Sunday, March 22, 2009

Changes

Well there's some BIG changes going to be happening around here, and I'm not talking about the blog, the fonts or the background color... and no I'm not pregnant! I'll keep you posted, but this might not be the proper venue... All I know is God's in control and has some blessings ahead I know it!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

What's a dew claw anyways?

I don't really know the function. Sometimes I hear they cut them off. I'd like to cut Ditto's whole foot off so he can't escape from the walls we've created for him to live in. The ground is frozen still so we can't get a new post in the ground to attach our new 5 foot chain link, so he's pretty much become an indoor dog since Christmas. It takes him about 20 seconds to escape but first he always looks back and checks all the windows to make sure we're not watching. He's no dummy!! I know this because I spy on him. Yes it's come to that, spying on my dog. If he sees you're watching he non-chalantly keeps walking past the spot where he always gets out pretending that he wasn't really going to go anywhere.

Anyways to get back to my comment about cutting off his paw, just so you think I'm not a total heartless animal hater... I heard, I think in a sermon once, that shepherds used to break the leg of a lamb who kept wandering off. It was for his own good, so he could learn to stay close to the shepherd and depend on him. He'd learn to recognize the shepherd's voice so well because he couldn't stray very far away. I'd like to do that to Ditto, so he'd stay close and realize it's for his own good we want to to stay close to home. You know so the neighbor's don't hate us because he chews up their garbage and we become outcasts, so that the dog pound doesn't take him away, so that he doesn't get lost- which I highly doubt because he's too smart for his own good. I think with this fellow, if he were in a doggy cast, he'd still find a way to jump over and dig under the fence. He's got freedom in his blood. I guess I don't blame him, I've got a little of that myself.

Well I'm packing up my toothbrush and heading west to see my pseudo-nephews for a few days! My "Sister" Kari is having boy #3 in several weeks, so we're excited to see the family and get the baby used to our voices from inside the womb. I sure hope some tulips are blooming down there! It will make my heart happy!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Spring Break

I love spring break! Usually it means time to get outside and uncover what has been hiding under the snow and start turning the dirt preparing it for planting, but not this year. Still it's huddled under a blanket waiting for warmer days. So we'll stay huddled too watching movies and keeping warm, baking bread and cookies and drinking hot cocoa. But it'll be fun to sleep in and laze around, start some crafts and visit with friends. My only fear is that the time will be gone way too quickly! Maybe we'll have to have some "homeschool" days for a bit longer than the 2 weeks. What are your plans?

We're thinking of the good saint tomorrow and all that he did to bring the message of Jesus to Ireland. Armed with his 3 leaf clover, describing to the people the Trinity and the love of God. Today my sweet girl made green cupcakes in honor of the day. What are you doing to celebrate? Don't forget your green or you might get pinched!

Friday, March 13, 2009

And he came home with this shirt in his bag...



Winter Camping

Thanks Erin for letting me take your camera!

It was planned to be winter camping to give the kids a different experience, but with it being March, the thought had been more like an easing into spring trip. The teacher hadn't intended for the -25 we had the first night in cabins heated only with firewood. But it was great fun! 35 kids, 1 teacher and 3 parents were up for 3 days and we all stayed warm, very well fed, and had tonnes of fun! We were thankful for a warm lodge and a great cook! The boys I drove up had a little bit of fun in the van!


We got to try our hand at snow shoeing, and went on almost 2 hour trek around the lake. Some kids needed a lot more encouragement than others who finished 20 minutes ahead of the rest of the group. It is so amazing to be with kids with such different life experience than mine have.


The kids hanging out on the frozen lake- that was very solid- even though I was the only one who managed to find a soft spot and fall through up to the top of my boot/snow shoe. Glad it wasn't one of the kids!

The kids were divided into teams and had the task of building a shelter, making a fire with what was around (wet and cold twigs) and then boiling snow in a coffee can! Our team did awesome! And the kids were all rewarded with s'mores. Here's the site the boys picked out. We had a few Lego fanatical engineer types, you could feel the brain power at work!

Getting their teepee like structure going...

Success!

Jacob and his buddy taking charge of defending the fort.

With the outdoor activities, capture the flag, flashlight tag, campfires, skits, and sledding... it was a great few days. The only thing missing: some great singing around the fire and telling stories about Jesus, it seemed so obviously missing from this camp experience. It's just not the same. I did sing "Day is Done" to my little campers and they begged for it every night :) and it 'amazingly' settled them.


Day is done.
Gone the sun.
From the lake,
From the hills.
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest
GOD is nigh.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Dreaming of Summer

Since I'm dreaming of warm lazy summer days, I thought I'd post some of my favorite pics of the kids, of course enjoying the outdoors! The first one is actually in May, but it poured rain all day on Kevin's sister's wedding. But Jacob was the cutest ring bearer I ever did see.

Erin might be leasing this big boy and taking him in some shows this summer.

In Vancouver at Jericho beach

Lovin' every minute of it

Friday, March 6, 2009

It's been March for a week? huh??

This is what happens when I start a new job and work for 4 very full days in a row trying to figure out what the heck I'm doing. And my house looks like a train wreck, so come on over! I'm going to like the job eventually I know, and every week WILL NOT be this way. My brain is full of unprocessed information that better get used soon or it will filter into the unusable pile. I don't have one of those file folder minds anymore that remembers conversations word for word like I used to. Now it seems like if I don't use the information in a timely manner it goes through the sieve. Is that aging or what? :)

I have figured out my blogging problem, no camera! Nothing interesting to post on here. I'll have to figure something out :)