The Daily Hailey

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.

I need to share an post for the kids at our campground. I’m going to do it super carefully because it involves many children that are not in fact my children, as well as a foster kid. So bear with me, and please hear my heart in this.

So we had a pretty challenging time not long ago. During our week of holidays, we made a switch in our family. Sugar Beet moved along and we took in a nine year old with high needs. I will not get into it on here, for obvious reasons, but the child only stayed for a couple of days. In those days, they fished, swam, kayaked, ate s’mores, and experienced a lot of fun firsts. That being said, it was a VERY difficult situation, and we were at camp the entire time, and this child needed to GO absolutely every waking moment. Which was especially challenging considering they walked with a walker.

Guys. I kid you not. Those days with this child would not have been possible without the campground kids. Walker or not, they included our child in everything. Man tracker. Laser tag. Kick the can! Our kid who walked with a walker kicked the can!!! There were at least ten kids ripping around the campground, playing for hours on end, without leaving anyone out. Not even the kid with special needs.

We left the campground to move this kid in an evening. It was later, around 9:00ish. The campground kids paused their round of man tracker and came to see us off. Our child just BEAMED. “You all came to see me????”

We loaded up in the van and slid the big door shut. I opened up the front windows and started driving. The way the campground is, I circled the loop before driving up the hill and away from Kinasao. And the kids all waved and whooped and called their goodbyes after us. As we circled, a couple of kids dashed across and waved again from the other side. Just as we were about to start the hill, kids ran over and waved, making a big scene. Rowan chased us halfway up the hill.

And this little one who had been placed with us was absolutely dumbfounded. They felt like an absolute celebrity. SO important. SO special. SO happy to be loved and included. They kept looking back, long after we hit the highway, commenting on how Rowan was probably still trying to catch up.

The whole thing got me feeling pretty emotional. These kids just rallied around our newcomer, indirectly coming around our entire family. The campground full of children showed up. Some of these kids, I had never even met before. No one hesitated. If we can be super blunt and honest (which I really hope we can be) having this child didn’t make things easier. Including a child with special needs is not easy. Sometimes, the games aren’t as fun. Sometimes, kids take a hit to include another kid who can’t quite keep up. But not a single kid showed any sign of distain or impatience. They just rolled and included and played hard. And then honoured beautifully by sending us off SO warmly.

We need more kids like this. I only wish I could show you a picture of the incredible lineup we had there to send us off. However, while you cannot see them, that image will forever be burned in my brain 💜

The weather is so confusing these days. What season even is it?! Today felt both like fall and summer.

Fall at breakfast…

And summer at lunch. Or “dinner” if you’re a Dahlsjo.

Despite the downpour we drove through on our way to camp this weekend, the fire ban refuses to lift. Which I can get behind. I can’t beak about it because I love Tom so much, and he’s our fire chief, but secretly, my heart makes a face about the ban.

😒

Its ok, though. The season continues, and we make the absolute best of summer! Dekker went off to nerd camp today!

Don’t worry. “Nerd” is not an offensive term over here. Dekker is totally proud to be a nerd. I kept referring to his robotics camp as “probiotics camp” which he didn’t like as much, but I felt confident that I was hilarious.

He headed off, and by the time I got back from settling him in, the van was mostly loaded up for the drive home! I quickly dumped the fridge stuff into the cooler, and hit the bathroom before loading up and going home!

We made it home safe ✅

Unpacked ✅

Laundry is running ✅

Majority of the kids are tucked in ✅

And now…

The blog is done ✅

Time for a bit more crocheting and watching Netflix with Brady 💜

Today was Western Days out here at Christopher. It was oddly quiet this year. Way fewer events. Way fewer tables at the market. No animals. No ice cream. It was odd. I don’t mean to be negative. But it was a bit disappointing. 

The parade was good times. The first year one of our babies could run out and bravely collect candy from the street when it was thrown in our direction. 

We went back to camp and spent the afternoon split between the campsite and the beach. The beach was cold and blustery but that’s how I like it. I crocheted and enjoyed the grey sky. Would’ve been nicer without the smoke but I’ll take it. 

Supper was delicious, as it tends to be here at camp. I cooked it today! 🧑‍🍳🥦🥔 Heyooo! 

Aaaaand now it’s time to sleep. I had the pleasure of learning at the end of a visit I took one of my babies to on Friday that one of their siblings has hand foot mouth. Anything. My throat really hurts and I’d like to ride the denial out. To bed I go in an effort to not have to talk. 

🥱