Wordless Wednesday

Sewing with Hannah

Recently, I was working on a project for my sister's new baby which meant I had the sewing machine out while the kids were around playing.  When I have the sewing machine which isn't often because my mom and my sisters also use it, (and I am not complaining because it is not my machine anyway) it means I am often on a deadline.  Normally, I would just wait until the kids are out or asleep but my looming deadline meant it was going to be an interesting morning.  I worked uninterrupted for quite awhile when Hannah decided that she wanted to help me.  At first I was a little leery not wanting to sew her little fingers, but she had this very excited I want to do it with you look that I couldn't resist.  

I gave her a scrap of fabric and some pins (3 so I could keep track) and showed her how to pin.

She is really quite good and didn't prick her fingers at all.

This kept her busy for quite awhile and even Ethan who wandered over to join in too.  It didn't last long before Ethan left us and probably that was because he was given a blunt plastic needle.  When Hannah was finished pinning she proudly showed me her work and asked to sew it like me.

This is a picture of Hannah practicing while the machine is off, but she did sit on my lap and help me sew her scrap into a square. 

Having Hannah sew with me was completely her idea but it also reminded me that she loves the challenge of trying new (and often grown-up) things.  It is also a way of teaching her that that I think she is a capable growing girl.  

Victoria

Here are some pictures of our trip to Victoria.

Our ferry.

Andrew and Ethan peering over the railing.

In the kid-zone.  Ethan ever the ham.

Our view from our new house. (Hannah thought we moved).

Breakfast is served.

Ethan spotting a butterfly at the Butterfly Gardens.  Then he tried to stomp on it.

Searching for butterflies with her chart.

Hannah and Ethan

Playing on the deck.

Hannah loved running through the long grass.

Ethan liked picking it up.

Relaxed.

Petting goats at Beacon Hill Park.

Ready for a nap.

Visiting with friends.

Meeting Baby Ben

It has been a full week.  My sister Teresa had her baby on Saturday morning.  She had a beautiful and very healthy baby boy.  I was so excited to finally get a chance to meet this very anticipated baby.  

Proud Auntie!

Benjamin Austin

Sunday Morning, we took the kids to meet their cousin.  I loved watching them see Ben for the first time.

Ethan who loves his Uncle Kevin, stuck close by Uncle side.  

Hannah was captivated.

Andrew stole a snuggle.

Finally before we left, Hannah got to hold Ben too.

This week also full because right after visiting the hospital we caught the ferry for Victoria and only got back last night. Stay tuned for some more pictures from out trip.

Mama said there'll be days like this.

I hate the way I feel today. One of those days where every time you turn around the kids are doing something else they shouldn't be. I don't want to have to say "get that chair out of the planter" one more time. One of those weeks when Andrew seems to working more than he is not, the kind where I can't phone him because he is in meetings all the time. The month when all my plans seem to dissipate faster than quietness I desperately grasp at. The kind of day when I cannot make the phone work; offices are already closed, line are experiencing unusually high volume so please stay on hold, calls that go straight to the answering machine. Days when everyone seems to be ignoring me.

And I could stay there, I could dwell on it and make myself more miserable. If I did I could probably come up with a longer list of grievances too. Instead, I am making a choice to focus on the blessings in my life and not just the general ones (for which I am thankful) but specifically, the things that happened throughout the day today, that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, I'll think about these things (Phil 4:8).

Today, I got window kisses from two beautiful and healthy children, a 2 minute visit with a friend, a wonderful conversation with my Grandma and my sister Amanda.  I look forward to the birth of my niece or nephew (although I do think it is a girl).  I can't wait for the next 5 days and some time with Andrew.  I am thankful for the life Jesus gave me, and the calling he has for myself and my family.  The joy in knowing I am where he wants me to be, doing what he wants me to do.  

Letter W wrap up and X preview

I have really enjoyed watching Ethan participate more fully in the activities.  It is especially amusing with his growing vocabulary, he now says the sweetest and funniest things. Hannah and Ethan have there own conversations and I find myself eavesdropping.  More and more I am finding that I can sit back and quietly observe them while they are working.

Here is what I saw during our time with the letter W.

Playing with their letter box items.

Making pinwheels.

Decorating the letter W.

Gluing on some pasta wheels.

Finding the seeds in the watermelon play dough.

Here Hannah is playing the watermelon seed counting game, and Ethan sliding the pasta wheels on pipe cleaners.

Letter X Preview

Letter Box X:  Xylophone, and the letter x, and the x bean bag. 

Xylophone matching game.  

Match the colors, or to make it more difficult and flip the pieces over and match by length only.

Looking at x-rays. (source: My Homemade Montessori)

Dot and pin work.  (I keep including this because Hannah loves it).

Tic Tac Toe game. 

 Letter Maze ( from Carisa  www.1+1+1=1.com)

Funny Things I Say

Andrew has been gone all weekend at a conference, I found myself becoming a little loopy as the weekend progressed.  The kids (being kids) induce strange sentences to come out of my mouth.  Here are my favorite from the weekend:

Me to Hannah in the kitchen:  We don't pretend pee in the kitchen, actually don't pretend pee anywhere it makes me nervous.

Me to Ethan during bath time:  Don't hammer you sister.  If you want to hammer someone, hammer yourself.