May Flowers (maybe)

The world is finally warming up! The ice in the back yard is almost gone, the grass and dirt is slowly drying out, and the sun is up both early in the morning and later at night. I was able to move some seeds from inside (I started them about a month ago) and move them outside. Mushu (our Madagascr Dragon Tree that we've had since we lived in Halifax) will be moving to the deck for the summer starting tomorrow because the air no longer hurts anyone's faces. I am so excited!

I spent a chunk of the afternoon and evening outside today, with shoes (I really wanted bare feet but it was so mucky), and I got some seeds in and watered. I sat facing the sun and just enjoyed feeling the amazing warm on my skin. I am recharging after being bundled up and cold for the last 7 months.

Something I've noticed is that there is always a sense of transition here. The days are getting darker, but as soon as they're dark, the days start getting lighter. We transitioned from summer to winter and as soon as winter “arrived” the transition started again to summer. The ground is warming up but there are still no leaves on any trees or shrubs. The air still has a chill in it when it's blowing, but I'm glad its blowing because it's helping the ground dry out.

The dogs are enjoying being able to go crazy in the yard, though it means more baths for them. I tried prepping the garden last weekend but the soil was frozen about 6 inches into the garden beds. This weekend is a different story, thankfully.

I've started a practicum (yay!) and even though the class is chaotic (went from 10 and 7 year olds to a class of 4 year olds) it's a chaotic rhythm I know, understand, and love. This week I made bread with them (broken into small groups) and they had so much fun. The pride they felt when they told their caregivers that they had made the bread was amazing. And it opened up some fun conversations with the children. “I've never baked before.” Well that day they did!

I am so incredibly grateful for the weather shift (finally) and for the chance to learn and grow in new ways while I discern what paths I ought to take professionally. I see where I have gifts and they pull in so many different directions, it's sometimes a challenge to see clearly where I want to be. I've already put so much of myself in my passion (my own children, spouse, and our home) that sometimes I'm surprised there's anything left for a professional outlet, but it's definitely there and it's itching to come out now that the Monsters are all getting older. They still need a lot of input, it's less physically demanding than toddlers and preschoolers, but it's emotionally demanding. Wouldn't have it any other way, though :)

Dandelion update

 It's been a hot minute since I've written about life in the frozen North of 60. We have survived the dark and the freeze and there is daylight starting to reach across the sky at 5:30 in the morning and it's lingering until roughly 10 at night. The weather shifted suddenly to warmer a couple of weeks ago and the melt has been quick and intense! The wind is helping the water evaporate, even though it also brought in more chilly temperatures too.

Easter is upon us! Just wrapping up the long weekend where it actually felt restful and like a weekend! Hubby and I intentionally slowed the days down; we had lots of church (Hubby filled in at a local church for Easter Sunday), not a lot of shopping, some family volunteering, and lots of walks. Advance polls were open today so Smarty and I exercised our civic duty to have our voices count; Hubby did his through work last week and this was Smarty's first election as an adult. So exciting!!

Work and school have been busy for everyone, with the weeks feeling pretty long sometimes. This sunshine is absolutely helping with the days and now the countdown is on for summer. Only 9 weeks left of the school year here!

Girlie got her first job aside from babysitting! She is only 1 week into her new role and so far she's enjoying it. Monkey is busy staying active with soccer through school a couple of times a week. She had such a blast with the volleyball and basketball teams, I'm glad she's choosing to stay active with her peers.

Today the whole family went to the SPCA to volunteer and walk a few puppies; I am happy to report we did NOT bring home a new fur baby :) though a few hearts were stolen by wagging tails and smiley puppy faces.

I have some seedling started for planting in our garden boxes one the snow and ice are gone from on top of them. I suspect it's going to be more than a few weeks until it's safe to put them into the ground.

We are approaching the 1 year anniversary of when Hubby and I took the trip up here to look at our housing and it's hard to believe a year is nearly gone. This is a place so different than any other we've lived in and the challenges of any transition and move are still very real, though they are settling down. We managed to get a very brief trip down to Alberta during our spring break and that was incredibly helpful in a lot of ways. We had some heartbreak as we saw friends and had to say goodbye again, but there was a sense of “it's going to be good to get home” as we were driving north again.

Home isn't the place we live, it's where our little family unit rests; it's where the Floofs are and where our beds are. Home is wherever we happen to land for however long we land for. We're just finishing up with the month of April, which is the month of the Military Child; the flower that represents the Military Child is a dandelion – they plant themselves wherever they land and they flourish. Looking back at the years we have now called home to 10 different addresses since Hubby and I got married. Only 5 of those have been while he's been in the military. Our children are building themselves into some amazing people, not only because they are amazing and wonderful kids; they are gaining some amazing life experiences that a lot of people don't get to have. Part of that is because they are dandelions :)

There are no actual dandelions growing here right now, the ground is still too frozen. But the seeds are flourishing regardless.

