Huge weekend for us. We spent the first day at the zoo and it was hot and beautiful.
spray park
downtown
train
gym treadmill
aquarioum
gwl
awesome
niagra
ferris wheel
dinosaur mini golf
Azzi left early
we stopped at red apple
Content
Monday, May 25, 2015
Ottawa Race Weekend with a sprinkling of birthday
This morning Abbie was up when I went to go for my run so I decided to take her, it was chilly and she was in the chariot wrapped up but my run turned into a nature walk and instead of sweating it I just enjoyed talking to her.
Then when I got home I made waffles and a picnic breakfast on the floor... With only a few disasters;)
Then off to Arthur's birthday party and it was the cutest. "Stach Bash" they made a mustache cake, had cupcakes with mustaches, cups and pop bottles with mustaches on the straws. Cutest ever! Plus we had hamburgers and a bunch of treats. The kids had a blast and by the time we left were sweaty, tired and full of treats.
We then headed down town to our family race (2km) I love doing things like this with our growing little family. We had Joseph Zimmerman with us as well. Mason and Joseph could have ran the whole thing I'm sure but Alin and I were carrying a very tired Dani and Abbie. It was fun and they were so pleased with their medals. After we went with the Ghamien crew and had supper and ice cream at the Rideau Center to celebrate
ARTHUR MCATEERS 1st BIRTHDAY
DAD's FIRST 1/2 MARATHON
On Sunday Alin gave us a kiss at the door and headed down to get ready for his FIRST 1/2 marathon. I so badly wanted to go down and cheer him on from the start but he made me promise we wouldn't so he could just focus and not be looking for us BUT this was his first big race and I knew that along the race at some point and some time he would be wishing that we were cheering him on. Somewhere he would change his mind because I have felt like this at every single race I've done. So I went to sacrament meeting with the kids and right after sacrament was passed left to go cheer him on. We made some signs but my favorite one was " run like a proctologist is behind you" it really cracked me up but I saved him. And didn't hold it up. As people started to get close to the finish line I started getting emotional, it would be so interesting to learn every single persons story. Some came in holding hands with spouses, some came staggering in, some were giving it their last sprint...and then I saw my sweet husband I started crying, I was so proud of him and my whole world is wrapped up in him. We were yelling his name but he had ear phones in, so we had some helpers yelling as well. He heard and started to run over to our side of the fence. He gave us all a kiss and then proceeded to the finish line. My heart burst that he was fine and completed it so well. He rocked it and did it in 2 1/2 hours which was phenomenal!!!!
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
May 20th 2015.
Saturday: We headed to the Sheep Shearing Festival at the Agricultural Museum, it's one of my favorite events there. We met the Azzi's there and watched the Sheep being sheared in fact we got to watch it twice:)
It's a fun excursion and I love taking the kids there, it's funny having done most of my growing up on a farm I want my kids to experience as much of it as they can. Like knowing where their food comes from and not just a grocery store:) They rode tractors (simulators), watched bees, watched some sheep herding with dogs (another favorite)
and I had to laugh Alin was right into it. Soaking up all the information he could and taking pictures of information he didn't have time to read. We then went to lunch with the Azzi's at Lone Star and after that I was really surprised that Alin wanted to go back. So we spent the afternoon there as well. Which entailed pigs, and making wool crafts to which Abbie is still sporting her little bracelet today (Wednesday) Beautiful weather not to hot and even a little shower
Sunday: Church, another beautiful hot day. One of the talks was given by Sarah Dillobough on Relief Society and such but one of the things that stuck out to me was that she was talking about us as mothers and the influence we have in our homes. How when we keep our homes organized, neat and clean that we are more able to have the spirit in our homes. I know this is true because I'm a better mom when things are organized and neat, definitely not so crabby. She also talked about the importance of nourishing ourselves, taking breaks, being healthy, eating healthy food and exercising. Having good pictures and good books, having time without media and setting high standards when we do watch media in our homes. Having family home evening, family scripture study, family prayer. Showing unconditional love to our spouse and children, praying with them and for them. Being diligent in the mom and wife duties. Speaking kindly. Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. So many good little tidbits in her talk and I'm really trying to implement them in our home or the ones we are already doing to keep it up. It really is a continues work. I really want our home to have a warm and welcoming feeling for all those that enter but most importantly my family. That our children will feel this is a refuge from the outside world where they are loved unconditionally and feel safe and secure and feel of our love for them, and a peace in our home. I appreciate Alin and all he does for our family and that he sees that we are at church and supports us in that.
