Snow November 1

I went running this morning. I quite LUV what I saw. Happy November 1st :) 

Bring It On

We are getting our Christmas on. The calendar is filling up with our Christmas activities. The 'Jesus' walk with Aunt Joyce, St Nicks with Nana and Paka, birthday party's, Christmas parties, movies, food....oh lala! My head is whirling! 

This year, setting up the kids tree; 

Angelina - was trying to keep it all organized, and quickly got frustrated with disorder. 

Grace - rediscovered favorite ordemants, and saved some for our real tree coming soon 

Bryan - was awesome helpful with lights, fixing the standing, and hanging beads. 

Klara - often is heard saying "when I was 3...." So as they set up the tree is was "When I was 3.....we put this on the tree!" 

Samuel - the disorder that was driving Angelina crazy. 

So Much to Say

I want to talk about neighbors, and family July 1st parties, and the naturopath, and babies growing so fast my heart jumps for joy and breaks a tiny bit at the same time. I promised garden pics, so that is all I have time for tonight. As I went through this pics I see my garden has grown since last week and I need new pics, but they will come soon, I promise.

For Aunt Lilja:

Happy Fathers Day

Mothers play an important role as the heart of the home, but this in no way lessens the equally important role fathers should play, as head of the home, in nurturing, training, and loving their children.

Ezra Taft Benson

 

It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was.

Anne Sexton

Wordy Wednesday

(Wordy Wednesday because I'm a very wordy person, and could never do the wordless Wednesday - but today its pretty simple!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAKA!

We took her out for her birthday <3 and="" br="" happy.="" she="" surprised="" was="">

Happy Mothers Day, (better late then never)

Mothers and Daughters

by Anonymous

You can see it in their eyes, in tender hugs and long good-byes, a love that only moms and daughters know. You can see it in their smiles, through passing years and changing styles, a friendship that continually seems to grow. You can see it in their lives, the joy each one of them derives, in just knowing that the other one is there... To care and to understand, lend an ear or hold a hand, and to celebrate the memories they share.

A Brief Post on My 'Large' Family

Let me be brief. Or I'll try. It starts with a story.

I walked up the street with my kids all around me. Samuel in the stroller, Klara on her bike, and the 'big' kids walking. It was late in the day, and I could just feel the coolness of the evening beginning. The sky was a beautiful blue, with the sun just starting to streak it with hews of pink and orange. We crossed the road, (Klara got off her bike) and we headed toward the driveway. I saw a few neighbors chatting and smiled thinking how much I was beginning to feel part of the neighborhood.

I need to pause here and say, it hasn't always been like that. I've felt like the odd ball, stay at home mom, large family, ect, but this particular evening, I was feeling as if I had shown them with our amazingness how awesome we were, and I had won them over to accepting us into the neighborhood.

I smiled and waved to them on the other side of the road and made my way up the drive. I thought about joining the conversation but decided to sit on the bench in the front instead.

I watched the neighbors, feeling happy, pausing to watch the kids, and then I checked my my phone.

Voices drifted through the air.....

"I thought to myself, 'how many does she have now?'"

My head slowly came up and I listened intently.

I couldn't here all of it. Hmmmmmm.  Why don't they speak a little louder?

".....about every 2 years right?'

At this point I decided they must have thought I'd gone inside, right?

".....like a bunch of bunnies..." followed by laughter.

My mouth DROPPED open. People only talk like this in the movies, I thought.

Its burned in my brain, the happy neighbor man walking across the grass saying, "Yep, we had 3 and put a stop to that," just to finish it off.

I think I went inside. I honestly don't remember. I was hurt. Insulted. Angry. For a brief moment I had felt shame for my 'large' family, and I was mad at myself for that. I'm not ashamed, at all. I love each and every one of them. If I could change anything, I'd add 3 more....but for that second, listening to them, the desire to be accepted was so strong, I felt a moment of shame. And that made me angry.

Insulted. I see red when I think of the woman's voice saying 'like a bunch of bunnies'. We did not act on wild animal urges. We did not have an accident. We did not make a mistake. We decided to welcome a person into our family. Every single time. Every. Single. Time.

Crazy things go through my head. They think I have to many, so how many is to many? 3 is ok? So at this point what should I do with the other 2? Give them away? Why exactly do I have to many? Can I not handle them? They are clean, mostly well behaved, loved, love in return, learning, growing....Maybe they think I don't deserve 5?

I remember thinking I should shout out, "I'm expecting triplets in December!"

I didn't.

I think (right, ya think?) its been a bit traumatic for me. I've had to share with friends, listen to their thoughts and be encouraged and supported. I spoke with Goran right away, and my Luv put me straight, telling me those people have clearly lost sight of what is important in life. Another friend reminded my how beautiful my family is. Another friend urged me to think how this is likely mostly  more about them then me, its just coming out in this awful ugly way.

I'm not giving any away! I'm keeping them forever. They are a part of me now and forever, and I am so so thankful for all they bring to my life.

And as defeated and hurt as I felt that night, I'm not giving up. We are going to keep being our awesome selves, kind, polite, and friendly, in hopes we do win them over. In fact, if anything, I only want to try harder, stretch out my hand of friendship further, and be the kind of neighbor they want to have next door or down the street.

So as short goes, this is probably one of my longer posts, but it had to be told.

Thanks for listening, and reading.

Swimming

Suddenly it's June and we are swimming.

Well most of us. Small people still need small places to swim :)

Easter Remnants

A few bits and pieces of our Easter.

These boys.... :)

and Klara!

we all went to church Sunday morning. my heart felt so big sitting with my family on that wooden bench <3 br="">

Her Elsa cape!

Looking Back Since January

January began with knitting.

