"Not Me" Monday

When a great couple from our church invited us over to their home for Thanksgiving dinner, I certainly did not allow our dessert-loving 3-year old to finish his brother's dessert, after eating his own dessert with the two forks...

AND I certainly did not allow him to lick off his plate, at someone else's home, while I took a picture...

I did not then watch all three of my children run laps around the house, full of people, while I enjoyed a cup of coffee.

We have not...ahem... "sold" a half case of mint chocolate Girl Guide cookies to our own little family. We could certainly not eat nearly a box of cookies a day!



Here's hoping that you all had a fantastic Monday and have enjoyed your own plate-licking-good culinary delights!

To my fellow Canadians, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Head on over to McMama's blog to check out more "confessions". What have you "not" done lately?

I Promise...

I joined Girl Guides as a Brownie in 1980. I was in Grade 1. I loved taking my brown dress to school with me to put on for our meeting after school. I loved earning badges that my mother would dilegently sew onto the arms of my dress (then remove and sew onto a new dress when I outgrew my first one!) I loved playing games and doing crafts. I loved learning new songs and about other countries.

As I grew up, I went through Brownies, Guides, and then Pathfinders. I loved learning how to tie knots and build a shelter; how to waterproof my bedroll, pitch a tent and fold a flag; how to build a campfire and how to survive if lost; how to make a pancake over a fire with a tin can and how to leave a place better than I found it; how to work as a team and how to be a good leader.... Girl Guides was so very much a part of my childhood and adolescence.

It brought tears to my eyes to see my little girl promise to "share and be a friend" during her Sparks enrollment last night. Abby loves Sparks. She'll be a Spark for 2 years, then move to Brownies.

Abby and a fellow Spark reciting their promise together.

As part of their enrollment the girls each unfurled different coloured streamers to make a rainbow.

Abby is soooo proud to be an official Spark. She's holding her first "keepers". In Sparks they earn badges (keepers) as a group. I guess now it's my turn to sew on badges :)

"Not Me Monday"

Abby is in Senior Kindergarten and attends "B" days, Tuesdays, Thursdays and "alternate" Fridays... the Fridays are scheduled, but difficult to predict. I definately did not put her on the bus this past Friday on an "A" day. I always know when my daughter is to be at school. I did not get a call from the school reminding me that it was an "A" day and that Abby would be waiting for me on the bench outside the office. I definately did not get "the look" from Abbs when I picked her up.

I also did not neglect to pick up Abby's cases of Girl Guide Cookies to sell. I always read notices as soon as they come home and never put them in my purse and forget to read them. Sooo not me!

We were not slightly late for church yesterday morning and we certainly did not end up in the very front pew. I did not allow my children to eat their snacks in the sanctuary so they would sit quietly. I never bribe my kids. I caught my toddler (who was certainly not standing on the pew seat) before he fell. As I caught him by one arm (because I was not holding my coffee in my other hand), his snack bag of goldfish crackers did not go flying. There were not dozens of goldfish waiting to be stomped into the sanctuary carpet by little feet. Absolutely no one noticed! Jude certainly did not then spill his water on the pew and I did not wipe up said water with the lining of Jordan's coat... not only do my kids not drink in church, but I would never wipe up a spill with my children's clothing!

I did not attempt to take three children to the fabric store this morning and I certainly did not let my 3 yr old push my nearly 2 year old in the stroller in the store while I shopped nearby. I did not then take them to Starbucks for a big cookie shortly before lunch because I really needed a coffee. My kids always have lunch before dessert and I never deviate from this for a caffeine fix!

Head on over to McMama's blog to check out what others sooo did not do this past week!

I Heart Faces - "Blue"

This is my friend's daughter. I love her beautiful blue eyes! This shot was taken at the beach over the summer. Head on over to I Heart Faces to see all the gorgeous blue!

What happens when my sons go momentarily unattended...

I moved the cucumbers and dip to the dining room table while I went to finish preparing supper... the boys made their move to the table for their "appetizer". This is what a found a couple minutes later...

Why are Jordan's shoes still on?
Why is he standing on the table with his shoes on?
Why does Jude have a bowl of cucumbers on his head?

All excellent questions...

YOUR guess is as good as mine!

Glimpses of our new suite

Jon has been working hard on our suite. We've been living in the bedroom for awhile, but he's just finished installing the railing and floor on the balcony....
... the sink...

... and bathtub.

Installing the shower will be a late fall/winter project. We need to get the outside stuff finished off before the snow flies. Although it's 19 degrees here this afternoon, it's not uncommon for snow to fly in October in Thunder Bay!

Now that I'm done my internship...

...there's more time for making puppy ears with hot dog buns...

...and eating cotton candy!

There's more time for riding in fire trucks...

... and eating sandy strawberries at the beach.

There's more time for finding the perfect wave to jump...


...making sand "pies" ...


... and splashing with friends.

There's more time for dressing up in costumes and playing outside...
& picking flowers...


... playing "Diego" with Jude...


and making yummy pizza braids for supper (see here for the super easy recipe).

There's more time to make rice krispie treats...

...and apple sauce...

...and playing Candy Land (and Kitty Candy Land).

I'm so very thankful that we don't need a second income and I can stay home with our little people....

If only I could find a bit more time to finish off my dissertation!

Our "Wonder Jar"

Our kids, like most, present us with daily treasures...beautiful or funky-shaped rocks, newly fallen leaves, beach glass, pine cones... we would admire them for awhile then they would make their way back outside OR would pile up on a widow-ledge. Now, they go into our "Wonder Jar".

The Little Seedlings, our cooperative playschool, is using the curriculum, "He Has Been Clearly Seen". The goal is to teach children to see and delight in God's glory through observing creation. I want our children to learn to not only appreciate nature, but also see it as a wonderful gift from a good and loving God who wants them to see and know Him. The boys will start playschool next week. At home, we'll continue to collect treasures that remind us of how amazing God is!

I Heart Faces - "Contemplative"

This is my son Jude, having a BM in his potty on the side of the highway on our recent trip to the East coast. Toilet time is always a great time for reflection & contemplation!

Check out more entries for this week's theme at I Heart Faces.

Lessons from ... this morning

1. Always close laundry door so kitten does not escape.

2. Do not allow your 3 year old and 21 month old sons help you try to get the kitten to come back into the house.

3. Always have a coffee before going to gymnastics with Jordan.

4. Do not put snacks in the cart at the beginning of the shopping excursion, no matter how short, and expect that your 21 month old is going to be able to wait patiently for them to be purchased before eaten.

5. Even when your 21 month old is screaming for said snacks, do not give in to terrorism (as a fellow mom would say), no matter how many dirty looks you receive. (For the record... I did not give in to terrorism...)

6. Always check for a cart with wheels that will go straight when you have 70lbs of kids in them.

7. Never shop at Zellers, with two children, in a funky-wheeled cart, on Seniors Day.

8. Never attempt to exchange your funky-wheeled cart with one sitting within 20 feet of the change room, even if it's empty, especially on Seniors Day.

9. If you happen to inadvertantly swipe a less-than-understanding senior's cart who had apparently taken great care in the selection of her cart AND you need to remove both of your children from the senior's cart and return to your funky-wheeled cart, never leave your son's drink in the other cart.

10. Even if you had planned to accomplish other errands, just go home :) We did!

Have a great Tuesday!!

I Heart Faces - "Back to School"

This week's theme is "Back to School". This is one of the many pictures I took of Abby on her first day of Senior Kindergarten last week. She was super excited while we waited for her bus and "chased" her backpack like a cat chases its tail (if you know Abby, you know her passion for kitties!). Check out more back to school shots at I Heart Faces.