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!

These past few weeks my two oldest boys Isaac and Merrill have been living it up with there Nana and Grandpa. The first week they were in Bear Lake Utah at a Sefcik Family reunion - they had such a fabulous time getting to know cousins and meeting new family members that they can look up to. Life was never better once they met Scotty Sefcik - how did they live without knowing him...Now I just have to meet him. Rich and I wish that we could have been able to go and hang out with everyone - one of these years it will work out in our favour.

Once they came back to Calgary Rich had to go to a Harley Davidson Conference in Denver so I went to Calgary and hung out with my boys - we had an absolutely fantastic time with Nana at the lake and are so thankful for all the wonderful things that she did for us while we were there. AND I now have the best tan line I have ever had!!

On Tuesday we thought we could give Nana and Grandpa some time off so we went camping in Banff. It was amazing - we camped at Tunnel Mountain and hiked Johnston's Canyon the first day. Soaked in the hot springs and then went on a self guided tour of the Banff Springs Hotel. Our boys called it a castle and were looking for the king and queen that lived there - it was very entertaining.....

This is Lincoln in his favorite spot - Daddy's shoulders. We were hiking Johnston's Canyon in these next few pictures

Isaac, Merrill and Andy - they kept telling us how this was the coolest hike they had ever been on. It was our first family hike :)

This is classic Andy - He makes us laugh, he always has a special pose for the camera

Another one of Lincoln in the carrier - He loves to be outside - fasinated with trees and leaves and wind. I sure hope this stays with him.

A family picture that another hiker was kind enough to take for us

It happens to get cold at night in the mountains and unfortunately we didn't bring enough blankets. The children were fine because being parents we sacrifice....Rich got up with Links at 6:00am and offered to take him to McDonald's. I know he did this because the van has heat! I just had all the bigger boys come and snuggle me. I was all toasty except for my feet. We still had a fantastic adventure that day - we climbed up Sulphur mountain with all the boys. I have never been so proud of them as I was that morning - No complaing - just great attitudes about it. Rich carried Links up on his back the whole way. Isaac was very excited to earn some of his hiking badge for cubs and the boys were very excited to get to the top so they could eat ALL the trail snacks we had brought with us. Isaac and Merrill took turns carrying the camel pack and Andy and I took care of the snacks. What a great experience for them - they worked hard - they didn't know what was waiting for them at the top - they just kept plugging along, trusting us that all their hard work would be worth it. A little bit like life I think.

We had our picnic at the top and then the best part was that we got to ride the gondola down the mountain!!

We headed back to Calgary for our last night there and Nana had worked hard making us all tin foil dinners. We went to Fish Creek Park and had a campfire with Great Grandpa and Grandma, Nana and Grandpa and the elders. After our delicious dinner Nana and the boys did campfire songs - What a wonderful way to spend a vacation - surrounded by family. I loved every minute of it and I can hardly wait to do it all again in just under a week!

Rich is enjoying a well deserved rest after our adventures

All my boys together!