Day 4 and 5 of 7, Picture in picture days....

And I totally didn't intend to do it!

Day 4. The kids and I headed out to the lake to see how Dave was doing and to hopefully weed the garden. The weeding didn't happen and now I am going to have to hoe my butt off when I get out again.

And today, day 5. These are the out takes. Out take 1.

I really wanted to get a few photos that are not in the truck. I am afraid that I might have been getting into a theme or something and that wasn't what I intended. Maybe I should have stuck to that though. Oh, but I just realized I am doing a theme and I will stick to it! Picture in picture!

Out take 2.

Out with some girl friends tonight. Oooo, I have to share those photos soon. Must edit first though and I just got home! Here I was hanging out waiting for them to arrive.

Out take 3.

Of course we are all crazy about our cameras and taking photos so we spent the night doing just that. We aren't dorks or anything like that....really, promise. OK, ok, maybe a little, but we try to keep it hidden way deep down.

And this is my submission to the group for the day. Picture in picture in picture in picture.

Cause why not and I am in it and I took it and that qualifies!

"No hugs, harumpf."

"Mom, he won't let me hug him!"

Me: "You can hug me."

Kaitlyn: "I want to hug him and he won't let me!"

What do you do with this one?

Day 3 of 7

Dave and I love to take short cuts down little country roads in the summer. However this year there has been so much rain and some of the back roads are just a mess of mud and deep ruts. 4x4 is a must and sometimes the mud splashes up over the top of the truck. I cannot imagine ever owning a mini van, what fun would that be?

The color of the truck could be called into question some days and closing doors after you get out usually means that you have filthy fingers but your adrenaline runs high and you feel like an 18 year old all over again. In this photo we are actually backing up to take the long way around because the mud ahead was so bad.

And that sums up day 3 for the flickr group. ( I am in there, you just have to really look to see me)

Day 2

I think I made it this time. I am pretty sure we are on day two. Actually maybe I should have checked, ha!

Well here is my day two for the 7 days group.

Notice the image says 'unable to save'?

I have a very small memory for photos on my phone and filled it up oh, almost two years ago.

Ya. I am smooth like that.

Day 2, dum-da-da! Done!

(sorry there is no real post. I'd love to do one, just don't have that many minutes right now. I'll be back for that soon)

Day 1 (of 7) a day late.

I totally goofed and forgot all about day one. Beginner. Can you tell?

I joined the group 7 days on flickr just cause it would be fun and I have friends there and all.

Turns out I am not so good at keeping up on things so this week will be interesting.

At least the assignment isn't too tough and right up my alley. All I have to do is take a picture of myself every day. I can be as creative or uncreative as I like. That's it. I think. Correct me if I am wrong veteran 7 dayers.

To make up for it.

Here was my day one shot.

You can check out more shots by clicking on the badge over on the right.

Hanging out in the Princess Auto parking lot, is there a better way to spend this time?

I really didn't care to go in that place again, I have never felt so out of my element before. Not that the store doesn't have neat stuff but I don't plan on rewiring my trailer myself any time soon. At least I know where to get the stuff if I do need to someday though.

Memories at the old meeting room

Yesterday we had an adventure day. The day was overcast, humid and warm. Rain was sure to come but was taking it's time. We headed out to the lake to weed, plant more lettuce and water a little before heading to a friends farm for lunch. It was one of those days that just unfolds as it goes even though you have an idea of a schedule. We ended up stopping at a few interesting places, one being the old family homestead...another story there though. The last stop before heading home was to this little old far meeting room. (church)

It was cloudy and moody, rain was trickling by this point and the place looked so forlorn and almost spooky. As I drove up to the now way overgrown parking lot the memories started to flood back. The breeze blowing through the open doors with the sounds of crickets and birds chirping and sheep bleating in the background as old hymns are sung from the heart. The musty smell of the old structure mixing with the smell of wild grass and flowers in the fields and on bushes are still fresh in my mind.

My thoughts were then interrupted by Kaitlyn stating that she needed to pee

so we headed off in the direction of the old out house.

Trudging through thigh high wet grass with massive mosquitoes swarming up around us was not so fun and I distracted myself with thoughts of the old mown lawn and beaten little path to the same door.

I should dig out a doodle that I did as a kid of this same out house. Drawn up one Sunday morning as I sat on the wooden chairs swinging my bare feet and day dreaming. I was so good at day dreaming and doodling and paying little to no attention to what was going on in the meeting.

The door to the outhouse was ajar when we approached and this creeped me out just a little as thoughts of what kind of creature might be lurking within filled my head. (One too many scary movies are filmed in this dreary kind of weather in remote places and I happen to be stupid enough to have watched them and let them creep me out)

I pushed the thoughts aside and squeaked the door open.

