*click*

The camper door is closed. Hailey just headed outside to start the fire for S’morning.

Our new little one is asleep amongst a snuggly scrunchaling of blankets after an early morning bottle. And I need to get the rest of the kids out of bed and outside, preferably without waking the baby.

To quote Barney Stinson, “Challenge Accepted!”

I finish getting myself ready for the day while ‘quietly’ moving around the camper. Let’s be real, nothing about my movement is quiet when I’m not in my wheelchair. But I make do.

I gather a few things that are needed as the kids get up and I decide to leave the lights low and the fan running for background noise. I can do this! 💪

I slowly creep the kids room door open and whisper ‘Boola Boola Boola!’ (The traditional good morning call of our campsite). ‘Boola Boola Boola’ is whispered back from all. A good start!

A few of the younger ones come wandering out for hugs and morning stretches. I rearrange the blankets around the baby to block the light as Solly slaps on the light in the kids room.

I take a moment to explain that the baby is still asleep and we need to try to be quiet and sneak outside. Whispering is a concept lost on a couple of them but they did their best.

The older kids start getting dressed up on the top bunk as I get the younger boys their daily vitamins and such. It takes two tries to get Rowan’s contact in but he’s patient and we make it work.

The kids begin filtering outside as they all get dressed and excited for s’mores breakfast with their friends. Wavy was the last one out after I helped her get her bathing suit on in preparation for the beach, later.

Quiet.

All 5 kids are dressed, contacted, medicated, and outside surrounded by friends. And the baby stayed asleep. But now needed to be moved to the playpen. Left sleeping on the bed was not an option.

Ok. I can do this. I’ll scoop the baby, pivot, two steps across the camper and down, carefully, the baby goes into the playpen.
Deep breath, slide the hands under and…

Success!

The baby shifts, eyes blink once, and back to sleep.

💪😎 Next level Dad mode achieved. 🎖️

I bumble around doing a few more things as quietly as I can and head outside. And the baby stayed asleep for another half an hour while we had breakfast s’mores and the kids ran off to play.

The baby woke at an appropriate time and we had a snuggle, coffee, and chat with friends around the fire to start our Father’s Day at the lake.

Happy Father’s Day friends!

So I’ve obviously been harbouring some cute things at my house, and its been hard to talk about much else! The warm outpouring of love has been incredible and overwhelming and SO appreciated 💜 Thank you, friends 💜

As you probably know, I cannot share details AT ALL about the child in our care on here. I can talk about fostering in general, and I will 🙂 But today, I’ll show you a couple of cute pictures that I felt needed to be on the blog.

Kids are still patching ✅ They have a check-up this coming week to see what they still need to do, whats improving, etc. I don’t have the kids patch at camp or outside, so I’m not sure they’ll log too many patching hours this summer. We’ll see what their eye doctor says!

Then there are these cute things 💜 Dekker is such an amazing big brother, and Wavy likes to tease and withhold from him. She’s mean, and he is so gracious. But when she happily goes to him and snuggles, it is SO SO nice to see.

He NEVER rejects her, no matter how many times she’s shut him down. He is an excellent big brother.

I have ZERO recent photos to show you of the middle boys that I can actually show you 😅 So you’ll have to take my word for it that they’re doing really well 💜

I am so grateful for my family 💜 That is all.

I’ve been annoying cryptic for a while now. Trust me, I know. Its not been a goal, but its been my desperate attempt to let you all know I haven’t just given up on blogging, but that I am working towards real things, and have been preoccupied.

I am still preoccupied. We all are. But in a new, beautiful way.

Brady and I have spent the last few months training to be a foster family, and one week ago, we were approved!

Quick back track! We actually had begun the process of applying for foster care about 2.5 years ago. We did half of the online training (which is a LOT) and were getting more in depth with the interviews and meetings when Brady had his surgery and everything changed. We spoke to the ministry that summer, and they said it was customary after such a huge medical tragedy, we would need to wait for at least two years before we start talking about reapplying. At that point, our file would have been closed, and we would be starting at square one. This all made total sense, but we were SO sad. We really really felt called into this field.

Come two years, we got back in touch and had some good discussions with some higher ups in the ministry who decided they would make an exception, reopening our file, and letting us pick up where we left off! So we positively crushed the online training, got acquainted with our new social worker, and got into all the work!

We have spent an amazing amount of time doing training both in person and online, going to meetings, interviewing, and preparing the home for whoever may come our way, all the while unsure if we’d be approved.

We were 💜 Just on Friday, June 9th, 2023. We met the social worker who will follow us for the first year or two that day, and she tipped us off that we were clear to start receiving calls on Monday.

