GlobalFest

I was a guest blogger on Family Fun Calgary this week! So excited about that. Melissa, one of the co-founders, and I met because our sons went to school together. We were lucky enough to go to GlobalFest with the kids. Here is my post.

We went to GlobalFest for the second night which was the Philippines night to host. It was our first time to the festival and I had looked all over the GlobalFest site trying to figure out what exactly the evening would entail and what I should expect. I found that the site was not laid out all that well for someone who is just getting introduced to the festival. I just read Leslie's blog pot about their trip to GlobalFest and wish that I had read it before we went so we would have known better what to plan for a bring.
We started off the day rather early - my kids bedtimes are normally between 7 and 8 p.m, so we knew that it was going to be a long evening - I was hoping for luck to be on our side and them to not have any major meltdowns and we made it through most of the evening without them. We got to the Subway Soccer Centre early and were on one of the first shuttle buses to Elliston Park. We actually were there before the gates opened at 6 p.m. so began the evening right away. We meandered our way over to the South side of the lake and reserved our spot on the hill with the girls' Chariot. While we were there we caught the first performance from the Venezuelan group "Pasos de Venezuela". The women did such a wonderful job and their costumes were beautiful. My children all enjoy music and dancing, so they all clapped and cheered after each song.
At this point we were getting hungry so we went to the OneWorld Cafe and International Bar. There was many choices there for ethnic foods - my husband and I loved the meals we got and our daughters enjoyed tastes of different foods they had not eaten often. For those of you with picky children - bring food along. My son, who is a picky eater at the best of times, did not eat a lot.
After supper we went and explored the OneWorld Village. We were given a "passport" for the children to ask questions at the different pavilions and get to know information about that culture or the language that is spoken in that country. I was the one who asked most of the questions and learned a lot, so it was a good for me as well. They also had activities at some of the pavilions for the children to participate in and the people who were hosting the booths were great at interacting with the children, which I loved. I think one of my children's favorites was the booth where they got to drum with the gentleman from Nigeria.

R playing one of the instruments at a pavilion

The kids lounging at the Egypt booth

Nigeria pavilion - the drums were a favourite. Couldn't get a good pic of A - she was moving so fast.

At this point it was getting late and we had not even gotten to the Kiddie Corral yet. It was on the opposite side to where we came in and I never really thought about it and then when it crossed my mind it was too late. My children do not like face painting, so this was OK for us, but if your children need play time or love the face painting and other activities in the Kiddie Corral, you may want to go there first. We managed to get the last round in one of the bouncy castles before they closed up shop, so it was OK for us.
We headed back to our "seats" in the south seating bowl and lucky for us there was a wonderful couple who had an extra jacket to put down on the ground to sit on. We are in the middle of a move right now, so my normally organized brain that remembers everything was not on the ball. (Ha ha! My husband is laughing hard right now :) It was hot on Sunday and I had not thought ahead to how cool it would be after the sun went down. Good thing the girls had some extra clothing in their backpack, but my son and husband and I had none. We all cuddled though on the jacket and once the fireworks started everything about the evening was worth it.
They were amazing! Amazing! I have seen pyro-musical performances before, but this one was incredible. Afterward the couple who lent us the jacket had said that they have gone for every night of GlobalFest for the past 3 years and that night was the best one they had seen yet. My favorite song part was to "My Prayer" by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli - there was a continuous waterfall of fireworks for over a minute that was reflected in the lake that was incredible.

If you want to check it out for yourself, Trico put up a video on YouTube here.

It ended a little late and by the time we were able to get out of there, get on the bus and get back to our vehicle it was 10:45. As Leslie said the busing was a little disorganized, so it took awhile. My son was having a meltdown about how tired he was and I was exhausted as well after the long day.
Helpful hints to add to Leslie's -
- take a look at the map when you arrive and plan out your evening. We never did this, so missed out on some of the event.
- don't bring a stroller - too many people around, it just adds to the confusion and slows the speed at which you can move. If we hadn't been moving and had them packed I would have brought our hiking backpacks for the girls to make it easier.
- bring LOTS of water - it was a hot day and my husband and I felt a little dehydrated and water was expensive. I had brought water bottles for the kids, but forgotten ours.
All in all we loved GlobalFest, but I would say the next time we go to GlobalFest as a family will probably when my children are a few years older and able to cope with the late evening. I may be able to convince my husband to make it a date night though next year. :)

Catching up...

