This week at a mad, fast, glance.....

.....each night i had grand plans to document the day!

....and each night i crashed into bed, uber tired.

....so, this is what we are left with: the week at a glance....because tommorow is thursday and then boom- we are at mount washington.....week=gone!!

SO.....before i lose my footing, here we go....counting down the minutes to shutting this computer down and laying down too.....

Monday:
Chris and i were able to drive our beautiful boys in to school....i love watching them walk away...chris thinks i look like a creeper hanging out the window with my camera....but i don't care.

Drove to crofton and helped Jim move....here we are after the first big

 truck load and delivery to storage unit;

 The stars aligned and Cristin and I were able to meet up for a super nice {unplanned} long walk while Chris finished helping Jim move and get to his chiro appointment ......

{My boots were NOT meant for walking....}...but it was nice to catch up.

 The beautiful sight that is now 'normal'.....

 Picked up the boys from the bus and headed to amanda's for the evening. 

I love watching how both boys pair up to play.....{why the foggy lens...who knows???}

Oldest of friends......

 

 Dinner is served!!! 

Umm...not sure what Dylan is doing.....

Another walk!!??  I still didn't have runners, but she lent me a pair....and in total i think i walked over 2.5 hours on monday..which totally wiped me out!  Hello 8:30 bedtime!  

Good day all round.

Tuesday:
Food Show with Kelly {autocorrect for Jelly....right JL?!}.  I drove to Vic with my latte {sigh....down to 2 visits per week!!! - don't worry, i wasn't driving for this picture, i was getting gas.....not THAT kind...weirdo.}

We had alot of fun today.....i am so glad i went....people love kelly...it was fun to see her in a different environment...you should have seen the venders with her....they really do love her.....

 We got fed very very very well!! I can't wait til next year!  Here was a sample i was impressed with....it looked amazing....but meh...blah.  But i loved that i got to eat it....for free!!!! 

 And here is our beautiful weekend hostess this weekend !!  We got the invite months ago to head up for Easter to the mountain with brett and meg and the folks....and it felt like it was going to be forever til it was time to go....and here we are 2 days away....time is flying!! 

 {hence the importance of blogging, so as not to forget......}

And finally wednesday....here we are:
I spent the day with Oscar today.  We met at Bow Mel where i dropped of my car since it was acting shaky like it did a few months back....turns out, they had to replace the calipers on the brakes {again!!! for the 3rd time!!} and it was under warranty!!  BUT, it was only under warranty for 2 more days!  Til the 6th!  super awesome!

But here he is....i love this picture, because it looks so innocent.  He is just little, right?  He can't possibly make a grown womans armpits start sweating at the start of a scrunched face and a whine that is could possibly to escalate into a howl?  Can he?  He will tell you when he has to poo...won't he?  Such an innocent picture....my lovely little nephew.....at one lovely point in the day, he looks at me and starts to cry "i want my mama".....and finally, i get down in front of him and say, completly sincerely "honey, i want her too"......that actually calmed him down and we moved on....cautiously!

Oscar and i walked to the library.....then we drove to his house....he played playmobil, played outside, we made lunch....then we picked up his sisters from school and headed out to surprise isaac and elliot!! They were standing in line to take the bus....so we grabbed them and went to the park for over an hour......

Yo! Yo! Whirley popcorn at the P-Ground!!!

 Isaac and Ava....

 Oscar and Elliot paired up today....super sweet.

 i learned today that Ava prefers to keep at the teeth that she loses.....

Both isaac and i couldn't understand why she wouldn't want money....

we really couldn't.....

 We also don't understand when Wren honestly says some of her favorite food is steamed spinach....we just tilt our head and get these weird googly eyes when we don't get something.

 I once got stuck in one of these perpetual motions....nearly barfed up all my thai....that woulda sucked....thats how i can remember i was in victoria when it happened....cause i never have thai here.

 Speaking of barfing...here is elliot trying to hurl and spit up all the grapefruit taste from his mouth.....i mean, everyone else wanted a piece of my grapefruit...so, he jumped on the wagon too....only to be the one leaning out the bandwagon window hurling spit into the air.....figuratively speaking, of course.

ALL the cousins on the spiderwed!!! 

Love it!! 

