Friday Fave Fives ~ February 4th, 2011

Well, I’m a day late on this one as we went into town yesterday to run a few quick errands which somehow keep us out the the house until 8pm. I still really wanted to take part so here I am. I hope you will join Suzanne at Living to Tell the Story to share your favorite moments of the week. A nice reminder of the blessings in our lives. Without further ado, here are a few of my favorites from the week.

1. This wonderful coffee machine that I can pour with one hand. This was my birthday present a couple weeks ago but I really appreciate it this week as I have been getting very little sleep and coffee has been good. Mike also purchased some Kicking Horse coffee that is especially good.

2. Date squares. I made a most yummy batch of date squares on Wednesday (and ate most of them myself, no wonder my middle is expanding). I do believe that I will be making them more often.

3. A hubby that was able to cart us all around town yesterday. Considering how long we were out, it went really well and we got quite a bit accomplished. Going out with three kids can get a little hairy but we almost had fun with it yesterday. IMAGINE! Maybe they are getting a little older and these trips can be more fun again. YAHOO!

4. Really cheap yarn that I hope will become a sweater for Raudhán over the next week or so. This yarn is really easy to work with and knits up really quick so I hope to get a couple hours over the weekend to sit with a cup of herbal tea and knit. It would be lovely for the boy to actually get his sweater while the weather is still cool.

5. Getting a couple posts on my new memes. I’m just starting out with a week Monday Goal Planning meme and a Foodie’s Wordless Wednesday and I was happy (and surprised) to see that a couple people joined it (THANK YOU!). I love participating in Memes and it’s fun to see people joining mine. My heart always beats a little faster when I see that someone has linked up. I’m not expecting either meme to get very busy but it is still fun nonetheless.

Friday’s Fave Five – January 14th

Oh my, it seems I’ve made it back into the world of the living just in time for Living to Tell the Story’s Friday’s Fave Five (what wonderful timing as this will always be one of my favorite memes). I don’t know what’s got into but since our trip out east I’ve been exhausted and while I’ve wanted to post I’ve been lacking the energy and motivation to do so. Oh well, I’ve had nearly 10 days to recover from our 10 day trip so I should start putting an effort into this whole blog thing again!

1. Sitting here, right this moment, with hot chocolate writing on my blog. I love my blog and I miss writing in it when I go on hiatus. Do I think I’ll be able to post this whole post in one shot, NO! But as long as the wee baby sleeps (not long) I plan to enjoy my drink and write to my little heart’s content.

2. Getting quite a few upcoming reviews for the TOS Homeschool Crew. I’ve had a relatively quiet few months on the Crew, compared to the craziness of last year, and I’m glad to have a few wonderful products coming up to introduce you to. There’s one that we are particularly loving and another that I am SURE my son will have a blast with and I cannot wait to share you all of you. There are also a couple more unrelated writing opportunities coming up in my future and that makes me so happy.

3. Harlen Coben. I’ve been going to be REALLY early with a baby that doesn’t want to sleep without a warm body attached to him so I’ve been glad to have some good, page turning books to read. Harlen Coben was introduced to me while on vacation and I really enjoy the quick pace of his books. There’s certainly some violence but there’s enough twist and turns in the plot to make the books highly enjoyable and easy to read.

4. Kids that are more than happy to hang out with their baby brother. (who, by the way, just woke up from his nap…I told you I wouldn’t get to write a whole post) They are usually thrilled to spend time with him, usually. They are very careful with him and he just loves them to pieces. It is nice to have children that are more than happy to have a wee one in the family. It could have been a lot more interesting if they hadn’t and I’m always thankful for how well Ruadhán has fit into the family like he’s always been a part of it.

5. Bedtime routines with Ruadhán. My goodness, he is getting so social and fun to be around. He’s been a part of the children’s bedtime rituals from the very beginning but now he is getting right into it. Reading with the children can be a tad challenging as books make wonderful teething objects, but after that, comes hugs and his face just lights up as I give him a turn to hug each sibling. Then we take him to the door where we then all wave and say good-night. He’s just gotten this down pat and he is so proud of himself. He waves and then he starts clapping and says “Yeah”. So CUTE! We are trying to get him to blow kisses but right now he won’t do it in front of the kids but makes kissing sounds while looking up at me as we leave the room (as if to ask if he is doing it right). He is totally a darling and I am so in love with him!

Friday’s Fave Five ~ Nov 26th

We’re back for another week of favorites. Be sure to check over at Living to Tell the Story to share your favorites, too!

