June - the month of crazy

"Enjoy the little things in life, because one day you may look back and realize

 they were the big things..."

Well, it's July 1st, Canada day, 2015, and I'm sorting thru pictures from June trying to organize what we all did, for fun and otherwise.
It seems every month is flying past but June really seems to have been a month of extremes, highs and lows, good and bad, sun and cloud.
Trying to capture this month is making me think about life. About humans and their fickle conditions.  About emotional swings and trying to find God's will.  About being thirty and still feeling once in a while like a kid, insecure and not sure if I'm coming or going.  Is this the way life is? What if I wasn't a Christian?  Where would my anchor be?  Some days are beautiful, the sun is shining, kids are happy and healthy, husband loves his job and the grass is a gorgeous shade a green.
Then the sun gets too hot, kids squabble, sleep isn't great 'cuz the baby won't stop eating all night long, and the birds in the barn contract an illness.  Never mind the gophers eating the garden and the endless list of errands to run.  Sometimes I wonder am I the only one running this rat race? Constantly cleaning only to have to redo once someone touches it, making meals only have them devoured in ten minutes... Then at four in the afternoon realize that the baby's romper is on backwards, and has been since morning, and the only person who could have dressed her in a flurry would be myself.

But then I remember that I must sit down and really look around me.  It's so easy to always be looking into the future that the day you are in gets ignored.  And I want to enjoy these days. I really truly do. I have to tell myself to smarten up.  Abby is 6 months old already, and Seth is past my waist in height.  So I try take a deep breath and daily pause to enjoy the mud and sweaty boy hugs I get from my sweet and vibrant three year old.  I try to stay awake when Tristan cries in the middle of the night from all his growing pains and all I can do is rub his legs till he falls back asleep. I know one day that will be over and I might just miss it.  I packed away more of Abby's little clothing as well as her cradle from my bedroom and I realize it makes me so sad to do, I can't get enough cuddles and smiles from my soft skinned little Miss (how I love my babies!!).
And when the sun shines bright and the barns are too hot for big chickens, it's good to get reminders that God is in control and sees it all, even in the bad and hard, and frustrating. It's good to remember and reflect on all the blessings we have here in Canada, in this little part of our world here Alberta, and to remember that God didn't promise that life would be easy, always smiling, with no trials or tears, but only that He would be with us, every step of the way.

Happy 30th Birthday to me!  Full hands, full heart!

These kids got spoiled at the beginning of summer... new bikes and tramp.

Pool is filled!  And warming up rapidly.

No, she doesn't swim, but the bathing suit was just too cute, so it's for show;)

Lots of love going on here this past Fathers Day.

A silly picture of Rowan, photographed at his request.

Beppe came again! Just for a weekend this time while she was passing thru...

...she was with Oom Gooitzen and Tante Nieske on a holiday.

This little stinker - 6 months old! We are so thankful for her.

I'm trying to teach her young how to take selfies;)  I was running errands in Lethbridge and she was crying so loudly in the car I stopped and took her out thinking she was starving, only to find out she's social.

Friends took Andy and the boys tubing and waterskiing locally.  What a hoot!

Tristan was a bit scared - but that's ok:)

The top line there says "outside temp" (this is the barn thermostat). More then once it read +40.

There was a problem at the plant the weekend the birds were supposed to ship so we were stuck with the chickens here for an extra 3 days. And they were HOT days, so we had to take drastic measures to keep the barns cool.  Being the cool farmers wife ;) , I helped blow cold water into the air inlets to cool down the attic.  The heat was suffocating.

After such an exhausting weekend with the chickens, I hauled out my new "coloring book for adults."  It was truly relaxing and I think we've found a new hobby! 

Table Talk

 I don't know if there's any furniture in our house that gets used as much as our kitchen table.  Every meal we eat sitting around it, school work gets done by it and coffee times are enjoyed there as well as crafting hours.
So it's necessary to have one that will withstand all the daily use, and function properly, by being big enough and strong enough.
And ours was not doing the trick anymore, this family had too many kids for its kitchen table!  Either that or the table was shrinking.  We poured over many websites and walked into many stores looking for the perfect table that would suit our decor and our price range. But nothing was coming up, either it was the wrong colour, or cheep vaneer, too small or waaay too expensive.
Well thanks to one of my brothers who gave us the idea (and Pinterest for the pattern) we decided to make our own and that way, it would be big enough, strong enough, and cheap enough:)  Wow, what an idea!
It was such a fun project for Andy and I to work thru together!  We never knew we had it in us, but wood working does run in the family, on both sides.  We learned alot and are quite pleased about the new skills we've aquired, be it drilling pocket screws or spray painting.  And, if for some reason we get tired of it or break it (almost impossible with the amount of screws and glue in it!) we can make a new one - since this project cost us about $120.  It's not perfect, we made some mistakes and aren't thrilled with the epoxy we used to finish the top, but for it being the very first project we've made, it's not bad, and I'm sure the next one will be better.  :)
I am so pleased to have a much bigger table and even more proud of Andy for all the work he put into it.

