I am so unbelievably proud of my piano kids right now 💜 This week has brought us the 25th anniversary of the Twin Rivers Music Festival, and three of my kids participated!!! The festival terrified me as a kid, thought I faced that fear a handful of times. The pressure of performing was one thing. The very quiet nature of the event was pretty stoic and intimidating. Plus, the judges were so scary! 😅 Ok, they probably weren’t, but it sure felt like they were in the moment!

I am so grateful for exactly what festival is now for my kids. The judges and other members who put the event on are all visibly happy to be there. The comments are delivered in SUCH a friendly way, and even if someone needs to work on something, it is presented honestly but really kindly. Kids are cute. Everyone claps. And our beloved piano teacher spends all that time at the event, checking in on ALL of her students and encouraging them. It is still a very professional event, and everyone still comes put together, respectful, in line, etc. but it feels so much more like a family event. I love it.

Laela and Solomon both played on Sunday, and I couldn’t go. My mom did, thankfully!! They came home happy! Laela figured she hadn’t done as well as she had hoped, but she placed second in her group and her comments were really good!

Solly didn’t place this year, though he got a first last year so he wasn’t unhappy at all, haha! His comments were great as well!

While I couldn’t go watch them play on Sunday, I was able to attend today! I missed Solly altogether, but I got to see Wavy play her first ever festival piece, and I caught Laela’s second song! I was SO grateful to be able to watch them!!!

Wavy first.

She kept saying she was “nervous, but actually mostly just excited.” She played her piece beautifully with NO MISTAKES!!! We were both so shocked at how smoothly it had gone, since in her practice that morning, she kept getting lost. But she nailed it, and took home second place! The adjudicator loved that it was her first time playing in the festival, and complimented how colourful she was 🥰 It was sweet.

Pose, Wave!

And Laela next.

She was apprehensive because there were only two kids in her group, and she knew the other kid was really, really good. Which he was. However, Laela did beautifully, and also took home second! The very accomplished other kid in her age group beat her by 1%!

We had SO much fun. I wish I could’ve been at all of their things, but I did my best and this worked out. Thank you to EVERYONE who put in to make sure these kids had a cheering section 💜 My mom, for doing Sunday. Cher for coming to help with babies. Brady for coming home a little bit early to relieve and keep time going. It was a precious thing for me to be able to go watch them play, and I am so grateful.

Another year of piano festival in the books!! Many more to come! Amazing job Laela, Solomon, and Waverly! I am SO proud of you all! 💜🎹💜

Monday is ballet day! The schedule is a little hairy, and my mom has been helping me the last few weeks get everyone there on time. Thank you, mom!! 💜 She came today, and we chatted for a little bit about our days so far, and the week to come. Wavy came and joined us in the living room, and asked me to take a picture of her pose. So. Here you have it.

Forgive her dirty tights, haha! She is crazy flexible that one! 🙌

As Laela was getting ready, she came upstairs in her ballet gear, as well as the luscious cardigan I made her recently, and it reminded me I wanted my mom to try on the cozy one I made myself a couple of weeks back. It fits her SO nicely!!! Ack! Too bad the hot flashes would render it unwearable 🤣

Lastly, I will leave you with something really dry to laugh about. If you have that kind of humour. Which I do. Take it or leave it, but I will DEFINITELY be taking it!

🤣 I AM DYING!!!!!

Ok, folks. A mishmash today, but still some cute things to share 🙂 I have crud in my face and I’m ready to eat leftovers in my bed. ✌️

I sat beside Dekker in church today. I usually end up sitting between Wavy and Solly for at least a little while. When Wavy leaves for children’s church, there is often just a space beside me, which is fine. But today, I sat by Dekker. He was a bit discouraged this morning, so I was keeping an extra eye on him, which means that we played juuuuuuust a little during church 😬🤏 We still listened, I promise! But we had some giggles.

At one point, Dekker opened up the bible to follow along. There are bibles at church that live in the benches, so he just grabbed one of those. We were met with more ammo for further laughter that we desperately had to stifle. Though I still took pictures.

I was relieved we could laugh about it, knowing with confidence it wasn’t us who put the artwork there 😅

It was a nice soft church service with Dekker. Once or twice, I put my arm around him to whisper something in his ear, but I actually had nothing important to say. Just wanted to squeeze him.

