Simple Woman # 8

A Picture Thought: Last weekend we went to Pumpkin Fest at a local greenhouse. They had a petting zoo, horse and wagon rides, pumpkin pie and lots of games for the kids to play. The boys were actually quite timid of the animals. You can sure tell they aren't growing up on a farm.

FOR TODAY September 30, 2009

Outside my window...
cloudy and +8. Really cool. They've been calling for rain last night, then this morning and now early afternoon. We have yet to see it.

I am thinking...
that I should take the boys for a walk/bike ride before it rains.

I am thankful for...
my great sister in law Trixie who I just talked to on the phone for an hour and a half. We have the greatest chats and I always end up smiling lots after our conversations.

From the kitchen...
I'm stumped. I have no idea what to make for dinner. Groceries are getting low and my creativity isn't there. Maybe BLT's...

I am wearing...
maternity pants that I have to keep pulling up and a teal long sleeved shirt and my black down vest. I'm still chilly though.

I am going...
to Bible Study tonight with my husband. We go to a mixed Bible Study every 2 weeks and we are studying a book called the Ten Commandments. We are on Commandment #9 " You shall not be a false witness against your neighbor." Duet. 5:20

I am reading...again...nothing. I do need to read more other than children's books.

I am hoping...
that things go better for Sam soon with me dropping him off at preschool. I was bragging about how great he was adapting to it and then the last few times he cried his heart out when we left him. He is always fine once I'm gone but he can really pull a number on me while I'm there. He likes going still but he wants us to stay with him. This morning was a bit tough because I left him crying and then we went to Women's Bible Study where I left Luke in the nursery crying as well. Why can't children see that these things are fun for them? Don't they want a break from me as well? I guess I shouldn't complain. Someday I will be wishing they want me around more or that they would be more attached to me. Sigh...

I am hearing...
treehouse on TV which has been on for far too long. The boys and I are going to go outside as soon as I'm done this.

Around the house...
upstairs windows to clean, kitchen floor to scrub, toys to organize etc. etc.

One of my favorite things...
lately a big bowl of chocolate icecream with sliced bananas and chocolate chips. Not at all good for me!!! Well the banana is.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Thursday and Friday will be housework days, library with the kids, maybe a playdate and a haircut and highlights for me. I can't wait for some pampering. I'm going to go for red highlights this time for a change. Could be interesting.

Simple Woman # 7

A Picture Thought for you: This was a few weeks ago at the park. Three of my monkies were climbing around.

FOR TODAY September 22, 2009

...Outside my window

Sunshine and +29. Thankfully it cools down at nights, tomorrow they are calling for +32.

..I am thinking

that tomorrow would've been my mom's 54th birthday and I'm also thinking about my cousin Kelly who will be having a C-section tomorrow and welcoming her 2nd little girl into the world. Praying that all goes well for her and the delivery.

...I am thankful for

playgroups and Bible Study groups that allow me to get out with other moms and women and that also give the boys a break from me while they play with other kids their age.

...From the kitchen

tonight was cheesy potato scallop, Honey BBQ meatloaf and Corn on the cob.

...I am wearing

black yoga capris and a black tank top

...I am going

to start preparing for Bible Study soon. We are studying Acts.

...I am reading

nothing. Any good recommendations out there?

...I am hoping

to sit in the bath tonight and relax after I put the boys to bed. Ken is at a meeting and I plan to go to bed early.

...I am hearing

my wonderful dishwasher cleaning today's dishes

...Around the house

I've been procrasinating on my bathrooms all week, I have potatoes to peel so Ken's mom can can them for me, and a kitchen floor to scrub and that's about it.

...One of my favorite things

is getting a phone call from family out East. Today my Aunt Carolyn called out of the blue and we had a great chat and then I got an email from my Aunt Debbie. What a treat. Both are my mom's sisters.

...A few plans for the rest of the week

Tomorrow Sam has preschool, I have Bible Study while Andrew goes to storytime and Luke goes to the nursery, Thursday will be a day at home and Friday I'm getting together with my good Friend Amanda for a visit.

