Summer's here

We have been done school now for almost 3 weeks. We have slept in, played tons and just enjoyed some down time. Ball season wrapped up a couple of weeks ago. Some seasons are better than others but the kids had fun. Last weekend Mark and I went away for the nite for the first time in 5 years. It was so relaxing. We went to Whistler, ate, slept and had some uninterrupted time. Thank you to our friend Kelly who came and stayed with our kids.
The kids have been loving the pool in the backyard and time with friends. Today we went to the lake with friends, had a great time and got abit of sun. Nash and his buddies have been riding bikes tons and playing in our back forty (weird term). The picture shows the good clean fun they had the other day. They said they got muddy doing jumps and then decided to have a mud fight. What can a say but, 'hang on I'll get the camera'.
My Grampa from Moose Jaw went into the hospital on Friday by ambulance. He collapsed and was not breathing. My moms siblings were called and they all arrived Friday nite. My cousin Shelan came too and spent the weekend. Grampa is now the cardiac ward and waiting to find out some results. He is in so much pain with his shingles and waiting for a different cast to be put on his ankle after rupturing it a month ago and now his heart is beating irregular and there is some issues with his stomach. Poor Gramps. It is very hard to see him in pain and very discouraged. I know this has been very hard on my mom. I know the Lord will not give her more than she can handle. Praying that Grampa heals quickly.

Great Thought

I love this...

"The Bible calls debt a curse and children a blessing; but in our culture, we apply for a curse and reject a blessing, something is wrong with this picture." Doug Phillips

Been Forever

I know it has been forever since I blogged. Either I feel too tired or too busy but the month of May is too important to just skip over. Faith turned 5 and lost 2 baby teeth. She was so thrilled and so brave. I really thought she would be freaking out when they were coming out. Jess turned 10..double digits..no going back now. We visited the SPCA, fed some dogs and held some kittens and watched Hotel For Dogs with her friend. Both birthdays were very fun and relaxing. I also turned a year older and a wee bit wiser. We enjoyed some time at Chapters and dinner at the Olive Garden as a family. This month has been a bit challenging on the homeschool front. Keeping the kids focused and motivated has been tough but we overcame and we now have only one week left!! As I post this, it makes me think about Nash. It has really only been this last month that Nash is taking off in the reading department. Ya hoo!! I was actually getting worried but he is enjoying reading on his own now and attempting some difficult books. Wonder what kind of lil'student Faith is going to be. She seems quite motivated right now but time will tell. We are all looking forward to our summer break!

Too Busy

How has our weeks gotten so busy? I am tired so this weekend while Mark works late for 4 nights, I am going to get to bed very early. This afternoon I put a note on the door 'Resting..please do not disturb' The nice weather has brought the kids out, which is great but sometimes we just need some down time and a break. So all the kids had a little quiet time in their rooms and then we watched a movie together before dinner. It was nice that it was quiet for a while. I think I can take alot..noise..comotion..things going on but finally when I am tired, it all has to stop. This is just a quick glance at our week....

Mondays - am school - pm ballet and baseball
Tuesdays - am Regent school - pm swim lessons
Wednesdays -am school - pm ballet and baseball
Thursdays - am piano & school - pm babysit 3 kids
Fridays - am school(every 2nd Friday Learning Center co-op) pm free time ..aaaahhh

In all that there is still friends and birthday parties, errands and school planning.

How do kids go to school all day and then still have activites and lessons and any play time? I am really looking forward to the year end of some activites. We are aiming to finish school up mid June. School is going well. I can not believe Jess is almost through grade 4. We are currently working on an Explorers Unit with Nash and all enjoying that. I love that I know what they are learning and where they are at. I am learning so much too and how fun to be doing it with my kids.

My goal is to bed in bed by 9:00 each nite so on that note..."Good Night, Sleep Tight"

The Jerseys are Retired

Soccer season is finally over. Our wrap up day was postponed due to weather and spring break. Nash played for the Panda's this year and improved greatly. Saturday morning Nash played 2 hours, three shorts games. All season Mark said to both kids if they got a hat trick (3goals) in a game they would get Webkinz. Well, in his first 2 games Nash scored 3 goals. He was thrilled. He had worked his tail off! He ended up choosing the Hedgehog. Jess played on Toni's Tigers this year and had an absolute blast! Jess played for 3hours on the Saturday afternoon, in very wet and cold weather I might add. She also worked very hard and did score a goal. So... Mark took her to get Webkinz also and the little kids also scored on a new Webkinz. Nash was happy for everyone and perhaps we were celebrating the end of soccer for this year!! We have retired the #4 jerseys and some dirty cleats that will be passed down to the little ones. We are onto baseball now. Jess and Nash are playing for the same team in Mission again this year. They have already been talking about who gets #4....."take me out to the ballgame..."

Grounded

The kids are grounded from TV this week so...Friday afternoon this is what became of our living room and the kitchen table. They made a huge fort. This is normally not allowed. I was too tired to not let it happen and I figured it was pretty harmless. I had to go in and check it out. It was quite warm in the fort that is why they all got out of their clothes. Mark was not really impressed but they cleaned it up quick and we captured a few pics before the take down. I still was too tired to make dinner so we ordered in Chinese food. Just a few bites in my front veneer came off..can you say hill-billie. I was so bummed. It is amazing what wonky teeth can do to your appearance. Thankfully, on Saturday afternoon I found a dentist that would put it back on. Not to self...be more careful what I bite into or try and rip open with my front teeth.

Feeling in need of some sunshine and outdoor time. The kids start swimming lessons tomorrow afternoon with our homeschool group. Spring break is over for most kids and we are well into the swing of our third term. Need to do some home organizing and purging. It will happen when time allows in the mean time we will enjoy life and all the blessings God has given us.

Mark and I watched the video Fireproof this weekend. We thought it was great. Some say the acting was abit cheesy, true but the message was great. I would totally recommend it. Thankful we watched it in our home together because we both shed tears. Praise the Lord we will celebrate our 15 year anniversary this October. I have to honestly say married life just gets better. We know each other so well and what makes each other tick. We are also getting older and a little more mature...I think. I think we have grown up lots since becoming parents to 4 children. Life is full for us but I can't imagine anything less!

Lord, Give me Your Eyes

This is a video I watched awhile back and it has weighed so heavy on my heart. Be prepared to cry. This seems so unimaginable. You will have to turn my music off at the bottom of this page. How can this be? How can I make a difference? How can I help those in need? How is it that God chose me to be born here in Canada with such an abundance? with all the extras, God help me not to lose focus. Tonite I read and watched an updated video and these kids are being sponsored and doing much better.

I also just found out that this woman whom I just finshed reading about passed away. Her name was Haregewoin Teferra. She has cared for orphan children in Ethiopia for a long while. She felt sick and died in her bed. She was still caring for children. The book is called There's No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene. She had such a love and such a heart for these children. She was also responsible for many successful adoptions of some of her children. I would highly recommend this book. It was very eye opening. Again, we are so blessed.