my three sons

Out with the old

2008-06-09T00:00:00.002-06:00

I've done it. I'm moving blogs. Whew! My new address is http://carmensthreesons.wordpress.com/ and I hope it is all I want. Blogger just hasn't been doing it for me lately and I hope Wordpress and I are more compatible. See you there!

Grammar, how I love thee...

2008-06-01T22:10:00.002-06:00

I have stumbled upon a site that seems to be entirely devoted to grammar and language. How lucky am I!? The second I saw the home page my heart fluttered and my soul leaped. The Grammar Curmudgeon is written by an English professor and speaks of grammar with words of love and respect. Is anything more perfect than this? You'll just have to go see for yourself. Click on his name and it will take you right to him.

The other sport

2008-05-30T21:13:00.004-06:00

This is the other activity going on in these parts...

...generally a serious business, getting that ball to go where you want it!

Softball

2008-05-25T17:45:00.004-06:00

Ethan on first...

Caleb playing shortstop...

We've ventured into a whole new sport.

Don't they look adorable in their "uniforms"?

Mud

2008-05-23T10:11:00.004-06:00

You'd never guess by looking at them, but those are the faces of two master criminals doing hard time on the chain gang for their involvement in a bug kidnapping. The incriminating evidence were two jars with holes punched in the lids, sugar taken from the kitchen for said jars, and a trail of muddy footprints all over the sidewalk.

They claim scientific research as a defence and I told them they could use all that scientific knowledge to get my sidewalk sparkling clean before their grandparents showed up. Apparantly their specialty is in entymology and not soil mechanics. I had my work cut out for me the next day.

2008-05-14T22:43:00.001-06:00

This is what Titus did every night before going to sleep on our summer vacation last year. Found Waldo.

lightsaber gymnastic

2008-05-09T16:03:00.001-06:00

Ha ha ha!

Feeling a bit antsy

2008-04-24T06:46:00.002-06:00

So, I walked right into that clinic and demanded to see the doctor. Well, maybe not demanded. It was more like request. Oh, who am I kidding. I was so polite and friendly the woman behind the desk probably thought I was trying to sell her Amway or something (I am such a wuss!). Anyway, my turn came and when the doctor came in I started telling him what had happened. He looked like he did last time (which was the way I look at my kids when they tell me some sob story), but I kept talking and talking and gradually a wee bit of concern came into his face. He sent me for x-rays (in the same building - how convenient) and saw me right away afterwards. No breaks in my foot. Thank goodness. However, he did say something in a medical language that I couldn't repeat for the life of me and told me to stay off my feet for two to three weeks. Weeks! That puts me very behind schedule in this whole marathon training. So, here I sit on my ever-growing bottom while I should be outside shrinking it. Very maddening.

Of course, while we were in the examination room, Titus had some choice remarks. The doc was South African and Titus and I had a lengthy conversation about the colors that people come in and how they are the same color on their whole body. Why he had to have this conversation in front of someone we don't know I'm not sure. Of course, I mentioned that Riley( his best friend) and Kyle (Riley's brother) and cousin Micah were all that color too. Titus came back with the reply that Kyle was not that color, he was a different color. Sometimes a person just has to laugh at how a four-year-old views the world.

Just another wintery day...

2008-04-23T06:48:00.002-06:00

I guess putting new tires on the car was a little premature this year. I didn't realize winter was planning on making an encore, much less five or six encores. It has snowed and snowed and snowed. Even the boys are depressed! Well, at first, anyway. Until they realized they could start making tunnels and snow forts again.

This whole marathon thing (okay, half marathon, but it's just so awkward to say!) isn't going quite the way I planned. My foot is still in pain and I'm going back to the clinic today to get something done about it. Last time I wasn't quite prepared for the "you're just being a whiner, go home and stop bugging me" routine, but this time I'm ready. The hard thing about being me is that I can't think and talk at the same time. I knew something more was wrong than mere soreness but I just couldn't shape the words before all was done and I was kicked out the door. In fact, it wasn't until I was actually driving home that I came up with something that would have been intelligent enough to make him take me seriously. Today I will play out all likely scenarios in my head before I get in the little sterile room with the cold plastic bed covered with paper (really, is that paper supposed to protect us from other people's germs? If so, they should make it cover the width of the bed, not just the length!) and my brain seizes up. If only I could plan every conversation ten minutes in advance! That would sure make life easier.

Now for a drastic change of topic - how about some new music? I've been listening to CBC Radio 3 podcasts about new Canadian music and found my new favorite band! The Tom Fun Orchestra is a great Nova Scotia group with a cool sound. I love Johnny Turbo's voice - all gravelly and rough - and the music is awesome! They remind me of a band you'd hear at an old-time carnival, the foot-stomping kind. In their own words, their style is a cross between soul, western swing, and post punk. Watchmaker is a great song. Another of my favorites from their newest album is Bottom of the River. The album name is You Will Land With A Thud. Go check it out!

New things

2008-04-17T10:42:00.004-06:00

You know it's bad when your mom tells you that you haven't posted since March! And I don't have any excuses besides a wee bit of apathy towards writing at the moment. Nothing major, just an "I don't feel like it" attitude that has been getting in the way and blogger being a pain. I'm thinking of switching hosts, but want to be sure before I change everything. Anyhow...

Guess what I've gone and done. Go on, guess! If you said something to do with fabric or yarn or books or music, you're wrong. It is something sporty. Something outdoorsy. Something it would be hard imagining a woman with an extra fifty pounds doing. Can't guess? I've started training to run a half marathon. Yup. I can hardly believe it myself! Not that I'm anti-running or anything, just that it's been 15 years or more since I last laced up my sneakers. And I've never done it for twelve miles. That's over twenty km! The worst part about it is that I managed to hurt my foot after the first training run. So now I'm laid up for a bit while I heal and everyone else in the course (yes, it's a college course) goes on with training. I have to say that I loved it and am more than a little frustrated at this setback.

And just in case you think I haven't been sewing or knitting, I have. In fact, I knitted most of a sweater and then had to unravel the front because my tension changed somewhere and the front was a good six inches longer than the back. Things to remember the next time I take on a project! I also have a quilt on the go and a dress that is waiting for me to do a few adjustments to it. I'll get pictures when I can find my camera again (I really have no idea how it gets lost so often!).

Before I go, I'll leave you with some child humour. The setting: the supper table.

Me: So what did you boys do at recess today?

Caleb: I played soccer.

Ethan: I chased girls.

Me: You chased girls?

Ethan (smiling shyly now): Yeah.

Me: What did you do when you caught them?

Ethan: I let them chase me!

Another baby, more sun

2008-03-27T09:02:00.003-06:00

There is another new nephew on the Willms' side of the family. Ken and Sara had #3 - Nicholas Jacob Eli. Great name. My grandpa on my dad's side was a Nicholas, and it's a name Luke and I bandied about for one of our boys (don't ask me which one because I don't remember due to baby brain and all).

And the sun has come out to play! I am happy to report that our lawn is half dead grass with an overlay of gravel and half snow. Titus has been going outside to play (he doesn't like winter - too cold) and the older two are waiting for the snow to finish melting at the skateboard park so they can take their BMX's and try them out on some real jumps. I've tried loading a picture, but Blogger is all screwy and our internet has been down for a while so it's a no go.

Speaking of pictures, I must have used a roll of film at my parent's place this Easter weekend. 8 week old Benjamin came for a visit and 9 month old Owen was showing off some toothless grins. Such cuties! I love being an auntie.

A long winter

2008-03-10T17:15:00.003-06:00

Yes, I have been fairly neglectful of this, my little blog, lately. I officially blame lack of sunshine. While the days are indeed getting longer and the nights are shaving minutes off each side, it still isn't enough. Aah, the heady days of sunshine past midnight, where are you? I'm afraid we've moved too far south to enjoy them in the summer. And yes, I've been jealous reading other blogs where spring is blooming and green abounds. Instead, the only taste of spring here is the shedding of the heavy winter parkas in exchange for very thick sweaters and lined jackets. At least the road is now clear of ice and snow and bikes that were given for birthdays can be used for the first time.

See what I mean? Where's my lawn? I miss it!

Thimbleberries Reject

2008-02-27T11:27:00.002-07:00

Yes, that is my latest quilt. It's called "Thimbleberries Reject" because I used all my Thimbleberries fabric from a club I was in up in Rainbow Lake. Never finished most of the projects because I was so over Thimbleberries stuff by then. Easy; no pattern, not much measuring, not much cutting. All I did was cut 3" strips, sew them all together lengthwise, cut every other one in half, and sew enough of them together to make a twin size quilt. Talk about fast and stress-free. Well, all except for the deadline of a week. And my constant procrastination. Good grief, you'd think I'd have learned a thing or two about leaving stuff until the last minute, but I haven't.

Anyway, the quilt went on the prize table at one of the boys' hockey tournaments and was won by someone who really wanted it - nice, eh! The rink manager/zamboni driver had his eye on it and put his name into the draw specifically for the quilt. Needless to say, I didn't see that one coming. Somehow he didn't strike me as the quilt buying type, but was he ever happy when he got it! Just a reminder to myself never to judge a book by it's cover.

A Valentine's Day Grouch

2008-02-14T08:36:00.002-07:00

Yep, that'd be me. Snarly with the kids this morning and sure to be snarly later on today. I still need to bring a snack over to Caleb's class and reschedule my worship team practice yet again. Not to mention pick the rest of the music, put it in the computer that sends it to the projector, and get it to the right person. Man, am I ever being whiny!

My day will get better. Once I do all those things it will feel like a load has been lifted and I'll smile again - probably just in time for Luke to get home. I might go buy some fresh lobster for supper and we'll have us a Valentine's day feast after the kidlings are all tucked into bed. The thought of that is cheering me up already! A little seafood, a little wine, a nice conversation with my very funny husband, and a cuddle on the couch while we watch a movie. Sounds like heaven.

*I just got a phone call from school. Ethan forgot his valentines at home. Aaaagh!*

Famous relatives

2008-02-13T08:38:00.002-07:00

Luke and I were watching Hockey Night In Canada on Saturday and who should pop onto the screen but good ol' brother-in-law Ken! No, he's not one of the jovial folk with a microphone in their hand, but the somber, watchful security man in the toque on the bottom left. The lucky guy got to be security for Ron MacLean, famous Canadian sportscaster. Ken, I don't know how you pulled it off, but I hope you got to talk to him a bit. I can't believe you got to meet him! It should've been me!

9 Already?

2008-02-12T13:42:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe Caleb turns 9 today. It seems like only yesterday I was in the hospital in High Level competing for the one and only delivery room with another couple from Rainbow Lake! And won it, of course- the competitive gene runs strong in my family. Caleb is no exception to that rule. Sports, sports, cars, and more sports. Right now hockey is the main thing but soccer also has its day, as does running, biking, and countless other such occupations. He is such an awesome kid. Smiles alot. Likes TV a bit too much, but what kid doesn't! Happy birthday, son!

