Because every once in awhile it is as idyllic as I hoped it would be.

Stephen says I need to improve my output.

So I am. 
Going to try, anyway. 
Good grief. This homeschool thing is a big job and until I get my feet under me, I think it's going to suck up a lot of my extra time. 


But we did manage to get out from under the books long enough to spend last night with the Barbours and (for the first time ever!) had real family pictures taken. 


It was a beauty of a night.

Look at their work here and if you want to see a sneak peek of our shots, you can go here.

Sunday Morning

If I wasn't thoroughly enjoying my newfound love of black leggings, I'd be slightly embarrassed that Wren and I are dressed exactly the same this morning. 

Oh, and Elin too. 

Ok, maybe I am slightly embarrassed...

Then...

and now. 

Bucket List

Feeling inspired by all the summer bucket lists I've seen floating around, we set to work making our own.

1. Read every book we own! (Kids books only, of course - we're not superhuman readers or insane)
2. Play Spiderman
3. Go to Waterton
4. Take the kids to a drive in movie
5. Waterslides
6. Play
7. Learn to ride a two wheeler
8. Go to the candy store (in Regina!)
9. Go for a drive
10. Have a party
11. Camping
12. FOLK FESTIVAL
13. Swim lots
14. Picnics
15. Hike in the mountains
16. Walk around the lake
17. Wash our cars in the driveway
18. Bonfires
19. Daddy dates
20. Pray lots

Everyone contributed. There were some outlandish (and inappropriate, thanks to the Hubs for those ones) suggestions that were vetoed but more or less I think we built a very doable and 'just-challenging-enough list' for our still young, nap-needing family.  I have more ideas mulling around in my head but this is the formal list. 


We can officially begin crossing things off next Monday, once Ephram is done school and summer holidays officially start! We'll revisit when September rolls around. 


Happy Summer!


What's on your summer bucket list?  

Manicure Day

Ellie decided today was manicure and pedicure day. How I ended up with the ultimate girly girl is beyond me, but she is such a treat that I find myself pouring over the nail polish displays at the stores with as much enthusiasm as her, trying to find the perfect shade to complement her growing collection.

A little embarrassing to admit? Sure. But what's parenthood for if not to humble you a little?
Plus, look at that face! How could one deny her this little pleasure?

After her fingers and toes had dried, she told me she'd like to sell me (savvy girl, that one) her orange nail polish, as she no longer likes it. She assured me she would tithe on the profits.

I'm considering her offer.

For the sake of the lesson, of course.

I still have some pride.

Wren says hello.

Or goodbye depending on how you look at it...

She is pretty darn pleased with herself and this new found form of communication.

A picture-less post and a TV-less summer.

I love Ephram. 
I mean really love Ephram.


I hope it's obvious that I love all my kids, but this one is just about the boy. 


He is wonderful. 
Smart and funny. 
Sensitive and kind. 
Talented on so many levels. 


If I was a gusher, this kid could make me gush. 


But lately we're going through some growing pains as a family and parenting this 6 year old has been some kind of rough.


Attitude.
Rebellion.
Discontentment.
Lack of vision and imagination.
Rude. 


Not things that were unexpected on this parenting journey but definitely things that we see coming out of Ephram more than we'd like to. And also the kind of things that make this moment in parenting crucial if we want to nip them in the bud instead of further propagate them. 
The scary thing is the mirror this all holds up to us. 


Our shortcomings and failures. 
Our humanness. 
Our fallen humanness.


Ouch. 


There is no excuse. 
No solution we can conjure. 
Only grace.
And prayers for love, wisdom, and patience from One who is decidedly not... like me. 


Slowly, I believe we will see transformation. I don't feel resigned to this being the way we always are. The mirror Ephram is holding up in front of us? Definitely shows areas we could be better in. 