The only way out is through

 There has been a lot on my mind recently; some family and parent related, some work and child related, a lot of overlap with relationship between home/school/church/current events and trends.

One of the teens said something the other week and when I started to respond they stopped me and said “wait, we've talked about this before. You're gonna tell me X, Y, and Z. And you're right.” That felt like an amazing moment. I will also add that even though they said they knew what they ought to do/say, they did not in fact do/say the thing. That's a human thing though. There are some things we can't help but do even when we know we ought to do differently. But we can keep trying.

I love the relationships we have with our children. I love the relationships that they have with us; they are always texting fun things that cross their mind, they ask thought-provoking questions and want to be involved in deeper conversations, they push back a little when we ask them to do something but usually not very hard. They know there are reasons for us asking things of them. I can genuinely say that I enjoy the people our children are, and I choose to spend time with them.

I came across something someone said or posted online somewhere; they said that their goal as a parent was to be someone their children would choose to be around. I feel it's the other way around – we have so much input into our children, how do we take what they are when they're born and turn them into people we enjoy spending time with? I'm not talking about being your child's best friend instead of their parent; they need a parent, not a friend. But I'm talking about actual work and input; things like “this is how you have a conversation. This is what is acceptable in public. This is the proper use of sarcasm and dark humour. This is how to stay within a boundary for yours and everyone else's sake.”

Things like resilience and when to listen to what your body is telling you and when to push through because it will make you stronger. Tough lessons like “the only way out is through” and “sometimes it's gonna be painful but it'll pass eventually”. Things like how to live in moderation without too much self-denying or self-indulging; the balance that life needs to be fulfilling and worthwhile. In order to make well-rounded adults we need well-rounded children; ones who are able to do difficult things even when they don't want to, ones who are able to think outside the box and outside themselves, ones who can make us smile with their wit (even biting wit) instead of shake our heads at the meanness of their roasting.

It is a lot of work to teach, model, and sculpt children into amazing adults but it's better than the alternative; having children who are so self-focused they aren't able to consider a greater/broader good, or ones that are just nasty to everyone simply because they can be. It means being the one who makes and keeps the boundaries. It means being the adult in the relationship that makes sure the right thing is done. It means making choices with long-term goals in sight, not just what's easy or fun in the moment. It looks like balancing out life with some fun and some not-so-fun. It looks like being yelled at by a small tyrant when they're angry and you have to keep your resolve or they're gonna learn that if they're loud they'll get their way. It looks like worrying that you aren't doing enough, or feeling like you're failing.

The important thing is to keep showing up, keep doing your best. You can only do what you can do, and you might need to find creative ways to keep your sanity, but it will get better. As Littles turn into Biggers the challenges are still there but they shift as their needs shift. But when the foundations are laid early on, it becomes less bumpy because the foundation is so strong.

Educators have a rough time right now, the swing toward gentle parenting (that is actually permissive parenting in how so many parents practice it...) and the use of technology with social media at young ages make the classroom a nightmare of behaviours and personalities. And schools can only do so much without the support of the families to re-direct the energy of the students away from picking at each other to building each other up and working to get through an issue or a difficult situation.

One step at a time, the only way out is through. Together we'll get it eventually.

Happy New Year!

 It's been busy and it's been a roller coaster. It's been cold. It's gotten warmer. It's gotten colder again. Monkey had her choir concert (which was absolutely lovely) and we survived the last few weeks of school before the winter break. We went to 2 Christmas Eve church services (one with the Pentecostals, one with the Anglicans with frankincense) and then the Christmas morning service again with the Anglicans.

It was our first Christmas without the Magic (after a deep conversation with the youngest after last Christmas) and my Christmas morning was a lot more emotional than I was expecting. I woke up abruptly with vivid images of blond curly hair, holidays past, and I had a difficult time keeping the tears from flowing all morning. Survived though.

We took a very serious approach to the winter break this year, with the goal being hibernation. We ate, we slept, we hunkered down. There were a handful of times that we went to the track to just move our bodies, but for the most part we enjoyed the warmth of the house and the took advantage of the darkness. It fed our souls.

