10 things I did today

1. Went to literacy program this morning with the 3 little boys, after taking Jamin to school (I babysit if you are wondering who the other boy is)

2. had a good visit with my mom

3. picked Jamin up from school

4. made supper, leftovers and breakfast

5. went to buy a pie, ended up buying a frozen one and baking it at home. Did you know that they'll charge you the same price as a baked one if you buy it frozen? Oh well, it was good.

6. helped Jamin with his homework

7. had a discussion with Jamin about Santa Clause while he was in the bathtub, he does not believe in Santa and when I told him he should maybe not tell other people that there is no Santa he said "Ah shoot, I already did. It's too late".

8. Went for a run/walk on the treadmill

9. ate a piece of pie, yum

10.watched Dragon's Den, well part of it. I'm blogging as it's on. Better go finish watching! And yes, I do watch other shows Tracy. :)

goodnight

I'm tired, I just exercised and my tummy hurts (can you tell I have kids?). I think I'm going to hit the couch for a bit and go to bed early.

Goodnight everyone!

home sweet home

I'm home, it's always nice to come home. I missed my boys and they missed me too. It's always nice when they're happy to see me. It never gets old. Jamin even had tears in his eyes when he hugged me this morning. So did I. The other two didn't seem to notice a whole lot, but I'm sure they were happy on the inside, at least that's what I choose to believe.

It was a good weekend, and a very nice hotel. The only downside was the sofa bed was not so comfy. That's where I slept. The girls offered to share their beds with me but I was afraid (of things I will not mention here) so I opted for the sofa bed. :)

It was a weekend of shopping and eating and watching TLC, not too shabby.

So I'm sorry I missed a couple of days, but it was busy and I was pretty tired when I got home last night.

the school playground

I wasn't sure what to blog about tonight, then I was reading Tiffany's blog post about strangers in the yard and it reminded me of something that Jamin told me today. I went to pick him up at school this afternoon and the kids were all playing on the playground equipment. He came up to me and showed me a Loonie he had in his pocket. He told me someone gave it to him at first recess and when I asked him who he said he didn't know. Then he ran off to play. And I figured it was no big deal, and as it turned out he said a girl (kid) gave it to him. But while he ran off to play all I could think about was maybe some stranger was lurking around the playground trying to get kids to come with him by giving them money or something. I'm just thankful it was nothing like that, but it's hard not being there all the time to protect him. I know I can't be there every minute, and a school playground "should" be a safe place when there are teachers on duty watching them, but it's not easy not being there. Being a parent is not easy, and having to let your kids do things on there own and become more independent is really not easy.

My boys and me

What day are we on now?

This is getting hard.

I have no idea what to blog about tonight. I remembered at 10:15 that I hadn't blogged yet today. I need to go to bed.

I booked a hotel today for this weekend. Super Target here I come! I love that store. It's one of my favorites.

Seriously, I have nothing else. Maybe tomorrow will be different.

Hope you all have a good night!

I asked Jeff what I should blog about tonight and he told me I should blog about how awesome he is.

He is pretty awesome, most of the time. :)

Seriously, I have a great husband. I am very thankful for him. He's also a great dad, the kids adore him.

Do you realize that I am surrounded by boys? I'm especially reminded of this when they all start wrestling, or watching Transformers or Thundercats and talk about poop. Do you know that poop is always funny? At least when you're 3 and 5. I'm just waiting for them to get bigger and start jumping off the shed roof, or worse, the house. And I just hope none of them get seriously hurt. And I imagine that one day when I have 3 teenage boys, I won't be able to keep enough food in the house. But I wouldn't trade a minute of it. They sure do make life interesting, and I love them so so much. Even when they're fighting and crying, which is a lot. :)

I am Very Thankful for Book.........

Jamin brought home a little book they made in school about things he is thankful for. I was reading it earlier tonight and thought I would share it with you.

I am very thankful for the zoo.

I am very thankful for chickens.

I am very thankful for God.

I am very thankful for food.

I am very thankful for health.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

A good day.

It's 10:30, I'm home.

It was a busy day.

It was a good day.

There was a good church/baptism service.

There was time spent with family and friends. It was good.

There was good food.

There was more time with family, again it was good.

There was more good food.

There was laughter.

There was a bunny and a transformer. They were cute.

There was a drive home with 3 sleeping boys, which gave time to chat with my hubby.

