New Developments

We never seem to do anything in logical, small steps but rather seem to go leaping and bounding wherever the path may lead. The last four months (again too long between entries) a ton has happened. There was of course Christmas, always a wonderful and yet painful time since Ricks passing. The girls had an amazing time and as most children of our time were totally spoiled. Christmas is always relatively easy since we get to stay here with no real need to travel. It is crazy and wonderful and magical visiting with everyone and reconnecting after months (sometimes a year) of not seeing each other. The gifts of course are a whole nother subject and seem to multiply each year despite my best efforts to "keep it simple." Then came Kamryn's third birthday. Hard to believe that that beautiful little princess of ours has been around for three years. It seems like time has passed so quickly, just a short while ago I was anxiously waiting for her to arrive. Then waiting for her to crawl, talk, walk...She is such an amazing little lady and she makes me smile every single day. She is the most interesting mix of Tom Boy and Princess all in one adorable little package. She LOVES to wear dresses and insists on changing outfits about a billion times a day. Her random assortment of clothing often involves at least one dress and almost always a bathing suit. Her favorite line these days is "I have a surprise for you after..." then she plants a big hug or kiss on you. Mckinna has really come into writing these last few weeks. She has discovered that she actually has the ability to create and spell words which is really neat. She regularly asks us to spell a word for her and she writes it down in her little doodle books. Hard to believe that my oldest baby girl will be going to Kindergarten in the fall. Where she will go is still undecided but time will tell. Charlee has been working on her potty training but is taking a little longer then I would like. I think that it is mostly my fault for sending her mixed messages and changing between panties and pull-ups but unfortunately with life as busy as it is it is most certainly not as easy to train her as it was with the other girls. She is working on her speech in a big way. She can have full conversations in "gibberish" and loves to try to say whatever you ask her too. Her big sisters both love her so much and the three of them have such an amazing dynamic. I pray that they continue to love on each other for the rest of their lives :) Mckinna and Kamryn love to play with Charlee and teach Charlee and help Charlee. Today when I picked them all up from MOPS childcare, Mckinna carried Charlee and kissed her head until we got to our coats...totally priceless. It is hard to imagine that one day these three precious girls will not be so little and will not need me near as much as they do today. I feel so blessed to be their mother and I try my best (although not always successfully) to savour these precious moments with these God given miracles. I love my family so much that sometimes it physically hurts my heart. I feel SO blessed to have been given so much by my Heavenly Father...amazing :) To get back on track. Anthony started and finished his last year of Electrical training. He is an AMAZING man and has worked so hard to provide so many great things for our family. School is not easy for him but he is a trooper and so incredibly dedicated. He also had to deal with knee surgery during his time in school and really struggled with recovery. Again, he rose above all of the pain and trials and really applied himself like crazy. In the end despite the stress of everything, he PASSED!!! Not that I ever doubted he would because despite the fact that he sells himself short he is one smart, handsome man :) During Anthony's time in school he also decided that it was time to part ways with his current employer and start up his own company. As of April 1, 2011 Anthony and I are the proud owners of Lethbridges newest electrical company, Ampera Electric. We are actually only half owners but it is a new adventure that I have no doubt my husband will make very successful. Lastly, we are still waiting for this little button to arrive :) Although I am not positive this will be our last child I am fairly confident that this will be our last "natural" child. I have had another GREAT pregnancy and don't for a minute take that for granted but I think that I am ready to not be pregnant....for a while. Baby moves a lot and seems to be enjoying hanging out in my rib cage. I had intended to keep weekly pictures of this pregnancy but of course as usual failed miserably at that (sorry little one.) Rest assured I am now getting "big." I will try my best to take a photo soon..perhaps even after I write this. We have not decided on what this little miracles name will be but I am sure that when the time comes we will have something we love. I am really hoping that baby will come on my birthday but I still am trying to convince myself that it likely will not happen. The girls are VERY excited for this baby and I am excited for them to meet their new sibling. I must admit that one of my favorite parts about having a baby in my belly is the hugs and kisses that are showered on my belly throughout the day. I better get off to bed. My hands and feet are swelling so I will take that as my body telling me it needs the bed. On a final note I made the girls each a dress and plan on trying skirts next...I am becoming slightly domestic which is scary for anyone who even remotely knows me.

