Peeking

Peeking
Originally uploaded by Sarah Dzines

Ok....question about glasses. I have had these glasses since just before I had Riley! Can you believe that!? Yes, over 6 years. They have been great, I love them, no problems, no loose screws, no nothing, and I wear them ALL DAY LONG.
However...I am getting slightly bored of them. As well, there's that whole issue about needing sunglasses but not being able to wear them. I don't think I want contacts, not sure that I want tinted lenses, but not sure I want clip on sunglasses either. Hmm.
I think I did a good job in choosing them because they don't look terribly out of date, but I think I could use a change in my look.
What do you think?
And then the hair. I haven't had my hair as long as it is now since also when Riley was born. It is only a few inches below my shoulders, which is long for me. I guess I'll have to take a picture. Anyway...I contemplate doing "the chop" every year and chicken out...something like this...

Do you think I could pull it off? With glasses? Do you think my hubby would disown me?
I'm not itching for a change right at the moment, as I'm enjoying putting my hair up in a ponytail, but just for future...I need a while to think about it.
Thanks for your input.

Time flies

...when you're having FUN. And that we are. Really, I'm not lying. I am not pulling my hair out slowly...things are going well now that the boys have adjusted to the loss-of-school schedule and the new dynamics of the house. We'll get it perfectly sorted out and then Riley will be back into school! Today we spent about 4 hours playing lego. Yes, me included. They always do better when I am right in there handing them the pieces they need and spurring them on, as in, "Why don't you build a trailer to pull your boat on behind that truck you made!". The time goes fast, and lego is actually one boy toy that I grew up with and don't mind playing. And unlike the Wii, it is something that Liam can join in on. This summer has been so much easier with Shea...in the sense that I'm not nursing, he doesn't need to be held as much, and he loves to get out as much as the older two but is not completely mobile, so is still containable! Liam is not as much in that "needing that nap but not taking one" stage. He usually does well until the end and then will cry over what pj's I'm making him wear. Oh life is so rough when you're four. Riley just goes and goes and wakes up every morning by 7am no matter what time we got to bed. He can get so tired and whiny but doesn't know what he needs. Ugh. I am looking forward to the day I get to wake him up. He wants us all to wake up when he does, so he always does a loud handwashing in the bathroom every morning, and then dances down the stairs, will sing and talk loudly and bang a few doors in an effort for us to get up. One day he will get payback I'm sure with a morning lark child that will not go back to sleep after peeing for nothin'.
On Saturday, Riley, Liam and I went to the waterslides in Vernon which is an absolute hoot. We seem to go yearly, right around my niece Claire's birthday. It usually includes my parents, brother, sister and their families. We spent the entire day up there...from opening at 10am until almost 7pm. We were so wiped out! Riley especially had burning red eyes from all the chlorine and rosy red cheeks from the sun. I only burnt a little, but gosh my bum and neck are sore.
This is the last week of July and then we start 2 weeks of holidays which will take us half way through August and then yikes, summer will be almost over! I hate how long it takes to come and how quick it seems to go.
Anna and I are still enjoying our evening walks and the views of the lake we get to see are always breathtaking in those hours.
I am gritting my teeth in anticipation for Thursday, when all three of my boys will be getting their shots. I am dragging Greg along this time in case Liam has another freak out! Wish me luck.
I hope you all enjoy this last week of July!

Just in case you wondered...

...what I look like when I'm writing my blogs...
Here I sit at 10pm after a killer walk with Anna from the wharf up to my house...took us about an hour straight uphill. Ouch. We did a lot of groaning.
So I washed my face, put on my headband (definitely a necessity, I mean who doesn't have one?) and here I sit.


HHIIIII!!

I see you!


HELLO!

And thanks to those who commented on the last reading post...I knew I'd get you with that one Bri...you always get the boys such favorite classic books. I'm going to pick out our top 10 favorite kid books and get the titles for everyone, and if I'm energetic enough, I maybe even will find links for them. And I so totally read the Sweet Valley High series, and anyone remember that Christian series with a girl named Mandy? I had one about "Mandy and the forbidden attic" or something like that. And how about "When calls the Heart" or "When comes the Spring". I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about??
Anyway... goodnite y'all. It was fun to share my headband photos with ya.

