December 26-30

Otherwise known as the Boxing Day that wasn’t. Here in Minnesota it was life as usual. Well for the rest of the world (even Baba went to work as usual!). WE had a Boxing Day as usual. For the Reinsch-Johnson family that means a day in pj’s playing with our new toys and eating leftovers.

The day was nice enough to boot the kids outside for a bit of course.

Echo gave her all as a fairy flitting here and there.

It was the next day – Friday where we got the perfect snowman making snow. And as a promise had been extracted from me to NOT do schoolwork until after New Years, well this Mommy is cringing at the lack of worksheets and spelling tests… just a little!

Though the kids did make good use of those new toys.

We also got our Christmas care package from Grandma and Grandpa Mike. Definitely full of some fun goodies.

The kids had tons of fun over the weekend with their cousins. There was no Sunday school so they played on uninterrupted.

Crafting

Going to a movie with Nana and Baba!

We did a little shopping on the Monday and spent some of our Christmas money, replaced a game we had already and generally had a nice family outing.

Grandma money

Exchanged game

Then we snuck in ONE learning activity – I had taped a new Wild Kratts. So we watched and did our mini poster.

Bullfrogs

Then… well we had one day left to the year… which I will talk about in our next entry!!!

We are keeping the trend of Echo (well all the kids) experiencing firsts going. Today it was ECHO’S chance to see her very first in theatre movie! This was a lesser known one called – Flushed Away. We had a few thrown binkies and had to pass her back and forth between Ken and myself a few times but all in all she did quite well! 

Snuggled in the theatre

Of course with the popcorn during the movie the consensus after was that NO ONE was hungry. So we postponed our dinner out and went back to the Novak’s to do a combo kids run and adults visit… oh and Ken napped in the middle of it all. Seriously I LOVE these kids… not only are they sweet and hilarious but Anthony and Andrew are total gems (when they want to be helpful or in Anthony’s case any time Echo is involved). We had a magic show and watched the kids run back and forth and in and out. 

Anthony and Echo

Andrew in the trash???

There is some thing so refreshing for the mind and soul when you visit with a good friend. I always feel better after an afternoon with Darcy. There is always something to talk about and humourous anecdotes to share. Seriously, her kids crack me up and I am rather sure the antics of mine do the same to her. 

Well after around 2 hours of visiting and kids running the tummies started growling. So after a leisurely rousing of Ken, Anthony getting kicked in a most pain creating place (accidentally) and a rather painful head collision we were ready to collect the shoes and head out. But not before taking a group shot! I cannot believe how our group of 9 look together… they seriously look like they fit together! 2 families… 9 kids… all varying shades of blonde and the majority boys… I think we’ve done good!

All 9! (Zander left)

Where to take 9 hungry kids and not break the budget? Well apparently McDonald’s has better prices here in Minnesota than they did in Canada. AND  they still have the 2 cheeseburger meal! Oh and chicken nuggets 20 for 5.00! So all 7 of us came to 20.oo and we all were full. I love the any size pop 1.00 deal during the summer! 

McDonald’s

As we were leaving Darcy commented that we must have looked like the show Sister Wives. One husband with his two wives. Especially since through the first half of the meal Ken sat on my side of the table with Trinity between us and then the other half next to Darcy (he moved so Emanuel could see the tv that was playing Rio) add to that all of our kids looking like they could be related and… well it was a funny thought!

The day looked to be on the verge of raining until we made our way to a park. Then it got hot and sunny. Which worked perfectly with our plan to wear out the kiddos. Actually I would have to say this was about THE BEST park we have come across locally in Minnesota. Though it is closing down on the 20th so they can begin construction on what they call a splash pad here (splash park)… so NEXT summer… I am pretty sure everyone can guess where we will be meeting the Novaks!

Swinging

TRAIN

Trinity the pirate

Ken declared our time at the park at an end and then promptly began a soccer scrimmage on the green behind it. It was wonderful to watch him go all out playing with the kids though! And they made sure EVERYONE got to kick the ball around a little… Echo included.

Dog pile on Ken

Seriously though, Echo has found her perfect man in Anthony… she has him completely wrapped around her little finger. I would love to bring him home! 

Echo and her man

We said good bye after that and headed back home, light supper and then tv before bed… no butterfly yet but Zander did a quick draw of our chrysalis that is now at the bottom of our cup. It wiggled its way off its hanging thread. Ken has his gaming night tonight so of course I am solo. Which means early bed for the kids and then stitching up a storm! I feel a lot better having time with a friend and letting the kids get their time in with the Novak boys. We are already making plans for Saturday. Yup we are in for the long haul!!! 

Another Kohl’s clearance! With shoes I found in a bag we brought south

August 1

When we finally get settled in our “permanent” or “forever” Minnesota home I swear we will HAVE TO find a place at least slightly if not more so closer to the Novak family as we just have TONS of fun with them! This time it was a FREE movie… Puss in Boots! In fact, this was Trinity’s FIRST movie in a theatre! Echo, who was feeling under the weather stayed home with Baba who was also recovering and thus unable to go with Nana to a friend’s chemo treatment. 

The new dress at 5.50

The movie itself was free and then you bought your refreshments…  5.00 for popcorn and 4.50 for a large pop – both REFILLABLE! So for 6 of us the entire movie cost us 9.50. Ken figures it was worth the 30 min drive to the theatre which is actually closer to Darcy and her family than us. Next week is Robots, so if Ken is NOT in Canada collecting our stuff that day guess where we will be?? 

Waiting for the Novaks

Checking out the trailers

I have to say, Anthony and Andrew at their more advance ages are absolute GEMS! Anthony and I took all the others kids to seat and share seats while Darcy, Ken and Andrew worked on snacks. Anthony was sweet enough to sit with some of our boys so that we could sit on each end. After all with this being Trinity’s first movie I needed to sit with her and focus on her the most. We had so little problems, I was so proud!!!

Anthony and the boys

POPCORN

Ken says this is the quietest movie he had been to in 10 years! Seriously with tons of kids, mostly young, mommies and a few babies and the odd daddy… the most you heard was the munch munch of popcorn and the odd baby cry! It was amazing! After the movie there was some drawings made for the Novaks to send home and then it was back to the house for a quiet rest of the day. 

Note the Dollar Tree sunglasses!

Ken  is on the tail end of the last of his contracts… done by the 2nd that is. And on the hunt for that new 9-5 job. The feeling around here is so much more … CALM… it is marvelous. Every day I am reminded that this was a GOOD decision. I don’t think there was a BEST or a PERFECT but this, this is GOOD and that is more than enough. We are going to continue with our Minnesota binder (once I get a binder to put it all in) and start thinking of the future, what is interesting in Minnesota? What sort of free resources can I find here? Time to create a new network!!

Playing the Dollar Tree Snakes and Ladders… NICELY!!