Soap and Bunting

Monday morning we made soap again!! AND this time they turned out amazing! They look, smell and feel great. Lauren came over to see how we make soap- and Dianne come over to watch and help.. I can't tell you how much easier it is with lots of help. We managed to make 3 batches, 3 different scents and colours. Let me tell you about the swirl we managed to achieve. All that with 4 kids too.

Right about soap making Remy and I went to pick up Annaliesse for a much needed Dr Appointment to fix up a few things on her foot. She was so brave and strong. It was a quick appointment and we were all said and home by 2!! I wanted to send her back to school but she begged to stay home. I figure if she did her piano and cleaned her room what not!! HAHA

Monday afternoon I decided to make some Valentines bunting. For years... seriously YEARS I thought I would make some red and pink bunting for Valentines Day and just never got around to it. This was the time :) Kalia was so excited to help me. Just a little colour to brighten up the house for a month or so!

Annaliesse wanted to plan FHE tonight. I told her she had to teach something she didn't know very well, as FHE was for learning. She decided on Moses, she asked me to tell the story and then she choose the activity, watching The Prince of Egypt and eating Sundaes with 10 candies on it to signify the 10 commandments. I was a bit too expressive, the kids were a bit scared and yet in awe. I do think they will all remember some of Moses' Story. HAHA. I love these little ones.

Lego & Lacrosse

Saturdays. 

I am enjoying the whole less is more thing for our 2017 family goal.

We hung out Saturday morning, Justin cleaning Mom's Truck, me baking bread and cookies, still in my jammies at lunch. Then we got Lego out to play.

AND THEN OFF TO OUR FIRST LACROSSE GAME.

Jay (BIL) called Monday saying he had the chance to get Lacrosse tickets for $15 each, pretty much half price!! So we decided to take the kids, but Monday when we asked Kalia she didn't want to go. 

So Aunt Laura came over to Babysit for Remy and Kalia and we took Annaliesse and Barker with us.

Annaliesse and Barker loved it!! It was rather loud, but it was kids Stars Wars Night and cousin Holton taught everyone the cheers and such. Such a fun atmosphere.

Nothing like a night of Lacrosse with cousins, Grandma, Aunts and Uncles.

We were home late, but it was totally worth it.

Snapshots

Craft night this week.  18 Ladies hammering... it was loud. String Art is a loud business.

Kalia lost another tooth.. Justin and I didn't even realize she had a loose tooth!

Playgroup this last week... plus one on the chair

Thursday I picked the kids up from school as a treat then picked up slurrpies. Then put them to work counting nails for craft night...

Barker did a great job making 10 piles of 5.

"Me up!"

Oh how I wish I blogged more about the little things with the other kids.
I did it a bit with Barker but almost not at all with Annaliesse and Kalia.

This last week Remy started getting out of bed in the morning without us. Before she would lay in her bed and calls for us to come pick her up in the morning (from her big girl bed).  Kalia used to do this and Annaliesse, but I am almost positive it wasn't as long. Remy is 3 years and 5 months old. She would call "Mommy" or "Daddy" or the best "Me UP!!" when she woke up from her bed and we would go get her, generally going off to find a Ipad or Barker to play with, BUT sometimes she would want to come snuggle in bed with me. It was delightful. She is growing up WAY to fast. Slow down Remy!

Practicing Quiet Coyote for Primary

Rupert is such a good toddler. Starting Preschool in September; she is such a joy to have around, I'm not really sure I want to send her. I am watching a little boy in the mornings now and she adores him. He is one and a only child, so still at the hair pulling and bonking stage. Remy doesn't mind one bit, she talks to him and chatters on about "no no thats my hairs" or "soft Lake". I take her cleaning with me and she patiently sits and plays the Ipad on the couch or follows me around asking if I'm done.

At home she plays in her dollhouse most of her days. She has almost stopped napping completely which is very very strange for my children... who have always napped until Grade 1!! In fact there are days when Barker naps and Remy doesn't. She eats a Nutella Sandwich everyday for lunch along with a Grape Juice box. Baking is her favourite activity to do with me that and dragging her stroller and purses around.

Sunday Family Selfie

Sunday Family Selfie. Sundays are quite different since the time change. Instead of rushing around in the morning we all take our time getting ready. We are usually ready by 10 and spend a bit of time getting the kids snack and such. Church 11-2 and I have choir after for about a hour. Justin brings the kids home and feds them, then by the time I get home at 3 we have about 45 minutes before head over to Grandmas. Dinner then before we know it its bedtime or time for a fireside.

Girls weekend in Banff

This one time I went on a girls weekend with some darling friends. 

We do a playgroup together and usually only see each other in passing, as we are dropping or picking up our littles. Considering we spend more time with everyones children then we do each other, we thought it was time we had a bit of fun to ourselves.

Off to Banff we went for a hilarious over night of relaxing.