Yes, this was the temperature the last two weeks. During the day. Talk about bone-chilling cold! It's been much warmer this week. Thank goodness, because today my house will be full of boys celebrating Caleb's 9th birthday, and I'm hoping they will play outside in the enthralling (to them) mounds of snow the grater and front-end loader have left on our lawn. Caleb and Ethan have also been adding to the pile by dragging large blocks of snow and ice from the school grounds to our house with the help of their sleds. Endless entertainment, I tell you! Of course, Titus is much more his mother's son and prefers the warmth of the indoors. I'm hoping that the lure of many new children outside our house will prove too much for him to bear and he'll head out sooner or later!

New nephew!

2008-01-28T13:12:00.000-07:00

My baby brother now has a baby himself! Lindy had Benjamin Levi on Friday, the day before her own birthday. Eight pounds five ounces. So big for a first baby! He looks so adorable from the pics. I was so sure they would have a girl - how many boys can one family produce? Mom and Dad now have 7 grandsons and only 1 granddaughter. Wow. Hard to believe. Congrats Luke and Lindy! Can't wait to meet Benj!

I'm such a Dummy!

2008-01-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

I love games. Always have, always will. When I am on the internet and a page isn't loading as fast as it should, I play a game. It's called Zuma and a person has to shoot a coloured ball at a row of other coloured balls to knock them out. Anyway, I was on the computer the other day with Titus on my lap, playing this game and I missed. The ball went to the wrong place.

"You dummy!" I said to myself. Then noticed the boy on my lap and said, "Not you, Titus. Me. Because I made a mistake on the game."

"Oh," he said, quite visibly relieved. The game went on for a few more seconds and I messed up again.

"Mommy, did you make a mistake?" he asked innocently.

"I sure did," I replied.

"You dummy!"

Books

2008-01-22T07:06:00.001-07:00

Remember a while back when I got all excited over the books that Yann Martel was sending to the Prime Minister? Remember how I said that I just couldn't resist reading lists? Well, I have been going through the list for a few months now and decided to write my impressions of the books. The first one on the list was by Tolstoy. The Death of Ivan Ilych is about just that - Ivan Ilych's death. I have always been a huge Tolstoy fan, but hadn't even heard of this book. Quite short, very readable, incredibly illuminating. It deals with how a person deceives himself throughout his life and can only see clearly when it is all done. Very interesting. Two thumbs way up.

Number two on the list: Orwell's Animal Farm. I was looking forward to this book. If you can believe it, I have never read anything by Orwell. Unfortunately, I really hated it! Not entertaining but depressing. I know, it's a classic. I'm supposed to see the value in it and all that bunk, but I didn't. Communism among farm animals. It didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Power corrupts absolutely. Man is bad. Ideals get

smashed in the face of ego. Blah, blah, blah. I almost quit reading halfway through, but soldiered on in hopes that the end would make up for it. It didn't. About as disappointing as The Catcher in the Rye. Which I also hated. Why do people think existentialism makes a book an instant classic? Where is the rule that hopelessness in literature is smart? I really want to know. If you liked Animal Farm, please comment and tell me why. I truly want to know.

Thanks a lot, Dan and Joce!

2008-01-17T16:22:00.000-07:00

I hadn't laughed this much for a long time. Nothing like a little game of "Twister" to get the giggles started! I can't even believe I'm showing a picture of my behind. Oh well, nothing like a little humiliation to jump-start a New Year's resolution! By the way, Luke called me a dork for blogging this. I just thought it was too funny to keep to ourselves! And yes, there are four of us on the mat. You can just see an extra leg. Apparently, Caleb is reeeally flexible! (Thanks for the great Christmas present Dan and Joce!)

Yeah for Christmas!

2008-01-10T09:42:00.001-07:00

I've been busy trying to figure out my Christmas present. Yep, I got a Mac! How much fun is that? I've been moving stuff over from my old computer, which is taking a while. Hence, no pictures. But I thought you might enjoy this youtube of apple ads. I know I did!

Home again, home again, jiggety jig

2007-12-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

*This is not our house, not our suit of armour. Just one I drive by on a regular basis!

Yes, we're back. The whirlwind trip to Manitoba in a little car is now a thing of memory, as is Christmas Eve in Saskatoon with nowhere to eat except the local 7-11 (due to everything closing at 7 pm). Just one of the many adventures of taking a roadtrip during the holidays! Luckily we knew where all the trucking stops were, so we were able to eat breakfast on Christmas morning before hitting the road out of Edmonton and getting back home to bare cupboards. Good thing the family party was on Christmas day - we made it there in time for supper!

Hope your Christmas was as blessed as ours. We are truly grateful for our loving families who welcome us with open arms. We thank God that we all belong to His bigger family and that the celebrating will not end someday. What a gift He gave. His Son. I cannot even fathom how painful that must have been. Merry (belated) Christmas!

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days

2007-12-27T09:14:00.001-07:00

Saw this and fell in love with this acappella group. If you're reading this on facebook, you really need to go to my blog to see this video!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2007-12-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, Christmas has officially landed on our doorstep. Last week I went to a Secret Prayer Sister Christmas/revealing party on Monday (I was my best friend's prayer sister and my mom was mine! So cool for my first year!), a Baking Exchange party on Thursday (thanks Jana! My freezer's stocked.), Luke's work Christmas party on Friday, two hockey games on Saturday, and a quick trip down to Edmonton on Sunday to see Van Halen. I'm exhausted. Luckily caffeine is plentiful and I was able to stay alert on the snowy roads home this morning. I left Luke in Edmonton to write an exam so I had some serious alone time for five and a half hours - it's been a while since that has happened! I actually came up with a brilliant plan to tie the separate parts of the Sunday School Christmas play together. Now to write it up and get it sent out to the right people before Sunday! Wish me luck!

Making God sad

2007-12-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

"Mom, Titus won't help clean up!"

It's a phrase I hear far too often. In the time frame of cleaning a room, maybe ten or twenty times. Needless to say, I get more than a little perturbed when I've heard it for the umpteenth time. This was one of those times. I stomped into the room. Caleb and Ethan were diligently picking up pieces of lego while Titus sat on his bed with a scowl.

"Titus, help your brothers clean up.

"I'm too tired."

"Well, you can have a nap after your room is clean."

"No."

By now my eyebrows are raised in incredulousness at his sass. I'm sure the steam was coming out of my ears, just like it does in cartoons.

"Titus, who's in charge?"

"You are," he says with a whimper.

"Clean this room now."

"Okay."

As I'm leaving the room he asks me one more question: "Mommy, are you in charge of everybody?"

"Yes, I am," I reply, not quite sure where this is going.

"You're making God sad. He's in charge of everybody."

I guess I can never say that he doesn't pay attention in Sunday School!

Hockey and Computer Woes

2007-11-30T00:11:00.001-07:00

*from Titus' perspective*

I've been trying and trying to post but my silly internet connection has really been messing me up. I detest going with a new internet provider but I absolutely abhor having one thrust upon me just when I've gotten on a first name basis with the original one. Ok. Whew. Enough complaining.

Caleb and Ethan are loving hockey this year. They're both on the same team and, so far, on the same line. Caleb is playing center and scoring goals, and Ethan's been on left wing. It is so much fun to watch. I'm afraid I'm one of those moms, though. You know the ones. Always yelling and telling the refs what to do. Good grief. I didn't realize I had reached the embarrassing stage until Luke came to a game with me and had to almost shush me a few times. When a man as loud as my husband has to tell me to be quieter - well, let's just say the devil may have had to shovel the snow off his sidewalk for the first time.

Titus and hockey have had a rough go of it. He finally had a practice tonight that didn't end in him laying on the ice for five minutes while having a mini tantrum. A step in the right direction. For a boy who expects perfection from himself all the time, hockey has been his nemesis. This is a kid who cries if he can't draw a letter just right, never mind skating with a bunch of awkward equipment on and chasing the ever-elusive puck around the ice. On his first game he gave up on the puck and started slashing the other team with his stick whenever they came in reach. Oy vey. I think we've been watching too much Hockey Night In Canada.

Well, have a good day and try to stay warm (we almost hit -30 C last night)!

*Titus' first hockey game*

Busy as a (sick) bee

2007-11-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the unexpected break. Something about being sick, going to hockey, leading music, going to hockey, leading music, more hockey, and finally being violently ill took up much of my spare time. And to tell the truth, not much spare time today, either. I've got a birthday party to plan for after school, 9 kids and 2 adults to feed, and then, you guessed it, a hockey game to maybe attend. Of course, Luke will be home by then so I might beg off and stay home to fold laundry. Ah, wintertime. The busiest time of year.

Next week I'm working on Christmas stuff. First cards, then some baking for a Christmas baking exchange, and I might get around to figuring out a few presents. Mom, I was going to knit you some socks, but it just isn't happening. Good thing I tried it out for myself first! I'm going to have to undo the binding and make it much looser - won't go around my toes! Talk about frustrating!

Today, though, it's all about Ethan. Very excited to be turning seven! He's had a gap for a front tooth for a year and a half now, and that elusive piece of bone is finally making an appearance. We got a him a BMX bike - I can hardly wait for Luke to get back from Calgary so we can give it to him!

Knitted pleasure

2007-11-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is my latest knitted possession, and it has been trailing me around the house. I'm feeling a little like Linus from Charlie Brown - I just don't want to let it go. It is sooo cozy. Seriously cozy. Wrapping it around my shoulders feels like I'm getting hugged all the time. I haven't even taken the time to block the poor thing. As soon as it was off the needles, it was in use. And I used to think knitters were crazy!

Books for the Prime Minister

2007-11-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

I was on pneuma's blog this morning and read about Yann Martel sending Stephen Harper a book every couple of weeks or so. It sounded vaguely familiar - I'm sure it made the news quite a while back. On her post, she had a link to this site where Mr. Martel lists the books as well as copies of the letters he writes the Prime Minister. I found it endlessly entertaining. I loved Mr. Martel's Life of Pi and thoroughly enjoyed reading how and why he selected each book for Mr. Harper. Of course, anything that has a book list ends up as a personal challenge to me and I will not rest easy until I have read every single book. It's a sickness, I know. The compulsion is simply too strong for my frail mind to resist.

nike Tag

2007-11-04T15:48:00.001-07:00

This is so cool. Wouldn't it be awesome fun to be involved in a citywide game of tag? I think my favorite part is the people hiding behind those bins. Too funny!

