Little Celebrations for a Big Boy!!!

This was from about a month ago. We picked up a pirate pak for our Big Boy because he got enough stickers on his pirate chart (previous boat blog) for toilet training. I will spare you the details. All of us were very excited about this - especially Mommy!

Way to go Peter - good job!!

RCMP - Muscial Ride

Too bad nobody wanted to play the guessing game :(. So here we are onto other things.

Before the pictures start I want to explain what we did. We went on a Saturday and earlier in the day at 11am we went to Holland Park to secure our FREE tickets to the musical ride. The only glitch was that the 3pm show was sold out so we went to the 8pm show. No matter, we made the best of it. It was about this first picture that our camara batteries ran to low and the screen went caput. I thought that it meant no more camara but guess what? It means that you can still use, just with the view finder (just like in the olden days - tehe). So we didn't get as many pics as we would have liked but that's okay at least we took some and have the memories. I have posted most of them - enjoy!!!
It was like an arena but with sand in the middle.

We had front row seats - it was great! No heating, made for a long sit on the wooden benches but our butts survived. Could have been colder than the balmy 5 degrees.

The officers bring out their horses a half an hour before the show to warm up.

The horses are just amazing creatures - black beauties.

This is one of the formations.

This is the pinwheel formation where four groups of four make a pinwheel and circles around.

This is where they charge with their bayonnets - oh the boys loved that!

This is a final cool down.

Then we got to pet the horses and ask questions. It was amazing how sweaty the horses were!

Aleana petting the horse.

Here I am asking a question about the marking that all the horses seemed to have half way up their forelegs. What do I know? - I have limited knowledge of horses having grown up in the city.

Maybe I didn't ask the question very clearly but the rider didn't have an answer. I thought that was odd.

Aleana went with a friend of ours yesterday and so she found out for me. It is the place that used to have their so called "third toe". The lady explained some evoluationary silliness with it like when horses were shorter that's were their legs ended etc.. Does anyone know anything more about it and have a better explanation for it?

All things bright and beautiful

All creatures great and small

All things wise and wonderful

The LORD God made them all!!

Another Guessing Game Anyone?

Where is this family (or part of it) walking?
I purposely increased the size of this picture so you could see better.
Can you guess what is happening in this picture?
Any hint would give it away - sorry!!!

What a beautiful sunset!!

Hey!! What happened to the atmosphere?

Can you guess?

This picture was taken away from the sunset using something of Will's...

Was this taken on the Moon?
The exact same picture as above was taken using something of mine.

What is it?

This little boy (Matthew) is waving - what time is it that the train went by?

Can you guess what this is suppose to be?

Think from a boy's perspective...

Boating with Peter

Ahoy Matey!! The good ship PeterBoat is sailing soon!!

Let me study my navigational tools



Ummmm the weather looks best in the Caribbean

Yup it's the Caribbean for sure for this captain!!

We are sailing soon - if you want to join, you must work for your keep.

This is serious business - but boating is the life for me.

Sign up soon!!

Thank you!!

As I sit here in my pajamas I just wanted to thank

you

for caring and giving advice.

Today, I thought the children need a visual reminder

that I am SICK.

So it's been jammies and couch

for me today and for one more hour.

I promised myself I could be sick until at least 3 o'clock.

At which time I will get off my kiester and take a shower.

Then I will round up the troops and we will tidy the house

for Grandpa and Grandma.

It's good to have motivation and it's a blessing to have time

to read and pray and just smile at the ones I love.

Yesterday, I had a huge pity party for myself

believe me, there were cans, bottles, streamers and ballons everywhere.

What a pity and a waste of time - it's back to the gratitiude journal!

Time to have a nap yet - maybe :)

Thank you LORD for rotten sick days to show me my weaknesses and peaceful sick days to show me your mercy and grace.

Where Does My Help Come From?

My help comes frome the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.

The other day I saw a miracle in my back yard.

This picture does not do it justice because there were over a hundred birds in our yard.

They kept flying in and swooping out.

The first time I saw them, the tension poured out of my body and it was a visual lesson that immediately brought my mind to Matthew 6:26.

It was like our good Father was saying "Just look at these birds, Gloria, look and really see. I love you more than they - all this tension you have will not add to your life.

Place your burden on me!!"

That is where my help comes from - the maker of the birds in the air.

When I needed it He was there - I just had to look.

