The fabulous adventures of Mad Cow sisters

My biggest sister and her hubby have stayed here on and off the last couple of weeks. Last night was an unexpected ON night. Before bed the plan was hatched to get up in the VERY wee hours and watch the meteor shower. Seconds after the plan was birthed, the boys ducked out. Ferd meandered off to the Cranbrook musical round table and Alex to bed.

Erin and I, being good, faithful sisters, crawled out of our nice warm beds, tucked ourselves into sweaters and hopped into the van. Both motivated by the desire not to dissapoint the other. We saw about 3 falling stars, shivered, gigled a bit, and hopped promptly back into the van. The whole event over about 45 minutes from when we forced ourselves out of bed.

All in all, regardless of the cold and the numb tiredness of today, I was glad we did it. I miss having adventures with my siblings. I have become the responsible, sensible mother who says things like , "It's late and the kids needs their sleep." or, "Alex has to work and I have to keep up with the kids tomorrow." How boring for a 25 year old woman of the 21st century! Every so often the resonse to an offer of even tame adventure should be "Carpe Diem!"

Directionless contemplation

A bit of an odd morning. I was awake at 4 am crawling into bed with Selah and Shiloh with the intention of preventing Selah from crawling into bed with us and waking Alex. They woke up at 6 and we all headed to the chilly basement to watch a movie so I could try and get a little more shut-eye. No such luck. So I have been puttering around ever since in a fuzzy state.

At 10am a friend came to drop off her two nephews, one of which is now sleeping on the couch next to me. Shiloh is asleep on the couch downstairs and Selah is trying to lay down with her "baby" on yet another couch in here. The sounds of children are coming from every direction and the smell of lunch is wafting in from the kitchen.

I have a lengthy list of things I could should would be doing if I could focus for more than a few minutes. Contemplation on the meaning of life brings memories to mind of "Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy." How many weird movies have I sat through since Alex and I started dating? Some were good .......some hours of my life I would like back.....Not years though. I wouldn't ask for any years back. 8 years for us, 60 for my grandparents. Where will we be in 52 years? Will we have grandchildren? great-grandchildren? Will we both still be living? In this house? Will Alex stay the fantastic oddball that he is? Will we have regrets? Do I have regrets now? I don't think so. I have no real ambitions for anything more than we have. Maybe a couple more kids somehow. I would like to knit just one pair of socks. I don't need a wardrobe of knotted string like my sister. Just one pair of socks would be cool. I would like to be healthier than I am now. Well, I am far too tired to do anything about that today. Tomorrow maybe I will walk before everyone gets up. I can't wait until Alex and I can take walks again. That will mean we don't have babies or toddlers anymore. Hmm. Everything is a trade I guess. Pros and cons everywhere. Kids are waking up, asking for food. No more daydreaming in type for now. Maybe tomorrow I will wake up with fewer questions, distractions. For now, more coffee will keep me going.

I want one

camper bus

kitten farewell

One of the kittens left home this week. Friends of ours took Bugaboo and have given her a good home. A visit to their house last night revealed a very good home for her indeed. They have a little bed for her and it seems she is pretty much litter-trained. She had several good cuddles in the couple hours I was there. We can even visit her so the kids aren't as upset as they could have been. Now if only there were volunteers for the other two.....

UNtitled

Pajama day just doesn't have the same effect when you are homeschooling........

How does your garden grow

We ate the first cucumber from our garden yesterday. Mostly we have tomatoes this year. No sweet peas or yummy carrots. Too many people getting hitched this year for early crops like that. So we stuck to late summer/fall harvests. I do, however, have an amazing herb garden with all kinds of goodies I have no idea how to cook with. It smells good on the way into the house though!

As for flowers, there are amazing blooms coming from the green things we planted at the community garden. I wish I could remember their names. At the house, the lilies bloomed and they were gorgeous for a few days....... until they wilted because, apparently, I wasn't suppose to plant them in full sun. The green bush-like plant I put at the end of my garden has purple flowers popping out everywhere. They are very pretty little things and they are very abundant. I am going to venture a guess that I put that one in the right spot. I think it started with a P.