The Day After

2007-11-01T09:32:00.000-06:00

Here they are in all their Halloweeny glory. People were unsure about Ethan's costume - karate guy? Jedi? Poor Luke Skywalker just isn't as popular as Darth Vader or Superman. Despite the lack of recognition, he came home with as much loot as the rest of them. My living room has been transformed into a candy-sorting room and is beginning to feel a little Willy Wonka-ish. Chips all go in a heap in the middle, pop has its own corner, Coffee Crisps are delegated to the kitchen for Mom (that's my boys, always thinking of their momma) and assorted kinds each get their own little pile. By now they've totally forgotten the caramel popcorn that my parents gave Luke and I, and I'm hoping that it stays that way. That stuff is just too good to share!

All Hallows Eve

2007-10-31T09:19:00.000-06:00

Yes, Hallowe'en has come around again, bringing with it much sewing and candy buying on my part, and much anticipation and "Mom, is it done yet?" on the boys' part. I am now the proud parent of Superman, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader. *sigh* Pictures to follow tomorrow!

Hallowe'en is such a touchy subject around Christians. Personally, I enjoy it. Not so much the macabre, but costumes are a fun thing. As a kid, I loved the idea of dressing up and becoming whatever I wanted. I remember quite a few of the getups: gypsy, construction worker, bunny, Pippi Longstockings, mechanic ... as you can see, nothing too scary! I don't let the kids delve into the icky stuff either. The one vampire request I recieved was turned down this year.

Titus has been sick these last few days. Monday night we pulled his mattress into our room because he had such a croupy cough. Luckily his breathing didn't worsen, but it was still a little scary. Luke and I didn't get a real good sleep. He did much better last night, but didn't want to go to preschool today. Truthfully, neither did I. His being sick couldn't have come at a better time, since his preschool is having a Hallowe'en potluck (I know - crazy!) and we were all supposed to dress like our ancestors. Man, I did not want to go and spend three hours with a 20+ preschoolers who were hopped up on sugar and excitement, not to mention having to get two extra costumes together just for a party. If we had gone, I was planning on telling the teacher that my real name was Lois Lane and that Titus was dressed up like his only earthly ancestor. There was no way I was making him dress up like a Mennonite. What fun is that? Dark pants with suspenders, a dress shirt, and a dark hat. There is just no way it can compete with a bodysuit and a red cape.

You can see we have our pumpkin cut and ready for tonight. Luke and the boys were working hard at it last night while I had the sewing machine zipping things up. I think it looks great! Luke got the template off the internet. The kids were so excited. Now if it will just stand the test of heat and time on our front porch! Have a happy All Hallows Eve, everyone!

A Prayer

2007-10-23T08:45:00.000-06:00

Bedtime prayer:
By Titus Willms

Dear Jesus,
Help me I had a good day;
Help me I went to McDonald's;
Help me I went on the rides;
Help me I have no bad dreams;
Help me I went to hockey;
Help me I went to Burger King;
Help me I got a new shirt.
Amen.

*"Help me" also stands in as "thank you," the rides were from this summer, we don't actually go to McDonald's and Burger King everyday, and a shirt can be new for approximately three months.

Toronto's Smallest House

2007-10-19T07:49:00.000-06:00

This cracks me up! If you want to buy Toronto's smallest house (or just look at it) click here. Ain't it cute?

Book review: Jasper Fforde

2007-10-18T13:51:00.000-06:00

Jasper Fforde is a funny, clever writer! He is a true bibliophile's dream. His books are laced with references to other books and his plots twist and turn from the unreal to the very imaginative. You're never sure where you are going next because it is always somewhere you would never have thought of. I read this book years back and have been following the Tuesday Next series ever since. There are five books in total. The Eyre Affair introduces us to Tuesday Next, a LiteraTec detective investigating all crimes against literature. In Lost In A Good Book, Tuesday dives into the world of books to find her husband. The Well of Lost Plots, Something Rotten, and First Among Sequels continue in the same vein. His other series about the Nursery Crime Division is equally as entertaining. The Big Over Easy takes on the case of Humpty Dumpty's murder, and The Fourth Bear highlights Goldy's disappearance. If you enjoy reading, have done a lot of it, and love some comedy/mystery/sci-fi, you oughtta try this author. Warning: read the books in the series in order, or you will never understand what is happening!

A new quilt (finally)

2007-10-16T09:04:00.000-06:00

I've been working on a quilt since May for my grandma. It was her birthday on Saturday, and I finished it an hour before her party! Talk about cutting it close! It's kind of a family tree/memory quilt, so I put pictures of each person on it. Of course, on Friday the black ink in my printer ran out; yes, I panicked. I had cut just enough fabric for the pictures I had left, and managed to wreck one sheet. I was filled with visions of being up until the wee hours of the morning - first, washing and drying new fabric, putting the printer solution on it and letting it hang dry, then printing, then waiting the appropriate amount of time before hand washing it and laying it out to dry. Wouldn't you know it, after I had used the last sheet of printable fabric, I glanced toward my paper stacked chair-by-the-computer and spotted a sheet that had been left over from the last batch of pictures I had done. A big rush of relief! Many "Thank you, God" prayers later and I was done (with the printing, anyway)! So, here it is.

The bee hives came first. An integral part of the quilt! Grandma's CB handle was Queen Bee (Grandpa was Bee Keeper). They were beekeepers for many years, and I remember going into the honey house at harvest time - that was the best smell in the world.

Next came the stems and leaves. Gotta say, silk ribbon isn't exactly easy to find here. I bought some from a limited stock at Michael's, and when I ran out I found that they had discontinued ordering it. I was forced to use all the little scraps I had left!

Then the roses. Yes, three-dimensional. A lot of fun to do!

Of course, the centerpiece needed their wedding picture. They look like young crazy kids!

The final product with everyone's pictures. I did b&w so none of the colours would be too clashy with the final product. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. There are still a few things that need to be done - a hanging sleeve (which my auntie will help out with since I'm clueless in that area) and tacking the pictures on more securely. The photos are replaceable since people keep having babies. Or get married. Or grow up. Or get hair that turns greyer, or shorter, or nonexistent (sorry brothers, just had to throw that in!).

*the pattern I used was Beekeeper's Garden by The City Stitcher.

Yummy treats

2007-10-15T16:28:00.000-06:00

I was the recipient of a funky little internet treat going around the blog world. Thanks Celtic Sister! Candied apples! Well, to be a bit more accurate, a lovely picture of some candied apples. The stipulation, once the gift is received, is to randomly pass it on to someone you don't know. In the spirit of the game, I started hitting the "Next blog" button at the top of every blogger page until I ran into a blog named pneuma. We seem to have similar interests, so I am gifting this to her. Hope you have fun with it!

*If you want to find out how this originated, go to Hootin' Anni.

Life as I know it

2007-10-10T10:09:00.000-06:00

I really wanted to put some photos up on my blog, but I can't seem to find my plug-in thingie for the camera. I wish I could say this was a rare occurrence, but things tend to get lost in this house. I usually have a general idea, but ... let's just say my junk drawer in the kitchen has gotten a wee bit out of control! Organization is definitely not a gift of mine. I try to blame it on being artistic, but that is a rather lame excuse.

Well, life has been a bit busy around here. Luke has been gone for most of October. First, to get a car from the States with a side trip to visit his family in Manitoba, and then to go hunting in the great white north with his Rainbow Lake buddies. He's coming home today (yeah!) but will be off again on Friday for the Promise Keepers convention in Calgary. It wouldn't have been so bad if Thanksgiving hadn't been last weekend! As it ended up, the boys and I got our fill of turkey at the church supper. You can always count on Mennonites and their converts to have a gourmet feast on all the good holidays!

Hockey season is here again (it kinda feels like it never left!) and all three boys have joined up. Yes, I said three. Titus has taken to his skates this year, and I have apparently become the one hockey mom who needs to go out on the ice with her child. Thankfully Luke will be there on Thursday! In the dressing room, all is good. Titus wants to get out there and do his thing. However, the minute we get on the ice, the waterworks and whining start. We go off the ice for a break - happy. Back on the ice - sad. Despite everything, he can now skate without a chair and get up by himself. Go figure! Caleb and Ethan are on the same team this year, which is nice. Their practices are so organized and chaos-free. They can even get most of their equipment on by themselves. Hooray for growing up!

As for me, I'm doing my thing. Last Saturday, I decided that a new fallsy dress for Thanksgiving was in order. I found a tutorial and whipped it up that evening with some fabric that I had in my stash. Unfortunately, it didn't look that great on me. At all. I'm to short and "voluptuous," as my mom likes to say! Oh well, it was nice to actually make something clotheswise for a change. Another thing I've been working on for the past four or five months is a memory quilt for my Grandma's birthday on Saturday. A lot of work, but lots of fun! There was quite a bit of hand work, which always prolongs the process, but I'm at the point now where I just need to put pictures on fabric and tie them on the quilt. I'd show you a picture, but ... ! I'm also doing a little bit of volunteering over at the boys' school while Titus is in preschool. Yesterday I spent all morning with a couple of kids from Ethan's class making apple dolls. Those things are so utterly cool! I may have to make one of my own!

So, that's the Willms update. Sans pictures. You'll just have to use that imagination. Especially for me on the ice with Titus. In a black winter jacket. That someone managed to dust with Dr. Scholl's foot powder. Which I had no idea about 'till I got home. 'Nuff said.

They just don't listen...

2007-09-28T10:13:00.000-06:00

No matter how many times a person tries to teach their kids how to do things the proper way, they tend to do it the way they want. Everytime Caleb brings math home, I have to hold my tongue. It isn't the adding or subtracting I object to, it's the way he writes his numbers! Always starts from the bottom up. Have you ever tried writing the number two from bottom to top? How about a five or six? Awkward, to say the least. And yet, when I show him how it is supposed to be done, he'll smile at me and say, "This way is just easier, Mom!"

Ethan cannot hold a pencil. I've rearranged those fingers countless times, just to look back after a moment and see them right back where they were to begin with.

And Titus. Lately, he's been writing like an Hebrew. Right to left. We'll tell him and show him where to start, and it sticks for a week or two. Then out-of-the-blue he'll be back to his Israeli tendencies. Where does it come from? Backward letters I've seen. Backward words? Huh?

*OK all you grammar buffs. I know you're out there. That last paragraph. "...like an Hebrew..." Should I have just used "a" or "an"? I've noticed in books and whatnot that "an" seems to be what you put in front of an "h". To me, it just seems wrong. Anyone know for sure?

Book Review: Shake Hands With the Devil

2007-09-25T09:23:00.000-06:00

I love reading and I love finding good new books. So this is for all you readers out there with a little time to spare. I picked up this non-fiction account of the Rwandan genocide after seeing an interview with the author on The Hour. Romeo Dallaire was a part of the UN mission in Rwanda before, during, and after the slaughter of over 800, 000 people by Hutu extremists and Tutsi retaliators. He tells how the west largely ignored the calls for help to the region because of its relative unimportance in the world. Bureacracy, money, political wrangling - all play a part in this tragedy. He describes the awfulness of having to stand by while people all around were being murdered, and then of having to talk nice to those responsible while trying to broker a ceasefire. Truly a heartbreaking and enraging book. It made me more supportive of our soldiers around the world who are engaged in dangerous peacekeeping missions. I also understand a little more about why and how these atrocities begin and who the people are behind them. It's a good book! Five out of five stars.

