Please pray with us

I'm not sure how many people actually check my blog anymore. I know I am quite the slacker when it comes to blogging, but I hope a few still do. I just wanted to ask a favour of those who read this.

My little brother Christopher has recently been in a car accident in Alberta. It was during a really bad storm and the roads were aweful. He was with two other boys and they were heading home, and turning left off the highway when they lost control of the vehicle and swerved into oncoming traffic. They were side-swiped by a cemi-truck. The boy in the passenger side was killed instantly and my brother, who was sitting in the back seat, was severely injured. They had to rush him to a hospital two hours from my parent's home town. He is now in the ICU on full life support and in critical condition, and he is in a coma. We are not sure the extent of his injuries and we are just waiting.

I know that prayer is so strong, and know that the more people praying for something, the stronger it is. If you would be able to join our family that would be really wonderful. Thanks.

I love my kids

I was just thinking, after a long day, that even though being a mom is hard, tiring work, it sure is rewarding. I just thought I would list a few of my favourite things about being a mom (in no particular order):

- When Ethan looks up at me with the biggest grin ever, and when I tell him to come to me he giggles and crawls towards be as fast as he can.

- When Kristen crawls up into my lap, snuggling into me and says "I love you Mommy!"

- When Monica reads a book all by herself to me, which has many new and difficult words, and every page she looks up at me with a grin so proud of what she is doing.

- When Ethan gives me a hug and kiss

- when Kristen draws or creates anything (from lego creations to drawings) and exclaims proudly that they are for me.

- When Monica and I dance together and she just loves it.

- playing peek-a-boo with Ethan, and he's the one peeking!

- I could listen to Kristen's laugh and see her smile all day!

- doing a craft with Monica; she loves doing crafts and eats it up when I join her.

I think the list could go on for a long time, but these are a few that I can think of off the top of my head. I think I'm pretty blessed to have these kids of mine. They are pretty great!

Update for the last few months

I just thought I would update what we've been up to lately...I haven't been on here for a while. So the kids had fun on Halloween - Monica was the Wicked Witch of the West, Kristen was a bat (she wore her costume almost every day for the 2 weeks before Halloween), and Ethan was a little Tiger. They had a lot of fun trick or treating, and just last week finished the last of their candy!

For a stake Young Men and Young Women activity, Kevin and the rest of the leaders took them to Hatfield farms, and we were able to take the girls for a REAL pony ride! They were completely extatic! They talked about it for days after!

Here are a few shots of the crew that I take care of during the day (4 kids), and then the whole crew after school (6 kids). We have a lot of fun!

We enjoyed our first snow fall, and boy, did it ever fall! We coul not believe the amount of snow that Kevin had to shovel off our driveway. Thanks honey!

Annual Noggin's Corner Farm Family Trip!

It isn't fall without a trip to Noggin's Corner Farm. We did this last year and had such a great time, we had to go again! It was a lot colder this year, but we still had a really great time. Such a fun tradition that we for sure are going to keep up every year!

We had so much fun picking apples. Now I have to do something with them!

Feeding the cows;

the girls didn't want any of the cows to be left out!

Picking out the perfect pumpkin!

My Son is a Genius

So, at nine months, Ethan already knows how to flush the toilet, and can do this by himself! He is a sneaky little guy, and whenever the bathroom door is open, he makes a bee line straight for it as fast as he can crawl. He pulls himself up on whatever he can find that is sturdy enough (and sometimes he finds out too late that it is not so sturdy!) and tries to figure out everything. So he got into the bathroom, pulled himself up onto the toilet, and found a cool little lever that moves when you pull on it! Voila! Instant cool flushing noise! Luckily the toilet lid was cosed, or I'm sure he would have found the swirling water too tempting to stay out of. I'm not sure if I should call it genius, or mischievious. Whatever it is, this kid is going to keep me on my toes. What will he get into when he can really get around?!

It's been a long time...

So, after many months I decided to check on my blog, and realized it's been about half a year since I posted anything! I'm sure that most people have given up checking this blog, but I thought I would update anyways, just in case!

Summer was sweet! I was able to fly out to Alberta for 3 weeks with my three kiddos. We were able to go hiking, do a lot of water skiing (yay!) and just hang out with the fam. We spent time with both sides of the family, and it was just the right amount of time. It was great for our kids to see their cousins. They still talk about spending time at the lake and going in Grandpa's boat!