Smarty and Sergeant worked through the last 2 weeks and that added some structure to the days somewhat. Tomorrow school and work starts back up for everyone else and I think it's going to be rough for a couple of days. Last night most of the Littles slept in the living room and everyone has been sleeping later when they have a chance to. So tonight will be an earlier bedtime and alarms will be set for the morning and we'll try to hit the ground running. At least that's the goal.

Tomorrow also marks the beginning of my next semester of classes. At Hubby's suggestion I took this last term off to help with the family transitioning to the move. I'm looking forward to checking three more courses off my to-do list and getting closer to realizing some goals of mine :) Plus it's good modelling for the Littles that learning doesn't stop and it's important to work steadily to reach goals.

I think that wraps up 2024 for us. New Years Eve we went to the Mess for a family pot-luck and watched some fireworks from there. Then we went home, changed into pjs and played cards for most of what was left of the evening. It was a quiet midnight celebration and very different than we've celebrated in the past, but it was perfect for the year we've had.

Hoping the year ahead of us has fewer upheavals and more smooth roads than the last year! But even those have been positive in the long run, just challenging for the shorter term.

Cold weather and cocoa

 Well it's Sunday night, the last Sunday in November. Month #5 in this posting is finished and we are learning what winter here can be like.

We have had 4 days with a -30 windchill last week. We've experienced that before, just not usually this early in the season. Autumn was longer and more lovely than we've experienced in recent years; it actually felt like fall and not a prolonged summer! The snow is mid-calf (up to the top of my boots) and the people who have been here a long time say this is more snow than they usually get; though the last couple of years have been like this winter. There is a bit more snow forecast this week. And that makes me smile.

The sun is rising around 9:20 in the morning and setting at 3:30 in the afternoon, but there's only another month until the sun starts shining a little more each day. We are faithfully taking our vitamins (especially D with the lessening sunlight) and keeping our overhead lights on (we switched a lot of our ceiling lights to LED that will help keep seasonal slumps at bay).

We are still going for walks, all bundled up and with reflective belts so drivers can see us. We also maybe might have set up our Christmas decorations. As Hubby says, Advent is something that happens in other homes. Not ours :)

We got out my millions of Nativity scenes (I swear I can quit whenever I want to), the tinsel, the lights, and the tree. We set the tree up without ornaments for a few days so the Floofs could get used to having it in the house. Once those ornaments were up, though, the cat (the Gremiln) was chasing them all over the floor in the middle of the night. The bottom row of lights doesn't work anymore since an animal (I can't remember which one) chewed the strand and it shorted out. But it's a beautiful tree. There was a lot of discussion over where to place what, the tree especially, but I think it has all turned out beautifully.

The next step is taking out the Christmas dishes (I'm planning on taking them out of the box tomorrow) and I am excited to start using those. Every time we take them out to use them I smile.

One month until Christmas, 4 weeks of school, a handful of holiday parties and events, and before we know it no one will have class and everyone will be hibernating for days and days on end. Next Sunday, the first Sunday in Advent, there is a community carol sing-a-long and the Littles and I are joining the choir for that. I'm really looking forward to that! I love singing those hymns <3

Last night was the Santa Parade for the city and it was a long one! The parade route was so short, but there were so many floats and people! I made sure we brought thermoses of hot chocolate since it was so chilly out and they really helped :)

SWEATER WEATHER

 Back in the summer I made a list of blog ideas as they were happening to write about later. This post is one of those, not because I can't think of anything else to write about, but because the longer I put it off the less flowing I think the writing would be.

During the summer, before school started up and when the days were so incredibly long. I did a thing. Actually a couple of things. I took some ideas I had in my head and turned them into reality. I saw how much yarn of one colour I had and thought "That could be a sweater.”

So I began to experiment with ideas, stitches, hook size.  I didn't want to knit it - I have a couple of knit sweater projects on the go already, so I wanted something that would work up quickly and still look amazing.

I did the first one for Monkey.  Not bad for a first attempt and not really using a pattern! (I think it's too loose and baggy but she absolutely LOVES it).  

So then I grabbed a different colour and did one for Girlie (a little more fitted because that's her style). I am always surprised when I re-learn what her favourite colour is, because she often picks yellow for things she'd like me to make her.  Yellow hat, yellow mitts, now a yellow sweater.  She sure does look stunning!

When I saw how well these ones turned out I decided to try something different for myself. Super bright colour, more of a wrap than a pull-over sweater, with a tighter and a smaller stitch. I trimmed with black and it is so warm! It has, of course, been "borrowed" and I encourage that ;) Things made with love are meant to be shared with love. And honestly, she wears it better than I do! 

I learned more about blocking and have finally fallen in love with a patiently blocked piece of work.  Most of what I create now will be properly blocked (mitts and tuques excluded) and I continue on my knitting journey.

