A Week in the Life of....

Well, it's Monday morning and hubby has left me!....for the week....he's off to California..til Friday.....that's Friday people!!!!! Just me and my darling teens....who, when I turn my back try to kill each other at a moments notice....if any that read this are praying people I'd appreciate it this week! Hubby assures me that he really doesn't want to go...it's work you know....right....just as we head into the coldest weather...so far we've got away with light coats and jackets but this week we'll have to break out the warm woollies they say!

Baby Wett has decided that he needs a little encouragement to make his appearance..so son and daughter-in-law are headed to the hospital today for a series of induction applications...slow process to be sure....I think he just decided that he didn't want to be clumped in with all the eight November family birthdays and be born in December! There's only two in December plus Christmas!

Today is also the day that army son leaves the army for good...he's already moved a lot of his stuff home and later on this morning will say his final good bye to army life and squeeze the rest of his paraphernalia into our little abode. He has big plans that include, hopefully, becoming a police officer......hubby and I only want him to be happy, hopefully everything will go as he wants.

So, it should be an interesting week...can't say, except for meeting baby Wett finally, that I'm really looking forward to it....it's a heavy load when hubby's not here to share it. I'll let you know how it goes.

Special Places

This weekend I remember a sweet little boy...I didn't get to know him but he was very much like his big brother so I know that he is sweet. Three years ago my third grandson was born....but he was already with Jesus. There are certain songs that I hear at this time of year that remind me of him and I will admit, leave me in a puddle. "When a child is born" and "Please celebrate me home", are just two of them. I miss him on his birthday, I miss him at Christmas, I miss him at any family celebration really. I weep and grieve for what we were denied.

Special places in your heart...that's what they are......the wee ones that we never got to hold, never got to sing to, never got to laugh with....

I don't want to bring people down over this post, or upset them (Jennifer)........I just want everyone to realize that these wee ones were real, not to be hushed about, not to be forgotten...but to be validated. Validation is so important to a mother's heart.

Sweet Hayden and our little Leah.....nana and mommy love you and miss you.

This is my son Ryan and his wife Jennifer....and their dog Flannery....they are expecting their first baby any day now....although, personally I think the little guy will wait til next week.......but, anyways, for today we are celebrating Ryan's 33rd birthday!

Can you believe it? I can not. Where has the time gone! I remember his birth so well...a snowy winter type morning and my hubby arrived at the hospital,..it was about 5:30 a.m.....I was already awake...anxious about the day....hubby appeared in the doorway...snow all over his shoulders and a big grin on his face........it was a planned c-section because his older sister couldn't make her way out so they figured he'd probably have the same problem. I decided that I wanted to be awake...there was absolutely no way that I wanted everyone to know whether I had had a boy or girl before I did! (That's what happened when Leslie was born) So, I went with the epideral.....unfortunately...it didn't quite work...ya....you get the picture...burning pain when the incision was made...thank the Lord for local freezing! When they pulled Ryan out, of course I couldn't see because of the drape and back then, hubbies weren't allowed in the surgery..(poor guy was in the hall).....so, the doctor leaned over the drape and proclaimed.."it's a boy!" ...I was taken aback...I though for sure it was a girl...should have known with all the heartburn! I said 'what'...the doctor repeated himself....then they pushed the bassinet over so I could see and there he was lying on his tummy, knees pulled up, arms close to his chest....and he was making these mewing sounds...poor wee guy.....yanked out of his warm bed into the cold and bright lights!...and he's preferred his bed ever since! He wasn't impressed! He was only 6lbs. 7 oz.......

Fast forward 33 years later......and any day he'll be greeting his little boy.....new memories will be made.....'when a child is born'....

Happy Birthday Ryan!

The Millcroft Inn....ahhhhh!

Good Morning Company Girls!
Well, if you read my post last Friday I spoke about my hubby taking me to a special place for my birthday lunch. He wouldn't even tell me where we were going until we were almost there! At one point, he said we were going to eat in a pod! Well, that just brought up a ton of images in my head.....a little concern, which I didn't express, because I'm claustrophobic...good thing because it was nothing like I imagined. We left the house quite early so I knew we had a distance to travel...and we did..about an hour and a half...to ski country...of course there isn't any snow yet, so no skiing...but...it was a beautiful fall day as you can see by some of the pics.
This is the Millcroft Inn......and as the name suggests, it used to be a mill...many, many years ago. Do you see that bit of white in the pic...that's the tablecloth on the table that we sat at to have our lunch. That's what they call the pod!

When I sat in my chair, and looked straight ahead, this was my view. Doesn't it look so peaceful?

This was the view of the Inn from the non-creek side. It's a good thing we were only having lunch because we heard the rooms went for approx $400 a night!!!!!