We hope that the cousins don't forget each other before we're able to get out to Alberta again (or they come here...hint hint!)

A week ago Kevin's brother Wayne and his wife Rhonda and baby Benjamin came out to the east coast, and we had a great time! We toured around, went to PEI, and saw the usual tourist sites. We found a great recipe for seafood chowder, had steak and home-cooked lobsters and took them for REAL fish n' chips. It was a super great time!

Things are going to get busier around here - I'm going to be caring for another little girl full time - that makes 2 full time and one after school in addition to our 3. We have a little neighbour girl who likes to come hang out at our house as well after school, but it's all good. We have fun! Kevin is with the ENT (ears nose throat) specialist for the next three months, and thinks it will be good.

I can't believe how fast time is flying! This month Kevin is going to turn 30, Monica is a few months into grade one and starting to get really good at reading, Kristen is a natural in her gymnastics class, and Ethan is already pulling himself up to standing at 9 months! But I have to say, Life is Good!

What a day!

So today was a busy day! I babysit 2 other children besides my own on a full time basis, which my girls actually really enjoy. They have other kids to play with, and it keeps them busy and playing well together. Today we were lucky enough to add 2 more to the bunch! Merv and Annie Young were packing up and loading the last of their stuff today, and so we took Chloe and Gracie to hng out at our house. I wish I got a picture! It was a lot of fun, but pretty tiring. It makes me think of my own mother, who had 7 children under 10. Today I had 7 children under 6, but only for one day. It made me really think about my mother and how much she did for me, and how much time and effort went into every single day that we were at home. WOW! She's seriously my hero. I never really realized until I was a mother, and I'm still realizing it more and more every day what she did for me and my brothers and sisters. THANKS MOM!!! You really are a wonderful mother, and I know that you sacrificed a lot for us. I know that a simple "thank you" is not enough to pay back all those hours that were put into raising me, but I hope to be able to let you know how incredibly thankful I am. I love you!

All alone

So, I'm here by myself (with children) until the beginning of May. Yep, Kevin is in New Brunswick doing his mandatory rotation in Emergency. I miss him, but try to keep myself busy (like checking other people's blogs, going on facebook and cleaning!) During the day it's fine, but nights are a bit lonely. It's amazing how much I take having Kevin around for granted. I guess I really love him alot! The girls miss him too; especially Monica. She is close to tears when she tells me (every day) that she wishes Daddy was here RIGHT NOW! Wouldn't you know it too, that Ethan rolled over for the first time while he's gone! It was a pretty exciting moment - the first real physical milestone for him! The girls think it is so exciting that he rolls over on his own now (from tummy to back). Next goal, rolling from back to tummy!

Skiing in March

Last month we thought it would be fun to take the girls skiing for their first time. Kevin is a better snowboarder than I am, but we figured it would be difficult to take the girls snowboarding, and so since I have been skiing a lot longer than Kevin, I took both girls, one at a time, skiing. It was a lot of fun! The greatest part was that the girls loved it and had an awesome experience. I'm hoping this leads to more confidence next time we go. By the end of the day my back was really hurting, and I didn't really have much energy to go on many runs on my own, but it was worth it. We were so sneaky too...Kristen fit into Monica's coat (kind of) as well as her skiis (with an extra pair of socks) and so we only had to pay for one rental and one lift ticket! If you look closely at the pictures you can tell (Monica on the left, Kristen on the right)!

Another post - a goal of mine

I accidentally published my last post twice, and I didn't know how to delete it, but I do know how to edit it, and so I decided just to make another post! So I just wanted to post one of my goals this year, because I know that if you tell people your goals, it helps you be more accountable and actually make them happen! So I want to run in a few races this year, and work my way up to a half marathon. I think a full marathon at this point would be a bit much, but maybe someday I will do one. I figure that you have to start small and work your way up! I would also like to do another triathlon as well, but my main goal is a half marathon. So now if you see me you can ask how my training is going, and maybe it will motivate me not to eat as many treats!

Looking forward to winter being over!

I've decided that life is busy, and that life can be hard. I think I am ready for it to be warm outside so that I can get outside and work off some energy. I think Mother Nature is teasing me - last week there were a few gorgeous days, then there were a few really rainy days, and then today it snowed again! I am definitely ready for it to be summer!