Baby on Board

I have known for a while but been really resistant to writing that we are expecting our fourth baby in May. I had a suspicion a while back and then we did the test and found out the exciting news. This was really the first baby that we had to "try" for and man does it feel good to finally have this great news. It is so interesting to think that five years ago it was just Anthony and I and now our love and commitment has created four beautiful lives. I went to the doctor for the first time on October 13th. I was a little apprehensive when she could not find babies heart beat and decided to schedule an appointment for two weeks later. Needless to say on October 27th, 2010 I heard the little beans heartbeat for the first time. A slow but steady 130 beats per minute.
Anthony and I both think that this will be our last baby. We had always talked about having four children and I truly feel like I do not have the need to be pregnant ever again. Not that I don't enjoy it but we have been so blessed and I am looking forward to adding this next addition to our family. We get asked all the time if we want a boy but I can honestly say that neither Anthony or I has a preference and we will love and cherish whatever we are given. I am so excited to see the girls welcome another sibling :)
My cup has overflowed!

Long time coming

Although I think about writing often, it obviously rarely happens. Life has been busy as it always is. Our family had a great summer. We went to BC, played at a variety of parks, did a little swimming and all around spent a little time together. Summer was rainy so unfortunately we did not spend NEARLY as much time outside as I wish we could have. We did however have one especially great camping trip to Gold Springs Campground which the girls LOVED! It was a great campground perfect for our little growing family. Mckinna started her second year of preschool at Noahs Arc with Mrs. Slomp in September. She likes it and although she tells me little about her days I assume they do great things. Kamryn is growing into a big girl and recently gave up her love affair with her soother. She was only using them for sleeping but it was a hard breakup for her. She is speaking better everyday and we are working on not wetting the bed at night but boy does that girl sleep. She can pee the bed and stay sleeping until the morning...oh well this too shall pass. Charlee has grown leaps and bounds. She is walking, running and climbing like the big girls. She has a few words and about 10 signs. I keep saying I am going to move her to a big girl bed soon so that all three girls will share a room and the nursery will be empty. At any rate, chaos is errupting and nap time is beconning so until next time.

Welcome Home

Well, the girls and I just arrived back home from our trip to the West Coast. I shouldn't say just arrived because we actually got home on Sunday. We surprised Auntie Deanna for her 34th birthday and attended Nana's 89th Birthday. I LOVE BC. I love being there, the smells, the scenery and most of all the people. We have so much family there that every gathering no matter how insignificant it a party. I also have such Amazing friends there that no matter how long the visit it is tough to get enough time to spend with everyone. I think that hardest of all these days is knowing that the time between trips, no matter how short it may be brings big changes as far as the girls are concerned. The last time my family and friends saw Charlee she was a tiny baby, just six weeks old (we went out in September for Auntie Coralees wedding) now she is nine months old and almost walking.
We met Breanna for the first time this trip. She was five months old and BEAUTIFUL. It is interesting and challenging to see my friend as a mom. What different lives we both have from when we met fourteen years ago. I love my "niece" so much and treasure every moment I spent with her, drinking in all her babiness. The next time I see her she will have changed so much and I will have missed all the small steps that she takes to get there.
I love coming home to my husband. Don't get me wrong, it isn't easy for me to leave my friends and family but knowing that I am coming home to Anthony makes the transition much easier to bear. Although I know that our relationship will grow and change and go through ebbs and tides I know that Anthony is my rock. Devoted husband, father, son. I know that he will support me through the challenges and adventures that life brings our way. He accepts me for who I am, who I was and who I am becoming.

