Goodness, guys, there is so much going on over here, its just been a wild time! 😅 But today has, once again, been productive and busy. I’m SO grateful I can actually manage busyness again. What a weird thing to take for granted.

This morning, the kids got up and ready for the day. With the sun comes new freckles 😍 You know how I feel about the kids’ dots.

They ate, packed their backpacks for the day, and then got into the camp stuff! A couple boys buckled down on dishes while the others did some packing for camp this weekend. Lucky for me, biking to school leaves more time before they leave for school, so they worked and got lots done this morning. All three boys have their clothes packed and ready. Laela was in the middle of packing for both herself and Wavy when she had to head out, but she’ll finish it up after school. Kids have packed up glasses and cases. Stuffed toys. Swim stuff. Books. Shoesbootssandals. There is a whole running list, and they check the boxes as they pack them. Once they’re home, footwear will be chosen, jackets packed, and hats located and set aside. Still a good handful of loose ends, but we’re on our way.

Once school kids left, Wavy and I got to the food prep!

Summer days include a TON of fresh veggies! We love to eat a big chunky chicken salad meal when its hot at camp, plus we have chopped veggies every day at lunch time. Six lettuce hearts. Six peppers. Six cucumbers. A bunch of cherry tomatoes and carrots. There is also a bunch of sliced meat for lunches, and I sliced and shredded about 3/4 of a block of cheese. We are set for picnic lunches coming out the nose.

I usually chop three or four of everything, but we have friends at camp that we love to eat with, so it definitely doesn’t hurt to have extra along. And whatever comes home goes into school lunches!

There is still work to do, but things are pretty under control. Kids have done all they could in the morning. I have everything that isn’t clothes in one place. I have a fridge and a freezer list to check off when it’s time to pack coolers. I need to carry everything outside, and I need to move the van around so its super quick to pack when Brady gets home.

Yes, I can load the van myself. Its not a problem. However, these first couple trips to the lake are fuller loads, and its going to be trickier to fit all the things into the van along with his wheelchair. It’ll all fit. If we can fit a kayak in our van, we can fit just about anything in our van. So once he’s home, he’ll likely do most of the van loading while I gather up a supper to eat in the van.

Its going to be a good weekend. I’m ready for it. Just so so grateful for our lake spot and all that comes along with it 💜 Thank you, Lord.

Wednesday was a super full day for our family, with multiple events that warrant their own post! So please forgive me for backpedaling in the coming days! 

Wednesday afternoon held a big event for Wavy – kindergarten orientation!!! She was STOKED to go!

We walked there today in the blazing afternoon heat.

We were greeted by a handful of teachers and grade six students. Wavy was absolutely in her glory, as everyone seemed to know who she was, and they were all full of questions for her. She felt like a rockstar! She was given a name tag and the tour began! 

We were led around the school and showed important points and places, familiarizing her. We eventually landed back at the kindergarten room where she wrote her name, did some cutting, etc. 

She eventually found herself planting pretty glass stones in dirt that grew fake flowers instantly, and she was hooked. So I left her to play and I headed out with the other parents to listen to a shorty presentation about what kindergarten looks like. Let’s be real. None of it was new to me. I know my way around there. But it was nice to see with the other parents, none of which I knew personally, sip coffee, and chat a little. That alone was worth it. 

And it was undeniably a good experience for this little girl. 

She was positively filthy from planting flowers, and was not eager to leave. But the recess bell rang and I convinced her out the door with the promise of a little bit of recess time. She found the middle boys and played with them for a few minutes before we called it and headed home. 

All in all, she was a very happy girl 💜 It was a great afternoon for her, and she is jazzed for kindergarten! I think she’ll fit in beautifully. I am SO proud of her 💜

Our dear Solomon Brady turns SEVEN today. Which is NUTS. He has had a BIG year! 

His year in grade one has been a really productive one! It started off a little slow, but he was making his way, having friends, learning to read and write. He finally even chose a dominant hand!! He’s a righty! 

He woke up a bit after Christmas, and he started really sounding words out well. And then he got even better when he got glasses!! 

He lost his two front tooth and got his glasses in the same week, which was just about the cutest thing that has ever happened in the world.

