It happened...

It has happened...something I hoped never to have to deal with...Danielle ate a peanut butter cookie. My heart still hurts from all the extra beats. My neighbor had brought over some dried-up green beans for us to take the shells off of and use for seeds next year, it was a nice box so I thought I would send it back with a couple muffins I had made this afternoon, and like always my neighbor gave them a dutch cookie with a windmill on,(I thought) I even checked Sharleen's cookie as she come in the door first and Danielle was trailing behind so I thought same as always and kept on picking out books as it was story time. Then when everybody was sitting down I noticed that Danielle had a different-looking cookie...the kind that looked like homemade peanut butter, so I grabbed it away from her (to her protesting bitterly) and ran outside to Gerard who was weed-eating to ask if it tasted like peanut butter to him. If you live in the Chilliwack area you might have heard me yell his name (he was weed eating and can't hear much) and there was no way I wanted to yell it twice and sure enough he said it was peanut butter, so off to get the diaper bag...we ended up giving her four times the amount of benedryl that is recommended for her size (as she did not seem to have difficulty breathing we did not use the EpiPen) Gerard went next door to see about the cookie... I ended up phoning his daughter who made it, and she said there were two cups of peanut butter for a really big batch. We kept her up to keep on monitoring her and gave her crackers and more milk, though that might dilute the peanut butter. She wanted to go to bed at 8:30, I think all the Benedryl was making her really tired so I will keep on checking up on her throughout the night.
And the excitement never ends, yesterday morning I got a phone call from the school that it had been broken into on the weekend (I was there Saturday for a wedding, so sometime after that) and they got in through the window in the kindergarten room and took the surround sound, a computer, and Sharleen's $3500 F.M. system. She only used it about seven times so those were some $500 days. So now all the work of getting another one, it's so frustrating when people steal things. (it would be easier to just hand them the money than all the work of trying to replace everything and set it all up again.) We really talked to the kids about how it was wrong to take things that don't belong to you, and of course, they all had questions and Sharleen's was "Mommy are robbers big or small?" I thought that was a cute question.

Duplo

Our family has rediscovered Duplo...and we play with it all the time. I had moved it down to the crawl space years ago (we have a playing section down there) as it was easier to clean up sorting with all the dishes, little people, etc. that are in our playroom. But with it so quiet at home I thought it was time to bring it up so Danielle and Sharleen would play with it, as they don't go down there unless the big kids are down there. And now of course Niessa and Timothy are rediscovering it too. Timothy likes to go online and put all the Thomas and Bob the Builder sets together, something we have never done. I had no idea we had all the sets as I just bought a big box at a garage sale. Getting a bit more playing time in right before bed. We have tons of Duplo, most of it I bought second-hand. It is good to teach kids to share but I have always thought that Lego is something you have to have enough of to even play together it is no fun, and with lots of kids close together in age it was a good investment to spend the money on getting LOTS. At least they can all build something at the same time. Danielle getting right in there. Only a two-year-old would play like this...I on the other hand would probably topple forward. I just love it when an old toy gets picked up and becomes a favorite again.

Book Club

So my van is fixed and running waaay better than it has in a long time, and to think I was thinking about getting a new mechanic,( I wouldn't trade the one I got for anything.) It was actually good for me to be completely housebound for three days... a great way to get lots of things done. My vacuum cleaner is working, and he was right, some parts were completely worn out, so now I am working on wearing the new parts out. lol. Today I moved my washer and dryer and almost filled up the vacuum cleaner canister, nothing is more satisfying than cleaning something really dusty and dirty. (sigh)
So last night was my once-a-month night out (while maybe I go out a bit more) but I try not to be dashing out the door all the time as I always pay for it the next day in the disorganization of the day. But last year when I had the three kids home during the day I decided it was time to start reading again, (before that there was no hope of reading during the day because as soon as I picked up a book someone would fall out of a tree or bail on a bike, etc. and in the evenings I was EXHAUSTED and would fall asleep.) and joined the Library book club. There is a good variety of people and ages to get a lot of different options and to learn a lot. This was the first get together so we all just had to talk about the book/s we read this summer. ( There are so many books out there that I would love to read.) The book I talked about was "As We Forgive" by Catherine Claire Larson. This was a book that could move anyone to tears and taught so many good life lessons.
It is about the Rwandan genocide and the stories of its people. The really interesting part of this book was that there would be a chapter on the life of someone and what they all went through, and then a clinical chapter on the psychology of forgiveness. For instance what forgiveness is and what it is not, and how someone goes about forgiving. What makes the book so emotional is people going back to their neighbors that had killed their husbands, raped their daughters, and burned everything they had and would tell them that they forgive them. And as hard as it was, it is something that brought about "healing" for them. This was a really dark and disturbing book, as the true stories were told one realized the horrific things people do to each other when driven by fear or by being brainwashed, but the amazing power that forgiveness and Christ bring. It is not a book I forget about, and recommend it to anyone. So many things that we can get "hung up" about are insignificant when compared to the crosses that are placed on others. (I know those toilet seats, the roll of toilet paper being the right way and the lid back on the toothpaste CAN be important...but some things just have to be let go," be forgiven" when put into perspective) and this book was really good at putting things in perspective...hope you get a chance to read it.