Monkey had a volleyball weekend a few weeks ago where we were at the school constantly, and I was able to work on my most recent kniiting work almost constantly during that.  Monkey said that I mesmerized a couple of her team mates because my eyes rarely left the court but my fingers were constantly busy!  That could only happen because the pattern was so repetitive, not because I'm that amazing at it ;)  I'll post a picture when it's finally finished, knitting just takes so much longer than crochet. But I do enjoy both so much.

There will be more.  There are anecdotes to write about, catching up on birthday cake, and other snippets to share. We are currently 4 months in our new home and the adjustment to the change has been about as expected. It always takes longer than we hope to feel like the transition is settled, and the 4-6 month mark is often the hardest emotionally. Good thing we know this coming into it and we are prepared to give grace to each other when we can. There is decidedly less daylight now, there is snow on the ground, and we (Monkey and I are at least) are starting to plan out when we can decorate the house for the winter holidays :D

Giving Thanks

    This is Thanksgiving weekend. In our minds we revisit past weekends spent with friends and food; last year when dear friends drove out to see us, years on the east coast with people we wouldn't have met if the military hadn't put us all there at the same time, years in the congregation and at the seminary with wonderful people brought together by shared faith and value.

    With new places always come new people. I'm grateful for new and emerging friendships that we are finding here. Transitions after a move are hard sometimes and while we celebrate new people to be grateful for we also mourn and miss being close with those we love in other parts of the country. We give thanks for connections and community found in ever place we've landed.

    I give thanks for a roof over our head and food in our tummies. For the friendships the Littles have with each other and the support they find within our home. We are a family of dandelions, we bloom where we land.

    I am grateful for games we've been introduced to that create memories of warmth and laughter that we can share with others. We have passed some favourites along, we have picked up new ones, making new memories layered on top of old memories each time.

    I give thanks for random connections made through activities, for conversations with other parents during volleyball or archery, for opportunities to explore archery in the north, and for the chance to grow both personally and professionally in so many facets.

    I am grateful for technology and that with it connections over distances are so much easier to maintain. These moves would be much more lonesome and the solo parenting would exponentially more challenging without the tether of tech that makes staying in touch so much easier.    

    I am grateful for hobbies that keep my hands busy when my soul is anxious and keep those I love warm. I was sitting on the bed this afternoon, looking at the blanket on it that I had crocheted, trying to remember how old it was because it's starting to fray and there are some fibres breaking from use. I started making the blanket when Hubby was on tour and it has been used every day since I finished it. I am grateful for the friends and family that saw us through that deployment and for the safe homecoming when it was done.

    I give thanks for expression of emotion through music. The playlists we've had on repeat (always eclectic) and the ability to sing/hum/meditate to the sounds have been healing for us all. As well this week we were blessed to attend the ordination of two new deacons in the Anglican Church here and the hymns were like a balm to my soul. Music is therapy.

    I give thanks for the furballs in the home. Their presence sometimes feels more like a burden than a blessing, but these Floofs have been a life saver for the emotions and anxieties of the Littles. They cuddle when the Littles are feeling down or rough, they boost the mood when things are feeling a bit on the low side. Hubby was away for a week and the canines managed to sneak onto the bed with me in the middle of the night so I wasn't lonely. The Littles tend to hang out on the bed too when Hubby is away too; I suspect they don't realize it, but they also try to help me not feel lonely when Hubby is away. <3    

    There are so many things to be grateful for. So I give thanks.

Rubber Chickens and Rhubarb

 "WHO PUT THE RUBBER CHICKEN UNDER MY PILLOW????!!!!"  

This was yelled through the house by Monkey last night as children were starting to get into bed, teeth brushed and all that.  Smarty had already put himself to bed since he was scheduled to work first thing this morning.  There was such a hullabaloo that ensued after this exclamation, Girlie had found the chicken under her blankets and didn't know who had put it there, so she put it in Monkey's bed under her pillow. Who put it in Girlie's bed?  Sergeant swears it wasn't him.  I know it wasn't me, Hubby was chuckling to himself over all the noise and chaos, and Smarty was not responding and in his bed. 

I had my suspicions.

This morning Monkey was up after Smarty was up but before he left for work.  I was sitting and drinking my coffee, making conversation with the two of them and Monkey was recounting the evening noise.  Smarty was grinning.  He was the culprit! 

Later this afternoon he told me he put the chicken under Sergeant's pillow as a surprise for bedtime tonight.  One of the girls has since moved the chicken from Sergeant's bed and out it under Smarty's pillow.  This could be a loud bedtime, and I hope this trend doesn't go on for too many nights!

