Simple Woman # 5

FOR TODAY August 5, 2009

...Outside my window
rainy, wet and dreary and more of the same to come over the next few days.

...I am thinking
that the boys sure went to bed good tonight. Ken is gone camping shopping so I put all three to bed at the same time on my own.

...I am thankful for
the excitement around home these days. The word is now out that Ken and I are expecting in February. The boys are really excited. Andrew is already talking about coming to the hospital to see the baby and when we were shopping today he kept wanting to buy things for the baby.

...From the kitchen
Tonight we had shake n bake chicken, fresh green beans, baby potatoes and homemade apple sauce.

...I am wearing
Black stretchy capris and a black and white striped shirt.

...I am going
to make a fruit cobbler in a few minutes for friends of ours that just had a baby

...I am reading
Just finished The Book of Negroes in record time for me (2.5 weeks)

...I am hoping
that wherever we end up going camping next week is fun and that the weather is good

...I am hearing
total peace and quiet. Not used to that.

...Around the house
Just organizing for camping, sorted thru my maternity clothes today, dropped a garbage bag of assorted clothes off at the thrift store. Seriously where does all this stuff come from? There always seems to be more to get rid of.

...One of my favorite things
is having Ken home and enjoying the big breakfast's he makes every other day. Today was pancakes, bacon and eggs. I also enjoy keeping it down this pregnancy. In the past, this wasn't always the case.

...A few plans for the rest of the week
The boys are getting haircuts from their Aunty Ang tomorrow and on Friday they are getting their pictures done. Mostly we are just getting ready to go camping for a week on Monday. The weather hasn't been great to do much else.

Kids have the Funniest Dreams

This morning Andrew crawled in bed with us around 7 and said:
"Mommy, there was a green crab at the Spray park and a purple dinosaur there too. He was sleeping."
Ken and I just smiled and said back to him: "Is that right Andrew?"
Andrew: "Yup."

Celebrating Great Family with Great food!

We ended the week with a feast of all feasts! Ken and I thought we better treat everyone for taking such good care of us and for hosting us while Ken worked in Edm. Ken and I love hosting BBQ's as a thank you to friends and family for all of the favors they do for us. So Ken wants nothing but the best for those we care so much about so AB. Beef tenderloin it is.

Our menu consisted of stir fried veggies, fried potatoes, garlic bread, caeser salad, fried mushrooms and yummy steaks for all!


The boys and Baby Skyla chatting while Ken BBQ's.













Doesn't this just make your mouth water???
(Hey Mel Green....how could you ever leave AB and it's beef? Hope you make it back to stay some day!)

Adv. in Edm - Just Hanging Out.

Many hours of entertainment were spent on the tramp. What a great investment for a family. Too bad our yard is so small.

The boys understood "the rules" of the tramp before long with four older girl cousins in charge.
What a break for me with all of these cousins taking care of the boys!






Cooling off in the pool.














This was a great spot for Luke and it kept him out of trouble for a while. I plan on taking a basket like this to the beach when camping. Basket + water + toys + Luke = happiness


















Andrew in Auntie Denise's pool. It was perfect level for him to stand in.

Adv. in Edm - Spray Park in Devon

We also headed to the spray park in Devon one afternoon. What a great way to cool off. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more, us moms or the kids.











Healthly Luke! I'm not sure what it is about our kids and their rolls but we never have to worry about them getting enough to eat.

















You can see Andrew and Sam in the distance. Andrew has orange shorts on and Sam has yellow. To the left of the bigger guy.











Can you see why people mistaken them for twins?












Cousin Brennan who was so happy to have some boy cousins around to play with.

Adventures in Edmonton - The Zoo

Last week we went to Edmonton and stayed with Uncle Dwayne and Auntie Trixie and their kids. Ken had to mark achievement tests for the week in Edmonton so us mom's and our kids had lots of adventures together. One day we went to the Edmonton zoo (3 moms and 11 kids ages 6 months to 11 years old). What a blast! This is Kailyn and Curtis on the train ride. We actually took up almost the whole train with just us.




Some of the cousins watching Lucy the elephant.













On a display train with all the cousins.













Checking out the armadillo with one of the zookeepers.












All set for an adventure!

Ken Swam the Dam

Ken completed his first ever triathlon in Magrath AB a few weeks ago. We are so incredibly proud of him for setting this goal and achieving it. It took a lot of work and time getting ready for this big event. He signed up and started training in March after Mel suggested it. Ken's sisters Ang and Mel also completed it.

The race consisted of a 750 meter swim in open water, a 26km bike ride and then a 5km run.
Ken did very well coming in 35 out of 129.



Ken and Mel before the swim.


















Go Daddy Go!




















The boys and I got together with our nieces and made some signs for cheering them on. They were quite a hit with the fans. Andrew was so enthusiastic that he was waving his sign "U Rock Dad" for almost everyone that crossed the finishline.

Another thing to check off of our "To Do List" this summer.