Vacuum Cleaner

Now my vacuum cleaner is broken TOO, no van (still)(I don't know if I should get a new van or a new mechanic), and no vacuum cleaner. I am lost. Gerard says "The six hours a day of vacuum cleaning I do wore the thing right out" I do use my vacuum cleaner a lot, it's a handy machine but SIX hours a day...

Missed the Bus!!

We missed the Bus!!! This is the first time this has happened. I know the year just started lol. but that includes last year too. I still find it hard to believe that the Big Yellow would just drive past our bus stop. ( I know they can't wait for everyone) It was quite the morning! After breakfast, the kids all go to the bathroom once more, and it's time to hit the pavement and walk to the bus. So today the boy had to sit a little longer to finish his business and Dad was calling "Hurry up I am leaving, time to go" (he was driving them today on his way to work as it was raining buckets outside) so he gets off the toilet crying, tears and everything, sobbing that he wasn't finished and it's such a long bus ride, he couldn't help it as all of a sudden the "big job" was there...so, of course, I felt bad for the little guy (he still is only six) and said to go back and finish. Of course, Dad sends daughter back inside to get brother while he "patiently" waits in the broken van and then comes back out himself to find out what is taking so long. (like he never sits on the throne for a minute or two) So a bit behind schedule, they are all out the door. Phew, I thought how can I make that go better next time. (didn't come up with any bright ideas, I am willing to hear others) Then a bit later the Dad phones and asks what time the bus comes by...umm a while ago, so he asks me to phone someone further the route and see what time the bus picks them up, so of course I do this and phone him back, and it takes him forever to pick up, which I found out was because the van wouldn't start. He was getting someone to help him with a jump start. Now I am not happy that he was in that place...out in the torrential rain getting a boost, but I have to admit it was so much better for him than for me. (I hope that doesn't sound mean giggle, giggle) Finally, they get to the bus stop further down the route and Gerard asks the Dad if they were on time to which he says "They were late this morning and hopefully they made it on time". Wrong answer!! But the kids did get on the bus there and on the way to school.
And as for my van, it's still not fixed...it's a big job Gerard says and I am not getting a discount and have to pay him full price (wink wink) more chili dear...

CHHA Weekend

This past weekend was the annual get-together weekend for all the families that have hard-of-hearing/deaf children. It was held at Timberline Ranch out in Maple Ridge, not too far away although it is a long way to go without a vehicle and we almost didn't have one. I am still very disappointed in my van...that it let me down. How can you tell that I really love my van, anyways the van was moved out of the garage to make the rest of packing easier and there was a huge puddle on the garage floor...something was broken and Gerard was not going to drive it full of kids out to Maple Ridge, so thankfully we took the Suburban. (the options as a mechanic wife are endless, it was either that or the courtesy van.) I felt pretty lucky to have not one but two choices to load a whole family into at the last minute. So off we went. We had a wonderful time, the kids all did great, meaning slept well all night, woke up quietly in the morning (very important when you are sharing a room with another family), and had a good time with the other kids. The absolute worst thing though is somehow the camera didn't get packed...I didn't forget a single other thing but forgot that. Very disappointing.
So I will just have to remember Niessa sipping her hot chocolate around the campfire, she LOVED the hot chocolate in the disposable cups with the lids on, and Timothy pulling back on the bow and arrow aiming at the target, Sharleen's big smile while swimming in the pool and Danielle petting the horses and always pointing out all the "horsyes" to me. Lots of good memories for our family.

