Hip Hip Horray!

We are expecting again and so excited. We can hardly believe how we have been blessed as a family and in our marriage, to have four healthy handsome boys and now to be expecting another baby. Chances are that we will have another boy which certainly would not be disappointing at all since we are used to boys and have everything we need and more for a boy. We were talking about it the other day and never would've imagined that we would would have any more than three kids at the most. We did get married at 28 after all and aren't that young anymore. You know what though? Despite the wrinkles and grey hairs popping through, I for one, have never felt better in my life. I'm so thankful for my loving husband who takes such good care of me and our boys.

Being a wife and a mom has helped me grow so much and taught me so much about loving and caring for others. It is so wonderful to have God in my life who protects me, teaches me, guides me and loves me despite my many shortcomings.

I'm sure I will do lots of grumbling and complaining about aches, tiredness, lack of patience etc. throughout the next 7 months but I will try hard to remain thankful and amazed at God's work and this little baby growing inside of me, soon enough to join our family. So excited!!!

BTW Andrew took this picture of us not even knowing why we were acting so silly or what the sign says. He was so excited to take a picture he never bothered to ask.

Back to School

Sam starts Kindergarten and Andrew grade 1. Both of them were so excited, mom not as much!



13 kids in Kindergarten and only one girl.

Andrew has a good front seat so he can learn lots. He's in the grey. Andrew thinks grade one is "so much work" and has been very tired this week.

Sam in his classroom.

Summer Grand Finale

To end our fantastic summer we had a visit from Nana and Papa, Uncle Kevin and Meisha. What a great time. We went to a few birthday parties, Park Lake, Hendersen park, the cabin, Huckleberry Festival, and the new spray park. Some things we did at home were painting, dress up, pool fun, caught ladybugs, had a picnic, and made bead necklaces/snakes. It was so awesome to see the boys playing with their cousin Meisha. She was quite entertained as well. Sam and Andrew started school while they were here so they got to check out the boys school and see them in their new classrooms. Now they are gone back to NS and our house seems so empty and quiet, if you can imagine that with four little boys.

Swan Lake Camping

Swan Lake

Embracing Camping.

• I decided long before we started packing for Swan Lake that I was going to embrace camping and try my hardest to remain positive. I know how many great memories Ken has camping with friends and family over the years, and it seems to be "the thing to do" in our church community and in the area we live in. Do you recall our attempt 2 years ago in August, 2009 titled Survivor Shuswap on my blog? Well let's just say that most of what I remember of that whole experience was a very challenging time. Just a few reminders...I was pregnant with Isaac, Luke wasn't walking yet, it was terrible weather, there was a fire ban, it was a 12 hour drive that we attempted in one day with three young children, need I go on. It has taken a full two years to get over that experience for me. I don't consider myself to be a high maintenance kind of girl but camping is really roughing it. I'm a cottage kind of girl, that's how I grew up.
  
  Some of the things I have learned while camping are:

*how to shave my legs in a dishpan after boiling water to make it warmer

*how to wash my hair in the middle of a lake without my feet being able to touch the bottom

*how to live without power of any kind for a whole week - no toaster, no microwave, no hair dryer, no straightener, no music, no tv, no computer, no Internet, no phone, no washer

*how to meal plan so that all of your meals are cooked over the fire or on a little camp stove (our meals consisted of: pizza pie irons, premade spaghetti and meatballs, premade soup, smokies, steak/garlic bread/salad, chicken burgers)

*to allow the boys to pee outside almost anywhere that works

* how to wear the same dirty clothes over and over again

* how to trust in the Lord's protection over a roaming mountain lion spotted in the area

* how to give up on routine and a schedule and know that we will survive a week without it

These are just a few of the things I have learned while roughing it. Surprisingly it was a really relaxing holiday, better than I would've imagined. I actually read 2.5 books, had lots of quality time with the kids, and with the adults in the evenings. Slept decent every night thanks to the blow up queen size mattress we bought this year, sat in the sun hour after hour, after hour, swam, water skied, biked, lots of walking, lots of laughing, lots of talking. Great memories were made and I'm so glad I gave it another chance. Can't wait till next time.