Gingerbread Creations

Last night for FHE we decorated some gingerbread creations.  Bowen and Cadence worked on decorating a little house.  Cadence is really into Christmas this year and was having so much fun!

Ashton worked on a Millenium Falcon.

Everyone made an individual gingerbread man too.

This is the smile I get when I ask Cadence to smile.

Stay tuned for more Christmas fun at the Atwood house!

Posterity

When I was a kid, whenever we'd come to Calgary and happen to drive over cemetery hill my dad would always say "hey look, people are dying to get in there!" - or some variation.  His corny, slightly inappropriate joke would be met with eye rolls and "oh dad".

Ever since we've had kids, every time we drive over cemetery hill I say "hey kids look, people are dying to get in there!".  I laugh every time!!  My joke is met with eye rolls and "oh mom", etc.

The other day the kids and I were driving to pick up Jason from work.  Jason works downtown on 17th near the Saddledome.  As we were driving over cemetery hill Bowen says to me "mom look out your window", I looked to the left and quickly said, "hey look, people are dying to get in there!".  Bowen says to me - "mom you almost forgot".

It warmed my heart that he reminded me.  I hoped that my dad got a glimpse of that exchange and it made him smile.  I'm sure my kids will tell the same corny joke to their kids.

A Little Taste

I'm a bit behind in updating my blog.  I need to post about our summer that was busy, fun and seemed to go by so quickly, but for now a little update on how we are doing.  The boys are back in school, Jason at work, and I'm back to teaching.

Ashton is in Grade 8, and Bowen is in Grade 6

The school year has been going well so far.  Both the boys like their teachers.  They are both playing in band.  Bowen is continuing with the clarinet in the Grade 6 band, and Ashton switched to Alto Saxophone this year for the Grade 8/9 band. 

I'm still watching my friend's little boy in the afternoons.  Cadence enjoys having him come and she usually decides what they play.  He's a good sport, even when she dresses him in rainbow dress shoes, and girlie hats.

We also switched Cadence to her toddler bed.  We took our time since she never once tried to get out of her crib.  She loves having the freedom to get out of bed on her own in the morning, but she's been doing great and has never gotten out of bed before 7 a.m.

Ashton still loves being creative and clever, whether he's making a homemade birthday gift for my cousin Sheri, or just finding ingenious ways to still use his broken headphones.

Bowen stays busy with his Pokemon, playing lego, drawing and reading.  I'm also giving the boys piano lessons this year.  I am committed to being consistent.

Lots more going on, but there is a little taste of what is going on at our house.  Stay tuned for some summer updates and more life at the Atwoods!

Called to Serve

My mom is going on a mission for our church, and last night we all got together at the farm to see where she will be serving for 18 months. She had gotten her envelope last Thursday and waited until most of us were able to come.  We were only missing the two oldest granddaughters - Cora was working, and Leah is at EFY.

We all made our guesses as to where we thought she would be going.  Then it was finally time for the moment of truth.

She'll be serving in the Canada Montreal Mission for 18 months, primarily as an office specialist.  She reports to the Provo MTC on February 5th, 2018.

I am so proud of my mom for making this decision to serve, and excited for the experiences she'll have.

Ashton made cute little flags for the cake.

Congratulations Mom!  We think you are amazing.

Puzzle Fun

Cadence's favorite activity lately has been doing puzzles.  Specifically a new princess puzzle she got at the dollar store.  The first few times she needed some help, but now she can do it all by herself.  She is so proud of herself when she completes it.  I must admit I'm pretty proud of her too.

She can even complete it upside down!!  The other day she had finished it again and she brought it to me to show me.  She ran back into the family room with it and tripped and fell.  I called out "Cadence are you okay?",  she answered back "I'm okay, but my puzzle isn't".  Such a funny girl.  Didn't take her long to fix it again though.

I think we may need another visit to the dollar store to get a couple more puzzles.

When It Rains it Pours

Saturday was a cold, rainy, miserable day.  In the evening Jason and I were sitting in the living room talking and I happened to say "I hope that little leak in the ceiling above the hutch in the dining room that we noticed last summer isn't leaking again".  Jason glanced up and noticed a huge wet spot over the hutch.

When we looked closer, the leak was actually dripping all over my wood hutch that my dad made me years ago.  We started to cover the hutch, but then decided we didn't want to risk getting it ruined, so we emptied it and moved it out of the way.

The drywall was starting to swell so Jason poked a hole into it breaking through the plastic barrier and water came pouring out.

We're not quite sure what we are going to do, but I'm praying we can figure something out.  We know we need a new roof, but that is not in the budget right now.  For now, the forecast is for rain this week so my dining room will just have to be in a state of disrepair for awhile.

We sure didn't need this right now, but I'm trying to not get too down about it.  The joys of home ownership.  When it rains it pours!!

Musical Happenings

We've been busy at the Atwood house.  School and lessons will soon wrap up and we look forward to a slower paced summer - I hope.  Last week was the boys' band concerts at school.  It was a great concert.  Bowen's band played first.  I was amazed at the improvement since the November concert.  They sounded so great.  Bowen has loved learning the clarinet and has even asked that we rent his instrument for the summer so he can play it.  He's really good.  Ashton's band was excellent as well. Ashton plays the trumpet and does well and enjoys it.  I look forward to what they'll learn next year.

Cadence and I are enjoying taking violin.  She and I have decided she needs a little break and will start her summer early.   But she did pretty good listening to her teacher, she's just a little young.  A few months off and we'll start up again.  I've enjoyed the challenge and hope to continue my lessons.  Maybe someday I'll be good enough to play a little something in public.