Danielle

Danielle loves to ride her bike, and I am surprised she can as the bike is so wobbly and rickety. Daddy says it's not worth fixing so she just had to learn with wobbles and all. The purse is in case a two year just might need something while "on the road".

I went to get my camera as she had been "reading" a book to her "baby" but by the time I came back, she told me that "my baby needs a nap" and she went inside and put it to bed.

Look at that tongue...it's not missing any batter. Some of the many precious moments with a toddler in the house, so if you have one of these cuties around make sure you give them an extra hug and cuddle because in the blink of an eye (OK, a loooong blink) they will be putting there own real babies down for a nap. (or if playing with trucks will be driving away in their own big truck)

Our first Pet

So we finally got our real first pet (we had fish but that hardly counts) a bunny rabbit. It was love at first sight...for the bunny (we don't know what she thinks about all the attention) and she gets all-day observation. Notice the four chairs, that's where she gets watched all day.

It took her a bit to get used to us, but now she doesn't run away and likes to be held.

(don't know what happened to this picture as it was flipped around before downloaded.) Sitting pretty with the bunny. So now the kids all want another bunny because you need two bunnies to get baby bunnies...ooh that's all it takes. lol.

First Day of School

" It's my turn for school". Look at those happy eyes, she couldn't wait to go.

No problem for her getting on the bus. I am so glad, it would be very tough to have to force her on.

She is sporting some new ear molds just in time for school, (we got them the day before). She chose pink this time and we got a new mold called the skeleton mold. When I was out in Surrey for three days in the summer I noticed a lot of kids having them (molds with "holes" in) so thought we would give them a try this time. It's the last free pair since she turned five and is not covered under the Early Hearing Program anymore.

Waiting for the bus to come...can't believe that seven years ago (6yrs and 7 months) I wasn't even a mom yet. And now three are doing the early morning walk to the bus stop. waaaa!!

... and this is the hissyfit the littlest one threw when she was told she was not going to able to go on the big yellow school bus. She asks every day at breakfast if she can go on the school bus....umm NO I can't "lose" all my children that quickly". I would cry forever...well maybe just a couple weeks who knows a day or two...

So when we got home I gave Danielle a lunch bag to make her feel included, and she was tickled pink. (even put a nectarine inside). It went with us the whole day...to the Doctor's appointment, to a birthday party, and then to the lab for some blood work. It was REALLY nice doing all that with only her. She is generally a dream to take anyway, but without the other ones, it was all so easy. Everything seems to be going good with the baby, The heartbeat at 142 (average is between 120 and 180) so I can't tell from that if I need to get some pink or blue sleepers yet. The only thing is my iron is really low (92 is the count if that means anything ) my doctor even got his secretary to phone me the following day to remind me to take my iron pills. I thought there was something really wrong as I had come home to a message on the machine to call the doctor's office...always a message that increases heart rhythm slightly, and then she just wanted to remind me to take my pills. Am I getting old or crazy or what, when my Doctor phones to REMIND me...I will make more of an effort to take them very regularly, they just have such nasty side effects and when I mentioned them to the Doctor he said "Well you will probably need a blood transfusion with that number going into surgery...BUT blood transfusions are PRETTY safe nowadays" talk about scare tactic, I didn't even think doctors could do that nowadays. He is a good Doctor though, so I'll go back.

Mail

Sharleen got some special mail today...she got a birthday card from Opa and Oma out in Nova Scotia. (her lip is not dirty...she bailed on her bike at the zoo and has cuts and scrapes all over her body, tough kid though, hardly cried)

Wow, I said she should put it in the bank and save it, but she wanted to get some play mobile, so off we went and she got to pick out a box. Very exciting!! Thank you Opa and Oma.

MiniGolfing

It was the last weekend of the summer and we wanted to do one more fun outing before school started...not that we can't do something fun once school starts...but it's a good way to end the summer so we went mini golfing and then out for dinner. I had three free child's admissions and a but one get-one free for Gerard and I, so right off the bat it was a good night for me. lol. We all had a lot of fun, although I think most people wouldn't off, as it was the most non-competitive, unstructured, free-for-all game of mini golf that you can imagine. But what can you expect with a two-year-old along (although we wouldn't have wanted it any other way) Here she is saying "Go doggy go" doggy??? It was a really pretty place, out in Harrison, although very windy, good thing we had some leftover sweaters in the van.
He kinda got it although he did say often " Can we move on now" I think he was hungry for dinner.

Her comment was "Mom this is kinda boring" It must be the competition that makes it more exciting for adults.

