Dear Ken + 3 (a letter while the boys are away camping for 3 nights)

Dear Ken +3,
Boy, I'm really starting to miss you guys.
Although, this morning I feel so refreshed. 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep, read my book for awhile, took Isaac for a walk while Emma slept...sigh...house is clean, laundry done and most of the projects I wanted to do are done as well. A few days break was great but I'm ready to welcome you all back with open arms. It's too quiet here and as nice as it is to not be running around feeling like my head's been chopped off, I'm a little lost without the commotion.

 I miss your excitement and stories, I miss your hugs, I miss tucking you in at night, I miss the sound of you laughing and playing, I miss reading books with you, I miss making supper and eating together at a very lively table and so many more things. There are quite a few things  I enjoyed a break from but that's all a part of being a busy mom and doing my job.

So here's my list of things I accomplished while you were away:

• Isaac's pictures taken at Sears
• bought Andrew and Sam new runners for school
• bought Daddy new shirts for school
• mowed lawn
• whipper snipped lawn
• deadheaded flower pots
• swept sand and leaves out from under the deck
• totlot with Emma and Isaac
• 4 loads of laundry
• uninterrupted phone calls out east to Nana/Papa, Nannie and Uncle Kevin
• rollerblading at Hendersen Park with Isaac and Emma
• made a lasagna at 10pm
• cleaned the house
• sorted through closet and ditched a garbage bag full of stuff
• baked cookies
• baked cinnamon buns
• read a book
• entered all outstanding receipts in the budget
• picked beans at Grandma's garden and blanched them
• bought a new kitchen table off of Kijiji and went to Nobleford with Grandpa to pick it up in a mighty wicked storm
• went to Auntie Tracy's, helped process applesauce with her
• Auntie Tracy came for a visit
• Home Depot to pick up supplies for laminate flooring
• Wendy's for lunch with Isaac and Emma
• Duties at Auntie Den's place while she's away
• welcomed Nana and Papa
• made a list of goals for the Fall

A few more things likely happened in between the busy-ness but I accomplished a lot.

I can't wait to hear about all of your adventures too and I hope to jot some of them down. Now enjoy your last day and come home safely to your wife/mama/brother and sister.
Love Shelley
XOXO

Emma Update

 You've been admired and watched by your big brothers.

 You've snoozed in awkward positions/places.

 You've played at the totlot/spray park.

 You've bumbo-ed in your bumbo.

 You've thrown temper tantrums.

 You've jumped and have been very jolly about it.

 You've climbed mountains.

 You've snuggled with brothers.

and you've mastered tummy time all at 3.5 months!

Month 7 Week #2 - In front of your house

This is our home. 1707 21A Street. Coaldale,AB

At the Holiday House (cabin) 2012

Lots and lots of quadding.

Lots and lots of cuddles, smiles and looking cute from this little one.

Oodles and oodles of rock throwing into the creek from this little one. (I'm surprised there still is water running thru the creek)

Lots of adventuring for the three oldest.

Perfect capture of their silly sides.

In action.

Right around the center is a moose Ken spotted on the mountain.

Andrew and Mom found a few mountain bike trails.

Serious business and concentration from this little guy on the boys new quad.

Lov'in from Grandma.

Pizza/Apple pie irons in the pouring rain and thunder and lightening storm.

Someone's beach sand sculpture at Canyon Bridge.

More rock throwing.

We spent a great week as a family at the cabin again this year. We are spoiled rotten with beautiful places to visit whether it be the cabin in the mountains or a cottage by the ocean. So blessed to relax and enjoy God's creation around us.

Month 7 Week # 3 - Relationship-group shot

This is the only family photo we have since Emma was born and we set the timer. Yup it was windy that day and my hair proves it!

Month 7 Week #1 - Favorite Food

Andrew - spagetti and meatballs
Samuel - pancakes
Luke - fried or boiled eggs
Isaac - frozen yogurt sticks, freezies
Emma - Mama's milk
Ken - steak
Shelley - chocolate

I thought I'd just list our favorites and try to take pictures later.

Month 6 Week # 1 - Aunts and Uncles

Aunty Ang and Andrew playing some soccer.

Aunty Den having some snuggles with Emma.

Uncle Dwayne making a huge batch of pancakes when we stayed with them.

Aunties and Uncles are a pretty big deal around here and are pretty involved in the kids lives whether it be babysitting, attending soccer games, drop by visits, sleep overs or cousin playdates. The kids have 7 uncles and 4 aunts.

Month 6 Week #3 - School Year End activities

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Sam graduated from kindergarten

These were the teacher thank you's we made this year. owls that said "thanks for making me wiser", a timmy's giftcard and homemade oero pops.

Andrew playing soccer.

Sam playing soccer.

Month 6 Week # 4 - Canada Day

Canada Day wasn't much of a celebration day for us this year. We were in Black Beauty most of the day travelling to Edmonton. The highway was super crazy busy. We avoided as much busy-ness as possible just trying to get to Uncle Dwayne and Auntie Trixie's. We even packed our lunch and pulled off the highway to eat it. One exciting, but scary thing did happen though. We had an accident on the highway between Calgary and Edmonton. We were in the passing lane and all of a sudden traffic came to a standstill without much notice. Ken hit the brakes and in slow motion, it felt like, we bumped into a Ford F150 truck in front of us. Black Beauty is such a heavy beast and we had her loaded to the max which made it hard to stop so suddenly. Thankfully we were all okay and we never got hit from behind. The truck we hit didn't have any damage, just Black Beauty got a dent in her bumper from the trucks hitch. The boys assessed the situation and figured Black Beauty would be fine with a bandaid and they insisted on wearing their bike helmets the rest of the trip.