Up, Up, and Away!!!

Lennard has wanted to take the kids flying for a long time and finally, today, his dream came true!  We went out to the airport this afternoon so that Lennard could do some circuits while the kids and I visited with my mom and dad.  He went around twice and then came in to land.  When Emma saw him come in she wanted a ride so bad that Lennard decided to see how she would do just taxiing around the tarmac.  She did great, so up they went!  They did one circuit and then landed, but Emma had a blast!  She saw us waving at her in front of the hangar as they flew past and when Lennard told her to wave back she called out, “Hi, Puppies!”  Not quite sure where she got that one from, but we laughed just the same! 

Ben woke up from being asleep in the van just as they were taking off and he was pretty determined that he was going to get a turn to “Fly Airplane!” as well.  As soon as they had landed, Ben was on the move to get his turn in the airplane!  We were a little worried that he would try to grab the stick, but Lennard said he did great.  It was his very first flight!  I don’t think there will be any stopping him now… these kids have the flying bug and I don’t have an antidote!

       

Ben’s First Flight with Daddy–Jan 26, 2013

Dream On…

We took the kids to the RV show in Lethbridge tonight.  We were a little worried to take them again, as last year was horrible, but thankfully, it went really well.  For the most part they listened really well (about 85% of the time).  They LOVED being able to climb into all the different RVs and check out all the nooks and crannies.  Emma was amazed that there were toilets in each one of them… she checked!  Ben just loved the motorhomes so he could drive!  I was a little nervous that he would hit a wrong button, but he did pretty good.  We definitely had a lot of fun dreaming and seeing all the wild and wonderful toys that are out there! 

  

The kids had to have a ‘tea party’ every time there were cups/mugs out on the tables.

This wasn’t the fanciest one we went in, but it was pretty nice!  Nothing like flat screen TVs, a fireplace, an island, etc. in a vacation trailer!

Another Step Closer

We headed back out to the hangar after Lennard got off work today and got the shelving all routered!  They look so good!  We got them home and into the house and then after dinner we started priming them.  It’s going to take a few coats of primer and then paint to get them where we want them, but it’s one step closer to having places to put things away!!!  So excited!

FHE = Family Hangar Evening

Anyone who knows my family, knows that Family Home Evening turned into Family Hangar Evening fairly often (although mostly after I was away from home).  We decided last night to have our FHE at the hangar… while we cut a couple sheets of MDF into shelves for our laundry room!  The kids loved being able to see the airplanes, visit with grandma and grandpa, and snitch some juice and cookies for a quick snack!  Within an hour and a half we had both sheets cut into the various lengths that we needed for two different shelves AND they were glued and clamped!  So nice to have it done in such a short time!  Thanks for your help and letting us use your tools, mom and dad!

Yummy…

I just had to sit back and shake my head at this one… I just put my clam chowder down on the table, turned to get one of the kids something, turned back around and Ben had decided that I needed more salt and pepper.  Yup… when there is a crust of salt on the top of your chowder it’s not quite as appetizing as I had hoped for!  I managed to scoop out most of the salt and salvage about half of my lunch.  It was still saltier than I would have normally liked, but at least I still had something for lunch!

Molding

Who knew you could get so excited about a few pieces of molding…  I definitely did!  It changes the whole look of the room so quickly!  I love seeing things getting done!

We cut all the molding in the kitchen, which made a mess, but it was a lot easier than going back and forth outside to the garage.  Emma does not like loud noises, so we made a game of it and had the kids plug their ears every time Lennard had to make a cut.  It worked pretty well!

The molding is all up and the washer/dryer back in place!  Yeah!  Now to build the shelving, frame out the window and get molding on it and some decorating!  So fun!

Flooring

 

We got the linoleum cut out this afternoon and completely installed this evening!  So nice to see major progress being made!  It will be so much easier to clean compared to what was there before!

First Talk

Emma gave her first talk in Primary today!  She was excited to see me in the Primary room as her class came in, but then there was no way she was just going to sit quietly... I finally went and sat with her at the front and tried to keep her sitting.  She was extremely tired and hungry by that point so I was a little worried about how she would do, but she did great!  You could hardly see her behind the podium, but she said her talk (with prompting, of course).  Lennard came in to watch too and said that she did good.  It's hard to believe that she's old enough to be in Primary.  I keep saying that... but really... where did the time go?!

