Our "Family Day Getaway"

We decided late this past week that some time away from home as a family before Chris leaves for his trip would be a good idea! Okay not really we but once I mentioned it to Chris he was 100% onboard. We didn't go far, only 3 hours away to The Medicine Hat Lodge. I grew up going there almost annually and have great memories from there! I was very excited to get away and have a nice relaxing trip with the fam. The only thing with spending a decent amount of money and driving anywhere longer than 5 minutes is that the kids have the potential to ruin it and make it REALLY not worth it!



We were hoping that my sister and her family would be able to join us but it didn't work out for them to come. (hopefully next time!!!...hint hint...nudge nudge). We were all set to go on our own and were packed and ready to hit the road right after church on Sunday. We mentioned it to some friends of ours that we were heading to the The Hat for one night and they wanted to join us. Sure, why not!!! The more the merrier!



The kids travelled great. Raya and Theo slept for half of the trip and Hallie was so excited to be in a Booster Seat for the first time that she did really well too. She did have to go to the washroom and couldn't wait until we got there. We pulled over hoping she would go on the side of the road but apparently she is to "princess" for that!! She made it to the hotel. It is a very boring drive though. There is NOTHING for miles...no sign of civilization at all. In fact, on the way home today Hallie shouted out... "OH NO, we are in Africa" I asked her why she thought that and she said "because, this is the desert!"



We arrived right at check-in time and the kids were so excited they could barely stand up straight. Nate and Erin had arrived just a few minutes before us so we met them down at the pool. The kids LOVED the water and were SOOOO good. Theo did amazing. He just hung out in the kiddie pool the whole time. Chris and I took turns trading off with him. We also took turns taking our crazy daughters on the waterslide. I honestly thought that Hallie wouldn't even try going but she did right away and there was no turning back. Raya's favorite word this weekend was "more more more". They would have gone alone had we let them.



We went out for dinner, hung out with friends, had a great complimentary hot buffet for breakfast, swam and did the waterslides some more and packed up to come home.



Everyone slept really well and we didn't get up until just after 7. It was SOOO nice. Once the kids fell asleep, I did my biblestudy book. My ladies Bible study group is doing a Beth Moore study that I'm really excited about but I have to say that it does come with some extensive homework that I have a hard time making time for. It's about 45 minutes a day/5 days a week. Chris did some reading as well. When we were done with that we...just kidding!!



The kids did great the entire time...no issues. PRAISE THE LORD!!



We are hoping to make this an annual event!



Tomorrow we will be celebrating Hallies 5th Birthday with a few of her friends. I'll post about that later in the week hopefully.

The girls sleeping together

Hallie doing a "back float"

Daddy and Raya

Dad hanging out with Theo and Hallie while making friends with the old woman beside him :)

Three happy kids!

The girls!

Hallie and Raya tonight at 6pm!!! check out those bags under Hal's eyes.

yes, raya is sleeping already!

A Crazy Morning (and slightly embarrassing)

So everything was going just fine this morning. The girls were playing downstairs, Theo was in his jumper and I was sweeping the kitchen floor. All of a sudden I hear crying that isn't familier. I could tell it was Hallie but it sounded really strange. Well, here she comes up the stairs with her mouth STUCK OPEN because she has one of Theos toys stuck in it. Yes, this is the same girl that swallowed a "jewel" a few months ago! It is a toy that you can hang on to things so it has a clamp at one end. She had pushed down on the clamp, put it in her mouth, and then released it. She was totally panicing and I couldn't get my fingers in her mouth to close down on it and get it out. She was started to gag and said she needed to "oh ah" which was translated to be "throw up" Then her eyes started to roll back and she was swaying from side to side. So, I called 911. They sent the ambulance right away. Hallie kept wanting to lay down but I was instructed not to allow that. She was in alot of pain and this clamp was putting pressure on her pallet and she couldn't swallow. Raya was downstairs oblivious to the whole thing while Theo was screaming his head off.



Well, the EMS arrived and got out their flashlight and looked in her mouth. They were able to remove rather simply I have to admit. I felt quite stupid but they assured me that I wasn't and that I had done the right thing. They were quite fond of the girls and stayed to play with them for quite a while. I kept telling them they could leave but they were having a good time. It was quite amuzing. One of the paramedics went outside to the ambulance and came back in with 2 Medic Mooses (stuffed animals). He gave one to Hallie and was handing one to Raya. I was thinking in my head...just take the Moose Raya, take the Moose!!!! But, of course she didn't. She said "No Moose! I got OWN MOOSE" and she ran to her room to get her own Medic Moose that she got last year when she was taken to the hospital from falling out of her highchair at a restaurant. I was so emabarrased that not only did my almost 5 year old get a toy stuck in her mouth but now they also know that my 2 year old already has her OWN MOOSE from a previous episode. They thought it was really funny, me, not so much!