Out jumped a.....

just kidding;-).

Inside the roof was caving in and there were leaves and bird dropping everywhere. An old toilet paper roll hung covered in cob webs from an old hat hook and the old wash bowls and a comb still stood on the counter. After peeking into a stall and seeing that the toilet hole bench was covered in the leaves and the rain was dripping down through the leaky roof we headed back out to find a corner in the grass.

Back to the truck to get Ethan out and check to make sure Hudson was still napping before going into the old hall. Ethan was sure he didn't need to go to the washroom and I was glad. The men's out house was back in the bush and I was done with out houses for the moment.

Mind you Ethan is quite fine with going behind a tree so I didn't really need to think about it anyway.

We opened the door and stepped into the meeting room.

More memories.

The old wood and cement floor was always cool to the touch and so inviting on a sticky humid Sunday morning. The smell, oh the smell. Musty, dusty and earthy. I love smells at this stage in the pregnancy, especially earthy or woodsy smells. I remembered this earthy smell so well.

We explored the few rooms and I answered questions the kids had about Sunday school, what I learned, who taught me and who my friends were.

I gazed out the old wavy glass windows and remembered sitting and staring out watching the wheat as it danced in the wind like waves on a lake. The sound of the wheat swishing, the birds, insects and sheep chirping and bleating, the hymns....intoxicating.

The mirror for ladies fixing their hats still hangs. It is a little goofy now and I don't remember if it always was or not. I was never tall enough to see myself in it.

Sometimes I wish this little old meeting room was still in use so my children could experience the same quiet country meetings that I did.

Though it wasn't very often that I got to go to the country those memories are etched in my mind as very special times.

Time and weather will continue to slowly erode this place but I hope to keep the memories fresh for a long time.

Back at it

Did I mention that I am back on flickr. I finally renewed my pro account and although there is a major gap since I last posted photos there are finally a few new sets.

Actually now that I have said this I am sure I did mention it. Hmmm...

Anyway I put the badge over there on the right hand side or you can click here to check out what is new.

No time to post right now, I am in the middle of painting and the paint is drying as I type. Oh I wish I could though, I have stories and thoughts to share. However I really need to compose (I almost said compost, tee-hee) things in my brain and painting seems to get things straight so I will be back!!

Cheerio!

Down at the beach...and a meltdown

A few weeks ago we thought it was summer. Of course that was before all the cold and rain and parkas and boots. The weather is coming back around again though so the beach days should return.

This is a place that we can hang out together and enjoy quietness. We don't squabble or bicker, well not as much. I must remember to bring BOTH buckets next time.

It is also a place that I do a lot of thinking. It becomes my bath tub time and I am not confined to the tub!

So anyway, maybe it is time for me to do a little bearing. In the spirit of my beach mind or my tub time here is a glimps at some moments and thoughts and stuff going on.

Tonight. I'll start there. Ahhhh. (big sigh) Maybe I should back track, I'll fill you in on the day, what a day.

It started so well. We cleaned up a bit, ate breakfast, cleaned more, vacuumed, swept, and did other random house stuff and then a friend of my mom's stopped by with her extremely talented daughter to play our piano for a few minutes.

A diaper was changed. It was a big deal and a mini bath came with the package and then it was nap time for the little guy!

Then we went out on the front step for a while and released our butterflies that had hatched. That whole project is a story for another day and I need to edit the photo's still so.... after releasing butterflies the older two played in the sand box for a few minutes before coming in for lunch.

Now, playing in the sandbox is Ethan's favorite thing to do and he had missed it over the last week with the rain so he was especially excited to get dirty.

However of course that meant a little stress with sand on everything and a bath was then in order. Stress relieved, and this reminds me that his sandy wet clothes are still hanging on the front rail.

After lunch was quiet time so coloring and books were brought out. Hudson woke up after a bit so the playing started and I started to wish that I had had a nap too.

I was starting to fade a little but plugged on with a few chores, supper prep and finding Waldo.

After some peaceful Polly pocket play we came out to the living room, put on some music, danced and sang praises to God and then I sat down, whew.

Then for some reason the fighting broke out. It started as hugging Hudson since he was awake and it turned into hugging everyone and then knocking Hudson onto his bum by tickling and poking his belly. I ended that quick but then K and E thought it would be fun to spin around and around and of course this means they knock into each other and then there is crying so that had to stop. Then leap frog ensued and that lasted until they started falling all over each other and then argued over who hurt who and there were tears. Time for a break so they were sent in opposite directions for a few minutes to cool down. Ah....

The next couple hours were fine, I think, I cannot remember now so I am guessing they were fine. Hudson had his lunch and I hung out on the phone a bit. That never goes well. It seems that if the phone rings then I am needed immediately. Drinks are fetched and snacks made, the dishes are piling up and supper needs to get started.