 It continued with loads of snow. 

the birds finally came to the bird feeder!

sisters

samuel spent hours watching big kids at the window. Klara joined him on occasion.

angelina did her own ballet bun, and klara developed a luv for them

 Graphs.

 Being a good homeschooling mom, I try to keep learning fun. I dabble in unschooling when time allows. (thats funny...) Meaning I try to draw them into an activity with lots of 'this will be fun!' 'lets try something new,' and my favorite 'do you want learn something neat?'. Unschooling is so much more work then workbooks and timelines.

Anyways, I decided to have fun with graphs. I bought a giant bag of m&ms.

"Lets make graphs! It'll be fun! In the end...." I get cut off here by Angelina. She groans loudly and rolls her eyes. I narrow my eyes at her. Ruining my great teaching moment. (The end of the sentence was, "...you can eat the m&m's!")

"Do we have too?" She says very dramatically.

I smile. "No. In fact you can go downstairs and read a book."

"Ok!" she's gone.

The others were waiting to see what would happen.

The all get a generous handful, make their graphs with counting, and drawing, using a ruler, writing, and coloring. Learning stuff, but they are having fun, so they don't realize it.

Little Miss 'Do I have to?' comes up at the end to see everyone eating m&m's. Her face falls when she realizes what she passed up. I didn't have to say anything.

A few days later I came home from groceries with a small bag of cadbery eggs for everyone. HER face lit up instantly and she says.....

"Lets make a GRAPH!"

Mission accomplished!
_______________________________________________________________________

1 year photo shoot.

u try getting 5 kids looking in the same place at the same time. I dare you.

he is this cute all the time. I will have to see if i can unfuzz this picture. can i?

Maple Syrup Trip

It was the middle of March. It was cold and snowing and everyone insisted on wearing rubber boats. Except me in double socks, everyone ended up cold and miserable. The one that is missing was crying about cold toes. Poor girl. Next time she will double her socks!

I have lots my battery charger to my camera. I'm getting a new one tomorrow and will continue posting better pics. The camera phone doesn't cut it.

Bryan is riding the 2 wheeler. Pics to follow.

Saturday at Aunt Kristyn's

The big kids made clay hamsters and cages. Complete with newspaper, 'lofa', food, water and a spinning wheel.

Samuel and I were able to hang out. We played dino's, and he talked to the big kids through the window bottomless. (He luvs windows!) It was priceless.

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman

She sang all the words :)

Spring!

After a long winter the signs of spring are real!

And after a trip around the block, Bryan has almost got this 2 wheeler thing!

Little Girls/Big Girls

Little girls watching big girls dance. ♥️

First Day of Spring

Today we took a trip to a local heritage village to learn how maple syrup was discovered, and collected through the years. It ended in a lovely taste of real maple syrup.

It was freezing. Despite how I suggested to dress, the children had other ideas, and 15 minutes in one was crying about cold toes. You can imagine how it was after another hour....

Afterwards we went for pancakes and maple syrup with friends. We all luved that :)

Happy 1st day of spring!

Creativity

Angelina made me this lovely bracelet. Who knew rainbow loom would result in such beautiful jewelry!

Black Berries

He luvs black berries <3

March 13 2014

January - A Month in Review

Oh the month has flown by faster then I can believe. A whole month, disappeared in a blink. But there, filled with memories, I tuck away, hole dear, and memories that fill my heart <3 nbsp="" p="">
We spend time being sick, laying on couches with buckets tucked close by pillows, time reading, family stories, beginning board games, story times, skating, walking, school work, hot cocoa, and snuggles by the fire. Its been ruff, but we've made the best of time together.

Lets start at the very beginning.


New Years Eve

I don't luv New Years, I'd rather be in bed getting my sleep :) But Goran does luv News Years Eve, so we stay up and ring it in like we should. We discussed and agreed to let the girls to stay up. Unexpected, but so very happy to have close friends and luved ones here, our elderly neighbors Tony and Lynn ended up coming over, spending the night quietly enjoying company, laughs, DS gaming, playmobil and baby snuggles.

The best New Years Eve I've ever had. And its only going to get better.

Happy 8th Birthday Grace

Between illness's we managed to have a few friends over and celebrate my girl.  

she was up late the night before, making one for each person.

she picked out rainbow butterflies herself and spent time cutting out each one. they are still hung up!

8. 

Eight.

I can't believe it.

8 years since I birthed my baby, in my home, in my bed, into my arms. It was an amazing day, one I will never forget, and always treasure.

Grace,

We luv and treasure you. You are part of our family, you make us who we are. Without you, we wouldn't be the same. You are luving, and kind, and sensitive. You are learning to empathize. In the last few weeks we have had numerous encounters where your face suddenly changes and you understand how powerful your words are. You feel so strong, often your face will crumble and you I can't help but hug you and luv you, knowing you are growing into a more amazing person every day.

Luv you forever Grace

Momma

The Rest

The dishwasher broke. It has been over 2 weeks. It has been frustrating. But we have adapted, and the time together, washing dishes, soapy hands, chatting with the kids, baby on the floor playing with the mop or broom....The dishwasher is at the doctors, and we hope to have it back this week.

Skating.....its been an adventure, but they are getting it. I'm so excited to see Goran involved, teaching, engaging, sharing something new with the kids. And the kids!!! Wow! I'm so excited to see them try, and try again, the excitement, and joy on their faces.   

Oh and Samuel is pulling to stand. Slow down baby!

                                                                                                                                      
I'm thinking of writing every day of the 'work week' - 1 day for each child. The whole point of the blog is to celebrate each of my kids. The great and small things they do, learn, experience. . I was thinking of giving each child their day, but I might see how each day goes, and make sure by the end of the the week I've got each child in.

Here is for trying new things!