In a rush daybook....Wednesday

Outside My Window: grey cloudy sky, showers from time to time today; about 6C

I am Listening to: silence. G working on a craft; F sleeping

 I am Wearing: my "uniform": l/s grey shirt, jeans, socks

I am so Grateful for: teachers who really care about their students

I'm thinking about: Advent activities....how did the time get away from me??

I am Reading: cooking mags; a book of O. Henry's short stories...did you know he was a convict?
I am Creating: eye spy bottles: link to a great tut Hide and Seek Bottles

Organizing: dratted paper clutter...poor Steve!

Children and Fish: kids are doing well. F went shopping today with only one meltdown...last few days it has taken me close to 20 minutes to get her into her car seat following our jaunts. Today it was 0 minutes~ much better! G happy and cheerful. C  has had a hard day at school so I'm not sure we're going to go swimming tonight. Might just call it a day and stay home, have snack, watch "The Snowman"   and have a quiet night.

Around the House: just starting to do some take down to decorate for Christmas. We'll do the bulk of it on Saturday.

From the Kitchen: want to make caramel popcorn and some merengues

 Favorite Thing today: bought the kids some cute mouse mugs for Christmas Eve. We're going to have hot choccy (or chocolate soy milk in some cases!) with homemade marshmallows, get in our PJ's and watch a special DVD  :) New tradition!

Love them....so cute!!! Found them in Starbucks.

picture Saturday....

A special gift from a friend....

leftover Thursday daybook

Outside My Window: dark, little bit of drizzle....expecting snow at the weekend!

I am Listening to: quiet house and a siren out on the main road

I am Wearing: l/s ballet top in brown, jeans, socks


I am so Grateful for: a fun day and a great picture taking session with the boys


I'm thinking about: finishing off the Christmas pressies

I am Reading: mostly adverts from the paper, Thriving Family Mag

I am Creating: pumpkin crafts to do with F & G

Organizing: P.a.p.e.r. C.l.u.t.t.e.r.

Children and Fish: Everyone doing well....We had a great photography session with our friend Jon-Mark. Boys did great, Fiona finally warmed up to him once he was almost done and we had a blast. Fish are happy and blowing myriads of bubbles.

Around the House: happy with how things are going~ didn't take a lot of time to clear up for the photo shoot which means things are staying tidier. Yay :)
From the Kitchen: granola....want to start experimenting for Christmas gifts.

Favorite Thing today: having fun at the photo shoot. Fave moment was when J-M asked me to kiss Steve on the cheek and as I did so Crispin made a "oh no!" noise and we all laughed and laughed. J-M got some fab photos of Steve and I as that happened. So fun.

Tuesday Morning Daybook

Outside My Window: bright sun, crisp and cool, about 10C out there right now

I am Listening to: NPR classical music station



I am Wearing: jeans, black 3/4 sleeve t-shirt



I am so Grateful for: tuesdays and thursdays and a chance to have Fiona to myself for a while



I'm thinking about: how much i *love* this preschool curriculum Wee Folk Art Harvest Time



I am Reading: Gervase Phinn, cooking mags; homeschool stuff




I am Creating: not much....just trying to keep things all together right now




Organizing:  paper clutter


Children and Fish: children OK. F stripped herself to her diaper this morning and didn't want to get dressed to go up to school. She is dressed now. We won't talk about the screaming. G lost his Spiderman water bottle and almost refused to go to school without it. We found another one. He's at school.We won't talk about the crying. Crispin was good. Happy, full backpack today, had to work to get up that hill on his bike.



Fish are happy bubble nest making fish. Hunter will get food today but not much. Right now, he's swimming around the tank, flaring his gills at his own reflection and protecting that bubble nest. Hilarious.

Around the House: Got laundry to put away and ironing to do. Floors need a wash after yesterdays cabbage salad serving disaster. (let's just say the area under one portion of the table is decidedly slippery)

From the Kitchen:Pumpkin everything again. I'm offically addicted.

