hhhmmmmm

On this day, God wants you to know...

... that it's your heart that knows who loves you, not your ears or eyes. Listen to the words, and you can be fooled. Look at the actions, and you can be fooled. Feel deeply into your heart, and then you will know the truth. Who makes your heart soar now? Well, what are you waiting for?

Fixing bikes...

Sam and Abby are loving their bikes right now....I park my car way over on the grass and they have drawn a road system on the concrete pad - they even take their bikes in to the 'shop' regularly to fix them!!!  They use Lloyds tools and take off the training wheels from Sams bike and then put them back in again.....they just really love using the tools.....and proving how independent they are :)  then they head off down the driveway and back again!!

Henna Tattoos....

When I went away with Val and Tess a couple of weekends ago, one of the things we did in the hotel, was henna tattoos,  It was something I had never done before, but it was fun :)  

I'm not very good at it (lol) but I had fun anyway :)  

They lasted about 10 days.....

I'd definitely like to do this again!!!

Snuggling Keegan......

;)

Tess spotted this on a recent road trip to BC and thought of me....

I can't think why!!

Scrapbook/ playdate...

Today we headed up to North Edmonton for a playdate with some friends.  It was a lovely day!!!  Sam and Abby got to play with some of their very favourite friends - and got to meet some new friends too!!  I got to hang out with some of my friends...and learn a new mini album technique....

We also got to celebrate Joannes birthday a few days late!!!  We had an amazing lunch outside in the sunshine, followed by the yummiest birthday cake ever!!  We all put together and gave Joanne some tubs of flowers/ hanging baskets for her garden....

I took the opportunity to slip out for a while and walked around to a friends house to say hello - I stopped in on Bobbie to say hello and chat for a little while, before Val sent me a text to say lunch was ready!  It was lovely to see Bobbie as I rarely see her!!

All in all a lovely day!!

Home to see Susie and then I had to go and pick Laurence up from drama club.......he has gymnastics club tonight......

The weather tonight is gorgeous....breezy but sunny and warm....

I try not to, but I can't help but miss Lloyd on evenings like this.....

blah....

Mud pie maker...

Now the weather is good, Sam spends much of his free time back in the mud pile at the side of the work shop.....he loved this last year and adores it still - it's obviously much more fun than the gorgeous sandbox his Daddy made for him!!  He often turns the hose on and creates even more mud!!!

You may notice the colour of scruffy Rosie lying down in the background who is Sams accomplice in the mud pie making....I'm not sure she qualifies as a 'golden' retriever any more ;)

Best Buddies....

Sleepyhead

Tuesday happenings...

This morning we went out for breakfast with Val......which was as lovely as always...although I didn't go prepared with games for Abby and Sam and they were a little tired and cranky from late nights and playing outside and they were bored and annoying...we still enjoyed breakfast and it was lovely to hear all of Vals news and get caught up with each other....

After breakfast we came home and spent the afternoon outside...catching butterflies and frogs and playing in the mud....sitting in the sun......playing with the dogs...cats....enjoying being here in the peace and quiet.  I was left wondering how long we will get to enjoy this beautiful acreage for......and how my little boy will find living in a subdivision instead of all this land with trees and pond and land to roam all day...he soooo loves being outside and playing here with all this space.......

Tonight Chris is off to the movies with some friends...

Susannah and Laurence are recovering from their track and field day......I bet they will flop and watch a movie with the little ones.....

Porcupines and other 'creatures' with quills ;)

Last night Lloyd and I went to watch Susannah sing in her Choir evening...it was so lovely....I especially loved when they sang 'I Believe'....

Afterwards I had to take Susannah somewhere briefly, and Lloyd went back to the house to spend some time with the children.....and then Susannah and I went back to join them.  When we got home there was quite a fuss going on because there was a porcupine in the wood where Sam and Abby have their 'den'.....

Lloyd took me down to see the porcupine and it was fun trying to get close enough to get a picture and Lloyd clambering in the trees to get a picture of it from the front (not possible lol) and Abby was crying because she thought the kitten was going to die cause he was sniffing the porcy lol!

It was a lot of fun - kind of crazy and like the good old times when we were a real family :)  

We got Sam inside and bathed him together and chatted and stuff and I made Lloyd a sandwich and then it was time for him to go and he told me how great he thought I was doing - how much better than himself (this is true) and that he was proud of how great I am doing......

