My Kids are Funny

Hi all!

It has been WWWAAAYYY too long since I posted anything on this blog, and doubly embarassing since the last post I wrote was Christmas cards I made then never got around to sending. Kind of tells you how busy December was.

Praying you all had a blessed Christmas and are ready to roar into 2012.

I don't have much to say, but my kids have spurted a few funnies in the past twenty four hours so I thought I would share those:

1) Tanner in church last night - "Why is Josh (the pastor) telling us to listen to a song about peeing? Why does he like pee so much?" The song was actually "Yearn" but our pastor has a broad Texan accent!

2) Nicolas in the middle of the night - Nicolas has a tendency to talk, loudly, in his sleep. Last night he woke up his brother, who found Nicolas sitting up in bed. Nicolas pointed at his shadow on the wall and told Tanner, "We need to build him his own clothes closet." Yeah, I don't think so!

3) Amanda tried to pay me a compliment by telling me I am smarter than a pig! Thanks, I think! LOL

Happy New Year!

Face Paint Fun

Amanda asked for face paint at her birthday party. My mum and sister very kindly picked some up, but then I forgot to use it.

Yesterday Amanda and Nicolas came to me asking for some, and I managed to oblige them. I am not artistic, so I am impressed with how well it turned out. I am sure the true artists are cringing but we had fun! LOL

Birthday Fun

Amanda turns 8 next week, and I got off easily for her party.
Instead of the typical little girl party where I had to entertain them with mind-numbing games she elected to have a BBQ with her friends and their families. Bonus - easy for me!

She had a Hello Kitty theme but I was so behind getting ready that there was no way I could get a Hello Kitty cake done. Instead, she let me off easily and we made rainbow cakes. In fact, I was so far behind, the cupcakes only got baked 6 hours before the party, which meant the icing knocked the top of the first cupcake I iced. The kids called it an icing cookie! After that, I piped the icing on and spread it VERY gently, and managed to keep the rest mostly intact.

Here is how our cupcakes looked:

One of the big advantages of a BBQ is that Michael does the cooking!

Lots of kids, lots of balls, which also meant lots of time digging balls off of the roof and out of neighbours' yards!

The birthday girl getting ready to blow out her candle (there was an "8" candle behind the sparklers).

Family Reunion Round-up

I am amazed at how fast the summer flies. So much for all my great plans to get lots of crafting done. So far I have done precisely... zero. Oops!

We did, however, spend a week on Cortes Island with Michael's family. It was especially fabulous to watch the kids connect with their cousins. The kids had lots of fun and enjoyed sailing, clam digging, fishing, shopping, and swimming.

Clam digging at Smelt Bay, right before the rain started pouring - the dads took the kids while the moms went shopping!

Enjoying a day on a sailboat exploring Desolation Sound

Christina and Ryan hanging out in the bow of the ship...

Not to be outdone by his wife, Drew takes his turn relaxing...

Dave and Cole on the boat

Matthew turned 10

The kids were excited to explore tidepools in the rubber boat (the tide was out, leaving a sandbar between this area and the rest of the bay).

Nicolas went crab-hunting, too

 Michael and I relaxing on the deck

 Arlene unwinds with a puzzle

The view from our deck

A father/son fishing trip was successful in bringing back dinner

Beautiful cousins

Celebrating Family

Tradition is important to all of us.
My sister Pam is visiting from Australia, and during the time she stayed with us, there were lots of "remember when..." conversations.

It really reminded me of how kids remember the milestones and build on them. That is why today is important. Eleven years ago today Nicolas joined our family as a foster son. Two years later we adopted him. We celebrate Family Day to mark each of our children's adoptions. Both boys chose the anniversary of moving in, rather that their paperwork adoption day, as the day to celebrate because they feel they joined our family when they moved in, not when the government agreed with us!

Today is Nicolas' family day, so Michael took a day off work and we are off to do a family activity together. Enjoy your day!

Choosing to Spend Our Time Wisely

Electronics are everywhere in our society. It seems they are taking over all of life, and they are certainly taking over our home! Some days it feels like the deepest discussions we have in a day are over who gets the computer next!

This week we have tried something new. We have set the router to turn off the internet for three hours each evening, meaning that noone is online when Michael gets home, and through dinner and bedtime. It is too early to see what the long term result will be but so far the effects have been fabulous!

Without the temptations of computer we have been spending time together, laughing, talking, and playing lots of games!

We even have a couple projects planned, such as organizing all our photos.

I love the freedom to be together that comes from not competing with a screen!

Bear Hunt

Isn't it amazing how busy life gets sometimes? I find it hard to believe how long it's been since I wrote on here! What's more, I even got a bonus week - my mum was down here at my sister's and decided to take the kids home with her for a week! They had a blast and went to May Days with her. I filled my time playing with my friends and Michael and I organized our kitchen. It looks beautiful!

The kids had a blast, and I met my mum half way to get them back. I was lucky to see lots of wildlife, including three black bears. This beauty was at the side of the road on our way home and Tanner got some gorgeous shots of him.