Until she's ready for more formal lessons, she'll just keep singing around the house.  Cadence is always singing.  She sings little songs we sing together, or ones she learns in nursery, or just makes them up - constantly.  Here is her attempt at the ABC song.  Her alphabet needs a little work but the singing sounds pretty good!

I love it when our home is filled with music!

Not the Best Start

Not the greatest start to our summer, Ashton broke his wrist on Saturday.  He and Bowen went to 7 11 to buy slurpees.  Bowen was on his scooter and Ashton was on his rollerblades.  On their way back Ashton got going a little too fast, got into some rocks and came down on his wrist.

I got a call from a very concerned lady who had stopped to help when she saw Ashton fall.  Another lady had stopped right afterward who happened to be a nurse.  I am so grateful for these women to assist my boys when they were hurt and scared.  Bowen said to me later that the Lord was sure looking out for them that day.

Jason jumped in the car and got to the scene.  They were back in a few minutes and Jason was pretty sure it was broken.  A quick sling and ice pack and off to urgent care.

They decided to put Ashton under general anesthetic to put the bone in place before putting on the cast.  Unfortunately, Ashton had a reaction to the drug and was flailing and screaming so they ended up giving him two doses of sedative as well.  They've told us in the future to make sure he isn't given the drug katamine.

They finally got the cast on him and Ashton and Jason were able to come home.  Ashton was pretty loopy from the drugs and it took hours for him to finally be able to rest and fall asleep.  His arm was sore the first couple of days but it is feeling much better now.

Now Ashton couldn't just have a regular cast that his friends and family sign - NO!  He painted his to look like Iron Man.

We have a follow up appointment at the Children's Hospital next week.  They will xray his arm again and make sure everything is healing properly.  Hopefully, then they can tell us about how long he'll have the cast on.  Sure hope it won't be for the entire summer.

Mother's Day 2017

Mother's Day was lovely this year.  Church was nice, and all the ladies were given a beautiful rose and a little Toblerone chocolate bar.  Afterward, as I was waiting on the couch for my family so we could leave Cadence came running towards me holding a present she'd made for me at nursery.  She wouldn't let her dad help her carry it and she had the biggest smile on her face.  She was so proud and excited to give it to me.

I can't wait to frame it and hang it in our home.  I love it!!

When we got home from church, the boys insisted I sit in my favorite spot on the couch.  They got me a drink and a snack and found me a show to watch.  Ashton made me a buzzer so I could get their attention whenever I needed anything.

They also got me a cute clock for my music room, and a Doris Day, Rock Hudson movie - love!!  Bowen made me a cute card with a poem he wrote, it goes:

I love this lady named mum.

She is so wonderfully fun

She's texting her sister,

who's such a good listener.

I can't believe she is my MUM.

It was so nice to have a relaxing afternoon.  I even fit in a little nap while Jason and the boys prepared dinner.  When Jason makes me dinner I always know I'm in for a treat.

Bowen set the table like a fancy restaurant and before I knew it I was being served a delicious dinner.

First course - crab salad canapes with smoked paprika.  Jason has made these for me before - one of my favorites!

Second course - Caesar salad.  Jason makes a delicious homemade caesar salad dressing.

Third course - Carrot soup.  This was so delicious - I could have eaten the whole pot.

The wait staff was just excellent.  Bowen would kiss me everytime he'd come over to the table.  I told him I was going to have to speak to management about the sexual harassment I was experiencing at this restaurant.  He laughed and said "but you're my mom".  I hope he never gets too old to kiss me!

Main course - steak with mushroom reduction, rice pilaf, asparagus, and roasted pear and onion.  It was superb!

Cadence was originally going to help serve but she decided she'd rather eat.  I can't say I blame her.

Her favorite was the crab salad.

Dessert - vanilla pudding, strawberry, and chocolate ganache parfait topped with whipped cream and a chocolate strawberry.  I was so full but still managed to finish it - I couldn't help it, so yummy!

I have an amazing husband to pull off such wonderful surprises for me.  Even amidst a small disaster.  As he was preparing dinner he was taking a plate away from Cadence and his hand was a bit wet and it slipped from his fingers and the pyrex plate shattered into a million pieces all over our island and floor.  He even had to throw away food that was on the island.

I missed seeing my mom on Mother's Day, but I hope she knows how much I love her and what she means to me.  

I am so grateful to be a mom.  It is all I ever really wanted - to be a wife and mother.  I will never take for granted what a miracle my children are (including Kenneth).  I am so blessed!  

Shrek Jr the Musical

Bowen is a natural performer.  He loves to sing and play instruments.  He loves being on stage.  Several months ago it was announced at school that they would be having auditions for the school play.  They were going to be putting on "Shrek Jr the Musical".  Bowen decided to audition and was given the part of Peter Pan.

Bowen went to rehearsals 2 - 3 times per week from November until last week. He didn't complain once.  Finally the week of performances arrived.  He had an evening performance on Monday night (which I went to), and then a day performance for the school on Tuesday, and then his final performance was last night.

Bowen's grandparents and Uncle Mitch came up for the performance.  They all came early to our house for a supper of homemade salmon soup and buns and then we headed over to the school.  It was a really cute play.  The kids had worked so hard and did a great job.  Bowen has a great voice and the few solo lines he had were right on pitch. He had a couple group dance numbers and a few spoken lines as well.  He did an awesome job.

We went for blizzards after to celebrate.  This has been such a great experience for Bowen.  He loved rehearsals and the performances and is already excited to audition for next years play.

Well done Bowen, we're proud of you!!