stuck inside

What is up with it being so cold out??? It's only -21 but with the windchill it's -32. Way to cold to go outside with the kids. So we are stuck in the house. Dustin has been taking the van to work this week. What to do... with all these kids.

I've been wanting the old style roller skates for a while now. Of course they don't sell them in the stores anymore. They now call them quad skates. I guess roller skates is too close to in-line skates and people are getting confused??? I remember my first time skating with them. It was in Lahr germany. The apartment buildings where near a hotel and a strip mall. I think there was a bar, grocery store, and hair dresser in the strip mall. The strip mall was raised up on a hill, so you had to go up a few stairs. On the left was a big open space that was paved and the strip mall was paved all around it. There was a parking garage under the strip mall. We would spend hours going around and around that strip mall. The parking garage was another great place to play. You had to wait until a car went in to open the door, and then you'd have to sneak in without the person noticing you. If you ever got caught in there you'd be in so much trouble.

Anyways, So I went on line last night looking for them. OMG they are soooo expensive. Plus any nice ones where over $100.00. What's up with that? Most of the ladies ones look like figure skates. I don't want to buy used; for many reasons. I just want sneaker looking ones with basic color wheels. I don't bright blue, pink, or yellow wheels. Most of the ones that look decent are for kids. Oh well I guess I'm just going to have to look some more. Hopefully I can find a store that sells them, even if it's in Grand Forks.

HAPPY NEW YEARS' EVE EVERYONE!

Conversations around the table

My twins are 4 Payton (girl) and Clayton (boy) this one conversation they had the other night, instead of eating their supper.

Clayton: I'm bigger then you Payton
Payton: No your littler then Payton
Clayton: No bigger then Payton
Payton: No littler, I'm older that makes me bigger
Clayton: No bigger I ate all my supper one time and now I'm bigger
Payton: No your littler & littler and littler like a bug.
Clayton: No I ate like this *spins his arm around around* faster and faster that means I'm bigger cause I ate all my supper first.

interesting conversations they tend to have when no one else is paying attention.

Skates

My three oldest received skates from their grandpa and Baba this Christmas. I've been saying for the last couple of years, that I really need to teach Faith how to skate. Faith has been skating at school a few times, but not enough really to learn anything. So friends had a skating/toboggan party yesterday. They have a few acres and have a pond to skate on.

Faith is actually getting good. She could glide and turn without falling too much. Which I think for a fourth time skater is really good. Payton on the other had has NEVER been skating before. She's 4. She was *walking* along and getting herself going. Very impressed. Alas Clayton is not an athlete. He wanted them off within 30 seconds. He found out pretty quickly he can't walk normally with skates on. Nathan just played on the ice with his boots on.

I was surprised it was a really nice day. -17 and with windchill is was about -25. So for here at this time of year it was prefect.

So today we went to the skating rink just down the street from us. I found out yesterday it's public property and the city is the one who maintains it. Friends can see it from their house, and she said they come by every day to clean and water it. LOL that makes it sound like a plant. Anyways, so I took the three oldest and went for a skate after lunch. I didn't bother with Clayton's skates. I figured, after a few times watching how much fun the girls are having he'll want to skate too. Faith was going backwards and gliding along. I should have brought the shovel, because it is sunday afterall. The city didn't clean off the new snow.

I'm glad I found out that it's public property. Paying to go the local community center, when I'll probably only be there for 10 minutes; of skate time; just seems like a waste of money.

The one good thing about these skates is that they are interchangeable with in-line skates. They come with in-line skate to change for the summer. So not only do the have ice skate they have in-line skates for the summer. I like buying one thing and getting multiply uses out of them.

Now I just need to get skates and remember how to skate so I can join the kids for all the winter fun.

Thank God for friends

Christmas was a complete success. Not only do I have my kids healthly and for the most part happy, a wonderful husband, we have great friends.

After a early morning of present opening. Dustin made us all waffles. The kids only ate a few because they wanted to play with their new toys. We spent the day, exploring the new games and being a family. Dustin built all their new lego toys. He loves lego and I think plays with it more then the kids do.

