Outside while the weather lasts

Fall Photos

Here are a few pictures we've taken around the yard.



Mitchell and Sheba out by the shop. Mitchell is now riding his bike without training wheels. YAY!!










Umm, Mitchell. Where IS your helmet?!










It's been a busy day I guess. Matthew is napping hard on David. It was a sunny afternoon, spent in & outdoors. This was taken during the Nascar race at Martinsville. Jimmy Johnson (#48) won the race.

Also this afternoon, Saskatchewan Roughriders beat Hamilton Tiger Cats, 38-14 (or so). Go Riders!!





Mitchell & Michael were out playing in the sunshine, on an old snowmobile and other bits & pieces. In the background you can see the old farmhouse where David's father lived.

Long Overdue

Well, this is long overdue. Thank you Todd for reminding me it's been almost 1 year (!) since I last posted here. Let me think...there's been a few changes around the ol' homestead.

Everyone is 1yr older I guess. Some of us are feeling every bit older, too. I've had to pull a few more grey hairs, a bit more often lately. Guess I haven't been keeping up with my hairstylist often enough. LOL

David is busy on the farm as usual. He did a bit of custom work this year, baling for a neighbor and hauling bales for another neighbor. He's out doing some of our own fall work today, hauling bales of course!



The boys...well let's say they'all growing like weeds!!


Mitchell is in Kindergarden this year. He loves school and everything that goes with it (school bus, lunches, recess) He gets on the bus about 8:35am and is back home around 3:35pm. Not a long day riding bus. He's also starting Speech Language Therapy this fall. He has a bit of difficulty with comprehension and some pronounciation issues, as well. Mitchell got a new 2-wheeler bike for his birthday. Training wheels didn't last long tho, and the same day David removed them, Mitchell was riding on his own. At first he complained his legs hurt! But after a bit more practise, his muscles are getting stronger and he can peddle up hills.


Matthew & Michael are almost 2 1/2 yrs old. And acting every bit their age. Into anything and everything, tantrums, fights, exploring, climbing. If it's possible, you know they're thinking about it or have done it already. Michael is kinda-sorta potty training. He'll be good for a few days, letting us know he needs to pee in the potty. Then other days it's the last thing on his mind. I just remind myself he's only 2 1/2 so it's early. Matthew has absolutely no interest in the potty, other than flushing the contents down the toilet. Again, he's about a month or so behind Michael on accomplishments and so it's still early for him too. They won't stay in diapers forever!

Gramma & Grampa Candler and Gramma Kupper bought the twins mates beds for their 2nd birthday. Transition went well. The first day they were assembled the boys didn't nap too well. But that night, after a day without a nap, they only needed to be put back to bed once. Since then, it's been clear sailing. They go to bed without struggle and fall asleep on their own.

The twins still aren't talking. It's not so much of a concern to us, but more of a hassle. Especially when they're insistent on something but we just can't figure out their grunts & gestures. About 90% of the time we can understand what they're communicating to us, but ya know, it'd be nice if they could talk too!! They understand us well, tho. We can ask them or tell them something and they quite often do what we're asking. They're smart, that's for sure. Just have no need to talk I guess.



We became Minivan owners in January!! I can't believe it either!! I never thought we'd do it, but since having it, I'd never be without one. The truck was just too cramped for 3 in carseats. And shopping was a nightmare!! Our purchases would have to go in the box, so we'd be praying for nice weather. And travelling was another nightmare. Again, we could only travel in nice weather, or we'd have to package everything up in garbage bags.

We bought a 2005 Pontiac Montana SV6. It has seating for 7, a wonderful DVD entertainment system (includes 2 wireless headphone sets) and can handle any of the latest & greatest game consoles. It can also handle 2 additional wired headphone sets, so the twins get their wired sets and Mitchell gets a wireless set. Parents can listen to the radio while the kids listen to the DVD movie (or play video games) with the headphones. Everyone is happy.


Myself...well there's been a couple changes I guess. I started part-time with Canada Post effective April 1/07. I am now a Rural & Suburban Mail Carrier (RSMC) for the Ernfold rural route. I work approximately 90mins a day, sorting & delivering mail and collecting any outgoing mail for return to Chaplin. I'm based out of Chaplin, and drive about 15mins west of town to the thriving metropolis of Ernfold. I deliver the mail into the community mail box (CMB). I then return any outgoing mail to the facility in Chaplin. I love this job and have no regrets taking it.