Goodness it has been awhile since I posted on this blog. So much has happened since the last time! BIG stuff too, really big stuff. Life changing stuff.
First, we are moving. Well, I guess that wasn't the first thing that happened or the catalyst even for all of the change. What was the start of it all was a holy discontent that my husband has never been able to shake to be a part of the leadership in the local church which we honestly believe IS the hope of the world, God's hope for the world. So we have been praying and searching, applying, interviewing and waiting. Then candidating and praying and talking and praying some more. And God IS faithful, and He will never leave us. He made a way for us. (Sorry the cliches, Hillsong's "God is Able" is running through my head) My DH will be a pastor once again. We are going to be ministering at a church in a large town/small city in the greater area of the city in which we currently live. The awesome part - well, besides the destination of the journey that God has brought us on and the church we will be in itself - is that it is only 25 minutes from my family. Woo woo!
So my DH will be the Community Life pastor at this church - it is a bigger church that is trying to do multi-site. Sound familiar to anyone? When we moved here M came to be the Community Life pastor at the church. And the church ours moved with is multi-site. Seems like God is bringing some things together, hey?
Our summer has been INSANE. I think the longest all of us have been at home together in a given stretch wince the May Long weekend is 4 days. Between camping, a trip to MB for the wedding of a very special lady to the love of her life, a trip to the coast to see M's family and a work convention in Minneapolis for me, it has been a little INSANE! And we bought a house while we were at M's parents place.
So now we are getting close to the move date - we get possession on FRIDAY!! And the move is scheduled for the 27th. So much to do between now and then. It's crazy how nuts our life is right now.
THe only fly in the ointment is our current house has not sold yet. And I am stressed about it. I have a post that I wrote this morning that will go "live" right after this which was an "ah-ha" moment for me this morning. And as M just reminded me - God hasn't brought us this far to leave us hanging. To not help us figure everything out. I need to trust. And be thankful.
So now you are caught up....

Wordless Wednesday - Bapa and Bama (according to A)

Wordless Wednesday - The whole Fam-damily

It was my parents 40th anniversary this year - we decided it was about time for family pictures.

Mr. Mom

My neighbor girl, M, was over tonight for supper and the early evening. We always laugh a lot - my DH tends to have her and I in stitches through supper, usually causing M (my neighbor, not my DH) to have liquid coming up her nose. Anyway, she showed us this video that she said she thinks of my DH whenever she hears the song.
So this it for all you SAHMs out there who's hubbies love you and do so much to help (like mine), but you just don't feel like they totally understand how BIG a job it is to be the CEO, COO and CFO of your home.
I cannot embed the actual video from YouTube, but here is the link - the music video is hilarious, so it is worth clicking on the link and watching.

Family Mountain Day - December 28, 2009

The promised video...

K and R had so much fun. A on the other had, not so much! :)

