Raising Flowers and Skids

Quote of the Week

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Leah

I am now moving onto year 4 of “Quote of the Week”!

I can’t believe that I am still keeping it up – but it has become such a staple in our house.

So much so, that little notes get dropped on my desk with a passing comment of, “I heard this quote at school and wrote it down. Thought you’d like it and could use it for our quote.” (Thanks Zach)

“You make a living with what you get, you make a life with what you GIVE” Winston Churchill

The good stuff in life is all about giving, isn’t it?

Sure, it’s fun to get stuff, but giving certainly is even better.

However, I think it’s very important that we allow others the opportunity to GIVE too.

I was in a store around Christmas and overheard a conversation a mother was clearly having with her older child. It went something like this:

“I know you want to sweetie, but I don’t need a gift. You are short of money. I don’t want you wasting your money on something for me. I know you want to, and that’s enough.”

Another woman nearby heard the same conversation and we giggled together and said “Mothers! We all have the same conversation with our kids.”

And while I don’t like my kids spending their money on me, or spending much money, I thought afterwards that it is not a good conversation to be having with our kids. We are depriving them of the opportunity to GIVE!

Giving is the top priority – but how can we really teach giving if we are not willing to accept from the giver? So the conversation really needs to be something like, “I know you are short on cash. I don’t want you to spend much, or anything at all. Just do something meaningful from the heart, that takes a little bit of effort, and I’d love to receive that.”

We need to give to make a life, and we need to graciously accept to allow other’s to give and make their life too.

NYE Wrap up

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Leah

I need to put 2013 officially behind us and get into 2014, but I couldn’t not say a word or two about NYE.

During the day, we headed to the park to go tobogganing with some friends. The hills were crazy icy, and with me working in head injury, there was no way my kids were going to go down those hills. They were disappointed, but we went to the dog park instead.

Reggie had a blast, and he played a bit with my friend’s dog, while my friend snapped pictures of us, and the kids entertained themselves in the snow and played with all the dogs.

We headed home, had some lunch and talked about our favourite memories of 2013, and the ones we plan on making in 2014.

In the afternoon, we went skating.

I am Canadian, so I think there is some rule that we all skate and play hockey (and have crack smoking mayor’s….) Have you heard this?

Well, lots of people do.

I actually hate to skate. HATE.

So much work just to wobble around. Getting ready, putting on the skates, tying all the skates up (Rob has to pretty much re-tighten everyone’s, skates), freezing toes, landing on your butt after some tiny kid side swipes you (and that kid might just belong to you….), using muscles that you have never felt before….

So we went skating, as I feel like a bad Mom if my kids don’t get out at least once a year. Needless to say I was so focussed on trying to keep up the “fun” that I forgot to take any pictures. No proof that we actually went. (But I will admit, we had fun. How could you not have fun with my family, seriously??)

That evening we planned to have friends over, make some homemade pizzas, play some games and ring in the New Year . My girlfriend texted me to say they were thinking of all coming over in their PJ’s – were we good with that? Totally casual. Totally fine.

That was the plan, until Rob joked that he was going to wear a suit and then Josh got super excited about the idea of dressing up for NYE! So excited in fact, I found him in his room at 4pm (our guests were arriving at 7), putting his suit on, tie and everything!! (So impressed that this year that the 3 older boys all learned how to tie their own ties). The excitement spread quickly, and soon everyone was all fancy – and I had to text my friend that they could come in PJ’s, but we were all dressed in our fancy clothes. They joined the fun.

I have to say, it was a great NYE. The kids are all getting older, and it was so cool to see them all dressed up, sitting around and talking and eating. We had a great dinner of tons of homemade pizzas, and then spent the evening playing Scattegories, Logos Quiz and Bopit. We even squeezed in a tiny bit of dancing, but before we knew it, it was time to pop the non-alcoholic-oh-so-yummy champagne and ring in the New Year.

By 12:15, our friends had left and the kids were all in bed. Seriously. We were all wiped.

But that does not deter from the fun we had!

Farewell 2013 for good now. Thanks for the memories:)

Quote of the Week

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Leah

It’s a brand new year.

I can’t believe 2013 is gone and we are into 2014!

As we discussed our favourite parts of 2013 on New Years Eve, I was overwhelmed with what a great year it was for us. All the big things, and all the little things. We talked about what is to come for 2014 – and I got excited thinking about the things we have planned – and then for all the unexpected things that will happen.The big and the little!

So, when I saw this quote, I knew it was the one to start off our year:

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Because that is the truth!

