Can you tell by the title what I want to talk about? Lol!
My washing machine is on the outs. Its spin cycle is less than effective, and its started to error fairly regularly and need to be restarted. I would put up with it longer except that I really don’t like the machine in general. Its front load, and possibly one of the first ever made 🤣 So while it claims to have an extra large capacity, it doesn’t even come close to the space we used to have. And that stupid front load door is a pain in the neck with our already very narrow laundry area. With these things, I would not at all be mad to retire this washer and replace it with a top load washer that I can grossly overfill without it spilling out onto the floor.
The dryer is ok still. Its big. Older style. Dries a lot faster than my old one, to be honest. Since we moved here, I’ve said I’m not opposed to replacing the washer but keeping the old dryer. I don’t care if they don’t match. However, recently, the dryer will run a whole cycle and nothing is dry. Not a lint trap issue. Likely an element or some small fuse that needs a bit of fixing. Which we’re not opposed to doing, except the question really is whether or not its worth the fuss.
So here are the options:
New washer + old dryer that needs some work
New washer + new washer
Orrrrrrr
One big fancy pants washer/dryer COMBO
Have you guys seen those things? They are REALLY tempting! They’re more money than a complete set, its very true, but if we could swing it, it would fit SO much better in our laundry room! ACK! I dream of such a beautiful appliance!
Today marks our first full year of being a foster family!
In the last year, we have had five placements, four children, and currently, we are caring for three. Plus the five we started with!
We spent months furthering our training to become a level three home!
We have navigated a mountain of medical needs that none of us expected, including tube feeding, helmet therapy, surgeries, scopes, scans, swallow studies, blood work on poor veins, feeding therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy. We’ve been in contact with geneticists, respirologists, paediatricians, dieticians, therapists. We’ve spent time in the NICU, navigated medications, and found ourselves on a first name basis with multiple specialists and medical professionals, as well as pharmacists who have started to make house calls.
Believe it or not, that stuff ☝️ is the extras! We have met and worked with many social and resource workers. People shift positions constantly, so they are ever-changing. We have met and worked with many birth families, building real relationships where possible, while keeping at a respectful distance with others. I have come to find myself in all kinds of new places for visits, events, drop-ins, etc. I know the city SO much better now, and if I don’t know, I’m braver to find my way around.
We’ve experienced new placements, as well as placements leaving. The children have navigated through those things as well, which is a pretty huge learning curve, but we have been well prepared thus far, and nothing has come as too big of a shock to them. We have been able to celebrate with our young ones as they make positive strides, and to love them even deeper through the inevitable sad steps backwards.
In the midst of all the new territory, you may or may not have heard, but we’ve had some really big unrelated stuff going on! 🏡 🧠
It has not been easy. Not for a second. But goodness, I have NO regrets. Not even ONE. This feels like truly answering a calling, not only for me, but for our family 💜
The number one question we get is how long our placements will stay. And we simply never, ever know. But it really makes no difference. They are with us for a time, as long as they need us, and we love them dearly.
Any strength you see is from God. There is no way we could come through all the challenges without Him. Thank you Lord for bringing these amazing kids into our family 💜
The last couple of days have felt pretty unproductive. Yet, if I can look back without looking at what I hoped to all get done, or what parts of me say I should have gotten done, I think I actually did alright!!
Yesterday, I had some goals, and I didn’t accomplish too many because a certain lemon drop decided instead of cry aaaaall the livelong day if not being held. So. While that was challenging, I had a few minutes here and there where the baby would doze in the swing, or flap on the floor for a short time, and I would work in the kitchen. And by the end of the day, I had made not only my big batch of banana bread, but a double big batch!!! EIGHT loaves!
Of course, surrounding them you can see laundry, jackets, amazon boxes, a wii controller, a cooler, etc. This place is a mess, but the banana bread is baked! Hahaha! I cute each loaf into ten pieces and that was that. Boom. Eighty items to be breakfasts, part of lunches, or snacks. Believe it or not, with eight kids, seven of which are eaters, that doesn’t last long!
Even though thats basically all I got done yesterday, it counted.
And then today, while my morning wasn’t especially busy with getting things done, this afternoon I went to my very last counselling appointment.
I had a beautiful setup with my counsellor as she went through her residency, and now she is moving on to her next adventure, taking a job in a new province, on her own. Only my BEST wishes for her moving forward! We had a really lovely thing, and I will miss our appointments, but she sure gave me a lot to chew on over the last couple of years, and some great help to grow me closer to the person I want to be. I will miss her. I have no regrets.
