Tag Archive | Fort

One Week Old and Counting

Well Echo is now just over a week old (as of Friday) and an absolute dream of a baby. We have yet to have more than a day or so of calm, visitor free time so the kids have definitely not settled into a routine that includes having a new baby. That is what THIS upcoming week is for, figuring out what preparation is needed homeschool wise to have the kids occupied during the times Echo needs me and finding enjoyable and QUIET occupations for those nap times that occur.

1 week old pre editing

Nana and Baba’s visit coincided with over 200 fires in BC which meant for MOST of the time we were kept rather close to home to avoid the smoke hanging over the city and much of the province. Nana is an asthmatic and we didn’t want to have Trinity running around when the smoke was at its thickest or Echo breathing in too much. So Thursday was spent indoors for the kids – playing Legos and watching tv and such with Nana and Baba. Ken, Echo and I ran out to do some minor shopping. I managed to get myself a pair of I guess yoga pants from Walmart (17.00) and some needed baby items. It is always nice to get out and about WITHOUT the bulk of the family. The smoke was absolutely horrible, when you went into stores it followed you in and everything was covered in a smog coloured haze.

Nana and Baba and the grandkids (Gavin yellow)

Thankfully by Friday the air had cleared enough for a family outing. We packed everyone up and headed off to the local Fort and for the first time ever actually SAW THE FORT! With the smoke and it being a week day it really was not that busy. So we started our adventure on the train!

Echo's first train ride

This took us straight to the oldest era at the park and the trading fort. We stuck around for the walk-through and then spent a nice portion of our visit checking out the fort and surrounding buildings. Ken found tons of photo opportunities and the boys and Trinity got excited about EVERYTHING.

Exploring the fort (Gavin yellow)

After the fort we went on through the eras until we hit a place to buy snacks and then the exit. After 2 hours there we were all ready to head off to home… with a quick stop off at T&T to show Nana and Baba what the boys term the “Chinese store.” Dragon fruit was purchased and we headed back home to enjoy our evening.

Exploring the tent/temporary homes (Zander blue)

Saturday began with an increase in smoke once again which had us grounded to the house until the late afternoon when we ventured out to the nearby park for an hour or so of play. Trinity was instantly shoeless and running around… Emanuel and Nana spent most of their time building sandcastles with the bucket and shovel that happened to be left in the van from our visit to mom’s cabin.

Little barefoot lady

Sandcastles at the park

Ken and I took Echo after all the fun was had at the park and got Ken a much needed haircut. It is always a bit of a treat to get to go out without all the kids! Add to that a shaved face and life is good.

Clean cut

Today we said good bye to Nana and Baba as they headed back to Minnesota. It was definitely a good visit and the kids had a blast with their grandparents. We are all looking forward to some down time now. Monday will be our first day of really being a family of 7 and working on a routine that will work. There is still Echo’s 2 week appointment to schedule… gotta love busy doctor’s offices who keep PUTTING YOU OFF! But Ken is determined.

I have to do some shopping again tomorrow – drawers for the gifts Nana and Baba brought the kids – SCHOOL SUPPLIES!

School supplies! (Gavin left)

I also get to pick out a belated birthday present from Ken’s folks… so MICHAELS for the win! And the thread store to pick up one skein of metallic floss for a gift for a friend’s mom (I HATE running out). In fact Ken’s folks showed up with a bag if threads for me – apparently Jo-Ann’s had a sale… so now I have to go through all of those (DMC) and sort. What a great gift! (and aida cloth too!) Should be fun.

Today was a special dinner for our family – Chris and Chris came over and made us lasagne! Talk about yummy! AND we got in a nice visit… so win win.

Nom nom nom

Now with all the kids (except Echo of course) in bed at a decent time my evening is free… I am hoping to get a scrapbook page done for Echo and maybe the 8×10 wall hanging for  Trinity’s room – bunny theme I am thinking… but other than that – veg!

A week and a couple days post baby

Finishing the Week

What is it about this family that every time we plan a morning out we basically OVER plan it? We started the morning with going to a homeschooling family’s garage sale where we managed to get a lovely amount of train track for 5.00, some coins (play) to go with our paper money (50 cents) AND a lovely little dolly and clothes for another 5.00… all great deals!

Train! (Gavin)

Of course we managed to truly start the day with BOTH of the twins throwing up. I figure something they ate late last night didn’t work with them. Gavin bounced back rather quickly but Zander opted to sit in the van and watch Pocoyo while we perused the garage sale (and empty his stomach further, thank goodness Ken remembered a bucket). By the time we got to the Fort he was much better though.

