My Handsome Man

Art fell asleep on the couch the other day.  The Girls said that they'd cover him up.... This is what happens when you have 4 daughters and you fall asleep!

You can bearly make out his face.  What I didn't get a picture of is his legs, which are sprawled out, with his pj pants pulled up to his knees and his black socks pulled up as high as they would go.  This, my friends, is my handsome husband.  Who wouldn't have 4 children with this man?!

Living the dream....

(Another) Favorite Thing

My dad stopped in last weekend, along with my uncle. For not quite 12 hrs. They arrived here just after 9 pm, and left before 7 am. But that time was long enough for him to spoil me with a little present....

And it's my new favorite thing....an iPad 2.  Yup, I have an iPad 2.  I am with the times, people... I told Art that I would share it with him....maybe.  If he's good.  We'll have to see about that.  However, he did go into Anthropologie and pick me up a little present the other day.... something that I have been dreaming about, coveting, whatever you want to call it.... And the funny thing is that they didn't have any in the store, so they sent one up from Calgary.  You can see what he bought for me here.  So, maybe, just maybe, I'll let him use my iPad.  Anyhow, thanks, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, for the present....it is one of my favorite things!

To Town We Go!

The other day, we were heading out to town.  I asked one of the girls to bring our shoes in from the garage...

 If only they would clean them up this nicely!



Spring is Springing?

Remember how I told you about the jars I used as gifts??  Well, I had a few extra bulbs so I planted them for myself.  On the first day of Spring, I noticed this little buddy had sprouted....

I have three of these jars, but am still waiting for a sign of life from them.  Hopefully, any day now!

Goerzen Snow Family

Last week, the Girls were playing outside and decided to build some "snow sisters".  They named them "Elfieda" and "Mary" (the names of Art's sisters)

 Then they decided that it was hard to tell that they were girls, so they decided to spruce them up a little bit, and add the rest of the family....

 Here's "Mary", "Elfrieda", "Erv" and "Art".  Can you pick out who's who?

I was taking a picture, and Molly wanted to get a close up...so she ran outside and actually video taped the snow family.... notice the attire?  Crocs and pj's....yup, we're Albertans!  The family lasted for a while, until we left Moses outside for a whole day while we were gone.  He was a little bit upset with us, so he defiled the snow family.  They lost their mitts and may have had a yellow spot (or two) on them.  How rude!  Depending on who's who....two of you were peed on!  (hee! hee!)

New Life

I recently hosted a baby shower for one of my most favorite people. It was a lot of fun to have some ladies over and celebrate this new little life.... Let me tell you friends, there is nothing like holding a new baby to give me "the itch" once again.... But have no fear - no more girls for us (at least not that we are planning...) :-)

 It was easy to find fun napkins and bright decor since Spring is (apparently) here

 As a thank you gift for each of the ladies who attended, I filled canning jars with soil and put a freesia bulb in.  I am hoping that eventually they will bloom...

 What party is complete without chocolate?!  I made brownies and dipped them in melted chocolate.  Originally, I was going to put them on sticks, but I could only find Popsicle sticks, which were a little too big.  I finished them off with some sprinkles.  I used the same brownie mix from Costco, and let me tell you, they were good!

 Instead of a cake, I made lemon cupcakes with lemon cream cheese icing...yummy!

It was a fun night to eat, drink and be merry with some special ladies.

Blah!

I've been negligent on the posting during the past week.... we've had an awful lot of this going on:

Abby got sick at the beginning of the week, and has yet to break her 103.5 C fever....now it's moved on to Molly and I think I'm getting it to.  Nice!  The only thing that I can be thankful for is that is snowy and grey outside (STILL!!), and I have no desire to leave my house... So, we've been watching movies and tv and reading and napping.  I am hoping that it doesn't make it way through everyone, since next week is Spring Break....

Some Inspiration....

I picked up this magazine the other day, and it gave me the itch to get garage sale-ing!

It was quite fun to look through, and there were lots of very fun ideas...and now, I am on the hunt....for fun stuff.  My creative juices are flowing, and I can't wait for spring and garage sales and drives and good times!

New Shoes

I feel like all I do these days is buy shoes....my Girls need to stop their feet from growing!  I suppose part of it is that they wear their shoes for longer, so they're usually not in the best of shape by the time they are ready to be handed down.  Anyhow, Molly informed me the other day that she "had to curl her toes for her shoes to fit", so when we were in the city, we stopped by the Sketcher's store.  Everything on sale was an additional 50% off (yay for Molly), so both her and Hannah picked up some new runners for $17 (regular price was $50, I think). 

Molly of course was so excited for a new pair of sparkly shoes... they are sitting on the end of her bed, and are the first thing she puts on in the morning.  Since we still have tons of snow, she hasn't been able to wear them outside yet, so they have been her "inside shoes". 

I just love a good sale, don't you?! These bad boys were well worth the money!

The Colony

We've been in the process of researching the idea of buying chickens - both for eggs and meat.  Part of that involves getting a chicken coop.  The other day, I found one on kijiji (I love that site!), and we decided we'd go and take a look at it.  The man that Art spoke with told him where to go, and we headed out, excited and ready for an adventure.  Well, let me tell you - adventure is what we had! 