Christmas Letter 2009

December 2009
Merry Christmas
I just wanted to include a quick update letter with this family picture. 2009 has been a good year. R turned 4 in October, with A and K now 18 months as of the end of November. Time is flying by. I am loving being at home with them and being able to spend all day watching them grow, and become their own people, seeing their personalities shine through and know that I will be there for it all. A and K are constantly on the go – just started walking well, everywhere and into everything. They are both cuddlers, love people, though K is a little more outgoing. A’s favorite pastime is eating – she will eat constantly if you let her. For a while they were two pounds apart in weight, but since solids have come into their lives they are now at half a pound difference. K especially loves to sing, for the past month or so “Up above the world” from “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” has been in her head, though it comes out like “Up up ba da wah, up up ba da wah…” again and again. So cute.
R has been involved in swimming lessons and music lessons this fall and loving every minute of it. He loves music and his favorite carol right now is “Joy to the World” which he calls the “Kevin song,” because as we all know it says “…and Kevin and nature sing…”  He and Daddy try to go swimming every Friday night at the Cochrane pool and the girls and I join them sometimes. We also go to Mom’s group with a few friends of mine every other Wednesday – we have 7 kids now between the three of us, so it is a bit hectic in the house at times, and so much fun. I have also been attending a Ladies Morning Out at Center Street Church on Thursday mornings, so we are a little busy at times.
I started working out with a trainer in April – I had hurt my back after the girls were born and needed someone to show me how to do exercises properly and just get into shape – I had strength, just no endurance as Christine says it. I also got accountability this way and Christine is awesome. She comes once a week still and we have adapted my routine several times as I develop endurance. I am proud to say that I can now do pushups, with my knees up on an exercise ball! For someone who could barely do 5 “girly” pushups before this is HUGE!  I also did a running class that ended last week and found that I enjoy running, especially by myself. There is something about getting away from everyone, my heart pumping, the music going in my ears, with my feet hitting the pavement in rhythm that makes me feel good.
This year I have been working part-time in my home doing advertising for a company called Melaleuca – The Wellness Company, which I have loved as I am able to work around my kids. We absolutely love the products that they manufacture, so wanted to share that with other people.
M is still working at MW Energy Corp, going on three years in January. They cut back to 1/3 of the staff that they had last January and M is one of those that stayed. Everyone picked up the slack, pitching in wherever it was needed and they have made it through these tough economic times well, starting to produce once again this fall and it looks like things are going nowhere but up and up. It is nice that he is working back in the HR role now that he was in before all the cutbacks. He was able to go to Missouri at the beginning of October to see their sites there and talk with the employees, put some names to faces and see what their needs are for health care. MW has been an awesome company to work for, very much a family feel and we have been blessed to be employed by such a company. M is able to help out in making it a great place to work and that feels good.
One of the blessings that have come from MW is that all the staff was given every other Friday and some other days off this summer (wonder who the fabulous HR person who suggested that was? And the great president who agreed to it – thanks again, B! ) and we were able to not only get in a trip to M’s parents place with a surprise birthday weekend (mine) just the two of us to Seattle, but 5 camping trips as a family – Drumheller, Bow Valley, Glacier National Park, Waterton National Park, Boulton Creek – and three overnight trips for M – one solo hike, one kayaking trip and a group glacier hike. Our kids learned to enjoy camping and boy, did we ever have things down to a science. And yes, we were in a tent – you read it right – three kids, two adults, one tent. Our tent is HUGE and it is so great for our family. We will definitely be doing it again next year. We also went to Las Vegas, baby, the last weekend in October for the U2 concert. It was on our bucket list and what better place to get a good deal than Vegas. We enjoyed the longest time away from the kids since R was born in 2005. Thanks to my parents for taking care of our kids during our trip to Vegas and M’s parents and sister for taking the kids during our trip to Seattle. We are so blessed to have awesome family!
Well, that is all except I wanted to let you know that the family picture was taken at the Calgary Zoo, one of our favorite places to visit, in the Transalta Rainforest. The gorillas’ home is there and they are one of the animals we enjoy the most – we also LOVE the hippos and giraffes. This summer we (the kids and I) visited the Zoo every week for almost two months with our good friends the Lows. It is so much easier to get along and keep entertained when you can RUN, isn’t it?  (For the pictures, if you got the vertical one I am holding A and M has K, and in the horizontal one, I am holding K and M has A.)
Hope you all have the most wonderful of Christmas seasons and the very best of everything in the New Year!
Love from K, A, R, M and R
(Sometimes you have to shake things up and sign off from youngest to oldest. Yes, I am older than M, but it is less than 6 months, so no teasing about cougars, OK? )

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas since kids

Just remembering Christmases gone by - thought I'd share some pics. They all started out so little, didn't they?

2005

2006 (No, that is not M in the Santa suit, just couldn't find one with the family)

2007

2008

Christmas Baking

Today I went to my sister's house and we made Christmas baking. I had the entire day, without my kiddies. First time I have done that while in the same city as the twincesses. It was really great to have time with just my sister... we baked, had lunch (paninis made on her grill), talked, sang and danced. It was so much fun. I love being close in proximity to my sister, even though sometimes the time between our visits are long.
This year I am so much better at baking - less instruction and more getting in there then other years (C usually has to give me step by step instructions and tell me what to do next.) 6.5 hours later we have 4 different kinds of cookies - 40 cream wafers, 25 of orange cookies and 24 chocolate shortbread with candy cane sprinkles. The 4th is an orange cranberry pinwheel that you have to refrigerate overnight and then cut and bake the next day. They are all SO good and I will take a picture another day to show you. Can't wait to try the pinwheels once they are baked. Mmmm, Christmas baking.

Family Swim

We went swimming tonight - all five of us. The twincesses are finally at an age where we do not have to hold them the entire time and there is a wading pool that they can stand up and play in or go all the way around the circumference on their bum in, as A did. The pool also has two little fish floaties that we can sit the girls in and push them around. A was almost sleeping in there she was so relaxed. R is now comfortable being on his own and not having Mommy and Daddy holding onto him at all times - swim lessons are a good thing. K is a real water baby - she LOVES it so much - almost dove into the hot tub because I was trying to keep them out of it too much. A loves it too, just not as much. It is funny, most of the time A is the adventure seeker and K is a little timid mouse, but add water into the mix and K is all over it.
Only downside of swimming after work - late bedtime. So it is now after 9 and the kids are finally in bed - good thing its a weekend. Everyone is going to sleep well tonight!

