Quotable Mondays

The best way out

is always through.

 

-Robert Frost

 

A Boy & His Bowl

This past summer I was at my inlaws house picking crabapples to make jelly.  My Mother In Law had this old metal bowl that I found quite interesting.  She was about to have a garage sale and was planning on tossing the bowl into it.  She mentioned it was her Mother's and my interest was peaked even more.

I asked if I could have that bowl and she willing gave it to me.  Everytime I look at it I think of what they used it for...probably many different things.  I can picture my husband's grandma picking green beans from her garden and putting them in the bowl.  Can you imagine how beautiful fresh picked green beans would look in this white bowl?

I found a place for it in my home for display, trouble is the kids love to play with it so it rarely sits where I put it.

It's a metal bowl...if he throws the car in it makes noise...perfect toy for a toddler.

By the way April Gage LOVES that noisy police car.

I like things that have a past.

I like things that have a past and were once used by people that are part of our history, part of us.

This bench once held many of my relatives, laughing, eating, playing crib, and probably telling jokes.

One glance at it and I think of my Grandpa who I lost 13 years ago.  How he laughed, how he cheated in cards, and how he whistled ALL the time.

To someone else it might just be a bowl or a place to sit down for lunch but to me these things are important.  I can tell my kids everytime they sit on the bench who sat there at one time and how old the bench is.  This in turn leads to stories of people they never met but I am sure they can tell how much I loved them by the way I talk and sometimes how my eyes mist up.

I don't know, maybe I am too sentimental.  I don't keep everything, I am no pack rat, but I do love to have things surround me that I know were touched by hands that once used to hold me, hug me and love me.

Be careful what you ask for....

All I can say is in the past two months I have learned more about myself...good and bad.

I'm working on some inner issues and of course I asked God to help me out with them.

I am AMAZED at what I have been shown, more about me than other's that I thought maybe  the problem.

I am AMAZED at how it came...subtle....but oh so present...there, right there.

I am AMAZED that I am changing...from the inside out and that is not painful..yet anyway.

Okay in all honesty I think it's so cool!

Have a great Friday!

Wordless Wednesday

{I had to edit because I do not think ppl are getting the photo...he's plugging his nose!}

For more Wordless Wednesday participants go visit 5 minutes for Mom.

Tackle It Tuesday

On Sunday things started to look up around here {everything healthwise fell apart again on Monday}.  I was so eager to get to some scrapbooking or card making that I sat down and made these two Christmas cards in a half hour. 

The plan was to design a Christmas card with a family photo.  I did not want to spend alot of time or money on this project nor did I want to do the same old thing as last year or the year before.

The second card can fit into a #10 envelope, therefore inexpensive to buy and to mail.

With the sick children in our house the 5 cards I finished were a tackle in itself.  There is much hugging and cuddling going on these days {and nights}.

What are you tackling today?

Head on over to 5 minutes for Mom and get inspired.

Now We Know Why

We finally went into the clinic this morning.  Sasha barely slept lastnight because she coughed and coughed.  Nothing would take the cough away.  Gage was in the same boat but he settled for the night around midnight...unlike his sister {let's just say there are tired parents in this house today}.

So here is the tally.............

Sasha - Chest Infection and has antibiotics and a puffer.

Gage - Chest & Ear Infection and has antibiotics and a puffer.

Sam - bad cough but no infection but the doctor gave us this very awesome cough medicine....took that uncontrollable, gonna make you throw up cough away in minutes.

Right now, they are all wrestling with Daddy.  Laughing, giggling, and screaming away.  What would you like to bet if I walk in that room I'll hear whining?

And so is the life of a Mother....but you know I love them anyway, coughs and all.

Quotable Monday's

Everything has its beauty

but not everyone sees it.

-Confucius

Everyone's Doing It

Cheering for the Saskatchewan Roughriders that is...

I rarely watch tv during the day {let alone football} but you can bet we will be watching as much as we can of this game.