Anyway, the green things all look good and the tomatoes I planted too early and barely watered until recently are heavy-laden enough for me to think I will probably have to take up canning this year. So either my thumb is turning green, or I am getting very lucky. Probably the latter is true.

Get real

I have been having a bit of a panic lately over life's difficulties. Big and small. Frustrated at God, my prayers have been a little more like accusations, ending in, "why couldn't you have made this easier?" or "why didn't you equip me better for this?" I felt as though the beautiful moments were becoming fewer and farther between and I was enjoying them less because of other things weighing on my mind. Finally, one morning after work, I confided in a friend that I was feeling overwhelmed by many difficult situations in my life or in lives of friends and family. My question was, "Am I just an emotional wimp who needs to suck it up?" Her answer was, "Naw, I get like like that sometimes." And suddenly I felt better.

I enjoyed my children more that day than I had in a week. I noticed the incredible view from my kitchen window again. I put my fingers in dirt and smelled earth and remembered how to smile after days of being in a funk. Somehow just knowing that this woman, who I respect a great deal for her compassion and her positive outlook, felt just as crummy just as often as I do made me feel better. Life just sucks sometimes. It's not my opinion, or my secret weakness. I don't have to apologize for it. Sometimes it's just not easy and trying to fake it just makes it worse. So get real about it.

More firsts

Well, we had a fabulous evening with friends at Kootenay lake last night after which we camped a kilometer or so down the road from their cabin. It stormed like crazy and though Alex and I had a wakeful night, the kids slept right through. In the morning, a friend RVing in the same campground had us over for ham and pancakes, coffee for us, hot cocoa for the kiddies. Loverly!

Anie and I left the Dads with the kids in the park to set out for an hour or so of funky store hopping. When we returned and packed the Marriott tribe into the van for the ride home, Hannah was holding her left arm and bravely explaining how much it hurt. By the time we hit Creston we had managed to convince Hannah to take off her sweater. By then Alex had told me of how she had been launched off the merry-go-round and landed on her shoulder. One look and I called ahead to the clinic for an appointment.

Following in her mother's footsteps Hannah has broken her collar bone. Unlike her mother, she will not be forced to wear a useless contraption that will contort her shoulders into an awkward position for 4 weeks. I was told by my grinning doctor that they decided those pretty much did nothing except cause more discomfort. So, so, glad "they" managed to figure that out. Anyhow, Hannah has survived her first broken bone with few tears and will heal just fine in a few weeks. I even managed not to do the spazzy mother thing at the hospital. Also a first.

Eight years and counting

Today is our eighth anniversary. I gave him chocolate, he made me a bracelet and a "pioneer's engagement ring." We had a pizza dinner on the deck with his parents and cake afterwards. The kids played on the slide, I watered the gardens, Selah pooped on the grass. We saw each other for a total of 3 hours that we shared with other people. Pretty ordinary day. Except it's not.

Eight years ago I was 17 and eight months pregnant, newly graduated, and moving out of my parents house for the first time. Alex had just turned twenty, was terrified at the prospect of being a father, and being financially responsible for a family. Many of the people at our wedding had spent the months before repeatedly asking if we were sure. Asking if we were being hasty because of the baby. Asking if we knew the chances of our being able to stick it out and stay married. Despite all that, our wedding was beautiful and full of hope. Everything made or tended with love. Still, people wondered.

Even now the occasional high school chum asks if I am still with "that guy." I love explaining that I have been Mrs. Alex Marriott since two weeks after we graduated and we have four children now. Eight years. Still married. Still happily, affectionately, electrically married.

In two years, we have decided, we will renew our vows and have a party. Not because our vows are dull or tainted. Not because any hint of their strength has faded. Because we want to. Because we are excited that we are still married and still want to be married. Because we aren't bored. Because not only are we still in-love, but we still really like each other. In fact we like each other more than we did eight years ago. So happy anniversary to us.

