Month 1 -Week # 5 - Change it Up

I was sitting on the floor for this one. Luke was at Parent PreSchool here playing with colored paper clips. We attend this preschool every Tuesday morning from 9-11:30am.
This one is standing up looking down obviously. It's Luke and Isaac playing at the same center.

This is the angle I take a lot of my pictures at. Me standing looking down at the kids and what they are doing. I saw this idea on Pinterest the other day. Fill up a bin with rocks from the yard, add some monster trucks and voila. Entertainment for and hour +. The next day I took out the dinosaurs and he played with them in the rocks.

Here I was on my knees looking straight on at Sam. He was making paper money. If only it were that easy. "Honey, money is running low, let's get the paper and scissors out."

Andrew doing the same. I think he's made up to $239.00 so far.

Isaac playing with his cars sitting at the desk. His favorite thing to do.

Jenn challenged us to change up the way we photograph our littles. Like, if you always shoot from your level, get down on there's. If you always shoot towards the window, shoot away from the window. If you always zoom in close to them, zoom out. I played around with this a bit and this is what I came up with.

Something Pink!

Here's another blanket I made for the baby "just in case"....you know it was really hard to spend money on girlie fabric because we are kinda counting on having a boy. It was fun to make anyways and if we don't get to use it, I'm sure I can give it as a gift. 11 weeks to go!

Lists 2012 - #4- Least Favorite smells

1. cigarette smoke
   
2. hockey equipment
   
3. body odour
   
4. nasty diapers
   
5. burnt food
   
6. bummy burps (aka. farts)
   
7. feedlots
   
8. beer burps
   

Month 1 Week #4 - photograph their height

So here is my attempt at capturing their height. You try getting four boys to all stand straight side by side! It's funny because in reality Andrew and Sam are quite close in height and so are Luke and Isaac. We often get asked if we have two sets of twins when grocery shopping.
Sam and Andrew comparing.

Sam to Luke.

Luke to Isaac with Andrew's help.

I guess I'm using the banister and fireplace as a measuring object.

It's funny living and being a part of a huge dutch community because we are all considered short and we feel quite short too. Just to clarify we are average when it comes to Canadians.

The Things Kids Say 2011

January 2011

Andrew to Mom: I was coughing lots the other night but then it stopped. I guess my cough went for a travel.

(instead of it went away)

Andrew to Mom: Mom I love you so much, like from one end of the Superstore to the other end. That's how much.

Andrew doing Show and Share at Kindergarten (lego snowmobile)

As he holds it up in front of the class:

A: "this is my snowmobile made out of lego" (quickly puts it away)

teacher: " Andrew, can you tell us more about it, like how long did it take you to make it?"

A: "like one minute"

teacher: " what else can you tell us?"

A: "nothing"

Sam at supper one night when I was forcing him to eat his supper.

S: "Mom, I want a different mommy."

Mom: " that makes me sad, God chose me to be your mommy out of all the mommy's out there."

S: "well how about I have two mommy's then?"

February 2011

As I read a book to Andrew about Zaccheus.

Mom: " Zaccheus, the tax collector was a rich man, a short man, a curious man who wanted to see Jesus. Because even though Zaccheus was very rich, he was also very lonely.

A: " Mom, I'm like Zaccheus."

Mom: "why, your not lonely and your not rich?"

A: " but I'm short."

March 2011

Sam to Isaac

S: " Baby Isaac your my best hero!"

April 2011

While laying in bed with Andrew, Sam and Luke one morning.

Mom: " do you guys hear the birds singing?"

S: "yea, I think they are singing twinkle twinkle little star."

Sam after smelling flowers Daddy brought home for Mommy.

S: " yummy they smell like pancakes."

(his favorite thing in the world)

Andrew: " Mom, I'll tell you why I like days that I stay home better than school days, because then I get to play with my brothers."

May 2011

The kids were playing church in the playroom. Sam was the minister and they were singing the hymn twinkle twinkle little star.

life lesson about girls.

mom: "you guys are never, ever, ever to hit a girl. Girls are way more fragile than boys. Do you know what fragile means?"

S: "girls are more friendly?"

Mom: " Luke, you are so cute!"

Luke: " no I not, I a people."

June 2011

Ken reading the story Bible to the kids after supper.

Daddy: " The lord appeared to Soloman in a dream. God said " ask for anything you want..." Solomon said, " Lord, you have made me king. But I don't want to carry out my duties. Give me a heart that understands." The Lord was pleased and said "I will give you a wise heart."

Daddy: "Sam, if you could ask God for one thing what would it be?"

Sam:" I'd ask God to help me climb the biggest tree ever."

