Thankful for School

Thank You Lord for school - and the principals, teachers, and staff who work there.  It has been a good start to the year, though Covid delayed the start by a few days.  Isaac is in grade 5, Kohen started grade 1 and Lily-Anna is officially a JK.  We had originally planned to keep Lily-Anna home to do online school and Mommy-training but God in His great mercy allowed our plans to change.  We received an email the day before school started to say that Lily-Anna was registered to attend in-person (with a teacher whom we really like) so we chatted with Lily-Anna and agreed to try this.  God already knew this would happen so I had already bought her new shoes and water bottles so at 7:30 am on her first day of school, I just needed to buy her a backpack and lunchbox. 

Now Lily-Anna gets to see friends in the morning while I get a few things done and then I pick her up at 11:50 after she has had some outside time and her nutrition break so we can have Mommy-time in the afternoon (picnics, reading, hammock, art, tea parties so far).  Good times.  Graham works from home so I can leave Lily-Anna to play quietly while I pick up the boys at the end of their day.  Graham is also very helpful in the mornings when we are trying to get out the door and in the evenings when we make three lunches.

First day of school letters to my children

Celebrating freedom and education

Speaking of food, our fridge died last week.  Thanks to family and church family, we now have two borrowed bar fridges to keep us going until our new fridge arrives (we were told it would be a minimum of six weeks - I wasn't brave enough to ask about the maximum time, though I may regret that decision).  This will be our first fridge with the freezer on the bottom.  

Tea party with stuffies and Grandma's banana bread

I had forgotten to warn Kohen what the immersion part of French Immersion actually means.  I think he is over the shock now.  He was a little confused why his teacher was speaking to the class in French when she had not taught them yet.

A picnic

Today is Orange Shirt Day in Canada.  It's a day to "promote awareness about the Indian residential school system and the impact it has had on indigenous communities for over a century" (Wikipedia).  Even Lily-Anna was able to tell me the orange shirt story.  I am thankful that my children will grow up learning about this sad part of Canadian history and its ongoing effects.  

I am now a fan of electric toothbrushes!  It was recommended that two people in our household use an electric toothbrush.  Now four of us are using them (two bases and four different heads) and my teeth feel so great after using it.  I wouldn't have guessed there would be a great difference but I am sold.  

Our plates, bowls, and glasses are now located in a lower cupboard in our kitchen.  This seems like quite a silly location for anyone over 5 feet tall but now the kids can put these dishes away out of the dishwasher and they can set the table without having to climb on the counter.  

I like to self-diagnose using Google.  So, I think I may have two bone spurs on my right hand/wrist.  I haven't told Graham yet - I thought I'd surprise him.  Surprise!  It is bizarre to look at my hand and see extra protrusions.

Picnic at the park

This family can't even play pretend without a full on argument.  We were having a road trip and Graham was making it extra fun by pretending that we were on a plane and Lily-Anna was the hospitality manager.  Well, that didn't last long.  The boys decided that we were really on a fighter plane.  I think one one was the pilot and one was the gunner.  Lily-Anna was adamant that she was not on a fighter plane.  It didn't go down well. 

Today I did something for the first time.  I took a man's grocery cart for about ten minutes until I noticed the mushrooms and knew something was amiss.  In those ten minutes I had travelled all over the store.  I then found the lovely man or he found me.  He had taken my cart to customer service so he went and brought it to me and then we took out all the items I had added to his cart.  I was very apologetic and he was very kind.  I remember thinking near the bread that my cart seemed to be in a little different position.  I guess I'll know what to do the next time I feel that way.  

Reading in the hammock

It's time to say good-night.  (Also, thank You Lord for such a beautiful Fall!  I've loved the sunshine and the leaves and even some crisp mornings.)  Sorry the photos are mostly of Lily-Anna - I see I have been negligent in the photo department after school and on weekends.

Blessings,

Elizabeth

Phil 1:21

For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

P.S. I have been enjoying Rend Collective.  Often Lily-Anna and I dance to some of their more rowdy tunes at lunch time but here are a couple of others I like:

I Choose to Worship:

Rend Collective: Our Prayer 

 

Summer Adventures

Bridal Veil Falls

I'm not sure that I really believe it is August 31st but that's what my calendar says so I guess I'll post.  It surely cannot be September tomorrow.  