" Do you see the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away into barns and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they? Who of you you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:26-27

Please pray that my lungs may heal - each time I think they are getting better,

I have a set back.

I don't want to complain but I am really tired and it's hard to do all the things a Mama should do when she sleeps alot!!!

So please also pray that if this is to be the sword in my side that I am given the peace to carry on and accept it.
Thanks for caring!!!

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6: 34

Forgetting to Count - 260+

Peter - Oh what long eyelashes you have and where did you get that beard?

I am thankful that Peter...

1) Is becoming such a big boy - toilet trained - yippee!!

2) Loves to snuggle

3) Is so particular about the way things are done (which can be hard on his mother but will do well for him in his future vocation)

4) Says "Morning Mom!!" so cheerfully to me every day

5) Loves to feed the bunnies down the road

6) Loves to be outside

7) Copies almost everything big brother Matt does - whether for good or bad

8) Will play nicely by himself

9) Loves having stories read to him

10) Loves to help in the kitchen

11) Has always loved having a bath

12) Is learning his ABCs

13) Was born between my Mom's birthday and his Mom's birthday.

14) Has slightly curly hair - so cute!!

15) Will still have the occasional nap

16) Is generally a happy boy

17) Plays rough with his Dad

18) Giggles in the cutest way when he roughs with his Dad

19) Is learning to count - "1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11 etc..."

20) Is growing at all because it's so hard to get him to eat - except today at lunch. He made the wierdest sandwich - margarine, hard boiled egg, mozza cheese, chocalate hagel, and mustard.

I think he should patent it. He actually ate the whole thing!!!

Thank you LORD for sending Peter to us and giving us such joy through him - We love you Peter!!

The Blue Line is the Water, Black Line a Waterslide and the Brown the Sand

Twenty reasons why I am thankful for Matthew. The above is a poor picture of him but it is the best picture I have of his most recent artwork. The picture is explained in the title. Don't you just wish you could go there? A waterslide from the sun - imagine!!! That would be so cool.

I am thankful that Matthew...

1) Has such a big voice - he'll be an orator some day

2) Has so much energy - tiring for me but great for him!!

3) Has such a big heart - he cares deeply about people who are hurting
4) Was ever even born - after Ethan we were starting to think that it was God's Will to be a family of four. We were surprised!!

5) Makes me laugh with his out this world questions

6) Loves going to church - "But Mom, I can't wear that (a polo shirt) I need to wear my button shirt becuase I am going to worship the LORD you know!"

7) Will feel contrite very quickly when he is naughty

8) Has a creative side in the arts

9) Wants to take piano lessons

10) Has an unbelievable imagination - After just waking up one morning "Mom, I heard on the radio that wooden toilet seats can give you a butt rash, so we had better get rid of ours"- ha ha

11) Remembers to pray for the sick and the needy that he knows

12) Loves most fruits and vegtables (only to get him to sit long enough to eat them!)

13) Loves to sing around the house - this warms my heart

14) Already knows who he will marry

15) Loves to give gifts

16) Will whisper "I love you " in my ear while sitting on my lap (which only lasts for short intervals)

17) Is so friendly that he will to talk to anyone who will listens

18) Survived punctiuring the back o f his throat with a pencil at 9 months

19) Loves to help Mom in the kitchen

20) Loves to just be with his parents and "have a chat"

Giving Thanks for Ethan!!

Here are twenty reasons why I am thankful to the LORD for our eldest son Ethan.

I am thankful that Ethan...

1) Loves to be outside and be active

2) Loves to be with his friends

3) Works hard at keeping his room tidy

4) Practices piano and enjoys his lessons

5) Enjoys Cadets and works earnestly for his badges

6) Is helpful to his Mom in the kitchen

7) Is helpful to his Dad doing fix-it jobs around the house

8) Sings to the LORD with all of his heart

9) Has a strong sense of justice

10) Cares for his friends

11) Will readily give hugs

12) Can fix things in creative ways

13) Has a great smile that comes from his dancing eyes

14) Has been granted technical gift - gifted in Math and hands on stuff

15) Has ALOT of confidence in himself - what a blessing!! Easier to work on knocking it down a notch than building it up :).

16) Is passionate about serving the LORD

17) Will help his little brothers when they ask or need it

18) Loves to read - that is so awesome!!

19) Sets goals for himselfto do better at certain activities

20) Is our son!! Thank you LORD!!

We love you Ethan!!