We pulled the rhubarb from the yard!  The plant was massive, we baked with about 20 cups already since we moved in, just a couple of stalks at a time, but we got another 18 cups from the harvest. 16 of those cups were washed, chopped, and into the freezer but I made a cake from a new recipe with the other 2 cups, and it was DELICIOUS.

It really didn't last very long, and it was super moist, and just.  Yum.

It's been a little tricky with baking, partly for learning the oven and its idiosyncrasies, partly because my cookbooks are in storage in Alberta :(  I have my box of recipe cards but so many of my favourites are scattered throughout a few different cookbooks.  So I have been using the internet and finding "Well, this looks close" recipes.  So far so good, mostly.  It's an opportunity for finding new favourite recipes I guess. And I do like trying new recipes.

Tomorrow is the start of a new school year for these Littles.  All but 1 are starting another school year, the oldest is scheduled to work.  I can't believe Smarty is done high school already.  So many times this week I have been asked by people when they discover how old my children are "Did you have them when you were 12??"  Blessed with good genes and lots of laughter to keep me young I guess :D

 The beginning of a new year at new schools.  Crazy.  I remember starting in brand new schools a few times.  I can't wait to hear how they do, what they think, the chances they'll have to grow and stretch themselves.

Start of Routines

 Well, it's been another week.  The tire is still holding air.  The dogs are both healthy.  The boys are busy with work. I dyed the under side of the girls' hair and we got pedicures in preparation for the start of the school year next week.  

There was a fun little episode that happened this week.  AC, the adorable huntress, started jumping onto the counter by the kitchen window and stare out and up at something.  Then we would hear a scritch scritch in the wall above the window.  There was some fluttering.  

A quick look outside showed there was a vent in that space, so we decided to assign the task of exploring that to the eldest  Little, Smarty.  The next morning, armed with a screwdriver, he took down the panel on the inside wall above the kitchen window.  There was a screen that was thoroughly pecked away, but thankfully no bird or bird nest.  

However, this evening  both cats have decided to hang out in the Littles' bathroom, eck-ecking at the panel to the outside that matches the one in the kitchen.  I guess they hear things we don't!  We'll have to explore the next panel tomorrow, I suppose.

This morning while Hubby and I were sitting in the yard with a few of the animals, there was a cacophony of noise coming from a block or 2 away.  There are A LOT of huskies around (no real surprise there) but they are soooo chatty.  And this morning there was a lot of chatting between huskies that was audible for BLOCKS!  I was very surprised that my hypervigilant black poodle who thinks she's a guard dog didn't join in the song. 

But in the direction of the huskies, and in the direction of the kennels/doggy-daycare that Sergeant works at, there is a sled dog kennel/tour pace.  When we were dropping Sergeant off at work this afternoon we came across a sign that made me smile and want winter to come.

This is going to be a fun and entertaining winter, I think!  

The Northern Lights have been out; we've seen pictures but haven't had a chance to seen them yet.  I value sleep too much ;)  But it's only a matter of time.  It seems like the more rare occurrence here will be days we don't see them, especially moving into the darker months. When we get pictures you can bet that I'll be posting them <3

This is the last week of summer for the Littles.  The oddest part will be that Smarty isn't starting classes this year, for the first time in 14 years.  In a week he is officially old enough to vote!  When did this happen??

But the younger three are looking forward to meeting some people their age here, starting routines, and figuring out what our time here is going to look like.  I'm working on bi-weekly meal plans to keep things moving along, and keep things homey.  We all do what we can. 

A Little Adventure

When we woke up this morning there was a light layer of ash outside.  Yesterday was a little windy, a little smokey, and the sky all day has been orange and brown.  I have discovered I am part honey-bee; it has made me sleepy and tired.  This weekend has been pretty relaxed and quiet aside from an exciting morning today; we loaded up into the van to drive up Ingraham Trail to see about new places to put a hook in the water.  We just drove, and drove, and drove farther than we have yet.  When we got to where it looked like an ice road is built up towards Tibbitt Lake, after the highway is gravel for a while (we did not go all the way up to Tibbitt Lake Loop), we got out to take a look and explore a little bit.  That exploration did not last long.  Hubby walked around the vehicle as we all left and he heard a hiss.  Yup.  We had a leak.

So, we all got back into the van and drove back to where there was pavement again so we could change the tire.  Keep in mind, we have had this vehicle for a while, and have had 2 others just like it in the past.  When we got out to change the tire we found the jack exactly where we knew we would find it.  We did not find the spare tire where we thought we would find it.  We found an air pump that could plug into the van but no spare tire.  Anywhere.  And there was no owner's manual that came with the vehicle.  And no cell reception anywhere.  