Home by 5....made black bean soup....had a bath....pj's on...no chance of v-ball.  Exhausted!!!

There we have it folks.....a quick overview....not too many of my stories made it in this post...i am too tired to expand!!!  But, oh boy, could i ever expand!!  but....another time!! Good Night!!!

Chris and Elliot....

Elliot was always within 2 feet of chris today....right up against him through church....beside him at lunch....on him during AFV....this little guy really loves his dad.....

We are all loving this stage......really loving it....stay sweet forever ok Elliot?

Sunday.....

Little blessings on a sad day......

Supporting a friend as he speaks in a new church.....

Picking up Spinach and Lemons and granny apples to start a new 'green smoothie' morning regime...

Watching my beautiful boys play outside on a warm day....{finally!!}

Here is Elliot after he dragged these rocks up from the ditch {daddy rock, mama rock, baby rock...}

 Isaac being timed on his climbing skills....he was at 19 seconds upon my

 arrival....got it down to 6 by our departure!

 Homemade milkshakes for dessert while watching AFV.....new Sunday tradition! 

{thanks Elizabeth....you don't ever want this 'ol thing back, do you???!!}

 A little game of Charades while waiting for AFV to start.......Elliot was nuts

 and hilarious...here are isaac and chris trying hard to guess!!!

Counting little blessings today....as i often try to do...but today felt so much more important to do so, to remember that you really don't know how many moments or blessings you have left to count.

Our family friend died last night....and my family is so sad....she just went so quickly.  The other 3 in my family were extremely close with her, next of kin-type close....i am so proud of how they all walked beside her during her struggle.  Cancer is such a fierce opponent....took her down within 4 months...she was only 10 years older than me.

RIP Tracie....you will be missed.....

Post #1000 - Carrie and Jack.....'she said No'

Carrie will be my guest blogger today.....to help celebrate my thousandth post!!!



Carrie has a blog as well, and sometimes she shares little tidbits of her really funny posts with me.....and so, here we are....introducing a snapshop of Carrie with her beautiful, smart and hilarious kid: Jack Jack.

Our day... my perspective vs. Jacks

Today was a very interactive day... Nona picked him up and brought him to his swimming lessons. I met them there and brought Ellie up to childcare so that me and Jack could swim together after his lesson. So we had a blast paddling around in the hot tub for about half and hour (something was wrong with the pool and it was super cold).
After we picked up Ellie, we went to a coffee shop owned by some friends of ours. They scooped up Ellie and me and Jack had a chocolate milk, italian soda and shared a huge rice krispie cake.
After that, we went home for a nap. I slept for about twenty minutes and when I got up, Jack still hadn't slept. So I told him he could turn the light back on and have some quiet time. Once we were all rested and ready to go again, I packed up Ellie in the stroller that Sharon sent us. Its a special stroller that lets the toddler stand on the back while the baby rode in the front. We also brought his strider bike and helmet. So we went along the greenway, chatting, playing, he would bike for a bit, then walk, sometimes stand on the stroller. It was a lot of fun.
We made it to the eco centre in about forty minutes. He played at the park for awhile, there were a few kids his age, the sun was shinging. It was great...
On our way home, we were pretty tired but he did really well. We were almost home when Jack asked to go see Ryans ditch. I was so tired I said when daddy gets home you guys can go see it, I'm tired and would like to be home. (It was getting on to supper time and I had some meals to make)
Once at home, I made Jack two pieces of french toast, with whip cream and bananas. He ate ALL of it...
Overall I thought it was a fabulous day.
When Brad got home, he asked Jack how his day was... you know what Jack said?!
"I asked mommy to go see Ryans ditch. She said no."
sigh...

Tonights Food....

Waffle Wednesday Menu

 {wish i took pictures!!}

Lemon Ricotta pancakes with fresh blueberry sauce
{and aunt Jemima syrup for the REAL classy!! insert sarcastic tone}

Fresh honey whole wheat bread....still warm, sliced with butter.

Black bean and cilantro Soup....remembered just in time to warn andy 'mr-allergic-to-carrots' {never met anyone allergic to carrots!!}.....dollup of sour cream and fresh cilantro on top!

Corn tortillas with homemade guacamole

Water with lemon

All food is all gone......no leftovers.....success.

