Career Night....

So at the children's AWANA program, they have fun activity nights. This week happened to be "career night" where the children had the oppurtunity to dress up as something they possibly would like to be when they grow up!
I thought it was fun to watch them figure it out and find stuff on their own to wear.

Isaac came home beaming and announced that he was picked as one of the best costumes and got a prize! Bless his heart, he was sooo incredibly happy that he was picked and that his prize was a Coffee Crisp chocolate bar! (his absolute favorite)
I think Moriyah looked pretty cute too and I liked what she chose, although this is my girl that is with me in the kitchen pretty much all the time working alongside me... so naturally, I wasn't surprised!

Happy Homemaker

Hello !

Spring is here!...officially. Outside does not look like spring as it is currently snowing!!  I refuse to let that dampen my spirit  though, as I know pretty soon warmer weather is coming and soon all the lovely things about spring will be.
Today I've got alot of energy and feel so great as I woke up early and have been able to accomplish alot of the usual Monday chores. Monday is usually my day that I devote to getting the house back in order from the weekend and I tackle the "big" jobs.

I love the smell of a freshly scrubbed kitchen and shiny appliances bring me joy. I grew up with the smell of "Pine-Sol" as that is the one cleaner my mother and grandmother both used and I have fond memories of a clean house with that scent.  It's no surprise that I use the same now when scrubbing toilets, floors and walls. It just feels good to have a clean home at the start of a new week.

I feel so blessed to be able to stay at home and take pride in my role as wife, mother and Homemaker!  I enjoy managing our home and adding that special touch to everything that happens in our home. Even with the duties of the day I can bless my husband and children. 
I find these extra touches make a home feel cozy. I am a lover of candles and flowers, and these are easy pick-me-ups for any atmosphere. I have enjoyed classical music and now sometimes the children request it and its so relaxing in the background as we spend time together as a family.
Keeping our home organized, clean and fresh is something I continue to strive for and perfect and it is a fun journey!

Sometimes I get the usual "roll of the eyes" when asked what my proffession is and I happily say "Helpmeet, Mother and Homemaker". The response is usually negative and sarcastic. I have been called "old-fashioned" or "nuts" and I find it odd that a society of people could see that looking after my family with enthusiasm is dull , boring, and meaningless.  On the other hand I have encountered some wonderful ladies and other women who understand and have encouraged me in this high calling. To have an eternal perspective makes the difference between just going through the motions versus using the oppurtunity to invest in our families and especially our children to raise them up to impact their generation!

Well i hear the washing machine is finished its cycle so that means I'm up to go and fold baskets of clothes, and cloth diapers!  hope you are all having a Blessed Monday!!

classes

Dear hubby and I have a Doula friend who is putting on Natural Childbirth classes and we've started her sessions the last few sundays. We have been really enjoying them, as it gives us the oppurtunity to meet with other like-minded couples, learn some great relaxation techniques and chat about our pregnancies, and upcoming births!  It also gives us that time to bond as husband and wife as we focus on our little one and plan out our birth goals.
One thing we practiced this week were birth positions on a birthing ball, while we leaned on our husbands or our husbands used tennis balls to massage our backs.  After practicing various options I couldn't believe how amazing the idea of a birthing ball really is! Having as many children as we have had, this is one thing I have not even tried during my labors.
That is about to change!

We are going out this week to buy one. It is truly functional and I can totally see myself relaxing on one of these and leaning on dear hubby during labor. Our instructor taught us various moves to use with the ball to help baby's descend into the birth canal and it totally makes sense. Can't wait for next week to see what else we're going to practice in our class....
I am also getting excited as our SweetPea's arrival is just around the corner! I still have so much to do to get ready. I started sorting through old bins of baby clothes and its amazing how tiny the outfits are.
I still need to make an appointment to get my belly cast done with a gift certificate I won at the Baby Show a few weeks back.