Friday night dinner in Calgary then out to Canmore to spent the night. 

Up chatting and playing games until it was almost time to get up for the day. 

Off to Banff for the day!!

Shopping, Eating, Sledding and Hot Springs.

So much gabbing and laughing. It was good for the soul.

When girls get together for a looooong chats its better to just keep the topics of conversation private.

I will say this.... "Not your Business" was the catch phrase of the day.

Saturday ended with a amazing dinner at a Cajun restaurant that was AMAZING.

We were home late Saturday. I have to say I like this girls weekend thing... I wasn't sure it was going to be very fun. Boy was I wrong.

Hysterics

I blog because there is no way I would remember every funny/frustrating thing that happens. I was reading the blog from 5 years ago and I had forgotten a TON of it.

Annaliesse has been begging Justin to let her play Lacrosse... BUT Annaliesse is one of those kids who gets bored so easily. She thinks she is into something then 2 minutes later she is onto something else... Anyways Justin let Annaliesse try on Thursday evening instead of going to Choir.  I was hoping she would get the bug out of her... but twas not the case. She had a great time. Now the question is ... Can we afford for 2 kids to play Spring Lacrosse? Will the dates work our with all the other extra circulars? Good grief.

This morning Remy and I were at Moms while the carpets got professionally cleaned. If you recall Remy is scared of the vacuum and as it turns out terrified of the Carpet Cleaning. As soon as the cleaner turned on the machine she melted into a puddle of hysterics. I thought she might pass out for a few minutes. I got her a bit calmer but she cried the entire 20 minutes. Grandma said it was a good thing the Carpet Cleaner wasn't dressed as Santa Clause. She would. have. died.

M&M cookies

I wanted to make M&M cookies Tuesday afternoon. I cleaned a house Tuesday morning while the kids were at play group- it gave me a much needed boost to get my own floors mopped and some baking done. The cookies were going fine until I went to add the M&M's and there were hairs all through it, with some paper and other bits. This Momma was not impressed, I asked Barker what happened and he let me know the entire container was spilt in the girls bedroom, and so they picked them all up and but them back...

How helpful.

Barker had spent sometime outside playing before the girls got home, and then Remy went out with Kalia once the girls got home. It was so so so wet outside, there were puddles everywhere. Remy came in quickly after getting a bit of water on her pants.. she was not happy. Barker came in soaking wet. Happy and laughing along with Kalia but SOAKING. He was wet from head to toe, I poured water out of his boots, his hair was wet with mud in it and his underwear was plastered to his tiny bottom. He got put right into the shower.

 The girls got home from school both in terrible moods. Fighting and being sassy and mad. It was finally time to send them off to Piano.... We had told the kids we would go play Lacrosse at the church gym after dinner. Dinner of Crockpot Chicken Wings and fries were gobbled up and out the door we went. The kids and Daddy played in the gym for about a hour. Well Annaliesse and Barker and Daddy played Lacrosse, Remy and Kalia played with Remy's scooter. Then off to bed- cause this family is having a dickens of a time with going to bed on time lately. And this Momma can't seem to keep her eyes open during the day let alone past 9pm.

Kids Quiz

~~Annaliesse~~
age 8.

What is something I always say? Unload the Dishwasher.

What makes me Happy? Me unloading the dishwasher

What makes me Sad?Me not unloading the dishwasher

How tall am I? I have no idea

What is my favourite thing to do? Drinking Dr Pepper

What is my favourite food? Potatoes

What is my favourite drink? Dr Pepper

If I could go anywhere where would I go? California

What is my favourite colour? Grey

How do I annoy you? Talking to much

How Old am I? 31

How much do you love me? On a scale of 1-10. 10



~~Barker~~
age 5.

What is something I always say? Go Play

What makes me Happy? Hugs

What makes me Sad? No Hugs

How tall am I? Little

What is my favourite thing to do? Kiss Dad

What is my favourite food? Noodles and Sauce

What is my favourite drink? Dr Pepper

If I could go anywhere where would I go? To the mall

What is my favourite colour? Your face

How do I annoy you? You send me away

How Old am I? 19

How much do you love me? Zero Percent

~~Kalia~~
age 9.

What is something I always say? Go play Downstairs

What makes me Happy? When you get Kisses

What makes me Sad? When we annoy you

How tall am I? 7 meters

What is my favourite thing to do? watch Downton Abby

What is my favourite food? Potatoes

What is my favourite drink? Dr Pepper

If I could go anywhere where would I go? Greece

What is my favourite colour? Green

How do I annoy you? Your dance moves

How Old am I? 31

How much do you love me? 24/7

~~Remy~~
age 3.

