from the mouth of babes (for auntie lisa)

*last sunday i took greta into the washroom with me while i grabbed some tissue.

someone had recently used the facilities and had left it quite malodorous.

greta quickly turned around and said while banging on the door, "let me out... it's too SPICY in here!"

*while abusing my children this morning (aka having them clean their room) there was a lot of bellyaching and fighting.

i decided to split them up and send them to different rooms to clean. then thought better of it.

these boys will be brothers forever so they better start learning to get along and work together.

i called edwin back upstairs and explained the above theory.

edwin burst into tears and said, "i rather clean the toilets!"

Amazing

One of my amazingly talented sisters, Sarah, make this cake topper for a friend of hers. She did it all with plaster-cine. I just had to brag.

Family Photos

We booked a photo shoot for our family and Ryan's when we were in Saskatoon this summer.

Let me know which shot you think we should go with. Colour or black and white?

Even though the wind is blowing my hair everywhere I love the brother's arms around each other.

Back to School

(while her brothers attend school, greta attend her own class of body painting. why is it so difficult for a 2 year old to understand "only on the paper" ?)


Edwin and Joe have been back to school for a week and a half now. Grades 1 and 3! We are so happy that they are at the same school this year and we can walk again.





All summer long, Edwin was stressed about going to school... being at a new building, having a new teacher, would his friends be in his class and getting into serious work. His kindergarten teacher was very "play oriented" or in my words LAZY! After some tears I left him to it and he is loving it. His teachers are really sweet and we hope he'll learn a lot this year.




Every year when my sister in law warns me about a teacher, Joseph gets that teacher. Lucky for us, Joe is a very agreeable, happy, helpful and intelligent boy. We are hoping that he can get through another year with a difficult teacher unscathed and more prepared to face the real world.

Hope it went well for the rest of you.

SUMMER IS...

...turning 33
...running my second half marathon
...visiting family
...family coming to visit
...temple trips
...joe turning 8
...joe being baptized
...edwin overcoming his fear of water
...edwin doing flips off the dock
...hiking in the mountains
...hiking to the waterfall
...swimming at the beach
...swimming at the peanut pool
...more swimming
...playing with friends
...melting in the glorious heat
...having watermelon drip down your chin
... greta attempting potty training
...buying a practice
...planting, growing and harvesting a garden
...floating down the river
...beach, beach, beach



















































AND SUMMER ISN'T EVEN OVER YET!!

Innocence

As I was putting Joseph to bed, Sunday night after his baptism, I told him to just wear his underwear because it was so hot and stuffy in his bedroom. He looked up at me sweetly with questioning eyes and asked, "but mom, now that I'm an official member of the church shouldn't I be wearing garments?"

I love that he was ready to make that commitment!

On Monday, Joseph and Edwin were playing (read: fighting) on the trampoline. Of course they both hurt each other. Joseph came rushing into the house and went into the conservatory. I asked Edwin what happened. Joe returned shortly after and apologized to Edwin. Later he seemed rather reflective and I asked him if he was OK. He told me, " When I hurt Edwin I quickly went and said a prayer to Heavenly Father to ask forgiveness, then I apologized to Edwin, so I'm covered, right!?"

Yes, you are definitely covered!

I love that he understood the proper course he had to take to receive forgiveness.

Thank you for your example Joseph!

Joseph's Baptism

Joseph was baptized yesterday afternoon by his Dad. It's hard to describe the feelings I had watching my eldest enter the waters of baptism.

Joseph has a strong, faithful, sweet spirit and we are so proud of his decision to follow his Savior's example.

Grandpa's and Grandma's from both side were in attendance. As was my brother Kent's family and my sister Maria.

We love you Joseph and know that you are on the path to doing great things.