1. Having access to a netbook so that I can post this. This silly little computer comes in handy from time to time (though, I could also mention more than a dozen times it has eaten my posts/e-mails/work, too). My man has fallen asleep on the couch and instead of working downstairs I’m able to sneak into bed and write beside the baby who is happily patting at a book and going “b, buh, buh, buh”. Not a horrible way to spend a Friday evening!
2. Snow, even though it is all gone and I have no idea when it will be back. The kids and I enjoyed it while it was here.
3. Taking a few more small steps to get to know people. I’ve enquired about maybe doing some kind of volunteer work around town and have joined a “Mums Who Pray” group and I’m looking forward to getting out a bit more.
4. A husband who raked the whole yard today (explains why he is asleep right now). It isn’t fun to rake up our yard in the spring so I am so glad he was able to do it today.
5. Being involved with Eats on Feets. I’m happy to say that this mother to mother milk sharing network is spreading and getting good press. I’m loving hearing about milky matches being made and working with several lovely ladies on the various Maritime chapters.

Friday Fave Five – Nov 5th

We’re back for another week of favorites. Be sure to check over at Living to Tell the Story to share your favorites, too!

1. Quiet times and sneaking away with the baby. I’m typing this post in bed beside a delightfully warm little body. Nice slow rhythmic breathing tells me that he’s drifted off into dreamland and I turn over a steal a couple quiet minutes for myself.

2. Chana Masala. Once a staple in our family it had been but aside for a number of months. I’d forget how much I love it. YUMMY!

3. A husband who lets me change me mind and teaching philosophy repeatedly (maybe I mentioned that last week…I was thankful then, too). He listens to me and respects the choices I make as best for the children and doesn’t seem too phased when I change my mind.

4. Autumn walks. I’m trying to get more active and the cool weather makes it so much easier. I love the crispness in the air. I’m sure that we’ll soon start smelling wood fires burning as well which is another of my favorites.

5. The two little kids that are waiting for me downstairs to join them for quiet time. Have a wonderful day!

Friday Fave Fives-October 8th

I’m a little late to post this, and I wasn’t going to post at all, but I need a little pick me up because it’s been one of those weeks where what can go wrong will go wrong. It’s been a long, long week and all I can hope is that next week will be better. In spite of all that, I’ve had some lovely moments. Be sure to head over to Living to Tell the Story to share your lovely moments as well.

1. Colouring Thanksgiving/Harvest pictures with Morgaine. It seems a shame to be using my professional colours for kids’ colouring sheets but I’m lacking in creativity to draw anything of my own and just sitting and colouring gives us a few minutes of much needed quiet.

2. Heading out on the road with the family. We LOVE to take road trips so headed out to New Glasgow last weekend just to take a walk and eat out. The kids like the car. We listen to music and I get to work on my knitting uninterrupted. Despite having to stay in a hotel 30 minutes from home (because almost all gas stations in Cape Breton close at 10pm, who would have thought?) it was a nice trip.

3. Having a baby that eats. What a change from my other two children (one of whom actually got to the point of being FTT)! I almost don’t know what to do with myself as I was a big believer in delaying solids (on my pediatrician’s advice). I’ve never dealt with baby mush before as my other’s have always gone directly to whatever we’re eating. Here’s baby enjoying organic sweet potatoes. Notice how he’s already trying to feed himself. He’ll be able to pick up table food before I know it. Shocking to me!

4. Reviving my ipod. It’s been hiding in a drawer for many month but I’ve pulled it out and started using it to listen to a seminar or two when I am laying awake with insomnia. I figure at least I am being somewhat productive.

5. Fall. Just my favorite time of the year so I’m enjoying every moment of it before the winter sets in!

Friday’s Fav Five-Sept 17th

1. Hanging out at home. The weather has been particularly dreadful here but I’ve enjoyed wrapping myself up in my husbands wool sweaters and hanging out at home. There’s something cozy about rainy days that I quite enjoy.

2. Homemade Fruit Ketchup. This has to be one of my favorite foods and I am always surprised when more people don’t know of it. I guess it is one of the joys that comes with marrying a French Canadian. Check out the recipe for yourself. Yummy!

3. Going out for coffee with Mike. The silence was almost eerie as was a so used to having the two older kids talking at a mile a minute. The comfortable companionship was nice and I look forward to our weekly coffee outings while the kid’s are at drama.

4. These cards made by Mike. They will have a post of their own in the near future but until then here’s a little sneak peak.

5. Starting up my weekly crafting meme again. With the cold weather setting in, I’m enjoying getting back to knitting and seeing what everyone else it up to. I hope that my Stitching, Sketching, Scrapping Sundays meme will take off but I enjoy even the few links I get weekly. Feel free to join up if you something get the crafty itch.

Friday Fave Five-September 10th

It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted my Friday Fave Five and that’s a shame because it really is my favorite post to write. Please join Suzanne at Living to Tell the Story and share your favorite moments of the past week.

