Day 146...

Zippety ay and hidey ho there's something we can do...I turned 32 today and I thought, hey, what do I want to do today with my children that would be just FUN!!?? So we went to the beach! It was a lovely day! We invited Michelle and Skye to come, and Sam and Norah had a wonderful carefree time. We brought a picnic with us and just relaxed.

Day 145

Today is Wednesday, one of the busiest days of the week for our family. Book club was at my house tonight, Anna had violin lessons, I volunteered at the school this morning... I really wanted to take a photo of our book club ladies, but I forgot!! They sang happy birthday to me and Michelle made me a cheesecake! The book we read this month was The Host. I love book club. I told them I'll just Skype in to the meetings when I move. I will just have to use a filler photo because I didn't take one today!So, this is one I meant to post on May 1st, it is of Norah receiving her birthday card from Oma and Opa.

Day 144

Today was the hottest day I have ever experienced in Canada. It is 40 degrees celsius! Well, maybe it's only 33 but still...We had a tea party outside with Norah and had water fights and filled up buckets and pools with water. Thank goodness for no water restrictions! It was our last 8-11 year old activity tonight. We decided to go to the beach and have a party. The Eadie girls brought chocolate covered strawberries and there were freezies cookies and chips...we played volleyball in the water and pig in the middle. I have loved serving in this capacity with Amy Cahoon. She has taught me so much, she is so real, and has so many great ideas.
I have had a lot of fun serving in the primary here. This is us at the point.

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Day 143

Wow was it hot out today! We spent some time at the Eadie's and then at the Popke's. This is a photo of the kids with the sprinkler under the trampoline. On the count of 3 JUMP!!

Day 142

After church we came outside and the kids tried to play badminton...poor Anna did not have much luck with the birdie...Kimball kept saying "What was that?!" It didn't go over very well with Miss Anna. But it's true, I tried playing with him too and when you watch someone try to serve ten times in a row and then miss ten times in a row, it gets a bit exasperating. ps. these were mini rackets and were annoying in their own right!

Day 141

So....Michelle and I went halfers on a trailer full of mulch to cover all of our garden beds...that's pretty much what we did all day. All the beds look gorgeous now! But instead of taking a picture of the flower beds, I took a picture of the mulch, because, by itself it too is a work of art...

Day 140

Stephan and I went to his boss' home for a farewell bbq for him and some other staff that are leaving. She had kayaks, paddleboats, and canoes that we could take out on the Ottawa river...ummm...can I just say that I want a kayak for my birthday? It was SO peaceful and serene out on the water. Officially addicted.

Day 139

Today is Thursday and after Kimball's soccer game we came home and had fun outside! The evenings are so perfect...not too hot. We played fishy in the deep blue sea, and wrestled with Dad on the grass, and Sam and Anna jumped in the sprinkler...it was a fun night.

Day 138

The Ottawa run is coming up and I thought it was high time I took a photo of my mp3 player and my running shoe. I will unabashedly admit that I am proud of myself for making this goal and sticking to it! I was such a wimpy runner in school, well what do you think now grade 8 self? Did you ever think you'd be running for more than 5 minutes huh? huh?

Day 137

Norah and I hung the laundry out on the line today, she is actually quite helpful, she passes me the clothes and I put them on...this is her funny face.

Day 136

This is the right way to clean a fridge...

Day 135

Mother's Day take 2...
I wanted to have some photos of each child with me and so Stephan did an amazing job on these. So, here are some photos of my little sweeties and what I love about them right now:
Anna you have become one of my dearest friends. You have so many qualities that I admire and I am so very pleased with the person you are, and that you are becoming. You are so kind and thoughtful to everyone around you. It amazes me to see what an obedient, humble spirit you have. You have listened to everything you've been taught at home and at church, and you live it. In every way you live it, and people respect you for it. I love hearing you play the violin and admire your perseverence when it's challenging. I appreciate all the help you give at home and love every minute of watching you grow. I love you!



Kimball: My first son. It is so nice to be able to laugh and talk about things that we both enjoy together. I love it that you are so goal oriented and that when you have a job to do, there's no letting the grass grow beneath your feet, you get it done. I love watching you play with Norah, you are so gentle with her. I love watching you help Sam learn to read, or bring stuffies and a blanket to an injured sibling. Whenever I look at you I see so much potential, so much worth. You keep the commandments so faithfully and one of my absolute favourite things to do is to watch you sing the hymns with your little personal hymn book. I love you.



Sam: You are turning six this year and it seems as though this has been our toughest year together. You idolize your dad, but for some reason, I have a little harder time understanding the challenges you face. Daddy seems to know the right things to say and do for you all the time...however, I have been praying that our relationship would be healed and that I would once again be able to be the friend and mother that you need. And you know what? As He always does, He has answered my prayers in your behalf and I feel close to you again. I am able to listen and understand what is in your heart more than I ever could before. Thank you for weeding the garden with me, for playing "For the Beauty of the Earth" every day multiple times on the piano, and for squeezing my feet when they're sore. Thank you for loving the scriptures so much that you open the Book of Mormon and read it by yourself (I will tell you in a couple of years that I know there is no way you could have read 120 pages in 2 days...)



Norah My baby...you bring so much joy into my life! You are my little dolly that mimics everything I say and that I get to dress up and do fun hairdo's on. I love to hear you sing, and to ask 50 questions a day..."you have a good day mom?" I get to spend so much time with you, it's just you and me when all the other children are at school, and I feel like I am enjoying toddlerhood with you more than I ever got to before. Thank you for loving me so much Norah, I luz you too!


