Easter Festivities

It's been a very Happy Easter weekend thus far. We have had some beautiful weather up in the double digits the last couple of days.  Feeling pretty grateful for that since I hear Edmonton got hit pretty hard with another yucky dump of snow.  Well, we were all pretty eager to spend some time outside in the sunshine, that's for sure!  So, we dusted off the bikes (okay we didn't) and went to the park to have our first picnic of the year (...I suppose the dust could have BLOWN away as the boys rode their bikes though.... am I right or am I right?).  Ellie was NOT happy that I made her come in the double stroller with Zoe.  My first mistake was attempting to let her try with her tricycle.  That lasted thirty seconds.  To say the least, she wailed the whole ten minute walk there.  We even bumped into one of Jackson and Noah's school-mates along the way with her parents and we ended up visiting for a bit, ...and you can bet Ellie did not stop for them either.  Literally, "WAAAAAAAH" the whole way there.  "I don't know how you even leave the house with all four kids by yourself!"  Sometimes, I don't know either.  Regardless of where I am you can always bet on a little bit of drama!  Anywho, all was well in the world once again as soon as Ellie got to PLAY!

Zoe was a super-trooper and even ended up missing a nap but was still rather pleasant all things considered.  I suppose that's just what happens when you are child number four.  Thank goodness she just rolls with the punches.  Here are a few fun pics of our adventures from the day.  I think my fav is the one where Jackson is chilling with Zoe.  He is such an attentive big brother.  I know Noah is usually the one trying to make Zoe laugh or loving her to pieces, but I forget to mention that Jackson is equally as attentive to her, just in other ways.  I have also captured Zoe's first time on a swing.  It was delicious!

We found a bridge with a peaceful stream to un-peace-ify!  We had major baths after this particular adventure, but it was so worth it and so fun to just get down and dirty.  True boys.  I hope they rub off a little on Ellie to balance out her Princessiness.  Although, I WILL say, she surprises me sometimes.  We went swimming today as a family and the boys spent the majority of the time running off the diving board and doing flips and being fearless.  Well, Ellie would not be left out, so before we went home, she got up there with no hesitation and jumped right off.  Five times.  Atta girl.
I wanted to have a day full of fun, so once we got home I told the kids that we would do a little craft.  My Pinterest skill have been lacking lately, so this is as good as it got.  BUNNY MASKS!  If you say it with enough enthusiasm it's always WAY more exciting!  Once Joe was through with school work, we coloured some Easter eggs, WHICH is always a little stressful with young bucks, ...so needless to say there weren't as many pics as I would have liked.  And there weren't as many shirts worn either.


This morning we had our Easter egg hunt. It was not the same as our yearly hunt at JJ Collette in Lacombe with all the family, but it was still really fun.  I think the Easter bunny at Granny and Grandpa's must hide a lot more eggs because once most of them were found Jackson kept insisting that there MUST be more.  Haha!  They found about three more after that, so I suppose he was rewarded for his tenacity.  Well done.  Here are a few more pics of the kids searching.  There are a lot more of Ellie than the boys because I kept finding her in the cutest of poses NATURALLY and just had to capture her rawness, ...but then she would notice the camera and try to do an Ellie-pose.  You'll notice with these first two.  Real.  Posed.

I have loved being able to spend a little extra family time together (and not have to pack school lunches.  And getting to sleep in.  Zoe has even been sleeping in an extra hour just for me the last couple mornings in a row!).  Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and I look forward to enjoying the Spirit that will be felt there as we ponder Christ's gift and sacrifice.  I am leading the choir in singing a musical number, "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" arranged by Joseph Martin and I am really looking forward to the Spirit that will be felt from the words of this beautiful song about Christ.  I am always moved by beautiful music, especially when it is about the Savior, and so I only hope I can make it through the number without crying so I can properly lead them!  Tonight, as I was tucking the boys in we were "talking" in bed (Jackson loves when either Joe or I come down and just "talk"), I asked them what they knew about Easter.  I know in the past I have gotten answers about the Easter bunny, but this year they had it down. They knew it was about Christ suffering in the garden and on the cross.  Jackson even knew about the nails in his hands and feet so he could hang on the cross.  I asked Noah what happened after he died, and he knew that Christ rose after three days.  I asked them why did He do this for us?  And they knew it was so we could be resurrected too and live with God again.  I am fighting tears as I look at these pictures of my sweet kids and as I ponder on their incredible understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  How blessed I am to be able to raise these incredible children.  Even ones that scream "Waaaaaaah!" all the way to the park.

