A Full Heart

I love this little face! I love this little girl. She makes my heart smile. I love how she says 'tat' instead of cat. I love how her name is 'tatie' instead of Katie. I love how she would rather have a princess bottle (princess sippy cup full of milk) than eat. I love that we all think she is the greatest girl, and we are right of course. I am so glad I didn't stop at five, she is so worth it!

Summer recap

I really haven't said much about summer. It went by so fast as I was working a lot, and we did day trips with the kids, and went to parks and swimming and swimming and swimming. So here is a much overdue recap of some summer highlights.

Vegas Vacation with grown ups!

 

  Nathan and I went to Las Vegas with some friends, the last week of may. It was a great, and much needed,  get away.

Then end of June was William's birthday and we went to the Tyrell museum in Drumheller. We took a road that brought is across a river by ferry which the kids loved! The day was great both at the museum and the splash park after, then we finished with an ice cream cake at home.

the bleriott ferry

a short but fun ferry ride

the littlest chuch

girls racing for the pool in Drumheller

Happy Birthday Will...Mike is eyeing your cake!

We took the kids to the Westerner days which were a big hit because...ALL KIDS LOVE RIDES! I think one of the funniest moments was going to the Bentley fair. We watched the parade and the kids collected as much candy as their little hands could grab (and that is a lot of candy), then we did a little mutten bustin'. Emma, Michael and Allison all decided that it would be really fun to ride some sheep while they are running. It was the best 10 seconds of summer (and that is their combined time!).

The crew with their bags of candy after the parade

In 2 seconds Mike is on the ground (behind the sheep), and the girls await their ride.

Lessons from the Spirit

At the Salt Lake Temple Visitors center in 2011

I have had a couple of moments recently that have reminded me of how much my Father in Heaven loves me and how He teaches me and others by the Spirit. One experience was in the Temple, my favourite place to be. I knew from an experience there that this was where I needed to come more often for the guidance I have been wanting.

Then, a couple of days ago, a woman from my old ward in Okotoks called me to thank me for a talk I had given at church in 2008. She told me she had taken notes while I was speaking, and that I had spoken about my conversion to the gospel. She told me how I had compared my conversion process to finding an old  painting in an attic and wiping away the dust to reveal a beautiful picture, one I had seen  and known before. I was grateful for her call, and instantly thought of a talk given years ago by Sheri Dew in which she spoke of the many experiences in public speaking in the church she has had. She said how on many occasions people will thank her for her words and say that they were just what they needed to hear at that time. Sister Dew then said that when she asks people what it was that she said specifically, the answers she gets are almost never what she said in that particular talk. She explained how it really is the Spirit that speaks to us when we are ready and willing to learn, and often the thoughts that come to mind when a speaker is speaking are what the Spirit is teaching us.
   I thought of this talk because I know I have never used that painting analogy, although I would like to take credit for it as it is rather poetic. When I prepare a talk I always start with a prayer that I will say the things the Lord would want me to say for the congregation at the time. I am glad that this kind woman who called me was taught something she would remember and may have been useful to her, and that she was taught by the Spirit.
   I think I will try to prepare myself to be taught the things that are important for me and my family, instead if just trying to pay attention to the things people say in their talks.  

Catching up

pure happy

Life seems so busy that I just don't have the time to keep up. Since April's election business things haven't really slowed down. I started a new job because I just can't wait to start something new. This can really be a big problem for me as I often regret not being more patient and thinking a little bit more about what extra busyness will come with each new thing. I started working in labor and delivery at the Red Deer hospital, which is an area I have wanted to work in for a number of years and this seemed like as good a time as any to start...boy was I wrong. I miss my kids, I miss being there for all their moments that won't happen again. There are so many people who don't get the opportunity to be there for their kids childhood moments and I have been fortunate enough to be there for most. Since Kate is our last baby I realize more and more that as all my kids grow, I don't get that opportunity again to enjoy all my kids when they are young and still learning everything. So the time is soon coming to make the hard decision of letting go of one thing I have started to really enjoy to be there for the harder job, but the one I can not redo whenever I want. It is not really a hard decision, but hard to let others down, knowing their expectations.


Some reasons to be happy:

     

       

Election days

Cub Car champion (and manager)

Alli's outfit for the day, and Laurel open for a pass

The provincial election was finally called for April 23 so Nathan is now on the campaign trail full time, and then some. The kids like to play their version of where's Waldo (or dad) when we drive around Red Deer as they see Nathan's signs all over, its pretty funny. I am at home with the kids all the time which is challenging at times, getting everyone in the van to go anywhere seems to take an eternity. Alli, Mike and Kate all play together during the day, we go to the library, the pool, etc. The kids are really into dress up these days, and I think Alli is still the craziest. To her it is not dress up its just her clothes for the day. Laurel just finished basketball which she really had fun with, and William won his first cub car rally! He didn't even watch his final heat where he won it all, he had lost interest by then but was super excited to get his trophy and ribbon. Here is a look at our life lately:

Putting up signs for the election. Kate's first day of potty training that lasted two hours, then mom lost interest.

winter fun

The winter has been pretty mild this year and we have been able to have lots of snow fun outside because of it. Our best snow play day this winter has been at 'grandpa's park' here in Red Deer. The weather was warm (for winter) and there was lots of snow that was just right for building and digging. Aunt Jennie was smart to bring some food coloring in water and some paint brushes, to paint our snow creations. And of course we played at the awesome park too.

The kids tackling the mountain of snow

Emma's snowdog , and Kate balancing at the park.

Red Deer

So our family has moved to Red Deer. Nathan is running in the next provincial election for the Wildrose Party. The move has gone quite smoothly, the kids are loving their school, they are getting involved in skating and school activities. The twins and Kate and I are all hanging out and finding things to do in Red Deer. I haven't really had much time to meet new friends as I am with the kids all the time, so for me its been lonely. A good friend from Okotoks wrote me to say she missed having our family there and I had to cry (just for a bit). Change is hard but it can be a good thing too.

Christmas

This year we celebrated Christmas at our home in Okotoks. It was great, although it seemed to come and go so fast as we were packing and moving before and after Christmas. All in all everything went well. William woke up about 5:30, then the rest followed at about 6. Way too early! Their collective noise then woke up Kate at 6:30 and that was it. Christmas morning began. After much present opening and gleeful surprised faces, my living room looked like it exploded and the kids were busy playing. I liked going to church later in the morning as it made Christmas day feel more special. It was our last day in our ward in Okotoks, we will all miss it there. I am grateful for the blessings of the gospel, and grateful for my knowledge and testimony of the Savior's life and atoning sacrifice. Merry Christmas to all....

Our Christmas Eve nativity with the kids

more building fun

So Nathan became the candidate for the Wildrose Party in the next provincial election...a candidate for Red Deer that is! So that meant we were going to be relocating. After looking for rentals in Red Deer we decided to buy instead. The house we found is great but is a little smaller in the dining area and so Nathan and I figured we needed to use a bench for one side of our table to provide seating without using up as much space as the chairs (and it seats more kids). So I spent an afternoon building this bench for my table, and a couple nights to paint and stain. Did I mention I love building.