The highlight this month was our trip to Manitoulin Island for a week.  We stayed in a cottage we rented at Spring Bay Pentecostal Camp.  Graham remembers staying there a couple of times during his childhood.  I remember going on the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry when I was five years old.  This ferry ride would have been a little different with fewer people, everyone wearing masks, and no food sold or allowed.  Thankfully we found out that we couldn't take food on board about five minutes before our boarding at 5:00 PM so I quickly handed out some muffins and granola bars so the kids weren't hungry for the two hour voyage.  

We enjoyed a week of picnics, beaches, ice cream, candy, read-alouds, scenic drives, playgrounds, hammock rides, camp fires, s'mores, and playing in the water.  We also took a day to drive to Sudbury to visit Science North and see the Big Nickel.  I loved the beautiful rugged landscape on that drive.  I think that was when I decided that I love clouds and have really undervalued them.  So often I forget to look up to the heavens and enjoy the beauty above my head.  Clouds are majestic; a blanket; a column; God's ever changing painting, new every morning; a playground for the sunshine.  Yes, I am a new fan.  

My favourite memory of the trip was Graham trying to lick my ice cream cone with his mask on.  He was bringing it to me and it was starting to melt so he was trying to be helpful.  I wish I had taken a picture.  Thankfully we had no shortage of masks with us.  

I love what can happen in small towns.  Isaac's bike needed a little assistance so a friend at the camp advised him of which hardware store to visit.  The man at that hardware store said he couldn't get parts but knew that the man who owned the local cafe was part of the bike club.  Graham went there and the owner agreed to fix Isaac's bike.  He was very thorough!   

Isaac is looking forward to being back at school.  I just saw the announcement that school will be delayed a week so the boys will start on the 14th and go every other day that week.  Right, that reminds me.  The boys will start the new school year by attending in person (unless we change our mind before the 14th but no plans to do that) and Lily-Anna will start her JK year online but will mainly play and learn with Mommy.  That was a hard decision as Lily-Anna wants to be with friends and make new friends but we'll see how the year progresses and I would like to know what the environment is like in kindergarten.  I think we'll have fun.

Other highlights: 

Kohen lost his first tooth early this month (and his second one during our holiday)!  

Our Children's Pastor came to our yard for a social distance visit.  It was so nice to have her here.  Lily-Annawanted to decorate so we blew up some balloons and had a few streamers. 

Lily-Anna and I finally had haircuts.  The hairdresser gave her a Dutch braid for the first time.   

We read Tuesdays at the Castle as a read-aloud and the boys and I really enjoyed it.  It was a fun read.  We have now read the following two but we didn't enjoy them as much.  

I had a rheumatologist appointment and was able to get some cortisone shots in my knees and elbow.  Actually, this was the first time that he didn't need to drain my knees and he said my bloodwork looked pretty good so I think the autoimmune protocol helped to some degree, considering I haven't taken any pills or medicine since April.  If I hadn't been going on holiday, I'm not sure if I would have asked for cortisone but I think it helped our vacation.  

I finally convinced the boys to buy a pogo stick and they are happy they did.  Isaac's record on day 2 or 3 was over 1200 jumps in a row.  His legs were tired after that!  Kohen's record is over 100.

Graham and Isaac have been going to our church building for the Sunday service but Kohen asked about going this week so we may all go next Sunday.

Okay, it's time to sign off and try to post some photos.  Parenting is a challenge and a joy every single day - any prayers are appreciated.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Job 28:28  
And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'

Fun in the sun

I am quite happy that I will not be eating fish tomorrow for breakfast.  For most days in July I have eaten fish and red onions along with spinach and other vegetables.  I have enjoyed it but it's time for a change.  I always give Isaac a bite of the fish and he always thanks me.  I have now followed the auto-immune protocol for three months so I have decided to start reintroducing foods.  I start back on oats tomorrow and I am looking forward to a bowl of oatmeal in the morning.  For the last four weeks I decided to cut out almost all fruit (I still ate lemon on my fish and pumpkin and coconut in my soup) as well as natural sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, and coconut sugar.  No one recommended this and perhaps it was a bad idea but I just wanted to see if my body would react at all to having a lot less sugar.  The jury is still out.  The inflammation and stiffness is mild but I can't tell if it changed from June to July.  Actually, with less inflammation, I often feel a little more pain/discomfort.  Tomorrow I start back on fruit as I wouldn't enjoy my unsweetened oatmeal without blueberries and an apple.  I'm excited!