So we pumped the tire up and drove farther down the road until we could get signal enough to call someone, or download the manual, or google where the danged spare tire was in the year our van was made.   When we were about half hour from home we got into a reception zone and with the help of the boys we were able to figure out 1) how to use the sealant that was attached to the air pressure pump. 2) How to get to the spare tire (in the spot that makes soooo little sense! Why mess with the placement of the spare??) .  But it was an adventure, we learned some things, and the tire is still currently holding air!  Miracle of miracles ;)

The rest of the afternoon has been slow, this smoke just zapping my energy.

It has been an interesting week, though!  Both boys started work (Sergeant part-time at a kennel, Smarty at the Humane Society) and they've been enjoying a different kind of busy.  One of the puppies got sick (vet tech said likely kennel cough so that's what we treated her for).  There is a head cold that's making its rounds through the house with varying symptoms for each person.  

There are preparations for construction about half a block away from the house.  I say preparations because they cant just build, they have to blast into the rock, move the rock, then level things enough to keep a house level.

So every once in a while, not every day but some days more than once, we'll hear a horn go off a few times followed by maybe half a minute of silence, then a boom and rumble, then a single horn blast giving the all clear.  Our house gets quite dusty and it explains some of how the house has settled.  And It makes me feel like I'm part of a classic movie. 

Though it isn't as bad as that ;)

We've done some walking/hiking/exploring.  Aside from seeing all the signs reminding people to not drink the water or eat the berries in certain parts of the parks (contamination from a nearby now-closed mine) and signs reminding people to be aware of bears, they've been very pleasant!  We found an Interesting Rock collection that the kids contributed to. 

And so many places that we've fished at (though we've mostly caught nothing) have been so peaceful and serene.

On our drive this morning we saw a black bear in the ditch beside the road too.  So in the vehicle and when we're hiking, we carry bear spray and a bear bell on top of the first aid kit.  Just to be safe,

Only 2 weeks until the three younger Littles start school.  It's hard to believe the summer break is nearly over, but I think the routine is going to be good.  It'll be a social outlet for everyone.

New Beginnings

 We are 2 weeks into our time in Yellowknife!  :)  It has been a very busy time so far, but that will be settling down soon.  The truck with our furniture actually arrived the same day we did, so they unloaded our stuff the same day we took possession of the house.  That was amazing.  

The next day the unpackers came and we started finding homes for all of our thing.  We are still finding homes for all of our things, but at least now everything is out of boxes.  Mostly.  To keep kids busy, we got some of them involved in putting things together and organising their rooms. 

Painting started pretty much right away.  We have learned from past experience that we have to get things done right away after a move instead of making a list for later.  Making lists only sometimes works and most often leads to nothing getting finished.  So we have been a lot more busy than we normally would be with house things.

Lots of walls have been painted.

A replacement fence/gate has been built.

   

 And exploration of the rocks, both near the house and short drives away, has been happening.

Unfortunately, that grey is all smoke.  It's been a very smokey time here so far :(

We arrived here just in time for an air demonstration by the Snowbirds and the Skyhawks!  That was really cool.  Turns out Hubby worked with one of the current Skyhawks and was able to briefly connect with them too.  Such a small world.

Lots of painting was done outside too.  The fence/gate that Hubby and Smarty built, the front porch, the back deck, and the wooden chairs the boys put together.  Everyone pitched in and made it go much faster.

Monkey has discovered that she loves the geography of the area; she loves climbing on the massive rocks that are interspersed with everything else.  Our neighbours gave us their old basketball hoop that will definitely be used.  We have taken a look at a couple of museums here, and have explored so many streets things are starting to become familiar.  All in all, I feel everyone is settling in pretty well so far.  

I am not okay, but I will be

 Hubby told the Littles that I would not be okay; that I would tell everyone that I was fine, but that I definitely would not be fine. He was right.

Smarty graduates from high school this month. His Commencement Ceremony is on Saturday (which is also my birthday, coincidentally) and I was doing pretty alright with everything. I love seeing the people these guys are growing into, I love spending time with them as they experience their world, and I am excited for the lives they are going to create for themselves. But loving the stages they are at doesn't make it better. I am not okay.

I can be happy for the years we've had with everyone so close and still be just so angry that time passed way too quickly.

I can look back with fondness and look forward with excitement and still mourn the loss of slower, simpler times when everyone was smaller.