Another Autumn

2007-09-23T15:58:00.000-06:00

Yes, the days do fly by quicker and quicker. Seems like only yesterday when I was impatiently waiting for the snow to go away! I love watching the fields grow and ripen - what is it about golden grass that fills my heart with joy?

On a totally unrelated note: I was talking with Titus yesterday after music practice, asking what he did while I was singing. "Oh, just colouring and glueing and scissoring." Why can I never come up with awesome words like that?

Another thing - where did the phrase "shake a stick at" originate? You know; "There were too many trees to shake a stick at." Does that even make sense? Anyone?

What Now?

2007-09-21T12:34:00.000-06:00

The last ten days have been a mixture of many things. Thankfulness that no one was seriously injured (I learned that the women in the other car only had bruises), horror from the memories and the "what if..." reel that keeps running through my mind, love from all the people who know me, and wondering at what God wants with me here on earth. I've always known that God has had a plan in my life, but I've been waiting around for Him to reveal it to me. Sometimes an actual voice telling me what to do next would be helpful!

It has always been my biggest frustration - God's will. What is it? Where is it? Who's going tell me what I'm supposed to do? Read all the books you want - they can't tell you exactly what your life should look like (unless they tell you to ship all your money to them so you will be blessed - does anyone actually do it?). So I have to decide how my life can be a light in this world of darkness. Easier said than done. For most of my life I've been trying to get this one verse to sink in: Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (NASB) Unfortunately, I just want everybody to like me. I am surrounded by those who think the Bible is full of silly, out-dated rules and impossible miracles that only a fool would actually believe. So I keep silent. And smile. And nod at what they say. Something has to change! And that something is me. Trusting God to give me words that people will hear like He gave Aaron. Trusting God to give me courage and strength like He gave Joshua. Trusting God to give me a heart like He gave David. Trusting God to shine through me.

Tuesday evening

2007-09-13T08:59:00.001-06:00

That's the suburban. The boys and I were heading out to a meeting on Tuesday at 7 pm. We were crossing the divided highway. I looked, but apparantly did not see the black Volkswagon coming. I even thought I was through the intersection when life suddenly became very scary. We ended up in the ditch, hanging from our seatbelts because the 'burb had flipped over. I unhooked the seatbelt and looked into the back to see three crying boys. Crying has never sounded so sweet. Caleb had already unbuckled himself, and I made Ethan undo his belt while I got Titus' undone. After that I cleared the glass away from the front passenger window, made sure it was safe to get out that way, and then got Caleb out. I reached back in for Titus, dragged him out, and found that a good Samaritan had reached through Ethan's window and pulled him to safety.

Luckily Luke was home and was able to come out right away. We made sure the boys were put in neck braces and stretchers and taken to the hospital in ambulances. Luke rode with Titus and I rode with Caleb and Ethan. We were all discharged that same night after x-rays were taken. The boys and I are all a little sore and bruised, but so very grateful to be alive!

Here are links to more pictures:

Inside the other car

Where Ethan was sitting

Passenger side

Front of the car that hit us

Where a tire used to be

Dreaming of the sun

2007-08-31T23:31:00.000-06:00

Yes, this has been a most dreary and wet month. All we got in July was sun, sun, sun, making the clouds so dreadfully jealous that they took August hostage. What I wouldn't give for an Indian summer in September. Wouldn't it be lovely to just have to get out of the house because the weather won't let you stay in? So, I'm starting a petition. I don't know how many signatures God needs for a change in weather, but I'm willing to give it a shot. I've about had it up to here with mushrooms growing on my lawn.

The brain of a 3-year-old

2007-08-21T11:58:00.000-06:00

Titus' birthday is coming up soon and we were talking about birthdays in the truck. He was wondering if he would ever have any more birthdays.

"Of course you will," Ethan replied. "You keep having birthdays until you die!" All was silent for a minute, and then a heart wrenching cry started in the back seat.

" What's wrong, Titus?" I asked.

"I don't want to die on my birthday!" he got out between sobs. As of today, he is still making sure that he will not die on his birthday. Poor little guy!

Wrapping things up

2007-08-20T13:07:00.000-06:00

I'm getting a little bored regaling you with holiday stories, so I'm going to end off with a quick recap. After Revelstoke we ended up in Salmon Arm for some water skiing and sitting by the lake. We then travelled down to Kelowna for a family reunion that was a lot of fun. So nice to see my cousins and uncles and aunts and my grandma! Also very hot there - we sure used that air conditioner in the trailer. As per family rules, we did the required go-cart racing. I was second over all the cousins, and quite proud of that. Luke didn't count as a cousin, he competed in the highly professional uncle division and came so close to the top! After Kelowna we drove to Calgary/Okotoks for some visiting of friends and family. We then went to Edmonton for a day of West Edmonton Mall fun (the kids all agreed that this was the best part of vacation!). Rides, waterslides - can life get better than this? We then wound our way home a few days early because I was starting to get a little homesick.

The next week, Caleb went to camp for the very first time. So scary for me! Luckily our church was in charge of the cooking for that week, so I spent a day out there in the kitchen and made sure he was doing OK. After that week, the days have been spent in summer-like pasttimes. Swimming lessons, pickle making, drag race watching, etc. Now I'm all caught up! Hopefully I'll have something current to share with you next time.

The Wind

2007-08-10T20:59:00.001-06:00

An interruption in my regularly scheduled broadcast - a commercial titled The Wind. I wish I was the wind...

Next Stop - Revelstoke

2007-08-10T09:39:00.000-06:00

We meandered our way to Revelstoke to visit Dan and Jocelyne and their baby girl. I have never met a happier, more content baby in my entire life. Nyola is such a doll! Of course, we went swimming, hiking, swimming, canoeing, and swimming (can you see a pattern emerging?). It was pretty hot and we were again grateful for the air conditioned camper! We traded babysitting with Dan and Joce - I think we got the easier part of the bargain. If a person isn't use to all the energy that three strapping boys can produce, it can be a little overwhelming. It was nice to go out for supper with just Luke. It doesn't actually happen all that often. Dan and Joce, thanks. We had such fun at your place!

*This is just an aside for my dear brother-in-law Ken. If you guys are going to have another baby, that's great. However, you are sadly mistaken if you think I'm going to keep calling everytime you leave a comment with the implication that the next Krahn is coming!

On To Invermere

2007-08-02T11:41:00.000-06:00

After we left Grande Cache we headed out to Invermere. Talk about nice and hot! We stayed in a beautiful campground and spent time with some friends from Rainbow Lake. Curtis took Luke and I on flights with his ultralight plane. So awesome!! Only two people can fly at a time; the pilot and one passenger. It was pretty tight quarters! Curt took the plane up to 8500 feet when I was with him - we could see so many mountain tops! I only wish I could have brought my camera. He advised against it because of the wind - if it blew off it would fly right into the motor. Not good at 8500 feet.

Luke and Curt went golfing so Erin and I took the boys mini-golfing (they wore their golf shirts - so funny!). Big mistake; it was 38 degrees Celcius. We told the kids that girls only golf 15 holes in mini-golf. I think they believed us. After ice cream we went and had a big steak supper at Curtis and Erin's place with a few other former Rainbow Lake residents. Ethan managed to contract a serious case of heat stroke and spent the evening throwing up and sleeping in front of the fan (poor guy).

We had such a nice time, and were very grateful that we had rented a trailer with air conditioning! That campground ended up being the nicest one we stayed in for the entire trip. Thanks, Curtis and Erin (and Bernice, the nicest, most kid-friendly St. Bernard I've ever known)!

Hello again!

2007-08-01T11:35:00.000-06:00

Yes, I am still alive. July seems to have flown by, what with all the vacationing and post-vacation laundry and jam-making and ... well, you see the way my life has been. July just wasn't the month for blogging. It did give me quite a few things to blog about though, so without further ado...

We had been planning on leaving on Thursday (July 5th) so that Luke could help me pack for a day before racing off to British Columbia. Of course, planning and this family generally part ways at some point, and we ended up leaving Tuesday night after Luke got home from work. We were renting a trailer, so we packed all our clothes, pots, pans, camping gear, firewood, and groceries into the Suburban to take to the rental place. Luke was the only one who could get into the 'burb without some major manuevering. The rest of us had piles of food, books, backpacks, etc. at our feet. A bit of a stuffy drive, if I do say so myself. Of course, no picture. I was just a wee bit too frazzled to be thinking about such things at the time. It was our hope to make it to Grande Cache and camp there for the night, which was only a two hour drive - what could go wrong?

We only had fifteen minutes to go when we saw the elk standing in front of us. Luke hit the brakes and we narrowly missed getting our front end smashed to bits. A mile down the road we came across a truck that hadn't been so lucky. The elk had come over the hood and broken in the windshield before sliding off and dying. We stopped and Luke helped drag the elk off the road. Being in the mountains, we had no cell service to phone an ambulance, so we brought one of the men whose face had been cut up into our trailer and tended to him. Both of the guys were in a bit of shock. We were there almost an hour when a police car came on the scene and took charge. We stayed for another hour and loaded the luggage and speakers from the truck into our trailer to take to Grande Cache for them. It was 2 in the morning by the time we got to town - we stayed in the mall parking lot that first night with a reassurance from the police that if anyone tried to bother us we were to tell them to phone the police station and it would be taken care of. What a way to start a holiday!

In the summertime ...

2007-06-29T10:22:00.000-06:00

It has been a good couple of weeks here in the Willms' household. Grandma came from Manitoba to visit her grandsons. It was heaven on earth for Titus. Someone who would play with him while the boys were at school and Mommy was busy doing Mommy things. All day there were dinky car races, Uno games, colouring, reading ... oh, the bliss! Grace left early Monday morning before the kids got up. Titus was OK until he decided to go wake Grandma up. When I explained that she had gone home, he was inconsolable for a good while. Poor little guy!

Now we are into the heady days of summer when all we have to do is go camping, eat s'mores (it took a hands-on lesson from Jim and Heather for me to figure out all the logistics), and do crafts. One thing to get used to are the boys home from school. As I write, Ethan is reading over my shoulder and correcting my grammar! Not bad for a grade one graduate, I say. Other things we plan to do - watch some car races, play more golf, ride the bikes, have a water fight, and go on some boyish adventures. Our vacation is less than a week away and everyone is looking forward to it. It ought to be a blast of laughs going with these three goofy guys!

