Interviews...a.k.a 3 Weeks Off!!

Yay for residency interviews!!! The school gives the students 3 weeks off for them to fly around the country to all of their interviews, but Justin only applied to 2 residencies, Edmonton Urban Family and Lethbridge Rural Family. The interviews were Friday and Saturday, one in Edmonton and one in Calgary. Thanks to Richard and Leslie we were able to go to Calgary overnight for his interview. After HORRIBLE roads, we made it. I HATE WINTER ROADS. Ug. Anyway, we enjoyed the rest of the time getting work done around the house, playing, going to Galaxyland in the West Edmonton Mall, and going to Calgary to stay in a hotel (with a water slide!) as a family and to watch Dallin's basketball tournament. It was busy and fun. I loved having Justin home to help out. I am sure he needs a vacation from his vacation. :) Not so sure he is going to get that in his surgery rotation. Whoops. What a worker.

GALAXYLAND!!

The train.

It was great going to Galaxyland with Justin. I love how he loves to play with his kids. It is so fun to watch.

Yes, this is an action shot. The first picture I took of Zach in the ball pit he pelted me with a ball. Nice shot son.

Ha ha. I think this is funny.

She is so awesome.

Cute boy.

He played and played and played. See his rosy cheek and sweaty hair?? Hard work.

Where Kara hung out most of the time.

We met Cohen, one of Zach's buddies, at Galaxyland. Zach went on the bumper cars by himself. It was hilarious.

The boys on the roller coaster. Zach's first. He loved it.

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CALGARY!!!

We met Justin's parents in Calgary and stayed 2 nights in a hotel that had a pool and water slide. Just for fun. And to watch Dallin's basketball tourney of course! It was SO FUN! We had a conjoined room with Justin's parents. Every one had a blast.

I loved the pre-swimming relaxing on the bed watching T.V.

Swimming!

Papa in the pool with the kids. It was so fun to swim with him. Thanks for being so involved and helpful!! We had 1 adult to each kid. :)

Action shot.

Kara's turn.

Go Justin! Too bad it wasn't centered.

Water slide!!

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Fun hair Kate.

My tele-hot-tubbies. Kara got in the hot tub after each time she went down the water slide.

See, I WAS there. Nice on Just.

I love how relaxed Zach is. Legs crossed and everything.

More cartoons!

I got to go shopping and FINALLY got a warm coat and high leather boots. I am now prepared to live in Canada, 4 years later. I guess I am finally realizing that I really might be here for the long haul.

AROUND THE HOUSE

Right before bedtime...They rock in the chair together. Love it.

Family Home Evening!!

The kids always grab their chairs and sit for songs and lesson time. Justin, FHE #1 of our marriage has always done this awesome welcome/introduction to family home evening. The kids love it. Kate's clapping for Zach I am pretty sure.

Smoothies!!! I went downstairs to get something and came up to this. She was eating my smoothie!!

Panty Princess...still working on the whole potty training thing, but they are getting it!

Does Anything Sink In???

Ug! Parenting an almost 4 yr old and two 2 yr olds is NOT EASY right now!!! I feel like I am running in circles cleaning up after whatever one gets into and then while I am dealing with that situation another is making more of a mess for me to deal with later! And time outs etc. don't seem to be making a difference.

Anyway, the story prompting this post helped me see a tiny light at the end of the tunnel. I went downstairs to get Kara's once-barfed-on-but-now-clean sheets out of the dryer just in time for nap time. While I was down there I heard the tell-tale footsteps running across the floor to the kitchen headed for the refrigerator. We used to have a strap on it...but Zach broke the snap right off about a year ago...beside the point. They had JUST eaten lunch, were finishing their "Dragon Movie" (How to train your Dragon...the new favorite), so I thought he would just watch it and let me have a minute. Anyway, I knew if he was going for the fridge he was going to get the red valentine's jello...MY jello (sugar free stuff...you know, the detox after the holidays). So I go up there and he is no where to be seen. "Zach, come out from hiding and bring the jello with you." He did come out, but he had the bowl of cantaloupe, as good as candy to him. He loves that stuff. And you are thinking I was wrong about the Jello? No. I know my kid. I opened the fridge and it was almost gone too. Literally caught RED handed. After a scolding, hand washing, and a slightly raised voice to get my point across, he was in his room for and eternal time out. I JUST talked to him about this earlier this morning!! WHY DOESN'T HE LISTEN!! Ug, ug, ug.

A few minutes after I put him in his room I went in and asked, "Do you have anything you want to say to me?" He replied, "I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Jesus." "What were you saying to Jesus?" I said slightly taken back. His little face got kind of sad and his voice trembled..."I was saying I'm sorry for taking the cantaloupe and the jello from the refrigerator." I could tell he felt really sorry for doing it. It melted my heart.

My boy may be kind of crazy at times, but he knows that Jesus is real and he knows he can talk to him when he is sad and he can ask forgiveness. That is important. So yeah, I still need to work on the listening and obeying thing, but at least something of what we say sunk in. A really important something. Jesus loves me and is there for me when I need him. Thanks for reminding me Zachy boy.

--Now to go clean Kate's poo/potty/toilet water/plunger mess that occurred while I was having this tender moment...It's a can't-get-off-the-hamster-wheel kind of day.

Crafty Decorations!!

So I found out winter is a great time to get some crafts done...you are stuck inside anyway! Justin has been home too, so I have had more time to finish things off. Woo hoo! Through some blog surfing I found a few fun things to do and here's how my versions turned out!