Happy Sunday night, all! Back to the work/school week tomorrow! Sleep well. 😴

I know I’m not the only one thinking about Spring, considering the seasons officially switched just yesterday. Someone should tell the weather. But, alas, here we are, in Spring 2026.

I’ve been feeling recently like we spend a lot of time fussing around things that don’t work very well for us. So I’ve slowly been trying to make things work a little better. Having fewer things laying around that the babies can’t touch. Making things a bit more accessible. Things like that. Winter is a harsh reminder of Bradys limits, unfortunately. While we have AMAZING people literally surrounding our home who watch out of us, it is still undeniable that winter in particular is extra challenging when the person you love the most in the world is in a wheelchair.

So now that the seasons are shifting, I’m looking ahead to consider what spring will look like, and how to make some things function even better for Brady. In my mind, I really want to get a fire pit area in the backyard set up. Grass isn’t great. Its fine, but the dream would be to have a patio area where the previous owners of the home used to have a big garden. Patio stone costs an arm and a leg, and while we’re really not using Brady’s legs, amputation isn’t high on the list, so we’re going to have to find another way. We were BLESSED with a fantastic deal on second hand patio stones that we were able to use at camp to make our site SO much nicer for Brady, so I ask if anyone knows of someone tearing out an old patio or redoing theirs who may be looking to sell their old stones at a reduced value, please send them our way! We would like to be able to have some gatherings at our place and open our home even more to sibling/family visits for our foster kids, and the backyard is going to be the best option for that.

Second dream would be for our side deck to be usable for Brady. That would mean a couple of different things. Either a barrier free door and a slight ramp to get out there (the threshold for the door is huge and not level with the deck) or perhaps possibly building up the floor of the deck to meet the doorframe. If possible, it would be amazing to have a ramp to get him off the deck into the yard. But that would be a long ramp, and I’m not sure we could afford to rent/build/buy one for a short season.

They’re just dreams. Ideas. Its good to keep thinking ahead and keep our eyes open for opportunities. And now, you know them too 🙂 So if you hear of patio stones or a long ramp at crazy values, please help us get in touch!

I do a ballsy thing from time to time. I buy puzzles from Value Village. This is ballsy because you never know if the puzzles have all the pieces or not. Oftentimes, they don’t, and its disappointing, because who wants to do a puzzle that never is actually totally complete.

However, since having toddlers running around more often these last couple of years, I’ve come to terms with ending up with some puzzles missing a piece or two. While its not my favorite thing, it hurts my feelings a little less when its thrifted because its just life, and I don’t have to be frustrated at anyone or go on any big hunt. With that feeling a bit more relaxing, I’ve had puzzles going on the island at least somewhat consistently for the last few months.

I had a giggle a few days ago when I completed one of our new-to-us puzzles. Not only was it not missing any pieces, but for the first time ever, it came with an extra!!

In the morning when the kids got up for the day, they came to scope the puzzle, and everyone laughed at the extra piece. It was after breakfast that Dekker and Laela kicked off the maniacal laughter. It wasn’t just an extra piece. It was a duplicate!

It’s possible no one will appreciate this as much as I did, but it felt like an odd happening that won’t likely come around again. And I like it. Feels a little special. 🤏 Just a bit.

🌳🌳

I got to have a bath today. It was SO cozy and warm. I scrubbed my body and shaved my legs. I watched some Youtube but eventually paused it as I got lost in a rabbit hole of videos on my phone. And I don’t mean reels on Facebook or trash like that. I found myself watching videos of LD from way, way back to when they were new here. They both filled and broke my heart in one fell swoop. I love that child so darn much.

Yes. Foster parents do get too attached. Thats the whole point of this. To love these children desperately, like they are from your own flesh and blood, so they can KNOW that love!! No matter how good they have it here, or elsewhere, or for how long, there is going to be trauma to unpack, and I will NOT have these kids leave our home feeling like they were “just” foster kids. Nope nope nope. First smiles. First steps. Tickles. Messy meals. Bubble baths. New words. Jokes. All of that stuff is GOLD, whether that kid came out of your body or not. Their need for familial love is worlds apart more important than our desire not to feel grief when they go.

• This is NOT me saying LD is going. Just reminiscing and feeling that deep ache of love and uncertainty.