Sacrament meeting was a gong show (as per usual).  We really 'entertain' those who sit by us... this week was really great as Ben decided to lay under the bench (which isn't unusual - as long as he's being quiet... right?!), the problem that came with him laying under the bench was when he decided to stick his finger into a hole in the bench and got it stuck!  He's got his finger stuck before, but he's always managed to get it un-stuck fairly quickly.  Not so this time.  Lennard had to get down off the bench and pretty much crawl underneath to get Ben's finger out, but not before Ben's cries directed everyone's attention to our bench!  Yup... we're "that" family.  Truly, we do try to take the kids out if they get noisy, but how are they going to learn to sit if we don't at least try.  It's a delicate balance that seems to always crash each week.  When we finally got him calmed down, then Emma decided it was a perfect time to play in the curtains.  Lennard was NOT impressed by this point and would have carted them both out of the meeting, but thankfully the speaker ended early and the meeting ended!  Prayers are definitely answered!

Laundry Room Progress

With the floor finally all scraped and ready for the subfloor, we got everything ready and got going tonight.  Ben was thrilled to get to ‘help’.  I thought it was the cutest thing ever to see him in there with Lennard.  I love how patient Lennard is with him and how willing he is to slow down and let Ben be involved.  What a good daddy!

         

Winter Time Walks

When Lennard got home from work today, Emma begged him to take her outside to play in the snow.  Since we had time before dinner, we all decided to bundle up and go for a walk.  Lennard got the sled out and the kids were in seventh heaven!  Emma ran ahead for a bit and had to lay down to make some snow angels.

After a couple blocks, Emma decided to ride for a while, but it never lasted long.  She thought it was great fun to pick up as much snow as possible and try to throw it at me.  She is such a little imp!

               

Ben was content to ride on the sled.  He didn’t want to slide down any hills, he was just content to sit back and relax!

Mommy’s Helper

Emma LOVES to help.  I was in the middle of making Orange Rolls this morning and Emma was overjoyed when I gave her some dough and her rolling pin. 

Happy Birthday to Me

Well, another year older... can't say I'm too excited about that, but what can you do?!  The best part of the whole day was getting to go in to Lethbridge with Lennard for the evening.  Mom came and watched the kids for us (THANK YOU!).  We were able to have a nice, relaxed dinner and even extra time before the movie started to wander through a few stores.  SO nice!  We went and saw Les Miserables.  Such amazing music.  It was the perfect way to celebrate.

Sorry... no pictures!  That's what happens when I'm always behind the camera.

Sunbeams!

I can't believe my baby girl is already in Primary!  It felt like forever before she could go to Nursery and now it feels like I blinked and she's a 'big girl'!  She was so excited to go to Sunbeams and 'Big Girl' Primary (as she calls it).  I was so glad that she made the transition fairly easily.  I ended up having to sub in another Primary class so I was in Sharing Time at the same time as her.  She was definitely wiggly and didn't want to sit on her chair... but what do you really expect from a just turned 3 year old that is used to Nursery and playing for 2 hours!  She did pretty good, and it was really fun to see her interact with the other little kids.  I love seeing these little ones figuring out the world around them.  Emma kept asking, "What are we doing now?" throughout the entire time... just trying to get her world sorted out :-)

Ben was good with Nursery, although he apparently asked where Emma was almost the entire time.  Poor kid... he's always had his big sister to watch out for him (or beat on him... whatever the case may be...).

We were a little surprised when they pulled Emma's name out to give the talk next week in Primary.  Nothing like throwing her in to the deep end!  Actually... I think she'll do fine.  The only thing I'm a little worried about is that she might want to be up at the front every week after she gets a chance to be there next week!  Should be interesting!

Emma fell and got a fat lip just before we headed to church... fun times.

Play-Doh Time!

Ever since Emma got this Play-Doh set, all she wants to do is ‘make cookies’!  We have this pulled out at least twice a day and sometimes 3 or 4 or 5 times!  Definitely one of the best gifts ever!