I may never be great

but I will try my best to be grateful. I was thinking the other day about how amazing some peoples lives are. You know those people who change the lives of millions of other people. I am pretty sure that I will never do anything like that. I do hope that in my lifetime I will find a way to help at least a few hurting souls though. I think that I realize now more then ever that I really do want to start the ranch.
I think that it is very hurtful to think of the reality that some children live daily. It is hard to remember that children around me grow up with not only no one loving them but the people who are supposed to love them actually hurt them. I think that the word hurt is such an understatement because what some children endure is unthinkable. As hurtful and horrific these thoughts can be I still find myself drawn to finding a way to reach out a hand to help. I don't think by any means I have not done a great job of this so far but I also have a responsibility to my children to ensure that I guard and protect them in anyway I can from being in a situation where their safety is compromised. I also have a responsibility to my husband to love and support him in his career.
I guess that I will pray that God willing the day and the finances will come and we will be able to create a haven where hurting kids have the opportunity to experience the love of God and the support of being in a positive environment. It is my hope and dream to start a small scale version of Mercy Ministries started by Nancy Alcorn in the USA. As a matter of fact, I am hoping that perhaps on my next trip to BC I will get to tour the new Mercy Home in Canada and perhaps chat up the people in charge.

Busy like CRAZY

Whenever people say they have been too busy to do something I quietly think to myself that that is a lame excuse....we will always be busy. This past few weeks I feel like I have been too busy. I have spent the last three weeks working and trying to be a good mom and wife and I would like to not only applaud but give a standing ovation to the working moms out there. You ladies who work and take care of your families are amazing. I feel like after just three weeks my motor is running out of steam and I need some mommy time aka sleep.
The girls have been little troopers and we have marvelous people around to help look after them and shuttle them around daily. Fortunately we have also had dad at home to help pick up the slack. He has even taken time out of renovating the basement to help with the housework, run Kinna to preschool and even on two occasions take Kamryn to gymnastics. I think that going back to work is going to be hard on him because he is enjoying being home with the girls and interacting with them.
I have a good time teaching though and I miss being in the classroom. I enjoyed interacting with the kids and staff and yet I know that I belong here with my girls...at least for now. I missed them dearly each day and it was hard to hear about what they had done. I think it was especially hard because the weather was beautiful so I was secretly longing to take the girls to the lake and have some outdoor fun.
We did have our first two pony rides of the season this past week. My goal for this summer is to get the pony out at least a couple times each week. He has been highly under utilized and the girls are getting big enough now to actually begin to learn to ride. It is kinda neat to see Kinna and Kamryn sitting up there holding onto one another and the reins. I am not certain what the future holds for them horse wise but I know a great deal of my fond memories revolve around horses.
The farm is looking a little rough but I think that our family is going to work together to clean it up in a few weeks. I feel mostly to blame for the mess and the need to clean. Although a great deal of the mess is the fault of my animals some of the blame can also be shifted to mother nature and the passage of time.
Have I mentioned lately that I love my family. I have been reminded many times over the last few weeks just how lucky I am. I have a man that loves me, three BEAUTIFUL little princesses, a home, food and so many luxuries that many people do not share. I am blessed.

Lego

One of my very wise friends once said that everyone is like a piece of Lego. Some people are like the big green board. They have a lot of bumps which means that they can accomodate many other pieces of lego. These are the people who have tons of friends, are always surrounded by people and love to make new friends. They make new friends with great ease and never seem to have enough relationships around them. Then there are the long skinny pieces that can accomodate quite a number of other pieces. Just like lego pieces get fewer and fewer "bumps" some people come with fewer and fewer social "pegs" I have often thought that I am like one of those two prong pieces. Not that I literally only need two relationships but I am the type of person who although I enjoy the company of others I really only desire true relationships with a very few people. The people around me may not agree with this statement because I am by nature a very social person who enjoys getting to know new people. I have a genuine desire to find out personal information and important information about the people around me I just have no desire to recipricate this.