New nephew

2007-06-18T09:39:00.000-06:00

I have a new nephew! He was born on Father's Day (on his due date! what are the chances!) to Eric and Jana. Owen Robert. What a cute name. I'm going to see him today for the first time. This is my first nephew/niece that I've been able to see in the hospital fresh out of the oven. I'm so excited!

Grammer School

2007-06-13T09:48:00.000-06:00

Well, I've been checking out preschools for Titus to attend this fall. After last year and his "imaginary" school, I thought the time was right for a foray into the real thing. Naturally, I started looking at the one closest to home. I went to the registration meeting and was tremendously disappointed with the lack of organization and professionalism. Not only were there no registration packages, but no formal anything to base any sort of decision on. Parents came, saw the school, wandered around aimlessly, signed a mailing list, and left as bewildered as when they arrived. I asked a few questions after I had discerned who was on the preschool board, but they seemed to know only a little more than I did.

A month later, the registration package arrived in my mail. I opened it up, read the first page, and put it down again. I then got a phone call from the teacher telling me that the wrong package had been sent and to expect another. Yesterday, I received the latest one and proceeded to go through it. I soon discovered that I am a grammar snob. Somehow, I don't seem to care what kind of program they are offering or what method they use. If they can't write it out properly, or get someone to proofread their work, I get too upset to look past it. Apparently they are only "excepting" 24 students. And the teacher is "nearly" a facilitator of learning. I mean, come on people! Put that together with run on sentences and words out of place, and I go nuts! I don't mind bad grammar in, say, a blog, or something informal and personal, but in a business or school? Something professional? From someone who has been to college for 4+ years and has a degree in Education it is appalling.

So there's my rant, and I'm guessing that it is not all grammatically correct. In fact, I know it isn't. I do, however, want my son's teacher to take this seriously even though it is only preschool. Right?

Great Mosquito War of 2007

2007-06-05T10:14:00.000-06:00

Yes, that is a dead mosquito. Slightly mangled. And it's all his own fault!

Sunday night we were the victims of a raid on our bedroom by the relentless invader Mosquito. The Mosquito tribe attacked us in the style of guerilla warfare, complete with camouflage and subterfuge. We responded with a method of seek and destroy that seems to be so popular with the U.S. army nowadays. Battle was joined for nearly half an hour with a dozen casualties for the Mosquito invaders. The reason for the assault - a window mysteriously open in our room. Who was their inside man? We may never learn the identity of that perfidious traitor, but through criminal profiling we have learned that he is very young, between two and four, and has blonde hair and blue eyes. When we catch the perpetrator (and we will!) he will face the severest penalty of the law in Willmsland.

All about the color

2007-05-31T12:39:00.001-06:00

Ok. This is the before picture of my beautifully orangy bright kitchen. I loved having an orange kitchen - so cheerful and happy to see me in the morning. Luke, on the other hand, had some choice words to say about it. I think "ghastly" summed it up quite succinctly in his mind.

Now for the end result. A much tamer, safer, and not so in-your-face yellowy color. Official name: Sahara. Truthfully (and I reeeally hate to admit it) it fits into our kitchen better. The wood seems like just wood and not something that totally clashes with the walls. It mixes well with the countertop, the lino, the backsplash, and pretty much everything else. So, while I am sad to see my bright kitchen go, I am happy to be in a place that is not at odds with itself. Luke's just happy it isn't orange!

Sickness

2007-05-29T09:24:00.000-06:00

Remember when I spouted the drivel that my cold was the "best bad cold ever"? I'm sure you could see the writing on the wall. Well, "best bad cold" turned into "most miserable long cold" that I've had to deal with in quite a long time. It was sooo bad that I stood up in the middle of movie night with Luke and went to bed, groaning and holding my head and being generally the biggest baby ever. Of course, now I'm all better and the memories are fading fast, but at the time it was not good. I couldn't even knit! Or read!!! Thank goodness no one else in the house seems to have caught it. Which, in and of itself, is rather remarkable since I touched most everything they ate, wore, and slept in.

Well, this weekend was good since Luke was home and I was feeling exponentially better every day after Friday. We had a campfire behind the house and roasted weiners and marshmallows (does anyone know how to make s'mores?). We flew a new dragon kite that I picked up in Costco and managed to get it caught in some power lines (very embarrassing for us adults). We went out after church to a brunch buffet and stuffed ourselves silly. We went swimming. And then, on Monday, we painted the kitchen. It was a beautiful (to me) orange, but Luke was not liking it. Apparantly it reminded him of A&W. So now it is a kind of yellow called Sahara. It is really nice. I wish I had pictures for all the fun stuff we did, but I managed to forget the camera, or forgot to take pictures. Sorry! Next time, I promise!

New hobby

2007-05-24T10:19:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it? I am apparantly going about my life as if time doesn't even exist. I took up knitting. Yep. I can just see you shaking your head now. Luke sure did, and managed a nice little roll of the eyes to go along with it. It is rather fun and a way for me to not feel totally useless when I sit in front of the TV for Heroes or Lost or Survivor. I am creating. It feels good. And the boys are totally enthralled with the process. "Use this one now, Mom!" "Ooh, that looks good, Mom!" "Make me a sweater, Mom!" It's nice that they get all excited like that, makes my day. Of course, I learned just in time for me to get bowled over by a head-plugging cold. So I sit and I knit and I let Luke do little things for me. This is the best bad cold ever!

Soccer

2007-05-19T09:31:00.000-06:00

Yes, soccer season is upon us. One nice thing about soccer is the hours. I don't have to get up at 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning just to take a tired boy to the rink. Another nice thing - soccer equipment is shin pads and shoes. No big bag to lug around, no fifteen minutes getting everything on, no stinkiness taking everything off. Sigh*. Did I say how much I love spring?

spring has sprung

2007-05-17T11:17:00.000-06:00

The grass is green.The jackets have been put away.
Bikes and balls have come out to play.

Isn't spring marvelous?

Getting older, wiser, and more mature

2007-05-04T09:27:00.000-06:00

OK, maybe not the wiser and more mature part, but I am getting older. In fact, I had a birthday last Sunday and turned 31 years of age. Or, as my Uncle Bob would say, I am now in my 32nd year. It was a good day - no cooking for me! After church we went to Uncle Jack and Auntie Cheryl's house for some yummy BBQ fish (with burgers on the side for the boys) and raspberry shortcake. Mmmm. And then we were off to my parents for faspa and chocolate cake. Luke (the brother, not the husband) was up from the endless prairie of Saskatchewan, unfortunately without his bride (we missed you Lindy!). Eric came after work with a beautifully pregnant Jana. Even my cuz, Keri, showed up. Of course, we couldn't stay too long since we had two children who came down with fevers during the course of the day. Yep, the neverending merry-go-round of illness struck again. Last week was Ethan, and he managed to pass it on to Caleb and Titus this week. Sorry, no pics!

On Monday, Heather picked me up for a little birthday shopping without the kids. Do you know how long it's been since I tried something on in a dressing room without a small child trying to open the door whilst I am in a state of undress? We then went out to Earl's for supper.

Of course, a birthday isn't a birthday without a present. Let me just say, my life is now complete.

Busy, busy, busy

2007-04-24T11:12:00.000-06:00

Wow, has it really been so long since I've posted? Gotta say that it doesn't seem that long ago! So much has happened. The kids have been sick, then well, and now sick again. First time was some sort of flu (a lot of laundry came of that!) and now there are stuffy noses, coughs, sore throats, and in two out of three cases a fever. Thankfully the first illness only stopped long enough to say hello to me, and this one has ignored me entirely. So far. I think. My poor children and husband, on the other hand, have taken the brunt of it.

Next on my busyness list is keeping a clean house. I know there are some of you out there that this comes quite natural to, but for me it's a struggle against my innate procrastination and laziness. Wow, was that L word ever hard to write! It's been two weeks and I think that I wouldn't have been too embarrassed if anyone had dropped in, which is a major step in the right direction for me.

I am also one of the music team leaders at church, and that tends to take up a lot of room in my brain on the weeks we lead worship. Too much, in fact, and much of it unnecessary. A lot of it is panic because too often I have forgotten to contact someone or do something that should have already been done.

Thank goodness for the boys. They are so precious, even though my mountain of laundry gains new height daily (can someone PLEASE tell me why little boys and mud are so attracted to each other! Three, yes, three pairs of pants a day for each child!). Caleb so cheerful, Ethan so cuddly, and Titus so funny. Really, what more could I ask for?

Paska overload

2007-04-10T11:04:00.000-06:00

Easter just isn't as fun without the traditional paska. It's a sweet bread served on Sunday topped with butter icing and sprinkles. My past paskas have been dry, but this years was quite good, so I thought I'd share the recipe in case anyone has a hankering!

3 tbsp. yeast

1 c. warm water

8 eggs

2 c. sugar

1 c. whipping cream

1 c. milk

1 c. warm margarine

1 tsp. vanilla

Rind & juice of 1 lemon

9-11 c. flour

Dissolve yeast in one cup warm water. Whip eggs and sugar. Add warm margarine, milk and cream. Add yeast, vanilla and lemon (I didn't use the whole rind, try 1-2 tsps). Add flour to make a soft dough. Let rise until double in size(1 1/2 to 2 hours). Form into small loaves and let rise again. Bake at 300 F for 30 minutes or when the top is a nice golden color. Ice with vanilla icing and decorate.

Hope you enjoy!

Let's Get Real Monday

2007-04-09T10:04:00.000-06:00

Well, I decided to take part in a little something called "Let's Get Real Monday". Randi from the I have to say... blog has been hosting this for quite a while and I decided to play along. The topic this week is about my favorite things. So here goes...

My favorite movie is and always has been The Princess Bride. However, I am quite partial to British movies like Waking Ned Devine, The Full Monty, Calendar Girls, and Ladies in Lavendar. I don't know why, since I'm not a Britophile, but that type of humor is my cup of tea!

My favorite food is ... OK, I can't think of just one. Mennonite food as a collective, maybe. And Italian. And Mexican. Anything that is guaranteed to add a little jelly to the belly. ( I know. It's sad. Why, oh why, don't I crave salad?)

My favorite saying is "I love you mommy" followed closely by the exasperated way Caleb says "Mom" when I am acting silly.

My favorite song (lately) is "I Don't Feel Like Dancing" by the Scissor Sisters.

My favorite household chore is laundry, which is good since with the three boys that seems to be all I do.