It's wonderful to see how proud of our kids he is whether they are saying the prayer, giving a talk or singing in Sacrament, his face beams with pride. He went for a run after Sacrament (his 1/2 marathon is coming up this weekend) and when we left church we went and found him unrolled the windows and cheered him on. Then after we played in the backyard, the kids running thru the sprinkler like mad men and visited with our neighbors (John and Tania) I also had a primary presidency meeting
Monday (Vicoria Day): I went for a jog and did 14 km
and when I got back Alin was sealing the play structure, kids playing outside and I started gardening.
A walk down memory lane our family always seemed to put a garden in this weekend. William even sent me a text asking if we were keeping up the family tradition. Then after some work we went downtown to the ByWard Market had lunch on the patio, listened to buskers, shopped for a birthday present for Yamen and then met up with them for yogurt for his birthday
Tuesday: I decided today was the day to start our weekly Pink Lake excursion so sent messages out and the brave one to join us today was Amanda Dugan, her Ela and the twins. It was beautiful and crazy. The mosquitoes were awful and poor Abbie tasted delicious to them. By the end it was Amanda carrying the 2 year old's and me carrying the twins. Honestly Amanda is so easy going and one of those friends that it doesn't matter how bad things are we can always laugh at something. The kind of friend that if she showed up at your house at the worst possible time wouldn't judge:) We had to laugh at the craziness. Abbie did not have a fun time but Ela, Mason and Daniela were in heaven
It's a fun excursion and I love taking the kids there, it's funny having done most of my growing up on a farm I want my kids to experience as much of it as they can. Like knowing where their food comes from and not just a grocery store:) They rode tractors (simulators), watched bees, watched some sheep herding with dogs (another favorite)
Sunday: Church, another beautiful hot day. One of the talks was given by Sarah Dillobough on Relief Society and such but one of the things that stuck out to me was that she was talking about us as mothers and the influence we have in our homes. How when we keep our homes organized, neat and clean that we are more able to have the spirit in our homes. I know this is true because I'm a better mom when things are organized and neat, definitely not so crabby. She also talked about the importance of nourishing ourselves, taking breaks, being healthy, eating healthy food and exercising. Having good pictures and good books, having time without media and setting high standards when we do watch media in our homes. Having family home evening, family scripture study, family prayer. Showing unconditional love to our spouse and children, praying with them and for them. Being diligent in the mom and wife duties. Speaking kindly. Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. So many good little tidbits in her talk and I'm really trying to implement them in our home or the ones we are already doing to keep it up. It really is a continues work. I really want our home to have a warm and welcoming feeling for all those that enter but most importantly my family. That our children will feel this is a refuge from the outside world where they are loved unconditionally and feel safe and secure and feel of our love for them, and a peace in our home. I appreciate Alin and all he does for our family and that he sees that we are at church and supports us in that.
Monday (Vicoria Day): I went for a jog and did 14 km
Tuesday: I decided today was the day to start our weekly Pink Lake excursion so sent messages out and the brave one to join us today was Amanda Dugan, her Ela and the twins. It was beautiful and crazy. The mosquitoes were awful and poor Abbie tasted delicious to them. By the end it was Amanda carrying the 2 year old's and me carrying the twins. Honestly Amanda is so easy going and one of those friends that it doesn't matter how bad things are we can always laugh at something. The kind of friend that if she showed up at your house at the worst possible time wouldn't judge:) We had to laugh at the craziness. Abbie did not have a fun time but Ela, Mason and Daniela were in heaven
The start of the hike, we each have a twin and everyone is happy and excited.
The after shot. Poor Amanda is carrying Abbie and Ela, I have the twins.Mason and Dani had a blast. Some emergency potty breaks and the Mosquito's were horrendous. I'm sure that was Abbie's main problem. Other than that a beautiful day.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
What we've been up to the week of May 16th, 2015
This week entailed a trip to the experimental farm with the McAteer clan it was relaxing dare I say. We played at the park and instead of taking a million pictures I just relaxed and enjoyed the sounds of sand being moved here and there, visiting with Miss Kate and letting the kids run. Downside my kiddo's dislike wearing shoes so the first chance they get off come the shoes and the socks. 
Trip to the Mooney's Bay in the late afternoon and the kids took their sand toys and played to their heart content again shoeless.
Friday mom and kid yoga, it's for a couple more weeks and the kids really like it. They usually get to do a craft or color or something before the end and it's really funny to watch them as they listen to our instructor trying to keep their eyes closed and doing all the things she is telling them. We even took Dad with us last week since he had the day off for Comicon:) He was also right into it.
Airplane museum with the Azzi's and Mason and Tristan were having a ball. Mason was giggling and giggling and honestly there is no better sound in the world as children laughing. We also played in the playground there so lots more playing in the sand. Good thing I'm okay with a little sand or this would be a hard gig.
Trip to the Mooney's Bay in the late afternoon and the kids took their sand toys and played to their heart content again shoeless.
