Bee Farmers

I had the priviledge of going to the bee farm with Leah and her classmates this gorgeous afternoon.
Honey makes me hungry for toast. Especially some of those yummy flavors we were allowed to sample this afternoon.

We stood for awhile at the Observation Hive. What an incredible creature a bee is! I just do not understand how anyone could believe these little creatures with all the immense diversity of "jobs" within a single hive somehow evolved into being. There cannot be any other explanation than a Divine Designer, an amazing God who spoke it all into being and proclaimed it good.

My Boy's Birthday!

Yep! This is Sam 6 birthdays ago.

Man, oh man, those 5 years just flew by. What a special treat it would be to go back and snuggle that brand new baby skin.

Even his sister was delighted with his arrival. Sorry about my appearance but her grin was more worth sharing with you than hiding my own glazey eyes.

Sam, king of red, has been asking for a red dresser for a very long time. Every trip to Walmart, Home Depot or Rona added to the collection of red paint chips he peered over.

So yesterday, while my mother-in-law presided over the cupcakes and kids in the kitchen (she's very much a dear lady!) I sanded and sprayed some furniture in the shop. Sam's dresser was not that pretty but he never complained, just dreamed of red. It was a bit of work as one of the drawers fell into three pieces and sanding is never much fun but...

the end result, while not perfect was very delightful to our boy.

And this nightstand...

much better now.

He was very excited and gave me three hugs, one for the dresser, one for the "special shelf" and one for the matching set of hooks.

Then he came upstairs where his eager sis helped him open his gift from his Sunday School teachers. (thanks Dyanne and Britt! That roll of candies even became subject of discussion at teh birthday party in the pm)

Nana had a special Lightening McQueen suitcase (but my batteries were dead and I couldn't get any pictures.) Cam was so excited for Sam!

After waiting a very long morning through we went to the gym where we met up with all 8 of his kg buddies, 1 cousin and 2 church buddies. What a hoot!

It's important to be sure not to breathe on your candles while you wait for the birthday song to finish.

There were games, running around and oohing and aahing over everything from incredible gifts to cool cards and even an awesome hockey gift bag!

Thanks, boys, for helping make Sammy's birthday a very special one. I hope none of you got sick from all those candies!

After supper we had some more birthday cupcakes but forgot the candles so maybe we'll do it all over again tomorrow night.

It's fun to stretch a birthday out, especially if it means more dessert :)

Thursday we drove through a mess left on the road by a busy farmer and the van reeked so badly of chicken manure it almost made one gag to stand beside it. This afternoon Cam and I washed the van. I really should do it more often.

I forgot the van was such a pretty color. :)

We were so wet by the end we could wring out our clothes. It's a dangerous thing to leave the boy in charge of the hose.

It's even more dangerous to tempt the mom by bringing fingers full of suds to be washed off when she's in charge of the hose.

It was fun.

And it was only one part of a busy but special Saturday.

A few Bits and Bites

When you have a fun set of twins like ours, sometimes you go outside and are greeted with something like this.

"Come, didder, come!"


"Hi Mom! Why are you frowning? We're practicing being King Yertles. Except we're not both kings. Nor are we turtles. And we're not even in the mud!
You're missing out on something kinda important if you don't have "Yertle the Turtle" by Dr. Suess memorized.

Here's a miscellaneous fact about the O house tonight. We're having potato soup for supper tonight. It's actually last night's scalloped potatoes from the crock pot remade.
Well, that's not true. I didn't have to do too much remaking to it to get soup. Last night we just scooped the potatoes, peas and ham out onto plates and slurped up the juice. The only reason we didn't eat it as soup last night was because the table was already set with plates :)

A secret? I taste tested it and it is really good no matter how strangely it came to be.

It's that time of year

Where our sunny mornings are so much fun as we make shadows on the little piece of kitchen wall.

Sammy was a kitty.
Cam was trying to see his tongue shadow. (so typical)

Ah, this is precious to me. It so shows the soft sweetness I know to be Sammy.

And those eyelashes...!?

Precious Gales of Laughter

Are you serious, Gramma?

That's funny!

Just great!

Hilarious!

I just can't contain myself.

This

Is the sunrise I caught yesterday morning. B E A UUUU tiful!

(I should be in bed. I just proofread that last statement and had to edit sunset.)

Before I go to bed I have just a little more for you.

This is my little girl. She had to put her nose in the corner yesterday. She bit her "Tody Michael." I asked her why and she gave me her increasingly common answer, "'cause." I gave her the never, ever again speech. She looked at me, "okay, Mommy" as matter of factly as could be and hightailed outside again. I hope they still love eachother 10 years from now. She's pushing her luck with him. :) (it's been a while since there was such a cute wiggly butt in the corner at our house.)

