Quickie Friday Post and Giveaway Winner!

I'm just popping in for a quick little post tonight. I've got three little folks not feeling so hot, that need some mama lovin' and attention. It's one of those moments when you are sad that they are sick, but love that they need you.  They love extra snuggles, having their little toes wrapped up in blankets and cold water tenderly held for and offered to them.  All those things that my mama did for me, and honestly things I still love when I'm sick.  I practiced all the mama comforting skills in my house playing days, and let me tell you, practice doesn't make perfect...but it helps.  So when those feverish foreheads call out for my help, i'm ready.

Twas the week after vacation...{Giveaway}

Twas the week after vacation and when all through the house, 

Every creature was stirring even a mouse,

The bags were still packed and sat on the floor,

In hopes that a maid would soon be in store,

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But more clothes to be washed stacked up to my ear,

The dishes were also piled high by the sink,

Pee-yew! Who's diaper is it that stinks?

The children were restless, though tucked into bed, 

While illusions of veggie tales danced in their heads,

and Mama in her jammies, and I in my ear plugs,

Had just layed down, feeling a bit like slugs.

At mornings site they sprang out of bed, 

At the sound of a toddler screaming off his head,

"I have to go pee", he exclaimed so lively and bright, 

While all we wished, was that it was still night.

***

Coconut pancakes-( Mark Sisson, Primal Blueprint- Quick & easy meals)

As funny as the poem is, there is a lot of truth in it.  "Vacations" are work.  They are work before you leave, while your away (more so with kiddos) and when you get home.  But you know what? They are worth every ounce of it.  Dale and had this talk a little while ago. Our conversation was about spending time together as a family, how important it is to both of us despite all the work and financial commitment.  Our decision was to suck it up and trudge through all the work and prep that it takes to go out with the kids, and make some amazing memories while we were at it.  Because honestly, it's so much easier to get a sitter and go out sans babies. However, hard work builds character, and this is a great lesson that I want to teach my kids....that I need to keep teaching myself.  To persevere, to keep on keeping on as veggie tales would say.  The more important lesson in this would be to lean on Christ for strength during these 'hard work' times.  If there is anyone who knows about hard work, He does! 

Levi's 'less than impressed' face when he would have rathered that I help him with his food then take a picture

Needless to say we trudged through this week, with some good days, and some not so great. But I'm very thankful for some comedic relief from our little man every now and then.

Here is Levi checking his temperature with the meat thermometer that he grabbed off the counter.  Before you go and call children's aid, don't worry...he was well supervised and then taught what the real purpose of it was.

I'm also thankful for family walks to the field, and the inquisitive nature of a child for a pile of ants.  Actually I'm thankful that we were all as excited about seeing this mountain of ants as he was.

Yes she does baby!

On my last blog post I mentioned that the giveaway for the clutch purse would end today.  Since I had post-vacation brain, I wasn't thinking very clearly and should have given more time for others to enter.  I'll do so by extending the deadline to next friday August 31.  What a great way to end the last day of the summer, by scoring a new clutch!

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Ordinary & Extraordinary {Giveaway}

We enjoyed a family vacation shared with close friends last week.  While the drive up (and down) and life in a cottage with two other families, including three more children was at times exhausting, the memories that were made, were well worth the work.

Kempenfest Review

I'm still trying to catch my breath after the busyness of the past few weeks.  While I had great intentions of writing a post on Tuesday to review our time at Kempenfest, the calls of motherhood and wifehood were calling, well more like screaming.  There was so much that needed to be caught up on, so the post needed to wait.  

Angie and I had an incredible first year at Kempenfest.  We made lots of great memories, and met some wonderful people from our local area.  Here are a few shots of the set up time, and tent set up. Enjoy!

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