I’m not sure where the lists say different milestones are supposed to fall, but I like to celebrate them as they come my way.

In the last couple of days, Waverly has started to pretend!! It is SO cute!! 

I figured it out when I thought she had a hair in her hand. We’re a hairy bunch over here, and Wavy sometimes find little hairballs (or, lets be real, big hairbsalls) and brings them to me. She used to try to eat them 😳 Seeing her with a big, long beard hair hanging out of her mouth was pretty horrifying. But now, when she finds them, she knows she shouldn’t have them, and brings them to me. Sometimes she even brings me a single hair, of which we have many. In the last couple of days, she’s come to drop something in my hand, but there is no hair. I figured she just lost it it on her way over, but thats not the case! I know now!

She has a particular toy she likes. Its a Paw Patrol hovercraft thing, with a hatch that opens. She has begun reaching into it, pulling out a little piece of air, and either popping it into her mouth, or offering it to me. I LIVE for this milestone!! 

Its grown a lot in the last couple of days already 🙂 I asked her if it was a treat, and now she’ll say “teet” when she offers it out. She’ll share them with others, and sometimes even goes for the psych and will offer it, but quickly pop it into her mouth and laugh like a psychopath. 

She is HILARIOUS and SMART and I’m SO PROUD of her! She’s developing beautifully. A little faster than I’d like, sometimes, but I’m so thrilled that she’s such a sweetie pie. 

I’m out of practice having a garage. For the last month or two, it’s been filled with doors, trim, and shelving that is being painted. I’m SO thankful we have that space to work in, don’t get me wrong. But we didn’t have a garage to park our van in for quite some time. That’s been challenging as winters set in, and we’re used to having the cover from the wind as we get the kids loaded into the vehicle. I know, I know. First world problems. Not complaining. Just saying, I’m out of practice.

Ive gotten used to starting the van early, hauling everyone outside, etc., though I don’t prefer it. Whatever. Work with what you have, right?

We finally have the garage mostly free of materials, and the van fits inside again!! 🥳 So today, I was able to load everyone up to take Rowan to preschool inside the garage! It was a bit of a chaotic scene this time. Rowan couldn’t get his seatbelt on. Dekker did ok. Solly argued with me for the five thousandth time that he does not like his jacket or his boots, so I hauled him out there in his shorts and tshirt 🤷‍♀️ Judge if you must, but he was fine. Once they were all settled, I had to go wake Waverly up from the night. I threw her in a jacket and realized her feet were bare. Instead of taking time and tying her boots on, I grabbed. Pair of wool socks that kind of just live on our front steps (Yes, we’re classy like that) and slipped them up over her legs. She LOVED that! I made my way out to the garage and buckled her in. I closed up and peeled out to make it to preschool on time.

And I had a lapse. I forgot my own jacket. I was rushing to get everyone out the door that I completely missed thinking of myself. Because #momlife. I let Rowan out of the van and walked him to his preschool, just shivering. Everyone else there was appropriately bundled, because it’s COLD today!!! My bad, my bad. Just had a total brain fart.

Upon unloading the kids, Solly came to the van door and asked me to help him. He was pretty cold, lol! I mentioned he maybe should’ve worn his jacket and boots, and he agreed. Lesson landed. He ran into the house, and I jogged behind him. It was COLD.

I blame my mom brain and my lack of coffee thus far this morning. I’m anticipating a morning coffee date, so hopefully I’ll be a bit sharper when I go pick Rowan back up. Also, I’ll likely be able to leave the kids at home with her, so I won’t be having to think of everyone else is that moment!

Hailey!!! Wear a jacket!!!

Thanks, Hailey. Will do.

We finally got our act together enough to have our kids going to Sunday School full time this fall! They have loved it, and were really excited to be in the Christmas play this year! 

I’ll admit, the Sunday’s leading up to the program have been a bit of a scheduling nightmare, but a pretty short lived nightmare, so we rolled with it. Just lots of having to shuttle different age groups to church at different times. This Sunday, there was a setup in the basement, with coffee and muffins, so everyone had a place to be while their Sunday School classes weren’t on. 

