Archive | August 2009

Government… DOESN’T Completely Disappoint Today?

Now don’t get too excited BUT  the government, for the first time since in this huge mess CAME THROUGH! That’s right, today the promised money was in the account… well some of it as with the changes to our filing etc etc we have to wait on some other processes to go through (don’t ask me it all seems redundant and cruel) but for once they said – it will be there… and it WAS! This does not mean they are back in my good books, but it is a good start.

We are learning our letters as a family… well without Ken as he is busy during the day (yay). Even Trinity is loving the learning… though she would PREFER the soft a song over ANYTHING new. (I do have to say that that song IS the most catchy to date!) Today was the letter D… which we decorated with paper dots and drew donuts and dolphins. Some of the components are harder – words like adder which don’t start with D but have the letter in it. So a bit beyond Emanuel but he is still learning to recognize the letter and the sound. Writing the lower case d is still a struggle for the boys as they do a b instead but we will keep practising!

Letter D

Letter D

We also read the 3rd book in our phonics set and worked on the short i sound.

Soft "i"

Soft "i"

Our craft for today was combined with a little walk! We went out before we started any school work and wandered around the neighbourhood a bit to find pinecones. The boys had a blast running ahead and talking about all they could see.

Pinecones! (Gavin front)

Pinecones! (Gavin front)

Emanuel and Gavin

Emanuel and Gavin

They found these tiny purple flowers that they insisted I take pictures of.

Tiny Purple Flowers

Tiny Purple Flowers

And Trinity rode in style in the jogging stroller, almost passing out since she was up LATE last night refusing to sleep once again. Today she had TWO afternoon naps!

Jogging Stroller in Her Cherry Shoes

Jogging Stroller in Her Cherry Shoes

The pinecones were then covered with white glue and then doused in glitter. The end result is actually quite pretty and even with all the whining about dirty fingers, time consuming glue adding and other general complaints all 3 want to make more! So another success… sort of?

Gluing the Pinecones (Zander left)

Gluing the Pinecones (Zander left)

Finished Product!

Finished Product!

So Ken is on the road to becoming healthy again. This means he has appointments 3 times a week for the time being and at least another 3 of “getting better” for us to deal with. This is a bit of a hard thing for me to deal with as he needs naps and rest and time out which would not be a horrible thing – if the kids understood. Since they don’t at times it feels like I am the head of the household with FIVE children to chase and control. It is a bit lonely as he does need A LOT more time to himself BUT there is the promise that in the VERY near future he will be feeling MUCH better. That makes it all worth it. I miss the healthy Kenny I married 8 yrs ago. The promise of him feeling himself again is a HUGE one.

Tomorrow’s craft is a little more work intensive for myself and Ken. Today hands and feet were traced and pictures found… the rest – well you will have to wait and see! Although I am still working on a plan to get Trinity’s hands traced… the feet she was willing, hands… not so much!

Due to Ken’s under the weather status he is on a two chore evening plan. So tonight they are crafty ones – the latest Christmas stitch – this one Dr. Who themed and the other the faces for the above craft tease. Tomorrow night he has agreed to 3 so I plan on adding in the fish tank (poor fishies need a new filter). Short lists are always the hardest to write!

Well it is already pushing 11 and with Ken on limited duties I have another full day coming up! Karyn found me some applesauce recipes that call for chocolate or cocoa so maybe I will have a new recipe soon! Fingers crossed!

Storytime with Big Brother Zander

Storytime with Big Brother Zander

This entry was posted on 31/08/2009, in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

Sunday in Reflection

Sunday has come and gone and for a somewhat busy day it has been upbeat and pretty positive. Karyn stuck around until after supper… Ken took the boys to the park for a couple hours as we were not able to make church and I wanted to be sure they got out and about (sorry no pictures but he says they played with their shovels and buckets with another girl and boy quite nicely) and I got some time out of the house without kids yet again.

