The Busy Life

Life has been so busy as of late. I started a job that required me to work 2 twelve hour day shifts and then 2 twelve hour night shifts back to back and then four days off. I just barely made it through the two day shifts and realized it was a bit too much for me. I quit and they didn't make me finish off my week with the night shifts, whew! That was a Tuesday and by Friday I had a new job, one that is perfect for me! God's timing is amazing. I now work in a daycare with the infants. I have evenings and weekends free and I get to play with the cutest babies. Sounds great to me. I've always wanted to work with children so this is a great opportunity. I have to do some online training for certification so in November, the whole family will be in some form of school! Life is about to get busier.

We've also had a lot of sickness in the house lately. I think between all three boys they've already missed 7 days of school and they haven't finished the first month yet. Now it's my turn, I'm fighting a head cold. It was only a matter of time, all the babies at the daycare are sick and seem to always direct their coughing and sneezing right at my face! My baby turned 7 on the 23rd. It feels like forever ago he was a baby and yet it has gone so fast. We had to postpone his birthday party until next week because of me being sick and him throwing up this morning. Like I said, lots of sickness!

We are having a new septic system installed. We've been waiting for months but they have finally started the work so hopefully in a few days we'll have it done. I won't miss the open hole full of sewer water in our back yard, yes it's true. We haven't had time to do anymore renovations except to install a dishwasher. That was the best renovation yet!

That is all that has been happening this month and keeping me away from this blog. I hope this week is finding you all happy and much healthier than us! I'm off to take some nighttime cold pills and go to bed, night all!

A Few Of My Favourite Pictures From Today:

Someone make them stop growing.......please?

Just Checking In

*I'm sitting here trying to think of what to write. I don't have anything interesting to say or I don't think what I have to say is very interesting, one or the other!

*We are looking forward to spring break in a couple weeks. We are heading over to PEI to visit friends and family and the boys are counting down the days.

*We've had such an amazing winter over here that it already feels like spring is on it's way.

*Things are busy with me working full time. I've started with Sunday school again and still lead worship. My husband has been preaching some challenging sermons and once and while I'm lucky enough to catch one!

*The boys are growing like weeds. They are now 11, 8 and 6, where does the time go? Our kitten is now 11 months old and getting quite the round tummy (not a surprise since she eats more than the 6yr old cat).

*We've barely been sick this winter which is amazing. Everyone is well and seems happy! Not much else to report but like they say, sometimes no news is good news.

*We are thankful to God for our many blessings and look forward to all He is going to do in this new year!

Grocery Spending Challenge

Well, this challenge hasn't gone too well for me! I was doing well the first two weeks but in my defense, my in-laws are visiting. It is my youngest son's 6th birthday tomorrow and so my husband's parents are visiting this week to visit and celebrate with the birthday boy. That means I have spent more than the allotted amount this week! Although I haven't been successful with this challenge, I have found it to be very helpful. I know where my money has gone this month, before, not so much! I plan to keep trying to save wherever I can and to use more of Mary's tips from her book, which has the best recipes I might add! The best thing is... there is always a new month to try again.

Grocery Spending Challenge, Week 2

Okay, week two for the grocery spending challenge. This week the grocery bill came to $81.30. A little higher but still not bad. We have eaten out twice in the last two weeks. We usually end up eating out once a week but I would like to cut that back to once every two weeks. I'll will include the cost of that at the end. My goal this week is to not eat out once. Lets hope I get over this cold fast then! So far, not so bad but lots of room for improvement!

Lovely Long Weekend

I love paid holidays! Yesterday was Labour Day (do we spell it Labour or Labor here in Canada?) and I got paid to stay home, oh yah! We went on a nice hike to see some falls about an hour away form here. Here are a few pictures:

Okay, more than a few pictures! It was lots of fun and beautiful, we will definitely be going back! Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend!

Grocery Spending Challenge

I've decided to take part in this challenge being hosted by Mary over at OwlHaven. I recently purchased her book: Family Feasts for $75 a week. I love it, there are some great tips for saving money on groceries and many awesome recipes! I've made a couple of them so far and they've all been big hits! So, my goal is to spend $75 to $100 a week on groceries for the five of us (plus two cats). Of course, the closer to $75 the better! I shopped last night (and will count that towards our first week) and spent $77. Not bad so far but I know there are still one or two things I need. It will be interesting to see how this goes, I'm kind of excited! Wish me luck!

My Sweetie!

I was talking to my middle son on the phone last night (as I posted yesterday, they are visiting with their grandparents right now) and I was asking him about something grandma had told me. She said he was a bit homesick and sat in a room by himself for awhile. I was thinking "oh how sweet, my baby actually misses me, awww." I was wrong but the reason he was crying was still just as sweet. He had been watching "Fox and the Hound", remember that one?

I guess he found it just too sad to watch so he had to leave and cry a bit (hey, I cry watching that one too!) but didn't want grandma to know the real reason so he pretended he was homesick. I guess crying because you are homesick is more acceptable to a 7yr. old then crying from a sad movie! I just love his tender heart! He is my little sweetie!

