"O Christmas Tree"

This is Christmas Tree 2009 purchased at Home Depot that the boys helped pick out. It's a BC tree and we bought it pre-baled. I know, I know....Scothorn's. This is so out of nature for us but there are no U-picks out here, maybe someday I can start one!

Sam made this ornament at Pre-school this year. We only have Sam in pre-school and already we've had to be choosy about which ornaments to hang because there are so many new additions.

Another masterpiece of Sam's.

Andrew made an angel in Storytime at Bible Study so we decided for this year we would put it on top of the tree. He is pretty excited about it.

Sam's class party was this week and it was a reindeer party. This was one ornament he got to make.

Three Boys Playing Hard!

This is the typical scene in our house lately. Luke has decided that he should be allowed to sit on a tall stool like his brothers. Luke is quite proud of himself and grinning ear to ear whenever he is up there. The other two definitely don't like sharing their lego with Luke though.

2 boys+ roll of paper+ paint = messy wrapping paper

Today our adventure was making homemade wrapping paper. Can't wait to wrap some gifts with it!

Our Little Elves!

We haven't had a very eventful week around here. The flu bug passed through our house over 6 days and hit each of us. We have been a little cranky with each other since we've been so housebound but the last day or two we've perked up and I've found a few fun things for the kids to do.

Yesterday we made gingerbread men and Gingerbread trees and the boys helped me make supper (chicken alfredo pasta). They like to help cut up veggies and they do a fine job.

At parent preschool a week ago we had a lady in to talk to us about kids and chores so I've decided to try to stop tackling everything myself and get the boys to help especially while they are so young and enthusiastic. Maybe someday they will love to cook just like their Dad and Mom.

For now they are assisting me with some extra Christmas stuff and I call them my little elves!

Welcome to Coaldale con't.

This is looking down main street which consists of hair salons, a drug store, Doctor's offices, a bakery, a meat shop, gift shop, post office, gas stations, fire station, movie store, pizza shops, dollar store, a few bars and I think we have at least 3 liquor stores in town and recently a Tim Horton's which my Dad is grateful for. Everything is in walking distance for us which is nice. Although taking Andrew and Sam on their bikes and Luke in the stroller can often be an adventure of chaos with all of the road rules and traffic etc. Pretty scaring for Mommy!

This is at Birds of Prey which is just down the street from us. There are thousands of Canada geese there currently. It's got a walking trail and some picnic tables. In the Spring and summer we don't always spend a lot of time there due to all of the goose poop everywhere. It's a hard place to have a picnic or play soccer or fly a kite. Too poopy.

This is our church, the Coaldale Canadian Reformed church which has approximately 300 members. Close to 30-35 of them being babies or toddlers under three that stay in our nursery during church. A crazy busy place!

Anyways that is a brief tour of where we live. I'm hoping some of you someday will get a chance to come and visit us. We love having guests as long as they can handle the busyness of our household.

Welcome to Coaldale!

For those of you who haven't been to Coaldale before I thought I'd give you a little tour of our town. This is our home!

This is the local grocery store that we run to when we need something last minute. Lethbridge (the city) is 10-15 minutes away so I usually go there once a week for my big grocery order at Superstore.

This is our local library. I'm almost embarassed to say that we mostly go there to sign out toys for the kids and not books. You can sign out highchairs, wagons, strollers etc. Pretty handy if you have guests over with kids. I find it's great for trying out toys to see what the kids really like and what they get sick of right away.

This is our local sportsplex where we go skating for free. I used to also play women's hockey there once a week in the winter. It has a curling rink and an outdoor pool where the kids take swimming lessons in the summer.

This is the Christian school that Ken teaches at. I think they have 180 students or so. Ken has the largest class of 26 student. Grade 5 and 6 combined.

Simple Woman #10

A picture thought....

The boys at Parent Preschool. Sam is the giraffe and Andrew is a crocodile.

FOR TODAY November 17, 2009

...Outside my window

Dark. It was a nice day +10 or so. Thankfully the 70km/hr winds they fore casted didn't hit as of yet.

...I am thinking

that life sure is a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. One minute I'm hearing someones great news and the next minute I'm hearing of someone struggling. While I'm home taking care of my kids I spend my day thinking of people I care about and the things they are going through.

...I am thankful for

3 healthy loving boys, an amazing husband, a healthy pregnancy, for neighbor friends of ours that we have gotten close to in the last year or so, for a phone call from Nannie tonight, for a pep talk from my Dad, for my cousin Daniel and his wife who have just welcomed their first child into the world.

...From the kitchen

tonight was homemade bread, homemade applesauce and a chicken casserole

..I am wearing

pajama bottoms and a black maternity shirt

...I am going

to bed in an hour or so.

...I am reading

Acts 15 in my Bible shortly. I have Bible study tomorrow morning.

...I am hoping

that tomorrow morning when I drop Sam of to preschool that it is not a big display of him throwing a tantrum again.

...I am hearing

the lovely sound of my dishwasher washing my dishes and other than that total silence which is refreshing. Kids are in bed and Ken has parent teacher interviews tonight.

..Around the house

things are good. Laundry is done, meal plan done, lunches are made for tomorrow. Everything is good to go for another day.

...One of my favorite things

watching Andrew and Sam ride their bikes and race when we are out for a walk. They insist that their bikes are dirt bikes and make sound effects everywhere we go. Andrew loves to do "popo wheelies" It is so neat watching them grow up and play together.

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

Weds. preschool and Bible Study

Thurs. Ken's birthday, Doctors appt. babysitting for a friend

Fri. Sam's hearing test appt., babysitting for another friend, Our school's annual fundraiser night "The Bazaar"

Sat. Having friend's Paul and Tracy over for a steak dinner.

Sun. Church