Isabelle and Abigail turn 5!!

I don't know why but the girls birthday and Spring in full swing always makes me feel like throwing a big party. This year we invited our families and had a hot dog roast. Simple. I was most excited about making the desserts- I feel like I have to go over board because there are two of them. One day I just may buy them the same cake and call it good. For now... I bake. I cleaned every day for a week before the party. The house certainly needed it and I am so happy I did it. Although... it has only been a week and I have zero desire to clean again... oops :/

 

 

 

I swore I wasn't going to be too tired to enjoy myself so the day before the girls and I danced and decorated around the cake table. We all had a blast.

The fire pit (thanks Auntie Kate and Uncle James) in the front yard. Dad was the master chef and cooked all the wieners on the grill instead of everyone using roasting sticks.

 

The dessert table

I made lemon cupcakes with blackberry buttercream icing, chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream icing and a shortbread tart topped with lemon curd infused whipped cream and strawberries and raspberries. Gradually with leftovers I tried them all. I can't pick a favourite. All recipes were found on Pinterest. I thought all were great. I want to learn how to use ice cupcakes more fancy. I'm sure with a lifetime of icing cupcakes ahead of me I will.

 

Abigail Catherine. She is very aware of her emotions and has really grown into them- aka doesn't have melt downs but talks about what is bothering her and tries to fix it. She is great at conflict resolution with other kids. She is compassionate. She thinks about things on a deeper level than I am certain I ever did- she really tries to understand why things are the way they are or how they work. I love this quality in her as it reminds me of her Dad. She loves to sing. She sings in bed before she falls asleep and when she is really happy doing something alone she will be singing, usually made up songs to herself (riding her bike or colouring). She has a big laugh and loves to make others laugh. She loves to practice math and rhyming.

headed out the door to preschool on her birthday

 

Isabelle Ruth. She is a natural athlete. She loves to play baseball, Frisbee and soccer in the yard. She is effortlessly strong. She loves to ride her bike and swim. Naturally she is a rule follower, she is quick to point out when someone else isn't following the rules (either to them or me). She is very detail oriented and observant with a great memory. From time to time these great attributes she has make her a great mischievous and quiet trouble maker (like cutting her hair and I have no idea she isn't even in the room because she just observed that I was distracted and quietly snuck). Isabelle loves fiercely and is sensitive. She is learning how to talk about her feelings instead of locking them all away and not speaking. Isabelle loves to laugh and has a contagious laugh. Isabelle loves to practice writing words and making lists as she does so.

 

I think I am glad on a daily basis that these two have each other. I've been watching them ride their bikes side by side laughing all the while for hours a day as of late and I can't help but think of how lucky they are to have each other. They are quick to help each other when one gets hurt. They still cuddle with each other if they're ever watching TV together, and occasionally sneak into bed together. They serve each other- which I am sure every parent experiences as children age- but it warms my heart in such an incredible way. I can't help but feel that they are learning things early about love and kindness and thinking of others that will help them throughout their lives because they've always had someone with them.

 

They're registered for Kindergarten starting in September and if I'm being completely honest, my heart is breaking about it-- maybe its good that I am sad now because post baby I don't think I'll handle it well. Maybe I am grieving early so I won't when it actually happens. They'll ride the bus to and from school... eventually. I am sure by Thanksgiving they'll be riding both ways- which means gone from 8am-3pm! Olivia will miss them immensely too.

I adore this picture. It captures the joy of sisterhood on every one of their faces. 

 

 

 





 



 

 

Living the Dream

When we decided to move to Port Alberni and live on the farm I had high hopes of having a fabulous garden and raising chickens and pigs. In the back of my mind I was doubtful if I would ever make the time to do such things. Pigs still may never happen.

When Mom and Dad went to Australia in November and I was tending the cows daily I realized how much I enjoyed having something to do other than my normal daily tasks. I liked checking on the cows to make sure they were all ok. I knew then I'd really like to learn more and do more outside.

In February I decided that I would really like to try raising meat birds.  Thankfully mom wanted to as well, so we have ventured together in this new experience. We ordered the chicks through a company in Black Creek (Reliable Poultry Service) and picked up the 33 COBB 500 chicks on March 15th in Errington. We ordered 30 and they had sent a few extra. Mike and Beth also got 30 and we ordered all together.

