Reading of the Day:

Luke 12:8

"And I assure you of this: If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I, the Son of Man, will openly acknowledge that person in the presence of God's angels. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I wil deny that person before God's angels."

Imagine that. Acknowleged by Jesus in the presence of God's angels.

Wow.

The Wedding of '08

Well it's over. The lovebirds are on their honeymoon, and I've since gone on a gardening strike ... it should last about a week. (No mom, I won't let things go downhill after the extensive weeding and edging we did... whew...)

Here are some pics of the lovely day....

Ashlyn getting her hair in curls..

The chairs and aisle set up...

The Angels holding up the Brides dress...

The pretty ladies ...

Angel Boy Gabriel performing his duty...

My family...we were all there!

Eden and I...she was hamming it up for all her admirers...

It was a lovely day, the clouds broke as Patti came down the aisle and the sun shone, What a blessing!

This was Gabe on his orientation day....it happened, and he loved school. I was elated until we went on the mini bus ride and within 5 minutes in motion, he told me he felt sick. I told him he was like his mother, and we both stared out the window holding eachother until the 20 minute ride was over.

I think this cookie gazer is beginning to look more and more like the cookie eater. Same colour eyes at least.

So much for looking like me huh? She's definitely the Hubs. So that's 0 for 3....

Just an Update.

haven't been on here in a dogs age so I thought I'd let you know what's going on around here :)

I planted some seeds (tomato, thyme, basil, various flowers...etc) back in February and they were coming along quite nicely, until I decided to put them into my greenhouse, and BAM the frost hit, and there they were the next morning, limp as linguine, hanging over their pots. I shed some tears, then threw them in the manure pile, like any other farmers wife would do.

We've all come down with a super cold that has the kids and the hubs and I hacking like donkeys. It attacks the lungs, and it's been quite....productive. (barf-o-rama on the mucous, keep a kleenex within 2 feet of Ashlyn at all times, or you'll be covered....that's all I have to say about that.)

I started feeling a bit better yesterday and was back into the gardens, and made a chicken dinner, blueberry muffins, blueberry cake, and chicken soup in hopes of kicking this cold...as they say, stuff the cold....

Eden is doing well, caught a bit of the sniffles with the rest of us, but it seems to have hit her the least, Thank you Lord. She had a bit of a dilemma last week where she went 10 days without a bowel movement .... I've never wished to see poop as much as I did last week. The Dr said to try a suppository and .... then I began wishing to not see poop... he, he, suppositories work, and that's all I have to say about that.

Sorry about the bodily functions/fluids posted here today, particularly if you're just sitting down for a snack of say some peanut butter or squeeze cheese....

I'm getting 11 stumps removed of the property and I can't wait to re-claim the land and plant some grass seed. There's another wedding here on the farm this summer, Dwight's sister Patti will be wed on the 28th of June. Thus I'm trying to get things looking presentable for the big day. Seedums, hostas, and peonies have been transplanted and I'm now onto edging. Yippee. No really I enjoy getting out there and getting dirty, particularly when Eden is sleeping soundly in her stroller and the other 2 are in the dirt heap, filling and dumping their wheel barrow. Loads of fun for all!

Anyway, that's it for now, my apologies for the randomness, Hope you're all doing well!!

Eden ... you're looking a little stiff.

I came around the corner the other day, wanting to check on my wee one, thinking she'd be rocking back and forth in dreamland.... when I saw this... ACK!

I had forgotten that I had laid Eden in her cradle and Ashlyn decided to pick up where I left off, and put her baby in the still warm swing and covered her up nice and snug.

Steve and Eden

This is my brother holding Eden. Can you say 'Heart....melting' ?

The Other Day.

I've been getting out more lately....a feat in and of itself. Not too long ago I took a breather from the kiddies and got to snap some photos of the stunning snow trees. Our laneway really lends itself to good shots.

On another note, yesterday was our Palm Sunday service at church. It was held at our bigger sister church and it was really nice to get together with another large group of people who all love the Lord. The worship time was great and so was the speaker. Dwight and I walked away from church feeling renewed and satisfied once again. I must say having 3 young kids can pose some challenges on Sunday mornings, but every time I feel like not going, because of being too tired, or not wanting to get everyone ready, I think about my children's spiritual well being and that's all it takes to get me out the door. My mom always made a point of getting us to church every Sunday and put us in Sunday school...I learned so much from those years, and I can't take that away from my kids. They came home yesterday telling us all about Jesus riding on a donkey on Palm Sunday, and lifting the palm branches in praise, shouting 'HOSANNA!!!'