Sisters

Hey y'all! I almost forgot, but I made it!
Today I went to my women's morning out and then we were supposed to meet my sister at CrossIron Mills for lunch as it is her birthday tomorrow and she and her hubby have plans all day, but she was feeling a little under the weather and had been sick this week and didn't want to pass it on to the "little peeps" (as she calls them). She and my bro-in-law are always very concerned about not making the kiddies sick and their health. They are also concerned about their spiritual lives and my sister tells me often how she prays for them every day. I love that. It is so great to know that they are loved in that way.
Anyways, I was so disappointed and felt like crying that we wouldn't see her - it's been since R's birthday 2.5 weeks ago that we saw them and I was looking forward to it. I love my sis and missed her. So we went to see M at work, then drove home, were here 1.5 hours, then back to R's music lessons. Understandably, the twincesses were a little grouchy as a result of all of this. Good thing for me we are at home all day tomorrow. Though, maybe I can convince M that we ALL want to go swimming in the evening. Whaddya say, DH?
This evening after the kidlets went to bed, I got a call from my sis - apparently she was just as disappointed as I and she had almost cried too. (We were a little emotional in our family today :) We just talked and talked, caught up and promised that as soon as we could we would get together. I am so thankful that God chose my sister to be mine. Love you, C! Happy Birthday tomorrow!

Some of my favorites

Can't wait till you get home!

I put the link to Heather's post of our family pictures on my Facebook status and my aunt commented about this one, "Wow - you have those kids trained to look the other way when the two of you are going to kiss!! Cute photo!!"
I guess we do it often enough that it is commonplace to them and nothing to stare at. Funny thing is, though Mommy and Daddy kissing may be boring to them, it still manages to thrill me!

2009 Family Pictures

Our friend Heather took pictures for us again this year. (You may remember our pictures from last year when the girls were 4 months old.) It was on Thanksgiving Monday when it was more than a little cold outside, so our plan for fall pictures in Bowness Park did not work. Heather came up with the idea of us going to the Zoo instead, and we decided on the Transalta Rainforest where the gorillas are. She has many photos to edit for the many photo shoots that she has been doing this fall, but she did get some of our family pictures done, so I thought I'd share them here.
Not sure why R is making faces all the time in the photos. And why none of my kids decided they wanted to smile. :) A especially looks SO serious.
I love the pictures we hve so far, can't wait to see the rest. I am so happy that Heather was able to take them for us and being able to think outside the outside box and find a great, unique place to take them! It is really nice to have family pictures yearly and chronicle the changes to the people in our family. Kids grow up so fast and I don't want to forget how we all looked together.

I Dare You NOT to Choke Up

I got this forwarded to me with the line "This is so true, please share my tears!" Now, I am asking you to share mine.

I love you, my DH, thank you for being so beautifully imperfect for me!

4 month Photo Shoot

We finally were able to get photos done on the girls 4 month birthday. Our friend Heather came and took them and she edited a few for us now and will do the rest a little later. We wanted to have some to send to Mexico with Michael's parents. (She is actually on a bit of a break because she just had the cutest little baby boy. I love his hair so much!) The whole fam

My little cuties!

They actually look alike in this photo - they are so beautiful - I cannot believe they are both mine.

All my blessings...

My sweetheart with his little dollies.

Flames game

Yesterday we had the privilege of going to the Calgary Flames game. DH's new company has season tickets, and we got last night's pair. We had fabulous seats, right on the blue line across from the Flames bench, 8 rows up! This was all of our first NHL game. DH and I have been to a few WHL games, but no NHL. It was exciting, and the Flames won against the LA Kings. YEAH! R loved every minute of it. First of all, there were BIG TVs on the JumboTron. And there were lots of people and excitement to watch. He loved it, sitting there and taking it all in and once he felt comfortable he had to get up and cheer. We had borrowed a Flames jersey from friends of ours, so he was decked out in fine style.

The family enjoying the game.

Craig Conroy is now back with the Flames and last night was his first game - #24 for those non-hockey fans (which includes me, the only way I knew is from the news and everyone telling me when we said we were going to the game! :)

