Some Ramblings

 I haven't blogged in a while so I thought I might share what's been happening around here... in pictures.  We have been spending quite a bit of our time (3 evenings a week) at the soccer field.
Grace, Alex and Jean are playing this year and loving it!

Ian is actually coaching Alex's team this year - very exciting for Alex.  I run back and forth from Grace's field to Alex's field to make sure I can watch as much as possible.  These are busy evenings for us but good family time.

We spent a gorgeous Sunday morning at a "Fly-In Breakfast" in
early June.  Even though we stood in line for one hour for breakfast,
it was worth it.  There was a lot to see, a really good breakfast and
we had fun spending time with Sarah, Randy, Noah and Allie.

I was able to volunteer for Alex's school trip to the
Mill of Kintail and these were my two buddies for the
day.  It was a dreary, humid day but we had a
lot of fun playing in the stream and hiking through the forest.

Grace is playing with sweet Charlotte who will be turning ONE very soon!

Our children are so fortunate to be able to spend time with so  many different family
members and GA Janie and GU Bill are really special.  Here Grace practices her
headstand at their cozy little house in the bush.  Great form!

We haven't had enough time at the pool yet but we hope for many, many warm
afternoons to spend there.  This was our first swim of the year at Grandma and
Grandpa's pool and the water was chilly!

There is nothing like a Fun Fair and our school hosts the best one around!

Over the May Long Weekend we were able to spend an afternoon and evening
at the Gallivan-McGregor cottage.

We are into "Market Season" now and Grace has just been
hired by Grandpa Jim to work with him at the
Carp Farmers' Market for the summer.  Here she is on
her first day of work, all ready to go!

This picture represents what early Summer is all about here
at our home:  soccer evenings (notice the shinpads - pink!),
farm market work and having fun in between!  It can be a
tough balance these days and we are tired but we know this is
what it is all about - we work hard to we can play hard!

Finding Love Notes and Other Memories

My day was completely filled up... I don't know about you, but I find that when I'm really busy, I accomplish a lot.  I've always been this way.  The minutes are precious so I fill the moments.  After a full day, while the kids were playing in the bath, I went through my jewelry box - an old relic from my childhood (actually a present from my parents I believe).  I've carried this box with me to every home I have lived in but it is time to retire it away into a cupboard.

It is amazing how random items can just bring back memories.  I found little trinkets I had saved that had value in the memories they evoked, such as a beautiful watch Ian bought for me when we were dating, some gifts of jewelery from special people, a picture of my deceased Grandma Bloetjes, an old friendship ring from a childhood friend, a bracelet from Africa and a little note from a young romance... that was really funny to see!  Made me melt.

That was a note from him!!  I remember him clearly and we had a nice little romance until my family moved away.  I took those precious items, placed them back into my old jewelry box and tucked it nicely away in a drawer.

Here is the final product... nothing special but it works.  Despite how I was ready to put that old thing away, it was full of some nice memories and I had a few giggles and a big smile on my face as I went through it all.  It will be nice to see what ends up in this box in 25 years!

Cousin Love

Cousin-love is very special.  These kiddies are growing up together despite a distance!  We wish we were closer to them every day but we take the great moments when we can.  

This Precious Girl

 

 

4 1/2 years ago we were blessed with this precious little girl.  I have shared her vivaciousness since her birth (which was the first indication of how feisty she can be) and she never ceases to amaze me with her antics.  Last fall she began dance class and she has loved every minute of it.  Her big sister, whom she looks up to adoringly, is a dancer so there was no doubt Jean would be a dancer as well.  

 

This past weekend she performed in her first real dance recital, on a big stage, with lights and beautiful music and, of course, her cute little purple costume.  She left the house very excited and came home exhausted (see above).  Jean always gives her "all" and takes it all in.  She lives her life to the fullest... I often think she knows more than us and maybe she does.  Her short little life started out with her testing the limits so she just might already know how precious life is and that she is going to live her life the fullest.  She gives us more joy and we are so proud of her.  She is truly our tiny little dancer; just come on over and you just might get to see one of her infamous "shows"... so darn cute!

My Very Own Mother's Day

Since becoming a mother, my own Mother's Days have been very different than most would expect.  Many times I have celebrated by being on my own, spending time with our children.  The result of living on a fruit and vegetable farm means that early May is filled with planting our fields and selling at the Sunday Farmers' Market so many years I would load up the kids and we would head to Ottawa to spend the day together and visit daddy at the Market.  This is the first year in a long time where there was NO market to go to and NO planting being done!  I love spending time with the kids on my own but I really love being altogether as a family.

I chose what I wanted to do for the day and the most important thing I wanted was to go on a hike - one of our favourite things to do as a family.  Ian packed a little picnic and off we went to our neighbours "cave".  As we walked we experienced sunshine, darkening clouds, rain, snow and hail then sunshine again.  It was amazing.

 

The forests are filled with trilliums.

 

The Canadian Shield peaks out of the fields in some places... resulting in a great place to climb.

 

 

We enjoyed our picnic in the cave (rock jutting out of the ground) while watching the weather turn from sunshine to rain and then to sunshine again.  It was beautiful.