At the fort (Gavin left)

We have not been to the Fort for about 2 years. The last time was during the city’s free admission day and it was PACKED! This time we went before 11 am when a lot of the little period stores inside the park itself weren’t even open yet. We wandered around a little bit, peeking a few places and just had a leisurely walk. We didn’t see a fraction of the park, but with our Leisure passes we can come back ANY time before next April (though I think they are closed over the winter/spring) and see other parts. I didn’t want to over do it.

HORSE

Riding in style

The next time we go back we want to take the train (I believe it costs extra)… see the actual FORT part of it. I want to head back to the local conservatory next week just to get one last chance of some pictures with flowers and let the boys do some more art. I figure Friday, with my doctor’s appointment on Thursday.

This afternoon (after everyone had a nap), the kids kept busy with the train set and the pool and some general bickering. After all that rain we have A LOT of sun and with it quite a bit of heat. Not the best combination for yours truly. BUT the raspberries and apples are loving it. Even our little strawberry plant and tomato plant are producing.

Enjoying the pool (Zander)

Tomorrow we are dropping the boys off at Chris and Chris’ – who have even BIGGER news – they are getting married next year!! Guess who got asked to be the MAID OF HONOUR!!!! I have NEVER been an attendant at a wedding as an adult that was not my parents’! The boys will stay there overnight while Trinity, Ken and I head off  to a LAN party at Fydo and Kristen’s. This will be my first time seeing their new home. And then I am heading over to Karyn’s with Trinity who lives in the same city. Hopefully I can keep it low key, as now when I call my mom the first thing out of her mouth is – ARE YOU IN LABOUR?

I have pulled out an old WIP by Teresa Wentzler that I am debating actually keeping for myself. I am almost done all of the stitching leaving just the backstitch to contend with, but I need to get other projects done first (once I get the patterns from Ken of course). I am almost to the point where I can get working on the two stockings I want done for this Christmas – one for our nephew and the other for Trinity’s birthday buddy Quinn. I can finally post a picture of the logo I did up for a friend’s Etsy store!!! Check her out!! Little Pink Cottage!

Little Pink Cottage

Early night tonight with an early start in the morning though!!

36 Weeks!

Stocking, Shepherd’s Pie and the Beginning of Fall

Autumn is most certainly here! It is official – Ken has turned the heat back on, Trinity is wearing socks and the boys long pants. For around the house I dug out a fleece type long skirt to snuggle down in. (talk about old – I picked it up back in college for a steal!) Along with all this cold came leaves on the ground which excited the boys to no end and sped up our introduction to our fall lapbook with LEAF RUBBINGS!

Rub Those Leaves!

Rub Those Leaves!

All Done! (Gavin left)

All Done! (Gavin left)

The collection of the leaves was combined with a special treat – a nature walk with Daddy! Even Trinity got to go along… though she went for more of a nature carry! We are still getting used to coats and socks and shoes (the twins have LACE UP ones… pain in bum!)… good bye the ease of going out in the summer… hello the long Albertan winter!

Ready for the Walk! (Gavin right)

Ready for the Walk! (Gavin right)

Tree! (Zander blue)

Tree! (Zander blue)

Our morning, of course, started with a letter – V… this was Ken’s first try of what is basically a mini lapbook on his own – I think he took TWICE as long as I do! ACK! So our morning did not exactly go by my plan. They did have fun though and that is what counts!

Letter V (Gavin left)

Letter V (Gavin left)

I spent a portion of my day sorting through Emanuel’s clothes to make a pile of give aways. A homeschooling friend has a little boys who hopefully can use them! It amazes me how Emanuel ends up with SO MANY shirts and yet so few pants. So now his drawers close easily and his closet is much better organized. Double bonus!

Trinity has a new favourite song… seriously our kids are WEIRD! She went from educational to this:

Ok so I like it too and Emanuel is now trying to learn the words! But after a while her continuous wish to hear this tune is a little frustrating, yesterday I caught her attempting to move the mouse around to get it started again!! She dances along and waves her hands in the air which is totally cute so I guess I can live with it.

Do You Wanna Date My Avatar?? (Gavin)

Do You Wanna Date My Avatar?? (Gavin)

Supper was a bit of an experiment today… even without our 50 lbs of free potatoes we ended up with 20 lbs this weekend thanks to my mom and her lovely hubby… so I mashed up a bunch and set to work making a shepherds pie (with beef instead of the traditional lamb)… it was a hit! Though I think I will try it again with thyme instead of the tarragon we had to substitute.

American Shepherd’s Pie

1lb lean ground beef

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onions

1 can condensed vegetable soup

1/2 tsp dried thyme (we used tarragon)

3 cups mashed potatoes

1 cup shredded cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and lightly grease 2 quart baking dish.

