Well, my 2 weeks of being a single mom are over. Daryl got home around 6:30 last night. We picked him up at the airport, stopped to get some take out samosas (which were incredible!), went home, munched and decorated our tree! It's definitely a "kid's" tree this year. I let the girls hang their ornaments where they wanted to, put on shockingly red and green LED lights, and they also put on blue and red candy canes! Someday I will decorate my tree with a matching colour scheme and dainty white lights and then I will miss the homemade decorations and bright colours. So I'm going to enjoy it!
Today was a morning to drink coffee with Daryl and catch up. I have Community Kitchen this afternoon and I'm hoping to take some pictures to post. Then swimming lessons and the day is gone! It snowed beautifully here this week and I can honestly say I'm enjoying winter (for now!). TTFN, ta ta for now. Happy Thursday.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Just Because...
I suppose it's time to quench my readers' hungry appetites. I think of blogging, read others' blogs, even go so far as to leave comments. But when I think of actually writing a post, words escape me. Or should I say...we're just not doing anything that seems worthy of writing an entire post about! Oh sure, we're busy. We have had things planned for almost every day that Daryl has been gone. Just nothing that seems worth my time to sit and write about. Sometimes I just gotta make myself write about the little things.
I keep comforting myself in something I heard on CBC the other day. They had a photographer/filmmaker on, talking about the case of the Amish people who won't let their picture be taken for US identification. (I don't have time to look up a website and put a link. Sorry) But anyway, she said that of everything she photographs, her family is what she takes the least amount of pictures of. She was encouraging us to get back to telling our history through stories, and letting kids live on the memories of their imaginations. Obviously she is a photographer, and does take pictures of her family. But she was saying that we, as North Americans especially, are in a "moment" and when we take a picture, we have to step out of that moment, so to speak, to preserve it. We forget to live in the moment because we're so busy trying to preserve it, thinking about how we'll frame it, scrapbook it, or blog it. And how wonderful when we can show others this picture and tell them what we did!
Well, truth be told, I know exactly what she's talking about! Do you? Sometimes I read others' blogs, or look at others' photo albums, or the pictures on their walls, and think, "Boy, I really gotta start living [so that I can frame great pictures like that too!]" Or I think, "We did something just as cool as that, I just forgot to frame it, and now I don't get to show anyone what we did" WHO CARES!?! Does the memory live on in your minds' eye? Do your children remember laughing with you until you were all crying? That's all that matters.
Don't worry, I'm not pointing fingers at any of you. I'm just pointing one at myself. This week I actually told myself not to take a picture of something the girls and I did together. Just do it. Don't freeze it. Just live it. Enjoy it. I will still take pictures. I will still blog pictures. I will still frame, and photo album, and whatever. But live in the moment, and don't ever be jealous of someone else's "life". They're probably jealous of yours, too.
I keep comforting myself in something I heard on CBC the other day. They had a photographer/filmmaker on, talking about the case of the Amish people who won't let their picture be taken for US identification. (I don't have time to look up a website and put a link. Sorry) But anyway, she said that of everything she photographs, her family is what she takes the least amount of pictures of. She was encouraging us to get back to telling our history through stories, and letting kids live on the memories of their imaginations. Obviously she is a photographer, and does take pictures of her family. But she was saying that we, as North Americans especially, are in a "moment" and when we take a picture, we have to step out of that moment, so to speak, to preserve it. We forget to live in the moment because we're so busy trying to preserve it, thinking about how we'll frame it, scrapbook it, or blog it. And how wonderful when we can show others this picture and tell them what we did!
Well, truth be told, I know exactly what she's talking about! Do you? Sometimes I read others' blogs, or look at others' photo albums, or the pictures on their walls, and think, "Boy, I really gotta start living [so that I can frame great pictures like that too!]" Or I think, "We did something just as cool as that, I just forgot to frame it, and now I don't get to show anyone what we did" WHO CARES!?! Does the memory live on in your minds' eye? Do your children remember laughing with you until you were all crying? That's all that matters.
Don't worry, I'm not pointing fingers at any of you. I'm just pointing one at myself. This week I actually told myself not to take a picture of something the girls and I did together. Just do it. Don't freeze it. Just live it. Enjoy it. I will still take pictures. I will still blog pictures. I will still frame, and photo album, and whatever. But live in the moment, and don't ever be jealous of someone else's "life". They're probably jealous of yours, too.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Sigh.
Well, mom just drove away. We're halfway done with being home "alone". Sigh. (I don't know how you do it, Angie)
My mom and I had a really good time. I was so thankful she was here to help out with the hyper kids, bedtime, school runs, etc. It was fun to have company for a week! We baked a lot of Christmas cookies, did some shopping, went out for supper, had tea parties with the kids, etc.
I'm glad to say I'm REALLY, really missing Daryl. I say that I'm glad because if I didn't miss him something would be wrong! I'm glad to know that 2 weeks feels like a long time to us, and that when he comes back, I'm not going to wish for him to leave again for a long time! (like when you leave your kids, you miss them, but when you see them again, you wonder why you missed them in the first place).
