Splashing

Today was Lincoln's first time at a splash park - I wasn't sure if he would like it or not since my other boys didn't like getting wet until they were 3 or 4 years old - He LOVED it!!

He was soaked right through and would run up to me and laugh and then run away back into wherever the spray was.

Andy loved shooting everyone with his water shooter - Lincoln didn't appreciate it very much

This is Andy being his normal goofball self. I have more pictures of him in crazy poses. I really wish I could just get a normal sweet portrait type picture of him but once he sees the camera the goof just oozes out.

This is the boys good friend Jayden - I picked them up from school while my friends save our prime blanket spot. Love good friends! This splash park is amazing - it has a climbing park as well with wood chips instead of sand. And there is a huge play park being built and it should be done this summer - this info is for people reading that don't live here in Millwoods

I love this picture of Isaac because it is so perfectly his personality - if only I could crop out the other boys - but at the same time they are needed because Isaac just attracts kids - he can find a friend anywhere.

Just one more of Andy because I was at the water park and he called me to take his picture (notice his posing) - I took this with the zoom all the way on. He is such a monkey

My latest project

I have been working on these placemats for a few months - only because Lincoln wants up everytime I try to sew - so he has to be tucked away in bed before I can work on anything. I learned to 'Quilt as you Sew' at an enrichment night in our ward - you can do this to make baby blankets, placemats, table runners and I am sure a ton of other fun things. For my first go at it I think they turned out great.

May 4 2010

Today I was hoping to take pictures of the grass that I planted where our garden used to be - I have been diligently watering it and was pleasantly surprised three days ago when the grass just seemed to pop up out of nowhere - my plan for todays post was to put up pictures of all the work we've done on our yard - this is what we have instead

View from my Front Door - notice Lincoln trying to get out while I was taking the picture - Sun, snow, it doesn't matter - he just wants outside!

View from my Back Door

Our plants that Isaac and I have been working on since April 14 (he's working on his gardening badge)


Yeah for Spring!

Piano Recital

Today was our first Piano Recital for the boys and it was very exciting - they practiced and practiced all day - if only they had put that much effort in all year.... A special thank you to everyone who came to watch - we do have the greatest home teachers ever - they came!! You guys (they will probably never read this) are the best!


I had a video but it isn't loading....

Also Heather came in from Fort Saskatchewan for the day. She cut my hair (and it looks awesome!!) and when Isaac came home for lunch he asked her to give him a mohawk. She would only do it if he called his dad at work and got his permission. Rich said he could but as soon as he got home from work it was going to have to be shaved off.

I also captured Heather in one of her finer moments - she was trying on Rich's Hallowe'en wig - she told me I couldn't put it on facebook but she didn't say anything about my blog - let's see if she notices - Rich thinks she looks just like him in highschool.

And sadly we had an injury - not surprising but still sad - Andy apparently fell onto a bucket (according to Isaac) or somebody pinned him down and hit him with the blue bucket (according to Andy) I don't know which version is true and I'll leave it at that.

I should also thank my wonderful husband for getting up in the morning to take Storm to seminary and then coming home and making me breakfast in bed and taking all the boys to school as well as Storm. Then he surprised me by coming home at lunch - but I do have my supisions about that - I think he came home just to see Heather and her kids and to see Isaac's mohawk. Anyways I am married to a wonderful man!

Dinner with Family

Last night we had a wonderful dinner with Cody and Mimi - Storm has been asking to have Jerk Chicken for forever now so we decided we would make it. Mimi and Cody told us about the marinade and we knew there was a milder version out there somewhere but Superstore or Safeway didn't sell it so we went with the Super Spicy kind. Mimi did eventually find the milder version which is now tucked away in my fridge for the next time we make it. The first bite was incredible - the flavor is amazing - and then it got HOT!! Mimi also had brought some yummy Jamaican drinks as well - we had a great time. Below is a picture of Jerk Chicken - I borrowed it from the internet - I didn't think to take my own picture - and this looks better anyhow.