The Meat Bird Chicken Coop

Mom, Kate and I had built a brooder box from material we had on hand... found in dads shop. Kate has mad drilling skills. Mom is brave with a chop saw. I was ensuring our measurements were all correct. We ended up with a cute brooder box. We used the old sheep/llama shed near our home to house the chicks. We filled the brooder box with pine shavings.

Brooder Box

 

Day of Delivery

 

1 day old

When the chicks were 2.5 weeks old we extended the box to 2/3 of the coop, and  a week later (at 3.5 weeks) to include the whole coop except where we keep the feed (in an old garbage can with a lid to prevent critters from stealing). The whole coop is lightly covered with the pine shavings and we've bought 4 bags of it. We won't need another bag. We cover highly pooped areas with the shavings and when they're gone we will take the shavings and add them to our gardens. Chicken poop is the best fertilizer. The chicks needed the heat lamp on all the time for the first 3 weeks. For the next week or week and half we had it on at night or on particularly cold days. For the last week and a half we haven't had the heat lamp on at all.

2.5 weeks old

When the chicks were between 4 and 5 weeks and the weather outside was delightful we decided to start encouraging them to go outside. We have started feeding them outside, except for when it is raining. They slowly adjusted and now regardless of if their feed is outside will be outside, even if it is drizzling. When I am in the pool yard in the garden and they hear me talking to the girls they will run over to the fence where I am closest to. We built up with the shavings a hill for them to get outside as there is roughly a 10 inch cement door jam. They have played in the shavings, aka ruined the hill, and now just hop onto the cement and then in or out.

3.5 weeks old

For roughly the first 2 weeks we fed "starter crumbles" and since then we have fed "grower crumbles" and next week or later this week we will start feeding them "finisher pellets." The birds are going to Al's Feathers Be Gone on May 10 to be butchered at 8 weeks old.

Last week Mom took pictures to the farmers market with her and the men she has tables next to had nothing but high praise for how the meat birds looked, and one was determined to have his get outside more.

5.5 weeks old

Yesterday 3 were flying over the barrier to where we keep the food and stand while we are in the coop... I was brave and picked them up and put them back. I haven't wanted to touch them but I was brave and took care of it.

I LOVE the idea of feeding my family food that I know where it came from. I know these birds are well cared for. They've run around outside. I know they are healthy. We are selling some of our batch to cover the start up cost and cost of raising them. They sold VERY quickly. This time Chris and I are selling the majority of what we've raised and will eat our chicken for free :) Next time we will keep more to last us through the fall/winter and end up having some cost.

We are getting 20 of a different breed of meat bird (Sassos) around May long weekend, that will be 4 weeks old from a man at the market. They forage more and are slower growers and will be butchered at 12 weeks old. Mom and I plan to get more COBB 500 in the middle/end of August.

Side note: We have had 3 die. One early who just wasn't growing- failure to thrive. One got a hurt leg and we had to kill it (and by we I mean Mom and Dad). And finally one died last week while eating- we think it was over eating and had heart attack (Mom buried it). 

This is totally a record for me so I remember next time... or next year... or for anyone who wants to try it!

In the middle of April Mom and I bought some point of lay hens. She already had 8. I bought 4 and she bought 12 more. There are a total of 24 layers in the coop near her house. I LOVE collecting eggs every day. Being pregnant and on a high protein need I have 2 eggs every morning. I love not buying eggs at the store. I think eggs are a ridiculous price in the grocery store. And also did you know that eggs don't go bad for 6 months... so when the egg carton says their best before date... they're actually OLD eggs!!! Yuck.

This past week I planted a portion of our garden. The pool yard has raised garden beds. I planted 7 tomato plants (3 early girl, 2 cherry, 1 gold roma and 1 beef steak), beets, broccoli (that I had started inside in March), carrots, peas, swiss chard, kale and bok choy. I also transplated a chive plant from moms into the garden. I have never gardened. I hope that this is successful and we have a plentiful harvest. I have 16 pepper plants that I started inside too that I transplanted into 4inch pots this last week. They look real healthy. I plan on growing them in the garden shed that has lots of windows so the plants will be nice and warm and hopefully produce very well. There is talk of Dad rototilling the "old garden" (where we grew things when I was a kid) and if that happens I will plant more of everything and add zucchini, cucumbers, beans, peas and corn.

