Happy Birthday LT

One year ago . . .

Today . . .

 Happy first birthday to our precious little girl.  We love you so very much!

FOR TODAY

Outside my window . . . the sun is shining but it is cool and frosty.  We had our first hard frost last night.  Good thing I picked most of my tomatoes this weekend.

I am thinking . . . about how children grow up way too fast.  LT is walking everywhere now.  My baby has become a toddler.

I am thankful . . . for family, a hard working husband, and that I am able to stay home with my little ones.

In the kitchen . . . roast chicken for supper tonight then we will use the  leftover chicken in meals for the rest of the week.

I am creating . . . a meal plan for the rest of the week and some plans for a birthday party this weekend (to celebrate LT's first and Star's eleventh birthdays).  Also crocheting a few things for birthday gifts.

I am wearing . . . grey sweatpants and a white T-shirt.

I am going . . . staying home today.   Then Sky has soccer on Tuesday night and piano on Thursday.  The activities for the year are getting into full swing.

I am reading . . . The No-Cry Discipline Solution by Elizabeth Pantely and for a fun light read I am also reading Dead Men Don't Crochet, part of the Crochet Murder Mystery Series by Betty Hechtman.

I am hoping . . . that this beautiful fall weather continues and that I take the time to enjoy it.

I am looking forward to . . . a double birthday party  this weekend for my oldest and youngest whose birthdays are only a week apart.

I am learning . . . patience, you are always learning patience when dealing with little ones.

Around the house . . . a bunch of cleaning needs to be done as usual.  Also this week I hope to go through the two little ones clothes.  (Put away the summer clothes and the clothes they have outgrown and bring out the warmer clothes)

One of my favorite things . . . watching LT mastering her new skill of walking.   She toddles around a bit like a drunken sailor,  plops down, then (very determined) she gets back up and gives it another go. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: cooking, cleaning, playing with the little ones, taking the older ones to their activities, and trying to enjoy it all.

A peek into my day . . . our chickens have started laying and we are happy to have an abundance of eggs.  However, LT & LK discovered them and thought they were wonderful for some fun sensory play.

Trip to Winnipeg

Well, we have been back from Winnipeg for almost two weeks now and summer continues to fly by.  Harvest has started here with the winter wheat and now the peas so a few times I have had to drop my plans to go drive truck or combine.  The girls have had some cousins visiting so they have had lot's of fun playing together.  They discovered a batch of kittens in the hayloft as well so have they have spent a bunch of time out there.  This week the older girls are off to camp so I just have the two little ones but we continue to have some cousins visiting.   So far it has been a busy, fun filled, wonderful summer.  I did want to share a bit from our trip to Winnipeg.  This year we did not do a camping trip.   Instead since my brother recently moved to Winnipeg and we had never really been there, we decided to camp out in his apartment and see what Winnipeg had to offer.

On the first day we headed down to The Forks (downtown Winnipeg where the Red River and the Assiniboine River meet).   Once there we hit up the Children's Museum which was fun for the young (and the young at heart).  So yes basically all of us enjoyed playing there.  (I should also mention in addition to having my brother with us my Mom and Dad also joined us on this trip.)

LK enjoyed this cool slide.

Lil has fun watching the balls roll down this track.

The water table was another big attraction for LK.  He got soaked even with his yellow water apron on.

After enjoying the Children's Museum we went outside, enjoyed a picnic lunch, and walked around a bit.  There was a pretty nice playground and splash pad for the kids to enjoy.  I really liked some of the historic elements of the playground.  They had a canoe, trading post, these oxen pulling a Red River cart and many other things which I cannot recall right now.  

Star and Sky at the playground.

Sky and Star enjoying the water fowl on the river at The Forks.

On our second day we headed to Grand Beach on Lake Winnipeg for the day.  The beach was beautiful, the day was sunny and hot and I would say this was one of the best days of our trip.  Very relaxing.  The sand was nicer than most beaches on the prairies and the girls (and Daddy) built a gigantic sand castle.

Daddy and Sky with their sand castle.

Daddy and LK burying Star in the sand.

Lil enjoying the sand.

On our third day we headed to Whiteshell Provincial Park. Rocks, trees, and beautiful lakes and rivers.  We had lunch at a beautiful beach and the kids went in for dip.  Then we hiked to Pine Point Rapids (about 2.5 km) and enjoyed sliding on the rocks in the water.  It was a lot of fun and something different.  We stopped again at a different lake for supper before heading back to Winnipeg.

Sliding at Pine Point rapids.

The next day we decided to check out Historic Lower Fort Garry.    It was a neat place to visit with a number of buildings to explore.  There were interpreters in costume in each building.  Star and Sky seemed to really enjoy this and especially enjoyed some of the activities and demonstrations.

Sky and Star in front of a tee pee.

Finger weaving and making cattail dolls and ducks.

There was a spinning demonstration and wool dyed with natural dyes.

Star and Sky showing off their cattail

dolls.

On our last day in Winnipeg we went to Assiniboine Park and Zoo.  The zoo was nice but it was bit hot that day to be walking around.  The nature playground in Assiniboine Park was quite nice as well and the kids enjoyed it a lot (especially the water feature on such a hot day).

Star, Uncle P, LK, and Sky at the Nature Playground.

