Happy Fourth of July

The big kid came home for the long weekend. It was great to have him around.  

Northwest Park petting zoo

Ice cream treats at the barn in Salem. 

A quick visit with Breton at Chipotle. 

Breton

A sweet little boy came into our lives in November. On Saturday he came to visit. We are crazy about him! See how he's changed since November.

Maura's Birthday (April)

Way back on a sunny day in April.......

Maura and I had a special lunch at the American Girl store near Boston. We made reservations months in advance. We had two special guests, Maura's own American Girl doll and someone who was once my own version of a doll...Ashley!! 

A birthday crown for the birthday girl and a special chair for the doll. 

The food was delicious and the portions were not skimpy like I had read about. 

Check out the doll, it's all decked out in birthday accoutrements and a tiny cup of lemonade. 

It was a very special way to celebrate Maura's 11th birthday. Her interest in dolls will probably not last much longer, so I'm glad we had the chance to celebrate this way. 

My sister Leanne wrote a funny post today about my Mom. You should go read it. I laughed because I have felt that way SO MANY TIMES. I'm going to add in....Mom had six kids! Enough said? NOPE. She always had a  house bursting at the seams. For example, our family pool was a community pool all summer- filled with other people's kids who were often unaccompanied by any form of parental supervision! What a woman! She should have been recognized as the Volunteer of the Year....every year! 

So, I know I rock because I posted a post on the posting thing. April, May, June, July, August....5 months....NOT BAD!!

Susannie, if you're out there, I took this for you. "Are ya Bessie?" Those were great days!!

Joy comes in the cupcake.

When Heidi was here visiting Ash and me, I took a day off from work and had a sister day. It was grand. We ate at a local lunch place called the "Mustard Seed Cafe", a shout out to Leanne, the missing sister. She is involved in mission work in Calgary that is called...."The Mustard Seed". So we thought it was fitting. Then we are cupcakes from a shop next door called "Sugarbelle".

Here we are found enjoying our lunches on the outdoor patio. The sandwiches are all given Biblical names. We loved the "John's Locust and Honey Wrap" (just kidding!)

And NO! They are not my daughters! So stop it.

Heidi's cupcake was raspberry almond...she really loved it. I am not sure she enjoyed hers quite as much as Ash but what can you expect if you don't pick chocolate?

Here you see a confident Heidi stating "this is going to be the best bite ever". It turned out to be the cupcake-eater's equivalent of saying "Look Ma, no hands!" Sadly.

Within moments of her cavalier statement, her bite of frosting fell to the bricks. This is not the face of someone savoring their last bite of frosting. It is the face of defeat and acceptance.

Broken and ruined.

She soldiered on, settling for the remnants of Landon's cookie-dough cup cake. It is amazing to see the human spirit recover from such hardship. Who knew a cupcake outing could be so inspirational?

Wow, I feel 'shamed. I was just over at my little sister's blog and in her blog links it shows "heartfulhome" last posted 2 weeks ago!! Holy cow, my return to full time work has definately taken a toll on the old blog. Or maybe my kids aren't cute anymore. Not sure which.

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas! We were lucky enough to have Ashley and Uriah here for the holidays (still are here) and as always, Vick and Co.....and it's been great.

I personally felt as though the holiday spirit was lacking this year. The month of December flew by and I didn't get to make all the cute little felt things I was going to sew; I did not decorate my stairs and that was probably a key problem right there, as it does create ambiance. I realized on Christmas Day as I opened a present from my dear friend Annemarie, that I had not been into a Starbucks the entire month of December. I had failed to enjoy a Gingerbread Latte, and had not the pleasure of drinking a Christmas Blend. Can you see why the Spirit meter was lacking? Next year, I want it to be different. So, I'll be working on that.

Landon made a gingerbread house at school, he was responsible for providing the candy canes and life savers for the houses. what that means in reality is that Gordie was at CVS at 9 am on the morning of "gingerbread house construction" making the required purchases.

The finished product:



Christmas tree Peeps!

I love the things my kids bring home from school. Here is a little gift from Landon. His teacher is the most creative teacher my kids have had. This is a photo frame with pasta on it and it is then spray painted gold with glitter on it. She used a soda tab for the "hook". I just love it.

Back:

Front:

This is the bag it came in. Squeal.

Maura and Landon "tussling"

Uriah is very helpful around the homestead:

Don't be hatin' on our amazing breakfast!!!

A little bag Maura made for me. The present was given to me in a bag and the crepe streamer was the "filler". Love her!!

Uriah cleaning again.

Landon opens his big present, the Handy manny workbench. It was forgotten about until it was almost time to open presents. I had to run down to the trunk of Gordie's car and get it, wrap it really quickly.

Maura snagged the best spot in the room. Right in front of the tree.

It was back to work today (although I came home sick, but wasn't very sick when I got home...kind of annoying) and Vicki is already talking about when she's leaving for NS again and it just all winds down so quickly.

Last night was an important occasion for us as we watched Adam being baptized. He has been wanting to obey the Lord by taking this step since earlier this year and it was wonderful to see that desire fulfilled last night. We are thankful that he has developed this desire without any pushing from us, just based on ministry he has heard coupled with his own way of doing things, which is the no-procrastinating method of living.

Happy New Year to all our friends!

Counting Down

We're counting down the days til:

-Christmas 22
-Ash and Uriah come for Christmas 21 ish
-Ash and Uriah MOVE HERE!!!! Woo-hoo!! (still being expressed in months-6)
-Jon and Brian arrive for Christmas. 17
-Mama goes back to work. 4

December has begun with so many wonderful changes and news items. We are all looking forward to the holidays because, they're the holidays! They smell good, are packed with people and friends, bring cards with your friends faces on them, involve pumpkin raviolis, and the like. Bring them on!!

I am going back to work full time beginning on Monday. I have been working from home since May and am now going to be in the office everyday. It's the same company that hired me back in 1990....I practically grew up there ;) I am excited and thankful to be going back. But I will miss my mornings with Landon, whaaaaa! I have to say that I am happy to have made the best of being at home with him and don't have regrets in that way. He will be happy at the school morning program with many of his friends, attending school all day just like I did as a kindergartner.

We put our Christmas tree up on Saturday- Maura took pics of the operation. Here is one of the oldest and youngest in the family.


My pretty collection of leaves, just before I released them back into the wind. Time to decorate for Christmas!


This yellow leaf was my favorite.


He is always photo-bombing- I have many pics of would-be still life shots that have his little mug in them.


Adam is a man of many skills. He is able to tie his own tie. Gord and I are very proud of him.

On this day in History

On this Day in History- 2008

Ash and Uriah came to visit, impromptu, and this picture was taken to commemorate the occasion.


Then the kids attacked them.


PS. Ash I know what you are thinking- but your hair is cute.