I know sometimes I feel that certain days are so much better (e.g. the ones where I am on vacation, basking in the sunlight and leaving my daily duties behind….) And these days are sooooo good.

However, when I look back on last year, I see how much joy I do get from the little things: every day dinner times, soccer games, trips to get ice cream, family nights, bedtime reading, watching our fave shows together, hot baths, sushi dates, cooking dinner with one of the kids, walks, seeing the kids after school, hearing Reggie howl, phone calls and texts with hubby, kids or good friends, hugs…. these are the daily things that I DO look forward to.

But do I appreciate them? Do I remind myself on a daily basis that TODAY is the best day of the year? Do I try to MAKE today the best day? Do I make all the little things count?

I want to do that this year.

As Brad Paisley said about New Year’s Day, “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 -page book. Write a good one.”

There are 358 pages left to write about. Let’s make sure there is something pretty special on each page.

Year in a Glance

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Leah

2013 was certainly an amazing year. Here are some highlights:

Trip of a Lifetime #1: Fiji, New Zealand and Australia

Fiji monsoon, finding flops, cream buns, Josh getting lost, new cameras, hiking, too many fries, ferries, napkins on fire, geysers, falls, hangai, glowworms, kiwi, koala, kangaroos, sharks, bridges, Opera house, sunsets, sushi, snorkelling, Great Barrier Reef, gondolas, airplanes, lounges, homework, Shaun the sheep (Lulu too), red tourist van

More Gilmore Girls, some Friday Night Lights, Big Bang Theory (can I walk you through it, Mom – on every flight?), How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, The Goldberg’s, and Amazing Race

Skiing and skating with the Gossets; Summer cottaging with the Gossets; all the traditional Montreal food that goes along with it!

The Breadwinner

Graduations from Jackman

Soccer, soccer, soccer (practices, games, tournaments, new coaches, Zach captain)

Finger injuries

Baseball and baseball games

Auto Show

CDF Tennis Tournament (Josh and Rob winners)

Gosset’s for tennis camp week

YM/YW camp!

Williamsburg and Outerbanks: caramel apples, exploring history, outlet shopping, flying kites, sand dunes, lighthouses, beaches, beach soccer/football, ferry, horses, chinese lanterns, lobster, monopoly, family photoshoot, sunrises, runs, early morning walks

The pink ball – spotted in Maine by Zach and FOUND in Outerbanks!!!

Losing power and hotel stays. Christmas miracle.

REGGIE!!!!

Turks and Caicos (sunsets, long walks, long swims, reading, key lime pie)

Surprise dinners

Dates (kid dates and Wednesday night sushi dates)

Number the Stars

Phenomenal Girl’s Weekend #1 in Kingston

Redoing the main floor, finishing the kitchen and new family room sofa!

Hairstyling, tickles, Saturday night sleepovers

Youth conferences

Scriptures before school

Quote of the week

Christmas baking

Big kids walking to school on own; little kids walk with Reggie

Usual traditions: Valentine’s dinner, stuffie, and photo books; candy card for birthdays

Montreal for Easter; Gigi’s, Poutine and Kojax. Exploring old stomping grounds in Old Montreal and McGill

Patriarchal Blessings

Bedtime routines dwindling as kids get older: Sam still extra set of prayers (no houses catch fire, no bad dreams, no scary sounds), Josh with Chris, Lucky winner for Zach, lots of pushback on bedtimes….

Get your grades up; losing cell phone privileges

Early morning seminary

Leah moved from Primary to Sunday School teacher

FHE: into the groove and routine

CDF Study binder

Investment talks

Airplane models

First time babysitters

Photography course, blogging community

Zandra’s photoshoot in the Brickworks

Trumpet for Gabe

Robbie’s tennis tournament – playing the giant – a lesson for us all

5k Bist run for Rob, Zach and Leah

Celebrating 5 years!

New car for Robbie

Braces for Zandra

Swimming lessons – done for Zach and Gabe ; almost for Josh and Zandra!

Daily salad challenge done!

Zach becomes a Deacon

Exotic car show

Parvana’s Journey

Etc….

Big things and little things all make up this life together that I am so grateful for. Sad to see 2013 go, but excited to welcome what is in store for us for 2014!!!

Christmas Summary (Quick before New Year’s!)

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Leah

Every year we start off Christmas Eve by remembering the real meaning of Christmas. We act out the Nativity – I’m the narrator and the kids play the roles. As important as the Christmas story is to us, I have to admit, the kids have so much fun acting it out. The costumes totally add to the fun.

