Nativity Sets

I have always loved Nativity Sets.  I try and look for unusual ones, and always say that I'd like to collect them.  I think I have about 4, so I guess I'm on my way....

 

Every year, when we set out the nativity set, we take some time to read the real story to the Girls while we set it all up.  It's a tradition that I've really come to enjoy.

 

This year, we picked up a new nativity set.  It's different than any other ones I have, and I absolutely adore it.   After we set up the first set, we told the Girls that they could put this one together, but then they'd have to tell the story back to us.  The thing I love about this set is that I'm not afraid that they're going to break it....because it's Playmobil!!  It's so cool!  There's even little gold coins to put in the urns for the wise man, a mouse for the in the stables.... Have I mentioned that I love it!  My only regret is that we didn't get it sooner....

Big Days for Little Girls

We've had a few little ladies here with Big Days. 

 

First of all, Molly's been talking about a loose tooth for oh, about 2 years.  Every once in a while, the topic comes us, and she remarks, "Well, I have a loose tooth...."  And then we all promptly forget about it. 

 Sunday night, this topic, once again, came up, with the typical, "Well, I have a loose tooth...." 

 

Uh huh.  Yup, sure.  Right-O.  Apparently, this time, she wasn't kidding.  Monday morning, during breakfast, she (finally) lost her first tooth!  I was in the shower, and up she came, looking just a little bit pale and a little bit shaky, holding her little baby tooth in her hand...."Mom!  Guess what?!  I just lost my first tooth!  Umm....what do I do now?!" 

 

Thankfully, she has a bigger sister who just loves to take care of, and get into everybodies business.  While Molly was talking to me, Abby was scurrying about, getting toilet paper to put the tooth in, getting the Tooth Fairy pillow.... And all was well.  This 7 yr. old is pretty excited to have finally lost a tooth!

 

Secondly, Ellie Mae has been talking and talking about getting her ears pierced.  For quite some time.  And every time the subject comes up, we say, "Oh sure.....maybe next time when we're in the city we can take you to get it done..."

 

Monday, the older 3 Girls were at a writing workshop, so I decided to finally take Ellie Mae in to get the deed done. 

 

She was fairly quiet on the way in and when we got to the store, she quietly picked out her earrings.  She quietly hopped onto the high chair to sit while they marked the spots, and kazam!  It was done!  She didn't want to look in the mirror to see how they looked, but instead, cuddled for a few minutes.  Then, we had to go and celebrate with hot chocolate and a cookie! 

 

She didn't want to tell her older sisters, but instead, "See if they notice..", which Hannah did at lunch time.  Ellie Mae proudly showed off her new earrings to her sisters, beaming with pride while saying, "I didn't cry as much as Molly did..."

Christmas Is Coming!

 

This week, it looked like a bomb went off in my house; like a tornado hit it; like Christmas up and puked. all. over. my. house.

 

It started last Friday, when I took down my fall decorations, and brought up the Christmas bins....

 

 

Saturday, we spent a few hours (yup, you read that right!) putting together one of our Christmas trees.  Every single branch needs to be fluffed and put into the tree.  It crazy, because our Girls really do enjoy the process, and I keep thinking to myself, "This is 3 hours of my life that I can never get back!".  But whatevs.... it ended up looking great!

 

Our other tree, which is pre-lit, and several years old, when we went to plug that little sucker in, 3/4's of the lights were burnt out, and we had no way to figure out how to get them working again.  So, again, Art spent probably 5 hours taking each light, which was zip tied, off the tree.  It's a good think I'm married to such a patient man, who loves me very, very much!

 

Finally, on Friday, we finished mostly everything.  The trees and garlands are put up, candles put out.... the only thing that needs to be done is the nativity sets need to be done, which we will do as a family this weekend. 

 

It seemed like quite a bit of work this year, but I (mostly) loved doing it (well, not dealing with the trees, but that's ok, that's what Art is for!)

 

And so, it seems, that Christmas is in the air.  Now, if only I had my shopping done....

Perseverance Pays Off

The other day, I woke up with a wicked bad headache.  The kind of headache that leaves you wanting to crawl out of your skin.... your eyes hurt, you feel nauseous.... you know the kind.  I felt terrible!  I asked Art to tell The Girls to get started on school, and I would be down in a little while.

Thankfully, I fell asleep for a while.  When I woke up, Abby came into my room.  She whispered in my ear, "How are you feeling, Mom?"

"Rotten," I replied.

"Just stay in bed," she said.  "Hannah is doing laundry, the little girls are doing the chickens, and we're all working on our school... Can I do anything for you?"

Let me tell you, friends....I almost started weeping.  I was so thankful that these little Ladies are growing up to be helpful, compassionate young girls.  When they were really little, I remember times when Art would come home, and ask how my day was.  And I would say, "Frustrating!  It feels like all I did, all day long, was say "NO!" and spank their little hands or bottoms, trying to train them..." 

Thankfully, those days of such intensive training (in that way) are gone.  And we are now enjoying some of the fruits of our labour.....perseverance has paid off...  And I rejoice!