Favorite Thing today: Autumn. Just everything about it. Leaves, crisp air, apples and pumpkins, new routines, reminder of death and rebirth...just everything.

Where has the month gone?

I always get to the end of a month and wonder where on earth it has gone! I almost always start out the month with a clean calendar page with only a few appointments booked on it and end up with a page full of "stuff". Sometimes it would be far better for me not to have so much going on but it is amazing how the time goes by so quickly.

The past month was spent with me spending every available moment doing one of two things....Christmas shopping or spending time with a good friend who is now en route to move to Australia forever. We are so alike and have been friends for nearly 15 years so it was hard to see her for the last time and know that our coffee and Bible study times are at an end in person. We're so glad for Skype as at least we can actually "meet" once a week or more.

We've slowly settled into a routine.....Mondays and Wednesdays we reserve for something fun so Greg has good stuff going on at home on his days off school and the girly and I go shopping and run errands on Tuesday/Thursday/Fri AM. Today we are making new playdough and dying silks with Kool-Aid I think. (G and F don't know it yet but they will be Christmas gifts for them)

I'm slowly working on getting boxes unpacked from the painting "move"...yes, I'm aware it has now been 2 months, actually almost 3 months! I'm not sure any of you manage, but trying to fit in anything else other than just the regular cleaning/cooking/laundry has been a challenge for me lately. However, good news is that Miss Fiona seems to be getting more independent and actually wants to be with me doing something rather than always up or nursing. Sometimes she's more enthusiastic than I'd like but she's really interested in what we are doing which is wonderful.

Just so you can all marvel at how time flies, here are the school pics of the boys this year. Crispin is Grade 5 and Greg is in kindy.



Aren't they getting huge?? Crispin almost reaches my nose with the top of his head now!

I'm on my way to start my day now but I do hope to be back before long. (Yes, I know, famous last words!!)

Take care.

what has it got in its pocketses??

(my apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien!)

Well, welcome to a game I play with myself all the time. (things that occupy my mind, I tell you!!) It's kind of related to the 15 items or less line game I play~ try and guess what people are having for dinner when I'm waiting in the line by what they have in their basket :o) 

This game is an end of the day game for me when I empty my jeans pockets....what kind of bit and bobs have I collected over the course of the day??

Here's some from Friday....

let's see....some toy bits, game pieces, i'd been vacuuming so hence the plug cover and hairband and a few other things from along the way. At Flickr, I actually put on some notes. I'll try and make this a regular thing....almost as revealing as a daybook post, I think!

in other notes.....Autumn is well and truly here. The little ones and I spent a happy hour outdoors last week drawing with chalk and rescuing worms from the roadway. A few pics....

Chalk drawing by Greg of a cat.

What Jessa did.

 Looking for the rescued worms... 

Stripey Tights...love them!



 Mama and Girly with Matching Shoes

Just had a rather horrendous 24 hours with both Fiona and I sick with a gastro bug but we are both feeling much better now! (and personally glad to not have to spend today watching Maisy and Bananas in Pyjamas all day!)

Speak soon!  

Autumn kinda begins...

Well, yikes. It has been ages since I've posted here. Summers are so busy with three people home and naps sporadically spread everywhere! August found us madly getting our home ready for painting (furniture to the middles, as much boxed as poss, pictures all down) and then we flew to MB to visit with my Mum and Stepdad for a week. Came home and undid the major furniture pieces (painting happened while we were gone), did laundry. packed and were off to the family cabin for another week. Came home from that, did laundry for a week and then tried to get in a week or so of fun stuff before we were really gearing up for back to school.

Both boys are at school today. C started Grade 5 on Tuesday and G will be in Kindy this year. He's super excited and had no issues with me leaving him there today for the afternoon. He'll be there two full days and one morning a week which is just enough for me :)

(the boys in Melita where my family all lives...this is the brand new statue in town!)

Here's a few pics of the past month....

(G being silly on the beach...he's a bit of a ham)

(C and G in the water. C is such a fish and *loves* swimming)

(Miss Fiona enjoying soy "i cream" after dinner)

(looking for crabs on the beach)

(Happy Birthday sweet 2 year old!)