I've sewn up a few blankets for baby, so i just need to wash those to give them the extra fluff and have them ready for our SweetPea. I am really trying to savor this stage, as baby is very strong in movement and I can already detect SweetPea's sleeping/waking patterns. It's so amazing to watch as baby responds to voices already too.
I have been enjoying listening to this pregnancy relaxation cd and have ordered the birthing visualization cd as well. They both come from a company that I really like called "Earth Mama Angel Baby" .  Here is their Linky: http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/  I highly recommend their products for any woman who is expecting! They have wonderful teas, books, cds and natural organic skin care products for pregnancy and beyond, and they package their items so that it arrives in the mail so beautifully decorated!  I have ordered so many products from them over the years and I've never been dissappointed...

 I am so blessed to be carrying Life and every day I wake up in amazement and awe at this gift we've been given! It's truly a miracle and we are soo thankful!

sacred calling....

 The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies. A true mother is one of the holiest secrets of home happiness. God sends many beautiful things to this world, many noble gifts; but no blessing is richer than that which He bestows in a mother who has learned love's lessons well, and has realized something of the meaning of her sacred calling.

~J.R. Miller
Secrets of Happy Home Life, 1894.

Oats and more....

Hey Everyone!!!
I am still here, wishing I had more time to Blog these last few months..but life is busy and looking after the needs of my family leaves little time for blogging sometimes!

Our household is fairly healthy but the other night I noticed a bump on our 10 year old daughter, but thought nothing more until more of these blister looking things started appearing on her neck.
We got her into our family doctor right away and sure enough-she has the CHICKENPOX!!!

So we've been busy pampering her and she's been so good about the itchy part, being so careful not to scratch too much since she heard the Doctor say it can leave scars.
It's sad to watch your child go through pain and watch her sores worsen over the hours.
We tried to brighten her time at home from school by letting her use her library card to get out some new novels and movies in which she was pretty happy about. She also wanted to do something "fun" while she was home from school and chose to bake cookies for the family (bless her heart!!)

She did so well at picking a recipe and doing everything by herself!

Here she is with her first batch of cookies out of the oven!

I am so proud of her for being such a trooper even while sick and wanting to be in the kitchen. I guess it can get boring at home even with books and movies.

Tonight I'm trying something to help alleviate her itching and it looks like this:

I've been given lots of wonderful tips from other mom's and the Oatmeal bath was high on the list. I am so excited to try it...mainly because I really like trying homemade remedies and its natural! At first I was told to just put oats in the bath , but upon more research this may be the less messy way of doing it. Blending up the oats to a fine powder in blender would not only make less of a "porridge" bath but would mix with the water easily making a "silkier" bath. Plus I'm sure it would be soothing to the senses as well.

I have a feeling that if I like it I may just keep a glass jar of fine oats in the bathroom as a bath staple, especially since a  few of us suffer from excema.

I'll be sure to post how it worked later!



Grace....

This song sums everything in life up well! God' Grace....gives such an amazing perspective....(dont forget to shut off the Music Player at the bottom of this blog!)

Life!

Found this Pic. Loved it. 'nuf said...!

Some Christmas pics...part 1

Whew!
I finally get a bit of time to blog!

We had a wonderful holiday, with both Christmas and New Years....lots of visiting, meals, parties, playdates, skating with friends and some sledding. I totally meant to post during the holidays but it just didn't happen. Here are a few pictures of our Christmas Eve.

Our 2 oldest were given the priveledge to hold the candles at the Christmas Eve service at our church

Our beautiful children in front of the Christmas Tree at church

Children setting up the Nativity Scene. Each child holds a figurine and tells the family it's part in the nativity story, then they placed it in the stable. Hannah adored the Baby Jesus and was in awe.

Blurry picture..but I like how the focus is on Baby Jesus.

The first (and only!) Gift the children get to open on Christmas Eve...as tradition: New Pyjamas for all!

Christmas tree with Gifts all set up! Late Christmas Eve...

Well thats a glimpse into some of our Christmas..and I'll be sure to post the rest soon.  Many memories were made and we enjoyed our family time together celebrating with extended relatives and friends.
Look for part 2 coming soon.









a dessert ...in time for the holidays

Hello Everyone!

We are all busy preparing and enjoying the holidays and counting down the days till Christmas Eve! Believe it or not it is tomorrow night!! This past month we have been busy attending school pageants, carol sing alongs at an old age home, decorating, reading nativity stories and watching classic Christmas movies on t.v.  Have I mentioned that I simply LOVE this season?!!!