That's me sitting in my chair...just relaxing...bliss....

A pic of the falls that I could see when I looked down....

Me!

A pic from the outside......

It was a lovely day.....after lunch we walked around the grounds a bit, then we went into the little town and toured another mill that had been turned into an artist's gallery and workshops.....

Then we came home because by that time the teens were home from school and we thought we'd better make sure they weren't killing each other.......then we went out to a movie after that...we saw Julie and Julia...yes, I know...it's been around for awhile but I really wanted to see it and fortunately I found a little theatre that was still showing it.

All in all, it was a very lovely birthday celebration!

Baby Wett still hasn't made his appearance yet......I hope he comes out soon! :0)

Life...isn't it a peach!

Life. Life gets in the way of true happiness sometimes. Oh my, that's truly profound isn't it....I am brilliant this morning....or just really tired...maybe I should stick with the tired. :0)

It was a crazy weekend. Hubby took me to my surprise lunch on Friday....we drove for about an hour and a half to this quaint little town called Alden to a place called the Millcroft Inn....haven't got hubby to put the pics on my computer yet...but I will...it was real pretty there...we ate in a little overhang called a pod.....it holds about 8 people.....it's right over a waterfall....very picturesque.....then we poked around the town a bit...bought some yummy Chelsea buns at a local bakery...then came home to check on our teens.....you see, we have to do that.....for the most part, they don't get along....they try to kill each other...I jest not....

Then we went to a very old movie theatre and saw Julie and Julia......I was really disappointed when I looked at all the movies playing at the big mega cinemas......nothing appealed to me so I was tickled when I found this movie playing at this tiny theatre...best part...the tickets were only $5!!

The next day, Saturday.....I was tired out from all our travelling and doing stuff the day before....I'm like that..it doesn't take much of doing different things to wear me out......so, it was a lazy day...til I decided to start working on Jairus' quilt top......it got to be a case of...okay...just one more block,...then ...well, I'd really like to see how this border looks...then, well.....I only have one border to go and it will be done....I just can't go to bed now...looking at the clock when I finally went to bed it was after 1:30am.....good grief...and I started out tired.

The quilt top is done! Once again, still haven't got pics on my computer to show you...(I really have to learn how to do this myself!)

Sunday was, of course, church....which for eldest daughter and I was MountainKids...that's what we call our Sunday school program....eldest daughter and I run it .....for the moment...we may give it up...some days these things just aren't worth the stress in your life, ya know what I mean?

We have two ladies who are 'greeters'...they mark the child present, give them their name child and in general 'welcome the child'.......well, after program started...I passed by them and they stopped me...they had 'attendance questions'......okay...soo...these ladies...bless their little hearts..have been doing this job for approximately 6 weeks....I've been doing this job for 45 years!! They proceeded to tell me that I've been doing my job wrong and they were surely right in their thinking of how it should be done.....oh my goodness......needless to say I left that little exchange in a dither.....just in time to go and teach my class of 10 year old boys! Have you ever taught a class of 10 year old boys? If you have, and are still sane...please...share with me your secret....because what little sanity I have left is slowly ebbing out my toes each time I'm there!

After church/Sunday school...we had play practice......something else daughter and I are crossing off our list for next year! Good grief....why do all the parents....that refuse to get involve and help always have the loudest....and I mean loud.......opinion on how it should be run. We are having a rather traditional type play and that involves littlest kids being sheep. Well, we thought that they'd be a lot more happy playing in the nursery until it was their turn to do their part...(rather than having them sitting, in the sanctuary while everyone went over their lines)...good idea, don't you think....absolutely not.... I heard rumblings from the parents, sitting in the foyer, not helping.....about 'why were they there...they could be home...this was ridiculous'...and so on.....so, it was finally the little sheepies turn and we called them in...they were to crawl around the shepherds and just be sheep like....the shepherds were visited by the angels and were 'sorely afraid'...they clutched each other and looked stricken...but as a group of boys are wont to do, they started moving and losing balance and almost stepped on one of the little sheepies...at that moment....mama bear of said sheepie comes roaring in from the foyer....hollers at eldest daughter and the rest of the cast about what nearly happened to her little sheepie...started directing cast members where they should be standing so this didn't happen again...then retreated to the foyer to grumble and complain to all the parents (who weren't helping) again!

Like one older lady of the church, who came across me after the 'attendance discussion' earlier said to me....You gotta just tell these people that if they're not for you, then just get out of the way!..I like that lady...she's a peach!

