and we're on our way....

So..... It’s almost the end of September, and time for a quick blog!  I was right in my assumption that I would have FAR less free time on my hands with watching the extra kids.  But, I have found myself with some spare time today.  Currently, Robyn is sleeping, and Jesse is having a snack beside me.  Dave is out getting new glasses with Janna (for himself NOT Janna).  We picked them out last night during our new weekly goal “Friday night date night.”  Oddly, the store didn’t have their optician in last night,  because she broke her ankle that afternoon, and nobody else was able to fill in.  So, we picked out the frames and lenses and got the process half way done, but he has to go back in this morning and do the final measurements with the optician and payment.   They are really nice glasses!  Totally different from his last pair.  More timeless looking as they are pretty tiny and rimless, and you can see his gorgeous blue eyes much more clearly than his current chunky black trendy (5 years ago) pair.  I can’t wait for them to arrive.     

I’m far too pooped to do much this morning, so typing seemed like a good activity.  The weekend seems like such a golden time compared to the craziness of the week these days, and I really feel like singing and dancing come 5pm on Friday. It’s been 6 weeks now that I have been providing childcare.  I feel like it took about that long to adjust! Jesse had the roughest initial start with the change in schedule and home life, I had a few hard weeks in the middle, and Janna saved her adjustment challenges for the past couple of week.   Robyn has been fine all along! Maybe hers is still to come??

Anyways, it took me some time to figure out a few things.  Getting to know the kids was one big thing.  I now know who I have to watch for what, and what works and doesn’t work for the different kids I have here.  Another big thing was that I had to tweak my daily routine a bit.  I found I had stuffed a bit too much into the day, and so I have adjusted a couple of things that seem to help a lot.   Nap time was another issue for one of the little ones, and finally, 6 weeks in, he isn’t screaming his head off during nap time. Getting those issues under my belt, and just accepting that my house isn’t going to be as clean as I want it, were key in helping me adjust.   Dave has also been really supportive and amazing. It took me a while, but I am at the point where I feel good about my decision, and am enjoying the days much more than I was at first.

My kids really like having the extra friends around.  On Thursdays, Jesse whines when he realizes that nobody extra is coming over for the day!  Although, he proceeds to fully enjoy the time with just mommy and his siblings.  He also just about cries every Saturday and Sundays when he asks to do homeschooling and I tell him we don’t do home school on the weekends.  That’s a good sign, right?  So, he seems to be at the point where he is embracing the new deal, and doing well with it all.  He and the 3.5 year old I watch Tuesdays and some Fridays have REALLY hit it off, and so it’s wonderful to see him developing such a great friendship. He starts skating lessons in a couple of weeks with Daddy, and is pretty pumped about that as WELL as Halloween.  He decided early on that he wanted to be a clown, and so we picked up a pattern a couple of days ago, and so there is NO going back now!

Janna, as I mentioned, has had the more recent struggles.  She has a love/hate relationship with the other 2 year old I have.  They love to play the same things, and sit and read books together, and can be very cute and silly together.  But, he likes to egg her on because she reacts so strongly, and she likes to scream at him, and then he likes to throw things in her face.   It has been good training ground I guess.  But she cries a lot on and off during the day for no apparent reason either than someone looked at her the wrong way!  As Dave says, “Oh Janna... you have emotions...”   We were talking last night about how scared we are for her teenage years.  One minute she is laughing and joking, and then the next scowling, then crying, then stoic... you just never know!  She tends to be a total angel one on one... and I feel guilty that she is experiencing some sort of middle child frustrations coupled with having to share mommy with extra kids.  Ah well... we’re working through it, and the golden age of 3 ( I LOVE 3!) is just around the corner.  For now, we try and see the funny and cute side in some of her struggles, and embrace all the snuggles and funny 2 year old antics.

Robyn is just steady old Robyn.  She is a fast crawler and cruiser, and plays so well on her own and with others.  Her and Janna have just started “fighting” over toys and such, and Robyn is so funny when she gets angry.  She just balls her fists up and shakes in anger while her face turns bright red for 2 seconds, then gets over it.  The size of her appetite is pretty epic, and she loves just about everything I feed her, except apples or apple sauce.  Actually, all 3 of the kids seem to be doubly hungry these days.  I feel like I might need to up the grocery budget a bit to keep up with their stomachs!

Speaking of stomachs, I’m hungry, so shall be off.  I hope everyone else has straightened out the bumps in their new fall times routines, and will enjoy all the October has to offer:  the weather, nature, Thanksgiving, Halloween fun, lots to look forward to.  Jesse’s nana is coming to Ottawa to visit for a week to kick off October, so he’s pretty excited for the month to arrive, as well.   Thanks for reading.  I’m out.  

BACK AT 'ER 2013

I had a wonderful back to school day, today!  My Tuesday brothers don’t start until next week, and so it was a relaxing and quiet (in comparison to 5) morning around here.