July 2011

Sam while showing me a McDonalds toy.

S: " Mom, do you know where I got this toy from?"

Mom: " no Sam, I have no idea where, do you know?"

S:" from Old mac Donald's."

On daddy's class field trip to Writing On Stone I took Andrew and Sam and we saw a deer.

Andrew to Aunty Ang: " Kevin should shoot that deer." (Cousin Kevin loves to hunt.)

Aunty Ang: " we can't shoot all the deer Andrew, then people wouldn't be able to look at it."

Andrew: " they could come and look at it in your garage."

Getting ready for church we made the boys pee before we left.

Daddy: " did you guys pee already?"

Andrew:" yup, we all peed at the same time so we could save time."

(they all peed in the same toilet at the same time, the three oldest.)

August 2011

While camping we encouraged the boys to pee outside or in the lake.

Sam was unsure about peeing in the water but decided to give it a try. He quickly ran into the water waist deep, pulled down his swim trunks, held onto it to direct it even though it was underwater and shook it. Promptly pulled up his swim trunks and grinned ear to ear.

Sadly it looks like this was the last conversation's I took notes on so from August till January I must've kept super busy with other things. I loved doing this and when I came across these conversations in a scribbler the other day I just knew I had to put them on the blog and start writing things down again. Stay tuned for more conversations with Luke in 2012.

Lists 2012 # 3- Favorite things to do when I'm alone.

Favorite Things To Do When I'm Alone
(consideration: being pregnant)

1. have a bath and read my book
2. get my hair cut (my most favorite)
3. thrift store shop
4. nap
5. update blog
6. read blogs, check pinterest
7. reflect
8. sew or make something creative
9. call Nannie and my Dad

I usually have from 8pm till 10pm to myself at least 2-3-4 nights per week because Ken plays hockey and is on the Evangelism Committee for church and he is also an elder in the church. I really enjoy this time to myself and often, like last night, don't get to bed on time because I'm enjoying it so much. It's not always "free time" either, I'm usually making a list for the next day, meal planning, Bible Studying, making lunches, folding laundry, emptying dishwasher etc.

To be honest, sometimes I'm a little overwhelmed with a day off and feel quite lost unless I have time to prepare for it. My sister in laws have occasionally taken the kids randomly and given me a break and I sometimes am at a loss deciding what to do. I know that it's a ways away, but I do wonder sometimes what I will do with my free time once all the kids are in school. It must be so different.

Month 1:Week 3- photograph your mealtime

Busy, interesting, an adventure, family bonding time is how my husband describes our mealtime. I am very thankful that dinnertime is a priority in our family and hope that this will always be the case. I have read before that families that eat/converse and share their day together at mealtimes stay together. At this stage in life we aren't hosting too many dinner parties. Our niece just spent last weekend with us and got to experience first hand how mealtime goes at our house. There is lots of multitasking going on and teamwork for Mommy and Daddy.

I will try to give you a play through of our typical dinnertime start to finish:

1. I try to pour the kids milk and have their food on their plates prior to announcing "suppertime"
2. Once Isaac is in the booster seat he loses patience and wants to eat "NOW". I often throw him a few pieces of food to keep him quiet while we pray.
3. Just when we think we can start praying usually Luke starts doing the "pee dance" or Sam or Andrew announce that they have to go to the bathroom.
4. Once they are back and Isaac gets a few more pieces of food thrown on his tray we say the Lords' Prayer together as a family. During this there is usually a few orders to close eyes or fold hands.
5. Time to dig in. Kids start eating while Mommy and Daddy jump up to serve themselves. We always wait till after we pray otherwise our food gets cold.
6. While eating we usually talk about our day. Luke gets to tell Daddy and the kids who were at school what he did or who we visited etc. Andrew and Sam usually share who they played with at recess and lunch and what they did throughout the day. Ken and I often try to share our day with each other but find it difficult to talk too extensively about anything due to interruptions and demands/requests.
7. While all of this is going on Isaac has usually devoured his food and is starting to throw crumbs or his sippy cup on the floor or runs his dirty hands through his hair.
8. Next step, quickly clean Isaac with a cloth and release him.
9. The other boys usually are asking for refills on their milk, or they want seconds or they are complaining that they don't like supper. Often Sam tells us that he is full but immediately asks what's for dessert.
10. If Andrew enjoys his dinner he always jumps off his chair and gives me the biggest hug and says "yummy supper mommy".
11. After we both finish spoon feeding what's left on the kids plates to them Daddy gets the Bible. We try to read a chapter each mealtime from the Bible, then the kids hear a story from their kids story Bible. The kids Bible always has a few questions at the end that we discuss which I really like. I find they pay closer attention knowing they are going to be questioned afterwards.
12. We then sing together the kids memory work from school which is usually 1 or 2 stanza's in a Hymn or Psalm.
13. While all this is going on Isaac is often playing with cars or being disruptive which sometimes results in him going to his room for some quiet time so we can finish in peace.
14. Occasionally he joins in with the singing or claps his hands. Tonight we sang a familiar Hymn so the three oldest sang quite loudly. I commented on their "zeal" while singing.
15. Then Daddy prays and every ones excused.
And that's our typical mealtime.

