ADORABLE

For Family Home Evening, we took the kids to Muskoseepi Park and did some fishing. A lot of fish were jumping, but no fish were biting. So after many casts with no luck, we went over to the park and let the kids play there for a while. Trentman decided he wanted to go on the swings. Rynn was on the "big" kid swing and I was pushing Trentman in the "little" kid swing. After a few pushes, and watching Rynn on her swing, Trentman says to me," Mom, I can't go on those big swings. Wanna know why? Cause I'm too adorable."
Yes you are buddy. Yes you are.

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY

Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that my mood is most definitely affected by the weather. It's not a secret that I absolutely detest the winter (I mean who really likes it anyway?). And according to my husband, that is when I am at the peak of my grouchiness. It is a loooong 7 months for him I'm sure. Now we are into spring. And as I look out my window, what do I see?......rain. Rain, rain and more dumb rain. I think we've had enough moisture Mother Nature, let it rain somewhere else. SUNSHINE! I need sunshine! I really am just a grouch! Trentman burped at the table, I sent him to his room. Josh and Merynn were having a pillow fight in the front room, I sent them to their rooms. Alysha left her bandaid wrapper on the couch, I made her clean up the garbage in the whole house. I am terrible. Terrible, terrible, terrible. At yet, all four of my kids still gave hugs and kisses when I put them to bed. I will be happy tomorrow, no matter the weather, cause my children love me and they deserve it.

WIN / WIN SITUATION

This morning after breakfast my husband and I decided that we would take the kids to go see the latest (and hopefully last) Shrek movie at 7:20 p.m., if they helped around the house during the day. While Nate went to a meeting at the church and then did some work outside, the kids and I started to work on getting the inside of the house cleaned. The kids worked hard for a while and then the doorbell starting ringing and they were distracted by friends. Fine by me, they were out of the house. I kinda got distracted as well........ Around 5:00 Nate got a phone call from a buddy who wanted him to go and watch the UFC fight that was on tonight, at 7:00. Now, Nate has been talking about this fight for awhile and really wanted to see it. He asked me what he should do. Watch the fight with his buddies or go to a movie with the family? I told him to just do what he really wanted to do, thinking absolutely for sure he would pick going to the fight because he HATES movie theaters. You can imagine my surprise when, as I was getting the kids ready to go to the movie, he chose to come to the movie with us!! Really?! I was completely floored. So off to the movie we went. I think I might have even see Nate smile once or twice? As soon as we got out of the theater, Nate's cell phone rang and his buddies were wanting to know where he was....the main fight(the one he wanted to see) hadn't started yet. There was definately a smile on his face now!! So we sped over to were the boys were watching the fight and dropped Nate off. Win /win situation. I guess sometimes things just have a way of working out. Thanks for putting us first Nate. Love you.

ANNNNNND REST

Another year of piano lessons is done!! Crazy! I had my piano recital today and all the kids did so fantastic!! And they looked fabulous too! All dressed up. So cute. Altogether there were 21 kids that performed. 16 of them were my students, 3 of them were my own children (who get taught by my oldest piano student, Hannah) and the last two were students of a friend who joined forces with me. The room we were in was packed with parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends. It was so awesome to see such support for the kids(and for me). Every student played two songs and then I gave out some "gag" gifts which was fun. I have to admit, I did tear up a little...... BUT only a little. I am just so proud of all the kids. They all worked so hard. The best part of the night was all the hugs I got. I love getting hugs. Although I am definately looking forward to the summer break, I will miss the kids I teach. They bring sunshine to my soul.

P.S. Thank you Hannah for being such a fanastic piano teacher to my kids.

BUSY

So tired.......busy, busy day.........must write in blog........so tired.......ok........quick recap.......last day of teaching piano in a.m.,loved going v-teaching in afternoon, more last day of teaching piano after school, loved visiting with friends at Jakes Down South while celebrating the birth of baby Benson (so cute), loved that a kind friend watched my kids last minute, didn't love bathing the children when we got home, don't love that hubby is not home yet. Love that the day is over.

BAD MOTHER/ GOOD KIDS

Due to some scheduling issues, I ended up having to take my four kids with me visiting teaching at 8:00p.m. today. Now, when I say take, I mean that they all had to stay in the van and get the rare opportunity to play their game boys, while I went in and watched them from the window as I was visiting. ( I also had my laptop in the van with a movie playing.....just for backup) I just couldn't bring them all into the lovely house with precious pictures and art and all the other things kids are attracted to but should leave alone. So, in the van was where they stayed. They all thought it was awesome......"GAMEBOYS! FINALLY! WE NEVER GET TO PLAY THEM!! THANKS MOM!!"..... I am sure I earned the worse mother EVER award twice over. After I had finished my visit I went to my van and opened the door to find ALL of my kids.......waiting quietly and patiently for me. So tonight I am left wondering how on earth did a crazy mother like me get such precious children?

MESSAGES

I came home from picking the kids up from school today to find that I had a few messages to listen to on the answering machine. YES!!!! I always love messages. After putting away the groceries that I had quickly picked up after school, I settled down for a good message listening. These messages were by far the most favorite I have ever heard. They were from my oldest child (who had gone home with a friend) and his friend. They just thought they would keep leaving "funny" messages for me till I picked up the phone. The best part was that they thought they were being so hilarious that they could hardly talk cause they were laughing so much at each other. Oh it was a good time. 7 messages later I hung up the phone with tears of laughter and gratitude for a pair of sweet and silly nine year olds who find pleasure in making others smile. Thank you son for being who you are. You are a ray of sunshine that I can't get enough of.

FRIENDS

This might come as a shock to some of you, but I was not at all excited about the decision made four years ago that we would be moving to Grande Prairie. I mean seriously.....Grande Prairie? It was not my first choice......or second....or third......or, well, you get the idea. I was not expecting much of Grande Prairie or what it had to offer. But what I was definately not expecting was that some of the most wonderful people live here and actually associate with me!!
I sat across a fire pit from one of my most cherished friends today and while the husbands fished and the kids played at the park, I felt weight lifted of my shoulders as we talked about some of my most inner thoughts and concerns. Not only did she listen and be non- judgemental, but she showed such love and kindness as she gave me wise advice. What a blessing beyond measure to have her in my life. And a handful of others as well. Who knew that Grande Prairie, of all places, would teach me to lean on others (besides family), and trust others as I have never done before. I only hope they know how much I adore them and that they know that I would give the world to them if I could.

Attempt

So, I have given into the world of technology and I have decided to attempt (key word right there) to write a blog. I thought it might not be such a bad idea because it would serve as sort of a journal type of thing. However, I am already having seconds thoughts as I sit here because number 1 - I am NOT a fast typer (is that a word?), number 2 - I find it hard to write down my thoughts as I say them in my head and number 3 - I honestly don't think anyone really will read this anyways. My life is not all that interesting.

We had our FANTASTIC Home Teacher (known as the Buckster at our house) over this afternoon and I am amazed at the fact that he ALWAYS knows what I need to hear or am struggling with. He is truly inspired. Today he reminded us about........patience. My arch enemy as of lately. We are not friends, patience and me. Does a pantload of snow on the long weekend have anything to do with it? Or 4 kids? Or waiting for my popcorn seeds to arrive on UPS? Regardless, I am grateful to have been reminded that I can PRAY for patience and be blessed with it, if I try my best to live righteously.