Reggie was baby Jesus this year. We used to use this doll, and the doll had this yellow sweater on for some reason. So, guess what Reggie had to put on to be Baby Jesus? He was thrilled.

Then we sing a few carols, Zach and Zandra do “The Christmas Alphabet”, which they created a few years ago, and we read “Teach the Children the True Meaning of Christmas” with props made years ago from the kids. We also then read “The 3 Levels of Christmas” – which talks about celebrating the Santa level (gift giving, all the seasonal fun), the Baby Jesus level (remembering the true meaning of Christmas to celebrate Christ’s birth) and the adult Christ level (keeping the spirit of Christ and Christmas year round).

Finally, every year Rob makes a poem capturing all our fun moments of the previous year.

This year, he didn’t have much time to prep, given our little Christmas adventure. He wrote this in about 15 minutes before we started our traditional Christmas Eve celebration. Isn’t he amazing???!!

Rob’s Christmas Eve Poem

Another year past… Always seems so fast

We went down under… Not a single blunder

Wet feet and floating flops

Fiji, New Zealand and Australia was the tops!!!

Swimming with the family and Josh a lost

Bats in the air and buns so cheap at least half the cost!

Smelly eggs and geysers too,

The land a green emerald the CDFs to woo

Then on to lighting the Maori ablaze

Napkins aren’t fire extinguishers! Panic, a daze!

A hangi, canoes, and glow worms so cool

We soaked in hot tubs and some nice pools

Finally swimming with sharks and the Great Reef

Brownies and puke, what a relief

But wait that’s not it…

We travelled some more and came home to the banks

We found the Pink ball, with great thanks!!

Sunny weather and fun in the sand,

We flew kites, played soccer and cherished the land

Church camp and fun, tents on high

Learning the gospel amid pranks and girl pride

New schools, same rules and the best kids ever? You bet!

A year well under way without regret

Now Christmas is near and all can’t wait

For pictures and presents and all that’s great

December with cheer and Quiet Elfie a gliding

A winter surprise that gave us a hiding

We were cold and tired and wandered downtown

Slept in a hotel and fought off our frown

But just in time, like old Saint Nick,

The lights came on with a loud click

All was saved and now we’re all here,

Warm and comfy and ready to cheer.

To all who we love we say Merry Christmas and sing loud and clear

And to Reggie the hound welcome to your first Christmas my dear

After this, the kids all go to their rooms (this was a tradition I had when I was a kid) and wait to hear for a tinkling bell to tell them it is time to come out from their rooms and gather around the tree. The anticipation kills them! Meanwhile, the presents (from family) are all placed under the tree! (There are no presents under the tree before then) When they are all placed under the tree, we ring the bell, and the kids come charging down the stairs and the gift giving starts. We try to watch each person open each gift. The kids exchange their Secret Santa gifts too. I love it when they are more excited about giving their gifts then getting.

Our Christmas Eve dinner is the favourite dinner of the year. Again, a variation from what I did as a child: we have big buffet. When I was younger, the buffet was filled with meats and cheeses, and herring (German ancestry) – but ours is filled with meats and cheeses, and chips and chicken wings, spring rolls, shrimp etc.

After feeling very full, we spend time playing with gifts and hanging out before it’s time to leave the milk, cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer. This year we decided to pack all in the truck and drive around our neighbourhoods seeing if we could see some hydro crews working to restore power and give them some hot chocolate. We couldn’t find any, but found lots of dark neighbourhoods still:(

Christmas morning is pretty low key for us. The kids spring out of bed and race to the tree where Santa has left a gift and stockings. The kids tear through all that, and are quickly back to playing with gifts. We have a yummy breakfast which always includes cinnamon buns, and then Zach and Josh head off to their Dad’s. The rest of us (depending on who is here as we only have Gabe, Zandra and Sam every second year for Christmas day) just lounge about during the day.

This year Christmas day was a chance to feel very grateful for everything we have been given, and feel very grateful that we were able to celebrate Christmas the way we always do!

Monthly Snaps of Life

Posted on December 28, 2013 by Leah

Josh and Reggie are best buds; Sam’s surprise dinner’s dessert; Fun at the park; Family night treats; Boys trying to fix PS3; Hair being done while I am working; King Reggie is served his meal; Seriously? You want me to wear that Santa suit in public – that’s depressing; Meeting cousin Conor.

My family of musicians at the Church Christmas party; Santa at the party – clearly Sam wanted to sit on his lap; This is what really happens in Church – back tickles; Reggie is the cutest; Zach’s finger injury (2 ER trips and a hand clinic visit later…); Does Reggie like this Santa hat that Josh made him, better?