I rushed home from that appointment, scooped my family up, and rushed everyone back into the city for one of our babies to visit with their mom. It was a really lovely interaction at both pickup and drop off, and it left me feeling hopeful for what is to come for their family 💜 I’m not naive. I know how things go. Its not perfect, or foolproof, or even simple. Its brutal. All of it. But todays visit left a good taste in my mouth and a sweet end to the day.
And now, I am beat. And I have much to do still. But there is probably still, what, an hour before my eyes will finally give up and close for the night?? I’ll use it wisely!
Goodnight, friends 💜 Sleep deep. In an hour or three.
This will be my first ever belated birthday blog for one of my kids! Conveniently, I know with confidence that Sol won’t hold it against me 🙂 He is my most chill, content, roll with the punches kid, and this kind of thing won’t be any skin off his back. He is ALWAYS fun to celebrate, even a little late. He has still had a great year, regardless of the day I write about it 💜
Solly continued to surprise all of us in all kinds of different ways. Our biggest first with him this year was getting stitches!! He broke trail for our family the day he got his head whacked open with a spade whilst digging for treasure.
He’s always been very content to just watch the goings on of others, but in the last year, he’s gotten braver to actually join! I don’t know how to say it without it sounding rude. Grain of salt? Solomon has more original thoughts. And I LOVE how he thinks! He has his own ideas. His own stories. His own input into situations. He has gotten comfortable having babies in the house, and he is SO GOOD AT BABIES!!!! Especially the bigger ones. He will be SO loud and SO silly, and they will just belly laugh in return. Solly is NOT afraid to play, and it is awesome to witness!! Yet, he is quick to wind down and lay beside the smaller baby, under the little mobile, and rub a belly while talking softly. I looooooove who Solly is becoming!!
And then I loved him even more when he put on his birthday gift in the Canadian Tire parking lot 🤣
‘Twas hysterical!
*sigh* I want to be like Solly when I grow up. Carefree. Finding the fun way of doing things. Answering just about everything with “Oh, sure!” and then doing it happily. Saying “I can try my best” every single day, and actually doing it. Something very special is brewing inside this little guy, and I’m really really excited to unlock that level!!
I LOVE you Solly!! Having you for eight years has been an absolutely dream 🥰 I am SO grateful that God gave you to our family!! Happy belated birthday!!!
Track day is one of my favorite school days, but it sure is hectic! This year, Brady and my mom were with me, running to and from events, trying to take in as many as possible! Brady had two babies in a bike trailer behind his chair, and it wasn’t long before my mom commandeered the stroller and the third baby from me so I could be more present, which was a LOVELY gift 💜
So after deleting and re-uploading these photos yet again out of sheer frustration from mixing them up and not being able to get them into a nice smooth order, I’m going to let the post be hectic, also!
Sprints are always first. At least for the littler ones. The older kids sometimes start in other places, and this year, Laela was one of those kids. Brady hit up high jump while my mom and I watched the sprints.
Wavy surprised everyone by being one heck of a runner!!! 😳 We had NO idea!! She just tucked her chin, plastered a HUGE smile on her face, and motored!!!
See how there are no other kids in the picture? She wasn’t behind. She was ahead. And the little ones don’t run very far. So she was THAT far ahead!! Bonkers!!!
Solly hair just made me SO happy, hahaha! He did great, and his stride is WAY more open from last year!
Rowan’s posture is absolutely incredible. He just looks STRONG!
The grade five girls were supposed to be next, but they were all still doing high jump. Lots of good jumpers in that group! So they started running the second heats. Wavy, once again, took the cake!
Her first ever track event at her first ever track meet. She wore that ribbon SO proudly 💜
Laela’s group jumped high for a long time, but it did not disappoint!
Speaking of high jump, it was Rowan’s first year ever trying it! He loved it, but he was definitely discouraged not to make it further. However, everyone was a beginner in his group, and they all cheered and chanted and celebrated each other. It was adorable.
Back to the sprints! Laela did eventually run her sprint, and she did awesome, as she does.
More running played out! Solly ran the 400m without any issue whatsoever!
Laela ran the 800m super well! She led the ran until the very end, where she was surpassed by two of her friends. But she was not upset 💜 It was a great run.
Rowan’s 800m was nuts. He passed everyone right in the beginning and won by a mile. Goodness that kid can fly!
He can also throw! Seeing all the boys in his group bellow and shake the chain link backstop was just endearing.