(Meet Jessica...she's a Bamboletta doll and Miss Fiona's 2nd birthday gift)

(They're inseperable!)

It feels like Autumn is starting...it's been cooler and rainy and looks to continue that way through the next month and then we're into a moderate La Nina event so the autumn will be dark and rainy. I don't mind rain most of the time but November can be a bit dreary here and stormy. We need to make sure our outside furniture is all battened down soon!

I should get moving and finish laundry before it is time to get back up to school to pick up Greg :) Take care!

daybook, edition Thursday

Outside My Window: cloud and sun~ we're wondering what August will be like if this is the height of summer! Temps about 20C today which I love and Steve keeps asking where summer is :o)

I am Listening to: kettle boiling, sleepy music playing from our room where Fiona is having a quick nap before we have to go pick up the boys.

I am Wearing:  jeans, long sleeved brown shirt, ankle socks


I am Thankful for: a week of bike camp for my two guys and figuring out where that stray battery on our bedroom floor came from (!!) and that there isn't another one lying around for someone to do crazy things with.

I'm thinking about: packing  boxes. No we're not moving but we'll be on holiday soon and we have a cousin of Steve's coming to live here and paint our entire house. Whose idea was this?? Oh yeah, Mine. Now I have to pack up as much as I can so we can shift the furniture away from the walls for Brenton. Good bonus is that I'm doing declutter as I pack and I'll do more as we unpack. So kinda like moving without actually going anywhere.

I am Reading: mostly just cookbooks right now. Eat, Drink and Be Vegan by Dreena Burton is out again from the library for me to peruse. Lots of good baking recipes :)

I am Creating: boys and I have plans to paint tip-tops tomorrow or Saturday. Right now, they're too busy enjoying bike camp!

Household Rhythm: need to decide on a grocery day sans kids. Fiona doesn't make it longer than 20 minutes in the cart without either crying or screaming or shouting "get down an WALK". Not fun. Lots of crazy throw it together meals as a result and bare cupboards so to market I'll go Alone. :o)

In the Garden: beautiful black eyed susans opening up right now :)
The House: packing up as above. Finding all sorts of treasures!

From the Kitchen: Chicken Parmigiana tonight. (YUM,YUM)

I'm loving: watching my 5 year old ride without training wheels. Thank you Pedalheads!!

Off to pick up!

portrait of a road trip...

Yes we were just coming back from a weekend camping in a tent trailer.
Yes we had all stayed up too late.
Yes Fiona had been sleeping.
Yes she had just woken up hungry and scared.
Yes Steve and Greg were off getting juice/coffee and snacks.
Yes there was lots of crying.   
So
Yes, we snapped crazy pictures to keep her happy....here's a few!



10 year old with his MP3 player filled with new stories and radio shows. He sits right beside his sister....we've found it is the best combination.




This is Pickles. Yes,*that* Pickles. Like Ginger and Pickles or sometimes from Pickles the Fire Cat. He's a fave.



This is Spots. He belongs to Crispin but C lets Fiona hold him and snuggle him too. (Cause he loves his little sister) Spots has been around for a while. His ears are starting to fray and he's been sewn up a few times but we love him all the more for it.

A pensive girl.

Yes, she stopped crying.

Yes, I had the best vegan brownie and soy latte ever.

 And

yes

We were really, really glad to get home.   

.

summer thursday daybook

Outside My Window: blue sky and no cloud today but not too hot. (whew!) Only supposed to be about 24 today.

I am Listening to: sound of little people playing and a Magic Tree House audiobook in the background



I am Wearing: cropped jeans, long sleeved cranberry shirt for now (I'll change up to a short sleeved one later), bare feet



I am Thankful for: cooler temperatures and a clear schedule

I'm thinking about: how to *do* summer with a tween, a 5 going on 15 year old and a clingy toddler....my balance is off and we have spent most of this week doing laundry. Sigh.