Anyways, my kids were all so happy and content and were so good just playing games, reading, and sharing with one another this morning.  Robyn started cruising along the furniture this morning, and so has had fun finding new things she can pull herself up to.  While she napped, the older kids and I got to work making a back to school cake together.  Janna was very serious about stirring in the vanilla, while Jesse was very serious about cleaning off the beaters

  After a quick trip into the store for icing and a few other odd groceries, we ate lunch, had story time, and everyone went down for their naps so happily and quietly. 

Jesse had quiet time for a bit over an hour, and then he came downstairs to do school with momma while the girls napped.  He was so excited he almost tripped down the stairs.  I had the materials we were working with today all out, and so we made a sign and took a picture to mark the start of the school year!

Jesse was SO good and serious about the whole thing.  We learned a memory verse today, sang a song, and talked about “attentiveness.”  We then did readings from 4 or 5 different books.    We talked about each of the readings and what was the same or different between the characters.  We did some “developing the early learner” activities in his work book, and started on pre-writing skills by introducing a bunch of large letter piece cut outs and playing with them together.   Big line, little line, Big curve, and little curve were quite the hit.  I loved spending this time with Jesse, and see him SO eager to learn and discuss and try new things.  It was really very special, and I hope that he continues to love this time each day J    I hope all you families today had some great moments during this memorable day of the year.  I’m sure there will be several ups and downs along the path, but kids are just so stinkin’ resilient, adaptable, and forgiving.  I’m amazed, daily.

Recently, several articles or blogs have been brought to my attention about how our kids love us, despite our imperfections.  That all moms and different, and nobody can be the perfect mom.  That while we often see in other moms WHERE they shine, everyone has weaknesses.   Sometimes we feel like we aren’t as good or got it together as others... or we can judge and tear down methods that aren’t our own.  It’s so true, and I’ve really just been inspired to try my best to accept my strengths and weaknesses.   While I can organize like a pro, and keep a ship sailing smoothly, I suck at other things.  I am horrible at laundry.  I don’t sort things and I don’t fold fresh out of the dryer.  I forget to spray and wash stuff.  Along with my kids having stained and faded clothes permanently, I am really bad at keeping them clean.  They usually have stuff on their faces or shirts when we are out in public and while I could just grab a wipe that is in my oober oorganized bag,  I just don’t care enough to do it.   I often forget to brush their teeth in the morning (thank goodness for Dave who makes sure they always get done at night), and I give them unhealthy treats at the grocery store to keep them happy.   On the health note, while I do aim for healthy meals and snacks, my kids probably eat frozen pizza or KD a few times a week.  These are just a few of the surface areas I struggle with, and that isn’t even the deep stuff. 

I mention all of this, in that I hope I never sound like I have it all together or know all the answers.  I want to be an encouragement to other moms.  I assume most of them are, at heart,  just as wiped, sticky, and depleted as I am.  I truly thank God for his daily grace and new mercies each morning.  I know He can give me all I need to make it though the days, and on top of that Joy.   I know he cares and lifts me through the rough days.   All the same, I know he works and speaks through others, and that our stories are intertwined.  And so, as a mom, as I encourage and uplift my kids, I hope that I can be an encouragement to other moms despite our differences in child rearing, priorities, and what we put on the table for supper.   I think it would be so great to put aside judgment and self-doubt, and speak love and encouragement into each other.   I’ve been writing out some fall goals for myself over the past few days, and that is one personal area I’m going to be working on this year. 

SO, enough about mommas.  Let’s talk about daddies.  Dave had a great day, as well, and we all enjoyed pizza for supper compliments of Nana Vance!   Dave got home to the kids playing in muddy water outside.  It started out as a science experiment.  Then an older neighborhood gal joined in and made it into some sort of game that involved certain ways of stirring or else you’d get “kicked out of the club.”  As Janna was breaking said rules, our neighbor exclaimed, “Janna will NEVER be kicked out of the club because she is such a little cutie” as she glared at Jesse and threatened to kick him out of the club. 

Dave and I have expressed some concern to one another about Janna getting a bit spoiled as people tip toe around her because she is so tiny and sweet (by times).  However, this morning, I had a bit of a reality check as my 3 kids were playing together.  They were all looking at books with me, and Jesse was tickling Robyn’s stomach and blathering on in baby talk to her, “ Oh you little cutie pie pie pie.  You are just so so sweet, you little girlie girlie.  I could NEVER EVER be mean to you!................. (long pause)  Just Janna.  But NEVER to you!”   Oh my land,  I had to try hard not to laugh.  Needless to say, Jesse will provide Janna’s dose of humbling material for her life, I think.

The kids continued to play the game, which  ended up with them all pretending to throw up into the bucket.  This produced INTENSE laughter, and then the spitting started.  It was here that I spoke up and asked the kids not to spit.  Our neighbor looked up at me with the saddest and more sincere eyes and said, “ But it’s for the customers!”  Kids say the funniest things.