I gave up my School Bus position the end of March of this year. Between bus, mail, farm & family, my time was getting stretched too thin. Although I'm busier now than I ever was, the decision was the right one. Payday is the only time during the month that I miss that extra job! David is now able to get a bit more work done around the farm. With bus & mail, he was limited to just a few hours each day, since he was usually home with the boys while I was away at work. And now, if necessary, I can take the boys with me while I do my mail run (remember, DVDs!). The CMBs in Ernfold are adjacent to the community park, so when they're with me, the boys are usually in the park getting fresh air & exercise.


While I can't promise I'll keep this blog current, I'll give it a try. I've been a member of Facebook for awhile now, and I'm not quite to the 'addict' stage, but it's close as it can be while on dial-up internet.

There is hope in our near future that wireless high-speed internet will become available to the rural communities. If so, we'll be sure to getting it installed.

Take care. Formula 1, Nascar & CFL Football are all on today. Should be a busy television afternoon!!!

Sheba

Meet Sheba....our newest addition to our family. She was gratefully adopted from one of my bus students. She's about 6mos old now, female, and quite content living inside (she was a farm cat, lived outdoors) with her human servants. LOL

She's a Siamese Tabby cross, a breed that I've always loved. I had another, Caesar, back in the day. They're a rare find, not too many of them around.

She does quite well with the kids, even lets them pull her tail on occasion. Michael has a few battle scratches, but nothing too serious. She scampers upstairs when she's had enough of them.

Her most active time is about 8pm, right when the twins are headed to bed. She can tear up those stairs lightening fast, louder than blazes I tell ya!!

But we love her, she's adorable and yes, she generates a lot of cat hair around here, not what we need.

(btw, her pic was taken with my new Kodak Z740 digital camera!!!)

At long last....an update!

Okay, it's been awhile....a long while. We've been extremely busy around here this new school year. I'm back driving bus again. David's been busy helping out at the neighbor's doing fall harvest chores. I swear there's a million bales to be hauled home this fall. Between David & and the neighbor, they should be done right around seeding time in the spring. :)

Both David and his neighbor have met the Highway Patrol this fall. The men ended up donating a few $$ to the boys in blue. Next time valid licenses, seatbelts and strapped cargo, right?

It was a cold halloween night here, good thing costumes were made to fit over winter coats. Mitchell was a cute but scary dragon while the twins were adorable, yet cold & cranky, pumpkins. Like a good mother, I forgot pictures, even had the camera with me. When I get a chance, I'll dress them up again and take a few snaps.

We spent Thanksgiving at Mom's house. What a houseful!! Me and my family, my brother and his family, my brother's kids as well. Counted 2 children, 2 spouses and 7 grandchildren. In a 3 bedroom house. With a dog. And the grandchildren were 10 and under, including twins at 18mos. I believe Mom was most thankful when we all left. She slept the afternoon in her big chair, recovering I'm sure.

It's mid-November now, David is in the middle of a training course, for his 1A driver's license. Once he passes his road test, he'll be able to drive semi-truck units, legally (see note above re: a donation to the boys in blue). Between myself, Mel (our preschool teacher and beloved babysitter) and Gramma C., the boys have been left in good hands. I never realized just how much I depended on David's assistance with the boys, and the convenience of having him home during the day while I drove school bus. He & I really are a good team when it comes to these kiddos.

I'm attaching a picture taken at Thanksgiving. Starting from the left: Mitchell, Katie holding Michael (in red) and Matthew, Nicole, Chelsea & Jordan.

Good looking bunch of grandkids Mom & Dad!!

Busy busy busy

I've been busy these past couple weeks. School is back in, so I've been driving school bus twice a day now. David's work-day has diminished, partly due to my driving, and partly due to the fact he's basically done harvest. WUHOO!!

Only 500+ bales left to haul home. Avg 20 bales per trip. Approximately 25 trips to go. Maybe 5 trips a day, during school bus days. I wish it would only be 5 days to do.

Our local MOMs group (Moms of Multiples) in Moose Jaw is holding a garage sale in a couple weeks. I've got so many articles of clothing and equipment to sell, I've been busy sorting and tagging and organizing. It's quite a big sale actually, with all vendors' sale items being sorted by item, rather than by vendor (ie: all pants on one table, all tops at another table, etc.).