Daddy and Lil on the climbing hill.

Uncle P, LK, and Sky enjoying the water feature.

Overall it was a great trip and I would definitely go back again.  Many thanks to my brother and parents for helping out with the little ones and providing some meals.  It really made this a relaxing, frugal, fun-filled family vacation.

PS.  Another week and a half has gone by since I started this post.  The older girls are back from camp and they had a lot of fun there.  It continues to be a super busy summer.  We finally got new cement poured in our basement (so we had to move in with Grandpa for a few days).  I can't believe school starts in two weeks.  But for now we are trying to squeeze as much enjoyment out of summer as we can.

Summer Tidbits

Well since I last posted the school year has ended and summer is in full swing.  Here are a few of the things we have been up to:

-The three oldest kids took swimming lessons and passed their levels.

-Tin cans were decorated, turned into a tin can telephone, and used by the girls in the operation of their bedroom turned general store.

-Hot summer afternoons were spent at the pool and sometimes the younger ones had their naps there.  Once LT had her nap right in the pool.

-Movies have been watched specifically Anne of Green Gables and Anne: The Sequel (with Megan Follows, very enjoyable).  Has anyone seen Anne The Continuing story?  Is it worth watching?

-Sky had a couple friends sleepover.

-Hikes have been taken out to the rock piles in the pasture. Forts were made and games were played.

-Dad went to Kananaskis to climb a mountain.  He didn't quite make it to the top because of the snow but had a good climb nonetheless.

-The older girls camped out in the yard when dad got home.

-Naps were taken outside in the hammock.

Now we are packing for our trip to Winnipeg.  We plan to stay with my brother and visit Whiteshell Provincial Park, the Assiniboine Zoo, Lower Fort Garry, Grand Beach and who knows what else.  We are looking forward to it.

Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window . . . it is cloudy and rainy.  Where, oh where is Mr. Sun?

I am thinking . . . about summer plans.  I can't believe that school is almost over.

I am thankful . . . that none of my kids seem to be sick today.  Over the weekend they were all feverish.

In the kitchen . . . got a roast cooking in the slow cooker for supper.  I am thinking of making something for dessert tonight.  Any suggestions?

I am creating . . . crocheting a baby sweater for LT. 

I am wearing . . . blue jeans and a navy tank top.

I am going . . . to a couple of a year-end barbeques in the next week.

I am wondering . . . how on earth it is that my baby girl is 9 months old today.  My how time flies.

I am reading . . . Beach Lane by Sherryl Woods.  A light, fun read.  Also working my way through Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka for a parenting book club.

I am hoping . . . that everyone stays healthy this week and that the sun decides to shine a little more.

I am looking forward to . . . summer vacation.

Around the house . . . our basement is finally ready to have the cement poured.  Hubby has been working hard on getting it ready. Now we just have to wait for the guy to come and pour the cement.

A favorite quote for today . . . "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger" Proverbs 15:1

One of my favorite things . . . a hot cup of tea.

A few plans for the rest of the week: not too much going on this week.  On Friday there is a noon BBQ at Sky's school.  I would like to get out in the garden if it ever dries up enough.  Also Star wants to get her dress sewn.

A peek into my day . . .

Sewing: Popover Dress

We are finally getting some nice weather here and yesterday the girls went swimming afterschool.  Last weekend however it was cool and rainy, so Sky and I decided to do some sewing.  Now I am not a seamstress.  In fact I joke that the only thing I can sew is a straight seam and that is only if it is not critical that it actually be straight.  Luckily that was basically all you needed to be able to do to sew this dress (You did have to sew a bit of a curve around the under arm but it wasn't too difficult and if it bunched a bit it wasn't in a really obvious spot.)  The pattern was a free pattern from Oliver + S and is called the Popover Dress and is for sizes 2 - 8 (We made the size 8).  It isn't really a fitted dress but it turned pretty good for our first attempt.  I think it would be really cute in one of the smaller sizes for a little girl.  I really liked the pattern as it was very clear and well written.  Also Oliver + S has discussion forums where you can go for help and I found this tutorial with lot's of photos.  This sewing newbie needs all the help she can get. 

Sky was a very good helper.  She cut out all the pieces herself, did most of the ironing, and threaded the sewing machine.  She was a little leary of doing the actual sewing herself so she operated the foot pedal while I guided the material through.  She did an excellent job.  She was (as she should be) very proud of herself.

Now of course Star wants to make herself a dress as well.  I am not sure if I will use the same pattern or if I should be brave and try something new.

A Sunny Day, A Wet Yard

So after all the rain we've been having today was a nice sunny day.  I took LK and LT outside to enjoy the sunshine.  LK noticed that the lilacs are in bloom and went over to investigate.  I love the smell of lilacs.  Aren't they pretty?

There is a lot of standing water around after the rain.  Luckily LK didn't head straight for it as he is prone to do.

Instead he headed up to the train tracks to collect some rocks.



He brought this one to show me and he wanted me to take a picture of it.

Then he headed back up to tracks to gather more rocks.

But he stopped in the long grass and called me over to check out a lady bug.  Can you spot it?

Then we went to check out the garden.  It was very wet and there was water running through it.

I have a feeling it will be a few days before I can get in there and do some work.  But we will continue to enjoy the sun.