Well the mail is still not working in my favour – 3 things sent right before Christmas and 3 still not there AND still waiting on something from our board. UGH I am re-sending my Canadian envelope on Monday… WITH a tracking number! I am debating changing my shipping amounts based on this experience. I need to see how much more it is with a number and then I think I may just require it! Though after posting on Facebook about my frustrations at least 3 other people shared their stories. Apparently 10 weeks is normal at times sending to the states!!! OUCH We sent something out about 7 weeks ago still not there. The tracking number is somewhere in the house but Ken was able to call with the info and find it in CUSTOMS… that just kills me, lots of handmade stuff in there. 

The last two days have been a bit trying… being a woman SUCKS sometimes (ok monthly) but being one with a minor cold is worse. Echo followed suit with a runny nose and a cranky disposition. This did not stop us from a few exciting completions!! First off, Gavin finished his Grade 1-2 Addition and Subtraction review book! I am so proud of him, he got all the way up to adding and subtracting 3 digit numbers. And when we went back to the original workbook he has today he blew threw the pages!

COMPLETION

Then there was our Chinese New Year poster… talk about dragons!!! We had to overlap and wiggle around to fit everything but it was worth it! So many bright colours and beautiful pieces of art! Everyone had a hand in the creation of it. Litterally… all 4 kids had hand dragons put on it!!

Lovely!

Then we moved onto fun with our Valentines supplies… of course the Legos were out at the same time so Gavin skipped right over that to making Lego hearts! Very sweet… Emanuel made one too.

Hearts from two of my boys

Don’t forget the cactus and orange, also courtesy of Gavin.

So creative!

He did do some Valentines decorations – two lovely paper chains, one with foam hearts added to each of the white chains. 

Two paperchains

We had a frustrating evening with Ken swamped with work, phone calls… cranky kids… but we survived. Sometimes Ken’s working from home can cause minor upsets when we need to do things like buy groceries or do something family related. This is compounded by my inability to drive… but we make do! Of course it is this same choice that gives us the bulk of our flexibility. I am amazed at how supported I feel when I am stressed with homeschooling or the kids when they want to show daddy something. Instant gratification. He has chosen an hard path, working as an independent contractor but he is GOOD at it! 

Teaching his sister

I found a great Canadian movie on Netflix to wind down with tonight: At Home By Myself… With You. Romantic comedy for the win. Thank you Netflix. 

The left over frustration is really centered on the van… it was to go in tonight but that certainly did NOT happen. It goes in TOMORROW afternoon… keep your fingers crossed that FOURTH time is the charm! Oh and that it IS just the coolant system once again. I am going to create a calmer February if I have to drag the kids kicking and screaming. 

She was play feeding herself

Some days just cry out to be boardgame days… today’s overcast weather left us with the blahs I think… so out came the games. There was some argument and a few games ended rather abruptly when those arguments could not be resolved but everyone had fun. Zander even taught the little ones how to play some new (to them) ones.

3D snakes and ladders

Echo took full advantage of her abandonment to crawl into Trinity’s room (that we cleaned yesterday… not that you can tell) and climb into what she considers her sized containers. The cradle my grandpa MacLean made me, the plastic bucket Trinity has her “pets” in… she has become quite the fearless climber lately. 

In the cradle and further proof she is still a lightweight... that is meant for DOLLS

She climbs FACE FIRST into this one!

And a bonus - she loves Trinity's little sofa

Emanuel and Trinity wanted to do some schoolwork so both brought out their workbooks. Trinity basically colours the pages and traces as she feels but Emanuel is motoring through his. We are working mainly on letter sounds and the numbers right now. Thank goodness for the mini math office. Having the numbers in front of him gives him so much more confidence. I have the numbers 1-20 up on the wall in the livingroom where our blue table is but when he and I are working together we are at the diningtable which is numberless. 

Workbook time

Gavin has been hard at work once again on his sewing… a lovely friend from an egroup is sending him a packet of various beginner patterns. I have not told him yet to surprise him but am under specific instructions that as the package is under HIS name HE is to open it! 

Another self design!

We are going the limited candy route mainly due to upset cold related stomachs lately. Lots of teeth brushing and EARNING of treats  though. With runny noses and copious coughing in the bedrooms last night I am watching them all rather closely.

Echo has gone through multiple wardrobe changes… messy diaper led to trying on an old favourite that was too big (seriously 6-9 month TOO BIG STILL?) and then settling on a sweet hoodie with a Piglet theme. I am amazed how many baby clothes are basically Halloween costumes in disguise!

