Christmas video 2014

Words to ponder and apply

"While we will never be able to fully fathom the depth and strength of God's love for us in this life, the closer we approach that understanding the more joy, satisfaction, comfort, and security we will experience.  We will feel it seeping deep within us, permeating every thought and feeling we have.  It will fill up everything we see around us, causing us to live life on a different plane and to enjoy life more abundantly.  We cannot let anything - especially our own sins - rob us of this understanding."

"...our ability to mess up is not stronger than God's love for us."  Return Unto Me

December happenings

Listening to Gabriella's new headphones

The best 12 days ever - Christmas chores at the Still's. Perfect for the Parkers, we came late and didn't do anything!

Christmas morning

Groovy

This didn't quite work out, but here is Peter discovering a whoopee cushion.

PBB (Peanut Butter and Bananas) theatrics

This is how I like it!

The big haircut.  My baby is gone;  Long live the little boy!!

The linen closet seemed like the perfect quadruple bunk bed, we just had to shove the last one in!

Our beautiful charity lady.

Show stopper!  This is the old, chamber lady who stole the shirt off scrooge's back!  She had a great cockney accent.

A little ditty about science this month

 

We have been learning about our muscles this month.  

autumn leaves

I love the Fall; crisp mornings and warm afternoons.  I love the crinkly leaves under foot, new school clothes, new schedules and goals. September means a new "mom calendar" that I can start to fill in. I like preparing for the winter by stacking wood piles and making lists of things we need to replenish in our food storage, by sorting through everyone's winter clothing to see who needs new boots.  I love the bonfires outside and raking leaves to throw kids into.  I love how surprised I am with each passing day that still has sunshine and warmth...

Sunday at Grandmas

kittens and art

Peter is a big help in the kitchen...

The tooth fairy had to make another visit to a Parker pillow. Sophia pulled this one herself.

Kittys and cars in the morning

Sophia 6 yr and  9/10

 Years ago I bought some beautifully illustrated children's books with the thought that we would use them as an art lesson.  Today we did!  I am reading an interesting book right now about being in "flow" or "the zone" (that state of creativity where time seems to stand still).  The author is relating the fact that "flow" is very difficult to achieve in family life because children offer a constant distraction to adults (and flow needs some focused time).  I agree that it is more challenging in family life, but art is one of those activities that lends itself to "the zone" - puzzles often do too. At least it is a form of flow.  I will be thinking more about this.

Brett 10 yrs

Brett has just finished reading "Farmer Boy" (which is one of our family's favourites) and has been lamenting the fact that his life is nothing like "Almanzo's".  It just so happened that tonight we had a load of wood dropped off that we needed to haul and stack in the garage.  Work gloves went on and the wheelbarrow was brought out.  Gabriella, Lily and Sophia were not that thrilled to play farm boy, but Brett was lovin' it!  In order to make his dream come true, I made us a nice roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes...sorry no pies (my mom hasn't taught me how to make them yet!).

what a week!

I knew this was going to be a busy week, but wow!  We had quite a day of music and mayhem on Wednesday.  Juliann came over to talk about music for the play and to hear the fiddlers.  Berdine came a half hour after Juliann arrived and went promptly to the music room to work with Eric on the concert we are all putting together for the seniors on Thursday.  Steve and Ethan arrived shortly after Berdine to play the fiddle with Lily for Juliann.  We had to move into the garage with them as the music room was occupied.  Analaea and Eliza then came over to work with Berdine (but had to wait).  The fiddlers moved into the music room to see if Berdine would play the piano with them.  Gabriella joined in on the cello at the start.  Juliann ran upstairs to our master bedroom where the girls were trying on their costumes to check that they were going to be ok, while I directed the ensemble in the music room and attempted to record them. When I came out of the music room, an old friend had dropped by to say hello and see the house.  The kitchen was brimming with noise and extra kids that weren't my own.  By this point, I don't even know who is in the house or why?  Fiddlers leave, Juliann leaves and the rest of the afternoon was spent with Berdine alternating between myself, Gabriella, Eliza and Analaea.  Berdine leaves, I dish up our dinner and Heather arrives to mentor Gabriella.  Heather leaves as Gabriella and I put on our shoes, pick up Eliza and head out to our "Messiah" practice. 10:30 we roll home, and I roll into bed - exhausted but happily satisfied.  Although it was crazy, I was living my dream of music in my home!


