HAD to move horses this morning
(Truly there was no other option)
It is windy and cold
By the last three horses we were in full blown melt down.
It is a good thing the horse I had did not care about the flapping crying writhing little boy in my arms.
By the time we hit the barn I put him in his "barnyard babysitter" and he screamed in there while we sorted. 
Occasionally one of the old mares would go stick her nose in to see what the commotion was all about.
Finally- face down in the hay he fell asleep.
(Of course 2 minutes from when I could of taken him in the house)
Now he sleeps in my arms out of the wind but I am too scared to wake him to wipe his hay nose !

Monday, 30 March 2015

Ellie's Recorder Ensemble

Ellie LOVES music.
and
She LOVES her music teacher.

She was in both choir and recorder ensemble 
which meant extra time during recess and after school for practices.
They did so well at the year end festivals!

This is a piece from her recorder ensemble.

A day well Spent

There are few things better than a warm sunny day and laying on the trampoline. We are done our chores and the baby is napping.
We look at clouds. We listen to birds. We talk about life.
When I am 80 I hope I can still climb on this bad boy!

Sunday, 29 March 2015

Blogging

Sometimes I read some of my old posts and I cringe!
I cringe with embarrassment or I shake my head at my silly thoughts
But 
I also marvel at how much changes

I have more than 500 posts.
I have hundreds of pictures.
I journal too. I journal my deepest thoughts
things that most definitely shouldn't see the light of day
{at least while I am alive}
but
my blog is different.

I can find specific things I have tagged.
I can browse through old photos.
I can cringe at myself.

I love reading other peoples blogs.
ESPECIALLY
the normal ones.
the ones that aren't famous
just normal people doing normal stuff 

They are disappearing in the hustle and bustle of peoples lives
and
that makes me sad.
I wish more people would let people in.
Let people glimpse into their world.

I am 100% positive that my blog isn't amazingly interesting
I am not ego centric enough to believe that I will be whisked away into "stardom" because of my ridiculously incredible monologues...
ha ha
 but
Our life is. ___________?
and that's good enough.

I miss all the people.
and their stories.

so the moral
start a blog
share your life.
I will read it
and
I will probably think it's awesome. 

and I promise 
WHEN 
you get to your 500th post...
you will be amazed at the story you've created.

Wednesday, 25 March 2015

Penny's Cleeks

This little girl can't wait for soccer!
but
is a little sad to let go of the hockey season!

We were at walmart and they happen to have cleets out
(a sign of spring for sure!!!)
so she picked up these fancy black and pink ones for her soccer season.
I think she is hoping for a hot pink jersey this year!
I think that's wishful thinking!

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

On Penny's Menu

Penny has a new favourite lunch...
Eat all day every day food.
Egg salad with nothing crunchy and really spicy on crackers.

Spicy Egg Salad
5 eggs boiled, peeled, and mashed 
1 tablespoon of mayo
2 teaspoons mustard
1 tablespoon dill
1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
Sprinkle of salt and pepper 

Spread on soda crackers or bread or lettuce.... Or eat it by the spoonful like Penny!

Sunday, 22 March 2015

March Madness

March
It is Whizzing by!
Penny has already begun planning her birthday
and
at first
it seemed a little overly anticipated
but
its the END of March
so
She actually should be thinking about it
I
should be thinking about it.
Yikes!

This little Guy 
was born this morning!
Which is a welcomed relief!
Now I can actually sleep through the night!
I am so excited!
He was born without any complications
{thank goodness}
 

The girls have their waggon hooked up 
so
that is like a horse buggy
I really should just get rocky a harness and a waggon 
and then Penny won't have to
whip her sisters!
{although it probably doesn't hurt them to have to haul her around}
 

Andy Loves Penny's doctor kit
He always has
"his" stethoscope around his neck.
Penny usually has human patients
but he is usually got a stuffed animal or his eggs and chicks

Hopefully this is a sign!
I could use a live-in vet!


We went up to Calgary
with my parents.
Dusty was at work so when I say "we"
I mean me and the kids
in the back of a car
for 6 hours
Fun times!
Haha just kidding!
My dad was stuck back there!

We ate at the mall
and they suckered him into a carousel ride!