My favorite verses are Romans 8:38 and 39 - "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall by able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Little Dancing Mennonites

2007-04-02T21:07:00.000-06:00

Yes, those are my two eldest. Dancing, if you can believe it. To Ukrainian music, of all things. At their school on Friday, it was the culmination of their Ukrainian days. Every year their school honors a different culture - last year it was the French Canadians. This year the kids learned to dance Ukrainian, created poppy paintings, cross stitched poppy pillows, and made enough food to feed the many children and their families. Ethan's grade 1 class made perogies (not just cooked, but did the filling and stuffed the dough and folded it into pockets) and Caleb's grade 2 class made meatballs. There were cabbage rolls and beet borscht. It was impressive to say the least! And felt very familiar. It's easy to see what Mennonites picked up while they lived in the Ukraine (besides the dancing). So, here's to the Ukraine! I thank them for teaching my great great grandparents the delights of borscht, paska, perogies, and many other delicious foods that have been so incorporated into my own heritage. I just wish I didn't like it so much!

Ethan's last hockey practice

2007-03-29T22:00:00.000-06:00

Thursday nights were always Ethan's hockey practices. After tonight they are no more, and Ethan moves up a level from Jr. Novice to Sr. Novice to play with Caleb next winter. Of course, we will still be going to Jr. Novice practices because of Titus. Oh, yeah, Ethan is the one on the furthest left, good old number 13 like his Dad and Grandpa. Eth sure improved a lot this year, and spent more of the practices and games on his skates than on his butt. The whole family got to skate with the team tonight and I got to show the boys how horrible my skating really is. I have no problem picking up speed, but stopping is another story. Titus even got out on some skates for the second time and did waaaaay better than I had expected. No tears, no tantrums, no whining. Just skating. I have to say, for such a dramatic child, this was almost miraculous. Sure hope it continues into next hockey season!

Hockey Night in Alberta

2007-03-28T23:15:00.000-06:00

This is our typical winter Wednesday eve. Caleb's hockey practice. He is pictured here in his usual position - defense and goalie companion. No, they aren't chatting about the weather. At the beginning of the season, he was under the assumption that the defenseman stood on the blue line, whether it was in their end (correct) or our end (incorrect). I am pleased to report that after a couple games of his mother (yep, that's me) screaming at him from the stands and his coach telling him in a much calmer and reasonable way where he needs to be has paid off. He is the only defenseman on his team who is always in position. I am a proud mama indeed. Doesn't he look cute? Too bad his last practice was tonight. I think I might miss the hockey season this summer.

long time no see

2007-03-28T00:15:00.000-06:00

Wow, it's been a while since I last posted! Not much of an excuse either - in fact, there is no excuse at all. It simply slipped my mind for the past couple of weeks. Maybe it had to do with the fact that spring is in the air! Observe.

Before spring (March 18 or 19)...

And today...

Notice the fence (or lack thereof). If you look real close in the first pic you can even make out snowflakes. See? Meltage has occured. I wasn't counting on it this year, due to the largest snowfall here in over 30 years. 30 years. That's as long as I've been alive!

Well, I had a fun day today. Heather and her boys came and picked me and Titus up in her cool van and took us to GP for lunch and a little shopping. Did you know that you only had to press a button to close the sliding door on the new vans? Not me. You should have seen me trying to close it by hand. Frustrating! AND a little embarrassing to tell the truth. We went to Rotten Ronnies (Mcdonalds, for the uneducated) for lunch and early enough so there wouldn't be a zoo in the playplace. Or so we thought. Turns out people hold birthday parties in there for their kids. What complete mayhem. Then we stopped by Sears so I could look for a new winter coat - yeah, that's right, I shop at the end of the season just to save money. Apparantly, the Sears aisles had the markings of a race track and Titus, Riley and Kyle had a heyday terrorizing the other shoppers and salespeople. After that grocery shopping and then on to home. My best friend is so funny. I almost peed myself on the way home. Did I mention I had a fun day?

more quilting

2007-03-15T08:41:00.000-06:00

You remember that ugly quilt? The one that annoyed me to no end? Well, someone saw that quilt at the raffle and commissioned me to make a baby quilt. No kidding. Someone is willing to pay me money to make a quilt. When I asked if she had something in mind, she replied, "I trust you. Do whatever you think would be best." Now how is that for a dream job! I had been obsessing over an alphabet quilt ever since I saw it in Australian Patchwork & Quilting vol. 9 no. 6. designed by Caroline Price. So, I made one. Mostly my own ideas, a few inspired by the magazine quilt. Sorry about the bad picture - I haven't quite figured out how to photograph quilts yet. I love it. I want to keep it. But I can't, so I won't.

Matrix ping pong

2007-03-13T09:13:00.001-06:00

I don't know about you, but I laughed and laughed and laughed at this. You'll just have to see it for yourself.

Favorite Blogs - Part 2

2007-03-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

I have been incredibly busy these past few weeks. What with hockey and leading music and another quilt - well, lets just say that my head has been spinning and my body isn't quite sure which way to go anymore. So, I'm going to direct you to another blog that I've been reading for more than a year. I have to say... is the online writings of a mom and crafty person (as in makes things, not sneaky!) which I have a lot of fun reading. She makes some beautiful stuff and usually has great insights about life and the world around her. So, if you've got some free time, go ahead and check it out.

p.s. Thanks for all the comments lately. They've made me laugh alot and brightened up my days! Keep 'em coming!

Not little anymore

2007-03-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

Titus has been on a "big boy" kick now for a couple of weeks. He used to answer any and all questions with either his name or his age (which really confused the heck out of a lot of adults) and has now moved onto his size and strength. You don't even need to ask him anything. We went to Slave Lake yesterday to take Luke to a curling bonspiel and watch a game. Didn't know anyone except the guys on Luke's team. Titus still managed to walk up to three or four men and get their attention long enough to tell them how strong he was and show them his muscles. He is truly a force of nature!

Ugly quilt

2007-02-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

My mind would roll the phrase "I can't believe I'm actually doing this" over and over on a continuous loop whilst I pieced and quilted this thing. If there was no reason to finish this quilt, I wouldn't have even put the blocks together. And the 500+ one inch squares in the sashing took forever. I was so glad to see it raffled off. I'm sorry if you like it, but this was just not my style. I like most quilts, but I couldn't stomach this one. What a lot of work and money for something I don't like. What a waste! All those hours I'll never get back. Sometimes finishing a project just isn't worth it.

Self portrait

2007-02-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

I tried taking pictures of myself. It was almost getting to the point where the camera was making fun of me. Double chin, eyes half closed (and I was taking the picture - go figure!), a leering grin (didn't even know I could do that), squinting, too big a smile, etc. etc. Anyway, this is me in my new hair. It suits me, and some people don't even seem to realize I had it cut. Which is a good thing. Sorry it took so long (you can't say I didn't try!).

Happy Heart Day

2007-02-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, love in the air. It is the late, great, Saint Valentine's Day. Children were sent off to schools everywhere with shameless Disney marketing in their backpacks to give to classmates. Roses are at a ridiculous price and waistlines are widening with an overindulgence of chocolately aphrodisiac. Me, I'm not really the gushy, gooey, sentimental type. But I certainly don't mind being told how awesome I am, so this holiday, while certainly commercialized (and really, which holiday isn't!), is OK in my books. Bring on the love, people!

Note: I don't mean that you have to tell me how awesome I am. Just one person, and I think he knows who he is.

p.s. Happy Valentine's Day!

A February Birthday

2007-02-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

Today is Caleb's birthday. Already eight years old. Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday that he had turned one and refused to let me feed him - had to do it all himself. At one! And the word no sent him into a torrent of tears. He felt so sorry, or so guilty, or so sad to disappoint. Always sensitive to those around him, trying to make them feel happy or good about themselves (well, maybe not always, brothers can be fairly annoying). He could swing a golf club like a seasoned pro at one and a half, and his first word was ball. Not mom, not dad, but ball.

We aren't having the party today, but Thursday due to a lack of planning on my part. What with two hockey tournaments and quilts to get ready for each of them, plus trophies to organize and a demanding three-year-old to accommodate, the invitations didn't get done. Then I tried phoning everyone, but most people had their numbers unlisted. Caleb seems OK with it, though. When Luke gets home tonight, we'll give him his present - a road hockey net and two games for his Nintendo 64.

One other thing, Caleb doesn't want a cake for his birthday party. He wants apple pie. Don't know how that'll go over with his friends, but I love it for being so unique! He is definitely his own little person.

Hair today, gone tomorrow

2007-02-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

This is me on Saturday afternoon...

and me on Saturday evening.

Another new baby

2007-01-30T11:28:00.001-07:00

Mark and Faith have given me a new nephew to gloat about! Judah Stephen Jason was born on January 26 at 5:00 pm, three weeks before his due date. Unfortunately, his lungs haven't developed enough for him to breathe on his own, so he is in the hospital and hooked up to every kind of tube imaginable. The birth mom is doing OK, but Mark and Faith are rather stressed. They live in Calgary and the baby is in Red Deer - one and a half hours drive away. Please pray for little Judah as you go about your business today. He is already so precious to us, and we haven't even met him yet!

Funeral woes

2007-01-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

This is son #2. Ethan. This picture reminds me of a story my brother told of his son Micah covered in flour. On one hand, Micah is a little chocolate colored boy trying to go white, and on the other hand mine is a little vanilla colored boy trying to go brown. Oh, the irony!

As you may have guessed, this photo was taken a good five years ago. I managed to get my scanner working for me and not against me, so I've started putting old pictures onto the computer. I wanted a baby picture of Ethan because of the story that follows. As a disclaimer, I want to remind you that this took place when Ethan was a baby and my memory may not recall details exactly as they happened. Anyone who got an email from me after the "incident" may have a slightly different version, and if you have an issue with me, well, you know where I live.

First, I need to set the scene for this tale. We had traveled to Manitoba for a funeral of Luke's uncle. Caleb was two and Ethan was one or so (there goes my memory already!). Luke's uncle was a man who was well known in his community, so the funeral was held in a big hall with those wood stacking chairs brought in. Being family, we were near the front and anxiously waiting for the service to begin. Ethan was still taking a bottle and I had the dried formula in his diaper bag. I reached into the bag for a toy and, wouldn't you know it, the canister lid had fallen off somehow and filled the diaper bag with a thick coat of white powder. With much rolling of eyes and gnashing of teeth, I made my way to the bathroom in the back corner of the hall, Ethan in tow, so that I could clean out the bag and change a diaper at the same time. I strode purposefully but on tiptoe (high heels + gym floor + quiet somber funeral = bad) into the bathroom and set the bag down on the counter. I put Ethan on the floor to walk around. It's hard for those little ones to sit for too long and I thought any energy he expended would be a positive influence on the rest of the service. I emptied the bag and had put the toys in the sink to wash them when I heard a "sploosh" in the background. Not exactly comforting in a public washroom with a baby on the prowl. I whirled and faced a closed stall door. Locked. With the E-machine (that's Ethan, for the uninitiated) still inside. What could he possibly have thrown in the toilet, how much did it cost, and how the heck will I get it out, I wondered to myself. Taking off my shoes, I got down on the floor and crawled under the door in my best black skirt. Ethan was there grinning at his mommy who was playing such a fun game. I know I unlocked the door, but as to whether I retrieved the toy from the bowels of the toilet, I can't remember. I must have blocked that part from my mind. Suffice it to say that I was feeling slightly flustered.