And now it's the end of the day. The end of a good day.

butterflies

Tomorrow's the day. Gulp. I get nervous about things very easily. Today I have butterflies. But I know everything will be okay, and I'll do just fine. But there's still these butterflies. Big ones.

We had to give a testimony this past Wednesday. I wasn't there to give mine but it was given. See my last post #4. I'm not good with words, I want to be but I'm just not. But I want to leave you a verse from God's word. I had this verse in my testimony and it has brought me comfort lately.

Ephesians 2:8

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"

There's nothing we can do to earn salvation. Saying good things, doing good things, going to church are all good things to do, but they won't get you to heaven. Salvation is a gift, it's free, all you have to do is accept it.

Romans 10:9

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

These are a few of my not so favorite things

1. spiders, they are creepy

2. heights

3. poo, or rather cleaning up poo

4. public speaking, I just can't do it

5. blueberry pie, blueberry cheesecake, I would say blueberries but I like blueberry muffins. Saskatoons are where it's at.

6. diet coke

7. lobster

8. Stargate

9. scary movies

10. dream whip

11. mosquitos

12. extreme cold

13. Walmart

14. The kids show Waybuloo (spelling?)

15. orange peel in baking

Okay, so that's all I got for now. The favorites list was way easier.

Day 7

I don't have much tonight. I will tell you that today I did something that I've never done before. I cut up and cooked a pumpkin. (I had help, but still) And tomorrow I'm going to make almost homemade pumpkin pie. I bought the pie crust. I got the recipe that my mom uses (and it's the best) and I'm venturing out. Hope it turns out or we'll be having store bought pumpkin pie on Sunday.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Goodnight!

Day 6

Jamin told Jeff tonight that he didn't want us to get baptized because he didn't want to sit with a wet family.

:)

Ethan!

Just cause he's so darn cute and he didn't make the first day of school pictures, here's Ethan!

Today's post may come as offensive to some of you. Okay, I know it will to at least one of you, but I can't keep quiet any longer. Some things need to be said.

Diet Coke is gross.

There I said it.

And no matter how many times I've had it, it does not taste any better. There's just no acquiring a taste for it.

Kinda like coffee.

Oops, did I just offend some more people? :)

These are a few of my favorite things.....

1. 3 boys named Jamin, Aaron and Ethan
2. going to the movies
3. bonfires
4. date nights with my hubby
5. hanging out with friends
6. picnics in the park
7. Christmas
8. CHOCOLATE!!!
9. "girls night out"
10. hugs from my boys
11. family get togethers
12. my blue wallet
13. nail polished toes
14. cards that the kids have made
15. taking the boys to tinkertown
16. my treadmill
17. watching my kids have fun together
18. coke
19. a clean house (doesn't happen often but I sure do love it when it does)
20. watching Grey's with the girls
21. staying in a hotel (ones without bedbugs)
22. AWANA
23. talking with my mom
24. did I say chocolate?
25. a good night's sleep

Day 3

Today Jeff took me and the boys to the city, sort of a late birthday outing. It was a good day, we found Jamin some new (used) skates. I think the boys are looking forward to skating this winter. Jamin says winter is his favorite season. Not sure why. Then we met up with Auntie Heather for supper and a game of bowling. I won't say who won because it wasn't me. :) And now I am full, tired and ready to go to bed.

I know it's short, but it's something.

Thanks to my boys and Heather for a great day!

Day 2: so I'm a little late with the school pics

Blogtober: Day 1

I'm not promising anything, but I'll give this blogtober thing a try. At least today. I don't know about tomorrow.

I'm thinking of changing the look of my blog, does that count?

I'm bringing dessert to thanksgiving next weekend. If everything I make has pumpkin in it, is that too much pumpkin? I'm thinking yes. But how much dessert can we eat?

I really have nothing today.

Jeff's truck got broken into the other night. It got towed this morning so we are down to 1 vehicle. I don't think it's horribly serious but the steering column and wiring is damaged. The truck won't start or lock.

I'm telling you, you are going to be bored if I actually blog everyday! Just sayin, Heather!

my news

Jeff and I have decided to get baptized. I'm sitting here thinking that I should write something more, something inspiring, but I don't have words, at least not this early in the morning. :) We're getting baptized, it's what God wants us to do and so we will.

randomness

So yesterday some friends of mine warned me that if I didn't post something by the end of today they were all going to write bad stuff about me on their blogs. And part of me really wanted to not blog today just so I could see what they would write about me. Honestly, I don't think they would have done it. I think they would have forgot that they even said that and I would have been off the hook. But here I am anyway, just in case.

