A wonderful, wired weekend update

Mom and Dad took the time to come and see us this weekend, braving what was sure to be a crazy visit with the grandkids.  Lots of good things happened this weekend, but they were very patient even though we were all squeezed into such a small space and tripping over each other and wrestling (they boys) in the living room and wanting to exert our independence (hello age 6!).  I'm sure it was a bit of a challenge staying calm when there was nowhere to go to get away, but we managed to have some really good time too.

Friday was Madi's birthday and we decided to walk down to Rocky Point Pier to show Grandma and Grandma some of our favorite destinations.  While we were there we watched them put a new dock into the ocean with a crane.  This kept everyone entertained for a good half hour.  We played on the park, walked on the wet sand when the tide went out, collected shells and visited the vegetable/fruit stand. Once we got home it was time for the birthday supper - Madi's choice of burgers and fries, and then a caramel cake that Grandma bought for her.

Eight years old already!  We can hardly believe it.  She has grown up in leaps and bounds lately, giving us hope that the others will follow suit and our house will eventually quiet down.  She got all kinds of girly things from her family - flip flops, a swimming suit, a hair curler/crimper, nail polish, lip gloss, oh - and a snakes and ladders game from Mac so she can play with him!

The next day was very exciting.  Dad went crab fishing with Clayton, Mac and Dan and really enjoyed himself.  They caught 4 big keepers, so it was crab for supper.  Dad ate 1 and 1/2 and probably would have enjoyed more if the boys would let him have them.  He seemed surprised to enjoy it so much.  Mom tried one bite (yes, she really put it in her mouth!).  It took her a bit to warm up to the idea, and once she did she immediately ate some ceasar salad to wash it down.  Not her cup of tea!  I think it was even worse for her to watch them pull the crab apart to eat it.  They were so good though.  This is definitely the time of year to catch them.  They are really meaty and sweet.  Dan has decided to just play in the water and on the beach in the summer and crab fish in the winter.

Saturday afternoon was the highlight of the weekend.  Madison was baptized and confirmed by her Dad with lots of our friend from the ward, and of course mom and dad, in attendance.  She looked beautiful in the pink dress mom brought her, but she radiated in the white jumpsuit.  It's hard to believe our first baptism has come and gone!  She told me she felt like a brand new baby when she came out of the water.  What a fun girl.  She was given some very nice cards and a soft, cuddly blanket.  Mom and Dad gave wonderful talks and mom even held it together for the first sentence or two.  (Just kidding mom.  It wouldn't be the same if you didn't get emotional.  I'd start to worry.)  Madison was so happy they agreed to speak and did such a good job of it. 

Dad and Madi on her special day.

That was about it for the excitement, other than a trip to the pool.  Sunday was just a relax, rainy day and then Mom and Dad flew out this afternoon.  It was so good to see them.  The kids sure loved having them here and it makes the miles seem a little less when they can fly here in an hour.  I felt kind of bad because we were all either sick or coming down with colds, so the crank factor in our home was a little high, as well as the tiredness.  But nonetheless, we got to spend the weekend together and give real hugs and kisses instead of just blowing them on the webcam.  What a great time!

Seven on Sunday

The goods for the week:

1. A free couch to replace the one that broke.

2. Children that participated reverently in primary and actually seemed to enjoy themselves.

3. Being physically able to run, jump, swim, and play with my kids

4. Having a pool right across the road - it's a great way to wake everyone up in the morning!

5. Being blessed with a daughter who sees right and wrong in black and white and keeps the rest of us in line, especially her brothers.  We're so excited for her baptism, but not as excited as her.

6. A brother who is providing a wonderful example of gospel service to my three boys, as well as Madi.

7. Being members of a little ward that really does care about us and our family, where we're not just more numbers in the primary. 

Have a great week!

A good day to get outside

Just a few pics from our day today.  The boys and I decided to head out on a long walk and picnic to get some fresh air.  We didn't even get rained on until the very end!

A paleontologist in the making

Clayton finally found out what his special rock really is.  He found it when we lived in Magrath and we always wondered if it was something more than just a rock.  The outside is smooth and almost scaly looking and the inside is made of crystals.  Here are some views:

Dan took it in to the geology professor at the college and as soon as he looked at it he told him it was a cephalapod, or really ancient squid-like animal.  It lived during the Jurassic period, about 65 million years ago or during the time of the dinosaurs like brachiosaurus and stegasaurus and pteradactyls.  It's not a dinosaur, but pretty darn close.  Needless to say, it has maintained Clay's desire to become a paleontologist and find dinosaur bones all over the world - or maybe just in the backyard.

What an actual cephalopod may have looked like:

The piece we have is part of the shell.  It died and fossilized, the inside becoming crystals over time. 

In need of a little humor

It is now official.  Vancouver has earned the distinction of the World's Most Unaffordable City.  That's right, the world.  Not Canada, not North America, not the Western Hemisphere - the world.  This is based on the price of housing compared to the average median income.  We were starting to think it was just us or maybe we were just exceptionally poor because everyone here just acts like that's the way life is.  But no, it is extremely expensive to make a life out here.  So on that note, here's a little downhome, small town, always-looking-for-a-bargain humor:

Have a happy day!

Seven on Sunday

Here's the "good" for this week:

1. I did not have to drag any of my children out from under the primary pulpit during sharing time.
2. We played in the sand at the park and the sun was shining so bright I almost felt like it was summer again.
3. Seeing all of my family on the webcam so I felt like I wasn't missing too much.
4. Saying goodbye to Steve as he leaves on his mission - a wonderful bitter-sweet goodbye.  We're so excited and proud, but we will miss him, especially Clayton.
5. Malcolm taught himself how to dive into the pool with his goggles on.  Now he feels like he can keep up to big brother.
6. Spencer did his business in the toilet all by himself with no prodding or suggestion from us.  Very proud of himself.  And we could be completely diaper free before too long....Dare to dream!
7. Having a good laugh with Madison when she was asked to say the dinner prayer and she started out, "1,2,3,4,...."  You probably had to be there, but it's so fun having kids who are growing up enough to laugh at themselves and find the humor in all of life's situations.

And an extra number 8...
Parents who are willing to do anything to help out their kids.  You know who you are, and no amount of thanks will ever be enough.  Love ya.

Seven on Sunday

Malcolm gets into the flour

So here's a new thing I'm starting because my blog is getting kind of, well, unused as of late and every time I think about writing I tend to the negative, so I have to lift myself above all of that.  In response, I am starting my "Seven on Sunday".  Once a week I am going to think of seven positive, good things I am grateful for this week or that have happened.  Here goes...

1. Playing in the pouring rain and watching Dan fall face first into a mud puddle.

2. Playing t-ball and casting fishing rods in the park in January.

3. The bushes in our patio are already beginning to flower and smell.

4. Our neighbour has offered to pick the kids up from school everyday, and drive them on Monday and Friday mornings when Dan can't since we're having car troubles.

5. We have gotten our webcam up and running and have opened the lines of communication with some members of our family that we haven't kept in touch with like we should have.

6. Tiffany is having a boy - yeah!

7. Our new neighbor gave the kids a bucket full of little plastic animals that have kept them occupied and happy for many pleasant moments.  Who knew?

Happy Sunday!