Grandma's Visit

Now that I'm back to work and getting into a routine again (slowly), I thought I should post my fun summer pictures. Grandma's visit was a highlight. Planting flowers, snacking on the front step, playing at the playground, walking on the beach... Good times.

Restored Faith in Humanity

I didn't post our sad news earlier. I was too mad about it. When we got back from camp on Friday, Kellen's wagon was gone. It was stolen out of the backyard. I had a suspicion some kids may have taken it to the bike park behind out house and had some fun with it in the hills. So, Kellen and I took a long walk but had no luck finding it. I tried to accept that it was really gone, but every day I'd been looking out in the yard with hope that it would be returned. I was going to post earlier today and see if I could get people on the hunt for another second hand wagon for me to buy. No need now. Kellen and I went to enjoy some Saskatoons and ice cream outside after supper. Sitting just a couple feet from where I always park it...the wagon had magically reappeared!! I hadn't felt too trusting towards this town or anyone in it the last few days. When Kellen and I went for a walk, I was peeking into everyone's yard looking for the blue wagon. Tonight on our walk (with Kellen in the wagon) I smiled at everyone in their yards. Sometimes little things make a big difference. A returned wagon makes me feel like people aren't all bad. Thanks to whoever returned it, hope you had fun with it! Sorry to everyone that's heard me complaining about the missing wagon!

The ?

So, I guess I'd better answer the questions the question mark raised! I didn't feel like writing a post about it, so it was my little fun way of telling. I sure enjoyed hearing the discussions people had about that "?" I'm really not that far along (10 weeks?), but once we had told family and then we told people at the Bell reunion, there didn't seem much point in keeping the secret. (Sorry that I didn't call some people to tell you before you fould out on the blog...I'll make some calls soon.) We won't know until February who that "?" is, but I think I might find out if its a boy or girl in August. I didn't think I'd ever find out. It feels like spoiling the surprise. But, I'd actually like to fix up the room Kellen & baby will be sharing, since I've never done anything in there. It would be nice to know if I can make it all boy or if I need to keep it more neutral. Maybe that's a silly reason to find out. I also partly don't want to because last time the ultrasound technician told us most first time parents don't find out and most 2nd time parents do find out. I don't want to fit into that generalization for some reason. Maybe that is also a silly reason to not find out. What to you think...to find out or not to find out?

We are very excited. I think I feel more cautious this time and am looking forward to the ultrasound to feel some reassurance that all is good. I had read somewhere, that many 2nd time moms are more nervous...maybe feeling that they lucked out once already with a healthy baby. I think that describes me. I'll have to take the lesson to heart that Kathy shared with the girls at camp about trust. God will take care of us no matter what. No question marks needed with that thought.

Girls Week

I've been feeling like the summer is going by way too fast and I'm not getting to enjoy it enough. But, after downloading all the pictures from the last couple of months, I realize how much we have done and how fun the summer has been so far! Girls week at Kenossee Camp was definately a highlight. Although after one experience with a couple of girls in the canoe...I really didn't want to play with those girls anymore! But, I remembered that growing up can be tough and sometimes at that age it is difficult to control your emotions and act as you should. I decided to let the frustration of that evening go. It's all good memories now. Even going out again to help 2 canoes that had troubles with the wind...after I was exhausted from fighting the wind back once already...it was all an adventure! Thank God the wind died down at the perfect time for us to all get back! Kellen had his first experience with waterslides. Hopefully he'll forget and get over his fear. He was NOT happy when he got a face full of water and only enjoyed watching from a distance after that.
He spent many hours behind Nolan's lawn mower.
Having a snack before brunch. I should have got a video of these 2 when they first saw each other in the morning...so much excitement and a BIG hug every morning. It was so cute!
What a goof. He's learning what a camera is about.

Family Reunion Pics

Auntie Maxine and Monica long ago beat me to posting reunion pics, but here are some if you didn't see theirs. It's amazing how families grow. When I looked at this last picture, I wondered if Grandpa would have ever imagined having so many people in his family.

This has been my week off, but I can't believe its Friday already. Doesn't seem fair. We had truck problems on the way home. Didn't get home until Tuesday morning. But, partly my choice. We had made it to Regina (where the car was) and stayed at Andrea's, which was fun and relaxing. Got to watch Gillmore Girls. Now I'm hooked. So, I waited there until Ian had the truck fixed...it now has a new water pump and clutch fan assembly (do I sound like I know what I'm talking about?) I tried catching up on things around the house and the garden on Wednesday. Then I decided that I should really enjoy the holiday, so the last 2 mornings Kellen and I have been at the beach. I guess that will be a much better memory than a weed free garden. Kellen is a little too social at times. He just makes himself at home with a group of kids, playing with their toys and begging for their snacks too. He wouldn't play with his pail and watering can...nope, he had to use theirs! It makes me laugh how he'll go up to other kids and tap them and try follow them around. Guess its his way of saying "hi". He gets some strange reactions sometimes. Not sure how to deal with his overly and sometimes unwanted friendliness sometimes.

Anyhow, there's a babbly update. I know it's been awhile. Next week we are at Kenossee Camp, so I'm hoping for good weather!

Driving Like Daddy

I had a glimpse into the future. Kellen will and already is learning to drive like Daddy.

We are missing Daddy again. Since his company lost the Regina contract with SaskTel, Ian has been doing a lot more travelling. We are hoping that we will get good news about a job in town here that he applied for soon. I'm tired of the long, quiet evenings and I'm getting a big lesson about how frustrating simple things would be for a single parent. It's hard when you never get a break. After listening to Kellen roll around, talk, yell, and cry in his crib for an hour tonight I finally took him for a walk - truly to keep my sanity, not to help him get to sleep.

So, please pray that a better job will soon be found. We miss Dad.

My First Mother's Day

You would think from my title that I am going back to May 2006. No, I am referring to today. I don't mean to be negative about the 2 Mother's Days I have experienced so far. There is just absoulutely nothing memorable about them. Sorry, Ian, if this makes you look bad. Perhaps you deserve it though. No cards, no flowers, no breakfast in bed, no kid-free time, no family picnic, no dinner out.

However, that is all forgotten after today. Ian offered to take Kellen to Regina with him while he did some shopping and errands. I almost had a tear watching them drive away this afternoon. But I soon forgot the momentary sadness. I HAD THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALL TO MYSELF!!! I have weeded and watered my garden and my flowers (in peace, without yelling "Kellen, come back!" or having to replant anything that got yanked). I have done laundry, cleaned the house, paid bills, filed the piles of paper that had accumulated, done dishes...okay, maybe that doesn't sound like a real exciting Mother's Day. But to get caught up on things and organized, to have some time with my thoughts, to have peace and quiet, and to not feel in a hurry...I did enjoy every minute of it. I am now sitting down to scrapbook with some homemade hot cocoa. Wow. What a day. Best Mother's Day ever!