Then we left the church and went to a hotel where my grandson, that I don't see very often....(being the son of the son that I don't see very often probably has a lot to do with it)...well, it had been his 5th birthday a week earlier and his mom was having a birthday party for him (I told you that November was the birthday month in this family!) There's a pool at this hotel so that's why she had it there......we stayed for awhile then scadaddled home quickly because the rest of the family was coming over for my birthday dinner...everyone looks forward to it cause hubby orders Chinese food.....so that's what happened and 16 people ate up a pile of Chinese food and then had more birthday cake...my granddaughter was thrilled because she was getting two birthday cakes opportunities that day!

So...that was the weekend...and then joy of joys it was a P.D. day yesterday...that means that the kids get the day off school while the teachers have meetings. Well, I had an important meeting to attend all day yesterday...which had fantastic results.....and at that point....I will admit that I didn't care if the kids were home all day, killing each other.....yes, I know...I just lost mother of the year award.....you live with Megan, questioning every five minutes whether strawberries are too hard to eat with her braces but goes ahead and eats a crispy wonton chip....or saying 'why', to everything that I tell her no to, and you'd feel the same way too......trust me....

So, the rest of the week I plan on working on sandwiching Jairus' quilt and starting the stitching and waiting for grandbaby Wett to make his appearance....c'mon baby Wett!..nana wants to see you!

Another day, Another Birthday.....

Good Morning Company Girls!

Yesterday was the start of a new year for me...it was my birthday.....hubby had to work which is a little different then birthdays in the past. Quite a few of my birthdays have been spent wandering around a small town not to far from us called Niagara-On-The-Lake..it's close to Niagara Falls. It's a quaint little touristy old fashioned town, with many little shops that we enjoy poking around. Not to be yesterday.....it was impossible for hubby to take a holiday day but today is his official 'everyotherFridaydayoff' day...so we're suppose to be doing something today....hubby likes surprises and refuses to tell me where we are going...I'm just suppose to be ready to leave in two hours so I'd better get on my high horse and get a move on.

Yesterday was an unusual day......faced with a day of doing whatever I wanted to do......one of my quilting friends told me to make sure that I did something that I wanted to do...unfortunately, it wasn't something I could blog about...sorry, but suffice to say it was something that I've wanted to do for years....and I'm glad I did....then I went to Ikea and wandered around there....bought a new lantern and candle for the front porch..then I had to think of lunch.....quilting friend said...go out for lunch.....but where to go.....I don't ever go anywhere by myself....my parents had suggested that I go to this place where you get your meal for free if it's your birthday...I toyed with that idea but then I remembered that they also crowd around you and sing and clap to you and I really didn't want that....especially if I was by myself.....it had been on my mind all morning to give a call to second eldest daughter to see if she wanted to 'do lunch'...but I waited to long and she had to go to work....so...I went to a restaurant...by myself....I wish I had brought a book with me......now don't feel badly...it was surely an interesting experience......especially in the time frame of ordering and waiting for your meal...what do you do...where do you look.....I almost thought of cleaning out my purse.....maybe I had something buried in there that I could read...but alas, it's a small purse. It really did give you a taste of what a lot of people that are forced to regularly eat on their own, face on a regular basis. I will admit to being tempted to using the old 'it's my birthday' card to try and get some free chocolates that you'd get if you ordered 'the special'...(I didn't want the special, but the chocolates would have been nice)...but, I didn't.

Then I went on to the local mall, visited with second eldest daughter, who was working at the time....shhhhh, don't tell the boss.....(actually, he came by and shook my hand). I looked in all the stores for a new jacket...didn't find what I was looking for. I've really come to the conclusion that if Stacey and Clinton showed up with their $5000 card to buy me a new wardrobe that they'd get really frustrated with me since I really hate shopping! After that I came home to take Ben to his program. While he was in his program I took another look in some more shops...no luck...and then settled in to Tim Horton's with a cup of tea and this time, I brought a book and spent the rest of my time sipping my tea and reading.

When I got home, I had a bowl of cereal and then finished Baby Wett's quilt......just can't put his name on it yet, cause they wont tell me the name!!!!!! So, c'm on baby...anytime now...your quilt is ready!!!! Of course, everyone knows that's a prerequisite to being born! :0)

Oh...army boy is definitely getting out of the army...no deployment for him....now we have to find room for all his stuff.....including a lazy boy recliner....do you know how huge those suckers are??

So, I'd better get going...hubby will be saying that I need to stop blogging and get ready.....have a great weekend ladies!

Too much........

Okay...so a lot happened over the weekend.....some good...some not so good. There were many times that I wished that I had stowed away in my sister's car...she left on the weekend for a holiday in Florida.

Emma's party didn't turn out as horrendous as I had envisioned....unfortunately her school friends baled and didn't come....one of the church friends was iffy, and didn't end up coming and another church friend is on a hockey team and they had a game and then her dad didn't want to drive that much....so...just two girls came...but they did have lots of fun...making pizza and peroghies for their supper (I know, weird combination)...and icing cupcakes....(left my kitchen marked for a disaster zone....watched a movie that we heard them uproariously laughing over at times...all in all it went well...she was disappointed at the numbers but was pleased that everybody had a good time.

