So having Daddy take off first thing in the morning is NOT the way for this family to start their Saturday on the right foot. Of course Mommy is much more of a task master first thing in the morning; laundry was put away, bedrooms cleaned and children dressed all before breakfast made it onto the table and all before 9 am! Of course Echo was unimpressed by this display of organization and after her breakfast and numerous attempts at play and pacifying through cuddling was sent back to bed for an early morning nap (she WAS up and fussing before 7 am this morning which super early for her). But Ken had a bachelor party to go to – paintballing out by Edmonton I guess. 

The twins and I made an agreement for the day – if they sat down right after breakfast and did their picture for their Summer Adventure file for their boat experiment that would be ALL of the organized schooling for the day. 

Boat adventure

They did come up with their own project today – making a kite… this time it is more a decorative thing as they used this and that around the house, but they had fun doing it! They came up with everything but the string on their own. They remembered the need to have a tail and string and even that the string should go onto something that is round to be wound up. (an old ribbon bobbin) Of course they had to decorate it and a piece of my ribbon left over from another project was used for the tail. They actually have a kite of their own (thanks to Kathy), I just don’t know where locally to fly it… and of course Kathy warned us it is not a very high quality kite… but at the age of 7 a kite is a kite is a kite! 

Making their kite TOGETHER

Attempting a fly

Great on the details just wouldn't fly

Emanuel wanted a kite of his own but Trinity opted to make a new boat… this one is more like a raft with a cork in the middle to “look pretty,” oh and we had to add some ribbon for style of course! 

Trinity and her boat/raft thing, note the pretty ribbon and her name TWICE

Oh, I forgot to mention last night – Kristen and Fydo came early to game night bearing gifts – a microwave stand! I got my counter space back!!! So sweet of them! As I am sure you can see from the picture I have already taken advantage of the shelf space for my ribbon and barrette making supplies. Well at least for now! 

Microwave stand!!!

I made up two more boutique bows with the surrounding loops… of course I put the barrettes on for RIGHT handed people… which of course is fine for MOST people but a royal pain for yours truly, the resident lefty. I used the peace sign ribbon I bought at Michaels on sale so of course there really is an UP to it… BUT at least they are relatively cute. I am hoping to make another one later with multiple surrounding loops just to try it out. 

Still not won over with this bow style

Ken got home after we had finished dinner. Worn out and glad to be home. Apparently paintballing was fun. They ran, they shot, they crawled around on the ground. Certainly not my idea of a fun time but I am glad he enjoyed himself. No pictures as not only did he forget the blue camera (old grindy) but it wasn’t especially a camera friendly atmosphere. As it is he has a few welts on his arms and back that look a little nasty.

I have to start my final preparations for our time at my mom’s during Chris and Chris’ wedding. Since we are going to be gone for a few days we need to pack quite a bit. I have been trying to wear my shoes for my outfit from time to time. We plan on leaving for my mom’s on Thursday night. That was the kids will be settled and calmer on Friday and onwards. I am still short a pair of dress pants and some dress socks for the boys but other than that… well we are about as ready as we will ever be.And now for some cute pictures… enjoy!

Twins in the backyard... blowing bubbles

Baby in the lawn chair

Silly sisters

Cutie Patootie

And just cuz the face is so priceless

There are days where the feeling of being completely out of control surfaces… especially with the kids being stubborn and unmotivated. Now I KNOW that with homeschooling that it is ok to have an off day here or there… after all we set out to homeschool year round nearly 5 days a week and take every learning opportunity we can (see Lychee seeds with Nana), but there are those days…. The ones where you set out to feel productive and the rest of the world scoffs at you. 

Echo was in no mood to share mommy. She and Izaac are neck and neck in the teething crankies… fevers… restlessness… I swear these two are determined to be the best of friends and go together in everything. So lots of naps, some tylenol, breastfeeding and compassionate family seems to be putting her to rights. Well pleasant enough to play blocks with her brother at least. 

Note the birthday shirt from Nana and Baba

We did get SOME work done. A bit of the sight words, some math… a worksheet off of Education.com. Just lots of grumbling, frustration and pouty faces of boys who only want to do the “fun bits” which according to Zander is ADDITION only… if only the world worked that way! All we would do is get MORE of things…

Gavin and his worksheet

Emanuel and an ABC dot to dot

Last night I managed to finish off my new bows… they are Boutique Bows with Surrounding Loops. I am of two minds but Ken thought they were cute.

Completed bow

Oh and the shopping we did last night – at Value Village no less. Well we went in there for crafting supplies and I picked up a pair of pants (size 8 for the wedding too long but hemming can be done) for one of the boys and then myself – a kick ass dress… it is extremely rare for me to find a dress that does not need massive alterations new and this was used and has a vintage look!! You can’t tell from the picture but the bottom shows a tiny bit of black crinoline. I am so happy… it is not a perfect fit but I figure I can talk to mom and see if there is some minor tweaking and even if not I am content. And the best part – it was 8.99!