Have a great day!

100 Summer Ideas - Part Six: Do Unto Others

Last but not least, this final group of ideas is about reaching out and serving those around of us. We live in a world where it is easy and acceptable to feed our selfish desires and do what is "fun" and "relaxing" yet we serve a mighty God who gave everything for us. How can we do any less?
I challenge you to make a point this summer of reaching out to someone in need around you, either using one of these ideas or your own.
I guarantee the life you change most will be your own!

1. Give someone a bouquet of homegrown flowers.
2. Take someone vegetables from your garden.
3. Mow a neighbour’s lawn or weed their garden for free.
4. Watch someone’s little ones (at your house or theirs) so their mom can have some free time.
5. Pack a give-away bag to keep in your car to share with homeless people you pass (pack easy open food such as cheese and crackers, ravioli with pop-top lids, canned fruit, granola bars, juice boxes, etc. Be sure to include plastic utensils and a napkin. If you wish and can afford it you may throw in “extras” such as bus tickets, phone card, letter-writing kit (stamped envelope, paper and pen).
6. Make a card for someone.
7. Walk dogs at the local animal shelter.
8. Drop off dinner or muffins to someone who is ill/grieving/has a new baby.
9. Clean out your toys and games and drop them off at a charity.
10. Take your outgrown clothes to a thrift shop.
11. Volunteer with a community group.

Here is the birthday cake Tanner and Amanda made for a friend of ours who has no family:

100 Summer Ideas - Part Five: Create and Explore

The next group of ideas would be what I dub the "messy" section. These ideas are not good ones for days when you as a parent are feeling stretched and need a calm house. On the other hand they are great ones for getting your kids' imaginations flowing and for helping them forge and create new ideas.

1. Draw something.
2. Ask someone to teach you a craft they know.
3. Share a craft you know with someone else.
4. Build a birdhouse.
5. Build a structure out of cardboard boxes.
6. Start making Christmas cards.
7. Build your own catapult. Test it outside.
8. Build something with rolled up newspapers.
9. Make a rain gauge. (good one if the rain is spoiling the other ideas! LOL)
10. Float vs. Sink - fill a tub with water and check to see what various objects do
11. Build your own volcano, then explode it.
12. Make gloop. (mix equal parts cornstarch and water)
13. Use magnets to test objects around your home.
14. Paint a picture.
15. Try a new recipe.
16. Make bark rubbings.
17. Make a terrarium.
18. Paint rock people.

100 Summer Ideas - Part Four: On Your Own

This next group of activities is a list of things your kids can do on their own. These ideas are great for when you need some peace and quiet, or for times when they are overwhelmed by the busyness of having everyone home and just need some down time. These ideas are also great if you have one of those kids who think they need to be plugged in all day or they will be bored (not that I know any kids like that!) LOL

1. Birdwatch.
2. Write a letter.
3. Keep a journal.
4. Start a new hobby.
5. Memorize a Bible verse.
6. Memorize the books of the Bible (in order)!
7. Create a stop action movie.
8. Read a book.
9. Start a collection.
10. Fly a paper airplane.
11. Build a fort.
12. Write a poem.
13. Freeze a bunch of ice and play with it in the bath tub. Better yet, freeze small toys in it! (No, you don’t need to climb in with it!)
14. Write a story.
15. Sit in the back yard and do nothing.
16. Make a scrapbook.
17. Listen to music.
18. Build a Lego creation.

100 Summer Ideas - Part Three: Family Time

The next group of ideas includes good ones for your family to do together as a whole group.
Some of these ideas include so-called "work" but the achievement at the end of the day is well-worth the effort!

1. Play a board game.
2. Make dinner with a theme - use another country or period in history.
3. Make your own movie.
4. Put on your own play or puppet show.
5. Celebrate Christmas in July. Make simple decorations such as paper chains and snowflakes.
6. Can fruit.
7. Make jam.
8. Clean out the messiest room in the house. Better yet, do one a week and your house should sparkle by fall!
9. Create a rainy-day obstacle course.
10. Host a neighbourhood BBQ or block party.
11. Hold your own karaoke contest.
12. Play charades.

This spring Michael's mom came to visit and see our new place, and spent her time helping him unpack and organize the garage, which was definitely the messiest room. Thanks Mom!

100 Summer Ideas - Part Two: Fun in the Sun

The next group is outside ideas to try at home.
My kids were already testing the list out today. They held a lemonade stand and made $7. Not bad for a cul-de-sac!

1. Run through the sprinkler.
2. Play in a wading pool.
3. Have a water gun fight.
4. Have a sponge fight.
5. Paint the sidewalk with water.
6. Host a lemonade stand.
7. Have a water relay (using a sponge, a spoon or anything to move the water from one container to the next) - best with a group!
8. Make your own slip and slide.
9. Have a spray bottle fight.
10. Wash the car.
11. Play road hockey.
12. Play badminton.
13. Build your own miniature golf course.
14. Play basketball.
15. Play Frisbee golf.
16. Host your own mini-Olympics.
17. Have a scavenger hunt.
18. Paint rocks.
19. Create a masterpiece with sidewalk chalk.
20. Hold a backyard campout.
21. Plant your own garden.

