I don’t know about you guys but we always end up getting home later than we originally planned. But today, somehow, we made it home in great time!! We got a really early start, for us anyway, and just clipped along. We stopped only for short spans of time, only as absolutely needed, and since our kids travel surprisingly well, the stops were few and far between!

I was nervous about the weather. It was beautiful in Winnipeg, and we had left a town filled with snow and ice and wind behind. We knew we were coming back to it. But surprise, surprise! Most of the snow seems to have melted off! The temperature was above zero, and the roads were clear. Praise the Lord for the weather clearing up in time for our arrival. I know winter is still upon us, but this was a nice, gentle “Welcome home, Born family!”

Thanks to our quick drive home, we were able to feed the kids some leftovers and keep the evening relaxed. And thanks to daylight savings, our children are an hour more tired, so we were able to put them down a little bit earlier! This is actually a life saver, because we have a bit of a fuller day tomorrow. Dekker heads to school nice and early, as usual, and then I need to head into the city with the other kids for some appointments for them. Everyone is going to be adequately exhausted, myself included, hahaha!

It is more than time for Brady and I to get a soak in the tub and go to bed early. Goodnight, everyone!

These visits to Winnipeg are always SO lovely, but they are always FAR TOO SHORT! I feel like we need to make our way out here for a week or something along those lines, so we can actually fit in seeing all of the many people we dearly love who live around here. This visit, however, revolved around us catching up with my sister and her husband, and as per usual, it was a lovely time together! They are some of the most loving people we know, and they are fabulous hosts. We are always so comfortable in their home.

We spent today at home, playing and eating and visiting and just being together. In the afternoon, we all came outside and walked around the yard a little bit. It started to rain a little bit, so we decided to go with our earlier plan to make a fire. We hauled branches and grass clippings and some boxes and all kinds of “fuel” to start a good, hot, whistly fire. Dekker worked tirelessly to rake up some more grass or to drag branches over to the fire to help. He was very concerned that animals would come and be hurt by the fire. I love how he thinks of all of that. He’s so very sweet. It didn’t take too terribly long for the wind to get the better of us, though. Caity and Stef are tougher than we are, but Brady and I hauled ourselves and our kids inside a bit earlier. Dekker asked for jammies but we couldn’t talk Laela or Rowan isn’t changing into anything warm or dry. Solly just slept in the ergo for a little while until I sat down (of course), when he woke up ready to play.

Everyone was nice and tired after being outside, and we skipped Rowan’s nap, so he was especially tired. But not in a disaster kind of way. Just a snuggly, zoned, tipsy kind of way. He fell down a lot, haha! But he also learned how to say “Chuggington,” which I’d say is an accomplishment, especially on a tired day.

We had mashed potatoes and barbecued chicken for supper, and some sugar cookies for dessert. We let the kids stay up a bit later, and when bedtime came, they were nice and ready for it.

The rest of us played video games for a couple of hours, and ate far too many snacks. It was awesome. And now, we’re tucking in and calling it a day. We drive home tomorrow! Real life begins again on Tuesday, with Brady back at work, Dekker at school, and Solly getting shots and his four month check up. Busy busy!

My sister and I went shopping this afternoon while the boys watched the kids. Thanks, boys! While shopping was a TOTAL blast, and I brought a few nice purchases, I’ll leave the pictures of the boys and kids here 🙂 They went to play outside and made a little fire while Rowan and Solly napped, and then went back out for round two once they woke up.

Have a great night!

Today is Brady’s 28th birthday! I had a super choppy night and felt really sick throughout it, so I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t the most fun partier this morning, when we woke up at 6:50am. I think I choked out a “happy birthday” a couple of hours into the day, when I remembered. Luckily, Brady had also forgotten it was his birthday. Oy. Not our best kick off.

However, on another level, it was an exceptional kick off, because we road tripped our way to Winnipeg today! The kids had been requesting to come visit Auntie Caity and Uncle Stefan all summer, but timing jut hadn’t worked out for either of us. We made a plan for this one small break in Brady’s schedule, and we’ve been anticipating it for a while. So this morning, we fed Solly, dressed the big kids, and headed for Winnipeg! We grabbed some Tims breakfast on the way out, turned on the music, and enjoyed the drive.

I can honestly say that the kids did awesome! We haven’t driven to Winnipeg since Rowan was itty bitty, so we weren’t completely sure what to expect. Plus, with Ro right at the stage of wanting badly to communicate, but not having too much language just yet, he screams SO MUCH. As fun as it sounds, being locked in a van with that for nine-ish hours isn’t exactly relaxing. But the littles surprised me by keeping the bickering to a very reasonable minimum, having positive attitudes, taking a short nap all at the same time, and not requesting too many impossible things.

