Jesus Wants Me For A SUNBEAM!

What the heck, when the heck did I get old enough to have no more kids in nursery and no more prospects of that either?!  Oh my, here's my little baby on her first day of SUNBEAMS.  She was pretty excited for the big event - it quickly turned upside down and she frowned that smile away when it came time to sit with her class though.

She cried, screamed all through most of it, it/she wasn't a pretty site.  Huge thanks to her wonderfully patient teacher for still loving her and welcoming her back the second week (which was 100% better BTW).  We love you Sister Snow!!!

So here she is, my baby - growing up, way too quickly.  I did cry.  Don't judge.

My thoughts on

I have 5 girls.  Five wonderfully amazing girls who I adore to the moon and back.  As I have gone through this mom thing there's a few  a million things that I learned along the way.  Some are small and simple like if you leave the cookies within reach they won't last as long.  Some though I consider life lessons and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to live them and learn them.

As Christmas (yes I said Christmas and not the stupid 'h' word) is upon us I have been doing a lot of thinking.  Most of my thoughts are triggered by conversations I have with others or things I've noticed.  We recently had a conversation in our parent preschool class about Christmas and we got onto the topic of people in need at Christmas.  The question was asked

Why are people so needy at this time of the year when they know it comes at the same time every year - can't they plan better?

My first thought was YES, yes they can and should.  I certainly do.  It took me back to a quote I used to have in my office when I was an administrator for a University Learning Resource Centre full of 500+ students.

"Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine" 

Wooooooow there cowgirl (k, so I'm not a cowgirl but I've ridden a horse before so it counts).  Seriously?  Here I sit in judgement of these people when I have been blessed beyond measure, including the blessing of being somewhat organized and a planner?  Do I fully know their situation and even if I do (or in most cases "think I do"), is it still my place to call judgement????  

ABSOLUTELY BIG FAT NO!!!

Not only did I remind myself of that very important lesson but it started that thinking wheel in my head again.  I can't imagine the pressure that some families must feel at this time of year, and we're all partially to blame for this.  Think for a minute.  How many of us race out there to get our kids the latest and greatest (regardless of the cost), how many of us conform to 'social norms' and buy our kids things because that the 'cool' thing to have this year.  "Everyone has one" so my kid's going to have one too.  Shame on us.  Shame on us for creating such a society.  I'm not saying that we shouldn't buy gifts or want to give nice gifts but shame on us in thinking that that's what it's all about.  

• Do my kids have nice things?  Yes.  
• Do I race out and buy them the latest and greatest just because their friends have one?  No.  
• Is it a money issue?  No.
• Do they survive?  Absolutely.
• Are they better for it?  I believe they are.
• Are they happy?  Yes.  

The pressure that families must feel to not only get a gift for their child but get the 'right kind' of gift.  It's a real shame.  I have seen my kids eyes light up when they unwrap a little tub of playdough or a pack of crayons from the dollar store just as much as they have when they unwrap that Barbie Dreamhouse!  Then of course next year I gotta do even better!  When does it end?  We're creating a society of spoilt, indulgent children that will grow into teenagers and adults with huge sense of entitlement issues.  

I'm not perfect in this, so don't get me wrong.  I just think we could all take a step back and think for a minute about how we approach Christmas.  

Back to my initial thought (the one about giving to the less fortunate) - we will continue to give, just as we have always done in the past.  It's not my place to judge.  If there's a need I will help as much as I can.  If that means that we go without, that's ok, I'd rather my girls learn sacrifice over indulgence.  

c-c-c-c-c-c-COLD!

Like seriously cold!  I'm talking driving the kids to school in -46 with the windchill COLD!  All week, this is silly, it's been cold ALL WEEK!

I'm beginning to wonder if I live in Canada cause this picture is looking all too familiar.  

I love this beautiful country that I live in but let's get real, this is just

  completely obnoxiously rude.

The blogger guilt

You know what I'm talking about (I hope), you leave it so long that you feel guilty you left it so long so you avoid it which only leads to leaving it longer.....such a vicious circle!

Anyway - I'm here now, again.  Trying to do better and that's what counts right?

This year has been a great one for our family.  We have laughed, cried, done some fun stuff, some not so fun stuff, been scared but all the while loving our life and those around us.