Anyways, we got the kids in and cleaned and fed, AND enjoyed a homely, yet tasty back to school cake.  The kids were down and house tidied by 7:30, and now Dave sits at his computer putting in the necessary night time hours that are a teachers life.  

With that stunning photo, I shall be on my way.  I’m trying to get to bed nice and early when I have a full house the next day, so here I go.  Thanks for reading. I’m out.

New adventures

It’s a quiet Sunday afternoon, and Dave has the big kids on a bus/train trip across the city.  He had to return some library books to Carleton, and thought the kids would have a fun time doing the transfer from bus to bus to get there.  He is so courageous and adventurous... I would just take the van!

Robyn is scurrying around the main floor on all 4s.  She is crawling super fast now, and it is so much fun.  If she wants to come see me, she does! If she wants to be picked up, she’ll crawl over and start trying to scale my leg.  She is pretty good about not getting into things, yet.  She mostly crawls to the toys, sippy cups, kids or myself.  She continues to be able to play so independently, but loves a crowd around.  She is super wiggly, and doesn’t really like to be held for too long anymore.  Such a difference from Miss. Janna, who would stay in my arms all day if she could.

I have survived my first few weeks of watching other children along with my own.  The kids I had here, adjusted very quickly (aside from settling in for naps- but its getting better), and seem to love coming, so that is a huge blessing.  Janna and Robyn did great with the extra kids.  Jesse LOVED having visitors all day, but he was definitely the biggest challenge. He takes more time to adjust to things, and while he loves having people around, he really re energizes after time to himself.  So a shorter quiet time each day was a struggle for him.  Also, Jesse loves to talk talk talk.   He doesn’t quite realize that other kids are perhaps less conversational than he, and he can become easily frustrated when trying to have a conversation with somebody who would rather run around or just play.  But, it’s a good learning ground for him, and I’m sure with time, he’ll settle down a bit.

I have felt a strange mixture of joy and relief come 5 each day.  First off, I feel proud of myself.  That I not only fed and tended to 5 little ones, but that I managed to do art, story time, music time, and get them all to the splash pad and back in one happy piece!  It’s a ton of work, and that everyone ends their day mostly happy, fed, clean-ish, and with lots of playing and reading and an outing each day.... well, it’s a feeling of accomplishment.  Just my 3 kids, feel so easy to tend to once the extras leave.  And, the weekends feel so joyous and relaxed.

But, I also feel guilty.  A bit guilty that I don’t have quite as much time for each of the kids as before.  Dave keeps reminding me that it’s good for the kids to have other kids around but to be near their mom.  It’s good for them to learn they aren’t the center of the universe but still so loved.  That if they were in school or a commercial day care, they would get much less individual attention.  And he is right.  I think it’s just been a big adjustment going from the summer OFF with Dave, into watching 5 kids by myself.   I can’t believe that my mom, at one point, had over 17 kids in her care when she used to do day care when we were young (mind you- this was before licensing numbers, and some were just before or after school kids).    Maybe what I need to do is take on 17 kids for a couple of days, and then 5 will feel like nothing?! Please email me if you’d like to sign your kids up for this experiment ;) 

 I also feel guilty that Dave comes home to a less than bubbly wife, as I am just SO wiped by 5.  I feel so depleted of all energy and patience and think I look like a bit of a zombie.  I have actually had a few 8:00 bedtimes over the past few weeks.   Dave was so sweet, and the other night did a big pile of a laundry for me, and has been doing extra things around the house.  He has also given me his blessing to get out of the house if I need it once he gets home.  I know guilt is not a healthy thing, and so I’m trying to shake it, and just be grateful and know I’m doing my best, and that I might not be able to do all the extra things I did when I was on my mat leaves with just my kids.  And that is ok. 

Anyways, just a few things on my mind, so thought I’d shout them out there while I had a minute.  I’m looking forward to the official start of school next week, all the same.  We start on Jesse’s JK curriculum, it looks SO GREAT!  And will all enjoy our annual back to school cake on Tuesday as well.  I love how the nights are cooling off quicker these days, and the breeze is back in town.  These are nice evenings for after hour walks.  If any of you are interested in hanging out at my house while the kids sleep so Dave and I can get out for some much needed husband and wife time, you can also email me ;) and I can set that up for you! LOL.

Well, Robyn needs someone to play with.  I think she gets a bit bored when there aren’t a ton of little people running around to watch. SO, I should be on my way.  I hope everyone makes smooth transitions into your fall time routine.  I have no idea how I will make out with blogging this year, but will try and touch base a couple times a month.  Thanks for reading.  I’m out. 

Transitions. Child care. Homeschooling.

