I really haven't had the time to take many pictures lately, and my lack of improvement in this department is rather frustrating.
sigh...
One day.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Time for some photos
I really haven't had the time to take many pictures lately, and my lack of improvement in this department is rather frustrating.
sigh...
One day.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
My little Liam
Shea has been going through the normal nasty colds and fever of teething, and Riley suddenly came down with some sort of wild fever/flu on Friday. He is slowly recovering and taking things nice and slow and quiet.
Liam, on the other hand, is bouncing off the walls as usual.
He is always talking your ears off and coming up with the craziest stuff.
Today I had some time to do some painting of our fences. I was out there working away while Liam was racing around on the deck with his plasma car. He's just chit chatting away and then says to me...
"MOM....I wish you were over here on the PLASMO, and that I was over there painting."
(sigh)
"You are doing a good job over there, mom."
(another pause)
Then he comes right up to me and looks right at me all seriously..."Mom. You're an ARTIST."
Liam, on the other hand, is bouncing off the walls as usual.
He is always talking your ears off and coming up with the craziest stuff.
Today I had some time to do some painting of our fences. I was out there working away while Liam was racing around on the deck with his plasma car. He's just chit chatting away and then says to me...
"MOM....I wish you were over here on the PLASMO, and that I was over there painting."
(sigh)
"You are doing a good job over there, mom."
(another pause)
Then he comes right up to me and looks right at me all seriously..."Mom. You're an ARTIST."
Friday, September 26, 2008
I'm also an AUNTIE and I quote
Sometimes in the busyness of being a mom, there gets little time to be an auntie. But I am. I have 7 little munchkins that call me their auntie. I love them all to pieces. They are the closest second to my own.
(This is in the summer, with my youngest niece, Liv.)
"We love our aunties in a major way.
Some aunties are skinny. Some eat a lot.
Some are funny. Some are not.
Some short, some tall, some big, some small.
It doesn't matter. We love them all."
(Author unknown)
I have very very vivid memories of meeting my first niece. Amy was born in October, just after we were married. We travelled from Calgary, back to Salmon Arm to meet her as soon as we could get away. They brought her up the stairs and showed her to us for the first time and it was totally awe and amazement.
"Babies are such a nice way to start people!" (Author unknown)
There came six more nieces and nephews after her, mixed in with my three. Yes, my family likes making babies. I'm happy there will still be more to come. Each of them with their little personalities just makes life so much richer, and family gatherings so much more exciting (and loud).
I'm trying to block out the fact that Anna is taking Callie up north with her in the spring. I guess she does belong to them, but she's been my little girl (that I never had) around here. I love all the pink and the hugs and the pigtails. sigh. Make the most of it, right?
"Only an Aunt...
can give hugs
like a mother,
can keep secrets
like a sister,
and share love like a friend."
(Author: unknown)
(This is in the summer, with my youngest niece, Liv.)
"We love our aunties in a major way.
Some aunties are skinny. Some eat a lot.
Some are funny. Some are not.
Some short, some tall, some big, some small.
It doesn't matter. We love them all."
(Author unknown)
I have very very vivid memories of meeting my first niece. Amy was born in October, just after we were married. We travelled from Calgary, back to Salmon Arm to meet her as soon as we could get away. They brought her up the stairs and showed her to us for the first time and it was totally awe and amazement.
"Babies are such a nice way to start people!" (Author unknown)
There came six more nieces and nephews after her, mixed in with my three. Yes, my family likes making babies. I'm happy there will still be more to come. Each of them with their little personalities just makes life so much richer, and family gatherings so much more exciting (and loud).
I'm trying to block out the fact that Anna is taking Callie up north with her in the spring. I guess she does belong to them, but she's been my little girl (that I never had) around here. I love all the pink and the hugs and the pigtails. sigh. Make the most of it, right?
"Only an Aunt...
can give hugs
like a mother,
can keep secrets
like a sister,
and share love like a friend."
(Author: unknown)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The reason I don't can
Today I spent the day making applesauce with my sister n' law. It took us less than an hour to pick 11 huge 5 gallon? buckets of windfall apples. Then we went to her house where we proceeded to make a gigantic mess.