Ethan wandered out of the stall and was sternly forbidden to go anywhere near any of the others, though he did try once or twice. Thankfully, there was a radiator in the room that managed to hold his attention. Unfortunately, it had a full-length mirror precariously perched on top. As I turned back to the now white diaper bag, Ethan reached the aforementioned mirror and proceeded to touch it. I later learned that the crash had been heard throughout the hall. (I just want to interject a note here - what kind of idiot places a mirror on top of a rounded radiator without attaching it whatsoever to the wall? Can anybody tell me?) Speechless and shocked, I quickly grabbed the little troublemaker off the floor and set him on the counter. Being brought up the way I was, I started the clean-up almost immediately. I left Ethan on the counter (I know, not a good idea, but really, was the floor any safer?) and picked up the larger pieces. And the medium pieces. And the small pieces. By hand. With no broom, no vacuum, no help. The tiny shards that I couldn't pick up, I swept up with a damp paper towel. Thank goodness Ethan was happy in the sink. It took me quite a while to get it all under control. I was not impressed.

After all was said and done, I finally got around to that diaper bag. I cleaned it all up to the best of my ability, got it organized, and repacked. I picked up Ethan who was still in the sink, and felt ... something. Something squishy. Oozing out of his pants and onto my arm. Without a change table in sight. I placed him back in the sink, washed myself, and got around to stripping him. The only clothes I had brought to change him into were still fairly dusty from the spilled formula powder, not to mention the diapers. When all was said and done, my baby was clean and dressed and smelled like powdered milk. I exited the bathroom just in time to hear the last song being sung and the last prayer being prayed.

Favorite Blogs - Part 1

2007-01-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

Long before I became a blogger, I was a blog reader. It all started with the last Canadian election and I was looking for something on the computer to educate myself on the issues. I stumbled across a number of blogs dedicated to just that. I eventually found my way to a number of other blogs that were pretty cool and I just want to share some of them with you. Maybe you'll get a kick out of them too.

Internet Monk is a blog I have read for approximately a year. The Internet Monk is a man who teaches at a Bible boarding school in the States. He has a very interesting look at Christianity, one which I must say reflects a lot of my own personal views. He is very informed about a number of issues in the Evangelical Christian way of life and is not scared of putting forth his own view. I quite admire the guy! For a nonconfrontational person, seeing someone go all out is nothing short of amazing. Anyway, I hope you check it out for yourself.

Next post will be funny. I promise! And possibly have pictures. So stay tuned.

He's three

2007-01-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

No, he's not rockin' out to some good tunes. While we both enjoy a little headbanging to a great song, we don't do the hand signs. This is just his way of telling people how old he is. And actually it is easier to do than the normal way people sign three. Try it, if you dare!

The other day at the supper table, we had this conversation;

"Mommy, I have a headache."

"Where?"

"Here," as he points to his stomach.

"Oh," I say, "...a tummyache."

"No, a headache."

"Actually, a headache in your tummy is a tummyache," I counter.

"No it's not, mommy. It's the flu."

Another snow day

2007-01-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

It's not actually snowing outside and the wind has calmed down, but buses were shut down again so my cuties got to stay home for the second day in a row. They are outside playing in the fritzing cold - nothing I could say would dissuade them. They were bound and determined to shovel something. I don't know what it is about shovels, but my boys love, love, love them. We had to buy new ones for them this year because their old ones broke from hard usage.

Here are the boys inside their quinsey (??) that Luke helped them build on his days off. You make a big pile of snow and let it sit overnight, then shovel out the inside the next day. Voila, a quinsey. I was all for making an igloo, but due to his vastly superior snow building knowledge and the fact that he would do most of the work, Luke's plans won out. I have to admit, it was a lot less work than piling big blocks of snow, and seems sturdier. By the way, that girl is the daughter of the people who bought our Tahoe, and she was just beautiful. Those kids played together for a good hour and Caleb and Ethan were entranced.

Mindstorms Autofabrik

2007-01-10T21:48:00.001-07:00

OK, I know my brothers will all appreciate this.

A little snow

2007-01-10T09:55:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's officially a blizzard. All school buses are canceled and even though the boys don't ride the bus, they get to stay home. It was so bad last night that I finally realized that all the stories of people freezing to death because they became disoriented between their house and barn were possibly true. I opened up my front door this morning and this is what I found. And that is in the sheltered part of the house. I can't even imagine what the driveway must be like. Good thing I went and got my groceries yesterday!

In the meantime, I have been working like a madwoman on my next quilt. I have some grand idea that it might be done for a raffle for Caleb's or Ethan's hockey tournament. That said, I have an inner voice telling me that this is an impossible scheme doomed to failure. We'll see, I guess. I've finished seven blocks with five to go. Then they need to be joined together with mini pieced sashes. Then sandwiched and quilted. Oy vey!

Winter wonderland

2006-12-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is another tobogganing hill. Only this time, Luke and I refrained and let the kids have their fun. Titus has been going down the hill by himself and tends to get more than the usual amount of snow in his face, which makes for a lot of drama. Of course, Caleb and Ethan are consumed with hitting all the jumps and getting the most air. The strategies they come up with! Christmas holidays combined with loads of snow have made sledding a part of our daily lives. If it isn't at the hill, it is on the piles of snow in front of our house. The boys are sure making up for last year when conditions weren't quite as perfect! I even drove a snowmobile for the first time since before I got married.

Christmas was a lot of fun! The two older boys got remote control trucks that are still only when the batteries need recharging. Titus seems thrilled with his semi and loader. I got Luke a Home Theater subscription and I got (drum roll, everybody) ... an Ipod! I've spent the last four days fooling around with it, loading on my music and podcasts and sermons (don't laugh). It's the perfect gift. I am not one who likes housework, as my husband can attest to, but a distraction sure makes the work go fast. This is probably a gift for both of us, come to think of it. What a sneaky man!

Christmastime

2006-12-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

Well, we here at the Willms' household have actually managed to get some decorating done. It ain't all pretty, and it looks a little bit like someone puked up Christmas decorations on our tree, but they are there. The reason things are so random is that the tree has had some mishaps. In a creative mommy moment, I decided the boys would love to put candy canes on the tree. And I was right! Except that putting things on the tree means putting them on every branch, including the top ones. Now, when a seven-year-old stands on a chair and stretches up and reaches out, gravity inevitably kicks in and takes matters into its own hands. As a result, the tree fell onto our TV. Then mommy tried to put it up and managed to throw it against the window. Sometime after that it decided to commit suicide and fell over in a totally new direction while we were all reading a book. Sigh.

Some other Christmasy goodness in our house is the obligatory gingerbread house. So far, no little candies have gone missing. The piano has gone festive and the banners are beribboned. Yet another thing is the Advent calendar. Last, but not least, are elf shoes - a new tradition for this season. A combination of a Coke box, hockey tape, and socks that will set you apart from all others during the holidays. Wear them to the family gathering, the office party, and, of course, the neighborhood carolling. Comfortable and versatile, these shoes could be yours for the low price of a couple candy canes. Buy now, they are going fast!

Finally!

2006-12-18T23:15:00.000-07:00

I have finally finished a monster quilt that took me, dare I say, three years from start to finish. It was one of those block of the month things, and every time I received a block, I set it aside. Two Christmases ago I pieced it all together and then was sick of looking at it. It waited in my unfinished quilt pile until last year when I managed to sandwich it together. I had finally started on the actual quilting when we moved and it got put on the backburner again. Then I got mad at it because it wasn't going the way I wanted it to. I finished it only because I really needed my sewing machine for other things and it was taking up to much room. So here it is. And am I ever glad it is finished. Now on to the next three year project...

And the hubby of the year award goes to...

2006-12-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went to Edmonton for Luke's Christmas present. Poor guy had to ride in the back of the 'burb because of his tailbone. We went and inflicted more pain on him for the ride home - Lasik eye surgery. Yep, he can now see unassisted by glasses or contacts of any kind. The only problem is that fluorescent lights are now this superman's kryptonite. Want to rob his wallet? Put him under the fluorescent. Need to torture him for Christmas present information? Fluorescent lights are your best bet. Have to tell him that the kids broke his projector TV? Fluorescent, fluorescent, fluorescent!

As a result of the surgery, his sleeping schedule got all messed up. Monday morning rolled around and he was up at the ungodly hour of 3 a.m. Around 7:30 a.m. I groggily rolled out of bed to a household of organization. Children were clothed and fed, lunches were made, and everyone was smiling. Not our usual morning. The boys actually had about an hour of playtime before Caleb and Ethan had to go to school! I was told to go back to bed, and being the submissive and dutiful wife that I am, I did. After a lovely sleep-in, I was treated to breakfast in bed. Of course, the day didn't end there. Supper was wings and fries - which are Luke's specialties. Now, if there is one thing I like, it's a man who knows his way around a kitchen. And mine does. Can't you tell from the kids' faces?

I'm sorry, ladies, but this guy is all mine. I don't know how I landed him or what I've done to deserve such treatment, but I sure am grateful. Not every day is like this one was, but I always know I am loved and appreciated. Not much more that a woman needs!

The new niece!

2006-12-09T23:07:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well. There is a new little baby in the family and I couldn't be more thrilled! Nyola was born December 9, one day before her due date (why, oh why, didn't that ever happen to me?). 7 lbs and a few ounces (3 I think, but don't quote me!). We heard direct from the proud papa this morning, but Luke talked to him so I didn't get any of the interesting details - all you women out there know what I mean! All I can say is congratulations, Dan and Jocelyne. I am so happy for you!

Christmas baking

2006-12-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

I don't really know what we were thinking. Between us, Heather and I have five, I repeat, five boys. And yet we felt up to the challenge of tackling a boat load of Christmas baking. It didn't start off that badly at all. The sugar cookies were a snap. Three kids outside and two inside made for a pleasant morning. There was no whining from the kids and no whining from Heather and I. It was fun.

We had lunch and then started on the pepper nuts. They were fun - make little snakes out of the dough and then chop them up. With both of us working at it, it didn't even take too long. I only got in trouble once from Kyle (Heather's youngest). Little mister Kyle really liked the pepper nuts. I tried taking them away and he looked at me and said, "Carmen! No!" with attitude only a two year old can give.

The final cookie of the day were spritz cookies. I was so excited to use my cookie press for the first time. As you may notice from the picture above, my cookie press wasn't exactly successful. After much frustration, Heather finally got her cookie press out. By this time, neither of us were feeling that optimistic and for good reason. Apparantly good ol' Martha (Stewart, that is) had steered us wrong in the flour department. We finally ended up pressing it into pans and cooking as is. The best thing, though, about baking with your best friend is that instead of slamming cupboard doors and sniping at the kids like I would at home by myself, we laughed our heads off over the whole fiasco. I sure am glad I moved close to home again.