Last night we went to the end-of-year band concert for the boys. The night before we went to Girlie's final choir concert. We are planning an open house for a way to say goodbye to people. The month is going to fly by fast and before we know it we will be officially changing our address on our licences.

Through all of this I was feeling pretty good, moving things along and focused on doing the next things. Then last night the music teacher asked the grads to stand up, and suddenly I was not okay.

I am okay with everyone growing up. I am okay with transitions and moving and everything that means.

When we were new parents, and I think everyone hears this, we were told to savour the moments, hold onto them, treasure them. And there were moments that weren't treasured, not every moment was sweet and soft and there have been a lot of heavy parenting challenges; we aren't finished with them yet. But what I wish time could slow as we treasured and cherished those years, They didn't and I feel cheated because of it. It sounds cliche but there's truth to the sentiment that things are over in the blink of an eye.

I swear it was just yesterday that I delivered our first baby. I swear it was last night that it was just the boys and us, a couple of toddlers watching Tractor Tom and fighting over the cars. Maybe it was in the wee hours of this morning that we brought our first girl home from the hospital and just a few hours ago that we completed out family and brought Monkey home (after a super quick delivery!).

I am not okay. But I will be. Normal life transitions, echoing the thoughts and feelings of parents everywhere.

We will be okay. And we will continue to treasure our moments.

Exciting Updates!

 We have a few updates! Kittens and momma are doing very well at the home they have been adopted into.  The kittens are starting to open their eyes and Momma Cat is adapting well, loving the new-to-her space and the dogs in the home as well.  She rubs up against and purrs constantly when the dogs, or the humans, are around.  So pleased that they are safe and cared for <3

In other news, the girls had their Confirmation and Affirmation of Faith :)  It was a pleasure to hear them speak about what their faith means to them, how they view faith as is applies to daily living, and how the bits and pieces we have worked so hard to foster and instill into them has come to mean so much for them as they are growing into amazing young women.  

Each girl spoke well and read from their own words about living in a community with others, how they are moved by the hymns, and the ways the Bible has been applicable in how they view the world and the interactions they have in it.  I might have had a few tears in my eyes (maybe it was the pollen in the spring air?) from time to time during the service.

  It was a fantastic morning filled with such affirmations of how much effort we've out into our not-so-little crew and just how fantastic they all are.  It was the first Confirmation hosted for this particular congregation in 14 years; these special people made it super special for everyone there.

Now we are counting weeks and days until the packers come and box up our belongings and we start the next steps of our adventure!

A Tail of Three Kitties

 Life certainly isn't boring!  Hubby and I successfully made our way north and were able to look at the place we're going to call home for the next while, our house is officially sold, new house is officially purchased.  The high school put on an amazing musical, and Mother's Day was nice and relaxing.  

Yesterday afternoon, though, we had a curve ball thrown at us.  I was sitting in the office doing my work, when I heard the absolutely loudest  meowing I've ever hear coming from the front porch.  I take a look and I discover an itty bitty black cat that seems desperate to come into the house.  Smarty pops out and takes a look, tries to calm her down.  When he picked her up he thought "uh oh" and called for me.  Turns out she was pregnant.  And not just pregnant but VERY pregnant.  I set out box with towels on the porch thinking "nope, uh uh.  Maybe she'll find her way somewhere else."

Hubby got home.  Talked with the little cat, but when he picked her up he told me to get a bigger box, more towels, we were bringing this momma-to-be inside. 

She was not happy to be confined to the office but I sat with her and she ended up calming down. There were visible contractions and every child wanted to be in with her, to help soothe her but the more is NOT the merrier in this case.  Hubby and I left for a walk (we knew exactly how long the early labour stage can last...) and the girls kept the momma company.

When we returned from our walk we asked Girlie how things were going.  More contractions, more meowing.  When I went into the office I settled right in, massaging the tummy and saying supportive and soothing things.  It made me smile as I reflected on my own labour stories!  Every one is different and each one unique even though the same thing was happening each time.

With encouragement Girlie and I helped Momma deliver 2 healthy little ones.  Girlie was grinning ear to ear.  She has wanted to be a vet since the day she discovered she couldn't grow up to be a cat and this experience, this miracle of life, completely solidified that decision for her.  After me reiterating just how young I thought Momma was Girlie said "Don't support teen pregnancy, support pregnant teens?" such a funny girl.

As the evening went on it appeared that Momma was so young, she didn't really know what to do with her new status of motherhood.  We carefully placed all 3 into the cat carrier we brought out and made sure she got food and water.  Birthing is a lot of work!  Mommas need energy.  But because we were sure if Momma would step up and know what to do, we mentally and emotionally prepared for the thing that sometimes happens in nature - mortality at its most sad.