Raising a reader

We're at a neat stage in our house as Riley is just learning to read, and can manage to read the little toddler books we have. And then Shea is just getting interested in books and has started to make sounds for all the little pictures he is seeing. A few times I have caught Riley reading to Shea, and it is too precious. I had forgotten how cute it is when babies are first forming words. It seems like Liam has been talking forever!! (he almost has).

We aim to read 3 books to the kids before bed every night. We are finding it a bit harder in the summer as we stay up later and are often too tired (and cranky). Shea can't sit still long enough, but he'll be in the room on occasion.



We have a fridge phonics letter magnet toy on our fridge and Shea is ecstatic about it. Every morning he points at the fridge and starts muttering sounds that are close to "A,B,C,D". I have a feeling that he will take after Liam and be a little chatterbox.


I'm looking forward to the day when we can branch out into chapter books. I have the whole Narnia series and have been reading it myself. The HORSE and his BOY is the latest one I finished and though I didn't remember reading it in my youth, I thought it was a really good one. When I was young, our family read the Narnia series together, and the whole Anne of Green Gables series. I read the Little House on the Prairies series on my own, Heidi, as well as a bunch of odd teenybopper books.


What were/are your favorite childhood books?

Cookie Louise

So I didn't know if I would write about it, but here I am.
This week, our ol' family dog was sent to a better place. She lived to be 16 years old...what is that in dog years, like 800?
Anyway...back in 92, when I was 15 years old, my dad took on a new job as a pastor in Salmon Arm. Until then, we had been living in Smithers B.C. for the past 7 years. It wasn't an easy time to move exactly. I had good friends, I was entering grade 11, I was at that awkward stage of life where it isn't cool to be the NEW kid. It wasn't fun to leave, but it was good to start something new in a beautiful new town.
The first summer was pretty weird as we had been used to hanging out with our friends daily, and now was hanging out at home and with our siblings, renovating our new house and trying to tackle the huge yard. I had an "incident" the day we moved in, resulting in a trip to the ER and 10 stitches in my head. I got a nice little hair chop at the site of the injury, leaving me feeling even more insecure than I already was at how I looked and would be presenting myself to this new church and new people.
Some time in this whole blur of me being either depressed about having left my friends, and feeling so lost and alone in a new huge highschool, and yet happy about the new people and new life...we got a dog. I wasn't there, but my dad picked out this puppy for Anna and brought it home for us. It must have either been on a whim, or that he was feeling bad about us having being uprooted, or maybe none of the above...but he surprised us with this sweet puppy that really did win us all over. We aren't really pet people. The last dog we had did not love us in return and chose to bolt anytime the door was open.
And so, we did our duty with this puppy...gave it the name Cookie, fed it, walked it, chased her, played with her, washed her...all the things you do with a dog. She was a "piano dog" with my mom and walked the students in and out and then sat on my mom's feet during each lesson.
Fast forward about 10 years. The family grew up and moved out. Everyone sort of does their own thing and the dog ended up with mom for most of the time. We all married, had our children (8 of them between us). Cookie was my ring bearer. (Just kidding). She is there for every Engel Christmas. Anna eventually took her back and had her for the past few years here in Salmon Arm. And she just kept going and going like an ol' energizer bunny. Cookie started losing her hearing, but still would on occasion run around in her figure 8 like she used to years ago. She was never good with small children, so she became a bit of a nuisance with the kids.
My dad decided it was high time that we threw this dog a birthday party, since we don't do that sort of thing ever. We figured that maybe it was what she was waiting for! So just two weeks ago, we all went to my mom and dad's for a 16th birthday bash for Cookie. She got some nice dog treats, my mom made dog bone shaped cookies, and it was fun for all.
Then last week, the poor thing started getting sick. She was puking, not eating, hardly moving, covered in flies. Anna couldn't stand it anymore, and knowing how old she was, made the decision to put her down.
So Cookie now resides where waffles are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Chasing bunnies and balls is offered all afternoon, and sleeping on beds and laying on furniture is totally allowed (never was at our house).
That's what I'd like to think, anyway.

Aww, he kills me!

Aww, he kills me!
Originally uploaded by Sarah Dzines

Just had to share this CUTE face!