When the toy was removed from Hallies mouth, this was the conversation:



Me: Was that food or drink?

Hal: No

Me: What is supposed to go in your mouth

Hal: Only food or drink

Me: So will you be doing that again?

Hal: No, because it's not food or drink.



Paramedic: WOW, that's impressive, I'm going to try that on my son. I like how you put that. You are a really good mom.



Me: You might want to rethink that since if that parenting technique was effective you wouldn't be sitting in my living room right now!



All I have to say is thank goodness I was dressed because I haven't been dressed before 9 all week.

Hallie looking a little rough afterwards...but posing for a picture with one of the men that "saved her life!"

The girls and there very own Medic Mooses!

long awaited photos!

theo and cousin sam at christmas

theo sitting like a big boy!

raya wanting to go outside and play

licking the beaters after making cookies yesterday

big boy theo with a sippy cup!

raya fell asleep on the back of the chair while playing computer with hallie. she looks like a cat all curled up

hallie playing "dr".

theo and max

sisterly love

Time Flies...

I'm sitting in my living room watching the blizzard outside. I was able to convince Hallie to stay home from preschool today by promising finger painting, a friend over, and baking! Looks like my day is going to get busier. At least I don't have to brave the weather! The girls are playing downstairs with a friend and Theo is sleeping. I love the peacefullness of a sleeping baby in my house.

Theo is a really great baby. He is still so content. He goes to sleep so easily. He loves his crib and his minky blanket. He still sleeps all swaddled up like a newborn. He will be 8 months in a couple weeks. It's been the fastest 8 months of my life! Theo still has a cold and I'm hoping it's gone soon. It's so sad to hear him cough :(

Raya is talking more and more and more and more.... She is such a comedian. Her personality is so hard to describe. She has big highs and small lows. She loves to giggle and is often lifting her shirt up to be tickled.

Hallie is growing like a weed. Her pants are turning into flood pants. I'm hoping to make it till the spring before having to buy her to much. We've been busy planning her "Almost Pajama Party" birthday party. She is having a few friends over and they are coming in their pajamas. We are going to have pancakes for supper, do a couple crafts, play a game, and eat cake!. I've already started her cake. I'm excited about it.

Chris is busy preparing for his trip to Uraguay. He's got alot of reading to do, immunizations to get, and some things to buy. Each person on the trip needs to take their own shoe box along and so I'm excited to get to be a part of that. I think it will be phenominal for Chris to be able to hand deliver a box that our family has put together!!!

I'm just as busy as ever. I'm trying to work extra hours to pay down some debt. I just can't wait until the line of credit is gone so we can pay back some family debt and work at being debt free, other than our mortgage. It weighs so heavy on me and stresses me out. I hate owing money to people. I had the flu earlier this week and thankfully Chris was able to stay home and help a bit. I go to Ladies Bible Study on Tuesday mornings and Craft Night on Wednesday nights after Awana. I still help lead Hallie's Awana class and she loves it that I'm there. Next year Hallie will move up but I'll stay with the Cubbies because Raya will be in that class next year. I also look after little Max on Thursday afternoons. He is so cute and I love that Theo has a little buddy to play with (ok, stare at) once a week.

I gave up Tim Hortons coffee from Monday-Friday during Lent. It's honestly a HUGE sacrifice for me. I don't have it every day but on average about 3 times/week and I really look forward to it. I was explaining to Hallie what Lent was and this was a part of our conversation:

me: "mom isn't going to go to Tim Hortons during the week"
hal: "you aren't going to have coffee every day?"
me: "no, only on the days that daddy stays home."
hal: "but mom, you have to have coffee every day...you are going to be so grouchy!"
OUCH! that hurt! pretty sad when your kid knows you're addicted!

Two weeks ago at breakfast time Hallie asked me if God was old.
I said "yes".
She said "like super duper old?".
"yup".
"hhmmm is he like 31?"
WHAT!!! 31 is NOT old...is it? I guess it's all a matter of perspective.


Well, I should probably start making lunch and preparing for finger painting (i hate finger painting, i hate painting...painting leads to mess, mess leads to clean up and clean up is a never ending job around here.)

no time to edit...theo is now crying. sorry if there are spelling/grammar/puntual errors.