1. This little boy. It’s unbelievable how much he is changing everyday. He most certainly isn’t a little baby any more. He seems to learn something new and exciting each and everyday. I feel beyond incredibly blessed to have him in my life.

2. Starting off the new “school” year. While it go off to a bit of a rocky start on Tuesday we seem to sort of found our stride and are getting back into the swing of things. Morgaine is starting to spell even though she “can’t read” and I’m loving that.

3. Harvest time. It’s really been a decent gardening year for us and that makes me really happy.

4. Cereal. I’ve been a bit unmotivated to cook this past week or so but I have to say that I’ve enjoyed a nice bowl of cereal in the evening a couple times this week. Cereal is something I NEVER eat so it’s been nice to rediscover it.

5. Story of the World. This is really MY type of learning program and I am thrilled that both kids love it as well. I’ve happily been able to incorporate science, math, English and cooking into this program to make it feel like we aren’t jumping so much from one disjointed subject to another. Morgaine sits for hours with my History of Art textbook and Liam is anxiously waiting to see if any of our Bible stories will be mentioned. It makes me so happy to see them interested in learning (something that has been lacking the last 5 or 6 months). Thank you Susan Wise Bauer!

Friday’s Fave Five-August 20th

Please join Suzanne at Living to Tell the Story and share your favorite moments of the past week.

This week I am very, VERY thankful so this is a bit more than my typical favorites (though I’m sure I can throw in a couple of those, too!

1. Having a home that we can call our own. It may not be the newest or the cleanest but it is a HOME. There are drawings and books in piles all over the place and the dishes may get left in the sink so that we can spent time together but we are all happy, healthy and enjoy life. There are many people that long for a house just like ours and I wouldn’t trade it for a million dollars.

2. Being able to stay home and take care of my children. Even when it is hard, or I’m tired, I wouldn’t trade that either. They are little balls of energy and sometimes I wonder how I’m ever going to get anything done but being able to share in the little moments of their lives and teach them valuable lessons is something I would never change. They are much too important.

3. Having a husband that accepts me for who I am. I’m not perfect. There’s no such thing and he accepts all the little parts of me and doesn’t try to mold me into someone I am not.

And for favorites of the week.

4. The children getting to spend time with Mike’s parents. They look forward to seeing them and the afternoon at the beach was especially nice for them.


5. Eating fresh from the bounty we’ve been given. I’m not a canning queen but I’ve manage to get some things processed as well so I’m feeling good. Our gardens have had their issues but finally it seems that we are beginning to see the fruits of our labour so I am thrilled. They kids love going out into the garden in the morning with me to see what we can pick each day.

Friday’s Fave Five-August 13th

Yahoo! It is party time over at Living to Tell the Story. Congratulations to Suzanne on her 100th installment of Friday’s Fave Five! I’m a relative newcomer to this meme but I have to say that it is something that I look forward to every week even if my week has been pretty crummy. In fact, I look to it most when I’ve had a crummy week because the moments I find to post about remind me of how truly blessed I really am. I look forward to many more beautiful moments and sharing them with you.

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My moments from this week

1. Sunny Afternoons. Cuddling ooey gooey babies. Reading to my daughter. Playing games on the deck with my beautiful son.

2. Our new deck…..

3. The Man who built our deck. I love you, Hun.

4. Perfection.

5. More Perfection.

Friday Fav 5-May 28th

It’s been a busy week here so it is time to slow down and look back on my favorite moments. Be sure to visit Living to Tell the Story to share your favorites from the past week.

1. Children who enjoy long car rides. We decided to take a spur of the moment trip to PEI for Victoria Day long weekend. The children all behaved really nicely in the car. Liam devoured a couple chapter books. Morgaine was full of imagination. Ruadhán slept, as always.
2. Enjoying a game of mini-golf at a beautiful PEI golf course. As a child I couldn’t stand mini putt but I’ve found that bringing my own children is MUCH more enjoyable.

3. Taking out a bunch of books on gardening from the local library. I’ve been loving reading about various herbs and vegetables that I plan to grow in the above ground gardens Mike is preparing for me. I’m hoping for more success than last year!

4. Finishing up my last review for the year as part of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I’ll be continuing on the voyage next year as a first mate on the Crew’s third voyage but I am looking for to the month long break I’ll have before the new year starts up again in July.

5. Taking the time to reread a book that was given to me at a time pf great change and the reminder that there are times when I still need space. This sentiment rang very true to me when the book was first given to me and is still important for me to remember today:

I needed “space”-distance from all the was pressing in on me. I needed a penetrating quiet inside, and I needed to hold that silence up to me ears, like an empty shell, and listen to the roar of my own life.”

-Gregg Levoy

I need the reminder to slow down and be myself. To listen or what it is I really want or need. This week was the perfect time for that reminder.