Dreams do come true!

This is the raised garden boxes, I've transplanted the rose bush elsewhere. The peppers will grow in that garden shed.

 

 

Pregnancy, Bodies and Faith

I am currently 23weeks3days pregnant with our fourth child. Ultrasound has confirmed that this is indeed a little boy growing in my ever expanding belly! I have felt so many different things this time than in previous times. I want to record the story of this pregnancy and the struggle for me beforehand-- the faith and bodies part of the blogs title before I... forget.

Starting in the summer of 2014 I started a "learn to run" program. The goal being 5km. I LOVED IT. It was the perfect way for me to start running again... ok did I ever really run consistently before? I don't know. It was the perfect way for me to start running. It gave me time alone. I enjoyed the sunsets in the stunning Comox Valley, I enjoyed listening to podcasts and general conference talks, I enjoyed being by myself and doing something JUST for ME. It made me so grounded and happy. I ran fairly consistently throughout that winter (minus a back injury that I babied) and as spring hit I flourished. I was feeling in great shape. I actually wore out my first pair of runners (which I reluctantly threw away last week). I ran at least 4 times a week. I have a bucket list goal to run a half marathon... but didn't want to run one in the summer of 2015 because I didn't think I'd flourish in the heat and as it happened the spring/summer of 2015 was full of uncertainty. Where would we be living? What would Chris's job be? Could I actually pick a race and be there? So I didn't. By the fall I was really feeling motivated and committed and actually found a race that would be on February 6, 2016. I had plenty of time to increase my distance and feel strong doing so. I was committed. I even had friends to do it with me.

REWIND...
When Olivia was about 15months I had this feeling that a little boy was eager to join our family. In my "well I'm a really busy mom and I don't want to yet" attitude I let these feelings go away.

Back to fall 2015...
General Conference weekend was full of inspiring messages (to me at least) about raising families. That families weren't raised on money but love. Chris and I spoke about my feelings and he was ready to have another. I bartered with him (and really the promptings I was receiving) that as soon as the race was over in February I would happily get pregnant...

A month later in November, probably around the 14th, Chris and I went to the temple with our ward. Chris was helping in the baptistery and I went to a session. I had become anxious about the race, about my ability to do it and about the strength of my body. I read in the scriptures before the session started looking for the peace my mind needed. I was reading in 3rd Nephi 18: 19-20 "Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name; And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you." In that exact moment I knew I needed to change my direction. I knew I needed to change my goal. Change my vision. I knew I was feeling anxious and not peaceful because I was trying to do things my way. I had to let go of my goal of my pre pregnancy body. I knew it was time to do what Heavenly Father needed and wanted me to do. Throughout the session I wept as I felt humbly grateful that my Father in Heaven desired this of me. I felt my will wash away and be replaced with His. I knew then that in doing this I would need His help, but I also felt confident and trusting that He would. I felt I was taking a real step in my discipleship. In my commitment to follow Him. I told Chris as we walked around the temple together afterward and in the kindest way possible he told me he was happy because he had been waiting for me to decide this. The peace I felt was just what I had been looking for.

The next day was the Montreal Temple rededication. As I drove home from the broadcast I again felt that a little boy was so happy to be joining our family soon.

As the days went on... I thought oh maybe I can wait one more month... maybe it won't happen right away... I don't need to tell my friends I can't run the race... Maybe I can get what I want (run the race) AND be pregnant... As I wrestled in my mind deep down I couldn't deny what I knew I needed to do.

As luck would have it I did get pregnant right away. I never did take a pregnancy test. I just knew and not because I felt sick before 6 weeks (like at 3 weeks with twins). I ran until I was 6 weeks pregnant and then realized I just couldn't keep up. Between weeks 6-11 I had the worst heart burn. It was literally AWFUL. Sometimes it made me super anxious and feel like... I must be dying... my chest shouldn't feel like THIS... I must be having a heart attack... and dying! (haha at myself looking back) The first trimester was pretty rough. Heart burn, anxiety, rainy wet cold winter and exhaustion certainly took its toll. On those nights of worry I would put my hands low on my tummy where my tiny babe was growing and I would feel a wave of peace and love wash over me. I fell in love with this babe so early.