For dessert we had an authentic Austrailian dessert called Pavlova - My friend Ro told me about it and it sounded yummy so I thought I would give it a try - I was really happy that she stopped by to give me some helpful hints as I was making it. The bottom layer is a type of meringue that you shape into a cirlce with a flattened centre - you cook it slowly for about an hour and 15 minutes - when you are ready to eat it you fill in the flattened centre with whipped cream and top it with your favorite fruit - we use Mango's, strawberries and kiwi's -it really was the best dessert I have ever eaten - AND there was no chocolate in it - so that's really saying something.

I love having family over for dinner - I love how Cody plays with my kids until they're exhausted - he can usually outlast them - they had a massive playfight out on the front lawn with these rock em sock em blow up fisty things (Merrill and Isaac's friends brought them over) It was hilarious to watch. Cody was knocking them flying and the kids just kept coming back for more. Then they decided to use their shoes as weapons - so Cody put their shoes up on the roof. It really was good times for everyone involved.

Anyways that's about all for today - oh wait - can't leave without one quick Andy story. Brother Siakaluk in our ward came up to me after church and told me they were teaching about repentance and baptism in primary today for sharing time. He was talking about how when we are baptizd we become perfect again - Andy jumps in and says "Well my brother was baptized and he isn't perfect" I wish I could have been there.

Let's try this again

I haven't posted anything in such a long time and it is because of a lot of reasons - firstly because having five children really doesn't give you much free time and with one being 15 I don't get the computer as often as I used too. I love all of my kids and am very proud of all that they are doing. Storm just competed in three dance competitions for Jazz and was awarded a High Silver, Gold and Silver. She was incredible. I loved watching her. For her last competition we brought Andy with us - I want to put him in Hip Hop classes next year. I thought it would be really fun to have them dance together but Storm doesn't think she is going to dance next year - she would like to try cheerleading. Isaac and Merrill have both been taking piano lessons this year and their recital is on Monday. It is going to be so fun to watch them - they are the only two students their teacher has so it is going to be all about them! Lincoln is learning where things are on his body like his nose or his belly button - he is tons of fun - his favorite place in the whole world is the gym - as long as there is a few balls in there to play with he is in his own little heaven.

I am super excited that school will be over soon - I love having my kids at home with me. we have a lot of fun plans for this summer so I hope it is warm and sunny.

In two weeks I am going to visit family in Guelph - my brother Brock is getting married and I am super excited to see everyone - it has been way too long - I have four neices I haven't even met yet! It will be hard to leave the three older boys here but they are thrilled to have Nana come and stay with them. I think they are counting down more than I am.

Just a little story about something that made me super proud of Isaac and Merrill and then a quick story about Andy. Isaac and Merrill had their HLAT (higher level achievement test)in writing - they had to write about and unsung hero in their lives. Isaac wrote about his Daddy and Merrill wrote about his big brother Isaac. It makes me happy in a way that no words can describe that their hero's are also their family. Andy's story - Rich has been telling the boys some greek mythology stories before bed and a few weeks ago he told the story about Achillies and just two days ago Andy was having trouble with his running shoes so I was helping him get them on - he told me to be careful of his heal - "it's my weak spot mommy'

I am hoping to be better at keeping this blog - I have to realize that I am writing this for me and my family and not care too much that what I write might not be entertaining to others - this is for us but I do think it's a great bonus if whoever reads this finds it enjoyable. I love my family and all the ways they keep my life interesting - till next time!

Lincoln's Big Day

Happy Birthday to my littlest Monkey....

So it has become our tradition to not go all out for our children's first birthday - but we can never let it go unnoticed so I am posting some pictures of my Little Lincoln who is quickly becoming not so little

We bought Lincoln a ride on toy that he can hold on to to walk as well - you all know what I am talking about - he loves it cuz it makes lots of noise and I love how much he loves trying to walk with it.

We had some cake and presents - Thanks Nana and Grandpa for your gifts - he loves them - and the wrapping paper they came in. Thanks also to the Moawad family for the book - he loves it already!