Our very dear friends invitied us over for supper. I thank them very much. Both of us have no immediate family in the city. We both have 4 kids and our kids like each other lol. We spent all evening and night there. Normally Dustin wants to leave and get the kids in bed. It was 11:00 before we left. Nathan lasted about 5 minutes in the car, then was fast asleep. We played sequence. Dustin and her husband like this game. The kids played wii and hopefully her house isn't a complete disater.

Thank you very much for inviting us over and sharing your christmas meal with us.

Wilsonfamily christmas letter

Well another year is almost done. Where did the time go? Another year in the kids lives is starting and I can't wait to see what this year will bring.

Faith is in the 2nd grade now. She loves going to school. Mostly because she knows everyone and is liked by everyone in her class. She is in French school, no English allowed, until grade 3. We were alittle concerned with her because we don't speak french on a daily basis at home. She not only excels in speaking, but in spelling as well. She is very linguistic. Everyone who speaks french is amazed that she speaks french like a french person. We have also found out that she may need braces in the coming year. We have an appointment in January and will find out then. Hopefully some other things the dentist suggest will work and she won't need the braces.

The twins Payton and Clayton are in their second year of pre-school. They have a harder time in school only because they don't want to listen to the teacher. Payton's favorite thing to say is "I'm tired and don't want to do it" "or I didn't know". Clayton just looks at you like he doesn't understand, very frustrating. They have started their first extra circular activity. We choose gymnastics. They are always climbing on things, or jumping off things. Gymnastics was the perfect choice. They can't wait to get there every week.

The three older have also joined sunday school. Now we have discussions of GOD around the table. They are always asking "did GOD make this?" "why did GOD make it this way?" I feel that they need to know who and what GOD is. Who and what the church is. Then they can make an informed decision on whether or not to believe in the church and GOD. Nathan will join sunday school next year. Right now he spends that time at home, having dad all to himself.

Nathan has had a very interesting year. He fractured his leg in May. Having slid down the slide and twisted at the bottom. He spent about a week in a white cast and another two to three weeks in an orange cast. He was quite good at walking on it near the end. This last week he was pushed and fell into the chair. He received one stitch as a result. Nathan is in the coping mode. He loves to copy everyone. He wants to sit in the big chairs, wear big kid mitts and do what the big kids do. He loves to *read*. He takes out books and sits on the couch and *reads* them.

Me,I have been busy this year. I finally had a weekend away from the kids. In June I went to Grand Forks with girlfriends and just shopped the whole weekend away. It's very therapeutic and I recommend this for everyone. Right now the kids are the main focus. Doing homework, driving them to activities, feeding, playing, bathing and just enjoying them is what my days consist of. We are very fortunate that one of us is able to stay home. I don't know how we'd function if we both had to work full time. After seven years of not seeing my brother and his family, we finally had a visit this summer. Nic and Mel moved from New Brunswick to Alberta in August. They have 4 kids as well. With our house being small I wasn't sure how we'd all fit, but we did and the kids got along beautifully. We will have to do this more often now that they are closer.

On to Dustin, he has been very busy at work. He made a trip down to Nashville in November. He loved going there. We have never been. I of course was very jealous. I tried to talk him into hiding me in the suitcase. He has now started car pooling with a friend from work. He leaves earlier in the morning but is home earlier in the evenings. Dustin has been with the company for almost 10 years. He is still enjoying it and I see him staying for the long haul.

Our family has enjoyed many memorable moments together and look forward to enjoying many more in the years to come. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Snow Day

Today is the second day of holidays for the kids. With christmas right around the corner, there is no school for the next two weeks. What do you do with the kids??? Today we played outside in the snow. It takes a bit of time to get everyone ready, but it's worth it! I'm so glad it warmed up. I don't know what I'd do if I was stuck in this house another day. I left Sunday for a few hours, but other then that I haven't been out of the house since thursday. I enjoy taking the kids for a walk.