 

Being a mother has been my greatest blessing.  I know that traditionally Mother's Day is for pampering all the mommies (and I love that part) but I like to take the time to just enjoy my children and I always feel very thankful for them.  It was a great day.

Chatting With Mom

You know those days when you feel you just can't accomplish anything?  Today was one of those days.  The weekend...well it was a busy one.  Filled with a dance competition in Ottawa on Saturday, a birthday party on Saturday night and more dance activities on Sunday... and, to top it all off, Ian was working in the field most of that time so it was just the kids and I!  I was exhausted!

 

 

Monday morning rolled around and the to-do list was full of cleaning, checking and replying to emails, swimming lessons, errands (there are always errands) and cleaning the house.  Ugh.  By the middle of the afternoon I felt like I had done nothing productive and the kids would be getting off the bus soon and we would head off to Alex's last night of basketball.  Every time I turned around there was something else to throw me off track.  Then my mom called.  We chatted for a while; I got caught up on the news from "home" and then my negativity started about how I'm accomplishing so little these days.  I complained about how my house is so dirty, we haven't done any home renovations recently and I can't imagine when or how it will all get done. 

Then she gave me her thoughts.  She reminded me of what I actually did this weekend - I was with our children, providing them with amazing experiences that will last a lifetime.  THAT is my job right now and I easily forget how important that job is.  She told me that the dust will always be there but these moments with the kids won't be.  Oh how I needed to hear that - to be reminded about how amazing our life really is and how lucky we are that we can provide such awesome experiences for our children.  Thanks mom!  We need to chat more often.

 



It's a Jungle Out There

I felt an emotional tug this afternoon as I watched our children step off the bus.  It was a rainy afternoon so I drove to the end of the laneway and waited for them to hop in to the van.  Usually they are rambunctious, hungry, have stories to tell me and many times they are arguing with eachother over who gets to sit in the front, who gets to tell their story first and who gets to sit in my lap and drive back to the house (a little fun for farm kids with long laneways).  Today, though, Jean got off the bus with a defeated, very sad look on her face.  She was just a hair away from crying and it was the first thing I saw.  She got into the van crying very loudly as she tried her best to keep Alex out of the front even though he wanted to sit with her on the passenger seat.  I could just tell there was more to her cry than what he was doing... I could feel it.  As we started driving down the lane, I asked her if anything else was wrong and she quickly told me her story.  It is a common story in her life right now.  A girl in her class and also on the bus was mean to her and Jean gave me some details.  My heart breaks for her - she has struggled many, many times with this one girl but there are other accounts of her struggles with others as well.  I can just imagine what lies ahead for her in the coming years.  Luckily though, once she told me about her day, the issue vanished and she seemed fine.  She had a very big snack and relaxed on the couch for a little while.  Then she carried on with her usual antics of finding some flamboyant outfit, putting it on and prancing around the house.  Our little Jean was in a great mood once again.

After supper I headed out to a much anticipated workshop on the "Complexities of the Social Jungle:  How we Anchor Children Towards Growing Resilience"; presented by Darlene Denis-Friske BA, CYW, CYC.  http://www.neufeldinstitute.com/blog/author/darlene-denis-friske/. 
What perfect timing.  I have just discovered her website and will be a frequent visitor.
I have heard her speak in the past and I find she speaks straight to my heart.  Tonight there was more than once instance where I had to hold back my tears.  Everything she says makes sense to me.  I can't possibly go into detail about the workshop tonight because I still need to process it myself.  I was doing my best explaining it to Ian afterwards but even that was disjointed.  I will list my "take-away" thoughts and maybe it will help me remember and instill what I heard:

• Ian and I are doing a great job!  I have to list this point first so that on days where I feel we have failed our children, I can go back and read this and know that we are on the right track.  We are not perfect and I make many, many mistakes but overall we are creating a solid anchor for them and we know what is important.  I will NEVER regret staying at home with our children -EVER!  I want to be there for them whenever they need us and we know that sometimes we don't realize when those moments present themselves. 
• We have a busy life.  Between the farm, meetings and the kid's activities, we are a busy crew but one of my favourite moments during the day is when they return from school.  I love being able to walk down the lane (on nice days) and just chat with them about their day and listen to their stories, good and bad.  Once we get in the house, though, it can quickly change.  Chaos can strike and that moment of connection can fade away.  I am realizing how valuable those moments are... we are lucky.
• Sometimes (most of the time, actually) all we need to do is listen to our children.  They don't always need us to come up with solutions to their problems; they can come up with solutions themselves but just need someone to listen.
• The adults in our children's life are very important.  As parents, we are the most important and the most impressive.  They need us to support them and bring them back to themselves.  We create the boundaries, rules and guidelines and we need to remember that.  Friends are important but family is the most important.  Their heart always needs to be with us when they are children.

I have always enjoyed child psychology and learning the best ways to communicate with children.  I want to give any child I come into contact with some positive vibes and support - not just my own three kids.  I highly (and I mean HIGHLY) recommend taking the time to learn and reflect on how we as adults, can guide our children through their childhood and beyond.  It's a jungle out there!