Tag Archive | HLSA

A Weekend of Fun!

What a busy weekend! We started out with driving down to where my mom lives – normally an hour away we spent half the drive going 50 km/hr and NOT getting passed! Snow and ice on the roads until we hit the main highway… the boys were very impressed at how slowly Daddy was going! Once we got there fun was definitely had by all! Ken napped in the basement for a nice chunk of the time and my mom and I took Trinity downtown to do some shopping. I got myself a slightly smaller magnetic ring to go over the one I have on my left thumb to better keep it on when my thumb is NOT swollen. My mom picked up a weeping Buddha…

After we did our little bit of shopping and woke Ken up we headed over to Mom and Mike’s cabin. A definite work in progress but wonderful location and lots of nice features… there is talk of adding a septic tank and getting a functioning bathroom in as well! The current outhouse has a huge window in the door!! Odd!

The Cabin! (the door there opens to the "basement" of sorts)

The Cabin! (the door there opens to the "basement" of sorts)

Main Seating Area

Main Seating Area

My mom also taught me how to make a pillow with a cross stitch in the centre. I watched carefully and am hoping I can reproduce it myself with some of the pieces I have already made! This piece is a commission so I won’t post pictures just yet but I am very happy with how it turned out! I also scavenged through her fabric and patterns and got a couple ideas of things to make next! I am so going to have to invest in some stuffing!

Talk about a REAL completion – my mom finished off Aidan’s stocking for me, I now have it in my hands COMPLETE! I am so pleased!!! I cannot wait to get together the cash to ship it down south to the little boy it was made for!

Front of Stocking

Front of Stocking

Back of Stocking

Back of Stocking

So now with my new box of supplies and things from my mom’s house I am looking forward to a craft filled week. I have to get the boys’ ornaments prepped and sorted for giving, do something with my dissected teddy bear parts AND maybe even make each of our 4 kids and my nephew a stuffy!

Of course after we got home from our day trip we had our weekly gaming night with Chris and Chris. Since (he) Chris has a night job starting tomorrow and is looking at imminent surgery it is probably going to be our last for a while! Bah! But we had fun and they treated us to Edo Japan food.. mmm.

We lucked out as Chris and Chris were also free THIS afternoon so that we could all go back to the John Walter museum and see how they make stew on the wood burning stove (oh and some more scones).

Gavin in the Wood Pile

Gavin in the Wood Pile

The interpretors were so nice and the weather perfect. The boys spent most of their time running in the snow and playing in the woodpile (suggestion of one of the interpretors). Trinity was all over the place giggling and running and falling down in the snow. It certainly didn’t bother her!

Running Baby!

Running Baby!

The stew was absolutely delicious, on top of the normal things (beef, potatoes, carrots, onions) they also added home made sauerkraut. It was not overwhelming but added an amazing kick to the stew! I would love to give it a go but I am not sure Ken would be too enthused! Chris and Chris went into the 1901 house for a tour as well. I think we all had a great time. I am a little sad – they are not open from Jan-Mar which is a huge chunk. Though it IS rather cold around here then.

Mmm Stew (Gavin red)

Mmm Stew (Gavin red)

In the morning the twins went off  to Sunday School and came back with adorable advent wreaths made out of playdoh. They are a little garbled on what you use them for and how they work though Zander was VERY clear that you COULD touch the candles when they are NOT lit.

Advent Wreaths!

Advent Wreaths!

We had our weekly run to H&W though Ken went in without us – another 8lbs of strawberries for 8.00. So I will be busy tomorrow cutting and prepping a large chunk of those for freezing. This Christmas I am determined to have some strawberry featured dishes. I am debating making the chocolate candy cane cake I made years ago by a Kraft recipe. I found it again online.

I am excited about the pattern page – we have added our first in a line of Chibis – a penguin… right now I am working on a bunny. Whispers of a panda and even a dragon to come! The mind reels with ideas sometimes! Hopefully by tomorrow I will have another couple up for sale and our freebies sorted out. So check back!

The mountain of laundry that calls me to fold it and the unknown response of the MP has us a bit unhinged for tomorrow. I would LIKE to go to a HLSA gathering at a park in town but we may have to head to the government office… I also have a card to resend since the post lost the original which means a trip to the local thread store and the pressing need to both pick up our photo cd from the photographer AND envelopes for my Christmas cards… there simply is not enough time in the day is there? Oh well all we can do is give it a go!

Loving the Puppy! (Zander)

Loving the Puppy! (Zander)

I am so proud of both the girls - Trinity for getting up the courage to go near and Harley for being so patient!

I am so proud of both the girls - Trinity for getting up the courage to go near and Harley for being so patient!


Stitching, Baking and Worrying = Being a Mom and Wife? OH Don’t Forget the Snow!!