Meet Ruby, our new baby!

That much?

Quote from Joseph:

"Mom? You know how God can do anything? ANYTHING?? Well, that is how much I love you!"

It doesn't completely make sense....except...it does.

So Proud!

I'm bursting-at-the-seams proud! My 10yr. old, in grade 5, just won his school's spelling bee and now gets to represent his school at provincials (he is sssooo nervous). It was funny how he let us know. He called home from school and said "you'd better call mom, I've never shaken so much in my life". As you can imagine, dad was thinking something was wrong until Nathanael announced his big news. When my husband did call me at work, he quoted him and I was very concerned he had some bad close call, with a car, or something. (I automatically started running all the scenarios in my head!) As you can imagine, I was very happy to hear the news!

His teacher is so excited and has called us twice on the phone. It is neat that he has so much support from her at school. I really appreciate the teachers that my boys have, not an easy job!

This is amazing news (especially since I didn't know it was coming up, so he didn't study at all) but it is mixed with just a touch of sadness. It is bittersweet because it also means.....my baby is growing up, and way too fast! I'm still adjusting to the idea of him being 10. I remember him as a baby and am trying to figure out how we got here so fast. He is off for a movie night and sleepover tonight and I'll tell you a secret. He wouldn't want you to know but....he gave me a kiss and said he'll miss me before he left. Those moments are getting fewer and far between so I am cherishing them, a picture taken in my mind and stored to be enjoyed as he continues this journey to manhood.

Congrats Sweetie...I mean my little man. I am so proud of you but feel free to slow it down a bit, would ya? Thanks!

What's up Doc?

It is has been pretty quiet this week on this here blog! Two of the kids and I have battled a stomach bug. It always amazes me how fast the kids bounce back but when I catch the same thing, I'm bed ridden for two days. Thankfully we are feeling much better and hopefully the last two members of our family will be spared! (and I got to catch up on some sleep, that is never a bad thing) Today is report card day so I'm excited to see how my kiddos have been doing and they are always excited to bring them home (not sure how long that will last!). We still have one more birthday before Christmas. Andrew has his 7th birthday on Nov.30 and he told me he wants to invite this girl from his class because she gets picked on a lot by the boys. He has started playing with her at school too, to cheer her up. Isn't he the sweetest? Andrew has always had a gentle heart but when he was telling me this, it was all I could do to not tear up. I love that he always sticks up for the underdog, even if it means going again the grain. He'll be the first to make you a get better card if you are sick and cry for you if you are hurt. I look forward to celebrating this big birthday with him. He thinks it is a big deal because the earliest age he remembers of his big brother is 7 so he feels like it is really growing up! And so he is.

Halloween Costumes and an Unwelcome Surprise!

Here is how my little squirts looked for Halloween:

I didn't spend one dime this year. Joseph was more than willing to use a costume passed down from his brothers. He was the fireman and loved every minute of it. He kept pointing out to everyone how he has smoke (soot) on his face from fighting a fire. Nathanael and Andrew decided to make their own costumes this year. Now I might not get the names right but I think Nathanael is Power-Man and Andrew is Mr.X (both made up of course). They picked out a shirt in the colour they wanted, drew and taped on a logo and then we painted on masks, to protect their identity!

Then on Sunday we got a nasty surprise, well, depending on your view point!

That's right, we got our first snowfall of the season. Nov.1 is too early for me! I know there are others with snow right now like our old home of Dawson City, Yukon but that is expected, I don't want it here!!! I'm sure in the good old days they got several feet of snow in November and maybe even October (you know those type of stories!) but I don't want to see the white stuff before December. Oh well, you've got to roll with the punches, the kids thought it was pretty exciting. I can't really complain, it did all melt the next day when we had a beautiful sunny day. As long as Jack Frost is just visiting and not intending on a long stay, I'm good. It is nice to see some snow on Christmas though, which isn't that far away! EEEK! I'm sure you are all getting ready for Christmas, may even have your shopping done. Not me, I have two more birthdays to get through and then I'll start thinking about it...thinking. That is why I'm usually shopping in mid December when there are far too many people in the malls!

*Edited to note: I was wrong, the snow came on Nov. 2! A few days later it warmed right up to 18 degrees and feels like spring. Crazy weather!

My Growing Boys!

Two of my boys have finished another year of school. Andrew finished kindergarten (or primary as it is called here) and Nathanael has finished grade 4. Grade 4! I can't believe it. In their honour I have created these acronyms to give you a snapshot of what they are like:

N - Nice and always friendly

A - Already too big!

T - Truthful

H - Helpful

A - Awesome

N - Never lacking good friends

A - Always reading

E - Eats a lot!!

L - Loves his family

A - Always makes me (and others) laugh

N - Never short on hugs and kisses

D - Drummer boy

R - Really the life of the party

E - English and french speaking

W - Will be caring to anyone and everyone!

Congratulations boys! It is amazing for me to see you growing up and maturing (and a little sad!). Nathanael, I love you! Andrew, Je t'aime!