Castle...one last time

I feel like my kids hit the jackpot when it comes to dads. 

He took them skiing again.  And apparently they are getting better and more fun to have along all the time. 

Andy is going to have some wonderful little ski partners in no time at all. *dream come true*.

We'd also like to officially say "good-bye" to Winter and "we-are-ready-for-you" Spring!

It's a farm kids life

I got questioned last week, "Mom, are we real farm kids now?  No more town left in us?"

Hmmm.

I didn't know what that was supposed to mean.  I said "yup, farm kids thru and thru..."

I got cheers and high fives.

"How so mom?"

I quickly had to think, apparently I wasn't getting off so easily. "Well, you almost always have holes in your knees now, you wear coveralls and caps, and often you are loud.  Town kids aren't so loud."

My reply was greeted with broad smiles and swelling chests.

Oh my, (I think they are proud of the noise part too).

They raced out of the kitchen gleeful that they are fully farm kids.

I don't even know why this makes them happy, but ok, whatever.  So I decided to stop and pay attention to what they do, and snap a few pictures of their joy in being boys. Farm boys.  Of playing hard, and working hard, of spending time with their hero, their dad, and getting grubby little paws and black socks.  They are usually pleasant company and apparently, they love the farm life.


So first off, getting a ride in the back of the pick up truck, to help pick up plastic that blew off some old bales. You can see it is really bright and sunny here, caps are a good thing!

 

We had three more ugly trees to cut down from the old tree line here by the side of the house.  The boys thought this was pretty fun and "worked" for a long time. I had made lemon meringue tarts for a baby shower I was attending and when Seth came in for a glass of water I handed him a few warm tarts for a treat.  He brought one to Tristan and Andy snapped this picture.  Seth came running in the house afterwards exclaiming that he could tell I had made them with alot of love - they tasted that good. Apparently my message about not complaining about food - since it's all made with love - hits home once in a while;) 

After the trees were cut down Andy really wanted it cut down into smaller, burnable size pieces so we can sell it for firewood so he rented a log splitter and they all got to work (after school was finished of course).  They were great helpers once again and made the job go so much quicker.   With all that fresh air I had to make extra "hutsput" and bacon for supper.  I'm loving these hungry boy appetites.

I love Tristans intensity.   If he loves something, it gets 110%.

Camo sweater, cowboy boots, coveralls...the sense of personal style is remarkable ;D All these are very much loved items in his day to day wear.

And at the end of the day when showers are done, dirty socks are in the hamper, prayers are said and children are ready for bed, we all say, it was yet another good day.   We are thankful for our life here.

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Archaeological training

Thanks to a friend and an ad in the Taber Times we found out about a family event that Gem of the West, a museum in Coaldale (don't blink - you might miss it) was putting on with the Alberta Archaeological Society.   Seth and Tristan are avid treasure hunters and collect any old bone they happen to 'excavate' and have a few boxes of these treasures in various places on the farm.
Last August I wrote about digging bones with cousin Daniel at the Forks (link here). I wrote there that we will never know what it was but I was wrong! Buffalo bones! Yup. Cool right?  And they are old. Maybe from an area where there could have been a buffalo jump at some point in history?  We live in prime Native territory, there is even an open excavation a few kms north of us here which we hope to be allowed to venture to this coming summer.  Fascinating and educational.

The kids proudly carried in their box of bones to be examined by one of the archaeologists.  They had a few skulls along too which turned out to be from a sheep or pig, a fox, and a cow. Not surprising since we live next to a feed lot and pig farm.  :)

And when it was all said and done we were hungry (more like famished and starving) and ventured with Keri and kids to the nearby MacDonalds for Happy Meals.  Local adventures are always fun. 

   

Family Day February

 February did have the stat Family Day holiday in it yes, but I feel like in a way the whole month has been a family holiday.
It was a smooth month, if I may explain it that way. The calendar was fairly empty and life rolled along in the nicest way possible.  School work was done on the whole by eager learners, making my job easy. The weather was pretty amazing too, making for a thru and thru, relaxing month.   I think that every day in February was above zero (I know! remarkable!) and playing outside was a real possibility.  We had fun times with family and friends enjoying coffees and conversation.  I find for myself Abby is also over the baby stage and is officially toddler, making my life easier and sleep longer.  I have some extra energy now and have enjoyed it so much doing some sewing, deep spring cleanings and even delving a bit into some old hobbies, like painting with acrylics and card making.

The smile on my face doesn't mean my life is perfect, but it does mean I appreciate what I have and what God has blessed us with.

February, you've been fun, farewell.
Welcome March.

The spring like weather has been enjoyed by us all.  The boys are all thinking summer is pretty much here which means acting like it too - thus Seth has stripped off his shirt.  *some peoples kids!!*

Andy and Uncle Anno had a Sofina Lilydale meeting in Airdrie for a day.  I found a babysitter for Abby and Carola and I went shopping for the day while the men had the meetings.  Seth, Tristan and Rowan came shopping too.  I think the boys only reason for wanting to come was the opportunity to go to Bass Pro shop. 

