Adventures in Housesitting Part 3

A short while ago I mentioned in one of my posting that I was heading up to the roof to shovel it. Here is the story of that adventure. 

Ryan called me that morning mentioning that I should look into getting someone to come and shovel the roof. With the amount of snow we had received and the threat of rain it could spell "collapse" for the roof. After pondering that chore for about 2 seconds I thought, " why the heck would I pay money for that. Dad did it all the time. It's my turn to pony up and jump in that saddle." Of course I didn't dare mention these thought to Ryan as he would have feared for my safety.

My sister Ardie agreed to come and help me... again. She has a keen sense of caution and brought her climbing ropes and harness. No problem. We could totally do this. Settling Greta with some toys and Edwin in charge of her entertainment we mounted the roof. 

Climbing up the sloping roof at the side of the balcony was probably the "scariest" part of the whole afternoon. Stepping over the railing onto the knee-deep snow, that I thought would provide grip until my foot began slipping  out from under me ready to plummet to the ground, I held firmly to the lead Ardie had wrapped around the chimney. Yes, my dear sister did go first under the protest that she didn't have children to worry about if she died. 

Once atop the roof it wasn't a problem.  Besides, check out the view. Not me silly.... the mountains in the background. I know I look stellar in Ryan's oversized sweatshirt and my dad's snowpants.... I hadn't even showered. I know hard to believe. :)
I love this picture and the mound of snow plunging off. You can tell Ardie is having a blast. 
I had the "good" fortune to use the roof scraper that's about 1000 feet long.  Midway through shoveling there came yell from Edwin. "mom, mom, mom...." I went scrambling across the roof leaned over it's peak and question Edwin's distress. "I'm bored, mom." I promptly replied he had no need to be bored as he had the most important of jobs... babysitting Greta. 

Then came the call.  Ryan was on the phone and he had read my post on the blog that I was heading up to the roof. I was in big trouble. After explaining that all was done with the greatest of precautions he told me to be safe and hung up. Good thing he didn't see this picture. I don't know if all that rope spilt everywhere would have kept me from hitting the ground. I'm sure having it wrapped around the sewer pipe would have at least slowed me down.  And besides, just between you and me, I think he kind of likes my wild, adventurous, disobedient side. Keeps the spark alive.  Truly, how could he resist all this...

Adventures in Housesitting Part 2

Last month I was away in Utah for over 2 weeks. My worries that Ryan   would be lonely without the kids and me was completely unfounded. Mice moved in to keep him company. 

Ryan was awakened each night by the sound of their scratching and crawling and munching! At first he would flick the light on to frighten them away. But they became more and more comfortable in their new abode so Ryan had to come up with new ways of keeping the rodents at bay. Hissing like a cat, creating a rattle out of popcorn in a bottle and yelling.  And yet he didn't think to get rid of all the junk food around his computer. 

Well, I am not one to share a home with mice. After being  rudely awakened one night upon my return to the sound of a mouse eating Ryan's Reese Peanut Butter cup and seeing one scurry across the kitchen floor  I made it my duty, nay, my quest to rid  ourselves of these unwelcome squatters.

Firstly, I had to throughly clean the pantry and seek out any evidence of tampering. Thankfully everything was clean and no "trace" could be found.

Off to the store I went to buy electronic vibrators, traps, poison and Reese Peanut Butter cups. Armed with my mouse arsenal I went forth boldly and bravely to battle. The Electronic vibrators didn't so much deter the mice but excite them. The poison on it's own was avoided as if they knew exactly what it was. And the traps with tasty bait lay empty, bait gone without setting it off. What to do? 

I then began lacing the bait with poison. Not wanting my children to play with traps I set them after bed. Shortly after setting a trap I returned to the kitchen to see, to my astonishment, the bait already gone. As long as they ate the poison inside I wasn't too upset. Setting the trap again I went into the living room to watch  movie with Ardie. Halfway into the movie I heard the much hoped for and yet gruesome snap of the trap. There lay my prize. I was victorious. Exhalation surged through my body... then the horrifying realization that this beast that lay dead on my floor, that I KILLED, must now be dealt with.  With queasy stomach I mustered the courage to clean up my kill and dispose of it properly. 

Since that night  our home is much quieter while we sleep.  And sleep I do... no guilty conscience gnawing away at my peace for my murder.

Our 9 Month Old

As of Sunday, Greta is 9 months. She's a real treasure. Full of love and glee. Still our little baby.

Much adored by her brothers.

Pink as pink can be.

Rosy cheeked and doe- eyed. 

Adventures in Housesitting!

PROLOGUE

It has been and continues to be such a blessing for us to housesit my parents home while they serve a mission. We are within walking distance to school and work. AND it has more than enough room for our family and many visitors. 

If the truth be told this place is enormous. Compared to what we've been living in for the past seven years this home is palatial. I used to get annoyed with the toys all over the place... in the one room we had in Saskatoon. And now I can say that more rooms isn't necessarily better in some cases. More space and more room to my children means more places to mess up. I feel like I am cleaning ALL THE TIME and yet it looks like I never do. What is a woman to do with 7 bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, an office, a landing, a mudroom, 3 bathrooms, a playroom, a laundry room and hallways!!!! I can't keep up. Oh, I must mention the enormous front and back yards-with large lawns to mow and water and thankfully mostly ignore under the snow, a large garden- to plant, weed and harvest, a LONG drive way, front and back walks to shovel.... the upkeep is never ending. It's exhausting just thinking about it. 