****edited....THEY WON...the Riders are in the Grey Cup!!!

Hey, It's 8:30pm & I'm still awake!

That just might mean that I am on the mend.  If you have seen me out and about your probably thinking that girl looks fine.  But inside...oh man...the tummy was not right for many days.

But today, things were looking up after I got groceries.  I set my mind to getting something done because you can imagine the state of my house after not functioning at a normal level.

Laundry...sigh.....what can I say?

Dishes...sigh...what can I say?

Here is a peek at what my kitchen counter looked like this morning....

{I so had to get the snot sucker in there...LOL and if you know the proper name could you let me know, okthanks}

And here is a peek at the sicklings in my house....

Just so you know this was an hour or so after that smiling boy had throw up all over himself and my van!  He is the ONLY boy on this earth that gets hyper when he is sick.

But on a less gross note, I did tackle dishes and made some soup.

After I did this I got inspired and made some banana bread with chocolate chips.  It's no secret cooking, baking and cleaning can make me a happy girl.

And the best part...it is 9pm and I'm still awake...woohoo.

Thanks for all the well wishes and for putting up with my moaning and groaning.

Well...

I am tired of not feeling well.

I spent the last 15 years or so illness free, with the exception of the odd sniffle here and there....oh okay I had strep throat once, but I bounced back pretty fast.

But since 2009 began, it's been one thing after the other.

And I am ready for it to end.

I have stocked up on vitamins and am up for the battle to regain our health.

I can hear the treadmill calling my name.

I am looking forward to getting "back to normal" soon....very soon.

Wordless Wednesday

Who taught these children how to eat?

For more WW participants go here.

Tackle It Tuesday

Since I skipped Tackle It Tuesday last week I'll post what I was going to write about.

I cleaned the deck...exciting isnt it..(lol)

It may not sound like a lot of work but using a pressure washer with three kids around and being the only parent...it was a lot of work.

I had to complete it in time slots when the baby was sleeping.

But I did it!

The deck looks so much better.  This is a job I try to do in the spring and fall but never got around to it this year.  It was a beautiful day outside so it was nice to get out of the house and get something cleaned up.

We are also still tackling our health.  In the past month I have only felt 100% two days.  Now I have a very sore throat and still have two kids coughing and one complaining of belly aches and such.  Will it ever go away?

What are you tackling today?

Head on over to 5 minutes for Mom and get inspired.

It's Time

 

I have read Ann's Multitude Monday's for over a year now.  Have I particpated yet...no.  But today I see that I need to do this. Go check out my motivation.

 "Thanks is what makes a life large; thanks is what multiplies joy."-Ann Voskamp

You can read about One Thousand Gifts here.
So today I start with my Thanks and I am excited to see where it leads me...

1. Joy of family together at meal times.

2. Crisp cold November mornings.

3. Tight wrap-their-little-arms-around my neck hugs from my children.

4. Forgiveness

5. Cuddles from two week old babies, especially when they are related to you.

Some Monday's I realize their will be less and some Monday's I realize their will be more.  Would you like to join me? 

Quotable Mondays

Most of the shadows of this life

 are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.

 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

You're Gonna Miss This

What will I miss this week?  I will admit this week has been a tough one.

If you read my previous post you know right now is not "easy street" in our house.  You know what I mean right?  When the kids behave day after day, they play alot and fight less.  We seem to be able to spend lots of time with each other and the house stays clean {okay I'm totally joking about the house but it would be the icing on the cake!}

We are far from that right now.  My children constantly complain their belly hurts....all of them, well except the 12 month old..he can't talk yet but he is cranky enough all day long to believe his belly hurts too.  They fight, they refuse to go outside, they are not playing with their toys and I shut the t.v. off so they just stand there or follow me around.

So will I miss much from this past week?  Well yes I will.

I'll miss the bow legged walk of a baby just learning how to waddle away on his own...

I will miss the very unseasonable but warm temperatures we are having here in Western Canada......