We both left on occasion, to pick up, drop off kids. Feed them, change them, console them, and help them. We washed, cut, boiled, mashed and poured til we dropped. I have about 44 yogurt containers of applesauce in my freezer, and Pam had just as much and her sister also helped and took 30 small ones. That's a lot of applesauce. It makes me happy to have a freezer full of the yummy stuff.
BUT.
That is all I'm really willing to do. I do not do much else. I could have picked berries and froze them...not too much fuss. But canning? No. I can't handle the stress of the mess and the constant interruptions. Shea spent a few minutes crying between my legs while I tried to finish the mashing. It is not my favorite. I don't know how "some people" have huge cellars full of canning. They must have a nanny, or maybe they do it all during the night? I personally would rather leave the canning until my kids are about 3. I'm ok with that. We will survive! I'm glad I didn't live in the olden days where you had to mill your flour and make bread and the whole lot. I tell you, I don't have the nerves for it! I enjoy it, but not when you have to keep up with being a mom at the same time?! What is the secret?
We both left on occasion, to pick up, drop off kids. Feed them, change them, console them, and help them. We washed, cut, boiled, mashed and poured til we dropped. I have about 44 yogurt containers of applesauce in my freezer, and Pam had just as much and her sister also helped and took 30 small ones. That's a lot of applesauce. It makes me happy to have a freezer full of the yummy stuff.
BUT.
That is all I'm really willing to do. I do not do much else. I could have picked berries and froze them...not too much fuss. But canning? No. I can't handle the stress of the mess and the constant interruptions. Shea spent a few minutes crying between my legs while I tried to finish the mashing. It is not my favorite. I don't know how "some people" have huge cellars full of canning. They must have a nanny, or maybe they do it all during the night? I personally would rather leave the canning until my kids are about 3. I'm ok with that. We will survive! I'm glad I didn't live in the olden days where you had to mill your flour and make bread and the whole lot. I tell you, I don't have the nerves for it! I enjoy it, but not when you have to keep up with being a mom at the same time?! What is the secret?
Monday, September 22, 2008
Another week
So I'm back from our whirlwind trip. It all went smoothly. We left on Saturday morning and got home late last night (the next day). We didn't get home until 11:30pm last night, and of course Riley only slept about 20 min. in the van on the whole trip, so I wonder how school is going for him today! It was the first time that Riley and I had gone away together since he was a baby! and it was the first time that I had ever left Shea overnite. Greg did fine with the two boys here.
We went down to celebrate the completion of my great-great uncle's book. It is a book that is a written history of my mother's side of the family. I'm sure it will be an interesting read as it goes through their flee from Russia and the war/depression. It then became a reunion of my Stober relations.
Riley had an absolute blast being with his cousins, and staying overnite at my cousins house who has a room dedicated to lego!
Needless to say, I'm feeling a little ragged with a lot to do. But I'm glad we could get away.
We went down to celebrate the completion of my great-great uncle's book. It is a book that is a written history of my mother's side of the family. I'm sure it will be an interesting read as it goes through their flee from Russia and the war/depression. It then became a reunion of my Stober relations.
Riley had an absolute blast being with his cousins, and staying overnite at my cousins house who has a room dedicated to lego!
Needless to say, I'm feeling a little ragged with a lot to do. But I'm glad we could get away.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Another road trip
So on Saturday morning, just Riley and I will join my parents, Anna and Levi, Luke, Pam and the girls, to go to the coast. There is a family reunion of sorts, with my grandma's side of the family. My Oma (my great-grandma) is celebrating her birthday tomorrow, so we'll be there to have a belated party for her as well. My mom had the idea to make her photo book with our family photos in it for her. I had fun putting it together and it arrived in the mail on Monday. Have you ever made a photo book? I know you can make them via Kodak, Shutterfly, ofoto, etc. but I did mine through the Mac iPhoto program. We've done a book for our friends that went to Hawaii with us and it turned out pretty professional as well. I have a few made up on the computer that I hope to one day put in print!!
I am fighting a cold right now and hoping it doesn't hit me on our quick trip down. Nothing like being sick when you're away from home!