Friday mom and kid yoga, it's for a couple more weeks and the kids really like it. They usually get to do a craft or color or something before the end and it's really funny to watch them as they listen to our instructor trying to keep their eyes closed and doing all the things she is telling them. We even took Dad with us last week since he had the day off for Comicon:) He was also right into it.
Airplane museum with the Azzi's and Mason and Tristan were having a ball. Mason was giggling and giggling and honestly there is no better sound in the world as children laughing. We also played in the playground there so lots more playing in the sand. Good thing I'm okay with a little sand or this would be a hard gig.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Mother's Day 2015
This morning I had huge expectations regarding mother's day but sadly the house was still a disaster, there was no breakfast in bed and the kids were squabbling. Put into the mix, I had sharing time today and things were just not going in my mind how they should for Mother's Day. My thought process was this is the hardest job I've ever had, the hours are long and sometimes my patience runs low. So I was thinking the world should stop and tell me that they appreciate me, that what I was doing is important, even if it is the same things every day. Feed, clothe, laundry, clean, clean and more clean. Got ready for church in 10 minutes and feeling frumpy and frustrated and then during Sacrament meeting a talk given by one of my friends Spring hit a chord with me. I don't remember the exact words but she was talking about really, truly enjoying motherhood and how her mom inspired her. That this was what she always wanted, there was so much that I needed to hear in that talk and I wish I would have wrote it down but the bottom line was that I need to relax about the little things that will not matter in years down the road but that the memories I'm building with my little's is what is important. Then on to Sharing time which was a gong show. I had made all these cute little mother's day cards to fill out and the junior primary did amazing. It was the senior primary that gave me a run for my money. As a Mother's Day gift to me Alin stayed for priesthood which was awesome. Came home, napped everyone because we had a Azzi gathering to go to and then after that when we were driving into our driveway there were flowers at the door from my little crew. 
One of the blogs I follow is NieNie and in her mothers day post she wrote this
"I know mothering is hard, challenging,
time-consuming, frustrating, and monotonous.
But it is also beautiful, and colorful, and sometimes it's really funny too!
I like myself most when I am mothering my children.
I like myself most when I am reading to them, feeding them, spending time
with them, teaching them, laughing with them, and serving them.
Being a co-creator with God is a huge responsibility and an honor.
I wish all mothers could view it that way.
The world's message to mothers is wrong and terrifying.
That message is demeaning. It belittles us and tells us that being a mother
is just not enough. It's enough. I promise, it's more than enough."
For Mother's Day this year my mom didn't want any gifts so instead for a few days I posted songs and messages for her to read. It was a fun project and she really liked it, I even tried my hand at making her a video. Some of the songs were "She put the music in me" by Calee Reed, "Thanks Again" by Ricky Skaggs, "A Mother's Love" by Jim Brickman, "Angel" by Randy Travis, "My Favorite Things" Hilary Weeks. I don't think you ever really appreciate a Mom till you become one and then you can't think of enough ways to thank her.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Listening to the Still Small Voice
So yesterday was another beautiful day and so taking advantage of the day I thought I should clean the garage. I love having a neat garage. So the kids came out with me and they love riding their bikes but pretty soon bored off just being able to ride in the garage. So I decided to back the truck up and then park it across the round about so they would have a wider area to play but were not allowed to go beyond the truck. We live on such a insanely busy street that I'm always paranoid about it. So the garage was cleaned, bikes were rode and everyone was having a fun time. When I was finished I told the kids to go in the garage so I could move the truck again. I WATCHED Abbie go up the stairs into the house with Mason, and Daniela was watching me from the garage. I tided up a few quick things, hoped in the truck and went to start backing up. When I had the distinct impression to STOP, looking around I could still see Dani watching me and the door from the garage to the house was still open so I assumed Mason and Abbie were still in there. I put it into reverse and again heard the words "Wait till you know where everyone is" at this point I'm thinking this is a little absurd, but I listened and stopped. Rolled down my side window to talk to Dani and that's when I looked out my drivers window and their beside the truck with tears streaming down her face (because she thought I was leaving somewhere) was my sweet Abbie. She had scurried out of the house when she heard the truck and walked behind the truck to get me. Had I not listened to that sweet still small voice this day would have had a horrible outcome. I said a prayer of gratitude and we continued on our day...when Alin got home I was telling him about our day and that's when he pulled up an article for me to read. In Alberta there was a little 5 year old killed, because his mom backed up to give him more room to play in their driveway and he had gone behind her without her knowing. My heart was so broken for her, because I knew how easily that could have been our article. I pray that she feels comforted and watched over, the emotions flooded out of me while I was doing dishes. So very grateful for listening today and so very sad for that hurting family.
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