This is his one golf game a year. He enjoys big people golf and likes to go once and a while, although it's been years since he has gone. She had a lot of fun and lost her ball in the water, which was fun for her. She is growing up so quickly...I will need to have a wee one by January as she will hardly count as a baby anymore. (I know the youngest is always the baby) It is so amazing how language develops, as she is talking so much now. Today it was "more cantaloupe please Mom" she often has better manners than the older ones. This really is such a fun age. She is our little doll.

Zoo 2010

Once a year we have a tradition and we go to the Zoo with some friends. It is getting WAY more expensive as our kids get older even with the two coupons I had. I remember going when all our kids were free and we would split the price with the coupon. And it will only cost more...Danielle was still free. But it is such a great place to take the kids. Not too far to drive and I always feel in "control", and what I mean by that is it is not crowded and in some ways hard to lose them (next year I will "lose" one now for sure lol) The aquarium, for example, I find more difficult b/c some parts are dimly lit, and there are lots of different rooms so it is a lot harder to keep track of my children (hence the feeling of being out of control) And of course everybody kids are different...some hang on to Mommy's legs and some (mine) would go swimming with the dolphins if they could. (hey sounds like fun to me...wonder where they get it from?) I love the two shots of the two two-year-olds. So typical for this age...now I have to try it out. Niessa and her friend were playing with the cameras and took pictures of each other. I am surprised at all the neat pictures I get from them. Snack Time!! What a wonderful day!!

Fish, Fish and more Fish

It's fishing time around here...the smoker is going as well as the canner, and we have fish in the freezer. Gerard hasn't made me a "widow" but he has left early a couple mornings (up by 5) to hit the river with some other fishermen. All these guys are out sooo early, sacrificing some sleep to supply food for their families. lol. It's a great hobby for a guy to have (in my opinion) b/c there is a beginning and more importantly an end to the opening, they come home with something to eat, and it is great to do things outside in nature, (not sitting around /drinking) and also fun to do as a family. We go to a slower section of the river where there are no worries of the kids getting pulled in downstream, the only downfall is that it is impossible to catch any fish in this section. It's just about having fun and spending some time together. I always enjoy being by the river. The picture above is Timothy emptying out his "waders" and another favorite picture of mine below is of him fishing. He is learning how to cast and likes it. (at least it keeps him in one spot for some time)

Some fish he dropped off on the front steps at ten to eight and said "I got to go, I'm late for work, can you cut them up and put them in the freezer" (no question mark... as it wasn't really a question) Um...so not my thing, I am the bagging lady, I pick up the fish and put them in bags and then clean up. I have never cut them up, but it had to get done and it took forever. I kept getting interrupted by all the kids, but that's how things go with kids.

I often feel so blessed to have all this healthy food to serve my family. I was looking online as to what to do with the fish heads, and some people buy them as they are cheaper than buying a fish and then broiling the heads and eating the meat out of the cheeks and head, or making a soup stock. Everyone I talked to kinda looked at me crazy (including my dear husband "I am not going to eat fish heads when we have a freezer full of real meat" I think was the exact quote) and another dear didn't even think the question was worth returning an e-mail (she can't be serious). So no fish heads for us...but if anyone else can use them...I don't mind saving them for you next time.

Wonderland

While we were in Texas Auntie Theresa took all the kids to Chucky Cheese in Langley, and told Sharleen that she was "sure" that Mommy and Daddy would take her again for her birthday???? Gotta love those Aunts, and of course, she would not forget something like THAT! In the meantime she took them to Wonderland...and they decided they like that better than Chucky Cheese. (by the way, I have never been to Chucky Cheese and haven't been to Wonderland that many times...my kids and getting way too "cultured" or spoiled) I liked the idea of going to Wonderland way better since I did not feel like driving out that way again. We had a really fun afternoon, Daddy had to stay home and work, good thing because money can fly through your fingers there. I don't know what he would have thought about all his hard-earned money being spent on the rides and candy games. (the kids' favorite)lol.

The kids had a hoot on the bumper cars. I would have loved to go on just couldn't justify spending the 4$ on myself. But I guess being a mom, enjoyment comes from watching the kids have fun.

Their favorite game is the Candy Machine.

We made the most of every ride and piled all the kids on. lol. Aren't we "Dutch". It was a really fun afternoon, even though I am now 21$$ lighter, it was a real treat for the kids.