I am fighting a cold right now and hoping it doesn't hit me on our quick trip down. Nothing like being sick when you're away from home!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Even shorter!
Thank you Dawna! She came back again and chopped off even more for me! I am thrilled as I don't think I could put a clip in it if I tried!! It is so different and such a big change, which I really needed.
Monday, September 15, 2008
I love Mondays
That may seem strange to most, but Mondays are my friend now. Liam and Riley are both at school by 9am. Shea has started waking up earlier but is ready for a nap by 9:30am and so it is QUIET around here all morning. I love it. I get so much done and just enjoy NOT talking or explaining myself, or being SAT on. That would be by Liam. He is pretty much sitting on you if you're not standing!! Liam has a "girlfriend" at school already. He ran into the class and sat right next to her this morning, and they were writing their names with felt pens. She looks as old or older than him, and is quite mature, so he seems to be so grown up with her. (I guess he likes older women!) Next to the three year old boys in his class, he seems so big. It's nice that there is someone in his class for him to learn from and act older with! He will be so ready for kindergarden! I am impressed with how quickly they grow up once they start preschool.
In a few weeks I will be starting that swim class on Monday mornings at 9am, so it won't be quite the same, but it will still be some much needed time for me. That time for me to re-group seems to get less and less. Greg was away for four days and then last night was out with the guys and tonight has a meeting, so it has just been full-time mom duty for me. Such a stage of life, isn't it. I wonder what I'll be doing 5 years from now when they are all in school?
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Squeeze!
Caught a cute hug. I don't know about you, but I don't have any pictures of my childhood like this one...the priviledge of having digital!!
Friday, September 12, 2008
The household
I'm so thankful that Greg is coming home tonight!! It's not that I want him back so that he can do everything for me, but so that I have someone to do everything with. I rarely leave him to do it all, but splitting up the needs of 3 kids makes it less stressful. Being a "single parent" is lonely, more than anything. And tiring. It's hard to be the playmate and the disciplinarian and housecleaner all in the same moment. I don't like making dinner while having a toddler hanging on my leg. Not fun.
But we did ok. We are going to head to the beach today. Probably not to swim, but to throw rocks and play in the sand one last time before winter hits us.
It's really grey and snowy around these parts in the winter. We have a house in the trees with windows on the wrong side, so it is quite dark and dreary. Thankfully this winter my kitchen will be open to the window in the dining room, so it will be a little brighter in here.
(Note to self: next house you buy, make sure it is one with lots of natural light!)
Did I tell you that my dad and brother came by again to put up my window trim and the few pieces of baseboards that needed to be replaced. We still have all the cracks and holes to fill, and then paint, so that will be a new project for me to take on soon. Then I'm hoping to find the perfect blue to paint the family room, or at least part of it.
Thanks for the comments on the hair...I'd show you more pictures, but I'm still struggling with how to do it right and am pretty sure it needs to be shorter. I tried leaving it yesterday without blowdrying or anything and it looked terrible, so I need to get a bit more hacked off. She's coming on Monday to make it shorter! and then I promise I will post more photos.
But we did ok. We are going to head to the beach today. Probably not to swim, but to throw rocks and play in the sand one last time before winter hits us.
It's really grey and snowy around these parts in the winter. We have a house in the trees with windows on the wrong side, so it is quite dark and dreary. Thankfully this winter my kitchen will be open to the window in the dining room, so it will be a little brighter in here.
(Note to self: next house you buy, make sure it is one with lots of natural light!)
Did I tell you that my dad and brother came by again to put up my window trim and the few pieces of baseboards that needed to be replaced. We still have all the cracks and holes to fill, and then paint, so that will be a new project for me to take on soon. Then I'm hoping to find the perfect blue to paint the family room, or at least part of it.
Thanks for the comments on the hair...I'd show you more pictures, but I'm still struggling with how to do it right and am pretty sure it needs to be shorter. I tried leaving it yesterday without blowdrying or anything and it looked terrible, so I need to get a bit more hacked off. She's coming on Monday to make it shorter! and then I promise I will post more photos.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
I did it!!
I did the chop!
It's not as short as the girls cut in the sample pic I had, but Dawna didn't want to go too crazy as you can't turn back...you know, baby steps. But next time I'll even go shorter.