If you are in that season, remember, this too shall pass.  If you keep on, keeping on; being faithful and working hard, training their little minds and spirits, you will one day be thankful that you did.   And then, you can sit on your butt with me and eat bonbons.  all.  day.  long.

The Heavens

Last night, Art had to pop back into his office for a few minutes.  When he got home, he came running in the house....beckoning me to come outside. 

"The northern lights!" he exclaimed... and I knew.

So, over my jammies, I through on a jacket and my bogs, and trudged out into the cold, white night.  And I looked up.  And was in awe....

I went in and grabbed the 2 older girls, telling them to come outside.... and they looked up.  And were in awe....

I can't even begin to describe the beauty associated with watching the northern lights, bright green, dance all over the autumn sky.  The Girls, of course, wanted to take a picture, but I knew my skills wouldn't be able to capture such a moment.

Art and the Girls headed inside, and I stayed out for a moment longer....looking, watching, admiring.... And I was struck by how this amazing God that we serve, makes the skies come alive at night, for what purpose.  For me?  To see?  To be amazed?

The Girls asked me this morning, "If people don't believe in God, how can they see the Northern Lights and not think that He's real?"

And I have no answer.  But this I know....

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hand. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 

They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world...."

Ps. 19:1-4

Life School

This week, I decided that instead of doing "book school", we were going to do "life school".  My parents came in last Sunday night, so I knew the week would be full.  Very full.  And so it was....

 

My Mom brought us a whole schwack of apples from the Okanagon, including some baking apples, so we had to make up a few pans of apple platz!

 

Then, we had crazy amounts of snow..... (13 inches, I think!)

 

Which was beautiful, but it meant that we had to cancel some plans and have a couple of snow days!  Nana had brought some princess dresses for the Girls, so they had a tea party, complete with scones and hot chocolate.  They thought that was wonderfully fun!

 

 

All the while, the Girls continued to practice for the Canadian Dummy Roping Championship that was taking place at Farm Fair this week.

 

We ended up at Farm Fair a few days, and although we didn't have a chance to take in the CFR like we did last year, we did make it to watch some team penning, which was quite fun, as well as the Ranch Rodeo.

 

Finally, the Big Day....competition day!  Abby and Molly were quite nervous.  They started out the day by practicing roping out in the shop for about an hour.... in their pajama's.  I told them they had to practice with their hats, so they were quite the sight....

 

 

In the afternoon, we headed out to Farm Fair once again for the event.  We got there extra early so they could get some more practice in, and get a feel for where it would be taking place.  They were quite nervous, and rightly so.... I figured there was at least 300 spectators watching!  Molly's age category was second up, after watching the boys 5 and under - boy, were they ever cute! 

 

 

Each competitor takes 3 throws, and depending on how everyone does, they continue to rope off until they've placed everyone.  Molly missed all 3 throws, so she tied for 7th.  Then there was another boys category, and then Abby's category.  I'm not gonna lie - watching those girls practice, I thought that she wouldn't place.  However, I don't know if it was nerves or what, but she roped 2 of her 3 throws, and continued to catch until she ended up in 3rd place.  3RD PLACE!!  We were very, very proud of her her, and definitely surprised!  She won a nice halter with a leather nose band which has 2012 Canadian Dummy Roping Championship embroidered on it, and let me tell you friends, she wore that halter on her shoulder for the rest of the day like a badge of honor! 

 

 

What a great event it was, they had members from the Canadian Team Roping team on hand to help with ropes, give some tips, hand out prizes, as well as judge the event.  They had an MC, the rodeo princesses came to say hello....and parents and friends all cheered for our kids.  It was fabulous!  They said that this was their biggest event to date, with 76 competitors on hand. 

 

So there you have it... a great, exciting, busy, fun week of life school. 

 

And now, tomorrow, it's back to the book school....

Productivity

I find at times that one of the (many) hard parts of being a stay at home Mom is that I don't often feel very productive.  Sure, I'm busy... all day long....doing....something.  My house is (somewhat) clean, we're all (somewhat) fed and clothed, yet it seems like I have nothing to show for all my work.  Nothing really, well, tangible.  We all know that as soon as the house is clean, the very next minute, it's well on it's way to being dirty again; and as soon as we're done eating, well, it's time to clean up and think about the next meal.  And this goes on, and on, and on.... Oh, the monotony can bog me down and get me in a bit of a funk!

 

However, today, I have something to show for my morning.  I feel somewhat productive!  After a quick trip to town first thing this morning for a doctor's appointment in the crazy, freezing rain, we made it home (in one piece, thankfully!), only to see the rain turn to snow.  We had plans to go into the city this afternoon, but I figure the roads are gonna be an ice rink, so, we decided to stay home.  And make jam. 

 

We ran out a couple of days ago, and you'd think it was the end of the world, with all the complaining and whining (mainly from Art!) that we were out.  So, 22 lbs. of sugar later, we finished up 8 batches.  I think we ended up with 21 jars, so I am hoping that this jam will last us a month or two... The other benefit to getting all these raspberries out of my freezer?  I can almost see the bottom of my freezer.  It's been a while, let me tell you.

 

 

Keep safe on the roads, and warm in your homes, friends.   Now, I'm off to make some biscuits (only to be eaten right away) to go with that jam!