So we brought Dekker and Laela for 8:50 ish, and then Rowan and Solomon for 9:30. Brady and I were on the hook for one song, so we waited and chatted and fed Waverly muffins in the meantime. It was pretty relaxed, except that Wavy gets kind of overwhelmed at church, so she was SUPER clingy, and my poor body aches so bad. But hey. I’ll never turn down the snugs. No way. 

When it was time for us to practice our song with all the kids, we took Wavy with us and set her on the stage behind where we were playing, gave her an egg shaker, and she was good to go! 

Everything went smoothly and simply, and we just hoped she’d do the same during the service. To clarify, people are ALWAYS willing to hold Waverly when we go up front at church, but if she were to cry, I didn’t want anyone to have to leave and miss out on the program. So, this time, I was hoping we could take her up and she’s just cooperate. 

The program kicked off with the younger kids reciting some lines. Its always a super cute part of the Christmas program, where no one can remember their lines, and no one can understand anything they say, but its very very cute. This was the first year mine were in it! Rowan repeated after his teacher and said his line. Yay Rowan!! Solomon, on the other hand, was sitting rather than standing, and when coaxed, he insisted into the mic that he didn’t know how. His teacher rolled with it seamlessly and said his line for him. And then he repeated it riiiiight after that. She got the mic close enough to catch him saying the end 😉 Yay Solly!!! 

Our worship team – Carrie, Brady, myself, and our honorary member, Waverly – went up at that point and sang a song for offertory. Upon reaching the last chorus, the big Sunday School class danced up the aisles and did actions. I choked up hard. Its SO awesome to see so many children in our church.

The play was next. Every kid had a role and a line! Laela was a shepard and Dekker was an angel. 

The play went off great! Everyone knew what to say, songs were sung, etc. Our band snuck back up towards the end to finish it out with a shortened version of the song we’d sung earlier. Once again, Wavy sat patiently behind us and shook her shaker. 

I wish I could share more pictures, but they’re obviously not all my kids so I cant ❤️ You’re just going to have to trust me that it was adorable and awesome. 

We brought home NINE treat bags 😳 Merry Christmas, kids!

Jerilee gifted our family an experience this year, which is SO wonderful!! We love some good gifts in boxes, don’t get me wrong, but being able to go somewhere and do something is also excellent, because not only does it make a memory, but I also don’t have to find a  home for anything. Lol! I had mourned to Jerilee how badly I wanted to take my kids to a new event in the city – Glow Saskatoon – but couldn’t swing it financially this year. She JUMPED and fought past my ego to take my family. She even got tickets for herself, my mom and Cher, because they, too, are our family. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this day!

So yesterday, we went! It was FREEZING but we made our way in and waited int the entrance until everyone was assembled. Sadly, on the morning of Glow, my mom called, and had to back out of our Christmas date. She was SO sick, sounded SO bad, and was in the thick of the super duper contagious part. In an effort not to spread her sickness to others, she opted to stay home. She was truly missed.

Still, the show had to go on. So we piled into Hall D at Prairieland and were immediately both dazzled and super overstimulated! Hahaha!

I’m not going to be able to caption everything AT ALL, but what I can tell you is that is was 110% worth the money to be there 🙂 ALL of us had a blast, not just the kids. 

There was a game for the kids to play, to find all the people with the stamps, and once they got ALL the stamps, they got a candy cane. There were SO many photo opps. There were princesses to take pictures with and Santa to chat with. There were, of course, things to buy, which we bypassed, but no one missed them. Most importantly, there were so many lights, so much room to run, and a big ole playground. 

It. Was. Awesome. 

Some kids were more keen on photo opps than others, so dont judge me for not having as many pictures of some of the kids! I did my best! Some just NEVER stop moving!