The lazy days of summer

Lazy days, my butt! (which is looking slimmer every *scoff* lazy day) Summer is more like "months of multitasking madness." No matter what schedule slimming I do, four kids and hot weather equals busy. So I am taking this time to be purposeful in my activities. If I am whisking the older two off to the library for an activity, then I am careful to use that time bonding with the younger. If I am nursing Selah, I am blogging or reading (can't forget to nourish my own soul). Doing chores, I pray. Gardening, I teach. Watching a movie with hubby, I knit (or nap). As purposeful as I am to waste no time, I am also learning to be calm in my chaos. Rest and relaxation can happen to a spirit even when there is no time for the body to sit down. What a lovely and life-saving discovery.

In other cool news, Selah had a poop in the appropriate place today! This is more exciting than with any of the other kids because she is the first to insist she is potty trained long before she is actually using the potty. She walked up to me as she was taking off her diaper and said "ewwwww poop." This usually means she is halfway done and about to make a mess I will shortly have to clean up. Horrified, (since we were downstairs in the carpeted area of the house) I ran to her, hoping to convince her to stay in the diaper until she was finished. I watched the diaper fall to the floor and glorious relief passed over me like a cool breeze in 40 degree weather. It was empty. She headed up the stairs while I tried to convince her to put the diaper back on. Silly me, after potty training three I still didn't register that she was heading for the bathroom. Well the whole event has reaffirmed my belief that potty training need not involve the parents outside of struggling through the messy bits. They can and will figure it out on their own every time. Your average seventeen-year-old is potty trained whether or not his parents read the books or bought the outrageously expensive and cheesy singing potty.

In the berry patch

earth, water and sky

Last night was fabulous! When Alex came home, he and the kids dropped me off at the garden and came back soon after with a picnic dinner for us to share. We all shared in eating, pulling weeds and planting the last of our garden. What an entirely wonderful way to spend an evening with the family. Selah spent most of her time in the sandbox that is up there. Up to her diaper in grit, she was as happy as a pig in slop.

As if all this wasn't already a perfect end to a productive summer day, I also went for a swim. Alex left the garden with the kids about 45 minutes before I did. I continued to pull weeds until my clothes, face and hands were covered in dark soil and green streaks. Sweaty, muddy and satisfied, I hopped into my friend Kathy's truck. She drove us up to Jim Smith lake which was colder than I thought it would be. We swam out to the centre of the lake and I was struck by how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place. The sky was a fading blue by then, as the crisp, cool water rinsed the last bits of mud from my hair. I think I shall do it all over again soon. I just need to figure out how to add in a guitar to the mix....

Slow and ordinary

There is a lovely quote on my fridge that says, "...the powerful religion of ordinary life, a spirituality of freshly mopped floors.....and clothes blowing on the line." -Adair Lara. I love the philosophy of this quote but until today didn't really get it. This morning I woke to a house unkept and disastrous. With babysitters coming and going this week, our full time plus overtime jobs, and cleaning out the cantankerous trailer, our house has been left to chance. With six cats and four kids, chances are that I would wake up to what I woke up to today. I was frustrated and I pouted. However, four hours later, I am feeling refreshed and optimistic. I have washed all the stacks of dishes, done three loads of laundry plus one load of hand washing. I have fed my children a healthy breakfast, motivated them to clean up their playroom, and even managed a few snuggles along the way. Slow and ordinary are the words of the morning. Yet as I sit here and blog with my nice fresh cup of coffee, I am feeling very satisfied with slow and ordinary. Later on we will head up to the garden of weeds and see if we can't make it a little more beautiful. Tomorrow I am going to paint the wicker furniture a friend gave us and enjoy my cuppa out in the shade. Slow and ordinary. One moment at a time.

Simply Bamboo

Yesterday we skipped our usual lessons and headed to Jaffray for a feild trip. Once there we popped into the local house o coffee to ask where Scott Buxton lives. We arrived at his home to find him outside his Simply Bamboo workshop preparing large sticks of bamboo to be made later into digerydoos. When he was finished he showed Levi and and Hannah around his workshop and even had Levi playing a flute by the end of our trip. We learned all kinds of interesting things. For instance, some types of bamboo can grow fast enough to watch it happen. Another interesting tidbit that I didn't know is that bamboo is a grass not a tree. Before we parted, Scott and I traded CD's of our music and he challenged Levi to learn some scales by Christmas. Levi has been playing or begging to play his new flute ever since.