...it was music to my ears, nothing makes me happier than to hear my little ones speak about Jesus.

Her.

I know it's all about her lately .. .but I can't resist. I'm so in love. Again in this picture, she just had a bath and her hands were chilly, so I wrapped her up and only her little peepers were showing.

Here she is with Fat Cat, he decided she needed another bath, so after a good sniff, he went ahead and licked her...sometimes I think he thinks he's a she. (got that?? lol)

She just had her bath and needed to be warmed up, so Oma snatched her up and snuggled. I love this photo.

Who's the cutest little nephew in the whole wide world?? Zachariah!!!

Twin lovies..

Hope you're all enjoying a lovely Valentines Day!

(Eden on left, Ava on right...My SIL Aliesha was given 2 of the same oufits for Ava and we decided to have a photo shoot with the little ones, more pics to come :)

hello munchkin.

The jaundice is slowly but surely leaving her ... but it seems to dwell in her eye whites. For a while there, they were a flourescent yellow...a little frightening. She's up to 8 lbs 9 ounces now and her cheeks are really starting to fill out.

What a good little baby, I cannot sing her praises enough :)

*blush*

Picture it. My living room. Yesterday.

There I was sitting in my well used recliner ... (well used since pregnancy and breast feeding) I was watching Ellen...a feat in and of itself, as the girl child was playing by her lonesome, and the boy child was outside helping his daddy-o with some farming chores.

Ellen happened to have a young guest who was a champion guitar hero player ( for those who don't know, Guitar Hero is a Nintendo game that has become a VERY popular pastime for some people....we don't have any video games as of yet in this household, and I'm gonna try to keep it that way for as loooong as possible...anywho) This boy was playing incredibly fast and my eyes were wide with amazement.

I had been having a slow day, hadn't yet got dressed, and was still sporting my fuzzy blue housecoat and pink slippers. Oh and a nursing bra...of course.

So there I sat wide eyed and with my incredible multi-tasking abilities I was preparing to feed Eden. I checked my wrist for my 'feeding bracelet' (a reminder as to which breast she fed from last....I have no ability to recall such information...my brain is fried from 3 pregnancies..) I whipped open the clasp on my bra and let 'er all hang out...you know, cause it's my house...and I was multi-tasking. No need to hid her under a bushel..no, I'm gonna let 'er shine.

Anyway, I wasn't absolutely positive that I had switched the bracelet to the proper wrist...so I went ahead and groped myself...to feel for fullness....(again, home alone...no need to be careful..)

Here's where it gets good. The music from the tv got louder, the boy was playing a heavy metal type song .. dee del lee del leeeeeeeee...waaaaaaa..... it was wailing and screaming out the speakers and there I was with my hands full (ahem) so I didn't bother turning it down.

Gabriel came waltzing into the living room and I said 'oh hi bud...where's your dad?'

A voice very different from The Hubs piped up a foot behind me, and said 'Oh no, it's just me Leanne, .....WHOOOO, So sorry, so sorry, so sorry... oh ..ummm... uhhh''

It's was Dwight's uncle... his truck driving, macho, gruffy, old(er) uncle. And he'd seen. It. All.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a real prude when it comes to feeding, but I do like to cover up when other men are around...any other men..... And here was a man who'd try his darndest to never witness such an event as a momma nursing her babe, and he'd gotten an eye full...darn near got his eye poked out really...(my girls have grown, to say the least...ahem.)

Just picture what the poor guy saw. A tired momma, sitting in her la-z-boy, with her old housecoat flung open, exposing not only her legs, but her tired boobs... Her hands feeling and groping her girls, while the heavy metal music blasted from the tv set. My eye makeup had not been removed from the previous day and my raccoon eyes and matted hair were dy-no-mite.

What a sight to behold.

Then came the uncomfortable conversation after the viewing.... I kinda wished he'd just ran for the door screaming. But, no. He had to try to make it better by attempting a regular conversation. It was ... delightful. ack.

Some pictures of the little ones...

Oma and the twins.... (Ava on right, Eden on left)

Eden and Ava (Eden is the yellow one ... :) ( in case you're wondering, Ava is my brothers daughter, born 3 weeks earlier..)

Miss Munchkin

I'm having wayyyy too much fun with her. When she's not eating, sleeping or pooping.