Zoe at Seven Months

Zoe, you are seven whole months and you are becoming more and more capable every day!  You are getting pretty good at sitting up on your own (or leaning on your one hand supported like in these pics.  Haha!), and just yesterday in the bath tub you went from all fours to sitting and then back to all fours again!  That was a new one.  Speaking of baths, you finally like them.  As of about a month ago when I could put you on your tummy, you realized how much fun it was.  Otherwise, you would cry and be ticked, so baths were always short and sweet.  But now, you can stay in there forever, kicking those chubby legs and scooting up and down and chewing on rags, etc.  It's so fun to watch you in there having a good time.  I am so not ready for the crawling but you are.  You are scooting all over the place.  You'll rock and then lunge to your destination.  It's pretty darn cute.  Except for when your face is the thing that plunges into the destination first.  We've had a few tears over that, but you're pretty tough.  You love to reach your hand up to my face, or Daddy's face and "talk" to us.  It is the sweetest.  You are cooing ALL the time.  I am sure we'll have you forming sentences in NO time!  Or at the very least saying Mamma and Dadda.  You're close.  We had your sixth month check up a couple weeks ago and there is NO doubt that you are healthy and happy.  Just look at those cheeks and legs!  Proof right there.  You are 15.9 pounds which still puts you around the 50th percentile (same with your height).  I'll take it.  You're a lot like Ellie that way; Super petite, but still chubby somehow.  And you are also Ellie's twin.  I was looking through some old pics and it is VERY difficult to see many differences between the two of you.  Maybe in your eyebrows.  Maybe.

Zoe, here are some of my favourite things with you:  Often times first thing in the morning I will take you back to bed to nurse you and afterwards we will hang out with Daddy while you roll around and grab at us.  You love to sit up and pat your legs while we sing songs to you or dance by thrusting your pelvis around.  Haha!  It is a great way to usher in the morning before the school time/church routine.  You love being wrapped to sleep (still!) and as soon as I start the wrapping-routine you immediately start to suck on your bottom lip and your eyes roll back like you haven't slept in days.  It is so cute to watch.  You are really good at going to sleep on your own and still sleep through the night.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for that.  I also love to snuggle you at night before bed, just us, rocking with you in the rocking chair.  Sometimes you will let me and sometimes you won't, but on the times that you DO, I really cherish.  You look at me and grab my face and we talk or sing to each other.  I love it.  Our favourites are Patty-Cake, This Little Piggie and Ten Little Indians, ...all of which my Mother sang to me as a child.

Zoe, thank you for being such a beautiful addition to our family.  You are such an easy baby, which is great since you are number four and I kind of need that.  It also helps that you are adorable.  The end.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Rant

Guys? 

Blegh!

The kids are in bed.  So, I should be singing and praising the Heavens but I think I realize why I feel this way.   Well, it's probably a number of reasons.  One, I am eating like crap and cannot seem to lose any more weight even though I know for a FACT I have 8 more pounds to go and I can do it, ...but my daily chocolates won't let me.  That's not a big issue though, right?  Who cares enough about 8 pounds?  I need chocolate.  In fact, I need chocolate chip cookies STAT and I have no eggs to make them.  Sad.  Anywho, moving on.  The boys are back in school after March break, but somehow it seems like the back-to-school grind has been a lot more work than having them at home all day.  Making lunches.  Getting them off to school in time.  "Noah!  Are you finished your cereal?  Brush your teeth!  Did you wash your face?  Get some socks!  Move it!  Let's go!"  I feel like we are ALMOST late every day.  For the record though, we have only been late once, thankyouverymuch.  And then they come home grumpy because they played all their fun out and only have the energy to be grumpy for Mom.  And don't get me started on the dinner routine.  You've heard this rant before so I am not going to bore you with the details of THAT song and dance.