YAY!
Greg is gone to Calgary for the week, so I'm parenting solo again. It is a bit of a juggle to get Riley and Liam off to school in the morning and have everyone fed and changed, but thankfully G's parents lent me their van again.
You just do what you gotta do. Then you need ten hours of uninterrupted sleep to catch up.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Taking a chill
Hi everyone. I haven't been here in awhile. The start to fall is always a bit of a whirlwind, isn't it. I have one boy in grade two and another in three mornings of preschool, and a teething toddler. The church and recreation programs haven't started yet, but when they do...life will be pretty crazy!!
I decided for several reasons to take a day off of the computer. Only one day away from the computer may sound funny, but have you tried it? I usually check in to my gmail or Facebook a few times a day. Not always for a long stretch of time, but I still would. I decided that on Thursdays I won't open it at all. I would eventually like to move up to a few days a week, but I thought I'd start small.
Sometimes I justify it, saying that I'm connecting with people, I'm educating myself about news or photography, and hey, at least I'm not watching some lame TV show. BUT, there are evenings where I did nothing but sit on my a$$ and wonder what exactly I was doing for the past two hours!!
So, I'm committing Thursdays to laundry, bathrooms and doing stuff.
Last night was our first "family games night" with my siblings this fall. We didn't get together too often in the summer, so it was nice to hang out again. The kids are so cute and all 8 fell asleep on different beds around the house. We were hit with some news from Anna and Keith this past week, and we're still trying to get used to it. Friday nights just won't be the same!!
So we're off to the Fall fair and parade today, making for a full and busy day. I'd better get the kids fed. Enjoy your weekend!
I decided for several reasons to take a day off of the computer. Only one day away from the computer may sound funny, but have you tried it? I usually check in to my gmail or Facebook a few times a day. Not always for a long stretch of time, but I still would. I decided that on Thursdays I won't open it at all. I would eventually like to move up to a few days a week, but I thought I'd start small.
Sometimes I justify it, saying that I'm connecting with people, I'm educating myself about news or photography, and hey, at least I'm not watching some lame TV show. BUT, there are evenings where I did nothing but sit on my a$$ and wonder what exactly I was doing for the past two hours!!
So, I'm committing Thursdays to laundry, bathrooms and doing stuff.
Last night was our first "family games night" with my siblings this fall. We didn't get together too often in the summer, so it was nice to hang out again. The kids are so cute and all 8 fell asleep on different beds around the house. We were hit with some news from Anna and Keith this past week, and we're still trying to get used to it. Friday nights just won't be the same!!
So we're off to the Fall fair and parade today, making for a full and busy day. I'd better get the kids fed. Enjoy your weekend!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Preschool
Today was Liam's first day of preschool. Well, more like registration, meet the teacher day...but nonetheless, he was ready and excited, wearing his backpac with new shoes inside. He explored all over the classroom and had a good time. Tomorrow I will be dropping him off on his own, so I guess that will be his official first day.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Grade Two
Click on the picture, and then you can scroll down to see the progression of Riley from preschool through grade 2. He did a lot of growing this year...I didn't notice til I compared the pictures.
So I walked with him this morning, and in regular Riley fashion, he didn't run up to his friends and say hi...he took off to the nice muddy hill and got his shoes all filthy. I hope he's enjoying his first day back.
So I walked with him this morning, and in regular Riley fashion, he didn't run up to his friends and say hi...he took off to the nice muddy hill and got his shoes all filthy. I hope he's enjoying his first day back.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Time for school! Time for school!!
WOWEE! The summer came and went already. It really went by in a flash. I'm not quite ready for it to be over! I was kinda liking not having to dash out the door by 8:30am every morning and have to make lunches and all that.
But alas...if life was always summer holidays, it would make them not so special.
We really had a GREAT summer. Some high moments, some low moments, but altogether a pretty wonderful time to enjoy eachother and the beautiful weather.
Tomorrow Riley starts grade two! He is only 6 and yes, in grade two. He will always be the youngest in his class as he's born on December 30th, and the cut off is the next day. We went ahead and sent him into kindergarden as soon as he was allowed, as he was much too bored at home and needed more stimulation than I could give him. I've had my moments of regretting that decision. Did I send him too young? Will he always hate being the youngest and feel far behind the others? Is he ready?