I am Reading: The London Eye Mystery by Sibohan Dowd. So well written and a fascinating jaunt into the mind of a boy with autism. Really helped me think about my friend's son and what he may think and feel.


I am Creating: nothing right now but I have plans for felted dryer and play balls for Christmas pressies.


Household Rhythm: I need to start doing a massive declutter of our bedroom. We have a dumping ground right now and it isn't pretty. Steve would appreciate a retreat I think.



In the Garden: pretty sad right now but I planted out the dahlias and am planning to buy a few veggie plants to plant out.


The House: almost done washing and folding the laundry from the weekend, we've got plans for C and G's rooms in the next week.

From the Kitchen: getting into the summer routine of salads and easy meals. Our favourite this year is Thai Chicken Noodle Salad.

I'm loving: simple fruit syrups a la Mothering Magazine to put in my sparkly water. Pomegranate went over OK, I'm making lemon-ginger and lime today. So excited (maybe more than I should be!)



I like this daybook style....it's easy to write and I don't feel quite so blah about my boring life!



A picture thought from recent days....two sleeping children :)

I'll try this again tomorrow :)

rehydration

I'm sitting here with a mug of hot honey water trying to rehydrate my hardworking, over-caffinated body that has spent most of the day nursing the baby. She's suffering from a reaction to the jabs she had 10 days ago....swollen glands in her cheeks are making her grumpy and wanting to nurse every 30 minutes. She now makes 2 of the 3 of them who have reacted to the MMR vaccine. I haven't had the conversation with my doctor about the last dose at 11 years but I may have to have that conversation. Is it wise for the two of them to get another jab or will there be a more severe reaction? I'm just thankful the decision for that is 6 years away!

I"m rehydrating in body but I'm also rehydrating in spirit. Th past months have been some of the driest I've ever had personally. I haven't been here because every time I sat down at the keyboard either chaos would erupt or I would stare blankly at the white screen for a few minutes and then shut down the computer. My life has been one long mass of laundry/baby-holding/fight breaking up/cooking etc. I dragged through January and a horrendous February that started with Fiona breaking her collarbone. And now, somehow, I'm tentatively poking my head out into March and ready to take on life again. 

Nothing much has changed~ Fiona's collarbone healed up fine, the boys still fight from time to time and the laundry and cooking haven't gone away. However, I've changed. Somewhere inside of me, I'm holding on to hope again. I find personally that February is a hard month~ I almost always come to the end of it saying "good riddance"! We haven't really had a winter here this year...mostly just one long never ending November of a winter with rain and cloud and temps between 5 and 10 Celcius. Spring arrived in our part of the world about a month ago with the first flowers blooming and the earth warming up.            

Then there's this crazy guy who turns Five tomorrow. I know, F.I.V.E.!! Where did the time go?? It seems like just yesterday he was a tiny baby and then my sunny toddler who is now my very inquisitive preschooler. It's the most amazing thing, watching a personality develop. He's so excited about being five. And Crispin said once Greg was five, he was going to call them the "Multiplication Brothers" as 5x2=10. Oh we laughed. 

I must call it a night. Time ticks on and Fiona is sleeping restlessly. Thanks for meeting me here, let's do coffee or tea (or honey water) again another night! ;o)    

This was about a month ago~ Miss Fiona's first time painting. (which she loved BTW!) Now she goes every day to the paint box and opens the lid and says "ain"?? Sadly, usually it is when we are about to go out! I'm not good about scheduling craft time with the wee ones....especially messy crafting. We do lots of drawing and colouring but i have to work hard at the mucky crafting. i find our days go by so quickly between school drop off and pick up. i have the desire to, but we struggle. 

busy week....we've had a bit of a break from the continual heavy rain and now have spring temps which really don't suit me at all. (I want snow!!). however, we've had to substitute with lots of winter themed books :o) 

I'll be back with a(real) post soon...just popping in today for a quick hello!     

early weekend after a crazy week....