I have 4 tote bins and 1 large box of clothing items, along with a stroller, carseat, infant tub, bouncy exersaucer to sell. Good thing I have a big truck, the box will surely be full when I get done loading up all my goods.

I hope to take advantage of the sale as well, I need a few things for the boys. Some more slippers for the twins, a couple halloween outfits and perhaps a snowsuit or two. Any mother (or parent, I would presume) can sell clothing, so it's not necessarily a parent of multiples.

It's nice to have everything sorted and ready to haul to the sale. Next weekend is Mitchell's kid birthday party. All his preschool classmates have been invited, and so far about 1/3 of them have said they'll attend. I'm sure all the parents will appreciate the afternoon away from their preschoolers!! If all invited do attend, I'll have about 9-10 kids here, around the age of 4. OMG, I sure hope it's a nice afternoon, so they can play outside!!

Michael's Molars

Well, Michael sure has been busy this summer. Seems all those crankies and attitudes were a result of teething! He cut 3 molars this summer, none of which we knew about until just last week.

He has one on each side on the bottom and one top molar. Once we noticed them, his attitude started to improve and he's back to his ever-happy self. He's still clingy after naps and when he's getting tired. Or when he wants to be a momma's boy. LOL

Now he's sleeping at night better, and, most importantly, longer! Both twins go to bed about 8pm and usually wake around 7am. When Michael was at his worst (read: cutting molars), he'd wake around 5am. Unfortunately, both mom & dad got woken up then, too....along with Matthew, if we didn't get Michael out of his crib in time.

All in all, everyone is enjoying more sleep ;) and life goes on.

Kickin' back

This picture was taken before everyone came down with the flu. But I'm happy to report that all 3 boys are pretty much back to their old selves. Michael (in yellow) still has issues with gagging and throwing up. He's too eager to eat sometimes, and takes in more than he can handle. You know the result.

The twins are 15mos old today and Mitchell is 4yrs old. My how the time flies when you're busy!

Tub full of trouble

This picture was taken a few days ago. All 3 boys were in desperate need of a bath, and not a lot of time to get it done before bedtime rolled around. So in all 3 went. It was a bit cramped with lots of fighting for toys. But in the end, 3 dirty boys became clean.

Happy Birthday Mitchell!!

Mitchell is 4 today!! We had a small celebration for Mitchell as he turns 4 today. His paternal grandparents and aunt and her two children came over for a bit of cake. With just 3 kids, aged 4, 5 & 6, it was a noisy house. The twins were asleep during the visit, they just couldn't handle being awake any longer.

He got lots of good booty....the Star Wars Racers game for his N64 from his cousins in Alberta, a Hummer and some cold hard cash from gramma & grampa, a Sponge Bob tshirt, SB computer game and a learning cd-rom from his parents & twin brothers, and a personal mini fan from his cousins.

He'll be having his big birthday bash in September, after school starts up again. But I couldn't let his birthday go unannounced for over a month yet. So I made him a cake and decorated it this morning. Nothing too fancy, but I did get out my drafting paper to draw up a 4. I can't freehand for nothing!!

What a week...

Well, it's been a long week, since last Wed. Mitchell woke up sick about 6:30am. Continued to throw up most of the day. Thankfully he's old enough to ask for a pail (most of the time). That night, David & I were asleep for about an hour when Matthew woke up sick, throwing up in his crib. Unfortunately, he's not old enough to ask for a pail. Both of us were up most of the night, one comforting and one cleaning. Mitchell woke up during the wee morning hours, sick again. Finally got to sleep about 5am, only for Michael to wake up at 6:30, after a full night sleep!!

All 3 boys continued their illness through the weekend. I had Matthew into a doctor in Moose Jaw, considering he was the weakest looking, and smallest to start with. Just a virus, can't do anything but wait it out. Come back in a week if he's not improving.

Mitchell was 100% recovered late Sunday. Matthew is almost 100% tonight (Tue). Michael has a bit to go yet, perhaps he's about 75%. The twins are playing more, and drinking and eating almost as usual. Not necessarily the usual quantities, but almost the usual selection.

This has been a good time to take away their bottles, too. Up till their flu, they had still been getting a bottle at bedtime. The rest of their day, they drank milk and water from sippy cups. So, without having a bedtime bottle for a week now, they are put away. I don't think they miss them, tho. This afternoon was the first time in a week they've had milk. And tonight they drank about half a sippy cup of milk before falling asleep in my arms. I'll be praying to any God that will listen (LOL) that they keep it down all night and that they truly are on the road to recovery.