Have fun enjoying the sunshine, and don't forget the sunscreen!

100 Summer Ideas To Do - Part One: Out and About

Summer is rapidly approaching, as I am sure everyone is aware!
I am notorious for having lots of ideas and never doing most of them so this year I am taking a different approach.

I am making lists on different themes and each family member will choose one idea from each list. That way we will have done a variety of activities and everyone will get a say in what we do. I have subdivided the lists into sections, that way it is easy to tell what are full day outings, and which ones the kids can do on their own when they are driving you batty!

Over the next week my plan is to share my ideas with you. Hopefully they will inspire you to try some yourself. I would also love to hear your plans and ideas for making summer memories.

Part One - Out and About
Quite simply, this section of the list is everything that requires us to leave home. Pretty broad definition, eh? LOL

1. Go to the beach.
2. Take swim lessons.
3. Hit the ocean at low tide and explore the intertidal zone.
4. Got wheels? Go for a bike, trike, or roller skate.
5. Rent or borrow a sailboat, canoe or paddleboat.
6. Go to the water slides.
7. Go to the spray park.
8. Swim in an outdoor pool.
9. Visit a new park.
10. Go for a hike.
11. Play tennis.
12. Play golf or hit balls at a driving range.
13. Go for a picnic.
14. Walk a dike.
15. Go fishing.
16. Play tourist in your hometown.
17. Go camping.
18. Pick your own berries.
19. Play a game of softball.
20. Check out a museum or art gallery.

Picnic Time

The warm weather has hit, or at least hit for a couple days. This being the Wet Coast, we never know when our sunshine is going to liquefy! It is important to grab the sunny moments while we can!
Tonight we packed up all the sports gear and a picnic dinner and met Michael at a park after work.
We had a fabulous time eating in the fresh air, being eaten by killer mosquitoes, and playing and relaxing in the fresh spring air.
For those of you who don't go because it is such a hassle, I challenge you to change your tune! I read something this winter that challenged me. A mom of 11 kids (8 of whom are adopted special needs kids) wrote about how they do picnics - keep their basket and blanket packed, and if it is picnic weather, they go, just taking whatever is dinner with them.
I know for us tonight, there was whining and complaining about it being too cold, too hard, and the bike pump was broken, but once we got over the hurdle of getting there, everyone relaxed and enjoyed themselves.
And in that fresh air and family time, memories are created, and that is truly what it is all about!
My goal for this year - at least one picnic a week! (in the warmish months)

Honouring My Mum

My mum is an amazing woman and and an amazing volunteer.
I am in awe of the amount she gives of herself, serving on and with different committees and groups to enrich the lives of all in her community and her world.
Apparently I am not the only one who feels that way.
Last week the kids and I had the privilege of going home to attend an appreciation dinner held in my mum's honour for her years as mayor and community volunteer.

Thank you Mum for all you do, and for the example you and Dad have set for your kids and grandkids of what true community service looks like.
We love you!

Creating Memories

My daughter and I took advantage of the Groupons we found last fall and spent the afternoon at a paint your own ceramics place. I expected to be there about an hour, and I was dragging her out after THREE hours!

Painting was a lot of fun, but the best part was spending time with my daughter. She loves colour, she loves creative expression, and she loves spending time with her mummy! We had a wonderful afternoon together. She made a butterfly box for her dresser and a cereal bowl, and I decorated a container for the sponges and dishbrushes by my sink so I can get rid of my plastic one.

Pictures to come after we pick them up next week!

Creating A Home

We all, or at least most, of us are blessed with a place to call our own, to live in and rest in. But is it a house or home? And what is the difference?

My kids have pondered this question many times over the past few months as they have really struggled with the transition to a new house. Yes, they can see all the ways this place is a blessing but they still wanted to go home.

I think we have finally turned the corner. What has made the difference?
Family time, and building memories together.
We have spent time playing games. We have done lots of baking and group cooking sessions. We have had our first holiday in our new place. We went all out on the decorating at Christmas, and used the opportunity to host an open house to show our friends our new place.
We hosted Christmas dinner. We had Nona to stay at Christmas and now have Grandma here. All these things have served to weave a spirit of family and connectedness into our new abode.

Now we have taken one more step. We have put paintings up on the wall. Decorations on a wall speak of permanence, of staying in a place for a while, enough to personalize it. Our last place never really got pictures up. We got one up in the living room but had to remove it to protect the painting from little boys. No others ever got up. Now we have multiple paintings up, with a few more to be added once they are frames. And the best paintings of all? The three beautiful watercolour paintings made by our children as a Christmas present to us.

Finally, we feel we really belong. that this is our home and not just a borrowed abode.