Yesterday Val and Rhianna joined us and we made a bazillion truffles! We made some white chocolate with coconut rum, some dark chocolate with irish cream, and some plain dark chocolate. They're killer and I can't even think of eating another one until Christmas. I didn't even eat a whole one yesterday - just too much licking.
So this week we have a few things planned. Tonight is Home Group at our house. So we get to bake something to serve everyone, and tidy up the house (good motivation for me!). Tomorrow the girls have their first swimming lesson! I've been meaning to put them in for a long time, and now it's finally happening. On Friday we've invited a few friends for coffee and lunch. If the weekend is nice, I want to do something outside with the kids. It feels like spring here! (It's beautiful, but sad to say, I don't feel like putting up the Christmas tree.)
In other news, some friends of ours from church had an incident the other night. Mom and 3 yr old daughter were home alone, and 2 men tried to break into their house. Like majorly breaking the door down. She called 911, yelled out the window that the police were on their way, and ran into a safety room that they had made (heavy door, pepper spray, baseball bat, etc.) Thankfully her husband had reinforced the outside door with some kind of steel (I'll be asking him what he did!) and the police said it saved them. That's the only thing that kept them from getting in. It really scares me to think they knew someone was home and tried to get in anyway. The 3 yr old is very traumatized by the whole thing (understandably!) so please pray for her peace. Of course, this was NOT a good time for me to hear this. Last night I had to just keep claiming the peace and protection of Jesus and His mighty angels. I know this is not the first time it's happened to someone, it's just that now it's a little close to home. So pray for my peace too. I didn't tell the girls about it, by any means!
My mom and I had a really good time. I was so thankful she was here to help out with the hyper kids, bedtime, school runs, etc. It was fun to have company for a week! We baked a lot of Christmas cookies, did some shopping, went out for supper, had tea parties with the kids, etc.
I'm glad to say I'm REALLY, really missing Daryl. I say that I'm glad because if I didn't miss him something would be wrong! I'm glad to know that 2 weeks feels like a long time to us, and that when he comes back, I'm not going to wish for him to leave again for a long time! (like when you leave your kids, you miss them, but when you see them again, you wonder why you missed them in the first place).
Yesterday Val and Rhianna joined us and we made a bazillion truffles! We made some white chocolate with coconut rum, some dark chocolate with irish cream, and some plain dark chocolate. They're killer and I can't even think of eating another one until Christmas. I didn't even eat a whole one yesterday - just too much licking.
So this week we have a few things planned. Tonight is Home Group at our house. So we get to bake something to serve everyone, and tidy up the house (good motivation for me!). Tomorrow the girls have their first swimming lesson! I've been meaning to put them in for a long time, and now it's finally happening. On Friday we've invited a few friends for coffee and lunch. If the weekend is nice, I want to do something outside with the kids. It feels like spring here! (It's beautiful, but sad to say, I don't feel like putting up the Christmas tree.)
In other news, some friends of ours from church had an incident the other night. Mom and 3 yr old daughter were home alone, and 2 men tried to break into their house. Like majorly breaking the door down. She called 911, yelled out the window that the police were on their way, and ran into a safety room that they had made (heavy door, pepper spray, baseball bat, etc.) Thankfully her husband had reinforced the outside door with some kind of steel (I'll be asking him what he did!) and the police said it saved them. That's the only thing that kept them from getting in. It really scares me to think they knew someone was home and tried to get in anyway. The 3 yr old is very traumatized by the whole thing (understandably!) so please pray for her peace. Of course, this was NOT a good time for me to hear this. Last night I had to just keep claiming the peace and protection of Jesus and His mighty angels. I know this is not the first time it's happened to someone, it's just that now it's a little close to home. So pray for my peace too. I didn't tell the girls about it, by any means!
Friday, November 17, 2006
I just called to say I love you....
Okay, now that I have that great song going through your head, I just wanted to say thanks for all the comments! I won't name everyone, you can just know if you left me a comment in the last post or two, I am so happy! It's fun to know that there are friends, old and new, out there and I love you all! :-)
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Our Life
I'm realizing that I'm falling far behind in my updates! Not that any of you are just dying to know what we're up to, but I know a few of you come here for Schantz Family News. :-)
On Monday Daryl got to go hunting with our brother in law Menno. And he even got to shoot a deer! He really enjoyed his day out. I sent my camera with him, but since he was gutting and carrying the deer by himself (they had split up to hunt) he forgot to take a picture. Then yesterday Menno shot a buck on his way home from work. So between the two, we can make a lot of sausage! (that's what I'm hoping for since I don't care for other forms of venison) Tammy and I had all the kids at their house for supper while we were waiting for the guys to get back. Needless to say, we didn't get a lot of visiting done at the supper table! :-)
We had a good time.
Yesterday I started baking chocolate chip pecan shortbread for the school bake sale on Saturday, and I ran out of flour. :-( I was annoyed at myself for doubling the recipe! But we picked some up last night so today Olivia and I can bake them.