And I think I've decided to STOP with my complaining, because that can just get old and now I am going to talk about something I am SO excited about!  I've blogged about it before.  My Musical!!  I have now completed Act One of the script and have started on Act Two, ...barely.  And I have written four complete songs, with three in the works right now.  Lyrics are THEE hardest part about musicals.  I am so not used to writing everything out so literally.  It's a challenge.  I played a song for Joe called, "I'm Just One Girl in the World" and because he's my husband and he loves me, he told me flat out that there are parts that sound like a Pop song and I am not specific enough in certain areas.  It's driving me mad though, because I know he's right, but each time I re-work the lyrics and sit with them I end up just wanting to change it back.  It's the natural Pop-song-writer in me!  Bah!  Maybe I need to scratch it and just re-write the whole darn thing and just accept that that song is just too Poppy to force into a Musical.  ...but THEN, I think of Wicked, and that musical screams Pop.  So, ...who knows.  I WILL say though, my friend Mark Mitchel who is involved in this musical (not yet, but will be with the arranging of the music) made a comment to me while we were in Quebec together last month.  He said, "Why don't you produce the musical here?  You are living in the perfect place to do it."  That scared and delighted me all at the same time.  The more I think about it, the more I see his point.  Why do I need to wait until I move back home?  The more I talk to Joe the more unpredictable our future sounds as far as where we will be a year and a bit from now, so I am thinking, why the heck not put it on out here?  Work out some kinks by trying it out here first, etc.  The thing that scares me is I know back home I have friends.  People who would buy a ticket because they are nice and know me.  People who would participate in it because I've worked with them before, etc.  But here?  I have NOBODY.  I don't know anyone that I could say, "Hey, I know you're a fantastic director, so let's team up and do this together!"  Nope.  Not here.  In fact if I were to put it on back home I would STILL stress out about selling enough tickets and making the money back, ...so here?  How in the WORLD am I going to be able to do that? 

Anywho, ...like Joe says to me almost everyday, "you are getting way too far ahead of yourself Maren.  You're on step A and you want to have step X planned and ready."  So what if I do?  I like to be organized.  Anywho, ...I will stop with my ranting AND my randomness. 

I still want chocolate chip cookies though.  Woe is me.

March Break

This past week was March Break. It seemed like everyone I talked with leading up to March Break  had these elaborate plans of going on trips or putting their kids in this or that camp, etc, and I didn't have the first clue how we were going to spend it. Joe was still in school and it's still pretty cold outside. All I could think of was, "how is my house going to look at the end of this week?" I need to make plans! I think I managed to do an okay job of finding a happy medium between "relaxing" and "doing" things.

I've been hard at work with writing and recording for my musical and Jackson showed a real interest in it.  He would watch me edit this or that and finally I asked him if he wanted to record his own song.   He imediately got out his recorder, but when it came time to actually record he got really shy and a bit nervous.  I thought maybe we ought to ease into this, so we spent some time on Garageband and he "wrote" and recorded three whole songs using a hip-hop kit via the keyboard!  He loved it, and eventually he was able to record himself playing the recorder AND singing on various layered tracks.  It vaguely reminded me of The Music Man where the two boys are singing, "I love music Mommy.  Me too Mommy."  Haha!  He even made up his own lyrics.  Seriously, I was in Heaven watching this boy create.   It was so cute watching him take the time to sit down and do this since it's such a passion of mine. He would have kept on recording more and more songs if I let him! It was seriously THEE cutest.
We needed to get out of the house and whatever activity we did needed to be free.  SO, I took the kids to the Mall where we waited in line for an hour and a half for this ten second moment of meeting Dora and Diego. Where is Ellie, you ask? She is wrapped around my leg screaming for dear life. It's funny because this was completely all for her, ...and then after an hour and a half of standing around she doesn't even want to see them.  Haha!  Isn't that how it goes.  I would be scared too, actually.  Thankfully, I came well prepared with lunch, and snacks and Zoe was a dream and no one had to pee.  Phew!  It's just funny that in the end it was TOTALLY not worth it.  At all.

Later that week, Joe took some time off to have a bit of a family day with us, so we went to the YMCA and played basketball in the gym while we waited for the pool to open up to the public.  The kids had a blast running around and shooting hoops with their Daddy.  It reminded me of all the Burnham basketball times we've had at the Lacombe church together, trying to "be fit" during the Christmas holidays.  All we were missing was Grandpa and Granny, all the Aunts and Uncles and the cousins.  Not the same, I tell you.  But still fun.  I may have some re-polishing to do. 
 