Our Christmas tree tradition! The only time we ever still use our wagon! Pulling boys down to the Church on the corner, picking the tree and the kids picking the best little tree for them. Sam pulls the tree back every year! Reggie is also sporting his new coat:)

Decorating the big tree; Decorating the kid’s little tree (their own little tradition they started. The tree is kept in Gabe and Zach’s room).

Gabe’s band concert; Baking up a storm: vanilla cake pops, red velvet cake pops, hello dollies, lemon squares, truffles, caramel brownies, macaroons, caramel chews, ginger molasses cookies, candy cane white chocolate crunch, mrs. Herwer’s bars, skor pecan bars, Coconuties, sugar cookies, chocolate caramel pretzels, and cracker chocolate toffee crunch!!); Eating the treats from the One of a Kind Show; First snowfall with Reggie can you find our little snow dog (he LOVES the snow – we can’t get him to come inside and when he does, he’s covered in icicles!)

Our traditional delivering cookies/carolling/exploring lights in our new Christmas Pj’s drive! We stopped at our favourite houses to spread Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear.

Christmas is saved

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Leah

If you followed what happened here,then you’d know that we were praying for a little Christmas miracle.

But before I share the end of the story, here’s a few pics of the story as it unfolded:

The game of life by flashlight and Reggie trying to stay warm under blankets!

Watching a movie on the computer before the battery died, snuggling in front of the fire, finding a warm meal at our local diner: Detroit Eatery (Amazingly some parts of the city were not affected, while others were devastated.)

Checking into the hotel, walking to the St Lawrence market, walking to the Eaton Centre to see all the lights

Very icy, pretty park with hot chocolates in hand

Warm bed at last. Josh lucked out with sharing a bed with Reggie:)

On Christmas Eve day, we knew we still had no power. Rob had done a drive by to our house early in the morning and still no power, lines down everywhere and roads blocked with trees and branches.

I was following twitter (see, there was a reason why I started on twitter several months ago even though I’m never on it!) and following where the the hydro crews were working. There was a strong chance that we could have it later that day…. but no guarantees.

Gabe, Zandra and Sam were heading to off to celebrate Christmas with their Mom (it’s her “off year” so she gets them from 9am-7pm Christmas eve…) so they went with her (she had no power either). Zach and Josh went to have lunch with their Dad (he had power). Everyone was to head back to our house for our usual Christmas Eve.

We left the hotel, drove around in search for more firewood (which was impossible to find – we had some – but wanted more), and came up with a plan of how we would stay warm that night. The kids wanted to do Christmas at home, and were not keen on another hotel night. We decided we would barricade everyone into our bedroom which had a small fireplace and hope for the best. As we were prepping our home, which was down to 7 degrees celcius, we heard our house alarm make a barking sound which meant we had power!!

I cried.

Slow tears, as my tears were quite frozen, but tears nonetheless.

It’s amazing how something like heat and electricity are simply taken for granted. But when you lose them, you realize how blessed we are to have them in the first place.

Reminded me of this quote, from not so long ago:

It took a while for the house to heat up (about 7 hours to be exact). The kids were thrilled and we were able to celebrate Christmas in our own home.

A Christmas we will never forget.

Truly a miracle, as some people STILL are without power and our prayers are with them.

Merry Cold Christmas??

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Leah

It’s a good thing that I am a pretty big planner, and all of my gifts were bought, most of them wrapped and all the baking was complete (and partially eaten)….

The turkey was purchased as well as all the other items to make for our traditional turkey dinner to be held the Sunday closest to Christmas (that’s how we do our blended family turkey dinner celebration) and we were awaiting Gran and Auntie Di’s arrival.

I guess it’s also a good thing that I lived through the big ice storm in 1998 in Montreal too, so when they announced an ice storm was heading to Toronto, I told Rob we needed to check all our supplies. We bought extra batteries, extra supplies and made sure the cars had gas.

Then the storm hit.

By Sunday morning we had no power, and our backyard was covered with tree branches that had fallen. A quick survey in the area showed us that we were lucky. Our house and cars were safe. Unfortunately, a few minutes after we did the survey, a huge branch fell from our large, old, ice laden front tree and landed on our neighbour’s car parked right in front of our house (we have street parking – I was a little disappointed the other evening when I came home that there were no spots right in front…I counted that as a little blessing now as that could have been my car, but still feel bad for my nice neighbour).