Well, Vance Tales is back in business, and I am officially relieving Dave of his summer blogging.  Dave decided to aim for one blog a week this summer, as one a day was too time consuming.  However, he found this approach really hard.  He likes to narrate details, and so looking at all the materials and pictures of ALL the family for a whole week was a bit overwhelming.  I think he decided that for NEXT summer he will go back to the daily format, but just do a “highlight of the day.”  I do believe, however, that he has one more post he is working on putting up by the end of the week.  It’s about our 2 week vacation back to the East Coast we returned from a week ago.

So, I won’t say a ton about it.  But, I will say a few things.  This year, I think we struck a good balance of catching up with people, spending time with family, doing activities, AND trying to relax.  We really could have just GONE GONE and GONE each day, but accepted that we wouldn’t be able to catch up with all our old friends each summer we are home.  Or DO all the activities on our list EACH summer.  So! For those darling people we would have REALLY liked to see and didn’t get a chance this summer: We’ll look YOU up next time J

I felt pretty sad about leaving NB this time around.  Even though the kids all seem to start to break down a bit approaching the 2 week mark, I just didn’t want to leave!  Most years I hit the point where I am ready for my own bed and house and to get back at things.... But, this year the open spaces, the piney breeze, the friendly smiles, and our dear families were just a pulling on my heart strings.  Anyways, it was a great 2 weeks, and we made some memories and had some great moments that I am sure will never fade from my aging brain.

So, we’ve been in Ottawa for a week now, and my time has been spent getting ready for the transition to fall.  It came a bit early as Dave went back to work on Tuesday, and I start watching children out of my home tomorrow!    I have one of my part timers start at 7:30 AM, along with his older sister.  She will just be joining us for a few weeks before her school starts, as well as a handful of PD days here and there over the school year.  This little guy will be with me Monday, Wednesdays and some Fridays.    Then, in September, I have 2 brothers starting with us on Tuesdays.  And then in October, one little guy who will be here one day a week...switching between Wednesdays and Fridays.  They are all wonderful kids from AMAZING families that are looking for a Happy and Christian Home with other kids to send their kids just a few times a week. 

So, this week, I have been putting into practice the fall routine with Jesse, Janna, and Robyn.  I waffled between many daily schedules and I am sure this will need to be tweaked, but here is the run down for the upcoming days.   It is all printed out and posted on each floor of the house, and I am interested in seeing how things will go!

DAILY SCHEDULE

7:00-7:30 Breakfast

7:30-7:45 Kids dressed/teeth/faces/diapers

7:45-8:15 Daily chores

8:15-9:15 Free Play: Basement Play Room 

   (Babies nap 9-10)

9:15-9:30 Organized game

9:30-10 Art

10:00-10:15 Snack

10:15-10:30 Bathroom break/diapers/Outdoor prep

 10:30-11:30 Daily Excursion (Park, Friends place, Library, Ikea?? It will depend on the weather and day, and kids moods, etc.  On the couple of days where there are 5 children, it will just be a close by park as we won’t all be able to squeeze into the van)

11:30-12 Wash up from outdoors- bathroom if needed- then TV Show while lunch is prepped

12-12:40 Lunch

12:40-12:50 Story Time

12:50-1 Bathroom/Diapers/Transition

1-3 NAPS (Older kids: Quiet time for the first hour- Second hour homeschooling for Jesse. Older children welcome to join in listening to books, etc)

3-3:15 Music, dance, exercise or sensory activity (will depend on the day and kids ages/ moods etc)

3:15-3:30 Light afternoon snack

3:30-3:45 Bathroom/Diapers/Transition

3:45-4:45 Outdoor Play front or back yard.  We will go out in all weather conditions EXCEPT for extreme heat/cold/winds etc.  In the case of severe weather we will play in the basement playroom for the last hour of the day

As you will notice, Jesse starts his more formal homeschooling soon!  His 40 pounds book box came Fed Exed on Tuesday, and he was SO excited.  It was adorable.  After lunch, the kids and I spent almost 2 hours poring over the books and a few activities contained in this magic box.  Here they are checking out the goods

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I really wasn’t expecting such the fuss over my decision to homeschool our children from friends, family and strangers.  Most people have a fairly negative reaction, and, if positive, continue to question my methods, qualifications, and the social impact I am putting on my child.  In fact, the other day, in the parking lot to shoppers a woman made the comment about how busy I must be with the kids.  After asking the ages, she asked what school Jesse would be going to in the fall.  I told her I was homeschooling, and she engaged me in a 15 minute Q and A!  Are you qualified?  How does your curriculum match up with the provinces? How are your kids going to be socialized? How long does it take a day?   Will you be introducing letters?  Will you teach your kids to read?

WILL I TEACH MY KIDS TO READ?!?!  I wanted to say in a SUPER serious expression, “ I don’t believe in reading.  That’s why I am NOT sending my kids to school.”