Starting with all that tv and all those video games that were helpful and dare I say?... needed during those long days of pregnancy. But, I haven't been pregnant for over 7 months and those habits remain. Habits that have made us lazy and fostered a disconnect between all the members of our house. Habits that we never wanted to have and that we have been fooling ourselves about for far too long. 


While it's by no means the entirety of the problem and therefore not the entirety of the solution, we are putting an end to video games and TV for the summer. 


Gah, did I really just commit to that? The genuine fear I feel at the thought of carrying this out only serves to confirm how out of hand it's really been. How much it's served as a crutch. How it hasn't really served any of us well. 


This could be an interesting summer.


I need grace.
Oh, how I need grace. 

the magic of youtube

Remembering:

Thanks Miss for triggering this little trip down memory lane and may i add, whose Dad listens to so much Dr. Hook that it becomes a defining piece of their child's childhood? Oh that's right, mine.


In all seriousness though,  I don't remember ever not listening to music with my dad. His tastes were varied (obviously - I mean look at that sampling up there) and his opinions were very strong about what he liked and what he didn't but it made for a lovely soundtrack to grow up to.


Dad is definitely the reason (on my part) that the iPod is rarely turned off around here - I want my kids to grow up the same way. Appreciating varied and random, sometimes obscure music and judging from the ease with which they transition from David Gray to Backyardigans to country radio to Katy Perry, I think we're doing a pretty good job following in Beegs' footsteps.


Here's what's on the docket today in our house.





Leah, Adah and Dan (and everyone else for that matter!) - What songs do you remember growing up to? And who are you listening to now?

The other day we were downtown and happened to park close to the bridal shop. It has amazing huge windows out front with displays of satin, tulle, beads and chiffon in every color that change every few days. 


Since we have a fashion and princess lover in our midst we had a mini mommy date and strolled over to admire the fabric delights. At one point Elin told me she thought I needed to come back later to buy one of the 'big white ones' for myself.  How great, for her and for me, to be able to tell her I already had one tucked away in the back of my closet. 


When we got home we pulled it out. I've evolved a lot since our wedding and I've questioned my choice of dress since then, thinking I should have opted for the short, vintage cocktail dress I had initially wanted, but seeing it again made all my doubts pass. It is a beautiful dress. It made me quite emotional actually.


And Elin loved it.  I can't wait for the day that I can let her try it on and even better see her in her own. 


Someday Wren will be big enough to take to the dress shop window and I'll love seeing how big her eyes get when I show her the princess dress that hides in the back of mommy's closet. 

the sushi date

Ephram had a birthday party last Saturday afternoon and while he had his fill of pizza and glow-bowling we had a sushi date with the littlest sushi enthusiast in the house. Elin was so excited when we said we were actually going to the restaurant and not just picking up the little plastic trays from Superstore or making our own again. 

P.S. how cool is this kid? She definitely ups the style ante in this house. (Thank you thrifts for making this possible) 

our afternoon

reservation for...

... 5.


Tonight we did Valentine's Day up right. 
With special food made to order, chilled drinks in crystal, cloth napkins, candlelight and a movie. There were even pink, sweet, and foreign treats for dessert. 

And we didn't even have to leave the house. 

It is 7:40 in the morning and the cries for the Wii, and movies, and snacks have already begun.
But I don't mind...

via

...because in three days we are blowing this joint and finally getting ourselves into a house. Still a rental. And a pretty dated one at that. 
But a house. With rooms for everyone! A yard! Counter AND cupboard space! Laundry we don't have to pay for per use! 


Things are looking up.

Dan-o

Happy birthday to my brother, the deer whisperer. 

a glimmer of hope

despite all the fighting/whining/yelling/hitting/screaming these two regularly exchange...

... I think they may actually like each other. 

milestones

Grabbing toys like it's no big deal (NBD! - just for you dan) since January 12, 2011.

12 weeks

at home

with my bestie.

movie

Despite the fact that she's been known to throw the laptop off her perch up there we continue to allow it, albeit with some very stern warnings and maybe a threat or two.