BRIGHT

Piglet

I have fallen in love with a series of travel shows featuring Michael Palin (you know, one of the Monty Pythons). Tonight I finished Around the World in 80 Days on Netflix. I love his sense of humour and the actual life they show. Next is his Pole to Pole. And a stern reminder to myself NOT  to read the other viewer’s comments beforehand… they are never very complimentary as a whole.

We forgot all about our Wednesday story morning so that has been postponed until tomorrow… We have some factual books on mice to enjoy as well as the ones the little ones picked out last night. I have some book searching to do, it has been a while since I have had a lovely stack of books to read through and enjoy for MYSELF.

So otherwise we have started our talk about Christmas presents and making our own… this always has the boys excited! And I have started solid work on completing those craft projects not requiring my favourite adhesive (so nothing paper related). I hope to have a new feltie to show off VERY soon! Remember I AM selling the ones I have made so far one Facebook with my owls on It’s a Hoot! I would love to send a few off to new homes!  

Even fairies like a little help from a big brother once in a while

And the Halloween costume saga has come to its amazing completion. We have FIVE (count them FIVE!) complete costumes, 4 of which are in some way, shape or form handmade by myself or someone we deeply love and appreciate. Whew! Echo’s costume was most certainly a group effort. First is the lovely skirt/apron combo that came all the way from NOVA SCOTIA!! Then Ken was our hero and made our crook. He used much the same stuff as Gavin’s tail. And then under the skirt was a tutu of Trinity’s. Add to that the lovely Fat Sheepas her second half and I am pleased as punch. 

Little Bo Peep has found her sheep!

And apparently knocked said sheep over

Look! A sheep!

Happy Halloween!

Sunday means Sunday School and last night we had full intentions of ALL going… that is until Emanuel spent most of the evening sniffling and waking up periodically in his room while I did my usual diningroom table work. So instead we saw Ken off with the twins and Trinity and retired to the basement to watch The Cat in the Hat Knows All About That. Echo was SUPPOSED to go to nap but has a runny nose herself and is loathe to sleep right now so all 3 of us snuggled on the couch. 

Sunday morning snuggles

It has been an odd day, with the rush of costume making done, the cleaning of the basic household upstairs clutter also completed I am sort of… well… without pressing “to do’s”. So I snuck in a 15 min nap that turned into an hour… downloaded a game trial or two from Bigfish Games… 

We had some crafty kids today – Emanuel and Zander both sat down to do some Halloween themed painting. We have a lovely selection of colours so it is rather easy to convince the kids to do up something bright and fun. 

Painting with Halloween colours

Completed art

I found a Christian Halloween themed mini book for the kids to colour when they felt like it, of course once I put out the markers the younger two were quick to jump in and do theirs. You can find this mini book right here. I figured we should have something to do that is Sunday related but still falls in with their main interest of the weekend – HALLOWEEN! 

Pumpkin prayer

Trinity and I found a set of paper dolls for her to colour. I did these on regular printer paper as she is really not old enough to get the colouring neat and tidy or even more than like 3 colours, We chose the first dolls and then the clothes sheet with dresses. You can find the dolls we used here.

Just need to cut them out

The day may have started out chilly but by the afternoon it was absolutely GORGEOUS! So the kids went out and ran and ran in the backyard. The weather report is actually quite favourable for tomorrow as well! 

Swinging

I took advantage of the fall leaves and nice weather to finally take some pictures of my felties. Though a baguette went missing so I had to make up a new one for my wolf.

Whole group - a little too much sun on the white ones though

Ram

Wolf and his basket

OH Trinity wore my penguin headband today. I am actually rather pleased with how it looks. I have two waiting for their alligator clips still, but I am still debating the angle of the birds on the clips. A dragon pattern is on the docket next… I am looking forward to that one!!

Penguin on a headband... This headband is a Goody brand one so it fits Trinity AND me... What does everyone think?

Gavin has made some nice progress on his new cross stitch. Another self design! Can you tell I am proud as can be? 

So far

That leaves the baking for tonight… the prep work for taking FIVE kids out to trick or treat at two malls and a couple neighbourhoods. I have already made up the two dozen cupcakes a certain amazing cousin requested. bread is in the breadmaker (first of TWO loaves as sandwiches and the like are the theme of the day tomorrow for simplicity sake) and dough for my bannock bread awaiting Ken’s touch with the grease cooking… now to convince Ken to get started on a chocolate to die for brownie, cake thing!! 

This is how lovely it was today - no socks, no sweater and warm and happy... well except when leaves touched her feet.