A New Day

Their wildest dreams didn't even hint at the wonderfulness of the day.

Our train. The trestle bridges were impressive.

Our engines tough. (Thankfully - I wasn't particularly interested in playing The Little Engine that Could)

The scenery awesome (in the greatest awe inspiring sense of the word) despite the gray clouds.

Canyons.

Swollen, rushing creeks/waterfalls.

The train had an open carriage (old restored car) where you could vie for position for the best pictures in the fresh air but you could also stand on the platform between cars and catch the view in an unsophisticated manner. And sometimes the view was a little breathtaking as there was literally one foot of track ties to peer over to the forest floor a long way down.

The small platform between the cars was Cody's favorite spot to let the wind whistle through his hair!

One could also walk to the back of the train and watch the tracks everyone had just covered disappear, left behind.

The company was incredible. :) Great grand parents, grand parents, parents and children. From the reaction of the train staff, I don't think they get these kinds of family groups too often.

Yah, the company was indeed wonderful.

Opa, who was born in Holland, making sure he was on the up and up for Canadian trivia.

Cara, oh so proud of the picture she had colored with Gramps. Or was that the picture Gramps had colored for Cara.... :)

The weather here as been more than average rainy and cold. For the days leading up to the trip our kids had asked about sun/rain more than once and I had told them "God is control of the weather. You may pray and ask for sun, He is able to astonish even the weathermen." And so I prayed whenever it crossed my mind that if it was the will of our gracious God that He would even bring sun to show my children how great He is. Our trip to the hotel was coldish and rainy, our trip to the train was cold and gray. And I prayed. Our trip up the mountains was colder and grayer and when we first stepped off the transit bus that brought us from train to city square the snow clouds hung low and threatening and it was starting to spit a cold spattering of rain. And I prayed. There wasn't really much we could do with the kids if we weren't going to be outdoors and so we decided to first go get some lunch and then discuss how to spend our remaining time. I prayed. We finished lunch to find the skies lighter and brighter and we headed out for a walk to find the outdoor playground we had been told about.

And what a playground it was! We spent the rest of the time watching our kids having a fantastic time exploring and playing on that wonderful playground.

And not once did the skies let a rain drop loose. Not once did anyone have to complain of being cold.

In fact, as we left the playground and headed back for the bus, the sun started to warm us to the point of almost needing to take off our jackets. And I prayed and thanked my gracious Father in Heaven who heard my prayers and answered even to the point of sunny skies.

By the time we got back on the train the kids were exhausted and so we dealt with them the easiest way possible for a peaceful train ride home for everyone that shared car #4 with us, we plugged in the DVD players and tucked them in a corner at the back.

While the big kids who were still hyper and energetic bounced on the one super bouncy seat they had discovered.

And the little kids succumbed to sleep.

It was a special day, with special people.

It was a fantastic "Christmas" gift!

Last week we did a special once in a lifetime (probably) trip with my entire family. We took a special train from North Van to Whistler. It was special, it was gorgeous, it was fun, it was busy.

The night before we stayed in a hotel with a pool. Because my children were extremely excited about this arrangement I picked up my scholar and my niece scholar a little early from school, dropped off my middle child with his arriving later aunt and set out for the big city.

1) it was a long trip that went very smoothy, and rather quickly so we made it there with little stress and lots of bubbly excitement.
2)upon arrival the first thing we noticed was that Opa and Oma's vehicle was already in the parking lot, surprise, surprise;)
3) Iwas much relieved as I was a little uncertain about marching into a hotel with 5 children, asking for my room key (which had been booked by someone else for the convenience of getting rooms close together) figuring out what to do with said children as I hauled all the suitcases etc into the hotel (leave them all in the van and run back and forth to the room or get the into the room and leave them there and run back and forth to the van - neither seemed a great option I'm sure I would have gotten stuck in an elevator for hours while the kids freaked out in whatever place I had left them.) and supervising the swim suiting and swimming of all 5 until the rest of the party showed up.
4) I was so relieved.
5)I left the kids with Oma, Opa came down to the vehicle to help haul the goods upstairs, I got the 3 oldest into their suits and out the door to the pool with Oma and then collapsed on the bed and told Cara and Cody it was nap time.
6) just kidding!
7) Cara and Cody looked somewhat cute, somewhat hilarious in their oversized floater vests but it at least gave them a bit of a lift as I hauled them around the pool one in each arm.
8) I was thankful we thought to take a ball for Sam, he chased it around for more than 2 hours waiting for everyone else to come.
9)Kayla and Leah spent a good deal of time coordinating a (semi synchronized swimming)routine to show off to Aunty Carolyn when she came skootching in from WI and had it video worthy those 2 hours later.
10) The twins and I were very thankful for a hot tub to warm up in and spent the 2 plus hours bouncing between the two pools.

11) Oma grabbed the camera and so thankfully I even have proof I didn't climb into bed for that nap. Truly I was wiped, I was running off 3 hours of sleep in the last 36ish hour period. (hmm, anyone wonder why I lost my voice that night and got a wing ding dilly of a cold?)

