One More Thing (for this week)

I can't believe I forget to add our trip to the hospital. Thursday afternoon Caleb and Andrew was playing soccer in the backyard. Caleb was playing barefoot. On one play he wound up for a really hard kick and missed. From here the story gets a little muddled, but we do know that his foot hit the ground. First Gerald took him to the clinic and from there they were sent to the hospital to get an x-ray. Neither the toe nor the foot was broken but he bruised the bone. Since then Gerald has affectionately referred to him as "Broken Toe Caleb".

A Weeks Worth of News

What a week it has been! I don't think I sat down much this week. It was a full week of school. And then on top of that I was canning apple juice (12 jars), salsa (18 jars) and pizza sauce (5 jars). The apples are falling. But the challenge is the ones that fall are generally ripe while the apples on the tree are not quite ready. Today we threw all the apples on the ground away. I do need a day off from canning. Next week I will continue on with more apple juice, apple butter, salsa, and spaghetti sauce - until the tomatoes from the garden are finished.

We totally cleaned the boys room out this week as well. We went through everything (except their clothes) saved what they wanted and got rid of everything they didn't want any more. Little sister Olivia sat at the get-rid-of-pile and asked for every item. I told her NO!!!! I do not want to clean the same items out a second time as we clean her room this week. We also replaced the double bed in their room with the bunk beds. There was much debate as to who would have the honor of the top bunk. Andrew won out on that but with the understanding Caleb would sleep up there some nights too. Olivia chimed in that she would like a night up there too. We will see how that goes. Thursday night Gerald's parents were here for night. We gave them our bed and slept downstairs. Olivia said that I was too far away so she decided to sleep downstairs too. I am not sure she would last one whole night in the bunk bed!

While Gerald's parents were here on Friday, Mom worked on my quilt while the kids and I were in school. It looks amazing! She finished the one side I was working on, although I hadn't gotten very far. I am not sure I will get to it before canning season is over. But it is encouraging to see how nice it looks when it is finished.

Gerald took a load to the MCC thrift store today. We are trying to clean out some of the items that are not being used around here. He is also cleaning up all the camping items as that season is over for now. We had decided to try and take it somewhat easy this weekend, but that is hard to do when there is so much to do. I have a long list of items that I would like to accomplish before the snow flies.

This coming week will also be very busy. Between the canning and school, I have my citizenship ceremony on Thursday. We will leave right after school for Winnipeg for the ceremony. Once that is completed I have a long list of shopping that has to be done. We have to be home by 7:00 to attend a meeting. Friday there is a doctor's appointment, hair cuts for the kids, and a supper with Gerald's work.

Time to close the epistle, if I had posted sooner there wouldn't be so much to say :)
Sandy

One Week Down!

Tomorrow we will finish our first week of school. Only 33 more weeks to go! We have gotten off to a good start and it feels good to get back into a routine. Andrew is really excited about his history and science. It is always fun to teach something that they are really excited about. Caleb and Olivia have had an easier week but Monday everything will kick in and their days will be longer too.

Swimming lessons finished today. All three kids worked very hard. Caleb and Andrew passed on to the next level. Olivia accomplished many on the things that she needed to but just couldn't get the back float or the back glide. So, she will have to repeat this level. She wasn't too happy about it although her mother felt worse for her than she did. She was pretty excited that she got to go down the red slide at the pool at her lesson today. Not even her brothers have done that yet so she was feeling pretty happy about that.

After we finish school tomorrow we will be packing for the weekend. Gerald is speaking at a college and career camping weekend in Hecla Island this weekend and the kids and I are going along. After looking at the weather for the weekend we will need to pack some warm clothes. Thank goodness we have an electrical site!