But actually I didn't need to hear that from him - it didn't feel that important coming from him - and that felt even MORE important....because really - I am proud of ME :)  I am proud of how much I have changed in a few short weeks - of how much I have coped with and how much I have done....and how much I am facing......

The worst I could have imagined happened - and you know what?  I'm ok :)  

Of course there is nothing I want more than my husband home, but I wouldn't want things to be the way they were....but a new start for us.....THAT I think would be an amazing thing.......

I just have to hope that one day he thinks his family is worth the risk to try.......

X

Mothers Day morning.....

Please excuse my groggy early morning appearance.....Susannah was determined to take pictures of me despite me being sat in bed with bedhead hair ;)

I don't have a picture of my mug yet.....it's in the dishwasher.....oh and Daughtry's new CD...

Thanks Lloyd for the little gifts you picked out......

Busy Monday....

Today was a busy day...Laurence was home from school, so I took the opportunity to do a few errands...I had to get some things done at the bank, with the lawyer...and sorting out some people to come and give quotes re renovations....

The water guy has to come out because our well water is going black...and we are having problems with the iron levels in it too - even the new washing machine is going yellow inside and the white kitchen sinks are stained black......so he is coming out to sort it.....I should have just called him like I had planned to - but stupidly I sent Lloyd a text.  Why do I do THAT??????  I knew to call Barry!!  But I did the dependent thing and sent Lloyd a text.....duh!!!

I never learn........I really don't need him any more to do stuff like that - I'm more than capable....although he took the last cheque book!!!  Why????  But he's bringing it back tonight thankfully - and the mail key!!

I stopped in at the local store today and got chatting to some British lady who has just moved here from Cambridge.....she's living in some womans garden??????  hahahahaha  anyway that was nice.....I grabbed some squeezy cream and came home and made waffles for the kids for a really late lunch....

Yummy waffles with cream, syrup and chocolate chips!!

Susannah is staying at school for a party and then I am heading there just before 7 for her Choral evening.....I get to hear all the songs the choir has been learning all year.  It should be really nice :)

Apart from that, chores, kids stuff, normal Monday stuff :)

Val had her BIG day today - her Daughters are now legally and well and truly HERS (well, and James') Woohoo!!!  :)  

And Tess was at the docs for her results...although didn't get her results....sigh....so has more waiting to do.........

So both Tess and Val were in my thoughts today xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Oh and Laurence surprised me today - he bought me the new Daughtry CD online......then put it on CD for me for the car :)  He's such a sweetie :)

Minnie Mouse...

Abby used static to stick the balloons to her head today :)

Crazy girly...

New hair cut...

I had my hair chopped off a week or so ago.....love the new stylist!!

Definitely going back...with looking after the kids and house on my own its soooo much easier having short hair again....and I love this asymmetrical cut!!  

Not that these photobooth pics show it off lol but I was having fun playing :)

Susies right...I should smile more in pictures ;)  

A good weekend...

It's been a fun weekend...yesterday morning after dropping Chris at work, we all went swimming and had so much fun :)  It was a great morning and we're going to make it a regular thing when the children are at home!!!  Either swimming or doing an activity somewhere....

Then afterwards we had lunch at McD's but to be honest we all thought it was yucky, greasy and nasty...so next time maybe we'll go somewhere else.....

Today was Mothers day and it's been a wonderful day all in all.  Susannah woke me with coffee and then gave me her gifts - a lovely coupon book she had made me full of redeemable coupons for chores etc she will do for me - and also a gift she had bought me on her trip to West Ed Mall last week - a lovely little key fob of the Wicked Witch of the West!!  So thoughtful of her :)

The girls sat on the bed with me all morning and we lazed and watched tv and surfed the web for junk....and then eventually got up......

We headed out to Katies Crossing for their yummy fries, onion rings, ice cream, ice cream floats and a walk around the old trains.....then to Blockbusters for a dvd....and we spent some time with my friend Samantha today too and made plans to meet again soon :)  xxxxxxxxxx

We had plans for this evening but unfortunately they got cancelled,  so we ended up curling up with a movie again...but the children didn't mind at all :)

I came home to find more cards and gifts....including some beautiful words written by my oldest Son.....made me cry :)

I had some wonderful messages on facebook some great friends - sooo touching :)  I have some amazing people in my life :)