So life has been pretty crazy around here these days. My house is a total mess, except for the bathroom I just finished cleaning, but here I am sitting at the computer instead. What's new you may wonder? Well, I'll tell you. I've started babysitting so I've gone from 3 kids to 4 kids Monday to Thursday. Jamin is in grade 1 and Aaron has started Nursery School. We go to diaper gym Monday and Friday morning (in about 5 weeks it will be Wednesday for us too) and on Wednesday morning we go to the library for a literacy program. I take Jamin to school every morning and pick him up every afternoon. Two mornings a week I take Aaron to Nursery School and of course pick him up. It feels like a lot of running around but I tell you the days fly by so fast! We are already nearing the end of September and I haven't even posted the pictures of my kids first days of school.

Tonight is the first night of our AWANA program at our church. I am in charge of our Sparks class which is kids in Kindergarten to Grade 2. Should be a busy night, I'm not sure of the number of kids I will have in my class but I know it's usually the biggest class in the club. And we do a lot of memorizing bible verses and most of the kids don't read very well, if at all, so they require a lot of help. But it's such a great program that I'm excited to be a part of. Teaching kids about Jesus, what's more exciting than that? And my son Jamin is in my class too so it's something we get to do together, makes it a little extra special for me.

Now that Jamin goes to school all day, I think Aaron finds it a little lonely in the afternoons when the boys have their nap. He's always ready to play when "his baby" wakes up. He's in the crib with him right now playing and making a mess. They're having fun so I'll leave them for a while.

I wasn't ready to say good-bye to summer. We had a great summer, managed to do a few things with the kids and didn't have any major house renovations this year. Kinda nice for a change. As excited I get when we renovate something, it's such a pain to actually do it. And Jeff usually uses his holidays to do the renos. This year he actually took some time off and we went to the States for a couple of days and we took our kids camping for another couple of days. It was great! I meant to blog during the summer but do you know how distracting it is to blog while the kids are running around and getting into things?

Anyway, that's about all I got for now. Hope that was enough to not have bad things said about me. :) (even though I am curious about what they would say)

Back to School

Where on earth did this summer go? It seems like it was just yesterday that I picked Jamin up from his last day of Kindergarten, at least that's how it felt on Thursday morning when I brought him to his first day of grade 1. Grade 1? Am I really old enough to have a child in grade 1? And another boy that started his very first day of Nursery School. Aaron loved nursery school, just as I new he would. They are so good there, the kids just love it. But I'm a little sad to see them go back to school, although getting back into a routine is always nice too. It's mixed feelings really. Sad to see them grow up so fast, but loving watching them learn new things and make new friends and have fun in the process. So the first day of grade one there were a few tears from my little boy and I had a hard time getting him out of the van, but when I went to pick him up he said it was a good day, just long and that he missed me. I missed him too. And Aaron had no problem at all with me leaving him at Nursery school. He's growing up so fast. I just know they'll both do so well, I've got smart kids you know! :) And I did take some pictures but as usual they are not yet on my computer, so when they get there I'll make sure you see them.

A Birthday Poem

I have a dear friend
and she is so purdy
and today
she is turning 26?

Hmmmm.... that doesn't rhyme. I guess I'm not so good at poems.

Happy Birthday Tiffany! I hope you have a fabulous birthday! Thanks for being such a wonderful friend, I wish you so much happiness! Love you lots!

And Happy Birthday to Steven! I hope your day is fabulous too! :)

10 years ago.....

I haven't been on here much these days. So much to blog about, but just haven't been keeping up. But I couldn't let today go by without saying a little something about my hubby. It was 10 years ago today that we were married. So much has changed since that day, job's have changed, where we live has changed, we've had 3 beautiful children. We've seen each other through good times and some not so good times. I'm so thankful I have Jeff to share my life with and I can't imagine spending it with anyone else. He's a wonderful husband, father, and friend. I look forward to the rest of our lives. I love you so much Jeff, thank you for everything you do for us.

Maybe, just maybe, I'll put some wedding pictures on here if I ever get them on the computer. That was back before we all had digital cameras. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday to my wonderful sister and friend, Heather! Heather, I know this has been a difficult year for you, but your strength and your faith have been so amazing through everything you have been through. We are so proud of you and we love you so very much. I pray this next year will be filled with love and happiness and God's richest blessings for you. I hope you have a birthday as fabulous as you are!