Hope your weekend is good,
Sandy

First Day of School

Today we started school. As much as the boys complained about the end of summer vacation they were quite excited to begin their studies this morning. It will take most of the week for me to work out the best schedule for all three kids. Andrew definitely will have more work in Grade Four this year. He is excited to have more Science and History this year and less Handwriting and Phonics. Olivia is super excited about being in Grade One and Caleb is glad to being learning new things as well. Gerald measured the kids this morning. Andrew and Caleb both grew 1 and 3/4 inch in the last seven months. Olivia grew 1 and 5/8th inch. I am guessing when it is time for long pants everything is going to be a little on the short side.

Swimming lessons continue on this week. Friday they got their mid-term reports. They all have some things that they need to work on for this final week. The boys overall are doing well. Olivia is doing well with everything except the back float - she sinks! If she can't master it this week she will have to repeat this level. She loves going to the lesson and today they jumped off the diving board - she was thrilled with herself on that one!

We are attempting to have a little earlier bedtime now that we are in school but it is still a bit of a struggle. We have really enjoyed our long summer break. And now we are changing routine to the school schedule and that is good too!

We have been enjoying the "fruits" of the garden. We have had broccoli, peas, onions, carrots and zucchini. I have put the first of the tomatoes in the freezer. The peppers aren't quite ready so the tomatoes will have to wait until the peppers are ready to make salsa. We have also enjoyed some corn on the cob compliments of the farmers market.

I'll close with the pictures Gerald took of the kids this morning before school.

(Husking corn)

Good Evening,
Sandy

One Year Ago

One year ago today we left Rosenort and headed south to Mexico. Hard to believe one year has passed since that day. As a family we talked yesterday again about what an amazing adventure that was for our family. The kids will still occasionally talk about Tanya and her family - such great memories.

All three of the kids are taking swimming lesson this week and next week. They are doing well and enjoying them. We are also enjoying watching some Olympics in the evening. The boys are trying to come to terms with this being the last week of their summer holidays. We are planning on starting school on Monday. Olivia is super excited to be in grade one so she is ready to start. We have had 14 weeks of summer break and it is time to get back to school.

Grandma Marie is hanging in there. She is recovering from her fall the other day. Her lungs are sounding much better. She has days of being very with it and understanding who and what is going on and then days when she is lost. Her only sibling (a sister) died yesterday and Nancy told me she seemed to understand that. I am so thankful for the time I had with her.

I close today with three pictures from our camping trip with Glenn and Nancy. We had a great relaxing time and took almost 200 pictures. Enjoy your day!

Sandy

Olivia showing her balancing skills

The boys ready to take off

The cousins ready to eat (where are you Kelsie?)

Home Again

The kids and I arrived home yesterday late afternoon. It was a busy fast trip but a good decision to go. Grandma Marie is back at the nursing home - although she fell yesterday. She is going to turn 94 years old in a few weeks. My mom and dad have been Grandma's primary care givers for many many years. Right now my mom is in Kentucky with my sister Melody helping her with a crisis she is experiencing while my dad is busy with harvest. My sister Nancy lives an hour away but is very restricted in her ability to drive due to cataracts. So, I went to help out. It was very special to spend that time with Grandma and the last day I was there she even knew who I was!

While I was gone my letter from the citizenship office arrived telling to appear for the swearing in ceremony. On September 4th I will officially be a Canadian.

Today I think the kids and I are going to lay around and watch the Olympics. There is lots I need to do but it can all wait another day. (Katrina, wish I was watching it with you :)

Sandy

Family Update...

Sandy spent five hours sitting with her Grandmother yesterday. Grandma Marie is hanging in there but said at one point yesterday that she was about ready to give up and join her husband in heaven. Sandy said it was bitter sweet to see her grandmother in this state!
Sandy is planning on staying there for a couple of more days but of course we are not sure what the near future will hold in this regard.

Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.
~ Gerald

Prayer Item...

We want to let you know of something to pray for...Sandy and the kids left today at noon to go down to Montana so she could spend some time with her 94 year old Grandma who came down with Pneumonia a few days ago. Obviously at this age it could be tough for her to recuperate and so we felt it would be good for Sandy to go and be a support during this time.
We'll keep you posted!

~ Gerald