Pineapples don't grow on trees...

What I am learning:

• Today Madeleine asked me if Pineapples grow on trees. Well, I couldn't quite picture how it grew so we went to the computer and found some great photos and lot of neat info.
• Did you know that a Pineapple plant grows only one pineapple, and then it takes another 3 to 4 years to grow one more, wow!  Pineapples don't have useable seeds so you have to cut off the top of the pineapple, leaves and all, and plant that.
• Olivia will always be curious and mischevious
  What could she possibly be thinking?
•  what do crayons really do to walls and cabinets? 
• cameras can't be that difficult to use, I think I'll try.
• I just want to put a few dozen stickers on the wood floor
• those worms need a friend to play with in that mud and water
• if I climb around the outside of the play structure and then try to climb on the roof I bet I will see lots of fun things.
• I am sure Rose (our neighbor) would love to have an old plastic grape container I covered in Spiderman stickers
• Luke doesn't mind if I step on his back once in a while
• Mom won't miss a few pieces of gum
• Mom can't run as fast as me and if I am quick she won't even know I am gone (this is at Costco, the school, movie theatre, just about anywhere)
• Clothes are over rated
• If a little toothpaste is good then a lot has to be that much better
• I can use knives. Really I can....watch as I carefully cut this zuchinni bread our neighbors brought us, oops, it is all falling apart...but I didn't cut my thumb Mom.
• If I hide under the island then Mom can't see me eat these chocolate chips
• The first two cheese strings didn't taste so good, had to throw them in the garbage, but I bet this one will be just right
• Olivia attempts to pocket a toy or two from the kindergarten room and I have to chase her around until a friendly staff nabs her.
• Justin was wondering how deep a black hole is...well, we never figured that out but we did learn about its amazing ability to absorb any light it comes in contact with.  Oh yeah, and a light year is a unit of length about 6 trillion miles long...
• to not be afraid of not knowing the answers to MOST of their questions. We can find out together.
• Luke loves me!  He loves me to be on the ground with him and to throw up his arms and use my chin to tickle his chest and tummy. When he wouldn't settle yesterday I kissed his cheeks and neck and after a while his breathing calmed and soon he was fast asleep. That is a special moment. 
• Austin loves puzzles; doing puzzles makes him happy. Teasing his brothers and sisters is a little fun too.
• Happiness is up to me and I am so thankful I have a wonderful family to share my life with. There is good in everyday and in everyone. Learning to smile when rice spills all over the floor or when play dough seems to be all over is what my kids need to see from me.
• I can conquer my weaknesses one day at a time.
• Things are just things. People are the most important.

Baptism

Justin's baptism was looked forward to for weeks. What an exciting time in his life. He kept saying how he couldn't believe he was finally turning 8.

We don't often get to see 
Gramma and Grampa
Harbertson.
We just live too far away....so it
was a special treat to have them out with us for this special occasion.

Leif and Corrina, and family, just moved to Calgary so we will hopefully 
see them lots.
We are so fortunate to have many occasions to see Eric's parents. The kids know them so well and are thrilled to have them be apart of their lives.

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When we had Madeleine's baptism it was her and several other kids, so our role was minimal in the service. This was a service for just Justin, so we were able to plan it all.  Madeleine offered, yes offered, to give a talk on the Holy Ghost. This is huge for a girl who typically does not want to be center stage. She also offered to sing with Olivia and Julia. So they sang I am a Child of God together (Livi came in at the chorus and Julia decided she wasn't too comfortable and stayed with Mom), so Madeleine got a solo.  Grampa Baker gave the talk on baptism. Gramma Loretta played the piano and a special piano solo. Grampa Harbertson and Aunt Corrina gave the prayers and I lead the songs.
We were so happy to have Auntie Dawn and Uncle Neil with us at the baptism.

 Grandpa Harbertson spoiled the little ones with so much love and attention.  I don't think I remember him being so involved with the "babies" of the family but it seemed so easy and natural and made them feel so SPECIAL.

Our boys enjoy being outside doing just about anything, especially if they have an audience and Gramma and Grampa were fantastic sports to go out with them.

 Justin turns 8!  This weekend was so special.  It really turned out perfectly and shared with wonderful family and friends. Justin turned 8 on Friday and then had his baptism the next day at 4:30pm.  We had a birthday dinner Friday night and he asked for Pumpkin Pie instead of cake, opened presents, and hung out.  Saturday after the baptism we had a family dinner and again just hung out and talked.

 For his BIRTHDAY DINNER he asked for breaded chicken and pasta.  What is funny is that minutes before I started making the dinner he informed me that he didn't mean that he meant a different dinner. He understood that it would be difficult to change and had a good attitude about it :)

 Olivia wanted to help blow out the candles.  Luke enjoyed Grandma's pie too.

 Gramma Loretta spent at least an hour playing duets, from the children's primary songbook, with Madeleine. Madeleine love it and was so excited to share the songs with the rest of us.

22 and counting

Typically Madeleine and Justin are in charge of putting up the dishes in the morning. Whoever remembers first gets to assess the load and decide if they want top or bottom. Yesterday one of them left without getting them up so I started to do them. Frankly, it is too much of a bother to wait until they get home from school to load it up again.  
  As I began the unloading I was stunned to see how many plastic cups came from one day.  I thought it picture worthy. I mean 22 cups and only 4 children  using them...that is a lot, especially when two of them are gone for most of the day. 
   We have instituted the one cup a day rule, and it is working well. Though Austin did point out that sometimes it is not his fault because I have put his cup in the sink already...oops, I do do that.

Picture Day

 We thought we picked the perfect day for photos...or so we thought. Picture day at school and we decided to have our family pictures done. Everything was looking great until 30min. before we were to leave for our outdoor photos.  The photographer called to see if we still wanted to do it...with my kids there is so much mental preparation, let alone the physical that we decided to just go for it. It will be a miracle if anything turns out as the wind kept on coming and our hair was flying.  All you need is ONE good one, so hopefully...we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Happy Birthday Justin

 Happy 8th Birthday to my boy.  We celebrated his birthday a week early as his birthday will be a busy one with family in town for his baptism.  Eric took him, his 4 friends and Austin to Lethbridge to go bowling.  They played 2 games and ate pizza and had pop!  After that they came back to Raymond and headed to the Church where they had a community event. Then, home for cookies, ice cream, popcorn and a movie.  It was a fun night with these energetic boys.

Play time

 Entertaining Luke is the Major part of all of our days. I am so glad he has so many attentive and loving brothers and sisters.  The other day I heard a thump from the play room and Luke began to cry. Olivia explained that she had helped Luke sit up on the ottoman.  Thankfully he fell on to the rug and not the slate.

 All summer long Madeleine asked for a Lemonade stand. Well, last week she got it and this week we decided that a cookie stand could be just as much fun.  Unfortunately, thewind was really strong this afternoon so it ripped apart their beautiful sign, leaving only half...and we had to tape it all down so it wouldn't blow away. Cookies were 25 cents and they made $5.60.  This is her new friend Shannon.