Mostly, it’s kind of funny how people just don’t seem to understand AT ALL while on earth I would want to spend the whole day with my kids.  That I will go crazy.  Why wouldn’t I catch a break if I could?   While I don’t look down on the education system, or the majority of the population who DO send their kids to school, It’s just that I DO actually WANT to have more time to spend with them while they are so young, influential and mouldable.   I want to guide their moral and educational instruction.  I want to know their strengths and weaknesses and have the time and knowledge to guide them through these.   I want their days to be based around the home, starting with a leisurely and non rushed breakfast that does not involve them getting out the door by 7:30.  I want them to have hours outside each day to play. I want to teach them how to clean and cook and contribute to family chores. I want them to have unstructured time each day to be creative and learn how to use their imaginations and entertain themselves.  I want them to be able to go into their rooms and decompress each day during a quiet time.  I want to be able to welcome Daddy home with supper almost on the table and eager, rested kids.  I want them to have evenings free from homework, and time to spend with their dad.  I want to be able to take a beautiful sunny day off of school if we want and go for a hike.  I want to make birthdays “holidays.”  These are just a handful of things I will throw out there. 

So, I’m very excited to start up his curriculum come September.  It’s about an hour of instruction each day, and so the plan is to get it done during the second hour at nap time for the other kids.  As the woman at Shoppers said, “ Well.... I suppose.... in Kindergarten...by the time the teacher gets them all seated... and then lines everyone up.... and then .....and then..... they probably are only REALLY learning an hour of actual material.   It’s more about learning the way school works and socialization and everything.  But what about friends? ”     (and I must just interject here and say here: GOD BLESS Kindergarten teachers. You do a great job with all those kids and working in all your objectives.  I have GREAT respect for teachers of all ages and stages)

So, I may as well answer this question of socialization while I’m blogging.  Jesse will be put in group things.  There is swimming and soccer and Sunday school and Awana and play dates and his siblings!  He gets plenty of chances to interact with other kids, especially in our neighborhood as there is often a few, if not a dozen, kids running around.   Also, there is a fantastic homeschooling association in Ottawa.  Everyday there are other homeschooled kids who may together for a science experiment, or recess, to go skating.  There are even tons of group courses you can register for, where your child is dropped off for this or that for so many weeks to be taught by another parent in an area of expertise.  It could be a short lecture, gymnastics basics for 8 weeks, a science fair, a 12 week photography course.  Lots of things to do and chances to interact in larger groups.   There is a stereotype of the homeschooled kid who is socially awkward and may be ill at-ease in large groups. And sometimes that plays out, and sometimes it doesn’t.  But, honestly, my goals and hopes for my kids are NOT that they would “be cool” or “be great in a crowd”  There are far more important things I want to try and teach and demonstrate for them, that just wouldn’t be taught in school.  How to esteem others.  How to forgive.   How to be a peace maker.   Not that I will have a daily lesson and activity on such BIG heart issues...but I will have SO much opportunity with all those minutes spent with them over the days, playing, eating, working, and schooling to see where their heart it, and try to shepherd it in the way it should go.

So, a busy year ahead!   But, I feel so thankful that I am able to stay home with the kids.  That God has provided the kids to watch along with my crew so we can make ends meet financially, AND the kids have new faces to interact with each day.   So, wish me luck tomorrow.  A new adventure begins J

Summer lovin'

Dave is putting in a work day at the school today, and the kids are playing nicely with each other on the floor.  Janna and Jesse are building a lego tower and Robyn is sitting close by mesmerized by it all.   Dave has 4 papers to write for the course he took a few weeks back, and so he is working on paper 3 today.

I was thinking this morning that 2 of 6 vacation weeks are now complete!  It’s been so much fun doing things with the whole family and really trying to take advantage of the beautiful weather in the mornings, and then once we’re good and tired having more relaxed afternoons and evenings.  This morning Dave had the kids out to the park and splash pad shortly after 7:30 to get out some energy and have some fun.  The basement was in dire need of a clean- so I cleaned that, and got my kitchen work out of the way for the day.  It’s gonna be a real hot one again today!

With much more personal time on my hands than during the school year, there are a few things I have been really enjoying the past couple of weeks that I wanted to blog about.   

The first thing has been getting out for a run every morning around 7.  I’m not really a runner. I usually work my way up to 3k and then feel bored with it.  But, I decided to do interval training over the summer.  With such gorgeous weather, I decided just to go with interval running.  So, I SPRINT like a mad woman for a minute, then walk for one.  Then repeat this combo 9 more times.  It’s said to be the most effective in fat burning to rev up the heart and metabolism like mad, then bring it right down- over and over.  And I am quite enjoying it.  I get sort of bored of jogging or running after 5 minutes.  So, it’s fun to blast off as fast as I can until I feel like I’m gonna die, and then get a break.  It’s sort of like labor! You get these little rest times to mentally prepare you for the next contraction- and make it through each contraction knowing a break is right around the corner.  Except at the end of labor when they just don’t really stop- that part sucks.   And of course labor is MUCH more painful than just running...maybe not the best comparison... Anyways,    the temperature is perfect early in the morning.  The neighborhood is so green and quiet. And Dave made me a great (worship sort of?) running mix I can listen to if I want, that gets my heart started off in a thankful and joyful direction.