Well, sometime about now the rest of the 24 members of the excited group showed up. It was getting a bit late, the swimmers were hungry and exhausted but they had lots to show off before supper time. By the time everyone was dressed and sitting in the convenient hotel resturant most everyone was ready for supper.

There may have been an audible groan when the waiter announced the meals would take a while to arrive because they only had 2 people working the kitchen that night. Thankfully, the food did come, the kids survived until it's arrival and it was delicious especially for this mom who has few nights where she isn't doing the cooking!

A bunch of the kids and their coordinating adults went back out to the pool for awhile but for the most part the evening came crashing to an end as one after another we all hit the pillows wondering what the next day would bring.

Nighty Night

Tonight was quieter but not by much.

This is what happened last night when two little rascals decided they were not too sleepy. I haven't seen something so cute since yesterday morning when Cody was running his fingers through Cara's hair as she sleepily snuggled in my lap.

Twins... I would wish for any of you loving parents to experience them. There is something so precious about it.

Mother's Day Lunch

This special moment actually preceeded the vaulting event by one day but I had way more pictures to sort through (and none of them were really good!)

I can't help but love a KG boy who takes off pell mell from his end of the hallway to throw himself into the arms of his Mama at the other end of the hallway. Kind of sad to think that next year he might be "too big" for such PDA's.
We made our way to the music room so they could sing a whole bunch of songs and recite all the memory verses they had learned so far this year. It is amaaazing what those little minds can all soak up and spit back out. The funniest moment here was the "one little duck with the feather on his back" and for all the three times they sang it Sam didn't once turn around to wag his little tail feathers. He sang the words, glanced around in partial disgust at all the other kids turning and waggling but kept his feet pointing straight forward. Captured it in all it's hilarity on video. I'm sure he'll be glad when he's 16 ;)

The poor 5 little snowmen melted into a puddle in May.

We returned to the classroom for a delicious lunch the kids had helped prepare and for our Mother's Day gifts. Can you tell he just so enjoys getting his picture taken? (and me too?)

Once when he saw the camera pointing at him he winked at me. :) It was in the middle of their special Mother's Day song. You know the one where Mom can do no wrong?!

And as soon as we got all that done and out of the way (his point of view not mine) we headed outside to play on the playground together. Yup, a mom's against little boys soccer game. Fun times! Next time I'll remember to hand off my camera and ask someone to snap a picture.

today

Today was a special day. It was a huge break from the 5 child norm. I made and fed them breakfast and then left the house for a peaceful breakfast with 3 of my sis-in-laws.

Upon arriving back home I scampered about getting Leah ready for an afternoon away. As vaulting club we had been invited to give some demos at a gorgeous new equestrian community a bit down the highway from home. When Leah's coaches Lynn and Lori first asked her she gave a flat out "no". When Lynn assured her the people watching would be strangers and she didn't have to worry about what they thought of her she replied that strangers were even worse.
It was a big deal as it was Leah's first showing. It was fun as it wasn't competitive or stressful but it was also a big hurdle as she had to get over the amount of people walking about. I was prepared to make the drive, spend a bunch of time trying to coax her and then letting her watch her fellow club members from the sidelines. But she got in the outdoor ring and warmed up with everyone else.

She chatted a bit and stayed quite close as we headed for the arena but she didn't say anything about backing out. I think she relaxed a bit when she entered the arena and realized not everyone parked on the road was inside waiting to watch. There she is last in line running toward the lunger and Sparkle.


For all our driving and standing around she was allowed 2 sets of four of her favorite moves. But she did them well. Not only calm but enjoying herself.

I happened to be standing in the audience and couldn't believe myself when I started to choke and tear up as I watched her and listened to the kind and appreciative comments and applause from the audience around me.

I was proud of her. She faced her huge fear of being looked at and had fun yet too!

Next up, Sam's Mother's Day lunch... give me a couple of days.

Lots of Helpers

Friday I did the grocery shopping with my three youngest in tow. Fun times. I got lots of comments about all my big helpers. Somehow I can't help but think that nearly everyone who made the comment was smirking and was actually self congratulating themselves for not being caught in similar scenario.

But the real helping got started when we got home. "Can I help you clean up, Mama?" cried one helpful child. Which was automatically echoed with another two, "me too's?!" And help they did. One brought the apples to the fridge unmindful and unconcerned about adding bruises. Another brought the canned goods to our pantry-like cupboard and dumped them where ever there was room. Honestly, I'm not sure what the last one all did but the groceries were for the most part dealt with and out of sight.

But there was only one problem, I was sure I had picked up 4 cans of frozen juice concentrate and there were only 3 sitting in the freezer.

Fast forward to scrambling to put supper together late on a Monday afternoon. I went into said pantry-like cupboard to find a can of pasta sauce and pulled out my missing can of concentrate.

Let it be said that after 76 hours there was no frozen left in this can. But it did stir up into juice right fine.

Just maybe my helpers knew that usually I take my frozen concentrate straight out of the freezer, run hot water over the bottom to squeeze it out and make the first can hot water to help the crystals return to syrup. Yup, they were probably thinking ahead. They were probably just trying to help.

Or maybe...

The little boy who slipped and splatted in the mud?

It didn't impress him much!

What to blog about?

How about a little girl with a big hockey helmut?

Who Me?!