Big Changes!

Things have been tough over the last month as you may have noticed by the absence of any postings in February.

Finally we are feeling like a single family and not so much them and us. But with that comes the reality of being a family of nine.

Nine sets of clothing to be washed daily...

Nine sets of dishes to be washed three times daily...

Nine piles of discarded stuff everywhere each day...

Nine pairs of snow boots left dripping on the floor...

Nine tummies requiring endless supplies of food...

Nine bodies running in every which way...

Nine voices demanding attention...

Nine individuals seeking recognition...

Nine hearts crying out for love...

And I am exhausted!!! So here is my confession. I lost every last thread of my cool this month. I walked away from my newest babies and screamed "I QUIT!"

No, I will NEVER quit being their forever Mum, but I wanted to quit the endless mess this crazy family seems to call life. So I told Papa Bear to enrol all the little kids in school. I needed some space!

Due to circumstances we have only actually sent one to school.

Princess is sooo excited to be allowed to attend the local public school, "Thank you, Mummy, for loving me enough to let me go to school!"

Did I mention we are nine individuals...

With God's grace we can be ONE BIG FAMILY!!!


Mumzy

A New Pastime

Finally we have had some snow and cold weather! 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately it is not all snow but often snow... then rain... then back to snow again... This makes for a very slippery base underfoot.

 

 

Thankfully the kids have found a way to make it all work for them.

 

 

The corner of the farmer's field next door has a giant puddle that has turned into a frozen ice spot. 

 

 

Which makes for some awesome sliding opportunities!

 

 

Forget the sweaty summer water-slide my kids love the wild winter ice-slide!

 

 

Mumzy

 

 

Health Update

OUCH these rotten teeth have GOT to hurt!!

We have been having fun tramping around the countryside having health checks and treatments over the past few weeks.




This little lady found that flower in our
 garden AFTER Christmas!!!

Dentist visits are finally done. Warrior and Princess both received normal fillings for a few cavities each. Buttons received a clean bill of health for his cute little teeth.


Treasure on the other hand was in need of some serious work. Unfortunately she is terrified of the drills, tools, needles, even the cottonbud with the numbing gel on it! So we had to wait to have her work done by a pediatric dentist who could sedate her. She ended up with having two visits requiring the removal of 5 teeth that were all infected, 3 crowns, and 4 fillings. Poor thing has been doing so much better with all that pain and infections cleaned up!
 




This is what our little buttons looked like his
2nd day in Canada

A visit to the eye doctor revealed a few things we weren't expecting. The oldest three children had glasses in Lithuania with an eye condition mentioned on their medical files. Nothing we couldn't deal with. After their exam they all came away with better than normal eyesight, no evidence of the condition, and no need for glasses at all! Princess was disappointed with the no glasses, I think she saw them as a fashion statement!

Next in line were medical checks where there are a few concerns that need further looking into with specialists visits and blood tests to be done. 

This is what our little heart stopper looks
like after 6 months of Family LOVE!!!

As for general health everyone seems to be avoiding colds and bugs. Buttons has completely lost his chesty cough and is no longer on asthma medication. Treasure is now trying a gluten free diet to control her tummy cramps which is making an improvement to her daily health. Princess and Warrior are just invincible!


Here's to a healthy 2015!

Mumzy



A New Year and a Great Christmas

Before I begin I want to wish you a Happy New Year. I hope this last year was a blessed one. So many great things happened though I do believe that the kids coming home was highlight numero uno!

 

We had an awesome Christmas. The kids were amazing! We were preparing for complaints, jealous fits, lack of attachment, and stress related chaos. Instead we had super thankful, calm, amazing kids.

 
The whole day was super relaxed and awesome. It was one of the best I can remember.


If we were having a competition for best reaction I think Treasure would have won hands down! She had set herself up for not getting anything that she wanted so she was really excited when she opened Wiggles present for her; it was a doll (each child gets a present from two siblings). Though this was a great reaction it wasn't the winner.  

 
Treasure sat down in front of the Christmas tree to open her big gift from    Mumzy and Papa Bear. She opened the present just a little bit and peeked inside. Treasure then closed the present back up with the biggest smile on her face. She started laughing for joy and clapping her hands. Treasure then grabbed the inside of the present and whipped it open sending smaller presents hidden inside flying.

Everyone else also got awesome things which they loved. Here is a little survey about Christmas:



 

 

Papa Bear:
Favorite present: police grade torch  (flash light)
Favorite Christmas moment: seeing Treasure's face when she peeked at her present that Mumzy and Wiggles had made. 











Mumzy:
Favorite present: thick knit cardigan (sweater) 
Favorite Christmas moment: kid's reaction to Christmas and knowing that we are a good family that can be trusted to give good things that are both wanted and needed (especially Warrior)








Jelly Beans:
Favorite present: mini fridge
Favorite Christmas moment: having everyone home to open presents and eat good food with, so glad my whole family is home!








Wiggles:
Favorite present: hair dryer
Favorite Christmas moment: Treasure's little squeal when she opened her present from Wiggles. "I have never seen anyone so excited about a doll."








Kiwi Boy:
Favorite present: my phone that I have been asking for (for over two years!)
Favorite Christmas moment: having friends over for dinner















Warrior:
Favorite present: Adidas bag
Favorite Christmas moment: being able to have presents










Princess:
Favorite present: I loved them all!
Favorite Christmas moment: I liked going Christmas shopping 














Treasure:Favorite present: fairy princess dress
Favorite Christmas moment: to be able to have presents and knowing about Jesus











Buttons:
Favorite present: my Ukulele
Favorite Christmas moment: having friends over for dinner







We hope you had an awesome Christmas!!!


Love,
Jelly Beans

Merry Christmas!!!!

From our family to yours!

 

 

 

 



Christmas trees and change

This year Christmas looks a little different for us…


There is now 9 of us for this celebratory season which means doing presents different. This Christmas is also the first Christmas that we have had a 5 year old in 8 years!

First thing that I noticed that was different in our Christmas routine was the Christmas tree. As my dear sister Jelly Beans puts it Mummzy is our very own tree dictator. Our tree was always done to the 'T'!

Now don't get me wrong that does result in a nice tree that is all colour coordinated but it also results in a tree that is covered with breakable ornaments. In past years our Christmas tree has looked orderly and very breakable…

This year our Christmas Tree is covered in plastic and paper ornaments that will not shatter and if they do brake then there will be minimal clean up. Also, the only ‘rule’ for the construction of the tree was that you can’t have two ornaments hanging on the same branch.

 So I guess that not only has the Kids changed but so have we!

 
Thanks and GOD BLESS!!!!

~Wiggles


 

Papa Bear & Pals

 

I apologize for not being all that dedicated to the blog at the moment and going for large spans without posting anything.

 

 

Hopefully over the next couple of weeks we can get all caught up on what is going on at our house.

 So for starters on the catching up...

Papa bear went to New Zealand for Business but has now returned safe and sound.  We all love having Papa Bear back in the house. Getting back into a routine isn’t always easy after having to strike it out alone for a while but I know that none of us would trade him for the world!

Thankfully nobody had to make a trip to the Emergency Room! Unfortunately it was not perfect we still did have a little trouble.

We could never make it without the help of friends; from making dinner for all 8 of us left at home, or boosting the van when it is not working, or being our taxi service when the van still doesn’t work, or coming out of their way to fix the van so that it will work!!!

 We are blessed to know people that care!!! People that help us physically and also those who pray for us! I cannot begin to thank these people for all they have done for us and for all the prayers they have said!

Thank you all and God Bless!!!

~Wiggles