Poor Jack

We've gotten several inches of snow over the last few days. While as a mom, this met with great dread. Extra work - switching toindoor shoes and back again, extra layers, crawling across a wet vet to get kids buckled in, trying to ensure the carseat buckles are snug despite puffy jackets, added mittens, boots and scarves. But, as Sammi said when she looked out the window, "God made it snow, just for us!" These daughters remind me so frequently of God's goodness to us! God made snow. And every good and perfect gift is from above. Therefore I will praise God for the snow.

Jack, however may not be thankful for snow. When I looked outside, he had 3 inches of snow on his back? Sammi was trying to burry him, and Emma was giving him a 'snow coat'. No wonder he then ran to VanDykes as soon as he saw Dale. Poor dog needs to be rescued frequently!

Riding hippos

"Whatcha doing?"

"Riding hippos"

"Oh, that sounds like fun. Do you mean horses?"

"No, we like hippos better!"

10 months

This little sweetheart is already 10 months old. With her mad scientist hair, and quick grin, she is a joy to watch. Even this morning, as she was giggling on the bed, we were amazed to think that it was such a different story 6 months ago. She's into giggling, cheerios and her sisters. She loves to stand, but hates to be on her belly. Crazy over Jack, Jessie loves to feed him, and he waits patiently under the highchair. Jessie loves peek-a-boo, her BSF leaders (Bible Study Fellowship) and shopping. Grocery shopping has become a longer affair, because she smiles at everyone, and we get stopped regularly. Especially on Seniors Day :)

We love you, precious little one!

Helpers

These little monkeys are becoming more impish by the day. This morning, I heard the spray of the furniture polish, and yelled "Emma!" "Jack did it!" She replied. I'm sure. Shepherding their hearts has become more and more daunting. And yet, exciting. These little girls are getting the gospel, and loving learning to sing hymns. The other day they lined up their dolls under Jessie's crib and taught them 'bible study' for almost 2 hours. In these pictures they were helping me clean up the leaves, and insisted on wearing 'work gloves' and crunching the leaves. Precious, precious little ones.

Tire swing

The tire swing has become a daily occurrence. These girls love the tire swing "from Canada... and Grandpa's truck" and will tell anyone who walks past the story. It has led to hours of fun!

Daddy

This would be Francis, teaching the girls how to carefully place a cookie on a spatula...

Then, get ready! Put your thumb down, wind up and....

flip it up, and try to catch it in your mouth!

The girls were torn between protecting their head and trying to catch the cookie.

Overheard

"What panties should we wear?"

"No, not those ones. They don't match."

"What about this ones?"

"Yes! We match now! "

These two little girls, both twins and friends. What a special relationship they have. They are having wonderful conversations, and negotiating everything with each other. So close, and yet so different. Sami likes peach jam and meat. Emma is a veggie girl, and prefers strawberry jam. Both love making cupcakes! Although Sammi is a touch more serious about her job, and Emma about the camera!

8 months

Current stats:

1 tooth!!!

15lbs, 8oz

26.25 inches in length

Smiling and giggling, but no longer sleeping through the night because of her teeth...

Chattering all the time, loving her sisters more and more (who are trying to teach her 'children obey your parents in the LORD, for this is RIGHT') hilarious lessons!

Smoothies

I love summer, smoothies and farmers markets. Apparently, so do the girls!

Grandpa

We had a lovely visit with mom and dad last weekend... here are a couple of snapshots of our time. They came, set up a tire swing, ate pizza, read books and headed home. We had a wonderful time, and the girls have talked all about grandma and grandpa all week long. Sometimes 5 hrs away seems just too far :)

(mom was behind her camera most of the time... thus, no pictures :( Next time!

In an instant

Sunday afternoon. Around 4pm. 4 minutes of high winds. And then it was over. There wasn't time to sound the tornado sirens, or grab the girls, or realize what was happening. I ran to the office to shut the windows because the rain was coming, and by the time I got to the other side of the house, the tree was already on the house, resting on top of the room where all three girls were sleeping. While the attic was pierced, there was no structural damage, no branches through the windows, and Emma slept on. In 4 minutes, around 30 trees across the street were uprooted from Palmer Park, a garage roof was thrown into the neighbours house, and almost 100 trees in the area are torn down.

I was reminded again that God is the Father and Protector of my girls, and while they are entrusted to me, they are not mine. God can take them home whenever He chooses. I praise God that we were protected from harm. My prayer is that, like Emma, I can rest in peace, despite the storms of this world, trusting that God will guard and protect our lives. And so, we sleep, trusting that he who does not slumber nor sleep, will watch over those who do.

Funny story...

So, Francis is gone this week. He's serving the church by attending the General Assembly of the OPC, with delegates from across North America and overseas. They began on Wednesday, and hope to wrap up by next Wednesday. I can't wait to hear how God is growing his church when he gets back!
That's the exciting news. The unexciting news is that I'm single parenting.
Unfortunately, it's a hot, hot week.
With children who can't sleep because of the heat. Awake 32/48 hrs.
And chickens who were violently murdered. Two.
And a daughter who has the remnants of the stomach bug. Two loads of laundry.
And grapes were on sale. Jessie doesn't like grapes. No naps. very fussy. 86 grapes.
And no keys to the van. One back up set. Yes...
and this is where the story gets exciting!