We started out going for a walk but quickly found out Nathan wanted nothing to do with that. I either had to carry him, or he threw snow at the other kids. So off to the field by the park we go. All the kids want to do is slide down the huge snow piles. All the snow piles of course are right next to the street. So I start piling snow in the field, but the snow is not sticky and won't stay together. But we had fun none the less. Nathan even got in on the action and played in the snow. I think if I see the smaller snowplows out I might ask them to make a pile in the field.

Every holiday lately I've been making sugar cookies. My friend gave me the recipe (which I am very grateful for) and the kids just love it. I make hearts at valentines, ghost and pumpkins at halloween, winter ones at Christmas. Every time I make enough for Dustin to take to work. He's work friends enjoy them and are always asking "when is Tenille making the cookies again?" So today Dustin is having his work brunch christmas party. His friend says " tell Tenille to make those cookies and if she doesn't then she's a pussy." That's right he said pussy. So I confront this friend a few days later. He backtracks says "Dustin said it, I just went along with it" Then he tells Dustin it's a term of endearment. "It's pronounced puss-sey, like the french say". Right I'll pronounce you puss-sey!! so last night when I was decorating the cookies I made him a special cookie. It's a round cookie. I wrote on it "U R A BOOB!" I was going to make a boob out of the cookie but it didn't look right. Apparently he laughed and eat the cookie. It's a good thing I like this friend.

Hopefully tomorrow will be warm as well and we can go for another *walk* around the neighbourhood.

Little Munsch on the Prairie

I took my girls Faith and Payton to see this play last night. I didn't know what to expect. I've never been to the Prairie Threatre Exchange before. The threatre is small and cozy. The floor right in front of the seats is the stage. It was very cute play. This was a evening out just for the girls. Boy, did the girls really stick it to Clayton. "The play is just for girls" "We get to go and you don't"

Faith LOVED IT! Payton didn't know what to think at first. But she soon enjoyed herself.

The play was about some of Robert Munsch's books. Three animals had to find out what this thing was laying in their field. They used books to come up with an answer. PIGS, I'M SO EMBARRASSED, 50 BELOW and THE DARK. If you like Robert Munsch's books then you'll really like this play.

I was worried about being at Portage place at 7:00 pm. I knew the mall was closed, but there are still 2 other threaters in this mall. There were homeless people hanging out in the mall sitting on benches. Not that all homeless people are dangerous, but you never know. This was a special showing for the Manitoba Families of Multiples. So I knew a few families there.

The mall is three floors high. They have big openings in the floors so you can look down on the floor below you. I have a healthy respect for heights. Faith would run over to the openings and look down. OMG I almost had a heart attack. She was getting so angry with me. "MOM, I'm just looking!" The threatre had valadate parking so I only paid 2.50. Which is way better then paying 5.00 or more. I left the house super early at 5:30. We got there just after 6:00. We had to wait in line for about 15 minutes. We were home about 9:00

All in all it was a good night. The girls listened and I didn't have to yell at anyone. After the show, they had milk and cookies sitting out for everyone.

Christmas concert failure

The christmas concert was almost a complete failure.... need I say more? My kids were cute of course.

Well I will anyways. We arrived there about 5 minutes early. Dropped the kids off, Dustin got us seats. The concert was suppose to start at 6:30. I think she was waiting for the parents that were running late. So when the concert finally started all three classes went up on stage.

Payton and their friend Daniel were standing in the front. Clayton was behind them off to the side. I asked Clayton to move over so I could see him, what does he do??? Throws the kids in front of him out of the way. Well at least I can see him better right? As the teacher starts singing my kids just stand there. I say sing the songs, do the actions, do something!!! so they half heartedly do the actions. Well it's better then just standing there.

Then half the kids were to get off the stage. My kids class was to stay up and sing another song. The teacher spent more time organizing them, then they did singing. It was definitely a *cluster f@ck* The song lasted about 2 seconds. I was not impressed at all. Who do I complain to about the teacher??? She had a helper but she's about a useful as tits on a bull. COME ON ALREADY!! I much prefer the teacher we had last year. I was very upset when I heard she was leaving. When you go from a teacher who has control, respect and loves her job; to a teacher who is disorganized, unrespected, and nervous it's very upsetting. No wonder Clayton doesn't listen to her at all.