The last hour of the drive, Solly cried. But thats often how the end of our trips play out, Brady reminded me. The kids hit the point of eight or so hours in a vehicle, and then they’re finished. We can’t blame them.

Once we got to Caity and Stefs, the kids dug into their toys instantly and we visited for a little while before putting the finishing touches on supper and having something yummy to eat. We had birthday ice cream cake after the littles went down 😉 The kids then went to bed (but talked forever) and we’re only going to bed ourselves now! Thus begins our weekend away 🙂 I’m so happy we made the trip, and am so anticipating the days to come <3

Brady and I were broken into school fully today, as we attended our first parent/teacher meeting! And I say “meeting” in the loosest sense of the word, but “interview” and “conference” weren’t right either. It wasn’t a stiff, sit-down, setting. Instead, there were a few stations set up throughout the two rooms, and we were given loose directions at each one that would help us witness what our kids have been doing so far this year. Since Dekker tells us virtually nothing about school, I’ve been really anticipating today’s meeting.

My mom came to the house to play with Rowan and Laela (Solly napped the entire time) and Brady came along with Dekker and I! We arrived on time and were sort of pointed in a handful of directions, told to mosey and enjoy. So we did!

We started at the “motor skills” table, where Dekker cut out a picture of a teddy bear, wrote his name on it, and glued it to a sheet of paper. Dekker has pretty much refused to use scissors when school started, but we hear that now he’s a very focused, determined scissor-user 🙂

We made our way to the “math” station, which was all about shapes, sorting, and patterns. I was actually really surprised at how well Dekker did! Not that basic patterns are hard to figure out, but we handed him a box of shapes and he just went for it, and made patterns! I feel like I would find that more intimidating than he did. He was able to see patterns that Brady and I made, and complete them himself. Win!

Station three was about reading, and he kind of clammed up on us there. They’ve only really cracked down on learning a small handful of letters, but he didn’t want to share about them. He wouldn’t recite any of their usual poems, and wouldn’t identify any letters. I found myself getting a bit frustrated, but I knew that he had excelled at the other stations, and this one just wasn’t his strongest point yet. He still liked being in the reading area, but I could tell he felt pressured. It was good to learn what we should be focusing more on.

The last station was actually sitting down with his teacher and discussing how he’s been doing, and what we’ve witnessed about him. For example, does he like to come to school? Who are his friends? How does he do once he’s home from school? Things like that. She and I have spoken about these things previously, so she knows that Dekker likes coming to school. I said to her that he wouldn’t tell us anything about their poems or letters, and she teased him and started saying a poem, which he giggled through with her, knowing all of the words. I mentioned to her that he has really big feelings, and that while his sad is VERY sad, his happy is also VERY happy. She was able to look me in the eye and say that the vast majority of the time, he is VERY happy. I was so thrilled to hear that. She said he is incredibly polite, and that he is very aware of right and wrong, and likes to follow directions and rules. I truly couldn’t be happier with her “review” of his personality, because I love how much she seems to love him. She asked him who his friends are, and then told him that other kids had been saying that he was one of their favorite people to play with, too. My mama heart weeps, in the best way.

Dekker was disappointed to leave. Not in a big, sad, making a scene kind of way. In the way that his face fell, and said “but there’s lots more to see!” It was adorable, and I just told him I was so happy he likes school so much.

Best Dekker update ever!!!

I almost named this post “Physio: Final Round,” but I figured I wouldn’t count my chickens, since a person can never know when they’ll need treatment and/or help along the way. And I would be happy to see my physiotherapist again, because she is lovely, and wildly knowledgable in her field. Whether I find myself in “trouble” down the road or not, I’m sure I’ll stick my nose in there another time or two, just to maintain what I’ve already got going on.

The reason I almost called this round “final” is that I have officially graduated out of the program, so to speak. I’ve done all that I’ve been asked to do, I understand everything I’ve been told, and I accept what I’m supposed to continue to do. Things are strong and always improving, and best of all, my physiotherapist is very optimistic in whats to come for me, healing and health-wise. Win!

I suppose I don’t have too terribly much more to say on the subject, but I’m feeling positive, optimistic, hopeful, and ready to accept the challenge that is continuing to improve my health, even without a looming appointment date where I know I’ll have to answer to someone on the subject. I will answer to ME, which I think is actually more important.

So I’m happy. I hope you’re happy too.

I don’t go to the mall very often, but I was there this afternoon. After my waxing appointment, I headed there to meet my hair girl so she could practice a new skill on me 🙂

I love having a little piece of art on my body, and I’m excited to go back in two or three weeks to get another! I have all the right people in all the right fields.

