Matthew is 8

My Matthew just turned 8 last week, but since it was on Good Friday the 10th, it wasn't an appriopriate day for a party, he had his party on Saturday the 18th. When I talked to one of the parents, he asked where the party was being held. Our house?!? I guess many kids have parties at locations, like mini golf, or bowling or amusement parks. I have been told that this is less work and less clean up.

Well we had the party at home and it was a success. The kids had a blast and they were entertained the whole time. They didn't want to leave.

The weather was cloudy about 5C/40F, at least there was no snow. The kids played soccer for a little bit and then when everyone arrived we played a boardgame on the driveway. We made a boardgame with 16 square and the kids were the pawns. We made a die with a cardboard box and the kids had a blast throwing it into the air and stuff. Some of the spaces were, skip a turn, go back 3 spaces, move forward 2 spaces and empty your pockets, jump till you next turn, similar to Monopoly. Make up your own rules. They stayed outside for about an hour. Then we proceed inside for more fun.

We did a craft, the decorated their own brown goodie bag and made orgami shirt which they decorated too. Here are the instructions for the shirt.

We also played a couple of games of Bingo and Charades. Even my Natalie the 3 year old and Andrew the 5 year old participated. Natalie did the actions for animals. Make it applicable for the age group. I just did a search on the internet for different game ideas. There are tons out there.

For food, we had pop corn chicken with sliced vegetables and fruit. Very healthy and very little packaging. When we were done eating, the cake was brought out and they used the dinner plate for their cake. Just one set of dishes and cutlery. Very little clean up and little waste. That is the "green" mum coming out in me.

This party lasted 3 hours, and barely had enough time to open gifts. I think the boys really wanted to play lego but didn't have time. No excuse about the house being too small. The whole party took place on the driveway and in the regular size living room and dinning room. Mostly in the dinning room around the table, there were 9 kids in total! The kids don't really need fancy parties and elobrate locations. I think everyone had a good time and I know Matthew did, that is the most important! Have your next party at home.

What do we appreciate

If you are reading this, this means that you are blessed in one way or another. Read on learn how blessed we are!

A Story to live by :
There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was
blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He
was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I
could only see the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages
came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?'
The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind.
The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected
that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life
led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her
saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before
they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who
was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who
can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of
someone who has nothing to eat..

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone
who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who died
too early on this earth.

Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who
desires children but they're barren...

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean
or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who
walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the
unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning
another - Remember that not one of us is without sin.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on
your face and think: you're alive and still around.

Think Happy Thoughts, and you will be Happy

I believe

Something I received in an email that I totally can relate to. I hope you can you.

After living what I felt was a 'decent' life, my time
on earth came to the end.

The first thing I remember is sitting on a
bench in the waiting room of what I thought to
be a court house.
The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and
have a seat by the defense table.
As I looked around I saw the 'prosecutor.'
He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he
stared at me. He definitely was the most
evil person I have ever seen.
I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My
Attorney, kind and gentle looking man
whose appearance seemed so familiar to me,
I felt I knew Him.

The corner door flew open and there appeared the
Judge in full flowing robes.
He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across
the room I couldn't take my eyes off of Him.
As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, 'Let
us begin..'
The prosecutor rose and said,
'My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man
belongs in hell.'

He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things
that I stole, and In the past when I cheated
others. Satan told of other horrible Perversions
that were once in my life and the more he spoke,
the further down in my seat I sank.

I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at
anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told
of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.

As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these
things about me, I was equally upset at My
Attorney who sat there silently not offering any
form of defense at all.
I know I had been guilty of those things, but I
had done some good in my life - couldn't that at
least equal out part of the harm I'd done?

Satan finished with a fury and said, 'This man belongs
in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged
and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.'
When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He
might approach the bench. The Judge
allowed this over the strong objection of Satan,
and beckoned Him to come forward .
As He got up and started walking, I was able to see
Him in His full splendor and majesty.

I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was
Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior.
He stopped at the bench and softly said to the
Judge, 'Hi, Dad,' and then He turned to address
the court.
'Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned,
I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes,
the wages of sin is death, and this man deserves to
be punished.'

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with
outstretched arms and proclaimed, 'However, I
died on the cross so that this person might have
eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior,
so he is Mine.'
My Lord continued with, 'His name is written in the
Book of Life, and no one can snatch him from Me.
Satan still does not understand yet. This man is
not to be given justice, but rather mercy.'
As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked
at His Father and said, 'There is nothing else
that needs to be done.'
'I've done it all.'
The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the
gavel down. The following words bellowed
from His lips..
'This man is free. The penalty for him has
already been paid in full. 'Case dismissed.'
As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting
and raving, 'I won't give up, I will win the next one.'

I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where
to go next, 'Have you ever lost a case?'

Christ lovingly smiled and said, 'Everyone that has come
to Me and asked Me to represent them has
received the same verdict as you, ~Paid In Full~'

'Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!'

Creativity in our kids.

As much as we love to give toys to our children, they often find other sources of entertainment to occupy their time. Natalie is currently playing with a plastic container of 20 pennies (food), colourful stamp punch outs and a die, mixing it with a crayon and cooking it, and feeding it to me. She adds different things to it using different things on my desk, cup, lotion, pen cap, pencil etc. She has been playing with that for the last half hour. There is so much creativity in their little minds, I am striving not to squash that creativity. It would be great if any one has any suggestions. Add a comment. Thanks.

Andew's Breakfast

One Morning Kyle asked Andrew what he wanted for breakfast and here is their conversation:

Kyle: what would you like for breakfast?
Andrew: What I had yesterday?
Kyle: What did you have yesterday?
Andrew: Do you remember when I was born?
Kyle: Yes.
Andrew: Why can't you remember what I had for breakfast yesterday?

Sometimes the kids are just too smart!!

Less Stress in Our Lives

I am passing this on to you because it definitely worked for me and we
could all use more calm in our lives.
By following the simple advice I heard on a medical tv show, I have
finally found inner peace.

A doctor proclaimed the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all
the things that you have started.
So I looked round my house to see things that I had started and hadn't
finished and, before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a
bottle of Merlot, a bottle of shhhardonay, a bodle of Baileys, a butle
of vocka, a pockage of Prunglies, the mainder of bot Prozic and Valium
scriptins, the res of the chesecke an a box a chocolets.
Yu haf no idr who filpin gud I fel.
Peas send is orn to dem yu fee AR in ned of inr pece.

lourv nd lit

Winter Wonderland

The kids are loving their winter wonderland in the back yard. They built a igloo and there is a skating rink on the lake and their own private tobaggan run. What more can you ask for? I just sit at the window and watch them from the comfort and warmth of the family room.
Their igloo before it melted with the Feburary thaw.

From the inside of the igloo.

Andrew relaxing inside. Matthew could also stand up inside.

View from inside.


Natalie going down on the sled..


Andrew coming down


Andrew the snow monster!