There were tears, there was processing.  But when Hubby and I got up this morning and looked in on them, what we saw made our hearts smile.

A caring Momma with clean little ones.  Throughout the morning the Littles went in to sit with them and watch, hearts full and happy that everyone survived the first night.  Today we are working on finding where we can place them for fostering and/or adoption.  Right now they are happy enough to be in our office with water, food, and a litter box.  They aren't always happy the door is closed, but this is the best way with the other things in and around the house.

I am refusing all attempts of the Littles to name them, though.  I am absolutely putting my foot down on that one.

Season of Change

 

So, things have been busy at the Macintyre home. For those who might have missed the social media post, we are headed up to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories this summer. Turns out if you raise your hand and say “pick me!” for an adventure like this, the military says “Sure!”

The whole family went through a screening process; we all spoke to a social worker, the doctor signed off on our general health, and orthodontist treatments ought to be completed in time (yay!) and now the house is on the market. In a couple of weeks Hubby and I will be headed north to look at where we'll be living. It's all getting so real!

The three younger children did great during the archery season and we were set to go to Nationals this weekend, but... due to teacher strikes in Saskatchewan (where the tournament was being hosted) the tournament is cancelled. Or maybe postponed. I guess we'll find out.

I facilitated a women's spiritual renewal retreat at the camp we support and attend :) Camp Kuriakos has been an amazing place for us and we've all enjoyed our time there. During the retreat we delved into what renewal and self care looks like; how holistic homeostasis is work and needs constant checking in and revision, and how all aspects of our whole lives overlap with each other. There were friendships made and some pretty good discussions had.

It was fascinating to me to sit back and observe these women, how we all took part in the same activities but approached them in very different ways. There were broad backgrounds and stages of life and everyone brought value to the group with their perspectives and opinions. I was so pleased with how respectful everyone seemed to be of each other and possibly differing points of view, A truly safe space without having to broadcast it.

I'm going to have cards printed. Ones with my name, email address, social media links, and link for the blog. This will make creating and maintaining connections made through events like the retreat easier, I think. Especially with the relocation ahead of us!

With the move I will absolutely be posting here more, keep everyone in the loop with what is going on with us and share thoughts and experiences with the universe/void. At least that's going to be the goal. So fingers are crossed!

Goodbye Tooth Fairy

 It has been an unfortunate amount of time since I last published something.  These last couple of weeks have been full of looking back and cherishing bits and pieces of the past and some traditions we have had that are now at an end. Some of the nostalgia could be from having my 40th birthday approaching, but I think it has more to do with the amazing memories we've already made as a family and some sadness that kids grow up just so fast.

Monkey lost her last tooth this week.  No more baby teeth to be set out for the tooth fairy, no more notes to be exchanged.  See, in this house the tooth fairy takes requests and writes back to the children.

When Smarty was in preschool, way before he lost his first tooth, we received a book by Karma Wilson called "Bear's Loose Tooth."

The Littles in this home loved the story so much, I think every single page is taped back into place from so much reading.  When Smarty lost his first tooth he did what Bear did in the story - put it on a plate and expected blueberries.  The tooth fairy delivered.  And the tooth after that, and the tooth after that.  Then one child, I can't recall which child it was, wondered what would happen if they asked the tooth fairy for something besides blueberries.  So they wrote out a letter and found out that the tooth fairy did what they could to fulfill the request plus also write back and answer questions posed in the letters.  

 It has been learned that the tooth fairy looks different to different people; they appear pink to some, blue to others, to still others green.  The tooth fairy has a pet pacu (look it up if you dare...) and it has been discovered that even the magic of fairies can't make fruit grow out of season sometimes. We've had dragonfruit, kiwi, strawberries, pineapple, cherries, just so many different kinds of fruit. 

 When Monkey discovered her last loose tooth a few months ago she held on to it; she didn't want to be done with being little, she didn't want some of the magic to end.  A trip to the dentist for a routine cleaning made her think differently though.  The tooth needed to come out.  So she set to work and out it came a few days ago.  

What followed was some crying at youth lost, Mom and Dad reminding her that she's still pretty young and there's no rush to grow up, and figuring out what to ask the tooth fairy to bring this last time.  I have to admit, watching her write this last letter made my tear up a bit.  Just so many feels.

It's crazy to think of the amount of fruit, the letters, and excitement that has happened in this home because a story touched a little boy and it grew from there into this significant part of these children's lives.  I am so touched by these curious and caring creatures we're lucky enough to call ours.