Well to beat the heat and the grumps, we're going to go shopping and garage saling. And maybe even to a pet store to LOOK at the critters. I find the keys in the van's ignition, with a very dead battery. Great. For emergencies, I like to have a working vehicle, but the neighbours aren't home. I really, really want to get the van boosted before dark falls, and the vd's have an extra vehicle in the driveway, and they leave the keys in it, so I figure I'll just go do it myself. Got the booster cables - check. Got the google'd directions - check. Jessies safe - check. Okay, the girls are coming with me (remember the not sleeping?). We walk over, pick up the van and I hop out to get the girls out so they can watch from the front porch. Run around to their door, and it's locked. Wierd. Sammi's looking scared. "Sammi, hit the button again." click. lock. "again, Sammi, the other way." click, click, click. "Sammi, hit the button." "This one?" points to a freckle on the dash. "No, the door one." "This one?" hits a stain on the seat. . Okay, don't panic. There's always 911. "Sammi, hit the window button!" rolls window down. "sorry, mom!" I unlock the door, they watch from the porch, I successfully boost the car. The chickens are locked up. The kids are sleeping. Thunderstorms cooled things off. Two days down, five to go. Things are looking up!

Now, the only question is... icecream or schmirnoff?

Feeding chicks

Twin tackles

I love these giggles. And no, this is not exceptional. This is daily. Random times, random places. Sometimes prefaced with a "Emma, stand there, I'll tackle you" and sometimes initiated with an arm around the neck and a surprise body slam. Yes, they are bruised, and their legs look like a wreck beneath their skirts and shorts, but they love each other, and also respect when it's gone too far, or someone gets hurt. It normally ends with a quick kiss and a 'Sorry, Sammi... love you!'.

ps. no children were injured in the making of this video. All 'tackling' sessions are carefully monitored for safe, fair practices, and to ensure both parties are enjoying :)

Samantha

Oh, our dear bossy eldest daughter :) 29 lbs of intense, emotional feelings! Our sweet Sammi is very careful and gentle with Jessie, loving to follow the older girls, and nurture the younger ones. She loves her 'teachers', loves to do things right, and loves things clean. She's figured out how to get Emma in trouble, and observes and analyzes new situations before jumping in. She's a little slower to speak, but more deliberate with her word choices. Always the first one to grab Emma by the neck and take her down. We love our stubborn, serious, sensitive Sammi.

Overheard from Sammi this week:

• When I get bigger, my nose will get bigger, and fit glasses!
• Emma, you sit here, right now.... right NOW Emma, or you will get a spanking!
• 'My do it'
• Nice van! (yes, that would be ours)
• Oh, Jessie... go to sleep, little one! You need to grow bigger...
• Emma.... stay there... I'm tackle you! Stay THERE... Don't run, Emma...

Emma

Overheard from Emma just this week:

• "Sammi. You need to share right now. If you don't share, mommy will take it away! Give it to me right now!"


• "Mom, I want a babysitter" . "Oh yeah? Who do you want to babysit?" "Emily." Sorry, hun, you're stuck with us today.
  
• "My turn to be the hippo!"


• "Uh, oh, Sammi's in trouble now!"


• "I don't need sleep. Only Sammi needs sleep."


• "Sammi, cough into your elbow!"

Emma is a joy and a delight, weighing in at 28 lbs and 32 months of pure imp. She is a fearless climber, from the heights of her playground to her dresser. She loves to read, is quick to giggle, talks a ton, is first infront of the camera and initiates daily 'tackle' sessions. She's her own pied piper, not needing to hang out with the crowd, but okay with doing her own thing. She loves Sammi and Jessie to bits, and always makes sure things are fair. I love her independent, feisty spirit, contagious giggle and loving little hands!

Rain

And it's another day of this...

Joy and perseverence

These precious years. They are precious, and yet at times they can also be grueling. There are challenges amidst the joy of the toddler tempests. We've been gone three out of four weeks in May, and three out of three kids are teething, so tempers are short, tears close to the surface, transitions to toddler beds, and lets throw in VBS week while we're at it :) And yet, when I look at this picture, I am so thankful. Thankful that God has given Sammi, Emma and Jessie to me for this time, for this season, for my sanctification, for me to cuddle, discipline, train and love. And while there are days when I'm counting down the minutes until 'Daddy' is home, I wouldn't trade it for the world.
One of the joys -
me: so, what did you learn at VBS last night?
Emma: hold rope
me: yes, you got to hold the rope when you walked to your classroom. Anything else?
Sammi: colour
Me: Yup, you coloured too. What story did the man tell you?
Emma: Don't eat fruit!

Ahh, yes.... the story of Adam and Eve. Just a good reminder to me that what I'm saying is not necessarily what they are hearing :)

Prayers

Okay, Sammi and Emma... it's time to pray. Would you like to pray?
Emma: "Lord bless this food, and thank you for strawberries mumble mumble and parks with ducks mumble mumble and clouds mumble mumble"
Sammi:" and clouds with airplanes in them!"
Emma: "AMEN!!!"
Amen, dear girls, Amen. All wonderful things given to us by a generous Father. Thank you for reminding me.

What's a girl to do?

We got home from Ontario Saturday evening, and found out that the tub still wasn't usable. The girls, however, desperately needed it. So... in Emma goes. Sammi "me too?" Emma "yes, Sammi! Come! Please!" So despite the knees up to their chins, they rather enjoyed this adventure. And smelled much better because of it!

The easiest way to fresh

Yesterday I picked up this

which actually contained these

which will produce this

and when mixed with these

will produce all sorts of wonderful things.

On the other hand, maybe this

is easier :)