Businessman

It was a half day workday for me so I was able to meet the Sprouts at the bus stop.



The younger Sprout stepped off the bus, shouting, "Papa, my Spymaster kit came today!" He had, with his own money, purchased the kit through a Scholastic order. He proudly carried it home, looking like a businessman coming home after a successful day at work.

Josiah

Library

Fi & Astrid Sledding

Birthday Boy

Amidst all the hustle and bustle of vacation preparations and packing we quietly celebrated Jo's fifth birthday today.  All week he counted not only the sleeps to today, his birthday, but tomorrow, our departure date for travelling, visiting family and friends, sightseeing, train riding, swimming, exploring and camping.

"It was a good day today!", Jo stated at supper.

Yes, it was, little man.  A great start to the summer holiday season.

Wordless Wednesday: Kicksledding With Pop



Randomography: Kidsfest

Last weekend we went to Winnipeg to visit a close friend and her daughter who were visiting family (and to allow my spousal unit some time to shop).  On Saturday we gathered at The Forks, the site of Kidsfest 2011 which included all types of entertainment geared towards kids.  The Sprouts had a blast the whole day, especially with our close friends alongside.  Below are a photos from the day. I've put a few more photos on my Flickr stream: Kidsfest Set.

Sledding

New Year's Eve brought another snowfall and the family has been enjoying shovelling, building forts and sledding.  As part of her own Happiness Project and feeling the need to be silly (as we all should do from time to time), this afternoon my spouse took it upon herself to create a sled run for the Sprouts on the hill in front of the house.

Then JK wanted a turn.  He promptly enjoyed the trip down the first time, but on the second he experienced a "face wash" of snow and called it quits. Maybe we will try again tomorrow!

Family Time

I haven't posted much during the holidays, partly because I wanted to take a break from blogging (hence the video interludes), and partly due to the fact that I wanted to spend a lot of time with the Sprouts and my spouse. I believe that these Christmas/New Year's holidays can be put in the ten best list. Amongst other things, the family:

• enjoyed a relaxed but joyful Christmas Day
• played lots inside and out
• snuggled up on the couch enjoying movies on new technology (you know the Walmart radio commercial where the guy talks about how Boxing Week sales were made for guys and electronics, akin to a bacon wrapped steak? Well, this year that "guy" was me - holy electronics, Batman!)
• read lots (Fi read the first four Harry Potter books!)
• built things out of LEGO
• cooked and ate delish food
• sang lots, especially kids' music
• slept lots

A part of me wishes that the holidays would continue on, but I know that time marches on.  In less than a week I will be back in the classrom, refreshed, re-energized and ready to take on six more months of teaching.  What a blessing it has been to have had these two weeks of quality time with my family!

Advent

On the first day of December the family begins its celebration of Advent (though liturgically, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas). Just before the Sprouts' bedtime, after teeth are brushed and jammies are put on, the whole family curls up on the couch in front of the tastefully decorated Christmas tree. We open up the Advent calendar, which contains twenty-four numbered little booklets that tell the story of the circumstances leading up to Christ's birth. Each night, we take turns reading the booklets, and the Sprouts take a turn hanging the booklet on the tree. We then sing a song of preparation (a short Taize refrain), although, if I recall, we forgot to do that tonight in the haste of getting very tired Sprouts off to bed! Which is a great reminder for me: despite all the hurrying, scurrying and worrying before the Christmas program and feast day at school, I need to slow down and take in deep breaths. I remember planning a couple of evening "Catch Your Breath" worship services during the Advent season while in TO. I appreciated taking the time in the busy-ness of the season to be quiet, so that I could hear the voice of God saying "Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). May I continue to quiet myself to hear His voice during this Advent season, so that I can enjoy celebrating Christ's birth, and have the calm assurance for the future in that the long-expected Christ will come again.

A simple cinquain:

Season

Blue, hopeful

Expecting, longing, yearning

Anxiously awaiting Christ's arrival

Advent

Family Quote of the Day

"I can't hear what you're saying with all the noise happening in my brain."
- LK to EK after a very, very long day.

(Christmas holidays are only 17 days away! YAAY!)

Canoe Ride

The lake was quite still yesterday, and the sun warm, so after school we gathered up the Sprouts and went for a family canoe ride.  For the Sprouts, it was a time to hang out with Mama and Papa.  For the adults, it was a time to get some fresh air, distance ourselves from the trials and tribulations of the school week, and put things into perspective.  For all of us, it was a time to enjoy the Creator's handiwork.  We paddled around the edge of the lake, exploring beaver, fish and duck habitats.  We glided through brown reeds and canoed past trees holding on to their last few leaves, noting that the season of autumn has been longer than usual  (last year there was snow on the ground), but feeling the chill in the air of Old Man Winter approaching.   Soon we will not be canoeing on the lake, but skating and ice fishing instead.

Snap

The oldest Sprout was in a great mood this afternoon. "Papa, guess what I can do!" she said excitedly as we sat down at the dinner table for supper (one of my favourite times of the day, and not just for the food). I thought she was going to share a story from her time at school today. FK loves being in grade three and will share even the minutest of details about her day.  An aside: this is a shout out to her teacher: "You are doing a great job! Thanks!"

"Watch this!"

A lick of a finger, quickly dried on pants, then...

SNAP!

"I can snap my fingers!" A wide, toothy grin follows.

FK had been trying unsuccessfully for a while now to snap her fingers. My spouse and I encouraged her to practice, for at some point FK would achieve success. She is tenacious, and though easily frustrated (like her Papa), doesn't give up.

I love that my Sprouts can take joy in accomplishments, big or small.  It is a reminder for me to do the same.

Now onto whistling, riding a bike without training wheels, ...

Family Quote of the Week

While FK and I were tossing around a frisbee this afternoon, FK remarked:

"I am right-handed because I throw a frisbee well with my right hand. I am left-eyed because I wink well with my left eye."

Family Quote of the Week

Papa to FK: "Please don't lick the door!"

A Song Left Behind

Last week our very close friends from Southern Ontario visited us for a few days. They are those friends that even though you do not see them very often (not as often as you would like to), you reconnect as if you had seen them yesterday. Our friends DJ, EJ, IJ and AJ are like family to us in a lot of ways. DJ and EJ are the hospitality king and queen. EK and I learned a lot from them about hospitality and friendship while living in TO. It was more than our turn to open up our home and give them the welcome they deserved.

We had a great time, and though I won't go into details, it was a blessing for our family to have the J's visit. They did leave something behind, however, that has impacted our family meal time: the Johnny Appleseed song (you know - the one from Disney's Melody Time). After prayer, our family now bursts out into joyful song. Even if our day has been less than ideal, the simple lyrics and clap-a-long tune lift heavy hearts and make JK smile from ear to ear.

I suppose now that they have left something behind, the J's will have another reason to come back and visit us again soon.

The Lord is good to me
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need
The sun and rain and an appleseed
Yes, he's been good to me