Day 28

I took the kids to the early years centre today and it is just so great to have a space that's new and refreshing for the kids to play in. We made candy kabobs for a valentine centrepiece as shown in the photo. Inspired by Michaela Popke.

Day 27

So, I went to the school to help out in Anna and Kimball's classes this morning. My friend and neighbor Michelle takes care of Miss Norah so that I can even do that...we finished the igloo, and took Anna to violin. This is a photo of Norah in her sled. You can't see the sled, but she's in it.

Day 26

Sam and I made an igloo today! He looked so cute in his overall snowpants working so hard to shovel the snow. He had the brilliant idea to eat lunch in the igloo, and so he packed his backpack with a banana, water bottle and apple, and headed out to his new fort. I brought soup. To share.

Day 25

So, We made a sun catcher, and this is a picture of it. It only lasted for a few days but it was worth it.

Day 24

We played charades tonight and I am so glad I can get this photo on here! I always want to remember how Sam and Kimball were the "number 11" and Norah got up there to make it the number 111. I have to be honest and say this was the most interesting game of charades in our family to date. Anna was acting out something she made up, so how could anyone guess it!?? And Kimball took about 7 eternal minutes to make up his mind about what he was going to be! Oh....the love, the patience, the "funnyness".

Day 23

We went skating at the Civic Centre outdoor rink. It was hilarious to watch Kimball pull Sam on the sled. Stephan would pull the kids on the tube and then fling them off into the distance... so fun.

Day 22

Norah loves to put stickers on people's faces. She is putting Dora ones on her dad's face here...

Day 21

It was a beautiful winter day and the boys hunted down some icicles and loved writing in the snow with them, licking them, and swordfighting with them.

Day 20

Sammy discovered that he loves ironing. I taught him how to iron today and he just kept asking for more. Too adorable!

Day 19

My friend Amy had a baby boy and his name is Leo. We went to visit her and this is a photo of her holding him.

Day 18

Norah loves to paint!!! She would paint everyday if her mother had the ambition...

Day 17

I always want to remember how these three little lunch boxes looked. I remember I had a blue Muppets lunch box..."whatever happened to my lunch box? When came the day that it got thrown away and don't you think I should've had some say in that decision?" I love that I am the only one in the world that knows exactly what to put, and what not to put in these lunches...I have also learned that it is a good thing for me to make them the night before.

Day 16

We went sledding today. This is Norah and I in the tube.

Day 15

Anna and I went on a date. We went to the movie theatre to see "The Princess and the Frog" Anna wanted to wear a fancy dress and I gave her an updo. She looked like a princess! I let her order anything she wanted which was a pink crush and a large popcorn. I love date nights!

Day 14

We cleaned Tika's cage today. Sam and Norah kept waiting for her to come out and play...they waited for a long time. I woke up at 5am last night thinking there was a raccoon or a mouse in my room...nope! Tika had gotten out of her cage and was in my closet! I was grateful it was her and not a mouse. I think Anna will be a little more vigilent at making sure her cage is properly closed.

Day 13

There has been a terrible earthquake in Haiti and it would seem disrespect-ful not to pay attention to the fact that thousands of people have lost loved ones, homes and all they have. I feel helpless being so far away, but very grateful to be in a town where people are trained and already in the air to assist the relief effort. I think that is amazing! We have people trained, and ready to assist other countries in need! This is a photo of Stephan reading the news about the earthquake.

Day 12

Believe it or not I did not pose them for this photo. This is one of my favorite home scenes...whenever we get home from the library they all take a book and devour it! I love the library! I love to put the books on display so when they walk through the door from school I can say, "there's a surprise waiting for you!" so I am also putting up a picture of that, because I want to remember as many of the little details from their childhood as I can.

Day 11

On Monday night we played wii...we just got it for Christmas. I LOVE the intensity in Kimball's face. He's playing baseball in this photo and he's better than me at all these gamey thingy's...I love to watch him and Sam do the dancing or the insrument games. Kimball literally does 360's and gets right into it. It's hilarious!