For My Wonderful Brother!

Happy Birthday to my dear brother Kevin who I miss so much! I'm thinking of you lots today as you turn 35. You are a wonderful brother and a great friend! I miss our fun times together and I wish we had more of them. When I do come home to visit, I can hardly wait to see you and that huge grin! Boy do I miss that grin. I am so thankful that I have such a great brother to grow up with. You have turned into quite the young man. Owner of a business, a husband and a great Daddy that loves his daughter so much. I love spending time with you and seeing so many traits and characteristics of Mom and Dad in you as well as myself. Today I hope you have a wonderful day with friends and family and I hope you know you are in my thoughts and prayers today and everyday. Love you.

17 weeks Pregnant.

For those that have been asking and those that live on the East coast here is my belly picture. Andrew wanted to be in the picture with me. The boys love rubbing my belly and talking about the baby. Andrew is convinced it is a girl. I'm doubting that he's right but you never know. I'm feeling pretty good. The first trimester was amazing, the best I've felt out of all of my pregnancies but the last month has been a bit rough off and on. I've had 4 really bad migraines which take a lot out of me and usually require me to get to the doctor's for a shot so I can get over it. Thankfully I'm surrounded with great family that help us out during these spells b/c I can definitely not function. Hopefully the rest of the pregnancy goes well. As long as I take it easy and don't overdo it I'm usually fine. 23 weeks to go!

Hang'in out with Nana and Papa

This was taken as we were saying our goodbyes. I don't know how much of a holiday it was for Dad and Denise with three active boys running around and giving them wake up calls every morning at 7am. Hopefully they were able to get some sleep.

Future Handyman? He certainly learns lots being Papa's shadow. It is so great having a Dad and Dad in law that are so handy and always willing to help out with projects. (sandboxes, play centers, changing light fixtures, installing dishwashers etc.) I do have to brag for a minute because while Dad and Denise were visiting they gave us an early Christmas present...A DISHWASHER! It's been about three years since we got rid of the busted dishwasher that came with the house so I have been spending lots of time at the sink over the years. I am so incredibly thankful for this gift. But...get this...are you ready? ...I am also thankful that I never had one for three years so I can truly appreciate my new gift. Dad wanted to install it while he was here and he did a great job. Every morning when I enter the kitchen a smile spreads across my face when I am greeted by my dishwasher and I think of how much more time I can spend with the kids and my husband. Thank you so much Dad and Denise!

Thanks for everything. We will miss you until next time!

Nana and Papa's Visit!

One day during Nana and Papa's visit we went to Waterton for the day. We've been there before with Nana and Papa but this was Uncle Jamie's first time. We decided to go on a 2 1/2 hour boat tour crossing the Montana border. It was a great day that ended with a yummy icecream from the local icecream shop. We even got to see a bear! A Grizzly.

I think Dad was being rocked to sleep on the boat.

This is what the boat looked like when full, it holds up to 250 passengers.

I still am in awe at how little the Waterton resort looks compared to the mountains.

Uncle Jamie and Sam checking out the landscape.

Sam Goes To School....at 21/2 years old!

Last week our little Sam started Pre-school. Not what we expected...Sam going to school before Andrew but this is what was recommended by a speech therapist to help him speak better. Last Spring I took Sam and Andrew to a developmental assessment to see how they were doing compared to other kids there age. Andrew was doing fine but they had a few minor concerns with Sam which resulted in him going to a Speech Therapist for an assessment this summer. So a week before PreSchool started it was suggested that we register him for two mornings a week.

He's wearing the red and white striped shirt and snuggled next to one of the teacher aids on his first day. He is the youngest in his class, most of the kids are 4years old. The first day was a little hard on me especially because Andrew was throwing a crying fit when I left to take Sam to school. He really wanted to go too. I can totally understand that it doesn't seem fair but this is only happening to help Sam's speech otherwise we would still be having lots of adventures at home. Yesterday was Sam's second day and it seems to be going really well, Sam loves it and always has art work to show me at the end of his class. He can't always tell me what all they did the three hours but yesterday he was quite excited about playdough and painting. Hopefully this is going to help Sam have more confidence and reduce his frustration when trying to tell us things.