Now....off to volleyball!

Elliot, my little assuming boy......

On the way to town yesturday, Elliot and I decided to tell eachother stories.  After his was over, he yells "your turn mom!!"

So i begin my story....and i will give you the nutshell version of my story since elliot is home with me today and he has already finished folding the pile of rags i had him fold to 'kick the can a little further down the road' to give me a few more minutes here!!

But the story was along these lines:
There once were 2 little boys who lived in a beautiful home with their stunning mother and crazy smart daddy....but one day peace was disturbed in their little lives when the evil queen who ruled their land decreed that each family were only allowed to have ONE child. 

{it was around this time that elliot pipes up from the back with big eyes 'is this real?'}

So, i continue.....telling elliot how these 2 little boys would no longer live together, that if the older brother left,  he would go live with minnie and mickey mouse at Disneyland, and if the younger brother left, he would go live in a train at the train museum.  But here was the trickey part, the parents were not allowed to choose which child left....it would be up to the children to decide.

{it was at this point that elliot pipes up "oh....i will miss isaac.....but he will have fun living in Disneyland'}

Tuesday Afternoon.....

After hanging with mama all day, it was time to pick up big bro!! 

He ran ahead to get isaac and carry his bag to the car........

Next it was time for piano lessons with beautiful Malea.....which meant isaac was able to learn a few more chords to the incessantly played "I've got a feeling" by the black eyed peas.  Yay!!

And after piano, we headed to Elizabeths for the evening!!  Lasagna, lego, lightsabers.......

Waiting for chris to get home.....but it was a good day.....highlight was definitely time spent with E.

Tuesday....

Isaac stayed home yesturday.....elliot is staying home today....its like Spring break is going on and on and on and on......Elliot has a cold....no more croup thank goodness!  Even with a touch of a cold yesturday, he wanted to still go to school because he missed his friends....but this morning, he woke up a little sicker and no desire to go to school.  When i pushed him a little harder to make sure it was because he was sick and not faking it....he said he didn't feel like going to school because he didn't want to be called names.

WHA??!!

Oh my little guy.....so when probbed a little further, it turns out my doctors kid who is in his class {awkward much?}...is the one calling names and elliot has had issues with him in the past...but this is the first time it has made him want to stay home.  {Perhaps he is normally more up for the challenge when he is not sick.....i get it....}

So.....i went over and took my mama bear costume off its hook and zipped it up....and then i went to the playground.

The bell rang, kids went inside, and i approached the dad for a 'wee' talk {he is a little english i think...}

It went well, he was receptive and reacted the way i had hoped...we agreed to keep in touch and talk with the kids a little more about how damaging name calling can be.  Both boys are the youngest of brothers...he has 2 older brothers, elliot only has one.

So.....that was the morning.

Since we arrived home, Mel and i got more wood to burn, Chris went to hike the mountain, mel and i had breakfast of eggs and grapefruit and chai and she helped me to cut out the massive amounts of laminating that isaacs kindergarten teacher gave me a few weeks back. 

There we are....the day so far.

Long way home....

I ordered Steven Curtis Chapmans new CD a few weeks back and when i listen to "Long way home"  occasionally in the car....i tear up.  Mainly because i know the story behind the song....i know one of the valley's that he has had to walk through, and my heart literally hurts when i think of it.  But i am also so reminded of how quickly our lives can change, and how thankful we need to be, consistently.  And how we need to be aware.....aware of what we are doing....who we are serving....who we are loving..... that it's all important and worthwhile, even though it often doesn't feel like it.

I grew up listening to 'the great adventure'.....and now he adapts this great old song into something new to encapsulate what he has gone through....we are all on this great adventure.  There are ups and downs....but i know who is in charge and i love that he has it all under control and that all i have to do is hold on.  Here is the song....that i love....maybe you will too?

The first verse is my very favorite....and gets me every time.