Gluing it all together

The top boards are held together with pocket hole screws.  Pretty fun and speedy!

Pocket holes here too... what a great little tool!

Only thing we really wished we had access to was a planer.  But a palm sander had to do.

Bottom painted and top stained.  Now to screw it together.

And there it is!

Pattern is found at this website Ana White Farmhouse Table.  And since we needed more chairs to make 10 for when company is over we went to IKEA and bought the black rattan chairs to go with the four tan wicker chairs we had for a frenchy feel. (Normally I only need these six out) I love the mix and match feel about it now, Country Chic;) 
This table will hold a full out turkey dinner with all the pots and pans needed, and 10 chairs can be placed around it comfortably - I am so pleased! 
:))

Viersen 60th - May 29 - {Part 2}

...continued from previous post...
Saturday morning brought an outstanding pancake breakfast put on by Stan Viersen.  It was delicious and led to a bbq lunch which was an all out fun affair complete with popcorn machine, gumball machine, slushie machine and,  ...never mind the toys - bubbles, trampoline, kids quad and go-karting.  As Rowan said "I weally like this pawk mom!!"  He thought it was a park;) I'm so glad they had such a good time! 
Sunday brought the baptism of Asher.  Since they have church at 12:30 we had a lovely relaxed morning.
After church we went to Tiemstra's for lunch and social time. It was nice we could be there and share in the occasion!    
Monday morning we left for home.  We were pretty tired although we had had a good time and came home with lots of stories to tell Dad/Andy, who it turns out had got alot done while were were gone. ;) - a new garden dug and planted, a walkway put in and all the book work completed.  He says even though he got so much done, he'd still rather have a wife cook for him and kids to jabber to him. Phew!   'cuz we kinda of want to stay with him here normally too!

Rowan jumped on the go-kart before I could stop him and he knew right away what to do.

Mini quad and go-karting for the kids!

Seth was thrilled to have a turn - and didn't realize how fast it could go :)

It was incredibly cute and fun to watch these small kids having so much fun.

Popcorn machine!

Can you guess what we all have in common?

Rowan had alot of little cousin friends.

Lunch time!

There were cars everywhere!

Slushies and bubblegum.

Cuddles on the couch:)

Uncle Ben keeping the kids quiet so the house didn't get too messy.

Baptism.

Abby with her Great Beppe!

I let her taste my ice cream cone, and was she ever in love with it!  Little piggy.

Uncle Ben is a pretty cool Uncle partly because he gives quad rides.

I was scared they were going to fall off but that seat is pretty deluxe!

Don't ever leave Rowan out! Boys and their toys....

Oh, and did you guess what us girls all have in common?  Leave it in the comments...;)

Viersen 60th - May 28 - {Part 1}

 "Lord you have been our dwelling place for all generations." Psalm 90

My maternal grandparents were so very blessed in that they were able to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversay last weekend.  And I was blessed to be able to attend with the four children.  It was truly a wonderful time of celebrating God's goodness, faithfulness and nearness, all the while visiting with family and friends.
Seth, Tristan and Rowan were thrilled to go on a road trip with their mom and as Andy had told Seth to take good care of me he said he was my "he-man" for the trip.  And they were very well behaved, which was a relief for me.  So thankful they don't mind driving! Seven hours on the road? No problem with Calvin and Hobbes and Asterix and Obelix comics to occupy the time.  I am enjoying watching my little men become bigger men, they are such good company and can be very helpful! 
My sister Ruth-Ann and her hubby Ben received their first baby - little Asher - only 10 days before we came so it was extra special to be able to visit and cuddle with this little man. He's seriously adorable, got a head full of hair and is a dream baby as far as sleeping/waking is concerned.  I was thoroughly impressed by my sisters hospitality skills and relaxed attitude.  Thank you for everything!  Can't wait to see you again:)

Time Table:
Thursday morning I drove up to Neerlandia arriving 5pm. Supper at Ruth-Ann and Ben's.  Spent the evening at Pake and Beppe's place where many of the relatives were staying in their RV's.
Friday morning we cuddled with Asher and visited with Mom and Dad as well as took a quick trip to see our Aunt/friend Lydia. Friday afternoon: naps all around!  Friday late afternoon and evening started the anniversary festivities with a formal dinner and reception at Westlock Inn.  Seth, my sweetheart, confided in me that the food was so delicious and it seemed to all be free - maybe we should go there more often!  It was a great idea, I must say.   :D
Saturday will be continued on next post... (I've got too many pictures;)  )

Ready for the drive - 7 hours one way.

Break time! Abby loves Seth.

Yay! We made it! All together.

Friday before the dinner we tried to take a huge family picture. This is waiting to get organized:)

Tristan is so sweet with his little sister. 

Abby was quite pleased with all the attention - I'm pretty sure Opa was smitten;)

Special for my children to still have great grandparents.

The family that made it out (bad quality photo)

Reception was at Westlock Inn

Asher, the youngest great grandchild there!