Lists 2012 # 2 - Things to do this winter

List #2 - Things to do this Winter

1. paint and finish getting baby room ready
2. make an upside down snowman with the kids
3. take Andrew skiing at Castle Mtn.
4. try to enjoy the last 15 weeks of pregnancy
5. start attending the book club I joined at the local library
6. continue to take the kids skating at the rink on Saturdays
7. read more
8. take the kids sledding at Grandma and Grandpa's by the lake
9. get a pedicure with my prego friend Tracy before we have our babies
10. how could I forget...potty train Isaac
11. celebrate Isaac's 2nd birthday
12. snuggle in front of our electric fireplace while it storms outside

Month 1: Week 2 Group Shot

So I went back to October's family shot of us because let's face it, nice family pictures with 4 boys, 6 and under and a husband who would rather be doing anything else but posing, is tough!
This is at 7:50am this morning before Ken left for work, and before Andrew left for the bus. Sam was not cooperating at all which caused a bit of frustration, Luke had pajamas and a "way too big" hockey jersey on, Isaac is happy go lucky Isaac and well...this is us.

I love the smirk on Sam's face in this one as I try to bribe him with a candy. All eyes are on Sam to see if it works. Just so you know, it didn't.

Lists 2012 - #1 - 2012 Goals

Another borrowed idea, this time from my great friend Melinda's sister Heather. Each week she will give a list title and you post it. Should be fun.

List #1 - 2012 Goals

1. Read a morning devotion every morning while eating breakfast
2. Create a prayer list and hang in my room to remember certain people and situations to pray about in personal prayer.
3. less computer. Only check blogs/emails/facebook twice a day. This means putting computer away throughout the day.
4. Try to take kids for a walk more regularly, at least 3 times a week.
5. read more to kids and for myself.
6. Try 1 new recipe a week and start compiling a huge menu list to rotate.
7. Build on friendships.
8. Continue/finish Parenting course "Growing Kids God's Way" with friends of ours.
9. Change up blog. Stick with photo challenge from Jenn and lists from Heather.
10. Get baby room ready.
11. Do more prepping for Women's Bible Study.
12. Get back into shape after baby arrives. Sign up for Ladiesfest 8km in June, Back to Bootcamp in September.
13. Join/start a book club.
14. Take one sewing class with a friend.
15. Work on patience when dropping off Isaac to the nursery for church and Bible Study.
16. Make a photobook of Isaac's first year.
17. Put A & S in swimming lessons.
18. Be a support for my husband in his role as elder which takes him away from home a lot of evenings, and makes Sunday's a bit more stressful.
19. date night once a month.(this includes steak dinners at home when kids are in bed)
20. No more Pepsi except as a treat on the weekend.

Extreme Makeover.

Before #1

We moved Andrew and Sam to the basement recently and plan to use their old room for the baby. The move involved a lot of work and planning since the basement has never been finished since we moved in. It had carpet and was painted a pinkish color but no baseboards, or trim work had been done. Everyday of the last two weeks I could be heard saying "we want to finish the boys room today" and we still have a few finishing touches to complete, like curtains and filling in the two empty frames on the gallery wall. Other than those few minor details the boys are nicely settled into their new room.

Before #2
These three little ones all took a turn helping Daddy paint. They also could be seen throughout the whole process helping out and asking lots of questions.

Daddy worked so hard and learned lots while working on this room. Here he was doing the electrician part.

After.

We bought and painted all the baseboards and Ken cut them to fit. He also made the cabinet door that now covers the electrical panel box and he made the wall hooks for the boys to hang their backpacks on.

We bought the wardrobe at Canadian Tire since the room didn't have a closet and Ken assembled that too as well as the cube shelves. We painted all three doors white to brighten things up. One door to the playroom, one to the storage room and one to the furnace room.

Here is my incomplete gallery wall. I can't decide what to put in that big frame in the middle and the little frame on the left has had 8 coats of paint and is still pink thanks to the red that it was originally. I have a picture for it but am still trying to get the color right. I added some of the kids artwork and had some really cute pictures blown up that Auntie Mel took a year ago at her house. All the frames I bought at the thrift store and spray painted white. And the printed sign on the top right is a Bible text about brothers that I used my scrap booking stamp letters to print out.