Just to remind me when I'm old and I don't believe I did this for three months, the auto-immune protocol that I followed: no grains (rice, corn, wheat, oats, etc), no dairy, no legumes (black beans, chickpeas, lentils, soy, peanuts), no processed sugars, no additives, no nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers), no eggs, no nuts and seeds, no seed oils, no coffee, no pepper.  I've enjoyed most of my meals - they improved since I started.  This was one blessing of Covid as I was home but preparing the food definitely takes time away from other things and people so I'm hopeful that the reintroductions of some foods goes well.

Playing in the rain

I found out today that I will be able to see my rheumatologist this month.  I am hoping he can give me a little more information about arthritis and covid-risks.  I'm not sure if he would give me any cortisone as the inflammation is minimal. 

Pizza night

Not only have Graham and I joined Facebook, we are about to become the owners of a smartphone.  We are heading out of town for a week to a cottage/cabin where there is no wifi so this is the answer.  We have owned a cheap cell phone that stays in the van for emergencies and we have had iPods.

I think this is the first year that I haven't thought about what July 31st has meant to me until 10:32 PM.  I only remembered because I just texted my friend who moved into her home July 31, 2012.  I was hoping to visit her that day but instead Josiah was intubated and we went to SickKids.  Lily-Anna was also dedicated to God on this date in 2016.  Now I can add to that today's adventure: the first day with our new hammock and stand.  Graham's parents blessed us with this.  We all had a good time - reading together and the kids also played pirates.

Speaking of reading, this month we read aloud Danny the Champion of the World (a favourite book that my mom read to her classes) and Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl.  I have also read the three books in the Bat series to Kohen (by Alana K. Arnold) and I am in the middle of reading The Railway Children to Isaac.  We are also listening to Farmer Boy on audio during some meals.  Our breakfasts are usually accompanied by an Adventures in Odyssey episode - I love them.  Tomorrow morning we will get to listen to the third and final part of a mystery one.

PJs, messy hair, and Bible time with Daddy

We have done some puzzles and played Clue and Rummykub.  Graham and the boys have been biking (Isaac was blessed with his cousin's old bike which meant that Kohen was blessed with the same cousin's old old bike that Isaac had been using.)  Playing with the hose and kiddie pool in the backyard is always high on the kids' list, as is yelling and screaming at each other.  Isaac has also made up Faulkner Ball which is similar to Soccer Baseball.

A highlight of this month was Vacation Bible School (online).  This was Lily-Anna's first VBS.  Our children's pastor and all the volunteers did an amazing job.  We had been given bags with all the supplies they needed for the crafts.  Last year I figured that I would be helping out this year as all of my kids would be there - I was right, I just wasn't expecting that I would be helping from home.  It was a lot of fun singing the great songs together and watching the lessons, etc.  It was nice to be able to do it with them and be part of it.

VBS - Crazy hair and lanterns

I like planting marigolds on Josiah's grave around Canada Day or the anniversary of his death on July 6.  Every other year I have been able to find them at that late date but not this year.  I couldn't find annuals then.  Covid struck again.  I will now plan to plant flowers earlier.  I did find a couple of ground cover plants but they are less than inspiring.  I also couldn't get hanging baskets or the plants I wanted for outside our home.  Lateness doesn't pay during Covid.  I actually tried to buy Isaac shorts at Walmart yesterday and I couldn't find one pair for him.  I could find him a winter jacket if I had wanted.  Thankfully I found a pair at the Superstore. 

We are thankful to be able to get books from the library again.  I can't remember when that started but I guess it was probably June.  Thankfully they have a surprise bag of 10 picture books or early readers that I can order along with specific ones I put on hold.

We were blessed to be able to buy a used air conditioner for Lily-Anna's room so the kids stay cool.  A fan is fine for me and if it's really hot, Graham sleeps in the basement.  We were also blessed to have an afternoon in a pool!  Friends from church invited us over to use their pool while we all social distanced.  We had such a nice time.

Kohen the butler

Graham and Isaac now go to our church building each week on Sunday morning.  Every other week Graham is involved in volunteering there (making sure only the correct number of people are in the washrooms).  I watch the service with Kohen and Lily-Anna from home.

I am thankful that we now have a mask policy in place.  It makes sense to me that everyone should wear a mask when they are out and about.  I have just ordered masks for the kids.  We have a couple adult ones that we altered with a paperclip to make them works for the boys when they went to the dentist's office.