Word spread through the neighbourhood that it would be at least 72 hours before power was restored. Did I also mention that I had started to feel sick Saturday night and by Sunday morning was sure I had strep? No clinics open. Emergencies running on generators so not the place to be. Luckily, just south of us, many of the stores still had power. So google was my doctor and natural remedies are my friend (and hopefully my cure).

My Mom and Aunt Di were on there way, but I was finally able to reach them to tell them, sorry to cancel Christmas, but turn around! Go home to your warmth. Thank goodness they did.

We spent the night (no turkey dinner for us, but a local Chinese place delivered and we ate by real candlelight!) with the kids huddled in our living room in front of the fire, piled in sleeping bags and blankets as we braved the upstairs cold bedroom. A bit of a sleepless night, we were hopeful in the morning and found one of our favourite eateries open and had some warm breakfast.

The news reports were not promising so we needed to come up with plan B. A few great friends who had power offered up their homes for us to crash in. So grateful for their kindness. But we are a lot of people to house….

While contemplating what to do, Rob suddenly got on the phone and called a hotel we had never really talked about (or I had even heard of). He said the name just popped in his head. He called, they had two rooms (the city was getting sold out as everyone had the same idea as us), at a reasonable price, and one of the few hotels that took pets!

So we checked in.

We explored the area too and acted like tourists, checking out the market, walking around the downtown streets, looked at the lights in the main downtown shopping mall and ate hot dogs from the hot dog stand. I even took pictures on my iPhone to capture a Christmas I’m sure we will never forget.

Don’t worry, we’re not planning on turning this into a tradition.

So tonight, we are warm and cozy. We had hot showers and outlets to charge everything up (and now I can use my laptop!) Boy, am I grateful for heat and electricity.

But for tomorrow, we may need some prayers. The kids, like all kids, want to be home for Christmas – and I do too!! Hoping for a little Christmas miracle.

Regardless of where we spend it, I am wishing you all a wonderful Christmas to you and your families!

More traditions including an Elf…

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Leah

When we first got together as a blended family, Christmas was a bit intimidating.

We each had our own way of doing things, and our kids had certain memories. I admit, I had a lot more traditions, and some were mine from when I was a child, so I didn’t want to let those ones go. So we kept some:)

What we also did was create a whole bunch of new ones, which I already have talked about a few: Christmas movies, our Quote wall, and Festival of Carols, but others too which include (will post pics and more on each one in upcoming posts)

– Secret Santa: the kids draw names the first of December and spend the month doing little kind things and giving their Secret Santa cool little gifts. Christmas Eve, they reveal themselves with a larger present.

– “Drinking-hot-chocolate-and-delivering-Christmas baking-and-singing-carols-and-looking-at-lights-in-our-new-pj’s” drive. (Click here for the start of this tradition). We look hilarious, we laugh a lot, and sometimes we prefer to “ding-dong-ditch” the baking plate on the people’s front steps. But many get to hear us sing:)

– How we buy our Christmas tree/decorate and the kids get their own little tree.

– Our nativity re-enactment on Christmas Eve. With so many kids – how could we not??? We have certain stories we share as well, and Robbie always writes a poem to sum up our year!

– Each year we try to do something spiritual to remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas. This year we are trying to follow an advent calendar of Scriptures about Christ’s life. We have also tried to read some uplifting, touching Christmas stories. All an attempt to balance out what can drive me crazy about the season (though I truly believe that Santa Clause can be used beautifully as a way of remembering the real reason too. I shared that last year-please click on over and check it out if you are interested in being able to see how to blend the two. We read this story every year on Christmas Eve as well, with props and everything!)

And of course, how could I forget one that many hate (many people “in the world” – but certainly not in my family), but I tell you, 6 years ago when we introduced him to our family it was the BEST!!! It was so novel for our kids and was uniquely a CDF tradition that they all loved it! And still do! We fondly named him : Quiet Elfie

What has he been up to in the past few weeks?

Long live the Elf in our house. He has brought nothing but smiles, laughter, a few good gifts, and amazing memories and anticipation for Christmas!

Quote of the Week

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Leah

In December, our quotes slow down a little bit. This gives us the opportunity to go back and reflect on the ones we had over the year.

We put up all the quotes in the kitchen and make our “December Quote Wall”. We each then select our own favourite quote from the year.

I’m always amazed at how many there are and how many discussions we have had about them (and then how many blog posts have been written just on the quotes alone!)

It’s a tradition that takes a little bit of work every week, but it’s probably one that I value most.

Here’s a snap of our wall: