Mother's Day 2007

I think I've finally gotten the hang of uploading pictures in reverse order so you can see them chronologically correct! We've had quite the whirlwind weekend, starting with a quick trip to the doctor's office Friday evening at 5:00 for three stitches in Patience's forehead. She fell while jumping on the trampoline and hit her head on the big steel frame. It was very sad but I still can't believe what a good girl she was while she was getting stitched up. She cried, but was very still. I was so proud of her.

Dylan was at a band trip since Thursday, so he missed that bit of excitement, and he just got home today at 1:00.

On Saturday a.m., Sean and I went to a swim meet while Nathan and Don went to a guided tour of Burns Bog. They both had a good time and said it was a very interesting tour. The girls stayed home with a babysitter and Waneta was on-hand in case Stephanie needed her. Teamwork!

After the swim meet, Don and Sean worked with Grandpa on the west side of the shop roof. Nathan went to cadets for a work bee and then to go with friends to Spiderman 3. Rave reviews about that movie...

Today we went to church and then came home and started preparing for our Mother's Day barbeque with the Richeys. They came over around 4:00 and we had fillet mignon, asparagus, Caesar salad, garlic bread, sauteed mushrooms, beans Waikiki...I think that was it for the dinner. But for dessert we had delicious birthday cake made by Waneta, pudding (compliments of the Richey clan), and a fruit salad (also Waneta). Can you say stuffed? Of course we haven't learned to prepare less food or at least eat less of it! After dinner the men-folk played basketball (ask Nathan how he and Dylan did against Don and Dave) while the girls took a nice stroll out back with Jordyn in the backpack. We all felt a little better after the exercise.

Babadee brought Patience some Dora treasures for her birthday: a little doll, a coloring book with crayons, and the wonderful little patio table pictured above. Patience calls it her "table picnic."

It was a wonderful day, a wonderful weekend. And now a new week begins...

More later.

Happy Birthday, Patience!

Good morning! Today is Patience's third birthday! Three years ago, I was still laying in that hospital bed, going through a labor that I'm SOOOOO grateful I had an epidural for. Miss Patience emerged with the umbilical cord not only wrapped around her little neck three times, but also with a knot in it. The stuff some very sad births are made of. What a miracle, and what a blessing she has been to our family.

So why, on Patience's birthday, am I posting so many pictures of Jordyn? Well, yesterday she had her first "professional" haircut. Bangs only, but she sat very still. Also yesterday, I left the girlies out in the yard alone for what, 3 minutes? Only to find Miss Jojo had managed to climb into the sand table! Now, I got the sand table instead of a sand box explicitly so I wouldn't have little girls sitting in the sand, getting sand in their diaper, etc. Blech! What do they say about the best-laid plans? I suppose I should just used to the girls foiling my plans...

I feel like I've been liberated! Nathan's ability to drive and chauffeur is every bit as wonderful as I had imagined it would be. I got home from the pool at 9:22 last night with Dylan, and, in the olden days, I would have dropped him off and then gone to pick up Sean and Nate from cadets. And then gotten to the base and waited around until they were finally dismissed. And then not gotten home until 10. Last night, I got home, took out my contacts, caught up on some email, put Patience to bed, and was relaxing in my jammies when the van pulled in. Ahhhhhh. The sweet smell of independence (mine and Nathan's).

It's a beautiful day here, and we're expecting good weather for the forseable future. I've been hanging clothes out to dry on my new clothesline (thanks, Don Sr!), taking walks with the girls in the stroller, and trying to remember my sunscreen each day.

More later....

Tuesday, May 8

Here are some updates and recent pictures. First and foremost: Nathan passed his driving test yesterday and is now licensed to drive without a "supervisor." We celebrated yesterday by letting him drive himself to band practice. It was a very happy day for all of us! Tonight he'll drive Sean and himself to cadets, and then tomorrow he'll pick up his brothers from the pool in the a.m., drop everyone off at school, and then bring Dylan and himself home from school after their after-school activities! Did I mention we're excited?

The weather has turned beautiful again and we celebrated by taking a nice walk in the double stroller yesterday. My little bundle of kinetic activity, Jordyn, is able to sit back and relax for a long time in that stroller!

I'm sure there is more to write, and maybe I'll get back on later today with more tidbits, but for now I'm off to get the morning rolling.

Cheers!

May Day Pictures

Some new pics...

Here are Sean and Patience in the Horse Chestnut tree during nicer weather. It's been raining for the past few dasy, which means we've been staying inside. Today is a Danica day, and she arrived this a.m. with Max & Ruby! She's been so generous in sharing with Patience, and it's really cute how they're "play-acting" with them. They got themselves all posed in this shot, and then said, "take a picture of me!" So I did...

The Long-Awaited Family Portraits

Monday, April 23

Here are a few shots from our very busy weekend. It began Friday afternoon where 15 Steitz/Richey/Murphys converged on Yary's portrait studio for Mom's family portrait present (finally!). We think the portraits turned out well; we'll find out for sure sometime this afternoon when the proofs are on their website.

Nathan and Sean went to a cadets OAT this weekend and had a blast. They both came home very tired; Sean slept for nearly 12 hours last night.

Nathan took his driver test again this morning. I wish I could be posting happy news, but, unfortunately, he didn't pass. Hopefully he can get in again to take it soon...they're currently making appointments for the end of June. So much for help with the driving...

Today I'm doing scads of laundry, otherwise laying low.

Photo Fashions

Here they are...the outfits I spent hours searching for. Our extended family is taking portraits Friday evening in Bellingham, requiring hours of logistical maneuvers, including getting coordinating clothing for 15 people.

Pictured here is Jordyn, wearing pink capris, a brown top, and cute little huraches, all purchased at Old Navy or Wal-Mart. She's holding Patience's size 10 shoes.

I will heave a huge sigh of relief when this weekend is over...there are too many activities and commitments, and I rarely think that.

Who is this big girl?

Jordyn, since Easter, has really got the hang of smiling for the camera! Here she is giving a full-out smile and I'm trying to think who she looks like now!

All is well here. Nathan left this a.m. for his Ottawa trip. He left at 4:50 a.m., and his very kind dad drove him to the airport while I continued sleeping and dreaming that Nathan forgot to take a bunch of (important) stuff.

It's nice here today. Partially sunny, on the cool side. I'm hoping our grass seed comes up soon. It's been 9 days now. Mind you some of those days were wet and cold, so maybe that's not conducive to sprouting grass seeds.

Tonight we're having pasta, garlic bread, and Caesar salad, the last of the veggies from our shopping trip two weeks ago. Tomorrow is shopping day again. All I've purchased in two weeks is 1 gallon of milk, 2 loaves of sandwich bread, and some cereal that we didn't need but was on a sale that I couldn't pass up. Not bad, if I do say so myself.

I'll post news from Nathan as it becomes available. I did hear from the trip chaperone, Glenda, that at the Calgary airport all was well. That was about 90 minutes into the trip : )

Easter 2007

Happy Easter!

Here are Patience and Jordyn enjoying their Easter bunnies and chocolate carrots from Grandma Murphy.

It's a cold, rainy day here, so it looks like the matching spring dresses for church are not a good idea : (.

After church we are headed to Val and Dave's to visit (including Cody!) and have a big Easter dinner. I made a double Cut Glass Cake in my huge casserole dish. It weighs about 20 pounds!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter, wherever their travels took them.

Nice weather + school holiday + hard work = progress!

That was yesterday. We worked most of the day outside. In our 6 or so hours, we transplanted three of the six blueberry bushes over onto our property (that's a huge job!), pressure washed the driveway, pulled out some ratty rhododendrons, hauled off a load of large rocks that used to outline a flower bed, and then install 1,000 square feet of sod! Also some smaller general clean-up jobs. Everyone was involved, right down to Sean, who watched his sisters while the rest of us did the sod. He took them for a long walk out back. Imagine our surprise when he brought them home, carrying a sleeping Jordyn! We celebrated our great day of work with take out Greek food, Pizza Hut, various yummy liquids, and ice cream! It's great when kids will work for food...

Pic-nic

Today when Sean got home from school he asked Patience if she wanted to take a walk in a beautiful, warm day! Of course she did. Sean asked me, on the sly, if I'd prepare a pic-nic for them while they were gone so he could surprise Patience when they came back. Of course I did! They were so cute together. Patience is going to have incredible memories of growing up with three big brothers. She's one lucky young lady.

Patience's First Dentist Visit

Patience had her very first dental appointment on Monday, and for not quite three years old, she did GREAT! She let them polish and floss her teeth AND even did the flouride treatment. They were so good with her, making her think it was all fun and games. She wants to go back...how do you explain "6 months" to a preschooler? Oh, and no cavities!

Our Victoria Getaway

Here is where we're staying with Frank and Heather: http://www.victoriaregent.com/popup_rooms/2bdrm4_waterfront.html
It's a 2-room waterfront suite right at the harbour...walking distance from all the amenities (except Buchart Gardens), and with a living room for card-playing late into the evening.
Did I mention Valarie is watching my girlies?
Thank you, Valarie!