Dekker Thomas turned fourteen today. 

😳 

FOURTEEN. 🤯

What I will tell you is that my dear boy is growing up so beautifully. He is a perfect balance between hard working,  soft and snuggly, and reckless. He is becoming a very beautiful string young man while still rocking some adorable little boy traits. He would rather sit with the adults than play with the kids, but if Scooby-Do is playing, he is THERE! He goes on solo walks, but will sit and chat with the babies, marvelling at how endearing they are. He is my big boy. And my little boy. And the boy who made me a mom. 

And what a lucky schmuck to have the dad he has. 

I love you, dear Dekker. May you feel blessed by God all your life. I am so grateful for you. 

We picked Wavy up from her first stretch of overnight camp this week. She came flying across the field with her arms out! I scooped her up and excitedly asked her if she had fun. No answer. My girly was crying! 😭 I hugged her good and long, and when she was calm, I checked in. Luckily for everyone, she had had the BEST time!! She just cracked when she saw her family 🥰 isn’t that amazing?! 

During the closing program, she didn’t want to go up front with the other kids. She stayed close to us. But she did go up to show off her memory verses. When she rejoined the group on our bench, she was happily sandwiched between Laela and Solly, where she seemed very comfortable and content. 

She had so many stories. So many favorites. So many friends she LOVED but couldn’t name 😅 it had really been an amazing success, and she’s already begging to go back next summer. BIG yes, girly!!! Absolutely! 

We settled into the evening all together around a roaring hot fire, overtop which we cooked hot dogs for supper. 

It’s great to have you back, Miss Wave. We sincerely missed you 💜 

Brady and I love a good snack before bed. It goes against every rule of health and nutrition, of course, but the snack tends to be something quite indulgent, like Lindor chocolates, or a hearty round of Six Cookies. It feels a little like a date to snuggle in and eat something special.

However.

Bradys mouth hurts. And of all stupid things, chocolate burns! Who would’ve ever thought chocolate would burn?? So most of our treats are out :/ Which sucks.

But with time and trials, we are finding foods that Brady can manage fairly well, and some that he even *gasp* enjoys!!! Lately, our evenings consist of late night toast.

Just. Butter toast. But guess what. It not only doesn’t hurt his mouth, but he can taste it! And it tastes like TOAST!!!

Small victories 💜 I know. But we’ll take them.

🍞🔥🧈

As tends to happen, the day did not go according to plan. It wasn’t bad, just different from how it was all laid out to begin with. We ended up losing the morning to Saskatoon, but instead of having to go in later on as well, we got to do only one trip in instead of two. Which meant nap times weren’t cut short. Kids could relaxed, as well as work. Everyone got their bath done today. We did lots of laundry. Made lists. I chatted a bit with a social worker and set up a meeting. I caught up on expenses. And I even had the pleasure of dozing off with our latest babe in the recliner, which I justified since I’ve been up since 3:50 this morning 😅

Tomorrow I will have lots going on as well!! Two social worker meetings, a coffee with Cher, and then a morning of work from her (Thank you Cher!!!) Once the big babes are down for naps, my mom will come and finally get acquainted with the newest newb, and while they snuggle, I’ll get into packing and food prep!!!

Because off we go to camp tomorrow!!! Ack! Time to make up for some of the holiday that we missed 💜

This is not an important post. But still, I post it.

It POURED overnight at camp, which was absolutely amazing, and something I didn’t expect nor plan for in the way of fire wood. It was REALLY hard to get the fire going in the morning, We finally resorted to the leaf blower, and after many attempts, we finally got it going.

But doing it this way came with consequences. Not only did I burn holes in my shirt, but I took a spark to the face. Just a little one. But it was right along the inner edge of one of my nostrils.

Let. Me. Tell. You.

You know when you get a zit there, and its SO unbelievably tiny, but it hurts like crazy pants? This tiny spark left a tiny burn behind, and it has felt like that times ten all day long. It is small but mighty, and I am not a fan.

All day long, I have found myself kind of touching it, bothered by it, incredibly aware of it. And thanks to that, I now have grown a zit right there as well, because why not, right? 🤷‍♀️

😩

Be assured – I know this is a very small problem. But it is SO strange and SO oddly painful, and its really the only thing I can think about right now so thats what you’re getting.

*touches weird nose burn yet again*

Goodnight, all. ☄️

Laela got recruited for the second weekend in a row to pitch in at the camp and do dishes for their weekend rental group. Avery has just begun volunteering for some things like that, and when they’ve needed extra volunteers recently, Laela has joined in. 

This weekend in particular, the girls worked two time slots for a good stretch of time. They did well enough that they ended up helping prepare food as well. These girls worked hard, willingly, happily, only coming  back for a couple of hours between lunch and supper before heading back for more. 

The understanding was that this was voluntary. Which was perfectly fine! However, unbeknownst to them, the head cook had made the plan to “pay” them with camp credit. And let me tell you 🙌 that was a HIT! Laela just BEAMED!

I feel so proud of these dear girls 💕 I’m so thrilled to know and love them, and to have them in my family. Beautiful job, Laela and Avery!!

I made a blanket recently. Not a big one. A really simple one. Remember when I made plaid blankets a few years back? I crocheted a super simple mesh type base and then weaved crocheted chains in the gaps. Really basic. I haven’t done one like that in while, until recently. 

The base part came together super easily in evenings, but it was during the weaving process that I was able to pinpoint my mistakes 🤦🏼‍♀️ 

That’s what I get for crocheting in the dark. See I was really enjoying crocheting in my room with the lights on while we didn’t have a third placement for a while. But when our latest babe came along, I wasn’t ready to give it up just right then. So. I crocheted in the dark, and lost a whole important chunk of spaces that was really going to mess up my alternating pattern. 

I made it work. Ish.

Anyway. I finished it. It’s not perfect, but it’ll do. I like this style. Doesn’t take much thought but it creates something pretty pretty. 

Ta-daaa! 🙌 Not too shabby! Or, rather, just shabby enough!

A short story to make fun of myself:

I walked into the kitchen this moment and was totally caught off guard!!!

For there in my kitchen, on my counter, stood a small, yet undeniable, GHOST!

I had a bizarre 😳 moment because… just… where did this come from?! A prank from one of the kids? It was too perfect of a ghost to not be intentionally placed there.

Until I remember it was me.

🤦‍♀️

Just the mess I left behind yesterday after trying to help clear up some baby acne, and give that kids skin a fighting chance.

Anyway. Felt like a self prank. Gave me a little giggle. I liked it.

👻

I am so unbelievably grateful for the placement we received yesterday. This little munch is sleepy. Peaceful. Comfy. Loves to snuggle, and also sleep solo. Eats well. Doesn’t burp much, but doesn’t spit up much, either. It’s as though God knew after our last placement fell apart so badly that someone who at least starts low maintenance is what our family needed.

And God also knew that this baby needed us to fulfill their needs. So, thats what we’ll do.

As I sit on my living room floor, blogging, newbie is laying on the floor beside me, kicking around a little after a necessary diaper change. There is some grunting and flapping going on, but no one is upset. Just, bedtime cranky, maybe. Which works for me!!

Thank you, Lord. Your timing is impeccable, as always. I trust you.

I should write a longer post, but I’m in my chair, rocking someone new 🥰 A fairly settled, peaceful someone new, but new nonetheless.

After a solid week and a half with only seven kids, we’re back to eight! Or 🤔 I suppose we will be when Dekker is back from camp, lol!

Wish us luck for our first night.

Nickname still to come.