Fire, Quad rides and Bike rides

On the 2nd day after our hike Ang, Pete, Andrew, Samuel, Kevin and Andrea arrived while Luke stayed home with Cousin Tara for the night. The boys had a blast quadding and biking and then sitting around the fire with everyone.

Horray no fireban this time!

Andrew loves wearing Kevin's dirtbike helmet and dirtbike gloves when he's biking. He thinks his bike is a dirtbike and pretends he's kickstarting it and also has realistic sound effects to go with it.

Ken wasn't brave enough to swing into the water but brave enough to swing over it.

Cabin Retreat - Take # 2

A few weeks ago we ventured out to the cabin again for a few nights with Ken's family. Ang and Pete and their kids took the boys for the night so we could go with Mom and Dad. We slept in until 9am the first morning, Ken made breakfast and then we headed out for a quad ride/ hike up the mountains with Mom and Dad. These pictures don't totally do the trail justice. It was quite rocky and steep.

I took some great pictures of Mom and Dad and they took all of the pictures of us, which I don't have yet. They are quite the troopers hiking up these mountains. They amaze me with the things they do to keep active...hiking, waterskiing, snowskiing and the biggest work out of all...babysitting our three boys for us.

We packed some water and buns for lunch and snacked on huckleberries along the trail.

This picture is pretty much at the border looking into BC from AB.

I love this picture of Mom and Dad walking together. We had a great day with beautiful weather. It reminded me of times that Ken and I would go to the cabin with them before we were married. We did all kinds of hiking and exploring. Thanks Mom and Dad for inviting us and for being such great company!

Simple Woman # 6

FOR TODAY
September 2, 2009

...Outside my window
Sunshine and warming up to 29 today, the summer has decided to arrive.

...I am thinking
that it's going to be a great week for me and the boys: Dad and Denise are here for a visit which usually means lots of playing, going to parks and great food.

...I am thankful for
my husband who has just started another year of teaching and has been really busy preparing for the school year. I'm always glad at the end of the summer when he goes back to school for the routine and structure but I'm already really missing having him around and it's only his second day back. The day feels really long when I don't get to talk with him whether it's on the phone or at home. I am a very lucky woman who gets to have him around for the summer and I'm so thankful for this.

...From the kitchen
tonight's menu consists of BBQ pork chops, baby potatoes with sour cream, fresh green beans and leftover Taber corn on the cob.

...I am wearing
denim Capri's that are getting snugger by the day and a black maternity tank top.

...I am going
to Hendersen Park after Luke's nap with Dad and Denise and the boys

...I am reading
a book called "Mom to Mom", it's a book designed to encourage mom's, it has lots of questions that all of us mom's ask ourselves...Am I what my child really needs?, How do I make good choices?, How do I love my child enough but not too much? It's a short book with lots of encouraging words and stories and Bible text that help you out as a mom.

...I am hoping
that we can do some fun stuff this week and that the kids are well behaved(meaning Luke...)

...I am hearing
Andrew and Nana making birds out of play dough. Dad's heading out for a Tim's coffee and Luke and Sam are both having a nap.

...Around the house
2nd load of wash going, van needs vacuumed, lawn needs whipper snipped, weeds in the back alley need sprayed, the list goes on and on but a lot of it is going to have to wait.

...One of my favorite things
lately taking the boys for walks/bike rides. Now I can hardly keep up to Andrew and Sam. I can rollarblade and push Luke in the bike cart, Bike and attach Luke in the bike cart or walk at a fast pace while pushing Luke in the stroller. Lots of variety and the boys are very excited to go.

...A few plans for the rest of the week
Haven't really decided yet, I'm running out of original ideas for my parents, they have been here lots over the years so they have seen so much already. If anyone out there has ideas please let me know.