Lately, Sol has stepped up his big brother game, and he is SO playful with Wavy!!

Does this hit both extremes, occasionally leaving them in huge fights? Yuuup! But they are really, really good friends! 

Solly loves his bed, homemade pizza, and having his hair buzzed short. He wants to be a mechanic when he grows up, living close by his family. He is very innocent and sweet. Obedient. Down to clown. Snuggly and smoochy. Fun to tuck in for night, and to wake up in the morning. I am such a big fan of this boy 💜 

Happy birthday, Solomon. I am SO happy you were born all those seven years ago.

You are a complete delight in our family, and for you, I praise the Lord. 

Wavys preschool class had their wind-up for the season today, and it was just SO cute. As per usual, I cannot post many pictures because, other peoples kids are not my kids to make choices about. But! I have a couple you can see 💜

We were there first, so we waited in the van together for a bit. One on one time is pretty precious 💜

THEN everyone came to play, and it was a total whirlwind!

She is one happy little ham.

She played super hard, and was a sweaty mess by the end of it all, but a very sweet smelling, sticky, messy mess 💜 I sure love this girl, and I am SO happy she crushed preschool the way she did.

Moving on up in the world for Waverly! Kindergarten is next!!

Since mid-last week, Brady has been having dizzy spells. This is out of character for him, but he’s continued on like normal, because life happens, and we don’t always feel 100%.

I, myself, regularly have dizzy spells. I have historically low blood pressure, so its not uncommon for me to stand up, walk across the room, and sit down on the floor. I’ve been told at times that I’m being too dramatic, but its either that or I hit the deck, so rather, I sit the deck (heyooo) and avoid injury. I’m a thinker.

Brady, however, does not have low blood pressure. He rarely feels dizzy. Only when he’s really good and sick, specifically with a big congested head cold.

Which he doesn’t have. Brady isn’t sick. But he is having dizzy spells bad enough to lay him out on the couch, or sitting in his wheelchair with his head between his legs. Its not ideal, and its definitely out of character for him.

The funny thing is that being off balance is WAY easier when you’re on your feet!!! I definitely thought the opposite – that Brady would be better off being dizzy in his wheelchair, but that is absolutely not the case. Now, there is the addition of motion sickness, almost, so its so much harder to manage because with it comes the nausea!

Today, he had a dizzy spell at work, first thing in the morning, and he was fed up. He texted Dr. Guselle, and she requested he come in for an exam. And she is not a “come in the moment you feel a feeling” kind of doctor. She said with his history, we have a low threshold for arranging imaging or consults. So Brady called in and booked the soonest appointment he could.

He texted around 9:05 that he had an appointment at 9:45. He immediately clocked out and got on the road, and I promptly bailed on my coffee with Cher (sorry, girly! 💜) and Wavy and I loaded up to go get in on that appointment.

Brady was hooked up for a five minute blood pressure test immediately upon arriving in an exam room. It was normal for him. The senior resident he was seeing came in and conducted some routine exams. He said there is a possibility of some fluid in one ear, but its so minimal that its hard to even confirm if its there, much less if its affecting him. Brady has no other signs or symptoms of being sick. Not one.

The doctor decided he’d like to check Brady’s heart, so he called in a nurse who got him all set up for an ECG. She left to give him “privacy” while he took his shirt off. Good thing, because he’s hella shy…

I’m totally kidding, lol! She was very sensitive to her patient, and that was really kind of her. We just had a little giggle in the meantime.

Once she came back in and was hooking up all his leads, Wavy whispered “She’s putting stickers all over him…” It was VERY cute.

The resident was super straight up when he came back in. He read the results and said there was nothing glaringly obvious that he could see, but he also is definitely going to send it to be read by someone who knows a lot more than he does, haha!

The doctor told us that dizzy stuff comes and goes, and he can’t really confirm what it is, but he is going to throw everything at us to confirm what it isn’t. Which made a lot of sense and we really appreciated! So we left with a blood requisition and the promise of follow-up on the ECG if any was warranted.