Anyway. I really enjoyed soaking in the tub, as well as in the rabbit hole that was LD’s infancy. It was a precious time. As have been all the times spent with LD 💜

It was a happy day. Cher came back to work, which has been a long time coming with her household and ours alternating really yucky sicknesses. Mostly us over here 😅 But neither of us wanting to pass anything funky to the other. We spent the day getting some things done, but also lots of catching up and just playing babies together. It was nice.

Munchie Mix is babbling away. Wanting to eat food. Trying to crawl. Its a busy time for that one! Meanwhile, the toddlers are talking more and more, and communication between them is SO fun to witness. They would invite each other into their games, calling the other by name and saying things like “Hop on!” in reference to a ride-on toy, or “play with guys!” talking about Little People. They would come give hugs if one was sad or let down. They’d problem solve together, LD regularly chasing us down with Spoons’ sippy cup, exclaiming “Wadda, please!” It is VERY cute.

Once everyone came home from school and nap time was over, there was more snuggling than usual. Not in a sickness way, thank goodness, but in a content way. I loved it. Of course, that flipped on its head after supper, but it made for a smooth, swift bedtime, for which I was very thankful! 😅 Some days thats simpler.

Time to get M&M down now. I believe the pooping is done for the evening. 🤞 We shall see!

I have yet to crochet a wearable for myself that I really like. I’ve made one cardigan and it was stiff and crappy and I never wore it. It just didn’t work out. But that ship has finally sailed, and I was able to make something I love for myself!! So, as tends to happen, I decided to make one for a kid, too. Today, I finished one for Laela 💜 

Pretty, hey?? It fits her so nicely, and this particular yarn just falls so nicely, is weighted so well, and the texture can’t be beat. Of course, now that I’ve discovered it is THE yarn for crocheting cardis, it’s being discontinued 😩 just to hurt my feelings. 

Discontinued yarn or not, hopefully this is the beginning of my skills expanding a bit to include some cozy sweaters. I love making blankets, but for those of us who want to wear a blanket out of the house, cardigans feel like the next best option. 

Still SO much to learn and create! 

I took one of the babes for a visit this afternoon. Because of the day of the week it is, we have a few kids going in different directions. With that, I only brought Rowan, Solly, and another one of the babies along. A smaller group that usual, thats for sure.

When I dropped off at the visiting apartment, I didn’t feel content. It didn’t feel good. Like. Everyone was safe, of course. Visits are supervised. No one is alone. Everything is truly ok. But it was a less familiar visit situation than most, and I felt yucky leaving. Two hours to kill.

What was really unexpectedly nice was that both of my boys were SO STOKED to sit and read their library books in the van. They asked specifically if we could just park and read. To which I said YES because I had also planned for this possibility and had brought some crocheting along!! So sat still. Quiet music going. They read. I crocheted. We just. Had. Peace. Even though my heart didn’t feel peace.

The time finally came and I went and picked up from the visit. BIG content hugs. Familiarity. Exclamations upon entering the van. Everyone was happy to be back together. Lots of tickles and giggles getting buckled up for the drive home.

We got home and plunked the little one in a high chair to supplement their supper of popcorn and juice. Meanwhile, the house was wrapping up for the day around the usual time. It wasn’t long after getting home that the first round of bedtime happened and the house got that much quieter.

While the visit today was not my favorite thing, and it didn’t feel good to me, my body was grateful for an afternoon away. Some rest time. Music. Crocheting. No fighting or refereeing or arguing. Just hanging out, and resting my body, doing something I enjoy.

The iced coffee didn’t hurt either.

Laela is home! I have no pictures, but you’ll have to take my word for it. She is well and happy and tired and she really enjoyed her first ever youth retreat 💜 I LOVED youth retreats growing up, and its so fun to see my kids revel in them the ways I did, making friends from other towns, learning new songs, and experiencing that type of community that a person can only find at camp.

As independent as Laela is, I was thrilled when she texted me this morning and assured me she was having a blast, but was ready to come home 💜 Now, she is home. Well fed. Slow moving. Rowan did her usual dish slot, and everyone went to bed without struggle. Which is handy because tomorrow is a busy one.

Please, Lord, grant us good solid rest, and strength for the day that ONLY comes from you 💜 Amen.