Fall seems to have passed us by – winter snuck in this morning with a mini snowstorm! This was of course a source of TOTAL excitement among all 4 of the kids. Not so much for Ken and myself –  though I do admit I was a tiny bit excited. If nothing else, I love the look of snow and how much the kids enjoy it!

First Snow of the Year!

First Snow of the Year!

Of course first we did our letter for the day! The last one – Z! Zander is quite worried about what we are  going to do every day now that we are finished! So I have a new mission – find something that will last a while that they can do each day…

The End!

The End!

The letter Z accomplished we moved onto our next big adventure – the first snow of the year! So after our usual extended struggle getting all 4 kids and ourselves kitted out we all headed out the door to enjoy the first bit of snow.

Ready for Fun! (Gavin red)

Ready for Fun! (Gavin red)

Trinity was not sure of the outfit – which I must say is the best 10.00 spent this year! But we wrestled her into it. I used one of the lighter baby caps instead of the heavy toque as she was already complaining at that point.

Almost Ready to Go Out!

Almost Ready to Go Out!

Outside the boys just went nuts! Of course there was not enough out there to make a snowman but Gavin made do and made himself a snow VOLCANO!

Gavin's Snow Volcano!

Gavin's Snow Volcano!

Collecting What They Can (Zander left)

Collecting What They Can (Zander left)

Trinity kept herself busy running back and forth down the sidewalk and checking out the neighbor’s yards with Daddy. I think Ken and myself got cold and bored before she did! But was she ever ready for a nap when we brought her in and sent the boys to the backyard.

These Boots Are Made for Walking!

These Boots Are Made for Walking!

...and Leaving Baby Prints!!

...and Leaving Baby Prints!!

With the Daddy Man!

With the Daddy Man!

This movement right into winter fun has also prompted me to start our winter lapbook activities. So today we talked about fall and then coloured a winter sight words book I printed from an online resource. I really like these sight word resources. The boys seem to be responding to them positively. I did find a book I could order online for a modest amount so I am thinking wish list item!

Sight Word Books!

Sight Word Books!

The cold weather also gave me a great opportunity to try out my homemade hot cocoa on the boys. I added another 1/4 cup of icing sugar to our mix and that seems to be the magic amount. So yummy! All I need to do now is find pastry bags to package it up. Ken is pulling out first rock candy on sticks out of the mix tonight! We think we FINALLY have the amounts down so I am hoping to start the packaging very soon.

Hot Cocoa in the Big Boy Mugs! (Zander blue)

Hot Cocoa in the Big Boy Mugs! (Zander blue)

Today was take two on the beans! I am very pleased with them… the boys are requesting them for EVERY meal and the bulk white beans Ken bought are so affordable! My mom suggested chilli though it is more expensive to make… so I think I may look into the price on barley and make beef barley soup like she says my grandma used to make. I do love a good beef barley soup!

In fact, I believe I will go on another cooking binge. Ken was able to get me a large amount of flour and sugar for cheap at the warehouse place so tomorrow I will take the egg yolks from today’s apple oatmeal cookies and make another double batch of the sugar cookies… these ones to ice red to go with the green ones for Christmas… I wonder how cherry icing would go over?? I also am feeling the hankering for applesauce muffins… I have some in the freezer but fresh is always good… have I mentioned I bake when I worry?

Yup and worrying I am once again – I got a call from a bank that is in charge of the original student loans I got (back when you HAD TO go through a bank) that I am behind on payments… confused! And then I called the GOVERNMENT which is in charge of the rest of my national… and they have STILL not figured out how my repayment restructuring is going to go. That has been WEEKS past when it was supposed to and is VERY much needed. Of course the operator I talked to put in a RUSH on it which… get this… has set the response for ANOTHER 5 days from today?? Anyone want to tell me when my government will start to work FOR me? Of course the BANK treats the loans like regular loans so until the decision is reached I have to keep paying the full monthly amount to them… blood from a stone huh?

The big craft activity today was part one of two… back when we did the letter V on Starfall.com they had an image of a volcano blowing up. One of the boys asked if we could make one so I jumped on it. We are making a mini lapbook… some pictures of volcanoes they can colour, a little book on magma and the letter V… I am also planning on printing out a couple pictures I took myself of the volcano and then one tomorrow to paste in there (just printed out on printer paper).

We still have the homemade play doh from way back in June when we went to Nathan and Ada’s wedding. Nathan’s mother was so kind as to have activities for the kids and then sent us home with half of them! So I put the homemade play doh in zip loc in the refrigerator and it is still to this day usable. I figured a volcano was a good sacrifice for 3 of the colour packages. So we brought it out, a disposable roasting pan and a plastic cup. Using play doh to form the volcano (and grass at the bottom according to Ken), we put a plastic cup in the centre for tomorrow’s explosion. This is left out to dry and harden. Vinegar and baking soda later and I am sure we will have 3 VERY happy boys! Ok 4…

Base and Cup

Base and Cup

Making the Grass Around the Volcano (Zander decided Ken was making a pickle!)