The teacher had *assigned* parents to bring stuff. Some were to bake, some were to bring juice. There is no way all the parents who baked brought baking. The teacher didn't even pass out their christmas presents. We had to go to a table and get them ourselves. No santa. Lets just say this year when Dustin was ready to leave so was I.

So another year of christmas concerts is over. Maybe if the pre-school teacher stays next year, she'll be more organized?

it's that time of year.... christmas concerts everywhere

Tonight is the twins christmas concert. Do I think they are going to sing...no, do I think they are going to dance....no, do I think they are going to stand there and look cute....yes.
They like to just stand there. They claim they don't know the words, but I know the teacher has sung the songs with them every day they are in school. Plus the times I've gone over the song with them. Oh well. We'll all still going to go and support them. I know Faith is going to want to run around and play with her friends. But Dustin won't let her.

Last sunday was the church christmas pagent. The older three had a little part in it. The twins went up in their pre-school class and were suppose to say all together "we want a home" Yeah, they just stood there. Then they had to sing alittle song... nope. Good thing some of the other kids picked up the slack. Faith had to read two sentences by herself. But she stood up there with the rest of her class. She did really well, although she was alittle shy. Which from her is a huge suprise. Considering when she was in pre-school she sang so loud the people in the back of the gym could hear her.

Today was a busy day, with no playgroup for Nathan, we went shopping. I finished up any shopping that was left. I was surprised Zellers didn't have any nice skirts on sale for kids. But I did find a mario bullet bill. Faith will love it. Nathan is so funny. He hates wearing his gloves, he fights and pouts. Coming out of the store today I said "fine, freeze your hands" Not even 10 paces later and he was asking for his gloves. Silly kid, should have just listened to me in the first place. But what do I know, right... I'm just the mom.

Family pictures

Nathan's trip to the floor.

So yesterday after setting up the blog. I figured enough fooling around time to get the christmas cards ready. Every year I write out who we send cards too. Last year I wrote it out all nice, had it divided into my family, Dustin's family, friends, work.

So I go searching for this note. I'm under the basement stairs. No lights, no room. I hear screaming upstairs. The kids have been fighting lately and just figured it was another regular sibling fight.

I come up stairs about 2 minutes later not having found this list of names, to Nathan standing at the gate with blood all over his face. "Daddy" he says. Cause of course he calls me daddy. I'm like "What the hell happened here." Payton says "Clayton did it" Clayton says "No I didn't, Payton did it. Well actually he did it all by himself."

YEAH RIGHT!

I get Nathan in the bathroom. He won't let me clean it, touch it, even look at it.
I phone Dustin, Health links, Dustin again, local walk-in; who by the way does stitches, but not on 2 year olds. Off to children's we go.

Where I spent the rest of the afternoon/early evening waiting. We waited so long we watched the majority of the new chipmunks movie, all of over the hedge, and just the starting of a new movie.

Poor Nathan had to be wrapped up and held down. They stitched one stitch. I was afraid he would pick off the glue. The one good thing about kids is they bounce back so easily. He was all laughs and pouts; for those of you who know him, you know his pouts; until someone touched him.

So Nathan had a nice *trip* yesterday and got 1 stitch as a souvenir.

First Entry

Well, well, well my very first blog entry. Today we went to village du Pere Noel. The kids like going there with school. This year parents were not allowed to stay, which I think is unfair. I've gone every other year. I wanted to take pictures of them. I have pictures from when Faith went. When it's Nathan's turn I'm just going to stay. But I did get an hour to shop for the kids. I went to Dollarama. Who doesn't love dollarama??? Nathan was really good and sat in the cart. I didn't have to ask him to settle down, I didn't have to chase him. Although snacks help alot in this department lol.
It's way to cold here! -42 with the wind chill. But life still goes on. Kids still have school, people still need to work, christmas shopping still needs to be done.