Saturday was a do nothing day...which suited me just fine...

Sunday was horrendous. We went to church. Eldest daughter and I run the children's Sunday school program, and it runs at the same time as the church service. There was a baby dedication yesterday and the parents of the baby asked eldest daughter to sing a solo.....dilemma...eldest daughter is required in our program at the same time...our minister said 'no problem'..have all the kiddies come into the service, witness the dedication then go back to their program...oh, and while they're there they can stand up in front of the congregation and sing a song...fine...done and done.....then we went back to the kids room where, instead of the usual lesson program we were packing boxes for Samaritan's Purse.... The last three Sundays have included a special program all about three different countries where Samaritan's Purse distributes their shoe boxes and the kids had been earning 'box bucks' so they could 'purchase' items to go into their boxes. Well, picture Christmas morning and multiply it by 40 kids and that pretty well sums up the packing time.......oh my goodness! The kids had a great time though and hopefully it made a positive impression.

Then we had lunch and stayed for Christmas play practice....our Christmas program is on the first Sunday of Advent, November 29th...so we need the practice!

After that, we raced home to put the finishing touches on the house before extended family members arrived for Emma's 'family' birthday party. On Saturday, all day,...Emma worked very hard making this cake...which there should be a picture of somewhere in this post.....not bad for her first effort! Soon family members arrived, stayed for a few hours and then left. Hubby made some supper for the ones that stayed (eldest daughter's family and us) then they left too.

After that we had a conversation with 'army son', by phone...who, apparently, I wont be calling him that for much longer. He's chosen not to re-enlist, and will be moving back home in two weeks and staying til he gets a job!!!!! It has been my experience...(with eldest daughter, eldest son and second eldest daughter and briefly second eldest son...that this situation is never good. They have lived outside 'the family' too long and have forgotten what it's like to live in a family. They don't tolerate us well and we don't tolerate them either...it just upsets the apple cart, so to speak....not good for relationships all around, really.

I was glad to get to bed last night....all in all, just too much in one day.

Emma is Sixteen!

Good Morning Company Girls!!

Do you remember that song from years ago...'What a day for a daydream'...well, I wish today was the day for that.....my goodness!

Emma will be sixteen this weekend....she has planned a birthday party for herself for tonight. Now, because we are a 'large' family over the years I've had to draw the line for the age when birthday parties stop....usually it is at the age of ten....but..... Since February Emma has been planning this party....first she wanted it in the summer.....an early birthday because she wanted a beach party....she set up the requirements for us agreeing to this...she would get over 80 in all her subjects! Well, hubby had a fit...there was absolutely no way he'd agree to that....but I quickly pointed out(out of earshot of Emma) that Emma barely passes most of the time....you see, she has good intention but lacks focus and soon loses her train of thot when it comes to school work.....she has boggled the mind of many poor teacher over the years! They beg her to hand in any work at all just so they'd have something to mark...anyways, I digress......I was positive the marks wouldn't be happening so I agreed. Needless to say...we didn't have a summer beach party.....

So, in August, she started to plan the one she is hostessing tonight......she's planned activities and games....she's invited about five friends from school and church...to be here all evening til 11 p.m.! We shall see how it goes but I'm sure she'll be happy with it because she has planned everything!

We shall also see how hubby and I survive a houseful of sixteen year old teenage girls for the whole evening!

On another note, with Emma....Emma has asthma (she also has many allergies) ......apparently one of the prerequisites for obtaining the H1N1 flu shot is having asthma...so the doctor's office called and wanted her to come in for it....so...yesterday, I took her there, sat for about twenty minutes in a 'germ filled' atmosphere..which I wasn't pleased about......only to have her finally called in and then come back out....'salmon...it has salmon'.....'what are you talking about?'....the needle...it has salmon....I'm allergic...I can't have it!' Good grief......I was not impressed!

Yesterday morning I spent the whole morning in the orthodontist office while Megan had her braces put on....I will admit that I've been waiting for this day since she came to live with us four years ago.....her teeth are really crooked....something could have been done by removing some when she was younger to make room ..but it wasn't....somebody dropped the ball back then and by the time she came to us it was too late. It's very difficult for her to brush her teeth and get them clean when the teeth are so crooked. So, yesterday morning, for 2-1/2 hours...she sat, while they applied the braces. I will not post a picture....I will not tell her...but it isn't a pretty site.....I hope she doesn't get teased at school today....she would be very upset.

So.....if hubby and I survive the weekend then I will talk to you next week...let you know how it all went.

Two weeks...give or take...till baby Wett! Yea!