Making the Grass Around the Volcano (Zander decided Ken was making a pickle!)

Proud Volcano Creators! (Gavin green)

Proud Volcano Creators! (Gavin green)

I tried the tutu on Trinity and was unhappy with the waist size that I took from the instructions. Thankfully I had made another waist based on her exact measurement that I had not disposed of and un-knotting the first layer is nothing impossible. So I re-tied them and I think the result is VERY cute. She is still not too happy about wearing it yet but I am hoping once I finish the waist with a softer ribbon she may bend a little. Tonight I am hoping to get Ken to cut the shorter green pieces with a point to them (something I have not done before) and then by the weekend have the entire piece done. I am a little disappointed that I have been unable to hunt down red leggings amongst the bits and pieces Trinity has been given in the past but I have some ideas. I will post pictures as I go!

Trying the Tutu for Size!

Trying the Tutu for Size!

The other idea I have for the boys and their lapbooks is paper dolls – there is UK site that has some and links to others (though their asian dolls are not exactly pretty for some odd reason). A lot of the doll sets have winter clothes and Halloween costumes, so I figured why not have the dolls in each book with a set of things that go with the theme? I know I know a bit girly… but I figure fun all the same! I found a snowman with a set of scarves and hats to match that I am going to put in Emanuel’s book. I am not sure how to make the pieces stick without ruining the snowman though, I really am looking forward to getting a laminator. What I MAY do is get some cheap velcro with a sticky back and go that route.

Tonight is Thursday night – guy night – so I am making an apple crumble for the boys to snack on during their gaming. I just can’t get away from the apples! Ken also got us signed up for the HLSA group for homeschoolers. I look forward to having access to their forums and a first hand notice about their events and information!

I am creeping up on another quick finish – the 3rd monster. I am debating on a design for Trinity but Ken is planning on getting me my cousin’s wedding present and a random one I came up with first. The pattern section is still in progress but I am optimistic that Ken will get it up tonight or tomorrow morning.

Monster #3

Monster #3

With this cold weather I am unsure on what our plans are for tomorrow. A couple families cannot make the nature centre so I am watching my email to see what the rest of the people say… Other than that we have the volcano to play with, Fall to work with and Colours and Shapes to finish! I am excited about that one – our first big project! I hope it turns out as well as I am thinking. Completing things always gives me a bit of a boost!

A Smile on My Face and Love in My Heart - What More Do I Need?

A Smile on My Face and Love in My Heart - What More Do I Need?

Patterns, Homeschooling and Some 2005 Pictures

I think this is my week of getting things done but at the same time feeling a wee bit like I am falling short on my goals. Little things, like today I REALLY wanted to get the whole family out for a walk or to play Candyland but Ken had to travel further than I thought he would have to to go and get Trinity’s new snowsuit (new to us at least!). That ate up a huge chunk of our evening.

The trip to get the snowsuit was so worth it though! For 10.00 we got a two piece snowsuit, hat and mittens. All that is left is boots (Saturday). She is not too sure about the outfit but I am sure that once the snow comes and she sees her brothers all decked out and ready to play outside she will be quick to follow.

Snowsuit!

Snowsuit!

The boys spent a nice chunk of their time outside playing in the backyard. At one point they built a shed for Emanuel’s bike to park in. Quite the endeavour. They are all 3 becoming quite the pros at pedalling. I am not certain but next year we may be able to take off the training wheels on the twins’ bikes. I know that we are hoping to get Emanuel his first bike on his birthday in February (the twins were 4 when they got their bikes). Trinity gets his trike in the spring I think.

Building the Trike Shed! (Zander red)

Building the Trike Shed! (Zander red)

School wise we were hard at work with the letter J. So of course I took the opportunity to have each of the big boys write out the name Johnson – I got one try out of each before they were VERY unimpressed but their letters are looking a lot better. I figure I will leave the pages with my example at the top down where they can get to them and have them practice at least once a day. Eventually we have to add the “Reinsch” in as well but I figure if I can get them to spell out Johnson and be able to SAY both that is a minor victory.

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice Makes Perfect

Of course we did our time on the computer… J is for jellybeans, jumping… that sort of thing. Which then had us gluing together our painted pieces for frames (we finished them off before bedtime with a little glitz). Tomorrow I have requests for painting pieces black, brown and purple! I did one frame up myself with the left overs… though I may just tie it with a cord and have it be an as is ornament.

Letter J (Gavin yellow)

Letter J (Gavin yellow)

For our match component I had them do a dot-to-dot. A bear fishing in a boat actually. I think they are to be gifted to my mom this weekend. Hopefully tomorrow we will have the time for Candyland as a family.

