start of harvest

Yesterday was the start of harvest! It was kind of weird.  Yesterday was a pretty good day - in the morning the cleaning ladies came and did the carpet in the living room and part of the dining room. They had so many stains. Not all are gone, but it is a huge improvement!!! Then while they were here, I went for a half hour power walk, and a half hour bike ride. The kids liked that because then we went to the park afterward.  I am hoping to do more exercising to lose some inches; i've finally just had enough. I am determined!

Then yesterday swimming lessons went much better. I had to bribe kate with candy of course, but she finally went in, and was even jumping in! Once she tried it, she loved it and had lots of fun. So, I just have to find something that she cannot resist for going on the potty chair. I am looking to God for answers and hoping soon he can tell me!!

Here's a few favs from yesterday

last day

My small group bible study has been such a blessing to me this summer. Not only did i have more homework, (which was also a blessing, because sometimes I need to extra push to finish a book) but I got to know a few more girls that I normally wouldn't have.

There's about 4-5 missing from this group, two are about my age and 3 are a little older. We had a salad luncheon yesterday which was so fun; we made all salads, no meat, just all pasta,vegetable, lettuce, and rice salads. I know we are looking at possibly a marriage bible study, so our hubbies can join in, but for sure we are looking to continue. It is nice to be with encouraging christians!!


Then yesterday Kate had swimming lessons, which is a week long, from Monday-Monday (Monday is her test) and today they got to go in the big pool.  They practice jumping in and going into the deep waters with the teachers. Kate had fun, but she was too scared to jump in and too scared to go in the deep waters.  I hope she will pass.  :(    It is hard for me to see her so fearful of everything, from water, to a potty chair! 

my life

I don't have much to say today, except this link: http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/

So hard to see those kids... can't even imagine what they are going through.  Jess' blog about transformations is a good blog I came across now. It just makes me thankful that I was born where I was... because that could have been my life..

summerfest

This weekend has been very eventful. I made a few cards, here they are:

On Friday we filled their kiddie pool, & had summerfest in stephen so I brought the girls to 'art in the park', and to the parade, and off to my nephews birthday party.  Peter worked in the morning to try to get a little more prepared for harvest (boo) so I took the kids to the "art in the park"- they had lots of fun activities for the kids- i'm really glad we went. They had bubbles, necklace making, face painting, several painting (finger, Easel, etc) play dough, and a few other things. Then the helicopter came right over us and dropped paper plates with dollar amounts typed on them. You could cash them in. We got a couple, but they were only $.50 a piece, so we gave them to a couple kids who were older, and crying because they didn't get one! Then we went home to nap, where I fell asleep and woke up just in time to bring Kate to the kiddie parade. We met up with Tom and Robyn Widner, and Nathan and Michaela Sustad. It was fun to be with friends. Stephen was really packed with people this year!!  Here's some pictures from the weekend.

Back to reality

It was so nice to get away. To kick back and relax. But one thing I learned, coming home is the pits! The kids always behave lots better at grandma and grandpas and the stresses of the world are waiting for us when we get back. Immediately when I am trying to go to sleep, I am stressing. Why is that?    So today I am in a disappointing mood. It is really hard when Satan is throwing bricks at us to keep us down. 

The weekend was really nice.  We didn't have to think about kids, or work, or the lists of things that we have to do each day. We just enjoyed each other, and for once, we didn't feel guilty! The last month or so, it has been hard because Peter's been gone, either working long hours on the farm or doing other activities.  So it was nice to be with just him. 

We celebrated our day on Monday,  with a dinner at the Nicolet Island Inn.  I had salmon, and Peter had a fish prepared in a way I cannot pronounce. Our appetiser (above)  was a selection of three different cheeses, paired with apple slices or grapes.

Then, to my surprise, he called in a carriage ride!

 

Then I got to our hotel to a surprise!

Thought I was caught up on printing pictures?!

I am so lazy right now. Yesterday was so busy I hardly sat down once. But that's ok; just the way I like it! It seems like the day after a busy day, I get incredibly lazy and don't have any motivation at all.  I will explain yesterday to you: (by the way, most of the cooking was done during nap time, but Emily was here to play with the girls when they were awake)

• I went to bible study, which is always fun. 
• Got home, ate, and started on the beans and rice
• Made carrot cupcakes with mascarpone cheese frosting
• Took pictures and helped with the project of piling sand in our new swing area
• got supper together and brought victor home (visited some friends, had a great time!)

But we got home at 9:20~ and gave the girls a snack and washed up for bed, and then I tried to clean up after supper and put the rub on the pulled pork that i'm making today. So we didn't get to bed early at all, and the girls woke up early too. So, today I have to pack for the long weekend, wash clothes and try to clean up the house before we leave, and pack for the girls, figure out our supper for tonight and if i want to make another dessert (not really!) but instead I am uploading and editing pictures. I don't feel too bad though, while uploading i did some clothes and straightened up a few rooms. Here's my fav. pictures from yesterday, most are on facebook already:

Mini Photo Shoot

On Sunday, we had a mini photo shoot with the girls. I must have taken about 100 pictures, but I just wanted one to turn out! I got a couple of good ones. Yes, Peter is home now and now that I look back on the weekend, it went by pretty fast. I know it would have been soo long if I had not tried to keep myself busy. Emily came over yesterday to watch the girls. I got lots of stuff done! I took the time to clean the leather couches, which is not the funnest job, but at least I got all the milk spots out. Then I made bars for the weekend... I plan to freeze them. Since Thursday is our actual anniversary, I think tomorrow I will make the mini carrot cupcakes with the mascarpone cheese frosting. It is better made the day ahead anyway, i think.  And then I will be making two pulled pork roasts for the weekend and we plan to have steak for supper. So I will be busy cooking unfortunately the day before we leave. I will try my best to keep the house clean so we dont have to come back to a messy house!  