Thursday's concert  went very well despite the fact that I lost the fiddler's music and they had to play from memory (not nice of me!).



Friday calmed right down...we started the day with a walk along the creek to throw some stones in the water.  Turns out Brett threw himself into the water (chilly!!).

good form for thai chi

 The morning was filled with sunshine and fresh air, breathing gratitude into the children's hearts.  Mom had been busy making meals and running errands all week.  It was time for her to slow down and take some time with her younger ones.  She and Sophia found a cuddle spot on the couch to read "On the Shores of Silver Lake", while Brett practiced his violin.  He was practicing "Ode to Joy."
 Who can tell whether it was the inspiring music or the fresh air still lingering in his lungs that caused him to stop his practice and break into operatic voice to finish the last refrains of "Ode to Joy", quickly morphing into "Angels we have heard on high."  Whatever the reason, his boy tenor voice rang through the family room without him even realizing that there was another soul present to hear.  Sophia and Mama continued to read, Lily and Gabriella passed through the room, Peter slept and Mike worked.
A change out of their jeans and into their skirts signal to the girls and their mother that it is now time to attend the  temple.  Talk turns to whispers as they enter and prepare to serve.  Opportunity to change gears, change clothes, change thoughts and feel the peace that is so abundantly available to them.  They felt it in the morning surrounded by His beauty and they felt it this afternoon in His holy house.
Arriving home, Dad was busy in the kitchen preparing a picnic dinner for his sweetheart.  They were heading to Waterton for a date to see the fall leaves and walk along the waters edge.  The wind was fierce, blowing the leaves, the lake, themselves, so they turned to keep the wind at their back, stopped for a swing and ducked into a cafe for a little hot chocolate before returning home.
The children reluctantly dragged themselves to bed for mom and dad to enjoy a movie together.  A half hour past and Gabriella poked her head in, inching closer to the couch…Lily's door opened, "I can't sleep with all your laughing," she muttered, feigning tiredness.  10 more minutes and Brett slid in sheepishly asking  if "we" (the children) are allowed to watch?  And so, the Parker family have closed their day together rehearsing scenes and lines from the silly movie that will live on for a few more days, weeks and months, when someone suddenly remembers a line and acts it out to the guffaw's of the group!

What do big sisters do with a little brother that won't stop pulling at their flamenco skirts?  Give him a tutu of his own!

There have been many first for Mike as we have moved to the land, this one was probably the funnest!

Peter was mesmorized!

musical musings

Yesterday was not such a great day.  I have been feeling like I have too many things to do and I find myself worrying about how busy I am and missing out on living in the moment.  My worry led to impatience and frustration with the family.  Too bad - it is still taking some effort to be calm and positive, however, there is much to be grateful for.

Last night the kids and I worked hard on the house to get it clean.  We then brought out a new game and played.  It was hard but fun. We played again today, it is called "10 days in Africa".  We should have a good grasp on the African Continent after playing it for a while.

Today was all about music!  We started the day working on violin with Brett.  Gabriella and I went to her voice lesson with Cidelle C. then came home to Lynda O. already in progress with piano lessons.  After a few hours of piano at our house, it was time for me to take a turn in the teachers chair giving voice lessons for the rest of the afternoon.  This evening Sophia and I are going to learn a song on the Ukulele.

C and F chords (the start of twinkle twinkle)

Quick dinner and Brett is off to Martial arts lessons while Lily and Mike at the church for Young Women's and Bishopric meeting.  Peter saw me brushing Sophia's hair and wanted to have a turn at it.

Peter hard at work up and down

 The music continues into the night!








 Brett came home from Martial Arts wielding his new sword.  I love it when the kids burst through the door with something to say or show!

The house is a MESS, I have things that I am MEANT to do and things that I would LIKE to do, but what I WILL do tonight is snuggle my little girl to bed with a bedtime story...It will be more rewarding than anything else...especially in the long run.  Though I really do LOVE a clean house, especially when someone else cleans it!