Hudson is ready for nap number two and I am so ready to join him. I put on a DVD of Bible stories and break out the watermelon. Hudson goes down and I get to lay there for a few moments listening to the other two with their video before getting up to make supper.

The movie ends, play continues I get supper in the oven and sit to read an inspirational chapter in my Tea leaves book about having a sweet spirit and letting the love of God shine in every situation, I am then stirred emotionally and feel guilty for raising my voice. I spend a few moments in prayer before Hudson wakes up and we eat.

Well most of us eat. Ethan has had issues with supper lately and even though I try to make it look like something he should like and has liked he thinks it is "ewwwwy." So he played with his drink, put sauce on his food, pushed it around and then was done.

After supper Hudson had a good bath, and of course Ethan wanted one too so he jumped in the baby tub for his turn. He lasted 3 minutes and got out while I went to put Hudson in bed. Chasing and screaming erupted a few minutes later so getting the little man to sleep was abandoned to put out the fire which happened to be a fight over a toy toothbrush. Ethan reminded me that he wasn't dried off and I explained that he only got half wet and had air dried.

Back to getting ready for bed and Ethan runs to the washroom to do his business while I get Kaitlyn's nighty on.

Then everything goes way down hill. He does his business and I ask him if he would like to dump it in the toilet. He says no so I do and apparently I shouldn't have. Oh the crying!

I try to console and comfort but there is no use. I then leave the room to grab Hudson and when I come back he has his little potty and is digging his business out of the toilet so he can dump it back in him self. What the heck?! I am freaking out inside, we had just talked about him getting to do it the next time and once business is in the toilet that is it, flush already and be gone!

Finally he moves on but only to go back to screaming about still needing to get dried off from his bath. I once again reminded him that he got out over 20 minutes ago now and air dried while running around.

I was crying inside and my tears started to flow as I crumpled to the floor in his room and tried again to explain that he was already dry.

He still screamed to get dried off and I didn't want to cave in and fake dry him off, I felt as though I was already on the end of a loosing battle with what had gone down with him fishing for his business in the toilet after I had already told him not too. What to do when he is so hysterical?! Do I just cave so he quiets down?

I still had the chapter that I had read about sweetness ringing in my head as I reviewed how I reacted and I started to sob. I failed. I had yelled and pointed when I sent him to his room from the washroom and I felt miserable for it. I had let my frustration with the situation and my inability to control it overwhelm me.

I sat with Ethan and apologized to him for raising my voice and talked to him about his behavior and my reaction. As we talked Kaitlyn brought in Kleenex and dabbed my tears, hugged me and patted my hair while Hudson crawled up and rested his head on my bulging belly.

Ethan got really quiet, listened, crawled over and onto my lap and hugged me and said he was sorry too.

And then Dave walked through the door.

I had planned on being cheerful and sexy and sweet when he came home and he found me on the floor with raccoon eyes, three children on my lap surrounded by wadded up kleenex.

~sigh~

Things went back to normal after that. Dave took Hudson to bed while I helped K and E brush teeth and climb into Kaitlyn's bed for story time. She had brought this big book on stars, galaxies and astronomers and told me that she would need to borrow it when she is a scientist so she can teach me about stars. She went on to explain that when she is a scientist (she decided that she wanted to be a scientist a few weeks ago so everything seem to evolve around science lately) she also plans to study dinosaurs and will need to do some digging. Ethan then chirps in that he need equipment too because he is going to be a fire fighter. I asked if he needed a hat and he said no, just a big fire truck.

And the sweetness and cuddles and giggles over moon dust melted my heart. We settled in one big snuggle to read a few chapters before discussing how our hearts are like flower gardens and we need to fill them with sweet and nice flowers like obedience and pull the weeds like disobedience and lying. Then it was prayers, kisses and lights out.

As I stood and gazed at their little sleeping face I was filled with awe and gratitude and huge sense of responsibility. I want to make every moment count, make every moment that I can teachable. I want to be able to maneuver creatively through hard situations and not be broken down on the floor wondering what to do. I don't know if this is all normal or if I am screwing up somehow, I don't know if Ethan's behavior was normal or if he does have a form of Autism spectrum disorder as one doctor suggested could be the case.

I wonder some days how it is in other homes. I have days that are awesome, like the days we go to the beach with a big basket of goodies. But then I have days that I just need more sleep to tackle and coffee just doesn't go that far. I know I am way more emotional and tired when I am pregnant too but is that an excuse? Oh that elusive balance I am always seeking.

So that is just one day, not including the fact that we might be moving into a camper in a month or that there is a lot going on with me spiritually and of course there is always room for improvement in our marriage, painting orders to complete and weeds to pull. Why or why do we need sleep?