Here's a few pics of some of our highlights:

We baptized

We birthday'd

We adventured

We accomplished

We surgery'd

We everything in between'd

Life hasn't been perfect, we aren't perfect but we live each day loving each other and making the best out of what life has for us.  I thank you for being a part of our lives.  I am blessed, I am grateful, I am living a life I always hoped to be blessed to live.

Massive Mother's Day Giveaway!

It's almost that time of year again when we celebrate being a mom and all the moms out there!  Enter to win this fantastic prize that celebrates being a mom!!!!!  http://www.kinseyholt.com/blog/

Good luck and happy mom day everyone!!!!!

Aylish Update

Aylish was such a TROOPER having her MRI done.  The technician told me that she is the youngest child she's ever done that didn't need sedation.  She was a super star, held completely still for the entire 45 minute test.  I was so impressed, I had heart palpitations for the 3 minutes I went into the MRI machine to show her how it works (yeah, I'm a baby).

The results took about 4 days to come back - - - felt like 4 weeks!  As I sat in the Dr office and heard him tell me her results came back NORMAL tears just ran down my cheeks - I don't remember anything else from that visit.

Today, a month and a half on, she still has a lazy eye.  Last week she became the proud owner of a snazzy pair of specs though - she is in LOVE with her new look.  The hope is that the glasses will help to pull the eye back into position, if not then surgery will be the next step.  We are going to try the glasses for at least 6 months and then if there's still no improvement Dr Novak and Dr Haynes will be referring us to the Children's Hospital in Calgary.

As of yet, I cannot see a difference but who knows what her measurements will show when we go back to the specialist in 2 weeks.

I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven for always being mindful of me and allowing me to feel the warmth of his love at all times.  It's been a rough ride and it's still not over but I know that he is there.

A Week of Stress

This past week has been a hard one for our family, we've all been affected by the events that have taken place.  Let's start at the beginning.

Last Monday (October 15, 2012) I took my five girls and myself up to the Flu Shot Clinic here in town, just like every year for the past 6 winters.  I filled in the required paper work and then off to get the shots we went.  This year my kids were thrilled to discover that instead of a shot this year there was a nasal mist being offered to children over the age of 2.  Yay they all thought, and me too I guess.  Within 1/2 an hour of being in there we were on our way home, all done - way easier than in previous years.

Tuesday evening Rylee (age 7) started not feeling so great, I wasn't home so I can't say exactly what her issues were but Wednesday morning she still wasn't well, she felt dizzy and sick to her stomach.  I kept her home from school.  Later that morning a friend of mine called me to say that Aylish (age 4) was complaining that her eye hurt and that she was hiding it away from the light.  When she brought her home to me and I looked at her eyes I knew something was wrong.  Her eyes weren't lining up.  I know her cool party trick is being able to cross one eye and this was similar but not normal.  I immediately took her to the clinic.  While we were at the clinic waiting to see the doctor Rylee began crying and screaming that her eyes hurt and that it was too bright.  By the time I got her into the bathroom where it was dark she had passed out.  Brief but scary.  We stayed in the dark until they moved us into the dr room.  We kept the lights off in there as both girls were very light sensitive.

Dr Steed came in to see the girls.  He first checked over Aylish and there was an obvious stumped look from him.  He went and called the specialist in Lethbridge and had an appointment for us for first thing after lunch.  He then turned his attention to Rylee who was sitting beside me.  He shone his little light in to her eyes and again she started crying and put her head down on my lap, the lights were hurting her pretty bad - Rylee's a pretty tough kid.  The doctor believed Rylee's to be viral and told her to take it easy and rest.  She is still a week later having dizzy spells and is still light sensitive from time to time, though her symptoms have lessened.

As for Aylish and her 'lazy eyes',  they're still lazy.  She has been to see the specialist 3 times now and has an appointment to have an MRI done tomorrow morning to make sure there is nothing more serious going on.  We are all nervous and praying for a normal outcome.  In the meantime the specialist now believe that there is a link between this vaccine the girls received and their complications with the vision.  Dr Novak and Dr Heyns from Lethbridge have had 3 children in with similar complications following this nasal mist vaccine in the past week.  I am so angry.  All I want is for my little girls to return to good health and put all this behind us.

I am very grateful for the love and support family and friends have been to us through this difficult time, I pray that it'll soon be back to normal.  I love my little girls and would do anything for them.  Right now I'm relying on faith that they will be healed.

Being domestic

It's true, you can believe it - I'm somewhat of a domestic diva!  HAHAHA, AS IF!  

