I swear this family attracts what we are coming to term as “adventures” like nobody’s business. Thus a simple run out to pick up a Kijiji ad (more on that later) and take the kids out to the Bulk Barn went from mundane to a full out (somewhat frustrating) adventure. This time the blame is firmly placed on the van (I know I know – what is it with us and vehicles??). That pesky check engine light went on and the heat went up and… well our plans changed.

All ready to head out... little did we know...

We pulled into a gas station (this is thankfully AFTER the pick up) and got some gas and anti freeze… this did not seem to SOLVE the problem, even after parking (taking advantage of that time to give Miss Echo her cereal) and turning on the heat, we didn’t really solve anything, BUT for the FIRST time ever we had full out hot air coming out of the vents! Go figure! So we carefully and somewhat slowly made our way back home. Thankfully our nearby wholesale place was not far off the path so instead of the much wished for Bulk Barn we went in there to get a treat. The kids each picked their own container of Pringles.

So many chips!

So I am a bit disappointed, as things stand right now we will not be heading the hour or so away to mom’s to spend our traditional Easter Sunday with her, Mike and my Uncle Wayne. BUT we DO have Echo’s pretty dress… I have plans for some alterations I will start tonight and share with you in the next entry. So the new plan (if the van is not magically better) is to dress up the remaining 4 children in their Sunday best and take pictures… then undress them all from the finery and pack them up to walk to the nearby McDonalds… it is across the highway and only a block or 2 away. Then, instead of church (granted this is ALL if the weather works WITH us) take them out to the local park. (Which may morph into slurpees at the local Husky… who am I to say?)

The dress to start

We did pick up our cake mix so cupcakes will still be made on Saturday… crafting can still be done (I have TONS of supplies I just need to bundle up) AND the dresses on our two sweeties will NOT be wasted. I have special Easter themed sprinkles I picked up on our previous Bulk Barn expedition (the one henceforth known as the ACCOMPLISHED trip, vs. today’s ABORTED). I bought a package of Easter stickers that I only cut a small number out of for the hunt so we could sticker ourselves to death as well. Again not our regular traditions and I know at least one of the kids is crushed about not going to Grandma’s but we will manage.

Like I said to Ken (something I NEVER thought I would say) – good thing we AREN’T moving on the 1st!

We worked on some new games – Spring/Easter themed… folder games. Assembly, colour (no colour toner of course) and such was completed today and yesterday. These are dealing with vowels and can be found here and here. The second link is grade 2 level so I am not sure if we will actually get much play out of it but it will be assembled and ready for play when we ARE ready for it! I am actually finding NOT having the toner has us working much more TOGETHER on our assembly. Before I would just colour print, cut and be done… this time the boys each coloured something and cut them out and then Ken and I do the assembly.

Colouring away

Today we worked together to make a loaf of CHOCOLATE CHIP banana bread. The kids did stirring, banana mashing, and dumping in the chocolate chips. We had only the most minor of spillage. Everyone took a turn and the result was quite lovely! I have to admit I really enjoy baking with the kids though it gets noisy, messy and often out of control! Lots of counting, order of things, measuring and hopefully in the not too distant future – them reading the recipe to me!

Making banana bread

Finished loaf

We have started a whole new phase of baby stuff with Echo – puffed wheat… I call it the messy baby phase. There is literally a radius around the child at any time where you have to watch out. She is also much more… sticky herself. I was hoping we would find some puffed RICE (much neater – no husks) but had to settle for the wheat.

Hello puffed wheat

We saw Gavin off this evening. Trinity especially was quite upset at the temporary loss of her second oldest brother. Gavin, on the other hand, was more than ready to go. The plan so far, is for him to stay there until Monday when they will bring him back. If we can figure out the van thing we will join them for the day on Sunday but otherwise they are already planning things like movies and walks with the dog. I am sure he will have a blast.

Seeing Gavin off

So I am down to 4 kids (which may not sound like a huge change but trust me the difference WILL be felt). I have the dress to alter, a headband to complete to match (once I find the headband… it got dirty and thrown downstairs) and of course other little crafts and ideas to flesh out.

I made up these two their own little duckies last night!

With no new commissions, tutus or pattern request and Kijiji ads going slow I have succumbed to the urge to help out somehow with finances. The big question has been HOW? Well, I have and answer. For the rest of the month I am going to do my very best to have us eat home cooked meals. No take out, less junk and all filling.

I am going to spend the weekend making my menus. Of course this is AFTER the super deal at IKEA.  I figure some baking over the weekend of some of my healthier treats: applesauce muffins, banana cookies, maybe even something with the fruit I have in the freezer with help as well. With 6 full appetites and myself eating more while breastfeeding we so eat a rather large amount!! I have an amazing recipe for beef and gravy courtesy of my step mother we haven’t had in ages. And two recipes for pancakes. One applesauce, the other brown flour.

We made a stop off at the Bulk Barn to get some of our favourites… Egg noodles, shell noodles, chicken broth powder all at a terrific price. We got Ken’s cheese puffs and my yogurt covered peanuts. I even snuck in some real fruit gummie bears. Oh and don’t forget the sour dough pretzels!

Bulk Barn stash

IKEA meatballs was so worth it!! For under 12 dollars all 6 of us were fed. 6 meatball platters, one bowl of amazing soup, a cinnamon bun and 2 refillable drinks. AND it was eating out!!! Almost worth the drive the  the south end to take advantage of the sale one more time before the 4 days is up!

Proof

Yum!

Echo slept through the entire thing and most of our running around chores. Ken managed a little treat for me today – I got “the hat”! I have always been a lover of hats but in recent years could never afford the cute ones. This one was under 20.00 and everything!

The hat

Today the BOYS got mail. Their Grandpa Reinsch/John in South Carolina (my dad) sent each of them a card and some money. They are VERY excited that once we convert it to our currency they can each have a new toy… another new toy.

Thank you Grandpa

Last night I got in a enough time to make up one set of barrettes… I made the candy corn ones from this pattern. Pretty good for a first go. I cut out all the pieces I need to make Trinity a bunny clip but it was going to take too much time and Echo was up off and on being fussy most of the night. There are a couple other patterns on that site I would like to try out, though some require ribbon I don’t yet have.

Candy corn

Saturday is looking like our day to  get things done – we need to put together the twins’ old bed in Emanuel’s room and move that bed into our room and convert it to a crib. With taking today off we are determined to finish our frog lapbook tomorrow. It is bigger than I expected and the boys are very pleased. We are going to put up a poster paper for our Spring poster already with all the pretty foam flowers on our table.

Now I have to go start that meal plan for the week… hopefully we can stick with it!!

Hat thief