Eden Evangeline

8 lbs 2 oz

January 13, 9 pm.

Can't wait to share all the details....you'll have to gimme a little while though...the feedings, siblings and lack of sleep are weighing in, I'll up in superior blogging form soon :)

Hope you're all well,

Leanne.

BIRTH-day!!!

Well, well, well, ... where to begin.

The last week has brought some good and bad days and in the end we have a BIRTHday now scheduled.

Starting last week I began getting VERY puffy (hands, feet, and face) and when I saw the Dr. my BP was steadily rising. My readings were 140's / 90's ... and in this pregnancy so far I've been in the 120's/ 70's. So that signalled a red flag to my Dr, and I was sent to the hospital for a Non-Stress Test. (can I just say those are quite possibly thee most boring tests known to woman?) Anyway, everything came back good except the BP, so they had me come back again on Wednesday, and again yesterday.

Wenesday readings were 150's / 100's (151/107.. and higher) so they decided to put me on BP meds to try to bring it down... These little pills really knocked me for a loop, and I was down and out within an hour of taking them. They are similar to percoset, or valium to anyone familiar with what those drugs feel like. I was OUT! Thankfully my mom was here, as Dwight was away in TO at a meeting for 3 days!! I was totally thinking he was going to miss the birth...

Back to the hospital on Friday and my BP reading were still in the 140's / 90's so the Dr's weren't happy with that AND protein is now spilling in my urine. They threatened to take the baby out then and there, but allowed me a day's grace and the induction is scheduled for tomorrow!!!! Yup, Sunday January the 13th.

I am sooo nervous and excited, but thought of labour has got my palms all sweaty and butterflies in my stomach. I'm praying it's quick and the the epidural takes well! Please pray for me!!!!!

I'll be posting again with a good story and some beautiful pics sometime in the very near future!!

Already... the desire for sun...

Stunning sunset at the cottage beach

I've been shuffling through some pictures today and there are certain ones that are making my retinas burn with envy......envy of the warmer months gone by. Already I'm hit with the blatant desire for those moments to come again, I didn't' think the craving would hit me so early this year, what with a momentous occasion soon to arrive, but still I see these photos and Gaaaa.... I'm wishing away the snowing and blowing far far away.

My kids have already built the snowmen, slid the sleds, tasted the snow and drank gallons of hot cocoa, .. so perhaps we could be granted an early spring?? Like maybe next week?

Anyway, here are some of those impossibly delicious photos of warmer days gone by....hope they liven that little spark of desire in your stomach too.

Ashlyn dipping her toesies in the cool cottage lake water

Spring Celebrations ~ Victoria Day Weekend, on the farm

The Garden of 2007 in its beginnings...oh the possibilities..

My nephew Owen and his papa, meandering their way to the vineyard

Gabriel popping a red nugget of squishy, tomatoey goodness in his mouth, straight from the garden.

Big, leafy hostas....freshly chipped.

The girls, on pasture. A beautiful time of year.

The lake at Pinehurst....what glorious summer days those were, spent with the kids and the ladies ... picnic tables, egg salad sandwiches, and sun tan lotion.... bliss.

The wedding of 2007, my little man in tails with his princess, cousin Jada.

The seasons of a swing set..

It first arrived in summer, making fast friends with our 2 toddlers. Big momma sat her pregnant fanny in those chairs, whiling away the hours as the chillun ran up and down the ladder, sparking each other with the electricity from the plastic bump slide. (Oh, to sit in those chairs again, with a babe on my lap and corn husking to be done....)

My son learned to climb a ladder this past summer, my daughter learned to spin in a swing. Both very momentous childhood moments.

Here it sits in Autumn. Surrounded by a crunchy blanket of fallen maple leaves. Rubber boots plowed their way to the play set, running back and forth from the silo to the slide, using the ladder as 'home free'. Another childhood game learned by it's side...

Sadie the dog now knew this was a place to find her little friends, and would come running at the sound of laughter...

Alone, but for the snow perched upon it's rooftop, the playset seldom feels the warm bottoms of my children or the grasp of their tiny hands. The chairs now sit frozen and empty, waiting for my girth to reside in them again.

I see you lonely out there dear swing set... We're in here, waiting...waiting for that first thaw, those crocus and daffodils, and the muck that shall adorn your lovely green slide... And our first spring together shall bring a new face and new tiny hands to grasp your ropes.

Till then....we'll while away the hours inside..