I'd like to think pretend I am but really I just do it cause that's what everyone else is doing!   Still, I guess there is some satisfaction in the sense of accomplishment once it's done, but it's a lot of work getting there.  Here's what I got done this year!

Peaches - ok, so maybe this was last year but it's still within the last 12 months so it counts

A sample of the Pickles, Salsa and batch 1 of the Beets

Then I got my hands on a TON of beets....so I did more

Richard is the only one who likes them....I think he has a good stash!

Child labour - I know, and yes I'll be using these poor kids again and again!

120 cobs of corn, done down into 51 bags of yummy sweet corn - so long Mr Giant!

I do like to sometime be sarcastic and complain at the amount of work, and it is a lot of work but in reality it is fun.  And I'd be lying big time if I didn't say I love the way it looks in the storage room....almost to the point I don't want anyone to eat it!  

Next year I will do more, I'm sure - but for 2012, I'm canned out!

Happy Harvest Everyone!

And to some He gave great talent...

Yes it's true, we are a family of MANY,  MANY talents and it never ceases to amaze me when we discover even more.  Here's a talent of Aylish's - she is down right proud of this one......you would be too if you could do it!  

Sometimes I have to look really close to make sure that she's not doing her crazy eyes in 'important' pictures.  I should really check her most recent passport :)

Gotta love this kid!

Lessons & Life

I'm sure all of you have people in your life that have shown you so much, sacrificed for you and loved you despite your many imperfections.  I too have someone in my life that I have learned many great lessons from and truly love - it's my Gramma.

Gramma hasn't had the best health throughout her life, and because of such hasn't always been able to do all the things other Gramma's might do, to me though that doesn't matter.  This much I know, no matter what, my grandma has been a big fan of mine and has done all that she can to be a part of my life,  for that I'm grateful.

Here's a list of 20 things I've learned in my 23 (+10) years of life from my gramma.

1. "i" before "e" except after "c" (and any other exceptions the English language might have)
2. never run through a sprinkler at the same time as your cousin with your eyes shut
3. pippy longstockings is a well loved tale for any little girl
4. all her grandkids are equal (except me, I really am her favourite)
5. quilts, quilts, quilts.....I think I have about 20, I really am the favourite
6. even the roughest of people are children of God
7. ketchup can wash of seats
8. ketchup can wash off windows
9. ketchup can wash off carpet
10. ketchup can wash out of hair & clothes
11. laundry will never go away, be thankful you have a machine
12. you can never have too much wheat in your storage
13. canning in the oven is so modern and way easier
14. butter and saltine crackers can sustain life for a day or two
15. if you're still hungry after your crackers, you may add some cheese
16. scraps of material can be turned into something beautiful
17. salt on apples is quite tasty
18. marriage is something that you have to work hard at every day of your life
19. always plant a garden (I'm working on that one)
20. you'd better let her know if you're ever performing in public

There are so many other great things that my gramma has taught, shown, and instilled in me - those are just a few.  I'm so thankful to my Heavenly Father for giving me a gramma that I know loves me and believes in me, a gramma so willing to wipe tears, offer support and love me no matter what I do.  

Thank you from the bottom of my heart Gramma!

I love you xxx

Gramma is on the right, Shannon's the skunk on the left.

behind....way behind

I took a sabbatical ;) ;) ...so here's a few things that I remember happening since my last entry (thanks iphoto for helping me remember)......

• Rylee turned 7 - I can't believe how fast she's growing!

• Richard turned 35 - I can't believe how fast he's growing!!!!

• I went from this:

to this......

• My FABULOUS husband (if you forget what he looks like, please see picture #2 above) took 4 of our daughters on a daddy daughter campout with a couple of friends and their little girls.  They LOVED it and plan to do it every year

      

• My newest nephew Holden was born

• My Welshies came to visit for six weeks - we just had so much fun

• I saw Mamma Mia & Aaron Lines (not together obviously, but that would be kinda cool)

• SCHOOL STARTED!!!!!

• Ffion turned 2......holy moly where has the time gone??????

I don't plan to take another sabbatical any time soon so watch this space for updates.......!

Still loving my wonderful life and all those who make it so wonderful!

Eight is Great

Oh how turning eight is such a fabulous thing.  Keira was so excited to get baptized, and we were all excited for her too.  She was baptized on Saturday, March 24th, 2012 and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by her dad on the same day.  