This is one of the darling puppies we got to go visit today. They were super duper adorable balls of fluffy fur. Most of the kids were tickled to run after them, pet them, watch them somersault over top of eachother and growl little puppy growls at the kids' empty juice cartons.

This darling girl of mine was beside herself with joy. She lugged them around, snuggled them, dreamt about calling one her own, convinced herself she was given the privilege of naming one the orginal name of "Cutie", and generally chased them all over the yard.

And you know, those puppies were so heart tuggingly cute I almost put her name on one right then and there.

But then I looked around the yard at the 5 puppies I already was taking back home to our house and was reminded I don't need another baby quite yet. No matter how cute! If you want to see more adorable pictures of these pups or are interested in more info about them you can read about them here. I think they'll be ready for new homes come middle of October.

And this is the cute little boy I took with me to do groceries tonight. I'm sure he was the most cheerful and sweetest helper Superstore saw that day. (I'm still glad I left him home from Ikea, no matter how cheerful!)

Play Ball!

Last Saturday was a great softball tournament fundraiser for Word and Deed .
I didn't get some of the great pictures other people got but I have a few that make me smile.

Three things made this day a lot of fun for me:

One, Steve had so much fun... despite his shirt. :) Aw, it wasn't really painful to wear but it sure was bright for everyone watching!

Of course I missed getting a picture of his most spectacular catch but take my word for it, it was great. Even the cheerleaders on the other team were in awe. :) :)



Then there was the awesome dad who took his in between game time and gave it to the little kids. Sam was beside himself tickled to try his hand at hitting the ball and racing around the bases like a real baseball player on a real diamond. Sure glad Eric got that MVP trophy. He earned it with his patience and sweat!

What a great day to spend with familiar and unfamiliar faces all united with the common goal of raising money for orphans in Malawi. There was fun and teasing and healthy competition. And beautiful weather.

May God bless the orphans, their caretakers and the monies raised for them.

A Trip

I just got back from an evening trip to Ikea with my baby sister. It was a ton of fun.

We tried to hang a whisk off a laundry line but it didn't work as effectively as we wished.



We laughed at each other and ourselves.

We weighed ourselves and argued but the big guy said the scales weren't accurate. You should have been there. Overall it was quite funny.

I came home and found out that the house doesn't run as smoothly for bedtime when I'm not here....

Can anyone explain why my 3 year old cries for his Daddy, always, but when he gets only his Daddy for an evening he cries for his Mommy. As in cries himself to sleep. Twice.
This is the first time. The furniture is a desk in our room under a window overlooking the driveway.



Don't waste your time trying to figure it out. I'm sure it's not quite explainable.

But it did make me feel kinda loved.

Night all. It's time for bed but first I'm going downstairs to give some kisses. As per Sam's request. "When you arrive home again can you give me a goodnight kiss when I'm sleeping? I'll give you a goodbye hug now."

A Great Day

These were my friends that attended my birthday party, my quintuplets. :)

They ate all my cake and left me the spatula for licking.

Sorry if this grosses you out but this is the real me. At 31 I have yet to learn manners and still like the spoons.

Chelsie stayed the longest and once the sun was out and shining we went out to draw some "gingermens" on the driveway. The sun was bright! And beautiful!

After supper I closed my eyes and held out my hands and got...

a bag of droppies

Some smelling salts. Oops, I mean some yummy smelling bath stuff.

And an organizer for my desk downstairs... I'll let you know when I get to the organization of it. :)

All in all a wonderful day with some special sister/niece/nephew/children time, some loving phone calls, facebook messages and blog comments and cards, a surprise visit and a hug from Greta, and a surprise visit and flowers from Laura.

A special day, a great day.

Thirty One

Today the number 31 is special to me.

Yesterday my Mom said 31 is half of 62.

Psalm 90:10
The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labour and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

This year I feel the swiftness more than ever before.

Yesterday we heard a sermon on John 1:18. I'm sorry for all who didn't hear it.

And of His fullness we have all recieved grace for grace.


How often do I reflect on His fullness? I'm sure the more I consider it, the less I feel I know. He who is the From Everlasting to Everlasting. It's is more than my earthly mind can take in.

And to receive from that fullness grace for grace! Or blessing heaped upon never ending blessing. Again, I'm sure I do not even fully realize or appreciate all the blessings God has heaped on me. Yesterday we got the picture of a never ending freight train. Each car full of blessings. And as one car is emptied the train moves forward so the next car is already available with no delay.

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

And from Psalm 31:19

Oh, how great is Your goodness,
Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men!

Not that I am deserving of myself but only through the precious work of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5: 6-12

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

I pray God will bless you all and me so that we can say together:

In You, O LORD, I put my trust;
Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me in Your righteousness.

For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name’s sake,
Lead me and guide me.

Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the LORD. Psalm 31 : 1, 3 & 24

May God draw you who already know Him more closely to Himself and to those who do not know Him, I beg you to fall at His feet. He is willing to save!

And last but not least strength and blessings for all you women, wives and mothers to live in the way of Proverbs 31.

Thanks to all of you who follow this blog and the story of our family, who encourage me with your kind comments on the blog, via email and to my face. You have a special place in my heart. My family may fill it up even to overflowing but there's still extra room for you all.

My Prize

Yesterday I won a gift from Michelle courtesy of Thrifty Chicks Shopping Co. (I'm in a hurry and not figuring out the best way to point you in their direction but you can read about them on Michelle's blog or look them up on facebook.)

We were asked to share some ideas that recycle, reuse, save pennies (or hundreds). Well, I instantly knew what I would say but there weren't a lot of people up for sharing that day. So I waited and then left the first comment. I thought that if I didn't want to be the first there were probably others like me. SO, I left the first comment with my vote for spray paint thinking others would follow with other amazing ideas. They did not.

So, Friday morning Michelle came bright and early with my prize. Guess where she found me? OUt in the shop spray painting my latest project for the in-progress bathroom. I really would like to share it with you but it's going to take a little more organization than I currently possess.

I also would love to share a picture of my prize with you but it was disassembled within 2 seconds of my getting back in the house. The boys immediately claimed the abacus. Then, before I had the foresight to get the camera the twins, who were on the counter grabbed the vintage candles and tossed the entire package into the sink. The remaining tea towel, tray, dish and cutesie flower pot were covered in cream cheese when I accidently brushed the mixer to speed 3 while it was resting bottom (and full beaters) up while I stirred the pot.

That's why I'm typing you this drawn out story about my prize. I'm avoiding the disastrous kitchen.

FYI I have long since banished ALL the kids from the kitchen. Nay, from the house!

When it's a Bummer to have a Twin

It's when you're in a side by side stroller and she gets sick and pukes on you both.

Thankfully we were no longer inside the MCC, the United Church Thrift Store, Hospital Auxillary Thrift Store or Liquidation World. We were just outside the LW doors and the mess was on the sidewalk. Otherwise the humiliation caused would have nearly outweighed the disgustingness of it.

And there's only so much one can take.

Even a twin.

Ps. Okay, he wasn't really humilated or disgusted. "Didder?" as in, are you okay, sis? "pooking, Mom!"

Yesterday's Tomorrow

He was so excited to go! As far as he was concerned, there were toys, friends and sports waiting.

This morning he told me, "if we do painting today, I'll paint a picture for you for sure!"

He wasn't as excited to stand for a few pictures and does this funny grimace when asked to smile. So we got a serious one.
And then I tried to get one of the two monkeys together. And now you can see how excited he actually was. (she is, after all, the experienced one. I'm sure there will be a few more looking up to his big sister days before he grows up all the way)

And away they go. I couldn't get teary about it. He was so excited!

This morning

This morning this house is a job site. It feels like we could work for a month of Tuesdays not yet be caught up.

Of course not, any mom out there knows that before the sun rose on the second Tuesday we'ld already be starting over on yesterday's work. Especially if you clean your bathroom everyday, right Sweetie? (who stays unnamed!)

Well, every job site should have a site super and this morning I picked her. Because it's probably a good motivator to have a site super who makes you smile.

(I tried calling her Wendy but it just doesn't seem to fit) Well this, of course, is the reason for the flurry of all the cleaning. We wouldn't have her coming home this morning to ask what I did for the hours she was gone, would we?

There's some serious nervous anticipation here but she'll be so glad to be back in the learning swing of things.

I realize it's only 7:30 but I'm sure our neighbors didn't really mind hearing us holler, "hi Nana!"

They have to be used to the noise by now.

Too soon they'll all be scrambling up those steps, but for this morning there was only one who could say, "tomorrow!"

Have a good day, y'all!

he calls her "Didder"

Ask him to say Cara and he'll say "didder." It can be said sweetly or sternly but it's the only name he'll call her. I think it's my fault. I often say to him/her, "don't hit your sister/brother, be kind to your sister/brother," etc. I don't know why I wouldn't always use their names but I don't.

So Cody calls her "didder" and I think he means sister.

It's soft in the morning when he wakes up, "didder? didder?" to see if she's awake too.

It's louder by coffee time when he's had enough of her shenanigins, "DIDDER!"

It's soft again by night time when she's fallen asleep first and he checks one more time if she's still available one crib over to have one last bit of fun before the day is done. "didder? didder?"

It's accompanied by hits, spits, glares and pinches, hugs and kisses and general all around loving.

There are still so many things to love about having 2 at a time. Including "didder".

And yesterday I heard her, in a fit of frustration, call him "Tody Michael!"