Back to the reflection on the rest of 2017 and September. First off, September was my month of HONEST PHOTOS. So if you search out those two words you will find weekly posts sharing that little experiment. No filters, no cropping.

This is a picture heavy month so I may split it up into two posts, plus there was the Renaissance Festival, which I will share separately. Good grief, I just made more work for myself!

Let’s see… YMCA was visited… often, as usual. This was the tail end of our summer stuff, plus a continuation of things like my work outs and the karate classes.

Zander

Neko-chan won our hearts even more, this time with OUTINGS! Yup, we chinchilla proofed our bathroom as best we could and try to let her out once a week at least. She seems to approve, though getting her into the cat carrier is a trick at the best of times.

We spent lots of time outside, with the loss of our summer walks to the YMCA we took as many as possible to the front lawn of the nearby Catholic church. They have Poke stops there as well as a lovely yard to sit in.

We started our new school year relatively quietly, really with the year round schooling and the kids really enjoying ongoing pursuits (like the nursery rhymes) there isn’t a huge need to “start fresh” in the fall. But we did do pictures and such.

Zander

Gavin

We even had a lovely special lunch.

There were a few new supplies and of course full time in the classroom once more.

Sunday School started up again, I am now a substitute teacher for the little dudes.

The siding was replaced on the house.

And on the inside we put shelving into the schoolroom that can be adjusted.

Dinner out with the godson was a family affair this time.

But we also got in some fancy dress date nights.

We finally got to meet our new niece Maevowyn. You will remember her baby shower from my post way back when. Just Ken and I went to visit since Shandai and Ravyn have a smaller apartment and we have a larger family. I am one proud aunty. You can see a photo post HERE. But first a teaser. 

And visited an amazing yarn exhibit.

I got in some crafting myself.

Echo got her school shots going.

And I got an awesome mug.

Fall fun.

A busy, people and activity filled month. Be sure to check out the overflow and the baby post and and and. Love to everyone who made it to the end of this monster post!

But, I may just catch up before Christmas??? Who knows! So sit back and enjoy the peek back!

Anyway, May. Well… Mother’s Day which means Mother’s Day photos. Of course since the weather was decent we drove down to the end of our road and took photos on the path. You can check out the photos HERE since this post is HUGE already!

Ken bought me the most adorable Totoro socks. We went to church. It was a lovely day.

May also found us at Mall of America at what I felt was one of the happiest places on earth… TIM HORTONS! There are multiple locations in state now, and I have visited more than a few!!

All out of Legos!

May was also Sean’s yearly visit. He drove down this year. We had a lot of fun with him.

Emanuel and Trinity got their white belts in karate. More on that HERE.

Of course we continued swimming lessons and visited ClubY. With myself keeping suitably busy as well.

New stationary machines!

Zander and Gavin had track.

I even got my hands on some back in production Clearly Canadian!!!

For lack of a bonfire we got creative making s’mores.

Ken and I tried our hand at some minor landscaping.

We even tried some backyard gardening.

My best gardener with her Gypsy dog toy pal

dead heading in pj’s

Berry bushes!

And we bought a can crusher which was fun for the kids for about… a week.

We had company… and went visiting.

Cousin Robbie

Schwartz family

Snoopy!

Crochet…

With Gavin

School…

Reading in the best vantage points

Eating out…

Walks to the park…

It was a busy month looking back! I forget how busy when the days pass by.

A sweet apology

sparklers!

Emanuel perfected his bicycle riding.

Quiet moment!

Toad!

Welcome to week 4 and the almost last post of my month of honesty!

Day 22

Another Friday, another date night. And a special one since we went all the way to the city to see a yarn bombing. Friday always feels transformative. I feel like me, not mom, not teacher… Just… Me. And right here, right now I am proud of that. 38 years old, 5 kids, in a different country then where I started, married 16 years… I can’t imagine loving anyone else like I do Ken. In all honesty, I feel blessed.

BONUS PICS

Yarn bomb

Day 23

Ken is a napper, especially on the weekends. We even manage to share the bed… sort of.

Day 24

Time for some Sunday honesty… I have a hard time sitting idle so I take sewing everywhere and crochet in public… I am only able to have bursts of extrovert socializing so often hide in comfy corners… I love people and small children but am horrible with names… With 5 kids my experiences with church service can be less harmonious and more stress inducing struggle, so a lot of my faith and religious experience is born out of my quiet careful sewing… I am shy and love quiet but enjoy watching others be outgoing and crazy… I am told I shine in one on one or small group gatherings… I know my limitations and try to push my boundaries… I am not always successful, but I always try to be genuine. Honest truth.

Day 25

A continuation off “Lisa doesn’t like to sit idle” combined with a son who didn’t want to swim on an evening we spend 2 1/2 hours at the YMCA on. Sometimes it feels like we live there… which I am ok with. Yes, that is more schoolwork for my full day homeschool kid. He says I am “diabolical”. I need to practice my evil laugh.

BONUS PIC

Yup… diabolical.

Day 26

Why do we even have desks? Trinity and Emanuel prefer to learn about elephants on the floor… That is Zander’s Pj clad butt and my comfy chair. Honest truth, comfort over desks, clutter over forced tidy… so far it seems to be working (that and today was pajama day).

Day 27

And the photo many are sure to be expecting… welcome to our garage. It WAS a 2 car at the beginning of summer. Before bikes and an attempt at cleaning began. Oh well, I bet we make all the neighbours feel awesome about their garages as they drive by!!!

Day 28

Thursdays are special, the only time any of my kids wear uniforms! Trinity and Emanuel in karate… Echo in cooking, and I tortured the twins by forcing them to go swimming. Evil mom buying them new suits and tossing them in the pool for an hour.

BONUS PIC

And as for myself, a decent mile!

And that is the week, just a handful of days left!