Having more time on my hands, I have also had more of a chance search out new and interesting recipes I want to try and meal plan accordingly.  Yesterday we had the most refreshing quesadillas for lunch! They had your traditional cheese, onion, garlic, and peppers in them.  But, they were stuffed full of shrimp and nectarines and chili flakes with some lime juice as well.  They were SOOOO yummy!  I love cooking, but during the year it sometimes feels like a chore with kids hanging off my legs and crunched for time at the end of a tiring Day.  But, having Dave home to watch the kids while I disappear in the kitchen for a while, makes it a totally different experience.  Later this weekend on the menu I have a peach, prosciutto and mozza salad.  A lemon seared TBone with a spicy kale and redpepper sauté.  And early into next week I am pumped to try out a curried quinoa and collard green wrap.  Chatelaine this month, had lots of recipes I wanted to try that were all seasonal, and so I have had NO problem finding most of the ingredients on sale somewhere.

The other day, Robyn needed breastfed, and I was trying to get supper on the table. I asked Dave if he could finish up the Cesar salad.  I had the lettuce all prepped, and the sauce/parm/lemon/bacon all together on the counter.  Anyways, he just about had a melt down from stress trying to “make the salad”  and after some poking fun of him, he declared that he needed to learn to cook.  He told me that next summer he is going to do ALL the cooking all summer long.  I don’t know how I feel about that, as I really enjoy cooking, ESPECIALLY in the summer, but I submitted to his authority and said ok.  It’s probably a useful skill, eh?

Thirdly, I have been scrapbooking again!  I have just a few pages left to go to finish my 2012 scrapbook.  I’m hoping to get it finished off before we leave for the East Coast in 10 days!!!  We have been taking it fairly easy thus far, but this coming week looks like it may be a bit busier.  We have a few bigger projects to get done this summer that I think we’ll tackle this coming week.  The living room is getting painted a new color.  The bedroom is getting an accent wall.   The storage room is getting a good purging and sorting through.  The dog needs a haircut.  On top of visitng my new niece in Toronto on Monday, and packing up for our trip to New Brunswick next weekend, we will be good and ready to hit the road!  It’s always so delightful (to not only catch up with our parents and family) but get a couple weeks off from house cleaning.  AND getting a bit of a cutback from the normal making of 3 full meals plus a couple of snacks each day. 

Speaking of snacks, we have cut snacking out of the kids diet!   We were having a super hard time getting Janna to eat any lunch or supper.  So, we cut back their usual LARGE morning snack to just the tiniest little thing.  And cut out their afternoon snack entirely.  And guess what? Janna is eating her supper!  Vegetables! Grains, and she even ate a whole bunch of chicken for the first time in like a year the other night!  We felt quite victorious.

Anyways, the kids probably won’t be playing too nicely together, for too much longer, so I should be on my way! Thanks for reading! I’m out.

DAY 5 and ALIVE! Groceries and a *hopefully* relaxing afternoon

Woo Hoo! Friday is here.  The kids all slept until 7 this morning, which was nice.  If it weren’t for Janna being up half a dozen times during the night, I might just have felt rested when I got up at 6.  Sometimes I wonder if she has weird half-awake dreams like I do.  Last night she sounded SO scared and was YELLING! And as soon as I’d go in, she was fine. I’d tuck her in, and she’d ask for her blankies right up around her neck, and then be fine. Back to sleep she’d go.

This morning I let the kids pick what they wanted for breakfast.  Usually I make them some sort of TRIO which involves a protein, a grain, and some fruit.  Today, they wanted EVERYTHING!  Why not...it’s Friday.  They each ate everything off their plate, and then Jesse had a second bowl of cereal and Janna had a half a cup of blueberries as well.

After getting everything cleaned up and Robyn back down for a nap, we took it easy this morning doing some crafts (beading necklaces and bracelets) and playing hide and seek.

Here we have Janna finding Jesse behind a chair AND curtain.  Jesse was not too happy about it, and told us he just wanted to play hide and seek by himself?! I'm not really sure how that works...

WE also read for half an hour out of one of Jesse’s favorite preschool home-schooling books.  We FINISHED his last readings on Tuesday from the library of books we started back in February.  Aside from one or 2 stories, I enjoyed all of them tremendously!  In fact, several of the other books we own outside of his curriculum books, I find unenjoyable now in comparison.  I think for the summer I’ll pack away all the books aside from the sonlight ones, and we’ll just read those all summer long.  They are a collection of just very well written, smart, diverse books.  Great reads!  I think I enjoy them just as much as the kids do.  This is a pic of package we ordered. 