Wavy, on the other hand, cannot throw to save her life 😅 But her pose says otherwise 🤨 Its all in the attitude, Wave!
😂
I didn’t catch all the jumping events, but I caught 3/4 running long jump, and they are all a sight to see!! 😍
Solly would run hard, jump far, and then come personally attack me for a big loud and rowdy hug, and then go back in line and do it all over again. I loved it so much, and I know it won’t last forever.
Again, Rowan just oozes strength!! Look at him!! He has his own built in springboard!
And Laela jumped bigger and further than I’ve ever seen. SUCH a cool surprise!
I have NO expectations of my kids to be athletic. They don’t have to be! At all! But it is SO fun when they like to be active! Regardless of the ribbons, placements, times, or distances, I had a really fun day chasing after them and cheering them on. I feel SO fortunate to have these beautiful children in my family 💜
We didn’t go to the lake this weekend. We stayed back for Rowan’s first ever soccer tournament!!
I know. Kids in sports. 🙄
I tease. Sort of…
We spent the day in Warman, watching games and killing time in between. We were all a little bit surprised that the games were half of their regular length, but such is life! Time moves quick when you have eight kids to unload and pack up every time! Well, not every time. Cher and my mom also joined, and they took two home after the first game. Even so, it was impossible to get everyone photographed together. I am SO grateful that Cher even tried!! 💜
Cher and my mom both took pictures on our behalf in an effort to let us be as present as possible 💜 Both even took a turn with the lemon drop, who never 👏 stops 👏 crying 😅😩 Goodness, I am SO grateful for both of those roles so I could just sip coffee and cheer from under a blanket! There was much cheering to do!!! Unfortunately, I can’t post pictures that contain other peoples’ children, so there are fewer action shots or team shots than I’d ideally post, but you’ll just have to take my word for it that it was very cute.
The first game was freezing, but had a great turnout. Everyone played hard and happily. Rowan is such a strong defenseman.
After game one, mom and Cher left, and took Wavy and the lemon drop with them. Wavy had a birthday party to attend, and the lemon drop needed to be out of the wind. Parting is such sweet sorrow.
We all loaded back up into the van to warm up and have some snacks. The soccer star got to choose the snacks we brought, so apple slices and pepperoni sticks were enjoyed by all!
Brady went inside and grabbed some hinges and things we need for some small repairs, and we headed back for another game.
It was fun to watch the kids get cheered on. If you go watch a kids sporting event, speak up! Be loud! It is SO fun to see them get pumped up! Rowan would get the ball, and he’d hear “GO ROWAN!” and his whole demeanour would change! It was AWESOME!
Between games two and three, we got lunch. Soccer star chose McDonalds, so we did that. And we waited forever, because our order is always massive, even when we’re down a couple of kids. The lemon drop doesn’t eat real food yet so really, we were just down Wavy, but the other two babies eat now, sooooo it evens out.
Game three had the most beautiful weather. The morsel was freed from the bike trailer, and crawled around beside the field so happily. Some cute entertainment on and off the field! I only wish I could show you those pictures, but alas, another cute one of Rowan will have to do.
It was a good tournament. The kids had a great hustle. They really worked, and didn’t get discouraged when they didn’t win everything. Still, everyone felt like a winner at the end.
That smug mug tho 🙌😍 It doesn’t show that the last few days have been some of his hardest maybe ever. This boy has stretched and persevered more than a child his age should have to, and he still spent the day running, competing, and rocking a beautiful attitude. We could all take a page out of his book. That chapter, anyway 😅
I love you, Rowan Toby 💜 Through thick and thin, my boy. I am incredibly proud of you and all you’ve come through, and all that you’re still working through. Its not about how many goals you score or how fast you run. I love your heart, and that sucker is gold 🏅
The innocence of this test from Laela’s health class could not possibly warm my heart any more than it already has.
Laela’s fascination with puberty cracks me right up, hahahaha! She has nooooo idea whats to come, but I hope we can giggle someday about how eagerly she anticipated it. For now, I want her to just stay little and not be a grownup quite yet.
Since Wavy has been coming to my house she has become really familiar with everything. So much so that what’s mine is hers, in the cutest fashion.
The other day we were outside blowing bubbles in the wind because we didn’t have to work that hard for it. Eventually she found my bright pink sunglasses on the deck, put them on, and called them hers. I had to remind her that they were also mine. I laughed so hard. That girl wants sunglasses at my house SO BADLY!