No new recipes today as my cooking time was rather brief. I did get in my two batches of applesauce and today we tried the leather in the dehydrator (Ken was grumbling about the length of time the oven was on). It actually didn’t turn out too badly though we do need to put it on thicker. Ken went rather thing worrying about the plastic wrap over the trays slowing the drying. Definitely makes it easier though you have to rearrange the trays from time to time.

My Dehydrator

My Dehydrator

We made our weekly trip to H&W, this time with Karyn along for the ride. We got another watermelon at 33 cents a lb. I picked up cauliflower (Albertan) and some local beans to try steaming, nectarines and BC peaches as well as a couple apples for Trinity (our tree is too bitter). All in all we spent around 14.00 and went home quite happy!

Karyn and I made a run out to a couple stores to hunt for craft supplies for Karyn’s sewing and a car adapter to charge her cell. It was nice to get a chance for another day to spend an hour or more out WITHOUT kids.

We spent the rest of the afternoon quietly. While the boys were at the park Trinity passed out on Karyn and stayed there for the entirety of the Mummy 2. She just loves her God-Mommy.

Snuggles During Naptime!

Snuggles During Naptime!

There was a fire truck and an ambulance next door, they took our neighbor and his wife to the hospital. I am not overly close to them but I know in the winter there was an ambulance there for him. It is funny, we do not really know our neighbors in the area… just to say hi and chat briefly. They are all basically seniors, at least the ones on either side. But that doesn’t stop you from saying a little prayer and sending out some positive thoughts. I could not imagine having to take Ken to the hospital like that! Even with the stress and his own rather minor health concerns he rarely actually needs to be at a clinic or worse. Thank goodness we are basically healthy!

So all in all a VERY quiet  day… tomorrow we are working on the letter D… Ken is hunting me down a Christmas ornament to do. The weather for the week is supposed to be quite warm so we are refilling the pool with clean water. I have to make cookies and apple bread for the homeschool picnic on Wednesday and another batch for around home. I have foam kits to make ornaments that you can put pictures in so I figure the boys will each do up a couple of those, and maybe find a way to make some more unique gingerbread men ornaments.

I have made some progress on my stocking stitch. I have moved from working on the bottom half to tackling the cat… I am still working for having it done by the end of September at the very latest – I hope. I really need to sit down and make our list of people to give gifts to, I also plan on making our cards with a wallet picture of the family so I need to price out the paper I need… so much to do!

Stocking To Date

Stocking To Date

We were unable to get to Alan and Xinny’s little boy’s 2nd birthday party. Xinny mentioned it to me last night when it was too late to co-ordinate but I have a gift and plan on putting together a little card tonight to have Alan stop by and get. It is hard to believe he is TWO already! Happy Birthday Little Man!

Alexander denOtter

Alexander denOtter

Outside of Card

Outside of Card

Card Interior

Card Interior

So this week should be a fun one – working on our letters, craft time, the HLSA picnic, and for me LOTS of sewing and baking! And as of yet… our weekend is FREE! Go figure! Now to keep searching out Christmas ornament projects and force myself to truly focus on the stocking stitching! Wish me luck!

Love :)

Love :)

Da Vinci, Shopping and KARYN! YAY

The weekend tends to be a bit more stressful lately. This morning was no exception. Trinity was up off and on most off the night – she has cut two upper molars at the same time and they are taking their time to come down fully. So two tired grown ups… and Emanuel had a 9 am appointment at the heart murmur clinic. Ken and Emanuel headed out and I put the other 3 in the tub for 30 min of splashing and play. Emanuel made it through his tests and the specialist determined that they could close his file. Talk about a relief! Ken took pictures for me with Gavin’s camera.