I wanted one picture of me and all of the most important ladies in my life. Its missing a VERY important member, but I’d say it still turned out 🙂 

I also I really wanted a family picture. It was a labour of love, but isn’t that what family is?

I dont think we could’ve had more fun. I am SO thrilled we got to go after all, and so grateful to Jerilee for taking my entire family on a Christmas date! We loved it! 

I hope Glow comes back next year!! 

Last night, between 7:30 and 8:00, there was a knock on our door. A family on our street sang a Christmas carol on behalf of our local Christmas basket organization, and handed us a floral arrangement, all wrapped up to save it from the cold. It was short and sweet and really, really lovely. 

This group is a volunteer group who gathers food donations, as well as other donations, and tries to help people in the upcoming season. Its geared towards people who have struggled or experienced hardship in the year. People are asked to “nominate” families who would benefit from some food or some general recognition.

I don’t know who specifically, but I do know that more than one person mentioned our family to the organization, and that is how we got these ❤️ 

I know we are not the only people who lost this year. I know we’re not the only people who experienced a miscarriage this year, either. But to have that recognized and acknowledged by our town feels monumental. It felt huge to have our church support us the way they did through our loss, and to have the town in general added on to that is a pretty huge honour. This is also not the first time we’ve been gifted this way from the same organization for the same reason. I am so thankful to the people who recognizes our losses as real losses. Not everyone gets that. 

To you who did put our names in – 
To you who orchestrated our gift – 
To you who delivered our flowers – 

Thank you ❤️ I appreciate it more than you know. This doesn’t “fix” anything, but it warms my heart. And for that, I am truly grateful. 

At the end of the day yesterday, I couldn’t even turn my head. It was pretty painful, and I constantly pushed down my worries about it, as I had been forewarned that my knots were BIG and I was going to feel my treatment after the fact. I did. She was not kidding. Wow. But I woke up feeling more awake than I have in a while, and in less pain. Now, let me be clear. I was still in pain. I am still in pain. Full body pain. But nothing is impossible to use. Everything is totally usable. Just a little achy. That is a HUGE victory for me!

It probably doesn’t sound like a huge deal to many people, but if you’ve spent literally any time with me in the recent past, you’ll know how decrepit I’ve become. The last few weeks have been bizarrely painful. The last time I felt this level of pain for this length of time was in my pregnancy with Solomon. I was at SUCH a loss by the end of that pregnancy, I remember crying to my physiotherapist and my doctor, saying I felt legitimately handicapped. That SCARED me. While its been a different pain this time, its been pretty debilitating, honestly, and I’ve suuuuuper hated it.

Today feels hopeful. I feel like I will catch up and move freely again. I’ve been feeling pretty “doomsday” in that department as of late, and while I’m in no way “all better,” I’m a little better! All over, a little better. That alone is a win.

My surprise moral at the end of this is that if you feel like you can do something to help someone else, and you have the capacity, time, and head space for it, DO IT! I received a treatment and a brace yesterday, and I am worlds apart improved today! Thank you Lord, for healing, and for working through people around me!! What a gift.

Evenings are filling fast! You guys too? With all the craziness, Jerilee and I have started to have more morning or daytime dates, so we actually get to hang out, even though evenings are super full. Today was one of those days!

First, my mom came and sat at our house while I took Rowan to preschool. She left shortly thereafter for another commitment and Jerilee showed up maybe an hour later for a date! She was here for only about a half hour before I had to go retrieve Rowan from preschool. She happily stayed with the kids while I went and fed Waverly, as she was on the verge of dying of hunger, or so she was leading us to believe.

At preschool drop off, I had complained about the pain in my hands and wrists, and when I went to pickup, someone had lovingly brought me a brace she had used when she had carpal tunnel. I was SO thankful, and we all started talking about the kind of hand pain I was experiencing. One of the women there inquired a bit more and offered to help me.

I won’t go into big detail, because privacy and respect and all that good stuff, but Jerilee sat with my kids even longer while someone came over and adjusted my body for probably twenty minutes or so, as a gift. She advised me on a few things, and helped me feel hopeful and capable again. I was so thrilled.