it's been an interesting week...and here I thought we were going to get back to the same old routine! Last weekend, Miss Fiona just wasn't herself. Not particularly hungry and on Sunday she started running a bit of a low grade temp. I thought she'd just picked up a bug from somewhere and was prepared for it to get worse. However, Monday morning came and she was back to normal temp wise but just not herself.  Monday afternoon, she started running a temp again, still relatively low grade but higher this time. And she started crying. I wasn't sure what was going on. She was acting like she does when she has picked up something with milk in it....fussy and irritable, tight stomach, a bit burpy. She was also drooling which as she's getting eyeteeth, wasn't cause for comment in us. About 8 pm, she cried out and had a huge BM. When I changed her diaper, there were streaks of blood all through her BM. Now, we've seen some blood before with allergies so I didn't panic and soon afterwards, she became much more like herself. So much so that she was up gallivanting around on our bed until 11 pm! Tuseday morning she was still rather quiet and when she wouldn't eat anything for breakfast or snack, I called and got an appointment with my GP. When he saw her and examined her, he thinks she has had something called volvulus....where the intestine twists in on itself. He's sending her on to a ped as sometimes it can be caused by intestinal malformation and there are some tests they want to do to rule that out. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing if it will happen again or even what triggered it. So, now I have my instructions if it ever does happen again and have been told not to worry. (easier said than done!) 

So life in our household is yet again never dull! The boys had a good week back at school~ C settled right back in to routine and G is going through some growing pains as he adjusts to being back at class. He's great at school but really wound up at home and all over Fiona which causes her to be rather grumpy! Thursday afternoon, Steve caled and told me he'd decided to take Friday off :o) (I love it when he does that!) We dropped Fiona off for an  hour with his Mum and had coffee together....lovely! I'm still in the midst of trying to find an organizing style that works for me so we discussed a variety of possibilities. I've used a binder system for a while (a la Flylady ) and tried to dip into a file crate system (see Dawn's post on this for more info). In the chaos of every day, I need something visual that I can *see* not something I have to go prying into so I think this eventually will work for me but I need to revamp it a bit. More on that later!

Everyone is awake now so my quiet time is effectively over ;o) Have a great weekend!            

the year in review....

It's been a busy week (well, weeks!) friends. We spent the week leading up to Christmas with two sick kids (just colds but they were definitely *not* themselves) so we spent a lot of time listening to the Narnia series on CD, reading and watching DVDs. (Current fave??  Shaun the Sheep) When we all felt up to it, we did a bit of crafting~ luminaries (Sadie, you were so right....freezing them helps immensely!!), some cards, baking. We had a special hot chocolate afternoon with different toppings and using homemade marshmallows  and some minty hot chocolate mix I made.

We had a nice Christmas (not super relaxing but it was fine) and a great Boxing Day brunch with the neighbours. The kids were feeling mostly better by then although 5 late nights in a ROW set them back somewhat. Here they are on Christmas morning...

The boys had *only* been up for 2 hours by this point but Fiona slept in so we had to wait to open stockings. They were squirrely by the time we got to it! (and ask me what 2 hours of waiting feels like!!) 

This past week has been nice. Steve came home on Christmas Eve and told me he'd decided to take this past week off. It has been really nice....did a few days of sorting out, a few outings (boys went ice skating...had a super time!) and just generally hanging out together at home.  Hard to believe that we are back to normal routine on Monday (but I'm ready for it).

As a child, I didn't like this time of year. I love Christmas and taking it down always made me feel sad. However, as an adult, I love this time of year! I'm usually ready for a fresh start and clearing away the Christmas decs makes me think about other things I'd like to "clear away" too. This past year has been the year of "yikes" in my mind. I don't think I've had so much happen to me in one year before and I come to the end of it feeling worn out and completely disorganized. 

I happened across an excellent tool (thank you Ann ) at SimpleMom.net. 29 questions to ponder (look for the pdf to print out if you like) and have been slowly working my way through them. This year has to be the year of deliberate changes, I think.  I'll let you know how things go!

For now, I have children awake and brekkie to make so I'm going to leave it there.

 A very happy new year to you all!