stronger than I think

So Kevin's been gone for a week now, and we have a week and two days to go! Almost halfway there. It actually hasn't been too bad, other than missing him a lot. I think that I really am pretty tough. I think that if someone called me "wimpy", or even "girly" I would have a problem with that. I just spent the last few hours working on a rock wall, hauling rocks from construction sites (the construction guys said it was okay! just in case you were wondering) into the vehicle, and then from the vehicle to our back yar. I had to pause halfway through to put the kids to bed, and then kept going at it, and then mowed the lawn. I feel really tough right now ;). I find it quite satisfying to work outside. I think it's the farm girl in me coming out. My kids are troopers too. They came with me to pick out the rocks, and Monica and Kristen wer carrying the "best" ones and puting them into the car. I didn't have the heart to tell them that I wouldn't be able to use them on the wall because they were so small. They had fun though. There you have it - work can be fun!

My busy life

Okay, so I know that some of you thought I fell of the face of the earth for a while, so I thought I better write something to update our lives! One of the problems is that our computer will not upload pictures, and I was kind of waiting to post until I could get some pictures on here, but to no avail! So this will have to be a non-picture posting.

I guess first of all my brother is doing so awesome! He's been able to be transferred from the hospital to a specialized center for people who have had brain injuries and he gets to go home on the weekend. They are working on increasing his strength, and I had to laugh when he told me in his water polo class that he has to play with one hand to make it even with the other team! I am so, so grateful for this miracle and it has attested to me that prayer definitely works!!

Our family is doing awesome. I am a few weeks away from running my first half marathon here in Halifax. I'm very excited! I also have been passed the torch from Amber Richards in our Relief Society, so I'm going to be very busy. But life is good, and I couldn't be happier.

Monica and Kristen are loving dance and gymnastics, and violin lessons are going well. They love the warm weather, and were ecstatic to discover new neighbours with 4 kids around their age, who love the outdoors just as much as they do.

Ethan is growing like crazy, and is now walking everywhere, getting into anything he can, and is starting to talk. He absolutely LOVES balls, and will scream the word at the top of his lungs when he sees one. He loves animals, though they are all "kitty" to him, and loves playing with his sisters.

Kevin is doing his rotation in ICU which keeps him really busy. He's been working a lot on research projects, one of which he will be presenting at the Canadian Plastic Surgery Meeting in Kelowna in June (he'll be spending 2 weeks in BC which he's really looking forward to). He's also been working a lot on writing his music. He's been able to finish a few songs and they sound really awesome. Maybe he'll become famous from them someday! Needless to say, he's not getting much sleep, but he is getting lots done!

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful spring FINALLY!

Update on my brother Christopher

I thought I would give an update on how my younger brother is doing (I guess I can't really call him little as he is over 6 feet tall!). He is now out of the coma and his eyes are open. He can move his eyes and his left hand a bit. He will make eye contact with people and will squeeze your hand if you hold it, but he will not respond to commands. My mom says that it seems as though he is aware of people visiting him, which makes it hard not to be there to visit him, but I know that the rest of my family is out there with him, which is a comfort. He got pneumonia for the second time, but it seems to be under control. He is okay to leave the ICU, but is just waiting on a bed.
It has really been so wonderful to have so many people expressing their support through prayers and kind words. It's really been a huge help to my family, and I know that angels have been watching over my brother. I've learned so much from this experience so far, and I know that I will learn so much more throughout this experience, as it will take a long time for Christopher to heal. The doctors have been pretty optimistic, which is such a huge relief, but they also have said from the beginning that it will be a long, long road. It is really really hard not to be out in Alberta right now, and I'm not sure that I'll even get out there until summer time (and even then...) but I'm glad that there are a lot of people back there who love him and will give him the encouragement and strength he needs to get through this.

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!