Crying over spilt milk

Two litres of milk was rescued from the prison of it's jug this morning by a thoughtful two year old. The milk made the most of its new found freedom by making as much ground as it could across the Marriott family's unsealed, tile floor. Soon after, the milk was recaptured by way of bath towels and scrubbing by the frazzled, sleep-deprived mother of the two-year-old accomplice. The Marriott family is said to have survived the incident, but they wish to remain in isolation while they recover from the emotional morning.

The leftovers

Since my biggest sister beat me to the posting of wedding details I shall direct you to read her bloggity blog as well. I will only add on a bit.

First, my left arm will never be the same after having sacrificed much this weekend. After slicing off part of my left fore-finger whilst trying to cut satin for the ring pillow, (good thing it was red) I took a trip to the ER where I received a tetanus shot in my left shoulder..ouch! (still ouch) The next day, whilst sewing said pillow, I stabbed my left thumb hard enough to need a second bandage. The morning after that, I attempted to iron the little man's shirt and not only did I put an iron print in the shirt (the tuckable part, thank goodness) I also burned, rather badly, the inside of my left arm. Was it worth it? Every bit.

The second story I shall add upon is what Dad did for us girls during the father daughter dance. Before the dance he handed each of us an envelope and told us to open it half way through the song. Part of the song says "I'll stand guard like a postcard of a golden retriever". In the envelopes were postcards with a picture of our old dog, Sandy, on them. Well, Erin and I teared up and, of course, in good Dalton fashion, Dad started howling dramatically imitating his emotional daughters. It was good.

Well, Leah's married, we laughed hard and cried hard, we stressed-out, we sang, we danced, we threw up our jazz hands, we played, we drank, and we ate. Good times. Goooood times.

My family adventure

Three dresses, neclaces, and pairs of white shoes prepared, along with one sweet little white shirt, black shoes and pants and tie, the children have had a full day and I just hope they sleep. Tomorrow, we will get our hair done, paint our nails and have a tea party with auntie Leah before the main event. These are some pics of the day.

Regarding the training of potty use

The discovery that one's very small child has decided to potty train themselves seems at first to be an optimal situation. That delusion lasts about as long as it takes to clean up the first floor puddle. Of course a child this small simply cannot be convinced by any reasonable parent that they, in fact, are not potty trained. The attempt to re-dress the leaky areas of said child's anatomy is met with rather disruptive and eruptive denial. The attempt to direct said child toward the loo before leakage occurs is met with the same. What, then, should one do if they are saddled with a leaking child who insists on sitting on the toilet for 1/2 hour before hopping off and promptly relieving themselves on the floor? My simplistic response is as follows; prepare the coffee early, cover irreplaceable and stainable furniture (if you have more that one child you are smart enough to have given these away by now) and have hand towels at the ready in every room. If this does not protect some semblance of sanity then I am not certain sanity has any hope of being saved.

Parade pics

Yesterday at the Sam Steele Parade the kids had a blast on our church's float. Here is a couple of pictures of this fun event.

Father's day

This morning I woke up with a shock realizing in all the hubbub of this week, I had forgotten what day it was. Inexcusable was the fact that I was still in bed while the Father of this house was up caring for children in his usual unselfish, amazingly loving, way.

Worse is the fact that I also forgot to celebrate my own dear Daddy who almost wasn't here for this Father's day. Because he is stubborn, and because he is strong, next week he will dance at my sister's wedding. He is still here and today I am reminded of the overwhelming gratitude of last summer. I am reminded that the Fathers I love are as mortal as I am and yesterday was the last day we were guaranteed. So, I am sorry I let the busyness of my life interfere with remembering how incredible the roles you two play are. I love you deeply and gratefully. Happy Father's day!