Hot Air Balloons 2018

The weather this year, was vastly different from last year!!

Unfortunately the Hot Air Balloon festival was met with rain and wind at every turn this year. From Wednesday- Sunday the balloons only flew once! And lucky for us-our Young Women got to volunteer for it!! We went over Wednesday to help with the flight that night, but it was to windy- Thursday it rained all day- so Maddison and Eden and I woke up early Friday to help with the Launch!

I would love to say all glowing things about helping the balloon launch, but our pilot was a complete grump. Im just gonna leave it at that- we minimal helped, which was better then nothing, but we DID get a front row seat to the balloon launch that morning!

PS it was chilly!!!

We also did some Balloon chasing, as we helped pack up as well.

Thanks to Grandma who got the kids off to school, let me use her truck AND helped me pack up the Balloon as the YW had school to attend. Thanks to Grandpa who took Annaliesse to Patrol that morning at school, and then drove Barker and Remy to see the launch AND then to his office, on the deck to watch them fly for a bit before taking them to school. 

AND Grandma took me to drop off the vans flat tire, I got coming home from craft night last night!

I picked up the kids from school, as Annaliesse has Patrol before and after school Friday. Remy was absolutely exhausted from 3 days of school this week- she got in the van and almost burst into tears. I held her for a bit as she told me about the tooth she got bumped- and was pretty much ripped out of her gums.

Being in Kindergarten in hard.

We got home and I helped her get the tooth out- it took one little look and it came right out. She was thrilled after that. All she needed was a regroup and about a hour of snuggles before dinner, and she was good to go again.

Justin met us at the Balloon Glow as he was busy at work this day, but he arrived just 30 minutes after us. Grandma, Grandpa, Dianne and James just a few minutes before him.

We came early and left early. The amount of people was insane- absolutely ridiculous. Thank heavens for back roads! I think the adults would have been fine staying home, but we go for the kids!

Snapshots

Birthday super and cake at Grandmas on Sunday. Kalia was thrilled- even with her cake that like slime on the top. Grandpa spoils my kids, Kalia begged for Ribs for her birthday supper and they obliged. Kalia talked about it for a week before and constantly Sunday.

Remy got a black eye wrestling with Barker - she looked like she was wearing eyeshadow at church haha

We went and got a library card- Remy thought it was delightful there.

Wrestling- with bad lighting.

Playing with boomwackers at High River Children's Choir.

Machine Quilting / UP House

This Saturday activity has been on the books for months! MONTHS! I wanted to do my own machine quilting after taking the class a year ago- but terrified as it is takes practice. Luckily for awesome friends, Jen agreed to come with me to help me load the quilts and help me NOT to ruin my XLarge queen for our bed. In order to get a day we both had free we booked this Saturday mid July! 

We met up at the Local Quilt shop at 10 am. I had pretty much forgotten 80% of the class last year, Jen was invaluable. We loaded the big quilt first, which honestly takes the longest. Loading the quilt the correct way on a Long Arm sets you up for success. Not going to go into to much details, cause no one else really cares but me. haha

Jen did the machine quilting on the first one, and I watched like a hawk- asking questions and standing so close Im sure she was feeling the love 😂😂

We moved onto the second and third quilt- me using the machine and LOVING every minute.

As you can imagine Justin and the kids were not on board with my exciting plans.

Instead Justin took the kids into Calgary and to the Fall Home and Garden show and a art display downtown. They LOVED the Up house on display.

This evening the kids played with new Magformers the rest of the afternoon. 

We all had a amazing day- in our different way.

Snapshots

Lots of bread this week, as the world cools around us!

Took the Young Women to Archery this last week- they had a blast!

A normal Costco run and Remy is holding the receipt, so she can get a smilie face. The usher hands her receipt back, she looks at it and in a exasperated tone and goes “He thinks I have CRAZY hair!” 😂😂

Barker and Remy picking out cookie cutters for our day of Cookie making.

Happy 11th Birthday Kaila!

Happy 11th Birthday Kalia!

Happy Birthday to my dear sweet Kalia.

This post is hard to write this year- as so many things are changing, its plain to see your growing into lovely young lady. Its hard for Mommy watching you grow, you seem to age each day you walk in from school. I turn and you say or do something that is older then yesterday.

Having you as a first born was a blessing in my life. A joy as a baby, a learning Mommy had no idea how hard it would be, but you were patient. I swear you were just a toddler, always a smile on your face and eager to play. Your little face is memorized- your little nose wrinkle when you laughed, the posed smile when you stoped for the camera, your hair bows you loved, your over active imagination and the thread bear pyjamas you could put on yourself. The silly faces you made at the camera and dirt spots on your face after a day of playing. The first time I braided your hair and you rode a bike- makes me wonder where did the time go.

Your changing so fast its hard to keep up. The complements I get from others who notice your sweet soul and kind heart make my Mommy heart burst. Your sweet nature makes you an amazing sister with love over flowing for your siblings. I pray as you continue to get older your love and kindness will continue to grow. 

If it was possible to freeze you at a age- you never would have made it to eleven. I couldn't have waited that long- it would have been 5 years old- or 4. Now that we are here, I wouldn't change you for the world. Your mood swings are dizzying and your loud voice when your angry is intense- but your learning and growing. I know that you are meant to keep growing for this earthly journey. 

Daddy and I have hopes and dreams for you this year.

Continue to be kind to everyone around you.

Love God.

Keep smiling.

Remember your siblings love you and look up to you- Guide them.

Be YOU.

Hugs, Couch in Kitchen and Flag Football Round 2

In our House we give Hugs.

Every. Day.

Mommy gets hugs before they leave for the bus- if nothing else, to remind them I love them, choose the Right and/OR to get them started on the right foot.

Remy also insists on hugs when she doesn't have school. IF her siblings forget she cries or screams at them from the front door to come back and give hugs. Barkers hugs are amazing- he softly holds her, tells her he loves her, tells her to have a good day and gives her his full attention for the hug. 

It just melts my heart every time.

Annaliesse treats it like a silly joke and makes her laugh.

Kalia sees it as her sisterly duty. A kiss on the top of the head is always there with her hugs.

The kids left for school, Remy and I got to work! The house needed tidying, our master closet needed massive attention after summer and furniture moved so I could back 3 quilts for Saturday! Our XLarge Queen Quilt is so big I had to move one of our couches into the Kitchen to lay it out. It was NOT easy to back, mostly cause walking/crawling around it was not easy, without wrinkling it.

Dana and Mom stopped by while all this was going on! Dana needed food and company while I needed Mom for a few minutes to help me. I actually backed the Ghost Quilt first and then the Queen.

The day flew by and before we knew it we had to rush off to Annaliesse's first Flag Football game- we were a little late!

Annaliesse is LOVING flag Football. She plays centre and is having a great time. Practicing at lunch recess, talking about "my teammates" and having the family watch HER play a sport.

It wasn't warm her first game, and I sat huddled in a blanket on a lawn chair. The played well- but lost to the Grade Six (they are Grade 5) Priddis School.

Daddy got home and Mommy was off to Philharmonic Chorus Practice. The girls showered and Justin wreastled the 2 littles to bed- I forgot how from 3-7 pm flys by! Especially Tuesday-Thursdays.