After that, I heard from Hailey that her mom was over. This was exciting because I had a super early birthday gift for her. I just needed to wrap it and get over to her house within 15 mins. I said “Wavy! Do you wanna help me wrap a present for grandma really quick?!” She excitedly replied “SURE! YOUR ROOM OR MINE?!” oh was it ever cute. She was referring to the spare room that her and Laela have had sleepovers in as her room. To be fair she does have hair supplies and a housecoat that live in my house.
Anyways just some cute things to share from recently. Waverly, I am gonna miss you when you go into grade 1!
This picture is from when she said “your room or mine?” I had to capture the moment!
Need I say more? I hit Dollarama and Dollar Tree in search of one specific thing, and I did not find it. In the meantime, I accidentally bought many things I was not looking for. Whoops.
Don’t worry, it was a happy accident. And I didn’t spend a fortune, which makes it even better!
Dollar Tree was first, because, cheaper.
For whatever reason, these were by the door when I came in, and I grabbed a few for storage in the freezer and pantry!
Stretchy cord for kids who bead bracelets, and stitch markers that are SO handy with crocheting but I’ve never ever owned. I always have used bobby pins, but they snag enough that I’m grateful to have these on hand.
I don’t know what to tell you about these stars. They’re metal and beefy and I love them. I might hang onto them for Christmas decor. Maybe wrap them in yarn, or twine, or ribbon. We’ll see.
I went to Dollarama next and found myself accidentally enthralled with yet more things that I did not intend to find. First was these flour sack towels. I immediately thought about how cute they’d be with little crocheted towel hangers with them! But then I accidentally loved them for camp dish towels instead. Oops.
Also these. Double oops.
And then I bought some macrame cord in pretty colours because I have a good chunk of neutral off whitish cord, and this will be a nice addition.
Alright, guys. I’m on the hunt for three totally unrelated things, and none of them are cut and dry. So I need some input. Or, at the very least, a place to lay it all out. I guess that’s here.
Thing number one. I really want some patio stones for the lake. Our spot isn’t especially green, but more gravel. This kind.
Which is great for a lot of things! I don’t mind not having to worry as much about bugs (ticks) or cutting grass, etc. This is also able to be levelled and tweaked as time goes by. However, as that time does go by, I would love the evenness and aesthetic of having it done with patio stone. Not only would it be pretty, but it wouldn’t get mucky the same way, and would be easier for Brady to move freely. However. The area we’d like to cover is about 300 sqft, and unfortunately, even with a bit of a discount on those types of products, c/o Brady’s job, its still more than we want to spend for our campsite!
So here’s the quandary. We could…
a) leave it another year, because who cares?
b) bite the bullet and pay more than you’d prefer.
c) use sidewalk blocks, because they’re the best value, though will take more work to keep level.
d) buy mismatched cast offs through marketplace and let it be more like that.
I’m not sure any of these options are nice, but, I welcome input! Thats question one!
Thing number two is a climbing dome. I really don’t want a play structure, but I’ve always been drawn to the climbing domes. As my kids get older, it probably has less of a draw, but I also think it would be fun to tarp it off for backyard sleepovers, or for snow forts. I guess my question is whether or not any of you have had climbing domes or towers, and if so, were they something everyone got bored with quickly, or was there always a fun way to use it. Any tips? Is that what I should spend our free Costco money on? Or is it better to save it for a new washer, which I do not need but desperately want. #ihateyoufrontloadwasher What do you guys think? Climbing dome yay or nay?
Thing three! I have this funny list of things that would be an absolute dream to have in our home one day. On that list, I have both a CNC and a 3D printer. Neither is really a necessity in any stretch of the imagination, so they are just sitting on that list, which I have been totally at peace with. They would be so cool to have, but really, they’d be more for fun than function.
Except that I’m starting to come across some ideas of items that I positively cannot find, but I have found templates and such for either printing them on a 3D printer or cutting them on a CNC. And I’m kind of intrigued by that possibility of being able to make some things myself that I can’t find elsewhere, and maybe eventually sell them to others. So, with this, I’m wondering which would be best. My gut says a 3D printer is more affordable, and most of what I’m picturing making is plastic. Is it worth it with the cost of filament? I don’t know how far that goes. A CNC would be fun to Brady, also, but can it cut plastic? Or other materials beyond wood? Its a lot more expensive. I don’t know. Does anyone have one of these, or better yet, both?? I’d welcome your impressions!
Ok. Whew. Those are my thoughts. And they are just that. Thoughts. Not plans. Or even goals. Just, thinking thoughts. Dreaming a little. I’m curious.