We did 💜

Its been five days with this little morsel. Five days of figuring. Five days of meeting needs. I know we’re new at this, but it feels like a calling has been met, and our hearts are full.

The kids are acclimating well. Very well. Dekker is in full babysitter mode. Laela loves to play mom. Rowan is patient and compassionate with the added volume in the house. Solomon has surprised us all by helping with feedings and soothers. Wavy also feeds and soothes, and is helpful in every way she can think of.

Its a whirlwind in which we are so grateful to be part of. Praise God.

👆 That there is definitely an inside with Brady. Hopefully he’ll appreciate that. Anyway.

The time finally came to MOW our GRASS! Ya. We have grass now. In the front, anyway. The backyard is going to be a gigantic undertaking and we are simply not set up for it yet, as the entire yard is filled with weeds and large stones. So. We’ll look forward to that later this season.

I digress. The front yard is finally a yard. Intentionally set up rather than just a mess. As you may or may not know, when seeding grass like we did, you have to let it grow pretty good and long before cutting it. And yesterday was the day Brady decided it was time. And because, surgery or not, he is still 1000% himself, he insisted on doing it. Because 🤷🏼‍♀️ he could. So he did!

My favorite part is coming next.

Laela and Dekker had gone on a walk, and I greeted them as they re-entered the house. They were giggling, and asked if they could go back outside and heckle Brady as he mowed. And I told them to have at it, and I bet you know why! Within moments, Dekker was mowing! Hahahaha! I went out there and noticed Laela was still heckling so she landed on flower watering duty. They made quick work of it all!

Now we can lay down more seed and start getting rid of the big weeds over time. Its patchy, but its green, and its getting there! Thank you Lord for my hardworking husband who is absolutely NOT defined by his change in mobility. Who also wants to teach our children important things, even when it takes a little longer. And who comes back into the house with a smile on his face after working hard and feeling that reward. I am so proud of him.

Grassy ass, honey 💜

We’ve been incredibly preoccupied recently, so I can’t share too much newness with you. You’ll have to forgive a bit of a repeat topic, but it was just too cute not to share!

Wavy helped me make dressing again this morning. We made two this time. My honey mustard, and also some dressing for broccoli salad. Last weekend at the lake, the salads really hit the spot, and I want to have them again! So, dressings gotta be fresh!

Wavy thought the mayo was gross, but she thought it sounded like poops, which she was happy about. So I filled the measuring cups and she plopped them into the bowls.

She filled the mustard and even scooped it out. Getting that coordination going!!

She let me do the sticky stuff – honey, and then she did the rest, mixing it all up! Meanwhile, I put the broccoli salad dressing together. She’s less invested in that one. Lol!

Aaaaand then just like last time, she wanted to lick the “whisker.”

And I let her. Because why not? I’m sure I would’ve wanted to do the same thing at her age.

Two big containers of dressing ready for camp this weekend!! Its gonna be a gooder, I am SURE of it!

Just 👏 you 👏 wait 💜

I find it oddly difficult to put kids school events on the blog because I don’t want to put other peoples kids online without their consent. That being said, sharing pictures is HARD. And a post about track day without pictures feels like a bummer. But. Here we are! Hopefully I can find a COUPLE, at least!

Dekker first.

His most notable event was easily the 1600m run. He is not a fan of said race, and was SO excited to hear it was cancelled due to poor air quality. And then was significantly less excited to hear they changed their minds and he had to run it after all. Poor boy. Hahaha! With that being said, he got fourth place!! I am SO proud of his endurance, both physical and mental. He was NOT invested, but he ran the entire thing without stopping. And then he stopped good and proper 😅

Some kids really struggled to finish the race, and kids in the class who were done ran alongside them to help them finish the race. It was very heartwarming to see some 12 year old boys encouraging each other this way.

This was his main event, so its the one I wanted to share on here 💜

Laela is next!

Laela had a couple big events that she was super excited about. She’s a runner, so her sprint and 400m were important! Not too many pictures, unfortunately, but she runs with a smile on her face. This is not for the camera. She just LOVES running!!

This year, she also had her first shot at high jump. She is easily the shortest girl in her class, and she placed third overall in high jump.

I know. Her tummy is showing. But LOOK at those muscles!!! I could not resist posting this one!! She jumped to the height where the bar was near her shoulder. When she was officially out, she had a little cry, and her friends surrounded her with hugs and encouragement. The cutest little group of girls!!

Rowan is a very natural athlete as well, and running is his jam. Both the sprint and the distance were right up his alley.

His sprint was SO fast. They have a very fast group of boys in their grade!! Look at his stride!

His distance run, 400m, was almost comical.

