"It's going to be so exciting!"

These two boys have been especially excited to go to church the last few weeks since they are sporting new shirts and ties. It's too bad Ken isn't as excited to wear a tie as they are! Andrew had been asking me for a few months now for a tie to wear to church so I picked up a few on my shopping trip in Calgary. Don't they look so handsome?

Sensitive but Competitive!

So I am now a soccer mom! Andrew has started playing soccer this year for the Dolphins. I'm not sure who was more nervous and excited...him or me? It was so much fun taking him to his first game. I haven't laughed and cheered so hard in a while. Andrew was very nervous and shy when the coach talked to him. Thankfully his buddy Karl who's our neighbor was there for support. They didn't leave each other's sides the whole game.

This is the conversation after the game....

Andrew: Daddy, did we win?

Ken: no Andrew the other team got three goals.

Andrew: How many did we get?

Ken: none

Andrew: oh

10 minutes later when we entered the house Andrew burst into tears. When we asked him what was wrong....

Andrew: I wanted to win.

Me: Did you have fun?

Andrew: yes, but I wanted to win.

Me: Andrew, it was your first game, you are just learning, maybe you will win next time.

Andrew: I get to play again?

Me: yes, next week.

Andrew: how many days is it?

Me: not that many.

Andrew: that's way too far away....crying some more.

This went on for at least an hour.

Next morning....

(outside it was snowing)

Andrew: but I wanted to practice soccer today.

Me: we can practice again when it gets nice Andrew.

Andrew: But the other guys were just too fast, right?

Me: you are pretty fast too Andrew.

Andrew: but not as fast as the Sharks, they were mean.

Since then soccer has been cancelled again due to snow but Andrew is anxiously waiting for the next game. Hopefully he won't be as hard on himself next time. Maybe he has a little of his Mommy and Daddy's competitiveness in him??

Happy Birthday Aunt Carolyn.

Aunt Caroyln and her son Ryan a few weeks ago at his wedding

This lady is a very special lady not only to me but to many others as well. She is such a ray of sunshine everywhere that she goes with her smiley face and encouraging words. Today is her 51st birthday and I can't be there to celebrate it with her but I will be thinking of her all day.
For those of you who don't know Carolyn I intend to share with you a few things about her. First of all she is my aunt, my mother's sister and the one that reminds me the most of my mom.

• she is very talented in the craft department with her sewing, crosstitching, making jewelery and anything else she decides to tackle. Everything she makes is perfect because she will settle for nothing less than perfect with her work. This is a talent that runs in my mother's family that has been passed down from Grammie.
• she always makes time for her family and friends and always makes everyone feel so welcome in her home.
• she is an excellent listener and has allowed me to cry on her shoulder a few times as well as many others I'm sure. She will cry right along with you as well. She will always share your emotions whether your happy, angry or sad.
• she has not had an easy life but ALWAYS pulls through with a huge smile on her face. She
  became pregnant while a teenager, married young and had to grow up quickly, she has lost her mother at 65 and her sister (best friend) at 45. She also lost a job that she worked at for years that she loved when the company got taken over.
• she sets a great example of how a mother and wife should be by always sticking by her family and her husband through thick and thin.
• she is very organized and loves planning things (weddings, birthday parties, family gatherings etc.)
• she loves all of her family and wants everyone to stay close. She is the glue that holds the Jackson family together always staying in touch with everyone.
• she was a huge support to me after my mom died and continues to be with her phone calls and cards and visits when I am in Nova Scotia.
• she used to often meet me for lunch when I was in University and she was working and we would have some great talks about family and life.
• some of my favorite childhood memories were spending time with her and her family.
• she puts her heart into everything she does and shares her heart with everyone she meets.
• she is a terrific grandma always having her grandkids over for sleepovers, taking them shopping, making them curtains for their rooms and clothing for special occasions. She is always sharing stories about them. They light up her life!
• she loves to decorate and change things around in her home.
• she loves to spend time at the cottage in the valley with her family every year, crafting, going for walks, taking pictures and spending time chatting
• she spoils her dog rotten, she has even made clothes for this animal as well as little booties.

This list could go on forever but these are a few of the highlights about my special aunt. I hope you have a wonderful day Aunt Carolyn and that you are spoiled by family and friends and your husband. We all love you so much!!

Simple Woman #11

For Today: April 27, 2010

Outside my Window: pictured above! haha This is what I see off of my back deck weekly. Isn't that hilarious?

I am thinking: that today was a big day for me and Andrew. He played in his first game of soccer. I'm not sure who was more excited and nervous, him or me.

I am thankful for: my boys that I love to pieces! They are all so unique and special in their own way. I'm really enjoying life at home and feel so blessed to be able to stay at home and watch them grow and learn and discover life. It is amazing!

From the kitchen: grilled cheese sandwichs for the boys and Ken and I had a steak dinner once the boys were in bed.

I am wearing: jeans, red tank and black hoodie and my slippers

I am going: to Bible study tomorrow for the last time of this season and then off to get a haircut.

I am reading: daily a mom's devotional and a couple's devotional, Babywise

I am hoping: that Isaac sleeps through the night again tonight. He's been sleeping 9pm to 6am a few times in the last week. Let's hope it continues.

I am hearing: American Idol on tv and Isaac snoring on the couch beside me

Around the house: bathrooms to clean, mealplan to make, grocery list to make, upstairs to dust and vaccum

One of my favorite things: hearing my kids tell me that they love me randomly out of the blue.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Bible Study, babysitting my two nieces Thursday, friends over Friday night and celebrating our good friend Paul's b'day Saturday with him and his wife Tracy, swimming and church.

Isaac 2 months

• weighs 16 pounds and 3 ounces
• measures 24 inches
• wearing 6 month clothes
• smiling lots and cooing lots
• is told by everyone that he looks like Big brother Andrew
• isn't as puking as his 3 brothers
• is nursing every three hours throughout the day with an extra feeding in the evening and then wakes up once through the night usually around 4:30-5am
• is very cuddly
• has lots of new hair that has grown in and replaced the hair that fell out a month ago
• has gone to the Leffers cabin for a few days this month with Uncle Kevin and cousin Meisha
• grunts and snorts like a piglet when ever he starts nursing
• burps easily
• loves looking at his brothers when they talk to him and play with him
• mostly lays on his floor play mat or sits in the bouncy chair where he can look around lots
• rarely ever cries (so far)
• loves falling asleep on Daddy's chest
• shares a room with his brother Luke which seems to be going well
• just got his first pair of sunglasses in the mail from Crystal Krueger(Friend Mel's mom)

More pics of our visitors

Sunshine Meisha came for a visit.

Our niece Meisha and my brother Kevin came for a visit over Spring break. This was the first time Kevin has been out to visit us since I left home in N.S. and it was Meisha's first time on an airplane. We had such a great time together kids and adults!