Uncle Anno treated us to ice cream.  He's a pretty great guy.

Aunt Carola and I shopped till we dropped.... Rowan quite literally. ;)  Seth won from Roll Up The Rim!

I got new lenses! It's fun having a new look.
Accessories... maybe it is true that Abby gets her love for accessories from her mother!

Time for artwork!  Dollarama has some pretty great resources, kept us busy for hours!  I'm thankful for the hours upon hours of painting lessons my parents gave me as a child.  It helps when instructing the children on the basics.  I am working on finding an art teacher for them.

And here is {yet another picture of} the above mentioned 'she'.  And did I mention accessories?  She really does bring such a sparkle to our home and I wouldn't have it any other way.
As Rowan always says "Awww! She looks like a princess!".   And am I ever having fun with that. 

Living room mantel update

Our mantel has been on my to-do list for a very long time. I wanted the honey-oak colour gone and fresh white in its place.  But... it kept getting shoved to the back of the list partly because it seemed like such a big job if I had to sand it all down. Low and behold there is now paint for those who wish to skip the sanding step (which is me, with both hands up!!).  I was thrilled to get myself a pint of the 'magic' primer and start the transformation!

Before

Primer applied

Finished

I am so thrilled this is accomplished finally! The living room looks brighter and more up-to-date.
(Not like that matters so much, but you know, it's always an added benefit).  ;)
Next job up will be crown molding for above the mantel - except Andy has to do that one for me so it's on my honey-do-list. :)
 

My Little Lady watched carefully while I was painting and she wanted to be part of it so badly.  She was very good about not touching and talked to me telling me I was doing a great job;)  The next day I had the washed brush on the steps to go downstairs and I turn around and there Miss Abby is, proudly 'painting' by herself.  She's such a fun little girl to have around.  Mommy's little helper.

Boys ski trip

And it went really well!
They came home exhausted, thrilled and ravenous. 

There was no struggle at all getting those boys to sleep that night! 

Mid-Winter

It's January 2016 Anno Domini.

And it's past the middle of the month already too which is a good thing since it's always such a frightfully long month of holiday and party-making-withdrawal.
Real life hits, such as school work, cold weather, short days (which are getting longer!) and many pairs of jeans with huge holes in the knees.  (I still can't decide if they are worth mending or not - factoring in time).
I'm not saying real life isn't good, cuz it is. During this winter season we have had some pretty fun and special times which makes me want to savour this season of life.  Not one of us has caught a bug yet this season (yay)! 
I found a saying from (would you believe it) Peter Pan that I put on canvas for Seth and Tristan's room because it pretty much sums up how I feel about my little boys getting bigger.

They are turning into such interesting and fun people to have around and I laugh at how I've morphed into a hockey-mom, mini-van driving, loaded cart-and-stroller-toting mom who goes thru Costco with four kids in tow.  I choose to be the person who smiles when someone asks if I'm busy and reply with "who wants to be bored?"

So far this winter we've been able to SLED!  

Enjoy the companionship of FRIENDS over dinner and coffees.

Play alot of HOCKEY!

Try out our new-to-us SKIIS, first on the bump beside the pond...

...then at Hidden Valley in Elk Water with three other families.

Abby could hardly move with the snowpants on - she was not impressed!

We got to enjoy love and cuddles, smiles and kisses from our little Lady who is teething, climbing, babbling and in general, keeping us all amused and on our toes.  The reason there are multiple pictures of her put together most of the time is because she does. not. sit. still. ever.  So it's pretty much impossible to get her to pose or even sit long enough in on position to get a good shot. Thus I combine two OK shots. She always makes a dive for the phone or camera when she sees it come out.  I usually take about 10 in one time hoping one or two will be clear enough to use.  She's such a mover it's no wonder she also is such an eater. I don't think my boys ever had such good appetites.

Abby also received her first hair cut... the mullet she had was terrible so I evened it out a little.

We got a used keyboard much to my happiness, only to find out my fingers are rusty and stiff.
The right hand is not so bad, but the left sure needs help! 

We had more days of fog this winter then we've had all together since moving here but the result has been a landscape covered in gorgeous hoarfrost.    It's been beautiful and makes the landscape clean and bright.

And today?  My kids experienced what I call the epitome of a homeschooled life.  They started school at 7:30am to be finished by 9:30am.  They played a game of scrabble while eating fresh hot cinnamon buns.
A bit before 11am Andy packed Seth and Tristan up and took them skiing for the rest of the day to Elk Water.  I get a nice quiet day with just the two youngest, while babysitting the barns for Andy.  I'm hoping they have a wonderful time.  Is it a good/blessed life they live? I think so!!