But before I even got to the salon, I walked through the mall. I always park on the opposite side of the mall that I need to be at, just to make some extra exercise for myself. Folks, I regret to inform you it is officially that time of year.

** If you are someone who doesn’t want to hear about Christmas until December, that is fine by me, but realize that I’m pro-Christmas this early in the year, so no hating. **

My least favorite thing about this seasons is the kiosks. Or honestly, its actually the people who work at the kiosks that make me crazy. I’ve become a pro at avoiding them and their products, but today, I was completely caught off guard! Someone passed me a sample packet of something, and foolishly, I accepted it, and kept walking. He called after me and asked what I use for skin care. “I don’t,” I responded. He asked me to pause just for a second, and I called behind me “I’m sorry, I’m in a time crunch, heading to a hair appointment.” I was a good ways off already, and I finally just turned my ears off and kept moving, because he did. Not. Quit.

I find this extra off-putting, not only because I just want to be able to go to where I’m going without interruption, but because I hate ignoring a person, and writing them and what they’re selling off. But I know how it works! The longer I let that guy talk to me, and the longer I stood in front of him, all apologetic, I was a “sales opportunity.” So I had to leave. Otherwise, I’d still be there. So I left. But I felt crappy about it.

If anyone can relate to me, and wants to avoid the whole ordeal without confrontation, now you know they’re out! Use my trick! Take a fake phone call. I usually have my phone pulled out, and I talk mindlessly on it while I walk down the aisle. “Great to hear from you, I’m just pretending to talk on the phone to avoid all of these pushy salespeople…..”

Thanks to Facebook Memories, I was shown a very adorable picture of my children from last year, and I was completely blown away by the change that one year makes!

THEY LOOK SO DIFFERENT! Dekker is far more babyfaced in this photo. Laela isn’t making a funny face, and she has far less hair. And Rowan is a baby!!! We thought Ro had tons of hair then, and NOW look at him!!

Not to mention the obvious fact that we added a family member, hahaha!

My goodness, I am SO smitten with my kids today! They’re looking so cute and bright and friendly <3

I hope this shorty post finds you happy and feeling blessed, because I am sure both of those things. And clearly, I was both of those things exactly one year ago too 🙂

With today being Thanksgiving Sunday, I would normally list off as many beautiful anecdotes about my family and friends, and share everything I’m thankful for. Instead, I’m going to keep this short so I can spend a bit more time with my family before the littles go to bed.

If you’d like to know what I am most thankful for, just scroll back up to the header image. Those little ones bring me an immense amount of joy, and I am SO thankful that I can have them in my life. In that, I include my husband. I love to do life with him. We’ve had some interesting roadblocks along the way, but with God, we can weather these ridiculous storms. I am incredibly thankful for family.

If you want to know what else I’m thankful for, come over and see. 🙂  I’m thankful to live in the house I live in, in the town I live in, surrounded by exactly who I am surrounded by. This is our home, finally. I am so very thankful to have settled here.

So this year, we’re back to basics. Family and home are what I am most thankful for. I don’t think I could be happier than I am. And if I could be, don’t tell me. I don’t want to desire more, because it would make me thoroughly selfish. I already have way more than I need. <3 Thank you, Lord.

We had waffle brunch this morning in honour of Laela’s birthday last weekend! My parents came, as well as Simon and Grace, and their family. Instead of just syrup and butter, we had whipped cream and strawberries this time as well. We actually managed to get everyone eating at the table together for a while, and the food and conversation were great. The kids all finished up first and went to play while the rest of us visited for a nice long while. Eventually, Solly woke up, and Laela opened presents. She was very happy with the outcome there as well. Who doesn’t love birthday presents?? When everyone was ready to head out, we sang a big, loud, group “happy birthday” to Laela. As soon as it was over, she chirped “Sanks!” It was really really sweet. She loved being celebrated this morning.

Once everyone left, we took a breather. The kids had a snack and Dekker and Laela played Lego while Rowan and Solly napped. Once everyone got up in the mid-afternoon, we got them dressed and headed to the city for some grocery shopping. I truly enjoyed that part of the day. I wore Solly through Costco and then again through Superstore, and we just had such nice snuggles. I found that, even with him secure and stable in his carrier, I wanted to just put my arms around him and hug him tight. Best of all, when I did, he’d giggle. It was awesome.

After a very full day, we got home just a little late, and I managed to talk the kids into being a bit softer and slower moving during bedtime, which was SO nice. They were all more relaxed, the volume level was low, and everyone was very sweet, giving nice hugs and kisses before bed.

I feel SO thankful for these little loves, and the man behind the camera <3