Busy days, busy days

I cannot believe that it has almost been a week since I last posted on this blog. I do not even have the excuse that I was gone on vacation. We were gone for the weekend though, so I can use that! :)
We have had a busy week. I have been trying to be a better homemaker and actually get things done around the house and remember to do the things that I need to do. This has always been a bit of a struggle for me and something that I want to work on. It has been good, I feel like I have accomplished something by the end of the day, though at times I am extremely exhausted. Catch 22, eh? I have told enough people about this new promise that I feel OK about putting it into writing. :)
Speaking of my other promise, it has been going a lot better! I am quite aware of the fact that I want to love more and have been speaking a lot sweeter with DH and loving him more - or should I say showing him that the love that has always been there is still burning strong.
It's tough when kids enter the picture and your world turns from revolving around each other to revolving around that child. We are actually starting a book in our small group called "Childproofing Your Marriage" by Dr. Debbie Cherry. It is all about making your marriage a priority and the first important relationship so that your relationships with your children flow out of that and your marriage is strong when the children leave home. We just started it yesterday, but I am looking forward to it.
Back to what we've been doing....
Jobina, Riker and Trinity came to visit us on their Alberta trip on Friday. It was so good to see them and catch up. Wow, have the kids ever grown! And Jobina is looking amazing if I do say so. It was a short visit but a good one.
On Friday, R and I (DH was gone on a retreat) headed down to my sister and brother-in-law's. We actually went to my parents, but spent the nights at my sister's. It was so good to be able to spend time with my sister - I love her so much and appreciate her and the amount that our relationship has grown and matured over the past 4 years that we have lived in the same city as adults especially. It is so nice to be friends with the person who has known you the longest and still loves you so much! My grandma and aunt were here to visit, hence the weekend down there. They adored R - who wouldn't!?! - and kept commenting on how he was a good child. He had so much fun playing and spending time with Grandpa and took an extra shine to his Uncle M this weekend - sitting on his lap and wanting to be picked up. Luther as always was a favorite, though I do not think that is a mutual thing! :)
That is about all for now, I'll maybe put some pics in later if I have time.

Memories of a great man

It is funny how certain things make you think of someone out of the blue. I was cleaning the bathroom today and we have this foldable scissor that DH got somewhere, long ago and I haven't actually seen it in our home until a month ago. Anyway, the scissor reminds me of my Grandpa, Isaac F, from my mom's side. He used to carry a little scissor like that around in his pocket - in the days before a Swiss Army knife replaced it.
I have been thought of my grandpa a lot more in the past year then I was in the previous 12 since he died (I was 18 when he did). I loved my grandpa a lot! He was an amazing man who was quiet, though strong. He stood his ground on things he believed in, and even though he died in his late 60s (or early 70s, I can't remember) he was still seeking to know God and be closer to Him daily. He loved his family deeply... I don't remember him not having time for me. My sister and I were his only grandchildren and he enjoyed being a grandpa. I remember that he gave the very best hugs, big bear hugs where he would squeeze you tight. I remember cuddling with him in his La-Z-Boy and watching TV, sitting on his lap while I cried and him pumping my arm and talking about the waterworks and how he was going to have to get rubber boots from all the water. I also remember him tickling me under the chin and singing the song
I tickled her under the chin,
I did it again and again,
She liked it so,
She couldn't say no,
And I tickled her under the chin.
To which I would be gasping for breath, trying to get out "No, Grandpa, no."
I do that to R now. I tickle under his chin and sing the song. I tell him about his Grandpa Isaac and how much he would've loved him, how much they would've loved each other. I tell him about how he was named after Grandpa Isaac (R's full name is R Ranger Isaac) and how I want him to be like him someday. I want him to be a strong man, one who people can lean on. I want him to be someone who wants to know God better every day of his life. I want him to love deeply.
I miss my Grandpa.

Winter Sports & Canmore

Today we attempted to go snowshoeing with R. DH has a cold and so was not up for a big hike, so we just went out to Hogarth Lakes in Kananaskis Country and put R in his new toboggan and walked up one way and down the other. It was a little snowy and blowing, so we didn't do as much as we would of once we got going.
Then we went to Canmore and had some bagels at Rocky Mountain Bagel Company. We normally visit the Rocky Mountain Soap store and of course, Black Rock Fudge & Gifts. (I love fudge!) I used to live in Canmore - the summers when I was 19 and 20 as a housekeeper at Green Gables Inn - and loved living there. At the time, it was a lot smaller than it is now and a less commercialized. I would highly recommend visiting there. Oh, my absolute favorite coffee shop is right across from the Green Gables called Beamer's Coffee Bar - it was there that I learned to like coffee - in the form of a mochaccino! :) Today though, DH was feeling so badly that we came home after the bagels.
R was as good as gold, as usual. He is quite the little traveller, enjoying riding in the car and entertaining himself in the mirror that we have attached behind my seat. He also enjoyed playing with the torch that we had in the car (flashlight for North Americans) that we got from the company that we rented our caravan from last year when we were in Australia.
Anyways, here are some pictures from our jaunt for you to enjoy.

R on his toboggan

Daddy pulling him

My very own Snowbaby

Mommy and son - see, it was really snowing!