Jerilee and I spent the rest of the afternoon together. She opened her homemade gift exchange gift, which she LOVED, and we ate cookies for lunch. It was an excellent day ❤️

Part of me felt bad, as though I was just “fitting her in,” but I decided to throw that out the window, because that is NOT what this was. I am SO thankful to have a friend who willingly comes my way for only a few hours, because our lives and full and we still value our friendship so much! So thank you, Jerilee, for making the effort! I’m SO EXCITED for our family Christmas date on Saturday!!!!! 🎄 😍 ❤️

Ok, friends. We’re a week and a half into December. Two weeks until Christmas. Now I know not everyone celebrates Christmas, and that’s totally fine! I don’t mean to be insensitive by posting about it so much. I see you, friends, and I care about you! I also recognize that Christmas isn’t about gifts. But that is a part of our fun over here, so again, not your cup of tea? That’s fine! ❤️ This post will predominantly be about those tangible material things. At least I’m not talking about barf, though, right? 🤷‍♀️

Two weeks until Christmas. How close are you guys to being ready for it?? In the world of gifts, you guys may know, we do the four categories of gifts. Each kid gets something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. Now thats not always cut and dry for us. Something they want is really just something fun. Still not usually a toy, because we have SO MANY, and they get more from other people at Christmas. But something we know they’ll be excited about. Something they need used to be really hard, because we’re fortunate enough not to struggle to get our children what they need. But in this category, we tend to just get them more practical gifts. Something to wear is pretty straight forward, but don’t forget accessories! And something to read is my favorite, because you can NEVER have too many books!

My breakdown looks like this. Their needs and wears are here. Three of their wants are here, though I accidentally bought Waverly two wants! Whoops! The other two kids wants are in my brain, I just have to go get them. And their reads are on order, promised to be here in time. So yay!!! I have a few more small things to acquire for others, but its all written down in a good little list, and I feel confident in it! I just need a couple of free hours to shop in the near future 😬 Thank to so many of you praying for our family, I’m sure, Brady’s work has filled beautifully for the month of December and a big chunk of January!!! We are THRILLED that he is nice and busy with work, so I’m less upset about the fact that I won’t even see my husband before Christmas, haha! Hopefully I find a way to sneak away for a couple of hours someday soon, because the online ordering ship has just about sailed…

My real quandary when it comes to Christmas gifts is as follows. I’ve been knitting and crocheting up a storm over here. I’ve been trying to be subtle about it, but we all know whats up. I have made about 20 gifts, and I’m SO happy literally with every single one. But you may have noticed me saying I’ve been having some problems with my hands. Ya. I’m really hurting. I can hardly do basic life things because of how much pain in. And with that, I have ONE MORE GIFT to make. ONE. I cannot just throw in the towel after making twenty gifts when I just have ONE left!!! Right?!?! But paaaaain. Ugh. I don’t know, guys. I’m still hoping I can make that happen, but I’m pretty torn up about it… Seems like a small problem, but not being able to use your fingers to pull up your child’s pants is also a problem. Sooooo…

The gift exchange is going along swimmingly! Lots of people have already delivered and received their gifts! EARLY!!! I’ve truly enjoyed organizing it, and I hope there are a group of people who want to do it again next year! I know I do!

I feel pretty organized on the home front of gifts, so while I don’t have everything in hand, I don’t feel overwhelmed by it. All that is left to get organized is food! Its not a necessity, but wouldn’t it be so nice not to have to worry too too much about what we’re going to eat when over the holidays? I think a meal plan and a grocery shop are in order, but thats it 🙂 I’m excited!

All of this being said – are you guys close to being done?? Ready for the holiday?? I’m ready to sleep in, if nothing else 🙋‍♀️

Poor Brady. *sigh* He felt SO sick this morning, and he still had to rally and go to work. He did not barf. Yet. Hopefully he doesn’t! We have located all of the flu medications in our house, so we’re better armed for the night, but hopefully this morning was the worst of it. 🤞 Wish us luck for his busy week! I’ll tell you guys more about his work soon. There may be some change afoot. We don’t even know yet, but when we do, you will!