A new nephew/niece

2006-11-29T23:18:00.000-07:00

There's a baby on the way! Dan and Jocelyne are about to have a baby and I am so excited. Now that my babies are no longer babies, I miss the cuddling and the kissing and the milk breath and the flailing limbs and ... can you tell I love newborns? My most precious memories are of holding a sleeping 1 week old baby in my arms and just looking down at his beautiful face as he sleeps. I can't wait for Dan and Joce to have that same experience.

While we were visiting them just before the September long weekend, Joce had mentioned to me that she would like to have a Curious George quilt for the baby when he/she comes. We discussed it a little and I told her if she could find some fabric, I was the girl for her. As it turned out, as soon as I got home I got sooo excited about this little project that I went looking for fabric myself. Boy, was it ever scarce! Ebay became my best friend for the next couple days. I found a Curious George fabric book kit and a meter of Curious George zoo fabric. Then it sat whilst I waited for inspiration. That never came. I think this is the part where procastination comes in to the picture, Lindy!

Anyway, I decided simplest was best, especially for a baby and went with some beautifully bright colors to go with George and his zoo friends. Here's the finished project. Hope they like it as much as I do!

A Birthday Boy

2006-11-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

Ethan. The E-meister. Ethaniel. The E-machine. Eth. My boy with the big eyes and bigger smile and the mind that is never satisfied until he knows just about everything there is to know. As a baby, he would destroy toy after toy - not for the sake of destroying but to figure out how it worked. He had curly hair until I cut it for the first time. He was always getting Caleb into trouble. The word "no" had no apparant meaning and spanking was useless because he had no nerve endings on his butt. He actually liked the taste of the soap we scrubbed his mouth with when he lied. My Ethan. The birthday boy. I will now be out $100 of popcorn and beer money!

We had the party the day after his birthday due to a scheduling conflict with hockey. We soon found out that first-graders have a ton of energy - especially after pop and cake! Ethan invited eight kids and seven of them came plus one party crasher. We had big plans to go sledding on the hill by the school but it was too cold, so the kids all came to our house. I never plan any games - maybe if I did the hyper level would have gone down a level. I always think that if I had been in school all day I wouldn't want to be micromanaged the minute I got out. We had tacos for supper, and boy did that go over big! There were kids who managed thirds and even fourths. Luke and I were amazed. Who knew? I will never underestimate the capacity of a child's stomach again. As it turned out I had bought just enough stuff - this from a woman who regularly overestimates food quantities and has a fridge full at the end of a meal.

I think Ethan had a good day. It's hard being the birthday boy and expecting to get your way the entire day and not having your parents cooperate. I actually remember that same feeling as a kid!

Baking buns

2006-11-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

I like to cook. I like to bake. It's just something that gives me pleasure. The only thing I don't like is cooking or baking something that just doesn't turn out. Our first year of marriage was one of many, shall we say, interesting foods that caused a prompt drive to the restaurant. Of course, ten years of marriage have made that a thing of the past, but I can still remember the hockey puck buns, the ginormous pot of soup that wasn't edible, and the various dishes that all met an ignoble end.

So, after the barf debacle the other day, I decided the whole family could use some good ol' buns and borscht. My favorite meal (besides cabbage rolls, pizza, bbq ribs... who am I trying to kid? I really like food!) and something the whole family loves. Couldn't go wrong, right?

OK, I blame being tired on what happened next. As I was kneading the bun dough I realized my mistake. It was feeling, well, stiff. And as I punched the heck out of it, I thought back to those hockey puck buns. Not again! I had a decision to make. Bake the buns with the dough I had or throw it all out and start over. Being the person I am, I decided to chance it.

That whole day, while waiting for the dough to rise, putting the buns on the pans and waiting for them to rise I had a sinking feeling. Maybe I should have just started over. Maybe I shouldn't have tried this on a day with no or little sleep the night before. Maybe, maybe, maybe. It's funny how those thoughts just ruin a whole day. And for what? At the end I came away with buns that tasted slightly like biscuits. Not the best batch I've ever made, but not the worst either. I just wish I hadn't wasted my day dwelling on it.

My supermom status takes a dive.

2006-11-20T15:49:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well. What a day this has been. Luckily we got to bed fairly early last night or I don't think I could have made it through this day without some kind of meltdown.

First, I need to tell you all something. I am not good with puke. Give me any other mommy job and I'm there with my supermom cape on, but throw-up is simply in another league - one that I don't have my supermom badge for. I usually make Luke clean things up, but when he's working I don't want to wake him up in the middle of the night for something that I should be capable of doing for myself. Case in point: 1:00 a.m. last night I woke to what seemed to be alien noises coming from Titus' room. I leapt out of bed and ran into the room in time to see the second round of vomit make its appearance on his blanket. Me, the ever calm and panic free mom, started freaking out, just a little. I set him on his chair in his room and got down to the gag-inducing business of cleaning up the bed, the carpet, the teddy bear, and the one unfortunate dinky car that got hit. Took a good 15 minutes and then some. Finally the clean sheets, pillow, and blankets were on the bed. I lifted my baby up and laid him down, only to have him throw up on the pillow before I could cover him with the blankets.

This continued until I had put two loads of laundry through the washing machine. By then it was 3:15 a.m. and I was beat, so I lay down on the couch to get some sleep before the next eruption. Before I could close my eyes, I heard Insomnia Boy (a.k.a. Caleb) coming up the stairs to say he couldn't sleep. In our household, this has been a fairly regular occurance for the past 4 months or so, and I was predictably a little grouchy. I sent him back down, only to have him come up again 10 minutes later and complain of a stomachache. Now, not only did I not put two and two together, I made the ironic comment (quite snarkily, I might add) that he should either go to the bathroom, go to bed, or go puke. Imagine my horror when this dear little boy ran to the bathroom and promptly tossed his cookies (or, in this case, lasagna).

And so it went, with Titus and Caleb taking turns for the rest of the night and into the morning. Needless to say, they both sat in front of the TV for the rest of the day, nursing a ginger ale and nibbling on crackers. And me? Well, the supermom association called and have put me on probation. I think today might be a good day for a nap.

You know you're old when ...

2006-11-11T18:51:00.000-07:00

Remember standing at the top of a snowy hill as a kid? Picking just the right place to launch your sled, waiting for the path to clear, feeling that rush of adrenaline just before pushing off. Eyelashes frozen together, snow down your pants, and the knowledge that you had absolutely no control over where you were going made it one of the most exhilarating experiences of your young life. I remember the feeling all too well, as my antics today can attest too.

It really wasn't all my fault. My husband seemed to remember it the same way I did. And with three young boys clearly thrilled at the prospect of going sledding on a REAL hill and not just the snow pile in the front yard, my fate was sealed.

It's called Suicide Hill. But we looked out at the people on the hill and thought it was looked appropriate for our family. The first few runs were quite tame, in fact. Besides the fact I had to pull a three-year-old on a sled up the hill, it was just perfect. The two older boys were enjoying themselves on their GT Snowracers and Titus was having a blast going down first with me, then with Luke, and then by himself. Then Caleb decided to switch things up and took one of the plastic sleds Titus had been using. Our runs were shifting slightly left of where we had been and we were finding ourselves in teenager territory. And then Luke saw The Run.

Caleb didn't need much encouragement. Taking one of the plastic sleds he ran the gauntlet of four jumps with only minimal difficulty. Ethan needed a bit more prodding but he made it down- if not stylishly, then at least in one piece. Luke was next in line, since Titus and I were prudently sledding down beside The Run but not on it. Taking one of the GTs, he placed his feet on the skids and crouched over it, standing but with his hands on the steering wheel. After the first jump he made the realization that he was going too fast and bailed. It was quite a sight - the Abominable Snowman slowly got up as the snow settled around him. I might have even giggled a little.

After that it was all about The Run. Different strategy, point of entry, and technique came into play. I watched many a person attempt The Run with varying results of success and failure. Finally, the sledding time was coming to a close. We sent Titus down the hill on the GT by himself for the first time and watched as he barely missed the jumps and came this close to running into a crowd of kids gathered at the bottom. Realizing he wouldn't be able to climb the hill with the GT himself I looked around and saw the second GT just waiting for me. I walked towards it and saw that my dear hubby had the same idea.

"You get on the front and steer, I'll climb on behind you," he said.
"Are you sure? It looks, well, I just don't want to get hurt," I replied.
"We're not going to go over any jumps, we're not even that close to The Run. Don't wuss out on me," he countered.
"Well, OK."

It went great. We flew by the jumps on The Run but didn't hit any and I was starting to think we were home free until..

"Oh, no!" I screamed. "Watch out!"

Luke jumped off just before we hit it, but managed a spectacular wipe out nonetheless. I was not quite as quick and as I soared through the air I remember thinking "I knew this wasn't a good idea!" Then I hit snow and tumbled head over heels for an impressive distance before sliding to a very cold and wet stop face down beside the GT.

I am now at home, sitting on my couch and nursing a swollen knee. My husband is beside me with a tailbone so sore that sitting isn't necessarily an option. The moral of this little story? Remembering sledding is one thing, reliving it is another.

2006-10-24T09:46:00.000-06:00

"Have you received my e-mail yet?"

"Um, yeah, thanks!" I grimace on the phone. "Sorry I haven't written back."

"That's OK."

Awkward silence.

"Well, um, next time I'm on the computer I'll make sure to send you something."

"Great! I'd love that! I sure love to hear about my grandkids."

Phone conversation ends.

Next week...

"Have you received my e-mail this week?"

"Um, yeah, thanks!" I grimace on the phone. "Sorry I haven't written back."

Repeat ad nauseum.

That is the reason I am starting this blog. This is for you, Grandma! And the rest of the clan who live far, far away, but mainly for Grandma.

Anyway...

Here's a picture of the whole family on a day trip to Dinosaur Lake in BC. Was it ever cool. My uncle has a riverboat and we, along with Mom and Dad, went the length of the lake from the dam on the lower end up to the Hudson Hope dam. There were eagles, rocks crumbling from the cliffs into the water, and the occasional deer on the rock face. The boys were in outdoorsy heaven. Uncle B took us to a neat little island in the middle of the lake that we roamed for a bit. That's where we took this picture, on this cool dead tree that was perfect for climbing all over. We even woke little T up for the picture (apparently a riverboat is very lulling to an almost three-year-old) which is always an iffy deal. You never know what you're going to get, sunshine or rain.

Well, I'll be back. Maybe with some stories. Maybe some pictures. Maybe stories + pictures. With the occasional thing that I may have made, just because I'm always astounded when I finish something (I'm a big procrastinator, hence the whole telephone conversation thing). So, later!