I set out on a great adventure

The day my father started leading me home

He said there gonna be some mountains to climb

And some valleys we’re gonna go thorough

But I had no way of knowing

Just how hard this journey could be

Cause the valleys are deeper and the mountains are steeper

Than I ever would of dreamed

i have scares.....i know the people around me, whom i love, have scares...a very close family friend is dying of cancer and my family is walking beside her ....and its scary.....and sad.....and there was the threat of cancer that has thankfully been removed from a family member....there was a night of holding a baby who couldn't breath and i wondered if this was the night that would change my world....there was a suicide of a young neighbor boy who was found by his father a few days back....you don't have to look far for scenerios that are full of pain and are scary enough to make my knees buckle if i didn't have faith.  I still get scared, but i still feel held up and loved.....who do you turn to when you are scared? 

Sunday.....

It was quite the day....

Elliot woke up at 5am with Croup....we have discovered that he is prone to croup when he gets a cold....his airway just swells a little bit, and there he is breathing through a straw.....so, woke up to him gasping and panicking at 5am.  As a parent, its terrifying to hear your son struggling to breath....but i just kept reminding myself to stay calm and to calm him down....so after being outside for a few minutes, he and i settled down to distract watch some cartoons.  He ate some strawberries, his brother got up....and they watched together until the episode of Backyardigans was over...and i went back to bed.

When morning dawned, not too much later....isaac woke up with his neck glands swollen more than yesturday....so i took him back to the walk in clinic and we were pretty much first ones in.....lovely doctor.....answered a few other questions i had, gave us a prescription for isaac and we left to pick it up and a few other things.

Elliot and chris stayed home and woke up after 11!!  So, i guess they both needed sleep....chris actually went back to bed this aft as well for a couple hours!! 

Anyways....Isaac and i got home in time to put some soup on....cut up a bunch of homemade bread as well as some buns that rachel grabbed and the church arrived a little after noon!!

We have started going to this sweet little church a few months back.  Rachel and I decided that we would like to feed them lunch one day after church......so today was the day!!  And what a gorgeous day!!!!

Here are a few pictures:

It was then time to clean up....head home....and chill out for awhile. 

Boys played.....Big boys found projects....we girls did who knows what....we didn't have a ton of time to sit....but the afternoon went by....in the sun....watching boys play....it was nice. 

Taught Rach how to drive the golf cart......i made dinner {2 broccoli and cheese Quiches.....only 1 made it to the oven....the other got tossed when i burned my arm on the way into the oven....sigh.....a whole quiche...literally down the drain, down the wall, down the oven door......}.  OK....so now dinner for 9 was down to 1 quiche and i pillaged 3 smokies from deep in the freezer, a yellow pepper with dip and some fresh pineapple.

I am tired.....chris is making popcorn and we are going to watch a new episode of AFV....ahh...sunday night.....

Day to Play....

We had some people up this afternoon to play up at the gym....plasma car racing, pickle ball and sitting out in the beautiful sunshine.....it was wonderful.

In total we had 5 families playing this aft and the weather couldn't have been nicer.......

Here are a few pictures of the afternoon......

Here is Chris and Laura....their yearly arm wrestle.....

 Bonfire time!!!  We ate outside because it was so beautiful......

 Here are a few of the cousins!!!

 Isaac just told Wren that he farted....yup, thats my guy.

 Part of todays gang.....after dinner walk....

 Our old friend Stevie......still at qwanoes.....it was so nice to have him and his new wife up for the afternoon to hang out with us.....

 Andy chilling by the water with the kids.....

 My sis in law....

It was a nice crowd this afternoon.....really really low key......not sure why, but

the energy was quite low and chilled out.....

Waffle Wednesday.....

We have expanded our crew for waffle wednesday and had 6 families up for french toast and fruit this evening!!  I love the feeling of all these people in our house....very low key since nobody had to run off to soccer or volleyball..... here are some pics from the night (and my last night as a blond btw!!!).....unedited .... enjoy!!

OOH Everett!! Peek a Boo!!!!

 Elliot really likes this baby!!!  Actually we all do....he is so sweet.

 Not long ago we were doing this to him!!!!

 Homemade cookie dough ice cream in a martini glass......

 Chris trying to pick Jons nose....yes, they are a classy bunch!

 We were so lucky to have Kim come for the evening with Penny and June....she didn't stay long, but hopefully she will become a regular!?  Awesome mom!!!

 Jim....joining the crew.....he blends!!

 Oh Jax!!!  Lucky boy!!!

 The lovely ladies with E!!!

 Rummy!!

Good night!!