He positively KILLED it. He took off right in the beginning until he was well ahead of the whole group, and then just trotted away to the finish line. He made it look SO easy. He crossed the finish line, and came over to chat with the family. It was SO bonkers to see him not even break a sweat! Once the race was done, the teacher who timed the race out informed him he was three seconds off the school record!! Ack! Go Rowan go!!!

Solomon is last but not at all least!!

Solly enjoyed the jumping events, and I was super impressed with his vigour and efforts! Every jump would turn into a mad rush towards me. The videos would prove it. But I was most impressed with, though, was his run!

He, like Rowan, ran 400m. I have never seen him run a length like that, and like the rest of his siblings, he ran it without stopping. Look at him go!! He meant business!!! I honestly don’t know where he placed, but I was SO impressed!!!! He had a big exhausted cry after the run, and then he rallied and bounced back!!

Track day is always a favorite of mine, and not because everyone rocks every event, or anything like that. Its definitely fun when it does go that way, but its also really heartwarming to see the kids try so hard and persevere, whether they’re invested or not. I love my children and their endurance that they show in both body and spirit.

Incredible job, incredible people 💜

Tonight! Fire fire fire!!

Who sang it? 🙋🏼‍♀️

This weekend was a hot one, and we made good work on the beach! We also rocked some beautiful effortless fires, which was a relief after the wet wood weekend we had last go round! Enjoy a photo dump of our weekend at camp!

First, we FINALLY got a spinner knob on the golf cart, which makes driving it SO much easier!

The nest in our hitch is full of baby birds 💜 Some of them left the nest this weekend. Whether they were scared of all of us, or they were ready, I don’t know for sure.

Laela bypassed a towel for a cardi, and it was a cute scene. She made a joke about carrying around shovels and being Solly, haha!

Sandwiches on the beach was fun 💜 I made a video of everyone giving their orders, and Dekker came up with me and helped me make them. It was really enjoyable 🙂 and well received.

Piper and Wavy 💜

And Sadie and Laela 💜 Her blue lips crack me up. That was always me at the lake, too.

Wavy stole Avery’s shades 🙂

Speaking of shades, Solly finally got to wear the clip-on shades that came with his glasses!

Rowan made this little guy and he said it was a teaching tool to remind us that everyone is different. I noted that the guy had two different arms, and then Rowan followed up with “Some people have four legs! Oh and he’s got a hole in his head…”

Good food. SO much good food.

Avery made a whole treasure hunt for the kids, and it ended on a bag of gifts, some of which were sunglasses!!

Fun fact. Laela and I both wrecked our favorite shirts this weekend.

I mentioned above the effortless fires 😍

We enjoyed a few good golf cart rides down to the water and around the camp. Laela only fell off once 😳

And if tears on the beach aren’t a way to signify the end of the weekend, I don’t know what is.

It was a lovely weekend. Nice weather. Nice people. Very relaxing. The next weekend will likely look entirely different, but we’ll talk more about that later!

NOT meant to be clickbait! Wavy does NOT need glasses!! Not yet. She will, very likely. But we were in our glasses place the other day and, just for kicks, we tried a bunch on her cute little face. And man alive, she is so unbelievably cute, I don’t even know what to do with her! So, behold. A VERY cute bespectacled Waverly.

I am confident there will be a day in the not too far off future where Wavy will get a vision prescription that needs to be filled, and its exciting to know that it’s going to be SO FUN choosing a pair out together! Because, as you can see, she really can’t go wrong!

I make a honey mustard dressing that my family has come to know and love. Lately, I’ve been trying to be better about having the kids help me in the kitchen, and just the other day (hat day) Wavy asked to help me with the dressing. I did the slightly fussier measuring, but she did a couple parts of it, and it was just SO cute that I wanted to share it here.

Her determination was absolutely adorable right off the bat.

She stirred it all up, and actually did a better job than I expected. I gave her a big whisk, and then a smaller one to get into the edges. And she got it pretty close to perfect!

The pouring felt a little ballsy, but at least I was just storing it in a container and not in a condiment bottle yet. So I let her go for it. And she didn’t spill a drop!

I held the measuring cup afterwards and she scraped it out.

And then. She licked the scraper as if we were making cookies.

Yup. And she didn’t stop. She licked it clean. That shows you how yummy and sweet this dressing is! But frankly, she’s still gross 😅

Lucky for her, she is totally irresistible, and she knows it.

I love you, Wave. I really like doin’ food with you 💜

Laela and Rowan are commonly referred to as the twins” in our house. This morning was especially twinny when both kids picked panda patches!!! It was super cute! I had to take pictures, of course 😍

And while taking these pictures, we realized how much taller Rowan is than Laela!! So once again, we needed to document that.

Rowan is 17months younger than Laela, but you wouldn’t know it! They’re total sweeties!