Sickness all over the house!

Last weekend we visited in Coronach, to attend the wedding of Devin & Lindsay Giraudier. Congrats!!

And I think we caught a cold there, too. All 5 of us are sick with colds, Mitchell even has an eye infection. That isn't fun, when you have to pin him down to put in his eye drops.

We had a good visit at Mom's, slept in the cold basement which was a treat considering the outside temps were running above 30C, hitting 35C I think one afternoon. Sunday afternoon we enjoyed the local pool. It was Matthew & Michael's first time in a big pool and after a bit, they rather enjoyed themselves. It was refreshing and they love being outside, even if it was hot. Coronach does have a wading pool, but it hasn't been filled with water for quite a number of years, so we had them with us in the big pool.

He's walking!! Part II

Well, Matthew has caught up to big brother Michael. He's started walking these past couple days. Just this morning, he was doing quite well, standing on his own and walking across the living room. The balance thing is still new to him, sometimes he leans too far back, forward and other times he just plunks down on his butt. But he's eager to get up again and get going.

I fear what my life will become now, with all 3 boys quite mobile. I can't wait till Matthew is more confident walking, so I don't have to carry them both all over. Shopping will still be a chore and a half, the only store that has carts for 2 kids is SuperStore. Walmart and the other grocery chains only have 1 kid carts, so either I pull them in their wagon, or put on in the top, one in the bottom and shop sparingly.

Mitchell walked at 15mos, Matthew 14mos and Michael 13mos. And our latest visit to Mom's, Mitchell weighs 42lbs, Matthew 20lbs and Michael 26lbs.

Right now is naptime, although I still hear them cranking on the monitor.

Swimming Lessons

Mitchell just completed a week of swimming lessons, through the Red Cross. He was in the Sea Turtle level, one of 8 swimmers in the 3-4 yr age group. The first day, Monday, they had the entire 8 swimmers in one grouping, but the lifeguard/instructor realized she could not teach all 8 swimmers at the same time, while offering sufficient one-on-one instruction. Starting Tuesday, the group was split into 2 sessions, with Mitchell in the 11am session, along with 3 of his preschool classmates.

Monday was interesting, he clung onto Laura (instructor) for 15 of the 30min class!! He was terrified of the pool, since he's never had much experience in it. (with 13mo old twins, there isn't much time in a day for personal enjoyment, especially at a pool!) But he did good, considering.

Today was the last day of lessons, but he did not pass the Sea Turtle level. I'm not disappointed, as I was quite sure he wouldn't last one day of lessons. He has to practise getting his face wet (he hates this even in the bathtub) as well as his kicking. But for a kid that's never had any pool experience, I'd say he did quite well.

There is another session next week, and one more week of lessons beginning of August. I'll be registering him for lessons again, but I'm not sure when. Next week might be too soon, but then August might be too late, he'll have forgotten everything.

We have not purchased a season pass at the pool. The 'locals' are not being allowed to purchase daily swim passes, they must purchase a full-season pass if they wish to swim at the pool. Apparently the swimming pool board is trying to encourage the 'locals' to support the pool by purchasing a season pass. Well, this is not sitting well with the 'locals'. Many residents are very angry that visitors to our town can swim with a daily pass, while we cannot. As a result, very few local residents are swimming, which results in decreased income.

I cannot justify the $150 season pass fee, when I know I would not be swimming enough to pay for the fee. With 13mo old twins and a 4yr old, which child/ren do I swim with and which child/ren do I ignore? David is busy in the field most of the summer, so if he's home, that means weather is bad, and we won't be swimming. If weather is good for swimming, that means weather is good to be in the field.

So, for now, Mitchell gets to swim during lessons. It's unfortunate he won't get to practise what he's learned this week, but until the rules change at the pool, I just can't justify the extra cost.

Okay, enough rant :)

Preschool is off till September

Well, Mitchell is done preschool for the school year. He had a blast this past year, learning crafts, interacting with other children his age, and listening to an adult (other than mom or dad). It's been a challenge, with ups and downs.

They had a graduation ceremony for the 4-5 yr olds, as they go off to Kindergarten this fall. There were 3 second year preschoolers and just 2 first year preschoolers. Mitchell and Skie will return to preschool in the fall, along with newcomers Benjamin, Nathan, Zachary, Jasmine (sp?). There's possibly one or two more children as well. It'll be a class of at least 4 boys and 2 girls, a change from this past year, 1 boy (Mitchell!) and 4 girls.