Elliot Lynne

Congratulations Tiffany and Steven on the birth of your new baby girl, Elliot Lynne! She will be such a blessing to your wonderful family and a sweet little sister to Jordan, Tennyson and Mitchie! (they will be such good big sister and brothers) We wish all of you the very best. Hope you are doing well and getting some much needed rest! Love you lots!

school, birthdays and soccer

This past Tuesday Jamin had his last day of school. I remember when school started for the year, I was a little sad to see my baby boy head off to school every morning. Now he's done. And I'm so happy to have him home all day, but part of me is sad that Kindergarten is over. He had fun and had made friends with the other kids and he really liked his teacher. And if I may brag, he did soooo good in school this year. He's learned so much. But in a couple of months he goes to school all day, everyday. Sniff. And then he'll be with me so much less. I know it will be good for him to go, and he's looking forward to taking his lunch to school and having 3 recess breaks. But still, I can be a little sad.

Yesterday was Canada Day, as you all know, but even bigger than that was my dad's 75th birthday! We had a good day visiting out at my parent's place, and the kids had fun playing with their cousins. Happy Birthday Dad! I love you very much!

I have pictures to share with you whenever I get around to it. Jamin finished soccer a week or two ago. I'd like to say he had lots of fun, but I don't think he did. I think he liked the kids and his coaches and everything, but he wasn't that motivated to play the sport. We'll see what next year brings.

Birthday pictures

A little windy so the candle wouldn't stay lit. Thankfully we didn't get any rain, and the kids had a pretty good time. My baby is getting older. Sniff. (missing in group picture is Jeremy, the boys 6 month old cousin)

Who taught him that?

I had to write this down before I forgot. My son Jamin was just sitting on his bedroom floor. This is our conversation:

me: what are you doing, reading a book?
Jamin: ya I'm reading a book to my kitty
me: oh that's good
Jamin: you know what? if she (kitty) puts one paw out that means she wants to scratch, and you have to smack her and tell her who's boss, but if she puts two paws out that means she wants a hug.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary Tiffany and Steven! Hope you are having a great day!

Happy Birthday Aaron!

This past week we celebrated Aaron's 3rd birthday. Well, yesterday we celebrated it, his actual birthday was on Wednesday. Jeff was away for a few days this week, and with soccer on Wednesdays, we decided to have his party yesterday. It was fun. We had a picnic in the park and the rain stayed away so it turned out pretty good. The kids sure had a good time, and that's what it's about right? I'll post some pictures as soon as I get them on my computer, but I couldn't let this week completely go by without mentioning my little boy's birthday! Happy Birthday Aaron, I'm so glad you had fun and I love you sooooooo much!

10 things I did this past week

Get ready for this, I live a very exciting life. :)

1. became a soccer mom
2. had lunch and spent the afternoon with a very dear friend of mine and her 2 adorable children, who I'm so glad moved back to Manitoba. (I told you I would blog about you Tracey!)
3. washed my hair every morning, see I told you it would be exciting
4. spent two nights without my husband, he had to travel for work (Did I ever tell you how I don't like to be alone at night?)
5. played Ms. Pacman
6. got stuff ready for our garage sale that we will have hopefully in the near future
7. took my kids to McDonald's for supper, met grandma and grandpa, auntie and a cousin there.
8. watched a hockey game, in the end my team lost but hopefully they will make up for it tonight
9. went grocery shopping
10. cleaned up part of the basement and organized the kids toys, looks much better

It's official, I'm a soccer mom

My Birthday Boy, in pictures

Happy Birthday Ethan!

Yesterday my baby boy turned 1! I can't believe how fast the year has gone. I know, everyone always says that, but it's so true. I remember being pregnant and thinking I would be that way forever. Then all of a sudden, the baby isn't really a baby anymore.

Happy Birthday Ethan! I love you soooooooo much! He really has been a wonderful baby and a real joy in our lives. I'm so thankful for all our boys.

Pictures to follow.......

eventually :)

Catching Leprechauns

Jamin has his heart set on catching a leprechaun, I'm afraid that he might be disappointed. I think they're hard to catch.

See, his teacher sent a letter home before Spring Break started, and in it she gave a challenge, to build a leprechaun trap. Now, my husband wanted to build one that had spikes that could possibly harm this leprechaun, but seeing as the kids are in kindergarten, I thought maybe a more humane trap would be best. I'd hate for them to be traumatized so early in life. I forgot to take a picture of this trap that he built, but it's basically made out of cardboard, duct tape, a rope and Lucky Charms (the bait).