2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, stir and cook ground beef, onion and celery until juices run clear. Drain. Pour mixture into baking dish with vegetable soup and thyme; stir well. Spread mashed potatoes on top.

3. Bake 20 min. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top and bake 5 min. more or until cheese has melted.

Cheese Melted Ready to Eat!

Cheese Melted Ready to Eat!

Trinity had a paired down version of just potatoes and beef but decided it was time to strike out on her own and GRAB THE SPOON! Towards the end of the meal she was soloing it… maybe not quite like a pro but with a great success rate!

Epic Spoon Usage!

Epic Spoon Usage!

Actually this week we had another big kid moment – Emanuel had decided to take it to the next level and sit on the toilet little boy seat free! Another high success rate as I have yet to sit down and get a wet surprise on the seat! With all these boys in the house that is a great big bonus – that and the seat being down when I go in at night… I have been VERY pushy about that one since the twins learned how to stand and pee.

Sewing wise I have been less than diligent but my completion of Tux has left me with nothing but the stocking to focus on for the moment… probably a good thing, I am finally seeing the end of  the bulk of it and dealing with the blending filament. I am hoping and praying that my last skein of Kreinik 032 (pearl) holds out… thank goodness for Thread Heaven and its magical thread conditioning properties. The amount of fray and actual broken strands is so low I ALMOST enjoy the stitching I am doing with it… almost. The shiny is terrific and I am loving the almost finished look but I find this the most frustrating part of a stocking – it is soooo close but NOT done!!!

The End is in Sight!

The End is in Sight!

We made a run out to the stores this afternoon… only two and with cash in hand of course. Ken ran into Staples and finally managed to get us some glue sticks – UHU as was suggested by some fellow homeschooling moms… so here’s hoping they stick better than the ross ones did. We actually got them for right around 5.00 for the pack of 3 which was a pretty good price (especially compared to the individual ones we saw at Michaels of the same brand!). So we shall see! Tomorrow we do a letter AND glue on leaves. Which reminds me we DESPERATELY need more white glue as well… but I figure I can dollar store that purchase easily.

UHU

UHU

The second stop off was Michaels, 40% off coupon in hand (if you go to flyerland.ca you can get the Michaels flyer and coupons now). We went into the wood section and got each of the boys a 1.50 craft. This time it was little wooden 4 piece puzzles  that each came with 3 mini markers. Emanuel chose the bee and the twins each a monkey. With 40% off one of the 3 puzzles we saved 60 cents. I wish I  could have gotten more – there were little bead kits for the same price but a budget is a budget… maybe if I sell a few more items on Kijiji or have someone commission me a Tux!

Completed Puzzles

Completed Puzzles

Speaking of which I did sell something today – the 6-12mth snowsuit I bought Trinity at the tail-end of the season last year that she never wore. Another 10.00 towards one of the kids’ large presents! We have a 15.00 limit on those and I already purchased Emanuel’s before life blew up in our face again. I have enough on my paypal to get one too so I may hunt down Trinity’s there and I have a Trios coupon for 5.00 off if you spend at least 10.00 so maybe go that route? Keeping Christmas tight and responsible is HARD!!!

I have some more plans to put in action (I can just feel people – like Ken – shuddering)… first off, tonight I am going to work with Ken to revamp the pattern and commission portion of my blog site – I will make that its own page and move my finished works (the ones done from other patterns) to a new section. I figure I should set them apart a little more and still leave myself the space to add my own works freely. Hopefully I will get some feedback about the new look. I do love to find out what people think.

Hmm what other plans – well Thursday we are tentatively heading out to the Fort… It may be cool but that is what coats and hats are for! I am determined not to let that free pass go to waste! I am also slowly working through my craft stuff to tidy it up and see what supplies I have to add to the pot for making Christmas ornaments. I am also going to focus some energy on getting together kits for the kids on our Christmas list. Tonight I am working on the caterpillar names for each of the kids. Ken has to make up the instructions yet but the boys love theirs on their doors. All in a little ziploc bag!

Finished Kit Just Needs Instructions

Finished Kit Just Needs Instructions

I guess keeping busy is cathartic for me… so tomorrow morning I bet I will end up baking! After all we are almost out of bread (both kinds) and completely out of cookies for Trinity. In making THOSE cookies I will have egg yolks to make another double batch of SUGAR cookies… which means I can make those and then freeze them for our Halloween party! Ohh I also need to make invitations to that… as I make myself MORE work! Wish me luck!

Beauty and the Beast?? Just Kidding :)

Beauty and the Beast?? Just Kidding 🙂