A quick aside. You may be worried about what we were most worried about – brain stuff! The tumour that grew in Bradys spine was technically a brain tumour, so he has occasionally had the brain included in his MRIs, just to check on things. With this, the brain was the first worry. The doctor quashed that immediately and reminded us how things wouldn’t fluctuate this much if there was a tumour growing. The same as when it grew in Brady’s back, he didn’t go back and forth between having no sensation and getting it back over and over. He lost sensation, and then it changed a bit here and there, but it stayed “wrong.” Bradys dizziness is just spells. If something wonky was happening in there, it would stay wonky in at least some capacity. So that was a relief to all of us.

We were out of there in just under an hour. Brady headed back to work, and Wavy and I hit Walmart.

We had a successful shop, and Brady made it back to work safely. He did try to pop in for bloodwork, but the wait was too long. Tomorrow is another day.

The morning was big. Productive. Full. Exhausting. Successful.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to turn on a mindless YouTube video and pick away at a meal plan for this coming week and weekend. I know its only Monday, but we’re back to the lake this weekend! And we have another birthday this week! And a few appointments. Whew! 😅

Remember that Sunday that my schedule changed and I straight up forgot to blog? Same. So here I am, today, remembering to blog.

Today, Brady and I took the kids to church, and came home to have lunch with my mom and Cher. We were less prepared than we prefer to be, but life definitely went on and everyone was patient while we sliced up a bunch of meat, defrosted buns, and got lunch in order. My mom brought a really good fruit salad with all the fancy fruit in it, and we had sandwiches. Easy peasy, but oh so yummy 💜

We ate until late, and then put a couple little ones down for rests. Grandma and Dekker went out on an excursion to find cans and bottles, and Laela and Rowan played separately for a little bit. Brady took a nap, and Cher and I had coffee and a visit.

The kids have ALL opted to spend time outside this afternoon, and another very easy meal is in the plans for the evening. With another big week ahead of us, I’m grateful for simplicity amongst our close people 💜

We went back and forth a little bit, but we decided to stay home for this weekend. Brady works today, but I could’ve gone up with the kids. However, its still early in the season, and I decided we had enough on the go that making that trip happen would be a bit more of a challenge than I was interested in taking on by myself. This last week was very full of events, as is next week. So home we stay, in an effort to rest, and to give us a bit more time to prepare for the next trip.

Brady went off to work this morning, and I got the kids up late. I gave them an easy breakfast and made a list of to-dos. Everything was low pressure.

As kids finished up eating, Cher came over for a morning coffee date, and all of the kids went to play in the backyard. It was relatively peaceful out there, for which I was grateful! It was a really nice quiet morning. Thank you, Lord! 💜

All the kids ate lunch really smoothly and happily, and it is now quiet time over here. A couple are in bed. A couple are outside. One is inside. And I’m doing this – blogging. But! I still need to do things. Plan supper. Cut up granola bars I made. Print something off for Dekker. Write an important email. Continue laundry. Write out the June calendar. And possibly – wait for it – rest? Maybe start making a light plan for next weekend at camp. The weekdays are fuller recently, so ample organization goes a very long way for my brain.

Buuuuut first, I’m gonna hang with Dekker while he eats a freezie and reads on the couch next to me. Because, priorities. The other things will get done.

Its good to be around for a lazy day, and then for a Sunday with church and the family 💜 Happy weekend, friends.

When covid was new and trendy, all the school events were cancelled. I’ll admit that part of me was a little bit relieved to have fewer events on my calendar. But it didn’t take long for me to really feel weird and disconnected from the kids things. With that, I have a very real, newfound appreciation for school events! And I LOVE the meals at school! They tend to be chaotic, and LOUD, all while being totally low key. Yet, on the flip side, the entire school staff is on site, working hard and FAST, all with genuine smiles and love to pour out on the families! I am SO grateful for the school our children attend, and the staff that care for them.

Yesterday, the school put on their annual family appreciation BBQ. Its part of the year end wrap up, and I really do enjoy it. Its good to see the kids teachers, both current and past, and have some banter with other families while we all juggle our kids, as well as hot dogs, iced tea, and freezies. Anyone elses kids inherently bad at holding freezies without dumping out the juice? 🙋🏼‍♀️ Just ours? Cool cool cool cool cool…

Anyway. It went well. Kids ate lots. They were happy and hyper.