The kids have found leprechaun footprints all around the classroom, and one of the little boys traps had been moved (by the leprechaun). So he's out there, I just don't know if he can be caught. I sure hope he can. Jamin's already thinking of how he can spend the pot of gold.

A little of this and a little of that

Heather told me the other day that I needed to blog something before the end of Friday. Today is Friday and I hate to disappoint so here I am, if anybody is still reading this blog of mine. I'm sorry I've been missing lately. I think of things to blog about, but I never actually do it. Maybe this will be my new start, but I'd hate for you to hold your breath waiting.

So what's been new around here? Well, this winter we have had our share of sickness at our house (not unlike many others I'm sure), and this week was no exception. Last week my baby boy was sick with some strange virus that caused his neck to swell up (lymph glands) and made him one unhappy, tired little man, and he was unable to keep anything down for a while. Very unlike him. And this week he got the stomach flu, and of course it wouldn't be the stomach flu if we didn't all get it. (so far Jeff has escaped it, I hope it stays that way.) Although, it isn't nearly as severe as we've had it in the past, so for that I'm thankful.

I spent some time in February watching the winter Olympics. I love the Olympics and our Canadian team did not disappoint. Way to go team Canada!

Last week one morning I woke up to my alarm clock and heard some fantastic news. This year at the Portage Ex, Paul Brandt will be performing! How wonderful is that! I'll have to be sure to get there this year!

Ok, seriously, this is hard to think up what's new around here. I'm so thankful that the weather is getting so nice. I'm looking forward to sun and sandals and grass and my central air and all the good things that come with warm summer weather.

I hope everyone is well and that I still have someone left to read this. It's an odd post I know, but it's something. Bye for now!

2010's 100 Things (Part 1)

1. This past year our son Ethan joined our family and what a joy he has been.

2. He's really cute.

3. And he's crawling.

4. I have 2 red Kitchenaid frying pans that I love, 1 big, 1 small.

5. We finished a pretty big renovation project this fall.

6. There's always more to do though.

7. My son Jamin started Kindergarten this past fall.

8. He also turned 5 this November.

9. I'll be signing Aaron up for Nursery School. He'll start in the fall.

10. He's going to be 3 in May.

11. Maybe I should potty train him?

12. I hate potty training.

13. I love buttertarts

14. I miss sleep.

15. I got a wrestling DVD set for Christmas.

16. I don't really follow wrestling anymore but I used to.

17. It's about Macho Man Randy Savage. He's my all-time favorite, oh yeah!!!

18. I don't like Sprite, or any other lemon-lime soda, unless it's in punch.

19. My mom bakes the best bread.

20. I learned growing up that hampsters don't live long if you don't give them water to drink.

21. I got my pinky finger squished in a change room door in SAAN in Brandon when I was younger. I needed stitches and still have the scar and an odd looking pinky to prove it.

22. I've never worn glasses.

23. I go to bed cold almost every night. It's winter.

24. Jeff will ask me why I'm cold in the summer and I tell him it's because it's winter. Just seems like a good answer to me.

25. I tried lobster once, don't need to again.

26. I want my kids to go to my parents house for supper one night when they are having liver. I won't cook it cause it's awful, but I want them to have to try it. Is that mean?

27. I'm super sensitive. I get my feelings hurt easily.

28. I wish I wasn't so sensitive.

29. I also worry alot.

30. I have extremely dry hands in the winter. It's now working it's way up my arm, well mostly around my wrist, but still, it's going up.

31. I'm driving a different van than last year.

32. It's silver.

33. I'm super excited about the Winter Olympics. Can't wait till Feb. 12!!!

33. I don't like car/van shopping. It's too stressful.

34. I don't like pancakes.

35. I like french toast.

36. I need to buy new socks.

37. I've been to Disney World.

38. I want to take my kids there someday.

39. I hope they like rides, cause I love em.

40. When we were in Florida, we saw an armadillo in the parking lot.

41. I may have been a little too excited about that.

42. I wear mittens, not too crazy about gloves.

43. Apparently I missed one last year so I'll add it now. I have a super fabulous sister-in-law! There you go Hes, it's on this years list! :)

44. This year my husband and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary. Wonder if he'll remember to take me to Vegas.

45. I help out at Awana in our church.

46. I'd pick going to the doctor over going to the dentist.

47. I have green eyes.

48. I love going out for lunch.

49. I just finished pulling Aaron off of Ethan. He was laying on top of him.

50. I'm looking forward to this summer.