More pizza

Apparently school for the kids is supposed to start as normally as possible in September - full classes with masks.  We need to decide whether or not we will send Lily-Anna for JK.  I know she would love it and it would be lovely for her to make more friends there but with Covid I'm not sure yet.  I assume we'll send the boys but any children I send will be wearing a mask.

I would be remiss if I did not mention thanks for the many muffins, loaves and cookies as well as meals that my mother has blessed us with.  My father has also managed to fix our curtain rod that was having issues as I bought drapes that were too heavy for it. 

Enjoying the hammock

It's time to head to bed.  It's a new day tomorrow!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Job 19:25-26
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.


Oldy but a goody: Nicole C Mullen - My Redeemer Lives

P.S. I just realized that I called last July's post Fun in the Sun but I can deal with that.

Hello Summer!

Fun in the stream

Here we are once again at the end of the month.  We were blessed with some delicious fresh-from-the-field strawberries tonight.  Yum!

Cooling off

School is over - yay!  It ended well and the boys' teachers did a fantastic job but it will be nice for all of us to have a break from that routine.  Isaac's teachers dropped off a package for him with a nice certificate and Kohen was part of a Google-meet and slideshow to celebrate the end of kindergarten.

Graham gave them each a Daddy-date on Saturday

It is a tradition in our home (thankfully Isaac told us this last year) that Graham walks the boys home on the last day of school (stopping at a store to buy slushies).  So, this year we all drove to the abandoned school on the last day, took photos, and then I drove home with Lily-Anna while Graham walked with the boys.  Part of the tradition is also that the boys want to buy something for Lily-Anna so she ended up with a chocolate bar (most of which she has forgotten in the fridge).

Last day of school

One of my favourite parts of being together more (due to Covid-19), is the read-aloud books.  We started with Pollyanna, then Helen Keller, The Secret Garden, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  I also read aloud Ember's End to Isaac as it is the final book in a four-book series we have read together.  Wonderful, heroic, rabbits with swords.  I cried.  So good.  We need a new book to start.  Thankfully we are now able to take out books from the library.

Our bubble expanded to include both sets of grandparents as soon as the Premier gave the go-ahead.  It is certainly nice to be able to have hugs again and also have two additional homes to visit.

Now that summer is here, we have started a new chore schedule from Monday to Saturday.  One of the chores is to help prepare dinner.  Each child has two days when it is their turn to help with dinner.  In general, I find the kids much more content to do the jobs as they are listed on their charts.  Of course, we started the new schedule yesterday so this may be the honeymoon period.  Hopefully they will become interested in picking out the meals but that will also involve some organization on my part as we try to shop once a week.

It's been fun exploring nature.  We have a stream with large and small rocks to walk on at the bottom of our street where the kids like to play and there is a pond and forest within biking distance.  We saw two snapping turtles yesterday.  It's been nice to go there after dinner all together, though it leads to increased drama at bedtime for an overtired Lily-Anna.  Today Kohen wanted to fly a kite so we were able to do that this afternoon and after dinner while Graham and Isaac kicked the soccer ball. 

Kohen flying a kite

Both Isaac and Kohen were part of their first online piano recitals.  Isaac's piece was prerecorded and Kohen played live.  Isaac will have four lessons in the summer and he has also asked to be Kohen's teacher over the summer.

I can hear fireworks outside.  It's Canada Day tomorrow and also my cousin's birthday.  Happy Birthday Natasha!

Other enjoyments: Reading The Sensible Shoes series by Sharon Garlough Brown (I made snickerdoodles for the first time because of these books), listening to JJ Heller's podcast Instrumental, braiding Lily-Anna's hair, puzzles, new games.

Oh yes, I am still following the Auto-Immune Protocol (AIP).  The inflammation and stiffness in my joints is manageable without medication.  I am going to try to further reduce my sugar intake to see if that helps (after we eat the strawberries I didn't freeze).  In addition to snickerdoodles, I also made chocolate chip cookies with cream cheese.  I didn't try either but I was told they were great.

Tea party

Blessings,
Elizabeth

1 Corinthians 16:14
Let all that you do be done in love.

P.S. I almost forgot - I was chatting with Lily-Anna and we were remembering camping on Vancouver Island last summer (so great!).  I said we were in a tent and then I asked her what we slept in.  She confidently said, "Suitcases." 

Great big brother