After our reading, we had one of Dave’s students offer to watch the kids for a few hours.  She has babysat a few times for us, and graduating this year, wanted another chance to hang out with them before she leaves for university in August.  I took the opportunity to get my groceries.  I found myself feeling a bit giddy in the stores, but missing having somebody to talk to.  Usually Jesse and I talk away as we get groceries, or I am talking AT Janna as she insists on wanting everything she sees.  Without anyone to talk to, I said lots of hellos to other shoppers, and made small talk around the produce section gathering fruits and veggies.  Some people think you’re crazy if you do this, and will sort of go the opposite direction as you part ways.  Today I was wearing a BRIGHT neon new summer top, short shorts, had my hair in a big messy bun plunk in the middle of my head, and was chewing bubble gum sort of obnoxiously.  I felt like a teen right out of the 80’s! It was awesome.  I was having my own 80’s party.  Nobody would look me in the eyes close enough to see the wrinkles, or long enough to spot a few gray hairs...

I got home, and had to deal with the dreaded post-shop hour.  It involves hungry and whining kids and a crying baby, and mommy desperately trying to get groceries away, and lunch made while desperately having to pee- AND being equally hungry and ready for a nap!  Today some apples distracted for maybe 5 minutes, and I got MOST of my stuff in the fridge.

We made it through the weekly ordeal and the kids are now down for a nap.  I got 3 of the 5 things DONE on my extras to do- list this week, but will save the rest for next week.  I am going to take the rest of nap time to actually rest today.   Once the kids are up, I rented a movie while out, and so we’ll watch that and indulge in some popcorn and snuggles before supper, baths, and bed.  I feel pretty wound up, and want to try and chill out a bit before Dave gets home!

Dave’s course ended early, and so he and Paul (a friend he traveled down with) left today at 1!  Dave seems to think he won’t be back until AFTER I go to bed.  But, he should miss all of the TO traffic, and arrive way before then, I think.  My guess is that he’ll be here between 7 and 8.  WE shall see.

Today I took pictures of everyone being EXCITED for Daddy to come home

Show your excitement that daddy is on his way home Jes!

Dada's coming home Jan. Can you give me an excited face?

                        

Can you be EXCITED Janna????

                         

No no no...not tired, EXCITED JANNA!!! 

Give me an excited face!

THERE YA GO!!!

Robyn- are you excited?

And Jesse took this picture! Momma is the MOST excited.

                         

Thank you one and all for reading this week.  This is ACTUALLY going to be my summer sign off, and you can follow our adventures at Dave’s blog http://apartment1004.blogspot.ca  TGIF  I’m out!

DAY 4 with lots of pics: playdates, wrestling, Mary and more

I got to bed a bit too late last night, and so I was VERY thankful not to hear a peep out of ANY of the kids during the night.  However, Robyn woke up bright and chipper at 5 AM.  I nursed her and put her back to bed, but she was WIDE WIDE WIDE awake and babbling away in her bed.  I tried going back to sleep, but gave up and got her up shortly before 6.  We hung out before the other monkeys joined us after 7.

Daddy called us while we were making breakfast, and it was so nice to hear his voice.  We are all missing him.   Janna burst into tears today and when I asked her what was wrong she said, “ DADDY!”  And Jesse has been mentioning wanting daddy home several times during the day. 

I thought it was a good morning to have some bacon!  WE don’t eat it too, often, but all looooove it!  Toward the end of our meal, Jesse asked the unfortunate question of where exactly bacon came from.  He kept laughing at me when I said it was from a pig, as If I was telling a joke.   And when I told him it was from the pigs behind, he was even more giggly.  He truly thought I was pulling his leg.  Janna was listening very intently to the conversation and as soon as soon as a quiet moment presented itself, she broke out into a wistful and high pitched song that went something like this, “ Baaaaacon Bummmmmmm” and then at a lower pitch, “ Baaaaaacon Bum”  Repeat 85 times.  It cracked us all up, and she just continued singing with such serious passion, ignoring our giggles.  Of course, as soon as I got out the camera to start filming she stopped. 

I got Robby back down for an early nap, and the kids were playing so nicely with each other as if I didn’t even exist.   I took the opportunity to get the bathrooms cleaned up as well as the kitchen, and our bags all packed for our morning outing.   

Today we went to the Potters to play and for lunch.  These are some of our best buds, and we have been noticing lately how the boys and girls are starting to have more fun playing with their own gender despite the age gap.  Here we have Janna and Naomi dressing up as princesses.

Nice Janna.  You pick that nose. 

Having a little dance

And then Jonah and Jesse playing some Woody and Buzz!

Of course, Gideon and Robyn are just happy to be in the middle of it all.  Here they are bonding together. 

At one point the older 4 kids were upstairs playing, and Rebekah and I were reminiscing about how we used to have playdates when it was JUST Jesse and Naomi.  I had to dig up a pictures of them several years ago. Here they are!

We had our classic-makes everyone happy-lunch of grill cheese, fruit and cucumbers.  Seth even popped in on during his lunch break at work and joined the party.  We gave Robyn’s seat to Seth, and she was happy on the floor.