Day 10

Today is Sunday, and as such I love to make one of our favourite meals. Roast beef, with potatoes, carrots, and gravy. SO simple to make, yet it looks so artistic on the plate, and is so delicious. I love seeing my family eating a healthy meal. And of course, Kimball asking for more. They say "thank you for the meal mom." and my heart melts. Mind you, I had to train them to say that. I felt like they were starting to take us for granted, and that these meals were just magically appearing on their plates. They have also been asked to say "Is there anything I can do to help?" instead of saying "When's supper I'm starving" etc.. Anyway, for dessert, the girls wanted to surprise the boys with an apple pie. They peeled and cut, rolled and stirred. The pie was delicious. I am so glad I can write all this down. I never want to forget these moments.

Day 9

Today was so much fun! We went to a place in Quebec near Fort Coulonges that has a tow rope with tubes. You tube down, then you can lay on your tube as they pull you back up. It was very cold, but the kids loved it! This is Kimball pulling his tube after just coming down the hill.

Day 8

Sam and I played a Super Spy game today where we spied different shapes around the house and then colored that shape on a piece of paper! It never fails, if I play with my children during the day, I go to bed at night feeling successful. Stephan is my ultimate example in that regard. I have never met anyone who is so pumped to play with his children. There is no doubt that our children feel important; that every creation, drawing, and book that is important to them is valued by him. This is a photo of Anna's lego mansion as it is known. She has put her whole heart into planning and building this mansion. She just adds a little here and there whenever she can, this picture doesn't do it justice, but if you could magnify it, there are SO many details! From wall decor to water coolers this house has it all!

Day 7

Today I was very tired and couldn't wait to go to bed. We all have to have those days sometimes I think. But this is a picture of something that makes me happy. This is the Christmas decoration that I will leave up for the whole year because I don't like putting ALL of Christmas away in a "tote" I like to have Christmas all year, but leaving my lights up all year is a faux pas I will never commit.

Day 6

Today is Wednesday. It is one of my favorite days because today I will volunteer at the school reading with students in Anna and Kimball's classes, I will get to pick up Anna at 3pm and drive her to her violin lesson, and then I will go to book club, which is always very fun! I have never read so many books in my life! I love it!

Day 5

Sam is home today. We went grocery shopping and bought puffed wheat so we could make puffed wheat squares. I don't think Norah has actually ever had them. She almost ate the whole pan. No, she didn't, but it felt like it! I haven't made them in so long, it was an event which was worthy of being the picture of the day. We made sure they were ready for when the kids came home from school. My grandma always said to bake late enough so that the kids would be able to smell it when they came in the door. Grandma is full of good nuggets like that.

Day 4

Today is Monday. It always feels strange to have everyone go back to school and work, to have the holidays over. That is why today Norah and I are taking down the tree! We are going around the house finding all the decorations and putting them away. She is carrying around all the "canee canes" and adoring them and hugging them. I dragged the tree out to the porch where it will rest in peace until the truck comes for it. Anna thinks we should just put it in the forest to "decay". Why not?

Day 3

Today is Sunday I didn't take any pictures today, I wish that I had. It was a good day. Primary is getting so big, and it's going so great. Sam got his first CTR ring today and is very proud.

Day 2

Today was completely devoted to playing with new Christmas treasures. Sam is so pumped that he actually got the Yoda tank Lego set, and he is thrilled that Kimball made him a sledding hill out of Lego for his surprisa.

Day 1

Happy New Year! Every day this year I will put up something that I don't ever want to forget, whether it's something my children said, or did, or what was going through my mind...I will also post one picture a day, and at the end of the year, voila! A year full of memories for us to look back on.

We went sledding at the mother hill in Pembroke! The Popke's, Eadie's, Pilon's and Tondevold's were also there...