Dot to Dots

Dot to Dots


Proud Artist! (Zander)

Proud Artist! (Zander)

I also sat down with each of the twins and did their Bible lesson with them. I want to work on the scripture memorizing some more but they each drew a picture to send back. The story was about two kids working in a garden so they drew their own pictures of the garden to send back. I am amazed at how much they retain after one reading of the story (of course much more when it is one on one like today then when we read in a group session). I love it when they amaze and/or surprise me like that!

Bible Lesson Pictures

Bible Lesson Pictures

For the first time I had to struggle to get enough apples for the applesauce! Not only did I have to climb up on the ladder but I had to use a couple of the Granny Smiths we bought on Sunday at H&W. Don’t get me wrong I can SEE apples up in the tree… I am just too short to get them ladder or no.

Since to day was 9/9/09 Walmart had that deal I mentioned in a previous entry – 99 photos for 9.99. So this morning when the boys headed out to play I sat down and ordered my 99. Finally I am working on filling up my 2005 album. OLD pictures! The twins with curls, baby Catherine who is now 4 I think. And the quality – hilarious to think of how proud we were of that old camera! But the memories are grand and the pictures good enough.

Zander and Gavin With Their Great Grammy 2005

Zander and Gavin With Their Great Grammy 2005


Zander Curls and All! 2005

Zander Curls and All! 2005


Baby Catherine Davey! 2005

Baby Catherine Davey! 2005

Speaking of pictures and the like – last night we added another free pattern onto the site. I am debating revamping the page to eventually be only the patterns or move it to a new link to avoid cluttering and allow me to still post the pictures of stuff I do that is NOT of my own design. This newest IS containing a mild swear – the “A” word that I did up for my sister in law so be forewarned! Ken is also adding my donation button – fingers crossed something comes of that! Who knows right?

http://lisa.voidcast.ca/?page_id=10038

Stitching wise I worked on and finished the name on the stocking today! Finally the recipient is clear! Thank goodness his name is nice and short. I am very happy with how the lettering turned out. Tomorrow I will either work on the stocking or start on another small project. Ken is working out the issues with my pharmacist themed one so I am debating getting started on one of the little monsters I plan on doing for the boys for their Christmas presents.

AIDAN!

AIDAN!

I have to admit that for all that goes on in our day I still worry that we are not quite doing enough. Are the boys getting everything they should out of our education? Am I including enough to keep them busy, occupied and learning? Should I be doing more.. less.. things differently? Amazing how you can be confident one second and doubting the next but I am! Sometimes it is nice to talk to people on the outside looking in (supportive people mind you!) to hear how they see our progress. Lately I have had people complimenting me and the boys all over the place so that is a bit of a boost. I just have to work on my own awareness of progress. After all they ARE learning new things and asking more and more questions. I guess I need to not only be proud of them but of us as a family unit – we ARE learning as we go and it IS a fun process (most of the time) and that is important! So much to think about every day that sometimes you just feel a little over whelmed. Thank goodness for Facebook and egroups for support!

Sean came by after his doctor’s appointment today – more not good news, since he can’t rotate the ankle another 2 weeks on limited work which means he CAN’T work since as a plumber in the company he is working for there isn’t work that fits the criteria to be done. Frustrating! But Trinity and Emanuel were happy to have him over to play with!

Playing With Uncle Sean!

Playing With Uncle Sean!

With Sean already here Alan called up to see what was going on and so started a night of Magic in my kitchen. Not a horrible thing except my table is being taken up by the guys while I am trying to bake cookies. Trinity is in love with the oatmeal applesauce cookies so I needed to make another batch to have enough to make it through our busy weekend. Tomorrow I want to make the dozen apple muffins for mom and Mike and then Friday I will make ANOTHER batch of the oatmeal applesauce for the Sunday School bbq on Sunday (not sure if WE are staying but the cookies will!). I just finished off a batch of sugar free leather for mom and Mike as well (he is insulin dependant). So not bad on the baking!

Magic Night!

Magic Night!

Tomorrow we are not going to the park date. Ken has a conference call in the morning (YAY) and then in the afternoon I have to sit on the phone and fill out student loan repayment forms with the government (hopefully this will result in a quick and POSITIVE conclusion unlike the previous government dealings!). So I think that I will try and get the boys out on the bikes and then a bit of an early family game night. (as long as Ken makes it to HLSA to drop off our application form) Saturday and Sunday are more than going to make up for missing the park session I think. Saturday’s corn maze will be a first for ALL of us – I think we may even take the video camera! It even looks like it should be warm and there is a petting zoo… it is going to be HARD to get the boys to go home all 4 of them!

Maybe the Sign of a Few More Sunny Days to Come?

Maybe the Sign of a Few More Sunny Days to Come?