Thank you Stephan for being such a great husband to me and father to our children. You inspire all of us to be better everyday and your example does not go unnoticed.
and p.s. thanks for being so handsome so that we could have such cute children!

Day 134

Today the kids were in a mini triathlon put on by their swim club. They did their best and completed the whole thing! This was our first experience with triathlons and it was really fun. Going from the heat of the pool to the outdoor coldness wasn't exactly optimal, but everyone made it out with no serious emotional upsets.

Day 133

One of my favourite things about the warming weather is playing in the yard with the sidewalk chalk, bubbles, water squirters, and filling buckets up with water...this is a photo of Norah using the hose for the first time. I kept wondering when gravity was going to direct the water on her head, because she kept pointing it upward...she was so peaceful and happy just pointing the hose in different places, watching the water come out, probably wondering how this crazy thing got water to come out of it. After 3 minutes she came crying to me saying BAD WATER! MY HAT ALL WET! I took a photo of it, but she looks way too sad, so I didn't post it. Maybe I will later.

Day132

Kimball started soccer tonight. He has been wearing his whole soccer uniform every moment he gets and asks, "Can I just go outside and practice for a little while?" Sammy is wearing his uniform all the time too...I am so grateful that they supplied the socks, shorts and jerseys this year...it looks very matchy matchy.

Day 131

Sam started soccer tonight. We came home and had some fun trying to get the sunburst effect in the photo. I just said "keep jumping Sam" He is such a cutie!

Day 130

So oranges are on sale for 89 cents a lb. and we have gone through FOUR BAGS in TWO days! Norah has a cold; she can eat 3 whole navel oranges in one sitting. As for the rest of us, we just like the taste, and the aroma...they are the sweetest, juiciest, freshest oranges ever created, melodramatics aside...

Tuesday

Day 129

The crowning moment of spring! My tulips are in full bloom and it brings me joy every time I look out the window or walk by them! Grandma and I planted about 70 bulbs four years ago and they have multiplied since then. This photo does not do it justice. Sometimes the human eye is the best camera.

Day 128

Isn't it nice to think how cute this picture is? Everyone looks so cheerful and chipper...however if you look a little deeper you will find out that mom had to raise her voice just to get everyone to come out for "one photo with mom on mother's day" and listen to "is it really that hard? all I want is one photo?" and of course, "please you guys?" The only ones smiling are Anna and I! cest la vie.

It was worth it. Once I got them out there we had 10 seconds...GO!



Thanks for borning me mom! And thank you to all the mothers in my life who influenced me in so many ways!

Day 127

We flew home to Petawawa today. This has been a very productive house hunting trip. I have learned a lot about the history of Nova Scotia and I am enchanted with the history of this province. I feel like I just can't learn enough about the Acadians and the deportation of the early colonists. There is so much to see and do and learn here. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet new people and experience Atlantic Canada. It is a very exciting feeling flying home to see our children. This is Norah arriving to pickup her "mommydaddy" Aunt Laurie said she missed us so much!

Day 126

I realize that a lot of my posts are about food...it's because info on the lawyer, insurance and home inspection really wouldn't be that exciting...So these are called "fiddleheads"...just one of those new little things that will be part of our new Atlantic life. They do look like the head of a fiddle!! I have never heard nor seen this little vegetable before in my WHOLE life!!


Okay so today Stephan decided to buy a watermelon for a snack. We ate it with spoons

Day 125

We saw a Cora's in Wolfville and had to go there for breakfast! It is by far the most delicious breakfast place we have ever been to. For dinner we had BP takeout and drove to the ocean to have a seaside dinner. This week has been like a honeymoon for us, it is just like back in the dating days; going for runs together, flirting and holding hands, I haven't spent this much time with my sweetheart in a long time.

Day 124

Here is picture of Auntie Laurie and Miss Norah at the library, one of her favourite places to be now.

Day 123

We bought our new home today! It is beautiful and very functional and one block from the kids' new school!!

Day 122

Sunday, May 2nd
Went to church in Kentville and Greenwood. It's wonderful that wherever you go the church is the same. Downtown Wolfville is historic, beautiful and quaint! We found an amazing restaurant, and then a cute little cafe to have a hazelnut hot chocolate.

Day 121

May 1st Happy Birthday Norah! Today we are going on our house hunting trip to Nova Scotia, Aunt Laurie is going to watch the kids for the week and soon we will be going to Ottawa to do a switcheroo, give her the keys to the pilot and head onto the plane.
Before we go however, it is essential that we cut the boys' hair. This is the before shot. Unfortunately, the after shot was never taken because Sam refused to get his hair cut, and we didn't have time to compromise and debate the issue. So, enjoy the before shot of the brothers!

Day 120

Today we had Norah's little birthday party. She turns 2 tomorrow. This farm cake was one of the funnest cakes I have ever made! The kids were so pumped to help me decorate it! They each decorated their own cow or pig! We invited Ben and Eisa to come for the party.

Day 119

Now that th eNHL playoffs are on, Norah has discovered a new hobby with her dad. Watching the TSN highlights...

Day 118

Wednesday...We sold our house!!! Yahoo!!!

Day 117

Tuesday...I was doing Anna's hair for school in the bathroom and I look over and there's SPIDERMAN in my house! He just crept up the doorway easy as pie and scared the heck out of his mother! Then I realized he would not break a bone and he did it several more times before the bus came...