I guess my plan was to ask my sister to babysit on thursday so we can have an actual anniversary meal without interruption of whining children. But she is unavailable. It makes me sad that my family, especially my mom, don't really see the kids all that often--their choice. When my girls have kids, Lord willing, I dont care what peter says... I am going to be available to them when they need help!!

Here's the pictures from Sunday.

Day 4, Final Day

Well, I made it. This year for sure went better than most  years... mainly because I kept really busy. I always had something to do, whether it was going for walks, or events, or etc. Going to the wedding yesterday really helped break up the day. I am writing even though Peter is not home yet, but i have a feeling tonight I will be exhausted and will not want to blog when he is home.

This morning I did end up going to church. I just didn't want to spend my morning doing nothing, especially on a Sunday. So i took my chances and I actually had time to spare! It was hard at times being on the bleachers and the sun was beating down on us. I forgot to  bring sunscreen. Luckily my friend Amy from church entertained Kate at times so she wasn't too completely bored. Then I left and ate lunch at the fair. But it was so windy that things and money were flying everywhere. I had to dodge food in my mouth because my hair would block my mouth!It was interesting, but fun. The girls are taking their nap, and I uploaded a bunch of photos to facebook.

After this weekend I am sooo looking forward to next weekend. On the 15th we are celebrating our 5th year anniversary and going to the cities for a couple days (alone!!!).   I am nervous for the girls cause it's maddy's first time overnight without us... so I am praying that goes well. I think it will go well because Emily usually watches them on Mondays, and so she and Cheryll will both be home to entertain them on that day anyway. If anything, Emily could take them to our house for naps, if they refuse, or maybe even overnight one night if it goes terribly bad.  Oh yeah, be sure to listen to KFNW (1200 AM) on Tuesday the 13th, I think you might hear peter and my name on there!

Day 3

Today has been a pretty laid-back day. Last night I didn't fall asleep til 12:45. I laid and laid and laid there, and finally I fell asleep. But kate woke up at 1:06 and was crying... so I went to her room. She was in bed still, but scared again. I assured her everything was ok, and shut the lights off, but noticed the living room light (where the door is) was on.  That made me really freaked out....I have been locking all the doors, every single night for that reason. Then Maddy woke up at 7, so I got about 6 hours of sleep. I woke up a visitor that comes by about once a month, and that put me in a bad mood, mostly because today I went to a wedding, and I didn't want this guests' company :)   Anyway, i decided not to go outside til after 10, so I could just rest. We went upstairs and I decided to sew a few of my blocks. The kids surprisingly played nice...but I am feeling like I will never get this quilt done!!!

I went for a bike ride, despite my guest, and then when I put the kids to bed for a nap, I tried to take a nap but couldn't. I must have it in my head that I can't fall asleep while Peter's gone. I am so tired. I didn't take any pictures today besides a couple of Maddy, and the wedding. Here are a few of my favorites: (PS, it was HOT OUT!!)

I think I will read for a while to get sleepy. Tomorrow I am not sure if I am going to church because it's at the fairgrounds in Hallock....two small kids, grand stands, one adult.... (with a visitor).... =might not be a good idea.

Day 2

Today was another fun-filled day. This morning I rushed to get ready to pick strawberries.

After that, we ate some lunch and went home for naps. Unfortunately, after a half hour-45 minutes, Maddy woke up screaming in pain from teething. She was unhappy most of the day. I felt so bad for her, but all I could do was give her Tylenol. We left to visit my friend Sarah in Crookston, to see her new house she bought with her soon to be husband, Cole. I took engagement pictures for them (you can view in the tags portion of the blog).    Maddy slept the whole way there, and the whole way back. I am a little nervous for tonight. I hope she sleeps through the night.  When I got back, I put away the groceries I bought, and watered all the plants and weeded the garden. That took about 45 minutes. Got done almost at 10:00!

I should go to bed soon... I just know it will be hard to fall asleep. My movie didn't come for date night!

Day 1

The annual Canadian fishing trip has begun, and I am home alone with two sweeties for 4 whole days. This morning I woke up at 4:30 to our hall light, bathroom light, and Kate's bedroom light on. She was scared and turned on all the lights. Then, peter woke up at 5  so I was pretty much up since then. Kate, though, slept in til 8:30 and then about 45 minutes later after eating and getting dressed, we went outside. I took them on a long walk around the golf course, then to the park, where Maddy, once again cut her lip.

We went home and grabbed a snack and then went out for another walk, this time with Kate's stroller.
They took naps, went to the park with the Sustads, and then had supper and visited my sister Kelsey. She is not doing any better. It seems like every other day she is doing poor. Today I don't think she ate anything until 7:30 pm, which is not healthy at all. 

Now I am really tired from being up so early and being busy all day.  Today seemed kind of long, but still really busy. I think once I get through tomorrow it might get a little easier. Sunday is always the longest day! Pray for their safety please!