He's walking!!

Michael is walking!!


At 13mo & 2 wks, Michael is walking at the earliest age. He beat out big brother Mitchell, who started walking at around 15mos.

He still prefers to crawl everywhere, it's a faster mode of transportation. But he loves to stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, well you get the idea. And the giggles and smiles to go along with it.

It was Thursday when he took his first few steps, usually just 1-2 steps before he'd plunk down on his butt. Then Friday afternoon he took more, across the living room. He was showing off at the pool on Friday night (the pool just opened for the season and they had the 'big splash' kickoff bbq). Today he hasn't walked as much, I guess it's something he's reserving for afternoons & evenings. LOL

Matthew isn't walking on his own yet, though he does quite well hanging onto furniture, pantlegs, or even their chairs or toys. He'll spend lots of time pushing a chair or toy across the living room, turn around, and walk back. It won't be long till he's walking independently.

It's such a relief actually, to have Michael walking. He won't be running for awhile, that whole balance thing.


And they're sharing a room now, too. Daytime naps aren't going that great, they think it's great fun to jump in their cribs, laughing at each other. So to assist them in falling asleep easier, I'm trying to keep them up a bit longer before naptime. They can usually go 3hrs before showing signs of being tired. But if I can keep them up a bit longer, perhaps they'll be less inclined to play and more inclined to sleep. We hope.

Mitchell's new room

We moved the boys' beds around this past week. Mitchell has his own big-boy room now. He loves it!! We moved his computer up there (the main reason for the move, actually). Matthew & Michael wouldn't leave it alone, always pushing the reset button. Well that gets annoying after the first couple times.

It was a big move, bed to move, cribs to move, dressers, and of course, the heaps and loads of junk that's been stored up there for years. Mitchell has his double bed, his computer, N64 and an old stereo of mine. It's a great room, one I'd love to have myself! He spends a lot of time up there now, when the twins aren't napping, playing with his toys away from pesky little brothers. :)

First Hair Cut!!

Matthew received his first hair cut this morning. He was in quite desperate need of a trim for awhile now. I trimmed it myself, concentrating on the top and sides. I just couldn't bring myself to cutting the back just yet. He's just getting curls back there so I don't want to cut them off too soon, I need some pics!!

Oh, and he was having a cookie or two when I snapped this pic. So, no, those aren't molars in his mouth, but yummy cookie!!

More toofers!

Well, it's been awhile since I last posted, things have been busy around here. It's been raining like never before, although the gauge only had about an inch in it over the week. Sure looks and feels like a LOT more, especially on my bus route. The roads are so muddy and slick, it's difficult to keep the bus heading in the right direction (down the road, and not into the ditches).

Matthew has 3 teeth now, two on top and his lonely bottom tooth. But he's got another bottom tooth coming in, should be in tomorrow or Wednesday. And he's showing two more on the top as well, one on either side of the two center teeth. He'll be catching up to Michael in no time.

Michael has 6 teeth, 4 top and 2 bottom. I don't see any more coming up on the bottom, so he might be done for awhile.

We got their first birthday portraits back on the weekend. Had I known our scanner was on the fritz, I would have gotten electronic copies of them, as well. We have a really good photo of the 3 boys, Mitchell in the center, boys on either side of him. Matthew is hugging him, and Michael is reaching out to the camera. So cute!! I have that one on my media centre, to prove my boys can be cute and adorable sometimes. LOL (lately, with the rainy wet weather, they're suffering from a bout of cabin fever.....and the crankies, omg!!)

Night everyone!

Mitchell loves N64

Mitchell and I were in Moose Jaw today, and checked out their used video game store. Mitchell's been doing well playing games on the computer, so I thought it was time he got a console game system.

We picked up a used Nintendo 64 game system, with a couple games to go with it. He's racing across America in Cruising USA and hunting for items in Rugrats Scavenger Hunt.

He's a bit confused at times, when the computer plays it's turn, but he's getting the hang of it. Right now, the game system is hooked up on our main teevee in the living room. But our goal is to hook it up on his set upstairs in his room. For now though, we have to teach him how to use it. I'd hate to hook it upstairs and be running up every couple minutes to help him out.

So, off to ebay it is.....searching for more cheap N64 games.

Happy Victoria Day weekend Canada!