PROJECT #1 LIMA BEANS!!

They spray painted theirs other colors, but I liked it au natural.

PROJECT #2

I really like how this wreath turned out. Brings some COLOR to my brown walls...Color is awesome. Especially in this very white and brown world we are living in at this moment...

Made of crepe paper streamers!! See how here...

PROJECT #3

And these fun beauties to bring in even more color! It was SO fun being able to finish projects I have been thinking about doing for months. Yay for Justin being home!! He goes back Monday. Dang.

Dollar store frames. The only square ones they had were an okay size and the perfect color! Woo hoo!

Here is the site. I LOVE LOVE LOVE hers. The pattern and color are great...I might just do them in my room too with my new bedding I just found!

I guess we'll stay inside...again...

The thing that gets me most about winter is the having to stay inside all of the time because it is too cold outside to go play. Boo! I grew up in sunny Southern California. Winter? What is that? We get rain...sometimes. And we could still go outside and play in it. I NEVER remember a day that I really wanted to go play outside and I couldn't. Anyway, not to complain, it is just weird to me! And I feel like I am depriving my kids. Poor things. Well, anyway, we live where we live, and we try to make the best of it. So we put up a tent and brought outside inside. They had fun with it. Any more creative fun ideas from all of you winter champions would be highly appreciated. :) Movies, play dough, cutting paper, coloring, water coloring, ring around the rosie, duck duck goose...fun, but...

(and check out Kara's PANTY bum!!! Yes, we started potty training during our snowed in days...more on that later...)

One of Zach's favorite new things to do it try on the girls dress up clothes! He puts on all four shoes and then runs around the house clipitty clopping like a horse. He uses their necklaces as dragon traps too. At least he does boyish stuff with them, right?? Something to do anyway...

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We found Kate behind the couch with the ENTIRE BLOCK OF CHEESE!!! She was just taking bites out if it! Hungry??

POTTY TRAINING!!!

The girls pretty much are forcing me to train them. It has been a long month...but I haven't changed a poopy diaper for a long time! I love their little undie bums. Especially with little leggings on too. Anyway, they are doing very well, when I stay in training mode and give a few reminders and encouragement. Kara has even had a few dry diapers over night. What a rock star. ANYWAY I hesitated to post this next picture, but the story with it is disgustingly hilarious. So, the first couple of days I potty train I don't put any diaper, underwear, or pants on them. They have accidents, yes, but this makes the whole process go quicker. ANYWAY, this isn't about the process. The kids were all sitting in their chairs watching a movie. Kara ran over to me in the kitchen for a snack or something and then ran away. This is what I saw...

That is her baby doll's (the one in the bottom left of the picture) rattle stuck in her bum! It must have been sitting on the chair that she sat on and when she got up, it just came right with her! AH! So sick I know. And yes, I washed it. Very well.

We also love to pull our pants up high and ride bikes around the house. :) We do have several inside ride on toys...another really weird thing...but the kids love to race around the island in our kitchen. So if it's ever really snowy outside and you want to go for a bike ride, come on over. We can hook you up. :)

When we do venture outside to play on the now icy snow this is what happens. Sledding accident. Poor girl. I am so glad this was all that happened. What bad parents we are. Anyway, sorry Kara. You are still really cute.

SOOO much Snow!!

It's like shoveling while it's still snowing...oh wait. He did, because there was so much snow that it was just too heavy to lift if you left it! He has been the MASTER SHOVELER this year. Good work hon.
Winter hit us hard this year...CRAZIEST I have ever seen and the most snow Edmonton has seen for at least a decade. It just didn't stop!
I got out to take these pictures halfway through the dump. THERE WAS EVEN MORE THAN THIS!!!!

By the end of it all, the toys on the left of the play house were completely buried, so that was about another 9-12"! It was crazy.

Malia the Model

My sister took this picture of Malia in her little girly get up I crocheted for her. She makes them look even cuter. :)

Crocheting and Sledding!!!

So here it is! Here is the cute little project I made for little Malia, my sister Carrie's newest. The lighting is horrible. I'm no photographer, sorry, but they were gray, with a light pink flower button holding them on with pearls in the center. Soo cute. I wish I could see them on her.

And here are the girl's hats I crocheted them.

Kate's not so happy, but aren't her pouty blue eyes still pretty!

That's better!

SLEDDING!!!!

It was warm enough to go, so one night after Justin got home we went sledding on a hill here behind the park.

I was just taking the girls on the gentle slope side. Confession: I am a pansy. I am not a fan at all of fast things that I have no control of or anything that can potentially injure me because I am an injury prone person. I have had knee surgery, back surgery, broken my wrist and ankle and elbow (when I had 2 month old twins and an almost 2 year old at home waiting for me), and just recently hurt my shoulder. If some one's going to get hurt, it is going to be me. Therefore, I am scared. I only go behind the boat at Echo Lake to push myself, make my husband think I am cool, and to prove that I can do it. I don't even think it is that fun.

ANYWAY, all of this was to say that I am trying to pass this trait on to my kids, to keep them safe. BUT IT'S NOT WORKING! My kids love to do crazy things!

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I just love this picture of her. She is such a sweetheart.

Luckily Zach helped me out and pulled Kate up the hill. It didn't last long, but I was happy to get any help. It was a hard hill to get up!

Eating falling snow.

She has her father's tongue.