At the Murmur Clinic

At the Murmur Clinic

Bathtime this morning was quite a lot of fun and freed me up to sit in the bathroom and call my friend Bree in Minnesota (thank goodness for Shaw and unlimited long distance!). While I have no interest in moving to Minnesota permanently it is people like Bree that make going back for visits VERY tempting. She is baby Quinn’s mom (Trinity’s almost birthday buddy) and a very treasured friend. Funny how sometimes the person who understands you and the moment you are living through is often NOT the person who lives near by. Isn’t the internet amazing??

Thank goodness Trinity’s bump and bruise are much better today. Poor little thing though she is acting like it never happened! Children are so fearless – all the better to scare years off Mommy and Daddy’s life. The joys of our baby becoming a big girl I guess.

Baby Girl

Baby Girl

Karyn and I did make it to the daVinci exhibit. It was AMAZING! We got to see a replica of the Mona Lisa and a whole bunch about how it has been altered over the years.

Da Vinci!!!

Da Vinci!!!

Giant Mona Lisa

Giant Mona Lisa

Information About the Replica

Information About the Replica

Replica Front

Replica Front

Replica Back

Replica Back

Full Spectrum Pictures

Full Spectrum Pictures

I Was There!

I Was There!

There was a ton of his inventions made up with some you could handle and some not.

Portable Piano

Portable Piano

As Found in His Notations

As Found in His Notations

He Also Came Up With the Double Hulled Boat!

He Also Came Up With the Double Hulled Boat!

They had what we figured were replicas of his actual pages in book form.

Reproduction We Assume (due to lack of further than glass case security)

Reproduction We Assume (due to lack of further than glass case security)

And his anatomical drawings. Which are amazingly detailed and actually rather beautiful to look at.

Anatomical Drawings

Anatomical Drawings

The Last Supper was featured as well.

Canvas on Wall

Canvas on Wall

All in all it was worth the 14.00 to go! I have always loved the Mona Lisa and my mom has cross stitched  me the Last Supper on a lovely piece of linen (I will try and post a picture tomorrow of it!). Immersing myself in his art and inventions was absolutely terrific. Brought back memories of Art History class.

After da Vinci we headed to the other areas to check out the displays.

Scientific!

Scientific!

Esther Made it There Too... In Spirit er Shawl

Esther Made it There Too... In Spirit er Shawl

After we had our fill of the Science Center we went on to THE MALL and promptly lost track of time! I took my 10.00 from the money I was told to SPEND ON MYSELF by a good friend and finally got my Gintama book! Volume 13, the only manga I am actively collecting still as it is only put out once every 2 months and I am completely up to date! Mmmm Gintoki… I LOVE LOVE LOVE  this series and totally love the anime as well… Ken downloads the new episodes for me when they come out! BLISS!

GINTAMA *squee*

GINTAMA *squee*

We also went to the Body Shop where Karyn surprised me with a treat – I was completely out of my favourite shower gel – and as she was picking up a couple for herself she grabbed me one too! THANK YOU!!! I LOVE this scent – I have the perfume but as I am still breastfeeding don’t wear it. Neroli Jasmin. So purty!

Thank You Thank You!

Thank You Thank You!

We stopped in at Chapters to look at books – so many wonderful kids’ books – I think I am going to have to take another trip to the library very soon, and then to a clothing store to have Karyn try on some outfits – she got a white cardigan and of course Sephora. When I have some spare cash (a tidy sum so to speak) I am so going back there and having Karyn help me pick out some AMAZING eyeshadow etc so I can learn how to really pretty myself up! So many options there!

We completely lost track of time – we left here at 4 and got home at almost 8! What a great afternoon/evening AND Karyn is staying the night! So spoiled I am! And I even made two trays of apple leather and one batch of applesauce! Granted I SHOULD have made two batches and now have to do AT LEAST two tomorrow… but my afternoon of leisure was so worth it!

The Next Time You Feel Like Your Day Was HORRID - Could Be WORSE! (The Mall parking lot)

The Next Time You Feel Like Your Day Was HORRID - Could Be WORSE! (The Mall parking lot)