Dekker was at a friends house after school, and by the time they joined us at the school, we were done eating! So Dekker ate with them and then wandered off to hang with friends. No pictures, but he was also there, lol!

With the BBQ also comes a book swap. So each of our kids brought a book to swap out, and you know we have readers. So some of the activities had to combine so certain kids could read their new books as soon as humanly possible.

Captain Underpants waits for no one.

When it was time to leave the school, Laela opted to walk home. We had taken the minivan because we were short one kid, and while we can all fit in the minivan, its really tight and usually ends up in some squishy scrapping. So in an effort to avoid that, she decided to walk, and I walked with her.

It was really nice. I love one on one walks with the kids when I can get them. Its nice to see whats on their hearts when its just the two of us 🙂 On this walk, Laela told me a decent handful of stories about some kids at school who tease her about being short, and of all things, weak. WEAK. My girl! She told me about a kid who grabbed her by the hair yesterday and just yanked and yanked and yanked until a teacher stopped him. We talked about how, yes, people have hard scenes and sometimes they do mean things, and we can still love and respect them! But with that, they don’t have to be people we hang out with a lot either. That line between loving our neighbour and having self respect is a fine one. I didn’t make a whole thing out of it, I just made sure she knew she didn’t HAVE to entertain close friendships with people who have bad behaviour.

We got home and learned that our choice to walk caused almost everyone else to have a full breakdown in the van. Sooooo sorry about that, Brady 😬

Another BBQ done and done 💜 A great success.

Today was a big day. A milestone for Waverly, as well as for our family! Our LAST preschool graduation.

She was really excited about it 💜 Laela helped her choose her outfit and everything, which was VERY cute. She rocked a wide striped dress, a neon coral cardigan, floral leggings, a snap bracelet on her ankle, a prized necklace out of a garage sale free bin, and she eventually upgraded the look with a hair flower.

Brady took an early lunch to make it to the grad, which was SO sweet 💜 We are incredibly grateful that he still has that flexibility.

Meanwhile, we were joined by the rest of our local family!! My mom, Cher, and Rae joined the group for the morning ceremony.

I can’t show you pictures of the actual event, because, other kids. But you’ll have to take my word for it that Wavy was smack dab in the middle of the group, and she was either being a total goose, or completely silent. She didn’t sing a word or do an action. She told the crowd that she wanted to be a baby when she grew up, so there’s that. Very “Wavy” of her.

Regardless of her level of involvement, we are overwhelmingly proud of her!

As were auntie and the grandmas 💜💜💜

We ate treats and took pictures, and had a grand ole time 💜 I think our little group was pretty stinking cute!

Well, Miss Waverly Violet, onward you move. Upward you grow. Better you become, as if anyone thought that was possible. Preschool will miss you, but kindergarten is ready!!!

I am completely enamoured with you. Your hilarious fashion sense. Your innocent shrug when you are hella guilty. Your giant eyes and lips. You, dear girl, are stunning in every sense of yourself, and it is a true honour and joy to know you. I am confident all of the people in your life would agree.

You are a delight through and through 💜 I praise the Lord for you, Wave.

It was the BEST night last night. Not because I slept well, because I definitely slept choppy, but because every time I woke up, it was to storm sounds! Rain, wind, and thunder. And a teeny bit of hail, but only for a minute or two. Just a little 🤏

I went to bed with rain sounds, lulled through the night to rain sounds, and woke up to rain sounds. I lay in bed in the dark, and the lightening lit up my room through the tiny window in my bathroom. The BEST kind of weather I could have asked for!!

The single downfall – I drove the kids to school. I WANT them to walk in the rain. But ideally, not in the lightening, if I could help it. Zero judgement to those who let your kids walk!! 💜 I just felt unsure this morning so I took them. It POURED. It was just awesome.

The grass is so green in the front yard, and it makes my heart happy. The backyard, however, does not bring the same amount of joy, haha! Its weedy and messy and dry and dirty and it just needs some help. Just another thing on the list!!

Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful downpour! Please keep it coming!! I’d take one of those good storms where the power flickers a couple of times. I’m sure they’d love that up north as well 💜