Tomorrow Daryl leaves for Thompson. He will be gone 2 weeks. I'm so glad my mom is coming to stay with us for part of the time. We're really looking forward to having her here. We're hoping to bake a lot of Christmas cookies, and I'm sure we'll get some shopping in too! I wish we could have gone with Daryl and enjoyed being out of the city, but I didn't want to pull Anna-Christina out of school that long.
Still no snow here...I'm surprised at myself for wishing for it! It just doesn't feel right playing Christmas music when my grass is green. (Now I know how you feel, Rhonda) However, it is so much nicer for going on walks and dressing kids to go outside!
We've got vacation coming up!!! As soon as Daryl gets back, he has 2 weeks off. I think I mentioned that before... :-)
That's about it from this corner of the world. I better go bake my cookies...wash my dishes...fold my laundry...pay attention to my kids...
On Monday Daryl got to go hunting with our brother in law Menno. And he even got to shoot a deer! He really enjoyed his day out. I sent my camera with him, but since he was gutting and carrying the deer by himself (they had split up to hunt) he forgot to take a picture. Then yesterday Menno shot a buck on his way home from work. So between the two, we can make a lot of sausage! (that's what I'm hoping for since I don't care for other forms of venison) Tammy and I had all the kids at their house for supper while we were waiting for the guys to get back. Needless to say, we didn't get a lot of visiting done at the supper table! :-)
We had a good time.
Yesterday I started baking chocolate chip pecan shortbread for the school bake sale on Saturday, and I ran out of flour. :-( I was annoyed at myself for doubling the recipe! But we picked some up last night so today Olivia and I can bake them.
Tomorrow Daryl leaves for Thompson. He will be gone 2 weeks. I'm so glad my mom is coming to stay with us for part of the time. We're really looking forward to having her here. We're hoping to bake a lot of Christmas cookies, and I'm sure we'll get some shopping in too! I wish we could have gone with Daryl and enjoyed being out of the city, but I didn't want to pull Anna-Christina out of school that long.
Still no snow here...I'm surprised at myself for wishing for it! It just doesn't feel right playing Christmas music when my grass is green. (Now I know how you feel, Rhonda) However, it is so much nicer for going on walks and dressing kids to go outside!
We've got vacation coming up!!! As soon as Daryl gets back, he has 2 weeks off. I think I mentioned that before... :-)
That's about it from this corner of the world. I better go bake my cookies...wash my dishes...fold my laundry...pay attention to my kids...
Sunday, November 12, 2006
I Just Can't Help Myself...
...but start to decorate (just a teeny, tiny bit) for Christmas. It's the most wonderful time of the year...Daryl already called me a grinch for not letting him put up the tree in October!!! (ya gotta draw the line somewhere!)
P.S. these glasses showed up at the church kitchen and no one wanted them, so I claimed them for candle holders! Add a Maple Fudge scented candle and mmmmmmmmmmm, my living room smells delicious.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Clarification
Okay, I just re-read my last post...It sounded like I meant that Kim and Alex make a cute couple. For those of you who don't know them, Kim is the mommy, Alex the baby. So what I meant was: Adrienne and Alex make a cute little couple! :-)
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Adrienne and Alex
We enjoyed a visit from our friends Kim and Alex! What a cute little couple they make. :-) Thanks for stopping by.
Back to Normal...whatever that is!
Well, after a busy couple-o-weeks, I think we are back on routine. The distractions were good...Rhonda and Matthew being here, people over for dinner, going away for the weekend, etc.
I will post some pics of the kids in their costumes. I was glad our church had a "Hallelujah Night" again this year. To be honest, I hate Halloween. The graveyards in peoples' yards, ghosts, witches, etc. make me sick. Anyway, the girls had a great time at an uplifting party and came home with enough candy to last for awhile!
Our parent/teacher meeting that I wrote about earlier went well. AC's teacher described her as "quiet, focused, wanting to please, serious, a follower" etc. Is that our kid she's talking about??? I think she will loosen up as she gets more comfortable there. (I hope anyway)
We were at a pediatric residents' retreat this weekend at Falcon Lake Resort. Yeah, sounds fancy, but it wasn't. It was fun, with there being a pool, waterslide and hot tub there. We just got back today and had a nice family evening playing kids' scrabble!
I will post some pics of the kids in their costumes. I was glad our church had a "Hallelujah Night" again this year. To be honest, I hate Halloween. The graveyards in peoples' yards, ghosts, witches, etc. make me sick. Anyway, the girls had a great time at an uplifting party and came home with enough candy to last for awhile!
Our parent/teacher meeting that I wrote about earlier went well. AC's teacher described her as "quiet, focused, wanting to please, serious, a follower" etc. Is that our kid she's talking about??? I think she will loosen up as she gets more comfortable there. (I hope anyway)
We were at a pediatric residents' retreat this weekend at Falcon Lake Resort. Yeah, sounds fancy, but it wasn't. It was fun, with there being a pool, waterslide and hot tub there. We just got back today and had a nice family evening playing kids' scrabble!
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