We got to the place and quickly realized that it was a Hutterite colony, which I always find very interesting.  We had a number of men take us around and show us all the sheds and building that they build there.  Then, we of course asked if they had any eggs, and ended up bringing 10 dozen freshly laid eggs home.

I would've brought more money had I realized that we were going to end up at a colony, because they also offered us chickens (freshly butchered), potatoes, and corian countertops.  I know, one of these things is not like the other.....

In the course of our conversation, they thold us they had bought a corian countertop shop in the city, and in the back of their shop, was a brand new, top of the line, C&C machine.  I've gotta give it to these guys - they always seem to have the latest and greatest in technology!  Art, of course, was very interested in seeing all of that, and they were excited to hear that we do kitchen cabinets!  Who knows - we may be seeing more of these guys!

By the time we were done "the tour", I think there were about 8 men and 1 boy hanging around, each one ready to show us their own area of expertise.  It was very interesting to hear and see more about how these people live and work.  They all work for the good of the community, which I love, and I think it something that we have lost over time, in our haste to be independent...

Oh, and when we're ready, here's a picture of what our chicken coop will look like.  They are even going to insulate it, put in the coops for us, and deliver it.  Yay, Hutterites!  Maybe they'll even bring some chickens to live in the coop!

Flour bin

The other day, I headed into the city to take a little trek to the Antique Mall with my little ladies.  Normally, I wouldn't take them, but we all needed a little outing.  I was surprised to see how much they loved looking at all the booths.  It was interesting to see what each of them were drawn to.  Here's what I was drawn to, and ended up bringing home with me.  It's something I've been looking for for a very long time, and I found it! 

A flour bin!

It's in great shape, with no rust, and not really any dents or dings!

It's quite big - I think that it holds 50 lbs. of flour.... and there was even a bit left in the bin when I bought it.

Right now, "Molly Doll" is perched on top, but that's only a temporary home....until I figure out where I want to put it.  I love it with my whole heart!

Anyone, Please?

I woke up this morning to Spring....or not! It was a balmy -29C! It's torture this time of year, I am telling you! I go to the store, and it is filled with spring decorations, Easter eggs, bright, fresh colors... and I look outside and all I see is white. And more white. And more white! Snow everywhere....still! So anyone, please...can spring please come?!

Big Mistake!

I made a mistake the other day.  Well, I know that I made more than one, and it happens every day.... but I am choosing to tell you about a particular mistake.

It had been so long, and I had been so good, but we were at the mall.  And we were walking by Anthropologie.  And I walked in.  And I fell in love.....with this:

It looks like an old milk bottle (kinda)....

 but it's actually measuring cups!!  It has 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 and 1 c. measures!

Cool, right?  Well, I didn't buy it, but I've been dreaming about it ever since.  I may just have to go back and pick it up for myself... My only concern is that is may get chipped.  But here's what I think (well, kinda, but I'm trying to justify purchasing it, so I don't know how valid my point is!).  I'll keep it on my counter top to look pretty (and pretty it will look!), and I will be the only one that uses it.  I won't let my Little Ladies touch it.  Ever!  You think?  I think....

Chocolate Goodness

OK.  So, normally, I don't buy mixes of any kind because I like to bake from scratch, but we were at Costco, and I had a moment of weakness, and I love Ghiradelli chocolate...

 Brownie Mix

+

 unwrapped peanut butter cups

put in the brownie mix before baking

=

Chocolate Goodness, with a splash of peanut butter.  There's none left....and I forgot to take a picture of the finished product.  But let me tell you friends...it was yummy.  Especially served with ice cream.  Which we did.  It may be my new favorite dessert.  Or maybe just my new favorite brownies, because to put it at the top of all dessert, well, that's something special, which this definitely is, but you know, that takes a commitment which I am not sure I can commit to just yet.  Anyhow, you get the point...it was good!



The Baby Turns 4!

On Sunday was "The Baby's" 4th birthday...I can hardly believe it!  Here are some pictures to commemorate the day.  We stayed home from church and just hung out, after eating the birthday girl's choice of breakfast (Seattle Dutch Babies)

 After breakfast, we opened presents, which included new clothes for the American Girl, which, incidentally, didn't fit the American Girl b/c we tried to cheap out and by clothes from Toys R Us instead of American Girl...oops!

 A princess nightie

 And a new outfit from Nana & Grandpa

 Ellie Mae wanted cupcakes with horses on them

 Getting ready for dinner, which again, was Birthday Girl's choice....Homemade Pizza and Shirley Temple's for everyone!  And don't forget the "You are Special Today" plate...

 The new nightie for bedtime!

 On Tuesday, we took one of Ellie Mae's friends, which also happens to be her 3rd cousin (yup, you read that right...her THIRD cousin!) to the rides at the mall.  These girls had much fun enjoying the death defying rides like....the carousel?!

 and the train

 little go carts

 which in theory are fun, but the reality is that I think they like going on the quad better!

and bumper cars.  Note to self: Next time we go on the rides, go on the bumper cars after the go carts, because the girls couldn't quite grasp the concept of not running into each other on the go cart track!

All in all, it was a very fun few days of celebrating Ellie Mae's fourth birthday....I can't believe my baby is 4!