So Sunday got out of hand and I just didn’t get around to blogging. We got our long awaited visit from Karyn on Sunday… but I am getting ahead of myself.

Sunday morning we got the entire family dressed up in their Sunday clothes and off to church for Sunday School registration. Trinity is a year too young, but this is Emanuel’s first year in class (we kept him out last year as he was too active and would have been in the same class as the twins). The church only has 3 classes – the 3, 4 and 5 year olds, grades 1 through 3 and the grades 4 through 6.

During church the boys went up for Children’s Time and then headed to a meeting room for a group session to start of the year. Emanuel went with the big boys, Ken got him settled and he did absolutely fine which was TERRIFIC as as soon as the boys headed off Echo woke up and Trinity got a little bored. It very quickly became a two parent job. The new cry room off the sanctuary is not quite completed and the one we DO have is more like a cry closet.

After church and speaking to the minister (did I mention I took Echo up during communion to get a blessing?) we headed across the street to a little patch of grass next to our parking lot and had hot dogs and juice while the kids enjoyed a bouncy castle! What a treat, though only Zander was 100% comfortable playing in it.

After a couple rounds in the bouncy castle we hustled everyone home to wait for Karyn and to ensure that the younger Reinsch-Johnsons got some much needed naps.

Aunty Karyn came bearing gifts!!! For her god-daughter Trinity – a red plaid dress (adorable!).

For baby Echo – a dolly in full Scottish style.

For the kids to share – a double decker bus and an extra set of people – from around the world (because the Scottish one had bagpipes).

And for me – a cross stitch kit I have already started and a postcard depicting the MacLean cross (my mom’s side) and not pictured – a marble clover for Ken’s keychain! AND all the pictures she took across the pond on her iTouch to go through together. Hear about the adventures and further solidify Ken and my wish to go to Europe for a year or two when Echo is bigger!!!

Echo, Karyn and I went out for a nice fast food supper and visit on our own and then a few hours later saw off Karyn who had to work in the morning. What a great visit though!

They never let a visit with Aunty Karyn pass without bringing out books!

Today we spent the majority of our day an hour or so away at Grandma Anna’s. She had this Monday off and we had a few chores we had to do in town there. Echo’s birth certificate has been officially ordered (the version in Alberta with both parent’s names on it), and we stopped in at the baby supply store to check on the status of my diaper pail and liner (not yet in but hopefully soon). While the girls (and Ken) were running those errands Grandma had the boys at her store picking out Halloween costumes (at a steal of 7.00 a piece!).

After watching Grandma cut out the pieces from the material I bought for Echo’s Halloween costume and sitting and chatting she took the time to cut each of the boys’ hair. They love her haircuts so much more than Daddy’s. She even had to trim a few pieces of hair on Trinity – nothing noticeable just the ends of a few bits so she wouldn’t feel left out.

Oh and there is the big milestone for Miss Echo – as of today she is ONE MONTH OLD! Where did the time go?? Not only that but her first long trip in the van AND her first visit to Grandma and Mike’s. What a day! We came home tonight instead of staying the night. Lots to do tomorrow AND Harley had dog obedience classes here in the city anyway.

The boys practised counting (while they watched Grandma cut out pieces for the costume) and reading (the new labels Grandma put on their toy containers in the basement). They had to share all their activities with Grandma, of course.

Don't forget time with Harley (Gavin right)

So tonight is a quiet night for the adults in the house. 1 month photos with a sleeping infant, Ken catching up on emails etc on his pc and of course more stitching for me. Like I could resist starting a gift as lovely as this needlecase. I do love UK patterns.

We weighed Miss Echo on our home baby scale… at one month (according to the home scale) she weighs 8.22 lbs according to the home scale! Breastmilk for the win seriously!!! Though not sure where she puts it all that weight.

We took a few pictures tonight of Echo with Ken for her 1 month… I got at least one I am happy with. Tomorrow I will play some more… I am still trying to source out some artistic breastfeeding images to see if I can create some of my own. Breastfeeding is so important to me (as you can tell from my entries) and I do want a picture I can keep of my own that is special and pretty.

Proud Daddy

OH and one more special gift – mom finished Echo’s baptism gown!! This one is like the other 4 BUT she used the beads we took OFF my wedding dress when we refurbished it for my wedding… it is PERFECT!

I have to email the church and see if I can set the date for the baptism. I think we are thinking either October the 17th or 24th… I would LIKE the 24th giving us the most time to prepare and let everyone know. So hopefully they can help us out!

So here it is past midnight and I am JUST posting this, it has been a terrific weekend and then a lovely Monday, now back to reality. Tomorrow still bereft of toner, we are focusing on chores – Ken has to mow early on so the boys are going to clean up the front yard plants… pick up their apples and throw out any immediate broken toys. Then they are going to watch an educational video someone gave them a year or two ago about DINOSAURS!!! Our library books are in so they have to be picked up and of course there is always crafts to be done! Here’s hoping Ken can pin down the board and figure out how our funding goes!

Gotta get some sleep!