These scurvy pirates

I haven't taken many pictures lately. I don't get much free time these days, go figure. I've been trying to take the boys out for some sort of adventure (involving cardiovascular exercise) every day. Yesterday we went out to the industrial park and hiked up by the power lines and up to the little creek/dam up there. It was quite a good hike for two small guys, but they did great as they rode most of it on their bikes. Then today we went to the school for a swing in the trees and found a dog to hang out with.



Back at home, Shea absolutely loves riding in his car. He will go in and out of it for almost an hour. This is how he spent his time while I was bailing out our pond again and ridding it of smelly green stuff. Maybe I need some fish in there?

And here are the crazy pirate boys, first thing this morning.




I think I'd better get these guys some lunch, they are getting sorta mean.

a r g h

Avalanche Ranch

As I mentioned before, I was spending this last week at our church daycamp as a Kindergarden small group leader. I didn't have to prepare much, just had to come to accompany 13 or so little 4/5 year olds to their activities (crafts, games and story time). It was almost like going to work as I had to have my kids ready and out the door with their lunches by 8:30am, drop them into childcare (downstairs in the church) and rush off to my morning meetings. I must say that I enjoyed getting out of the house all week. But I AM TIRED! I guess I was trying to maintain optimum enthusiasm the entire morning, while trying to be in control of all these little ones who like to wander off, while trying to ignore the fact that I had just left Shea screaming with a teenager. Then we would come home at 1:30pm exhausted, and cranky, and later I would go to sleep thinking about all these little kids and wake up the next day to do it all over. But it really was great. I think we had 225 registered kids. It was huge and loud, with lots of yahoo's and line dancing. Any kid would be crazy not to enjoy themselves, and my two boys could be found singing the songs throughout the evening and reciting the simple truths they learned this week that God is Real, God is with us, God is Strong, God is awesome and God is in Charge. If you ever get to have a summer vacation in Salmon Arm, do it on the 2nd week of July so you can send your kids to the daycamp. I'm sure we'll all be there next year.
One of the big positives of having a huge church are these great opportunities for my kids to take part in BIG things. I tried to encourage them that this week was special as many kids would be there who didn't know anything about God. It wasn't just about having fun, it was about learning. One of the negatives of having a big church and all the huge functions, is the pressure to be involved in everything. It takes some time to know where you fit and when to say yes/no. We also have a huge club which runs through the school year called Awana that requires many leaders and helpers. Greg and I could quite easily be put in a position there, as Greg was all year, but it is a huge commitment at this time of our lives when we have 3 kids ages 6 and under. I think we are going to have just one of us be involved (like we did last year) so that one of us can hold up the fort. Greg has been helping out in the worship team on occasion, so we both have our spots. It is good to be involved and get to know people as we serve.
I'd love to hear what you're involved in (if not in church, in your community) and how you make it work for your family.

Adventure walking

My sister and I have been doing quite well at keeping up with our walking, three times a week, for an hour or more. We have really picked up speed and are covering a lot of ground in our neighborhood, finding new trails and seeing cool places. We've discovered bike jumps, been up and down Little Mtn. a few times, been attacked by mosquitos, chased by a boy in a dragon suit, helped two lost kids find their way home, found a pair of shoes, climbed the rope web at the junior highschool, done countless flights of stairs at a school, found an under-the-highway tunnel, gone from our house down to the end of the wharf and BACK!, seen some great views from high places, seen lots of roadkill and been on paths in the dark while talking LOUDLY for fear of bears. Tonight was no exception in our adventures. First, while winding down a steep road...we came across a cop car, a horse trailer, a pile of onlookers and a cow. Yes, a cow, in the residential neighborhood was being coaxed into a trailer by this cop and some guy. What the cow was doing on that poor persons lawn is beyond me. We don't know where the hank it came from. I'm sure that cop has had better calls. "Umm...I've got a cow in my yard, can you get a trailer and a lasso and come on up here?" The cow was safely captured and we gave them a cheer.
Then shortly after that scene, Anna was out of water, so she does this mad dash over to a nearby sprinkler on someones lawn. Before I know it, she has dive bombed onto the grass and grabbed at the hose in order to pinch it off. The water doesn't completely stop and she's being sprayed as she's laying there trying to catch little drops coming from a fanning sprinkler!!? She got covered in water but ended up with less in her bottle then when she started! The funny part was that a neighbor in plain view was watching her as well and totally busting her gut laughing at her! Oh Anna.
I've had a few good laughs at/with Anna this summer. I have one more story...
Notice her modeling her shirt...