And then we got to go swimming.  This was Zoe's first swim at seven months, so I had to grab a couple shots.  I even got in trouble by the lifeguard, and I knew I would, but it was WORTH IT.  I'm such a rebel.  Anywho, swimming is a lot less stressful these days because the boys are pretty good as long as they are in shallow enough water, and Ellie is pretty happy in a life jacket.  It's tough trying to turn off the lifeguard in me so I am constantly on edge at least a little bit, but it's so much nicer when Joe's there to be an extra set of eyes and an extra hand.  The kids loved playing pirates with him, and Zoe was pleased as punch with her little bumblebee-self to just kick those deliciously round legs through the water, grab her chubby little toes, splash around with those dimply fingers and eat floatie-toys.  I heart this little lump.
Our weekend ends with a first. Jackson lost his first tooth yesterday!! It was so gross. My Mom was the Queen of pulling teeth and that thing has been dangling for days! In fact, earlier that day Jax was laying beside me playing with his tooth. Pushing it back and forth and back and forth and the grinding and crunching sound was destroying my soul. I seriously got beyond grossed-out listening to that awful, AWFUL sound. I asked Joe if he would take care of it. And he did. He got out a pair of pliers (I don't know how Jackson wasn't freaked out of his mind with those things in his mouth) and then Joe pulled an, "I'm just going to see how loose it iiiiis.... aaaaaannnd, there. It's out." And with a quick, "Ouch!" Jackson was so elated that he was able to easily overlook the pain.  In all the excitement, we watched "The Toothfairy" and the kids loved it.  I may have even teared up a smidge.  I know.  I am ridiculous.  It's just that, I was having one of those teary moments thinking, "Jackson is growing up.  Soon that tooth will be replaced with another jaggedy tooth and he will look like a big boy---because he WILL be a big boy!  When did this happen?"  Etc.  Yeah.  I'm not ashamed.  I cry all the time, so I'm over it.  But seriously, can someone please slow down time?  At least at the end of it all, he was still sweet and innocent enough to be excited for the toothfairy to come and take his tooth and leave some money.
Now he can't wait to lose his other teeth.  I'm just glad his first experience was a good one, because I have nightmares about my Mom saying, "I'm just going to wiggle it a little.  I promise I won't pull it out!" and then she pulls it out.  Haha!  "It was hanging by a thread, I couldn't help it."  Mom, ...I now understand your betrayal.  I HATE the sound and appearance of a dangly-tooth.  Sick.  Will my stomach ever get over it?  Here's a note that he left the tooth fairy.  Translation:  "Dear Tooth Fairy, from Jackson!!  I am very surprised that I lost a tooth.  I wish I could lose another one."  He even prayed for the tooth fairy this morning, to travel safely and be healthy.  Jackson loves his brand new smile.  And so do I.

Anywho, all in all it was a week filled with fun and adventure.  And if you are wondering about my house?  Yes.  It IS a mess.  I think we're all ready for school tomorrow!  Thank you March Break, until we meet again!

Spring Has Sprung

Here are a few pics of the kids after church last Sunday.  Spring is here to stay!  Jackson and I went shopping a few days earlier (which I never usually do.  It was fun just me and him) and we bought this new outfit and hat.  I think he would have bought the whole store if I let him.  Except for the pink shirt I was GOING to buy.  "That's a girl's color Mom."  Fine.  For now.  Anywho, he loves his new hat.  I think it makes him feel like a legit hip hop dancer.  My little mini-Justin Timberlake/Michael Jackson.
 

32

32.  I'm older.  The thing is, I have felt 32 for a while now so when the day actually came, I didn't feel much different.  A part of me is ready to be 32 so that when people ask me how old I am and that I can't possibly have four children I can say that I am 32 and am totally capable of having a "large" family.  So there.  Not sure that I should WANT to be older, but it feels nice fooling people.  Thank you Mom for giving me your youthful skin.  And thank you Dad for giving me your non-greying hair.  May I always look 25 forever!  Or 26.