17 weeks

At the 20 week ultrasound the tech was super rude. I left feeling that certainly something must be wrong with the babe because I could not understand her cold demeanor toward me. I was again left feeling anxious. I didn't call the doctors office the next day... oh wait I did... but it was closed early on a Friday afternoon. I was left to myself, not the professionals, to get the worry away... as I contemplated and tried to understand her behaviour the thought came to me that it didn't matter if everything was ok, that if something was wrong we would deal with it as it came and Heaven would be there to help. Peace again returned.

Throughout all that I  have gone through I am learning again and again that I can have complete trust and confidence in my Father in Heaven's plan for me. It might not always be easy. But it will always work out in the end... whatever that end is. I know the plan of salvation, I've been taught it since my childhood and slowly through my experiences I am learning to believe it.

So our son is set to join our family some time in the middle of August. Exact due date, even though I fully expect to go past it(...unhappily), is August 19th. I am grateful we have a large pool in our yard, that my kids can swim, and that we have air conditioning. I do not know how I will transition my kids into kindergarten so few weeks/days after welcoming a new babe. But I trust all will be well... and yes my heart is breaking a little bit (or a lot) at the thought of my girls being gone all day at kindergarten. I will miss them terribly (enter a rush of pregnancy emotions aka tears).

21 weeks

Family Stories

I attended a class this week about writing family stories. I heard other peoples family stories and was inspired- to be more courageous and complain less... all this from people I don't even know! What about if my posterity can read about us and feel connected and encouraged? I must try and preserve our life in writing... before I forget :)  Our kids are growing up so fast and I want to remember these days. I know these days are special. I want to remember my children's sweetness, our interactions and our relationships. I imagine it will help me when they are teenagers. Maybe. I also want to remember how we deal with hardships. I am going to do what I can.

Today we had a very peaceful Sunday. After spaghetti dinner with the Sister missionaries we headed outside to feed the chicks. We ended up visiting with Grandpa and Uncle Al on the driveway. The kids played in a puddle making "slug soup," "caterpillar soup" and many other creations (onion ice cream) in an effort to have Uncle Al taste and be disgusted. He is such a hoot to watch play with the kids. He has such enthusiasm and energy, the kids love to play with him. Abigail was laughing so hard and slapping her knee as she looked delightfully up at his reactions. Abigail and Isabelle loved making him laugh and playing tricks on him with mischievous grins on their faces. Olivia ran around in her boots sloshing with water collecting rocks, bark, grass and flowers to make the "soups". I love to watch the girls run and be free. To play with whatever is on hand, even if it just nature, and to have an absolute blast doing it.

On Friday night Grandma and Grandpa watched the girls so Chris and I could chaperone a youth dance in Nanaimo. First thing the next morning the girls told us that Grandpa had told them a "Flossy and Bossy" story. They loved it and wanted more! Tonight I put them to bed and told them a Flossy and Bossy story. Dad used to tell Beth and I (I'm sure other siblings too) Flossy and Bossy stories before. Now the tradition continues in our home. I can't really remember what they were like as a kid except they usually started early in the morning, had a big day and got to bed late and exhausted. I decided that since the girls would be listening intently I would teach them about things that they would soon be doing, learning and have them doing a good deed in the story. What better time to teach them gospel principles or good morals then through stories. In tonight's story Flossy and Bossy were 8 and were in school learning about bees and flowers and the solar system and Canada. Their little brother Grimnock (also featured in my childhood stories) was being teased on the bus on the way home from school and they helped him. Mom met them at the bus and they walked home and talked about their days. They did homework (reading a book), rode bikes and had dinner. After getting in pajamas they practiced the piano, read the scriptures and had songs before bed. While I don't pretend to be a great story teller I hope that a) my creativity will improve  and b) they will learn things that will help them navigate life.