Brady headed in to work late today, understandably, and Cher came over to hang with Solly and Waverly while I took Rowan to preschool. My mom came for coffee, too, and the three of us solidly enjoyed the preschool stretch. Eventually, though, my I mom went home to get going on some lists and Cher and I spend the rest of the morning and afternoon together. We had lots and lots to talk about, so it was really really nice. We originally thought we’d go downstairs and watch some tv, as both of us were feeling pretty dog tired, but ended up chatting the afternoon away on my comfy couches.

Tonight will hold another super lame supper of safe bland food, for the sake of tummies. You’d better believe the kids who feel healthy today are less fond of boring suppers, but they’re gonna make it. I’m not taking any risks, and I also don’t want to make two different meals, lol! So tonight will hold English muffins, and scrambled eggs for anyone who feels ballsy enough to eat eggs. Anyone else scared of eggs when they’re sick? 🙋‍♀️ Just me? Ok cool. We’ll see what the kids say…

Well, the little men, anyway.

I was the most recent sickie, tossing them cookies last Wednesday. Its all been fine since then. Kids have rallied easily, and we’ve tried to do our part to not be out and about while contagious. But there has been no sign of sickness in any of them for a good stretch. We were officially in the clear.

Except of course we weren’t. Its as though we let our guard down and the bellies just knew.

Just after bedtime yesterday, literally maybe fifteen minutes later, Laela came running out of her room, saying that Solomon was throwing up. We ran in and indeed, he had done some things. No details, don’t worry. But it was a sight. We plucked him out of his bed and moved him across the room with a bucket. Beautiful Laela sat with him and rubbed his back, reminding him to lean over the bucket. He was done throwing up, but still, she was on it. She even helped him get on fresh jammies. THAT was CUTE!!! Brady and I dealt with the mess of his bed and the floor. *shudders* It was quite the thing. Now, Dekker was still up but he was cuddled into a chair, reading a book, and honestly I think he completely missed the whole thing. Rowan ducked out of his room once to check the commotion and offered to help. We reassured him and sent him back to bed, and promised to come ask if we needed anything 😉 Ro ❤️ He’s super sweet sometimes.

Finally, all was cleaned up enough and Solly went back to bed without argument. The house stunk a little, but thats not unheard of. We eventually sent Dekker off to bed, visited with our neighbour a bit, Brady cut baseboard for the basement, I had a soak, and we went to bed.

Aaaaand woke up around 4:30 to a click of the closet door outside of our bedroom. Dekker was barfing, and had come up to get himself a bucket. 🤮 Ugh. Here he was, trying to take care of things all on his own. Our door is inches from that closet, and he hadn’t even come in!! Better yet, had contained it ALL! He had made it to the bathroom, thank goodness. Then he’d retrieved a bucket, where he’d tossed the rest. Dekker was SO brave, shivering in his underwear by the sink. I wiped him down a little while he reassured me he was ok, and we tucked him back in. Not much to do in that case. He had done it all on his own ❤️ He’s so big.

I had a hard time getting back to sleep at that point, and right around 6:30, Rowan woke me up to tell me Dekker was on his second round. This time it was ALL in the bucket, and it just needed a rinse and he was back to bed!

I feel so bad for my kids when they’re sick. But I have to say, I am SO proud of how brave they are! I still sometimes cry when I vomit, and they rarely do. In some ways, I’m a bit of a no nonsense parent, but I have nothing but compassion for them when they’re ill! Yet, they power through and handle it, as though they already know how much better they’ll feel after they throw up. They just roll with it.

My big and little boys ❤️ I’m super proud of them for getting through yet another difficult bout of sickness (its not our first, if you hadn’t heard) and smiling through the day anyway. Remind me to be more like you!