What is something I always you? Go play me dollhouse

What makes me Happy? Me huggies

What makes me Sad? not go in me room

How tall am I? high (arms spread wide)

What is my favourite thing to do? sweep and mop

What is my favourite food? Drink

What is my favourite drink? Dr Pepper

If I could go anywhere where would I go? In Mall

What is my favourite colour? some in decipherable word

How do I annoy you? (she had no idea what this meant even after I reworded it)

How Old am I? 9

How much do you love me? 94 (holds up 4 fingers)

Grandma's & Remy's purse.

Grandma and the Missionaries came over for dinner and FHE last night. Grandpa is working away in Banff for a few days. I made Krista's Chicken Fajita Soup- so yummy, so much chicken in one bowl! Served with corn bread made a right bonnie dinner.

Krista's Fajita Soup
3 Chicken Breast
2 cartons chicken stock
3 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans corn
2 heaping TBSP cumin
2 cups salsa
1 tsp dried cilantro
At the end shred the chicken and put it back in and add 2 cups of grated cheese

I forgot the cheese, didn't have dried cilantro so I used fresh, I used frozen corn and added some black beans. 

The missionaries were late for dinner, as usual- while we were waiting Remy was showing Grandma her purse. Remy LOVES bags and purses and often has them right full of stuff. Grandma said lets compare whats in our purses!! You should have seen Remy's delight. Grandma's money, Remy's money, Grandma's cards, Remy's cards (old hotel key cards), Grandma's phone, Remy's 3 toy phones... ect.

After dinner we had FHE with the Elders, they gave us a lovely message/lesson on the Book Of Mormon with a object lesson. Then a treat after of Daddies Smoothies while they watched Cinderella. 

New Normal

We had a lovely weekend.

There are some changes coming in our little family.

Justin started a new job a few weeks ago and due to the economy I need earn a little bit of income as a bit of a buffer. I will be cleaning a few houses a month, cleaning Mom's every week and watching a darling friends baby on weekdays in the mornings. I am trying to be excited about it, but to be honest I'm just down right nervous. Not that I can't handle it, by any means... more changes just means a slightly different normal. What if I'm not good at this new normal??

Silly worries. I love my life as a mother, and I'm comfortable with life right now.

Guess that just reaffirms its time for some growing eh!



Saturday we hung out at home in the morning. We tidied up a bit and relaxed at home. Barker had Lacrosse at 4 and he had such a good time. The rest of us had a great time too, watching him and his cousins practice Lacrosse, chatting with Sherilyn, Karla and Mom Moxley while the men chatted and the cousin ran around keeping themselves busy. Karla and Cyril and the kids came out for dinner after- a quick dinner of Cafe Rio and then a evening of chatting and signing up for Spring Lacrosse! Thank heavens for Cyril- he has done all the research and signing up for stuff with Holton so he knows stuff!! Karla assures me that I will get the lingo and hang of being a sports Mom- I hope she's right!! Justin is hoping to be a assistant coach for Spring Lacrosse so we shall see how that goes.

Sunday evening was dinner at Mom's house as usual and this time Laura and Miles and Mark and Lindsay AND Arlie came :) We spent the evening eating, and trying to figure out how many states we could name on a blank map. Mom kicked all of our trash- I came in second- I was rather proud of myself.. LOL. We missed Dad as he was away.

Snapshots

Sometimes they get to just be on the Ipads.

This girls is LOVING her new playhouse in her room

Young Women's this week they made darling Goal boards.

She ate a granola bar and got it everywhere

Each one of my kids came up to "sneak" raw spaghetti noodles... as if I didn't know.

Whenever I make Spaghetti for dinner the kids whine and whine and whine... until they sit down for dinner then they gobble it up. Homemade bread to Garlic Toast helps them wash it down :)

Kalia the Blogger

Guess who started Blogging??

Kalia has asked me multiple times if she could blog too! Each time, I would say "Yes, but not today." Seriously there is not enough hours left in the day when they go to school!

So one day during the Christmas break when we were all home Kalia and I sat down and started a blog for her. She does the posts and I help her upload the pics.

It is going to be so fun to look back at as she grows 😍

Here is the link. http://lovemylifeitsakidlife.blogspot.ca/

2017 FHE Goals

I made cookies Monday afternoon for the kids after school snack. I find so much Joy in doing these little things for my kids... Mothering is my greatest calling. I wouldn't change it for the world.

For Family Home Evening tonight we talked about goals and why we set them. Kalia and Annaliesse seemed to follow along, Barker and Remy just happy to be there.

For our Activity we made GOAL posters for their rooms. We talked about Spiritual Goals and how they draw us closer to our Heavenly Father. We used old friends and cut out pictures that show what they want to accomplish this year.

Annaliesse had a hard time doing this project- we thought her and Kalia could work independently, but she needed help too. Sometimes she does NOT appreciate that Barker and Remy are younger and therefore get more help.. she misses the days when she we did everything for her.

We picked up the poster board after school and after the girls were done their home reading... it was torture for Kalia to wait and find out what they were for.

Homemade treat was cookies and milk. Barker wasn't super impressed with the treat but he lived.