I am really missing the days it was easy to dress this little girl....

We have taken a turn for the worse when it comes to clothing.  Our appointment with the Pediatric Occupational Theraprist went well but we need to follow up and I have a feeling there will be many more appointments in the future.

This little girl spent the last 3 days in the house because she could not find any clothing that did not bug her.  Her room looked like a bomb went off in it.  Yesterday I put my foot down {and only because we had to leave the house} and she ended up wearning a pair of pajamas and leggings to the hockey rink.  I don't care what she is going to wear, it scares me the implications of what this issue could become.  What also scared me was when she put her winter coat on she had another anxiety issue and what do you do when your child cannot wear a coat and you live in Canada!

I know we will get through this storm but it could not come fast enough.

So this week there are moments that I will miss even though it's been a tough one especially mentally and emotionally.

I'm sure you can all tell my mood is not as uplifting as I'd like it to be ;).

What are you all missing?

Check out Pam's blog and read all about it.

Craziness

Ahhhh....life is sweet but right now there is something in the air that is causing the shorter people who live in this house to be a little....well..crazy.

I thought it was just me but my husband has noticed it too {especially when I was away for 24 hours or so}.

We have had moments like this before, the kids just do not settle, the routine doesn't help them settle, and they look at the toys they own as if they are foreign objects.

What usually follows is a bout of sickness.  One by one the kids get sick and then they get better.  We usually see a quick return to normal after that.

But...this time I'm not so sure.  The kids have all had coughs and sniffles and "my tummy hurts" for the past month now.  My daughter has suffered three nights of fever so if sickness was to happen...full blown throw up and all, it would have happened by now.

So I'm not sure what is going on in my small corner of the world.  I do know that I will weather it like we always do..this time hopefully I won't complain every second {I'm working on that} and this craziness will pass.

Due to fatigue in myself I have not visited many blogs lately either so what's happening in your corner of the world?  I'd love to hear about it....take my mind of the craziness and all......

Wordless Wednesday

Sigh.............

For more WW particpants go here.

Quotable Mondays

Kindness is never wasted.

If it has no effect on the recipient,

at least it benefits the bestower.

-S. H. Simmons

You're Gonna Miss This

It's almost the weekend but not quite.... so I am a little early on this post BUT this Mama is heading out the door for a stay over in another city.

Yes people...SANS children!!!

I am so looking forward to this mini break and spending a whole day soaking up praise and worship at Women's Journey of Faith.

This week was another busy week {which I am really beginning to dislike}but as usual it only takes a moment to realize there is something I am going to miss as my children grow up.

My daughter loves to pretend play.  She loves to decorate for anything, it does not have to a holiday or party.  She disappeared upstairs one morning and came back down with a basket that holds her underwear, tights and socks.

Within minutes I noticed my house was decorated.

Every doorknob had a sock on it....

OH and the sofa....what else but Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Pony underwear to just give that pop of color!

Just wait...she was not done...the finishing touch....

Of course the floaty thing for the swimming pool!! 

{By the way Sam has been wearing this thing around his waist for days}

What I love the most is she hums when she is decorating. 

PRICELESS!

And this my friends is what I will miss....the creativity of a young child.

Head on over to Pam's blog and check out what other's are missing.

Where did the last 365 days go?

One year ago today I was in a hospital room waiting, waiting and waiting some more (almost 12 hours) for a c-section.

We welcomed Gage William into the world later in the evening.

He is my surprise baby.

He endured a year full of changes in this family.

Luckily he was in his baby year and did not feel the punches too often.

He is loved by his siblings.

And has a twin in his oldest brother.

They look alike but also share a bond that makes me want to cry.

Gage,

We love your rooster tail hair doo but we realize your now a toddler.

So we set off for your first haircut yesterday.

And now look at my handsome little man.

I love you,

more than I ever could have imagined loving another human being.

Wow, my fourth baby is no longer a baby.

sniff sniff