I got a few ideas off of pinterest and just revamped some of them to suit us. Ken laminated this map for me and built the frame out of old pallets that came from my dear brother in law- Pete.

Anyways, we as usual, had a blast working on this together and learned lots. Another project complete. Thanks to my wonderful husband for all of his hard work on his Christmas break and for doing all these little side projects that I had dreamt up.

Our Year In Photos Week 1- Kiddos in the car

Daddy being a goof.
Andrew had said when we bought the Suburban that we had to have 2 more kids to fill up Black Beauty. It seems like we have lots of room left but these boys are growing and will continue to grow. Currently we are using 2 boosters and one 3in1 carseat.

I'm kind of copying a girl's blog that I follow and her great idea to capture family life by taking a picture once a week and posting it. Then at the end of the year I can make a photobook of what our everyday life is like.

I'm been wanting to do something like this for awhile because I find that the last three years the kids grow, but our outings and favorite things to do are usually the same things each year. The same parks, the same hobbies, the same adventures so this project changes things up a bit and I'm quite excited.

I'm copying this from a girl whose blog I follow named Rhonda.
And she got the idea from her photographer friend named Jenn. Jenn came up with it and explained it best so she is quoted here:

"Earlier this week I posted how I've been thinking a lot about the kinds of photographs I want my kids to have of their childhood. Not all the posed "let's go out into this beautiful
field and take some beautiful smiling photographs", but the actual "I have the
coolest room and I love playing lego on the floor" photographs. But that
led me also to thinking how great I am about starting projects and not so great
about finishing them. Which got the wheels turning in my head about a great
project that would require a minimal time commitment and still get me exactly
what I want.And so the Our Year in Photos Project was born. One photo a
week for a year. Each capturing a specific part of our lives and of my kids'
childhood that I want remembered. Once I started writing the idea down,
I couldn't stop. I couldn't stop thinking about everything I wanted captured,
everything I wished I had photos of from when I was 4, everything I wished I had
photos of from when my kids were 4. So I planned out the entire year. And I am
so excited for every single week.Here's how it's going to work. Every
Monday I'm going to post a prompt. You have to take one photo for each week.
That's it....just one photo a week. This is not a time-consuming project. There
will be some weeks where I take 2 photos (one of each kid) but not more than
that, for this project . The prompts aren't going to be difficult - think "a
photograph with my little peanut wearing her favourite shirt".By the end
of the year, I - and you too if you play along - am going to have an album of
images that really show what our everyday life is all about - where we live,
what we love, who we love.Because it's just the way I am, there have to
be some rules. And know these are really more for me than you, in an attempt to
overcome my perfectionist tendencies.You may not quickly change your
child into matching clothes right before you take the photo because it's going
to actually be printed and put in an album. Whatever they're wearing
goes.You may not rush around and pick up all the toys on the floor and put
away the jackets, shoes, whatever is lying around before you take the photo.
Whatever your house looks like at that moment goes.There will be the
occasional prompt that requires you to be in the photo. You may not skip over
those ones. Obviously your kids know that you're there every day, but 10 years
from now will they see it in the photos?Do it. It's only one photo per
week." So the first week of the month is to photograph a room in our
home.

I'm following Rhonda and Jenn's lead and taking a picture of the kids in our car ("Black Beauty"- our 1992 Suburban), instead of a room. We actually don't spend tons of time together in Black Beauty unless we are going to the cabin or on a holiday. Either Ken or I usually do errands on our own, or just with one or two kids at a time. One of the perks of living in a small town is that everything is close by andit's easy to slip out while one of us stays home with the kids. Ken also works here in our hometown only 5km away so other than a trip or two to Lethbridge each week we stay pretty close to home. Today we had an outing to the "beer store" for Dad and to Aunty Mel and Uncle Pete's to drop something off. We were also planning on going to a playground to burn some energy but ran out of time.

23 weeks

Tracy and I celebrating New Year's. We made it past 1 even. We had a quieter New Year's this year just hanging out with Paul and Tracy and their boys. It was great, lots of snacks and the kids had a blast watching Kung Fu Panda 2, playing hockey in the garage and roasting marshmellows over a fire in the backyard. 17 weeks to go for me and only 10 left for Tracy. We are both looking forward to welcoming new little babies into our families.

Cabin Holiday

Andrew had a 2 hour lesson at Castle Mtn. last week and then skied the afternoon with his Daddy.

Dad and his boys.

So little cuddled in next to Dad.