After some more playing and a quick clean up we headed home.  I was fading from my less than 5 hours of sleep, and so got an iced coffee from Tims.  I was so excited they are on for only 1 buck.  Of course, I had to get the kids each a tim-bit.  We came home and ate them on the steps.  Robyn was THRILLED to have a paper bag to play with.  Oh the third child....

It is super hot today, and I wasn’t planning on letting the kids out to play with the humidity being at 38 today.  But, it wasn’t quite that hot by noon and in the shade it was bearable, so we played out front for a while before nap time.

I really wanted a nap today, but Thursday is the new house clean day for the summer.  Dave and I came up with a summer schedule for house work.  We want to get it all done during the day times- so kid sleeping time is TIME OFF for us!  So, while I have breakfast and supper clean up, Dave has lunch clean up and laundry.  I hate laundry.  I’m excited Dave is going to take it over for the summer!  Aside from the daily musts of dishes/laundry/and a before bed tidy, we are leaving the dusting/sweeping/mopping and bathrooms to just twice a week.  Mondays and Thursdays we’ll tackle the house top to bottom, and neglect it otherwise!  If I let myself, I can feel like all I do ALL DAY LONG is tidy up and find things to clean.  I want to enjoy the summer- but not let the house turn into a pig pen- so I think our schedule will offer just that.  We’ll see.    I got things finished up just as Jesse was ending his nap time.

Once Jesse was up, I woke up the girls and we relocated to the basement to play and read and snuggle.  I have been sort of "saving" the basement for this time of day mostly.  The first part of our days are spent on the main floor eating and getting dressed and cleaning up and ready to head out.  It's nice to get out in the mornings before it's too hot, and then have the kids come home and crash.  I don't usually feel like packing them back up after they wake up, and so the basement filled with their favorite toys and comfy pillows is the perfect thing to do between naps and supper.  It stays nice and cool down there too!

Today the kids had fun playing with some silk scarves.  The kids have been having so much fun with this simple piece of fabric. It serves as capes, hats, blankets, carries, scarves, sleds, etc.  Today we fashioned pirate hats and the kids had fun playing pirates.

Janna got a bit distracted from Jesse's sword fights and started humming sweetly and stroking flowers.  I'm not sure if she's meant to be a pirate...

Jesse felt sad that Robyn didn't have her own hat, and so he pulled out the cow girl hat for her!  So cute.

And then of course since I was making such a fuss over how cute Robyn was wearing it, the older 2 needed their turns.  Robyn was given a "pirate hat" to "play with"

Finally after lots of make-believe, playing catch with the dog, Jesse layed on the floor and asked Janna to wrestle.  Awwww...he's missing his daddy!  Janna came and piled onto him, and Jesse put her in a gentle little head lock, and made the EXACT growls that Dave makes.

It was so cute, I was watching a mini-Dave on the floor.  Next Janna did her pull up and push down and pull up and push down routine that she usually does with Dave.

And then they just layed there for a while snuggling.  How adorable!

I tackled some laundry while the kids were happy and my  friend Mary,who so kindly offered to watch the kids for me after work today, showed up.  It was so great to skip out on  the process of supper, clean up, PJs and get out on my own for a bit.  I got the errands done that I had missed out on from getting lost yesterday, and went to subway for supper. I loooooove subway!  I was planning on getting my hair cut.  It is TOO long, and hasn’t been cut in ages.  But- Robyn is at this stage where she likes to grab and twist and PULL my hair.  I have to wear it UP all the time, and so while I really wanted a cut, I felt it was smarter to keep it long so it’s easy to pull back.  It needed a trim, but I just couldn’t fork out the money for something I could do myself in ten minutes.  So, I did my errands and went to get a few new tops.  My mom sent me 30 FUN BUCKS this morning to spend in Dave’s absence.  My mom is always surprising me with these great little monetary gifts out of the blue with the instructions to spend it on myself for something totally unnecessary.  So, I picked up a couple summery tops.  Thanks ma!

I got home and Mary had the house tidy and kids in bed aside from Janna.  We chatted for a while, and it was nice to have a grown-up to talk to after being with the kids all day.  Janna didn't want Mary to leave and asked her for a snuggle and kiss.  And then as mary was getting her shoes on, she asked ME to leave again!  She wanted Mary to stay and mama to leave.  What a funny girl.    Perhaps she is a bit sick of me.  I don't blame her.  I love my kids, but I would totally have sent Janna out of the house to have a less interrupted chat with Mary if it were possible, too.  We need Daddy to come home.

  

  

So, our pictures for Daddy today are making sad faces, because we miss Daddy.

MAKE A SAD FACE FOR DADDY JES!

MADE A SAD FACE FOR DADDY JANNA

NO JANNA! NOT YOUR TIRED FACE.. A SAD FACE

SAD FACE ROBYN!

WE MISS YOU DAVE

THanks for reading one and all. Im out!