Doesn't she Don't they look great in white?

So excited......

Proud Mom & Dad

Pretty in White

Another beautiful picture in her dress from Nanny

I love my family

I am so grateful for my beautiful family and the wonderful choices that our girls make.  I'm forever grateful to my fabulous husband who cares and watches over us.  He is such a fabulous example to our little girls.....it's no wonder they're all so fabulous - credit to their daddy!

Thanks Keira for being a great example to everyone you meet.   

Blankie Bread Anyone?

We decided to make some bread - good idea right? 

It was actually a lot of fun.  

Aylish was great at measuring and loved being in charge of the Bosch.  

Ffion loved watching the Bosch spin 'round & 'round.

All was well in Worsey-ville.

UNTIL....

Ffion decided the bread was missing a key ingredient.....her blankie!  Yep, the blankie went in the dough as it was mixing.  Aylish was furious and Ffion was distraught, I just wish I had an extra pair of hands to video the blanket being spun around.   Aylish yelling at Ffion and poor Ffion freaking out and trying to grab her blanket as passed by her, missing it every time......it was priceless.  

I took an after shot of the the doughy blankie but sadly it got deleted off my phone so you'll just have to use your imagination.  

FYI -  the bread didn't turn out like it usually does, I'm blaming the blankie.

Small & Sweet

Sometimes I can hardly believe that my baby is growing so quickly.  Sunday marked a special day in her life and marked a new chapter in my life titled 'All Alone on Sundays'.  

My baby girl started nursery, where have the last 18 months gone?  

She did amazing, didn't even cry when I kissed her goodbye!  

Awesome job Ffion (maybe try and make me feel like you miss me though)!

Those 'where is this taken' shot

Oh crap, how did she get into a 9x13 pyrex dish?

 She is small - but not that small.  Hahaha!!!

Her face just completely cracks me up!

Check out my other blog & WIN!

Most of you know that I sell a fabulous line of jewelry called bcharmed. Well did you know that last week I made Director? Yep I did - I'm super stoked and absolutely LOVING my job. In just 4 months it's gone wildly crazy, my team sales were through the roof in November. Congrats to all.

Anyway, I've created a new blog just for my love of bcharmed.

Be sure to check it out www.lovetocharm.ca

Every week in December I'm having a prize draw, so enter today!!!!

I WON! I WON! I WON! I WON! I WON!

Did I mention I WON this beautiful piece of beautiful? 

Well I did.  I now have a beautiful iPad 2.

I think I'll call her Beautiful.

I love my job - thanks bcharmed!

All this for just under $50

I love this new couponing stuff.  Granted I still have a long way to go till I can say "look at all this I got for FREE" 

- but I'm learning and it's kinda fun!

Don't ya love....

...when you find a new super cute hairstyle that just looks FANTASTIC!  Love, love, love it Rylee!!!!

Holy Cow - 1 ALREADY!

FFION IS ONE!

Here's Ffion's stats on her first birthday as well as some wonderful things about the baby in our family:

12 month 

weight - 17lbs 13oz

height - 27.75 inches

head measures - 17 inches

Ffion falls in the under the 5th percentile for her weight, in the 10th for her height and in the 5th for her head.  Yep, she's still pretty small - wearing 6-9 month clothes fairly comfortably.  For those of you that know big sister Aylish, Ffion's stats are about what Aylish was at between 3-4 months (please note Aylish's percentiles were much higher).


Here's some things to remember about our first year together:

• she really is small - but we like it
• beautiful blue eyes
• great little personality - true red head attitude
• had ear infections constantly till at 8 months when her tubes were put in
• after tubes she was a different baby, slept through the night and actually smiled alot
• nursed longer than any of my other girls (11 months)
• took the longest to start crawling (10.5 months)
• LOVES her soother
• still in her infant car seat at 12 months
• doesn't like to be tossed in the air (cries like a baby)
• doesn't like to be hung upside down (ask Carly)
• likes her mom making loud scary sounds, just not anyone else
• loves cuddles
• still bathes in the sink at 1 quite comfortably
• loves being with her sisters
• has ALL of her sisters wrapped around her little fingers (she was definitely meant to come last)
• is ADORED by everyone she knows

We had a birthday party for her on the weekend and here's some pics from the event.  

Happy birthday sweetheart - we love you!

a little stunned at the beautiful singing

Mmmmm, cake

A bath to finish off the evening.  What a great day :)