I thought it might be fun to share a familiar recipe with you all here as well.  This recipe is for a desert that my mother and grandmother made each and every Christmas when I was growing up, and I am proud to have also made this every year since our firstborn was a baby.  It goes by many different names, but I like to call it "Pineapple Delight".  It is very simple, fun for girls to help with  and I have had positive comments on it.

Here it is:

PINEAPPLE DELIGHT

A) CRUST:

2 cups graham crumbs
1/2 cut melted butter

-mix thoroughly and keep out 1/2 cup of graham crumb mixture for the top of the desert later.
-press crust mixter into a 9X13 Pan
-put in oven at 300* for 10 minutes
-cool completely

B) ICING LAYER:

1 1/2 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp vanilla to taste
enough milk to make spreadable

-mix all together and spread on top of the cooled graham crust in the pan

C) PINEAPPLE FILLING

1 large can of crushed pineapple (well drained!)
1/2 pint whipping cream

-whip cream on high till stiff, adding small amount of icing sugar if desired
-fold in pineapple in the whipped cream
-spread on top of the icing layer generously

Top the whole dessert with the remaining Graham Crumbs  and Chill (so it sets and flavors combine)
After the dessert has been chilled overnight, cut into squares, serve and enjoy!

and thats it!!

Our family can polish off a pan of these squares in no time!

Well there is still alot of small things I need to tackle tonight so that tomorrow it will be easier paced and we can enjoy our Christmas Eve day and night.  Hope you all have a blessed holiday! I will be back soon to update and post some pics.
Good Night!

Bring on the Cravings!

Hello everyone!

So, these days we have been busily preparing for Advent and the holiday season .  I have been enjoying every minute of it and loving the joy on our children's faces over things such as the first real snowfall, putting our star on the top of the decorated tree, tasting gingerbread dough and also our first sips of hot apple cider. There is something so magical about this season and I am reminded of my own childhood Christmas memories.

We have also been so wrapped up these days in the anticipation and excitement of announcing our news to family and friends! Well by the title of this post, you may have guessed it..hehe.... We are simply thrilled, honoured and soo grateful that we have been Blessed again and I am carrying the Gift of Life within!! Yes...we are Expecting another little precious one come spring!

This pregnancy has been relatively smooth going, with a little bit of morning sickness the first few months...and a bit of tiredness. We had an ultrasound at 11 weeks and it was simply amazing to see this little one on the screen with heart beating ever so fast and little limbs moving!

As the technician moved the doppler across my belly, I could feel tears coming..in that moment it was so "REAL" and watching our little one really moved me and I kept whispering praises to the Lord and the tears kept coming. Maybe it was hormones and I was a tad emotional, but I was just in awe at the miracle of Life before our very eyes! I felt so proud to be a woman and that God was forming this precious little one so precisely and intricately within my very own womb....words can't even sum up that moment in time, yet it is engraved within my heart forever.

When we told the other children, they jumped up and down in excitement and it was awesome to spend the night talking about the new baby.  Our little Elijah pats my belly everyday now and says "I'm petting the baby"..its quite adorable.

I have been really trying to get all the required nutrients in and even with taking my prenatal vitamins, I Crave Protein constantly.  I have tried over the months to satisfy it with beans, and lots of other substitutes for meat but it just doesn't cut it.  There was one night where I was so frustrated and finally at 9:30 at night, dear hubby ran to the grocery store for me and bought me a nice Sirloin steak!  Since then I have been having steaks every week...and the craving is satisfied. I crave horseradish and sauerkraut too, which is so weird!

Tomorrow we have another ultrasound scheduled out of town as they have a nicer facility and over the pregnancies, I have found they take their time and do not rush us out of there. The technician is very thorough in describing everything to us and even includes the husband and children...
We have debated finding out the sex of this little one, however as tempting as it will be, I think I would regret it later. I have never found out for ANY of our babies, and its that extra curiousity and suspense that gets me through those last few weeks of pregnancy and Labour. We'll see. Maybe we will find out afterall?...!

I will update on everything soon!