Anywho, I'm not gonna lie, my actual birthday was pretty awful.  Joe felt so bad but there wasn't much he could do about it.  Noah was up puking all night long the night before my birthday and Joe had a midterm the following day so he really needed his sleep; which meant I got to take care of Noah through the night.  I felt so bad for him.  The only thing worse than throwing up yourself is watching your children do it.  Poor little guy.  I think we both finally fell asleep around 5am.  And then I got to get up at 7am for the school morning grind, etc.  It blew.  Chunks.  Just like Noah's.  (I couldn't resist.  I'm gross like that sometimes). Anywho, so I was super tired, but I got to at least get in a couple catch-up naps.  AND I got to go out that night with my Burlington-Besties, Darla Major and Brittany Fuller.  I love me my GNO's and those gals are awesome.  I was so close to cancelling because I was so dang tired, but some things are worth it, and that night was.  I so needed to get out.

Joe and I claimed the next day as my actual birthday since we knew that he would be studying like crazy for his exam and wouldn't have anything ready for my actual birthday.  Plus, my actual birthday sucked, so it worked out great.  I got to sleep in (Heavenly!) and take it easy and shower and actually get ready for the day!  Wowy!  It was great.  Actually, this un-birthday was the best birthday date I've ever been on!  I am seriously so impressed with Joe.  He got a babysitter to come over at 3:30pm and we drove into Niagra Falls to check it out!  I've been dying to go on the Ferris wheel there since I first noticed there was one.  So.  That's the first thing we did when we arrived!  Everything was a little over-priced, but I guess that's what you get when you're a tourist!  And everything feels expensive when you're a student anyway.  Haha!  But it was my birthday, so we weren't allowed to care.  It was so great seeing the town  and the Falls from way up high.  We went out to eat at this Wood-Oven Pizza place that reminded me so much of Famoso's!  (My favourite Edmonton Restaurant that they don't have out East.  Boo).  It was pretty darn delish!  We noticed a billboard for a magic show and at first we joked about going and then I decided I really DID want to go.  I've never done anything like that, so why the heck not?  We had a little time before the show, so after dinner we checked out a Candy Store filled with bulk candy and went a little nuts to prepare ourselves for the evening.  And it was pretty darn chilly that night and we were under dressed so we hit up Starbucks and treated ourselves to the best hot chocolate I have ever had (other than Joe's home-made hot chocolate.  Maybe).  The magic show was AWESOME!  The only experience I've had with magic shows is watching Gob Bluthe from the show "Arrested Development."  Needless to say I was thinking of him throughout the entire show!  Haha!  The funny thing is, watching Gob do his "illusions" is no far cry from actual magic shows.  The music.  The hand gestures.  The awful dancing.  And he even had dancing girls/helpers to make him look better and to make the show a little more interesting. This guy was really good.  He's done Vegas people.  So.  Yeah.  He was good.  We even got to have a picture with one of the tigers!  Yes, I said TIGERS!  With an "s!"  He had doves, parrots, ducks, ...and then there were tigers!  I was so shocked to see one so close up and it was uncaged for part of the time!  Scary!  But so cool.  I loved it.  Joe and I chuckled throughout, and I did a lot of gasping and made a lot of "How in the world???" comments.  I was definitely pleased.

Although my adventurous date ended there, my awesome birthday bliss did NOT.  I got to celebrate my birthday with the kids the following day with a movie party, birthday cake and gifts.  They each presented me with a gift they chose from the heart ...from Value Village.  Haha!  It was so cute.  Jackson got me a soccer trophy that he claimed was for my mad yoga skillz and a pink book about grade nine girlie-drama because he knows how much I love reading.  Noah got me a statue of a dragon (which he kept in his room over night just to keep it safe for me), and a vase for my flowers.  Ellie got me the most hideous, uh, I mean, beautiful necklace, scarf and dress.  I even got to try it on for the kids and then the next day at church Jackson asked me why I wasn't wearing my birthday dress.  Woops.  Haha!  Let's hope he forgets.

It was a wonderful weekend.  And it STILL does not end there.  I don't remember the last time I have felt so spoiled.  Joe got me a gift card to a spa!!  He said it's because I never get a break and I deserve one, which is so thoughtful and so sweet.  Thank you student loans!  I'm not gonna lie.  It's worth it to me.  I am so looking forward to using it.  Weeeeeeeeee!

Here are a few pics I instagrammed with my phone of my birthday weekend!

   

32. It ain't dat bad.