To make things just a little more exciting the home is also about 70 years old.  It's developed it's own personality.  SHE creaks and groans when you walk across her floors. She becomes rather temperamental in the spring and summer and it takes real effort to shut or open the doors. In the winter the front door doesn't stay shut without being locked.  Her plumbing is not always reliable. Over the years she developed her own set of wrinkles and stretch marks.  Bruised and battered by over 20 children, not including their friends or visitors, that have lived in her. She's tired and wore yet still lovely and sheltering.

 I loved this home as a child and love raising my kids in it.  But somedays I think it's time to put the "old cow out to pasture." 

Part 1 (in a series of....?)

So begins our adventures in housesitting.

As many of you know we've had amazing amounts of snow this past month. With snow comes ice and with ice comes icicles. Here is an account written by Ryan describing and icicle escapade. 

"ATTACK OF THE ICICLE"

Had a 45 minute epic battle with an icicle of around my size and weight and came off victorious.   Bred and fed in a corner of the ice capped peaks of the Chateau Burnham an icicle of disturbing proportions was found to be undesirable and so I was sent in.   I had to scale the shear cliffs armed with shovle, ice pick and an iron resolve the chateau’s bane fell and I almost with it. Thank you to all our readers. Until next time when we bring you PART 2 of Adventures in  Housesitting.

White Garbage!?!

We've had an astounding amount of snow fall over the past few weeks. It reminds me of my childhood when we made a skating rink on the lower patio and dug snow caves all around the edges. 

Lucky for me, I have a sister who enjoys shoveling. I've only been out to clear the driveway once!!!!!   

Today I have the good fortune of climbing up on the roof to try and rid  it of the snow before the whole thing caves in. Ardie, coming to the rescue once again, is going to be my spotter. You know, someone older than 4 to call 911 just in case I fall. Actually, I'm not too worried. How badly could I hurt myself falling into 3 maybe 4  feet of powdery snow?

Ardie pointing out that the snow is higher than the retaining wall. 
Poor Edwin doesn't have snowshoes so he tromps along behind his Aunt who is packing it down for him.
But he obviously LOVES it.

Merry Christmas Newsletter

If you are a faithful follower of this blog you know all this already if not this is for you!

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Yes, Christmas has passed as well as New Year and yet I find myself just now sitting at the computer to prepare our Christmas newsletter.  It is not that I’ve been completely indolent but was away visiting family until the 22^nd of December. Then there was Christmas, then there was New Year’s, then school and work started up again and there you have it… my lame excuse.

 

2008 was quite eventful for the Kilistoff Family. In April we welcome Greta Maria to our family. Bumping us up to a surprising family of five. Greta is such a delight. Her smile brightens everyone’s day. She loves her brothers and is especially fond of flirting with her Daddy. At almost 9 months she is quite lackadaisical in her physical progression. Greta would rather scream and NOT crawl until we pick her up or get a toy for her. Actually, she has begun to scoot around on her bum. Usually backwards but it is progress. Secretly, I love having her still be a baby.

 

 

In May, Ryan graduated from the University of Saskatchewan as a DENTIST!!!! Three cheers for Ryan.  After a grueling 4 years he is now doing exactly what he loves and even better, he’s really good at it.  At the end of the month we moved back to beautiful BC where Ryan is associating. Ryan’s days are full and productive and done at 5pm! How great is our life.

 

 

This summer Joseph turned 6. He especially loves living in Vernon where we lounge all day at the beach, jump of the boat, go tubing and splash around with friends and family.Joe started grade 1 this fall taking French Immersion. He is definitely a scholar like his father. Ryan and I enjoy brushing up on our French as Joseph can understand and converse well already. He has also lost 3 teeth in the past year!

 

Edwin is now a big 4 year old. He gets to stay home with me still but looks forward to going to kindergarten in the fall.  During the summer he went on his first big father and son campout. It was an arduous hike of 12 km in and out but he did it.  As soon as he arrived home he was looking forward to going back. Edwin is enjoying the almost 3 feet of snow that we have right now. It snowed a lot in Saskatoon but here it’s still “warm” enough to go out and play in it without dying.  Edwin is very active and has enjoyed learning to swim and trying out Tae Kwon Do. 

 

As for me, well, I am the lucky wife of a hardworking, handsome and loving husband, mother of three adorable, brillant and healthy children that I get so stay at home with and watch them grow, laugh with, comfort when they cry, snuggle to sleep and bask in all the wonder that is being a mom.

 

We wish you all the best this coming year and pray the Lord will bless and keep you.

 

With love,

 

The Kilistoff’s

Ryan, Sharon, Joseph, Edwin and Greta

Sledding in the New Year

We went sledding this past week in the mounds of snow we've had. We had tons of fun and here are the pictures to prove it. Snot running down the face and everything.