Cute, right...kinda funky 60's pattern. I went to her house one day in hopes to find something to wear to a wedding. So I tried this shirt of hers on, and showed her. "Ya, it looks good," she says, "but it's backwards." "No it isn't," I said. "The tag is right here in the back, by the buttons." "WHAT?", she says. "It can't be...I've been wearing it with the buttons in the front this whole time!" Yes, even in that picture, Anna is modeling her shirt backwards. You'd think she would have noticed the tag, or the fact that there were SEQUINS all over the backside!! Any time she has worn the shirt since, we both have a good giggle. I think she even tried it on in the store the wrong way.
Anyway...always good to be able to LAUGH and even LAUGH at yourself sometimes.
It is the best medicine.

And so it goes...

Summer is off and running. This week has improved some as we had our good friends visit for two nights, we've enjoyed lots of hot days and lots of socializing and parties. We are trying hard to keep up with our yard work, the gardening and the watering.



(These pics are of the anniversary flowers my parents gave us.)

Our church has a HUGE daycamp this coming week. It usually hosts over 200 kids. I have volunteered to be a leader for the kindergarden age kids. I am so excited for Riley and Liam, who get to be there and will love it, but am worried about Shea who doesn't like the nursery and must be teething as he's a crank. He's been on and off fever for the last week or so, has next to no appetite, is quite sleepy and just whiny. Ugh. I hope those eye teeth come popping through soon. So anyway, we will have a busy week as we need to be there by 9am and won't be home til 12:45pm. I have to pack lunches and the whole bit. I think I'll be tired, but it will be nice to feel like we're at summer camp.

Summer is here

Two weeks ago it was rather chilly and rainy and blah. Now it is HOT like the farm, muggy and my grass is already yellow!! Crazy.
Happy Canada Day! We aren't really celebrating, but sitting in our Pj's which is enjoyment enough.
It's 9:13am, and Riley is already in his room for a time out. Riley doesn't do so well in the summer. Maybe it's the heat, but I like to think it has to do with the fact that we aren't on a tight schedule like he is at school. It seemed that the second I brought him home from school on Thursday, that he was angry at the world. Last summer he was ratty too, but I thought it had more to do with the move and the new baby. He likes to pester his brother incessantly and drive his mother bonkers. I try to ensure that he always has a long list of things that he can do, and I take the kids out as much as possible, but the arguing, fighting, disagreeing, pesting and just being a PAIN is enough to make any normal person go loony. Liam has his own challenges just cuz he's four and likes to think he knows everything! but is suddenly booted out of his position of being the oldest in the house during the daytime. I already have had to write a huge list on my fridge of "CONSEQUENCES". For example..."grabbing a toy away from someone= the toy is taken away all day", or "pesting= 5min. alone on the basement stair", etc. I HATE this part of parenting. Why don't kids see how good they have it, that they have a mom at home who will sit out with them as they splash in the pool, slide on the slip and slide, go to the beach, eat watermelon, go on bike rides...without a care in the world, no bills to pay, no essays to write...just play play play and enjoy life, but no they just want to FIGHT and BICKER and YELL. Ugh. I did the classic "mother move" yesterday. We were on our way to my sisters to do something utterly boring and miserable...go swimming in her pool, ya, tell me about it. Anyway, they fought the entire way about some stupid book that the other wanted, but the other didn't want to share and were just holding, knowing full well that the other wanted it. You know the scenario. So I jerked to a stop (no one was behind me) and pulled into a vacant lot, threatening with my meanest voice that I was ready to go home and forget taking them somewhere fun because they didn't seem like they deserved to go. I think it scared them...both saying "We're happy mom! We want to go to the pool! We won't argue." So I kept going and of course they had an absolute blast swimming...but bickered most of the way home.
hmmph.
If they only knew how good they have it. Sometimes I wish I could teleport them to the slums of Africa for a week to let them scrounge for food and sleep on a cardboard mat and then maybe they would understand?
I'm trying, folks... I will enjoy this summer with my three and keep my cool. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.