This week we were once again on track and tried really hard to keep hitting the books and get some school work under our belts. In case you’re wondering why this is something to talk about.. I have really found it hard to homeschool while being so sick so it has been slipping, at least in some ways. But one of the findings I had while bed ridden and searching the internet was a new curriculum that we are now using and really enjoying. Its called Trail Guide to Learning . It has everything we need right now and we can use it with all the children so easier for me to manage too. Anyway, just wanted to say hooray for us and that homeschooling is so great!

Okay so our little chicks have grown and producing lovely big eggs for us now. Up to 10 a day! We are getting quite creative, adding eggs in everything we can think of. They are so delicious, and many are double yolks, we’ve even had a triple! We are so grateful for the return on our investment and marvel that more people don’t do this, it’s relatively easy, not much work involved and they pay for themselves.

This is our little egg basket and this is what Friday’s trip to the hen house produced. The children love to run and check through out the day and often come back with another egg or two later in the day.

I don’t know where the time has gone? Why do I always have to start like that? I look back and wonder sometimes how will I remember my life it just wizzes by. But as we look back at 2012 we are filled with awe at how God has blessed us and provided for us and drawn us closer to Him.

Last winter we were welcoming our little Lillian into the family. We watched as she awakened to her world and realised she was a part of this family filled with smiling faces and happy that she is in it. Having a girl after 9 years and 3 boys in between has been a lovely change and we are all so in love with our little blonde haired, blue eyed sweetheart. Now at 14 months she is toddling around and very busy trying to keep up with her big brothers Samuel and Benjamin. She has begun to talk and loves to say ‘hi’ especially to other babies. And of course her favourite game is peek-a-boo. She is a happy girl a very easy going little one and we appreciate that very much. Her most un-favourite thing… riding in the van, then she is not easy going.

Samuel and Benjamin are two peas in a pod. They are inseparable and get long wonderfully, that is until they don’t, then it is quite explosive! Two boys together in age is also a first for us and it has been very interesting watching the dynamic. Our little boys are now 4 and almost 3 and enjoy the usual boy things, cars, trains, race tracks, wild animals, running, racing, kicking, boxing, jumping, sticks, forts and so on. They have also begun to learn their letters and long to read so we will be working on that this next year. They are very watchful of Lilly, just today we ‘lost’ her at church and when we found her she had climbed a huge flight of stairs with Samuel diligently staying close by. They are growing up fast and we are exciting to see where God will lead them as they grow in their awareness of Him.

Joshua is now 11yrs, Mia almost 10yrs and Danny 8yrs, I am most amazed at how they have not just grown but grown up! They are wonderful to have around with all the little ones to care for they have taken on many responsibilities. We have a schedule where they all help out with the chores and have a little ‘buddy’ to help when the little person needs something. We are all busy with homeschool and they have all shown new growth in academics this year. They are all avid readers and one of our ‘problems’ is getting their noses out of books to do other work. Joshua continues to have a building mind and loves to make models. This year he won the coveted $25 first prize for his bird house at the Fair. He made a miniature replica of his dream tree house.

Mia is such a blessing to our family, she is (almost) always willing to help and loves to dress Lilly and take care of her. She has learned to do many things in the kitchen and helps daily with the meals. She loves to draw and is often dropping notes of encouragement on our desks.

Danny is our little math wizz and loves to solve problems, when not thinking about numbers he is reading books. He reads so fast, but whenever I ask him to narrate what he’s reading he knows exactly what’s going on. He too made a birdhouse for the Fair and won second prize in his age category.

Kenny is a busy man with many things on his plate. He has been developing online courses shown on Pluralsight which has really stretched his abilities and given him new skills. He continues to write a monthly column in MSDN Magazine about programming windows with C++. He also has a small company with our friend Gord Maretzki called Markerr Controls. Although they are still in the development stage they were able to get some work this year and plan to continue with that in 2013. They are working on a building automation controller, it is a big idea and we are excited to see where it will go. We just need some more hours in the day

I’m a busy wife and mother and for those that don’t know yet we are expecting a new baby in the summer. I am busy with the usual homemaker things and also homeschool the children. I feel so blessed to be doing what God called me to do and am learning daily how I can serve Him better by serving my family with a joyful spirit.

Our house has become a home. We are still in reno mode but have made many changes and tried to make it efficient for our large family. We are working now on the basement (in our ‘spare’ time) and hope to soon make use of the extra room it will provide.

If you’ve read this far you, we just wanted to say thank you to our friends and family that have loved us and prayed for us through this year.  We pray you will have a blessed 2013 and that you will grow in your knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God Bless you All

coming soon…. a photo post of 2012 highlights

PS I hope to blog more and slowly wean off Facebook as many of you are not on FB and don’t get our news those who would like us to let you know when we have a new post please leave a comment and tell us and we’ll drop you an email when we have a new post.

Today a car hit a rabbit right out side our house. I was so mad with the driver, I wish they would be more careful. I was very sad, this was the rabbit that I saw every morning and every night. We do not know if it was the mommy rabbit or the daddy rabbit I hope it is not the mommy rabbit because then she would not be able to feed her babies we saw the other day. I wish I could tell that driver a word or two. This is what I would say. “ I’m a little mad at you!! Mr. Driver. Please drive more carefully.” Danny and Daddy are digging a hole for its grave, the ground is really hard so it is hard digging.  By Joshua

I saw a dead bunny on the side of the road by  my house…I was very very very sad.I wish the drivers would be more careful. I had seen that bunny before. I had seen that bunny by my window many many times. By Mia

Lately I have been enjoying the HARDY BOY SEIRIES. Eighteen-year-old Frank and seventeen-year-old Joe and their father Fenton Hardy the famous private detective.The Hardy boys normally solve the mysteries with their dad, but when their dad goes away and a mystery pops up, and then they have to solve it without him. Sometimes the mysteries are about diamond-smugglers or kid-napping, whatever the story is about I find them all very exciting!! I’m currently reading No. 10 in the series called What happened at Midnight.

Flicka is a little black dog with white on her tummy and a bit of brown on her chin. She has a dog house in the backyard. She knows how to sit when she is told to sit. She comes when she  is called and she knows her name.