Not the best pictures but such a cute dress

Today Cousin Veronika came into town for a visit and some girly out and about time. She came earlier in the afternoon and we waited for Karyn to get off work. There was a  trip downtown to do something first…

Ok so neither were smiling right this minute but they did after

Watching Tinker Bell on the iPhone

And then off to the mall for supper and then window shopping… lots to see and I was amazed by how many stores are carrying Hello Kitty now! It was fun to get out and spend a few hours without having a kid attached or something to worry about. I even tried on a dress (on sale for 50% 0ff) but it was a definite no (made me look pregnant, which I am NOT)…

Now for the rest of the evening I have time to spend with Ken who FINALLY has a break, somewhat, from work. Tomorrow I hope to get some cleaning done and the boys have a boat project to put into action – that I will talk about tomorrow… sort of a spontaneous thing actually!

Cuz she is sooooo cute

We have seen the Nana and Baba off on their return trip to Minnesota. Last night was difficult for some of the kids, it is hard to KNOW that first thing in the morning you have to say good-bye and there is no – see you next week – to go with it. They had to leave for the airport by 8:30 am so there was hugs and kisses and off they went. BUT not before we got a phone call for Echo at 8am. Apparently it was simpler for our paediatrician in the city to simply get us an appointment here in town for the kidney ultra sound – there were TWO options for today, one what Ken termed “ridiculously early” and the other for 11:15. Of course he took the latter. Thankfully this was an appointment where Ken could solo run it and the rest of us stay home. We are one step away from a jimjam day here. Everyone got dressed but we certainly are staying close to home!

Ken and Echo met with nothing but success at the imaging place… first off they only waited in the waiting room FIVE MINUTES! How unheard of! Then when in the exam Echo was able to lounge about NAKED in Daddy’s lap and then there was NO peeing in the lap, and I mean naked as the day she was born naked! I am sure Ken heaved a huge sigh of relief once that cloth diaper was returned to its owner’s bottom. The technician was fine with telling Ken what she saw, what was there and how she looked… well how her kidneys looked. She even had the doctor in to look and make sure he was pleased so we would not have to make a second trip! How did she do, I am sure you are ALL wondering… FANTASTIC! 2 kidneys, right size, right place and only one person (in the waiting room) asked how old HE was (Ken says we must give her the benefit of the doubt as she was most likely half blind anyway!). 

Ready to go with Petite Sheepette in hand

That was our morning. While Echo was gone with Daddy I managed the other 4… tv for the little two (they are beyond over done after party and visiting and company and all) and a start back to the homeschooling regime with the twins. I had them work on their first Nana and Baba adventure for their Summer Adventure file. I figure they will do at least 2-3 of their visit and one for Echo’s birthday. Then it is back to sight words, math books and dinosaurs. Not all together gracefully though, getting them started this morning was like pulling teeth in its level of painfulness. 

Back to work

So far I have ONE picture of Ken at the party… well early on in the party, courtesy of Nana and Baba’s camera. I have gotten promises of pictures from two other party goers but am still waiting to hear back on a few other cameras. If you are reading this and DO have pictures… please EMAIL rosereinsch@gmail.com and send them my way! 

Kenny at work pre full swing party

The kids and I snuck outside after Echo’s post appointment and luncheon nap and gave it another go with the tutu dress. I do believe she is teething again as her nose is runny and she was VERY warm. You can imagine how excited she was about that! BUT we tried. I figure if we try a few more times she may give in and enjoy it a bit more… after all I can take as many pictures as I want and then pick a best of the bunch. She did settle down but was NOT willing to relinquish the soother. OR wear the poof. 

So...poofy

And baby makes 5

The puzzle has reclaimed its place of honour on the blue table by the bright window, and some interest has been held by it today. But still the livingroom is a bit of a shambles and in need of a return to the previous furniture arrangement. I have to admit I am being lazy about it. But by the end of the week we should be back to normal… just in time to face the final week before Chris and Chris’ wedding and the chaos that will cause. Fingers crossed we can go back to a calmer household in September! I am in dire need of quiet and at least somewhat predictable days.

We made one more foray to the great outdoors today… brief as it was… to use the bubbles Nana and Baba had bought for the party but forgot to bring out. Of course colours of bottles were VERY important but they all agreed it was time to share with Echo… and once I got them to STOP blowing them directly in to her FACE we all got along rather well. Once bubbles failed to enthuse we closed them up and Echo and I returned in only to have to call all 4 back in due to fighting and screaming. Zero tolerance today my dears…

Look! Bubbles!

It is hard to jump right back into the norm after such an amazing week or so but we are trying. Ken has never really completely surfaced from work, even while his parents were here so that is easy enough to continue. It is the rest of the family that is adjusting really. I have to admit while the quiet is welcome, it is a wee bit lonely. We went from my inlaws and so many friends and family to just us in such a short period of time. By tomorrow I will be right as rain but there is the little moment of blue connected to so many good-byes. And anyone who knows me well knows I am HORRIBLE at good-byes, though I am proud to say – no waterworks this time! There’s a first huh? 

I am trying a new bow on for size as well… the Boutique bow. I have made two of the same ribbon… trying them out a bit… I am not sure how I feel about them but I did stab myself once in the making and got two to look somewhat like the picture. I also finished the second season of Campion… so now am on the look out for more British mysteries on Netflix… 

Not quite done yet

Now it is definitely time to bite the bullet and get back to work. So far I have posted some Kijiji adsand sorted out the tissue paper (such lovely colours)… now it is time to face the nitty gritty and get the livingroom ready for being put to rights! Off I go!

More bubbles

"Yawn"

Fat sheep family moment (with their nanny of course)