I guess I figured I could always make him repeat a grade if he was struggling. He has done fine. He's not the top in his class, but I know he's not in the bottom either. I know he struggles with social aspects and staying focussed on some tasks. It could be the same if he was a year older anyway.
There is a possibility that he will be in a 1/2 split class, which I'm kind of hoping for, as he won't have to feel like the wee babe of the bunch and it may encourage him to excel as he will "know more" than the grade ones. He likes to teach others and so if he could kind of coach a younger kid, it could work out great.
So we will find out later this week. I'm anxious and excited for him. He is not too thrilled with the idea of returning to school. The kid lives for swimming and biking and being outside all day long, and he is pretty sure that school will put an end to that. He doesn't realize that school is over by 2:30pm and leaves quite a bit left of the day!
Liam is starting preschool this week! I have been talking about it lots, and so he is excited though he has more nerves than Riley and can get pretty anxious. One nasty kid could ruin it for him (as it did for Sunday school), so I am hoping he loves it and will be happy and excited to go. He is the type that would gladly sit on my lap (and totally annoy me) all day long, so I need this time away as much as he does. I'm glad it's not kindergarden yet though.
Shea and I are going to enjoy some quiet mornings!
Evenings will be packed though, with various programs and sports, and I'm also trying to figure out what other activities I will be volunteering with or participating in. Possibly floor hockey? Deep water running? Sunday school? What new thing are you doing this fall?
Schedule and routine are a good thing. It will be good. I will definitely be posting some "back to school" and "first day of preschool" photos later! Time to start pulling out the backpacks and school clothes!
But alas...if life was always summer holidays, it would make them not so special.
We really had a GREAT summer. Some high moments, some low moments, but altogether a pretty wonderful time to enjoy eachother and the beautiful weather.
Tomorrow Riley starts grade two! He is only 6 and yes, in grade two. He will always be the youngest in his class as he's born on December 30th, and the cut off is the next day. We went ahead and sent him into kindergarden as soon as he was allowed, as he was much too bored at home and needed more stimulation than I could give him. I've had my moments of regretting that decision. Did I send him too young? Will he always hate being the youngest and feel far behind the others? Is he ready?
I guess I figured I could always make him repeat a grade if he was struggling. He has done fine. He's not the top in his class, but I know he's not in the bottom either. I know he struggles with social aspects and staying focussed on some tasks. It could be the same if he was a year older anyway.
There is a possibility that he will be in a 1/2 split class, which I'm kind of hoping for, as he won't have to feel like the wee babe of the bunch and it may encourage him to excel as he will "know more" than the grade ones. He likes to teach others and so if he could kind of coach a younger kid, it could work out great.
So we will find out later this week. I'm anxious and excited for him. He is not too thrilled with the idea of returning to school. The kid lives for swimming and biking and being outside all day long, and he is pretty sure that school will put an end to that. He doesn't realize that school is over by 2:30pm and leaves quite a bit left of the day!
Liam is starting preschool this week! I have been talking about it lots, and so he is excited though he has more nerves than Riley and can get pretty anxious. One nasty kid could ruin it for him (as it did for Sunday school), so I am hoping he loves it and will be happy and excited to go. He is the type that would gladly sit on my lap (and totally annoy me) all day long, so I need this time away as much as he does. I'm glad it's not kindergarden yet though.
Shea and I are going to enjoy some quiet mornings!
Evenings will be packed though, with various programs and sports, and I'm also trying to figure out what other activities I will be volunteering with or participating in. Possibly floor hockey? Deep water running? Sunday school? What new thing are you doing this fall?
Schedule and routine are a good thing. It will be good. I will definitely be posting some "back to school" and "first day of preschool" photos later! Time to start pulling out the backpacks and school clothes!
Reached the Summit!
Just wanted to say "congratulations" to my aunt Lisa and uncle Paul who just made it to the top of Kilimanjaro!! Here is their message from the mountain.
Way to go!! They must be so proud, as are we!!
Way to go!! They must be so proud, as are we!!
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