You know it's hot when...

...the temperature on your thermometer reads 26 degrees at 8:30 am;...you're having Slurpees for breakfast, lunch & dinner (no, we didn't, but not a bad idea!);...you're dripping sweat head to toe, just sitting in the basement trying to figure out which card to make at the workshop that evening;...you feel stinky & sweaty an hour after your last shower;...the house *cools down* to 27 degrees and you're thinking this is what it's like to be comfortable again;...your city sets a new record for highest humidex reading EVER (was it 48 degrees?). I'm not trying to complain, I just want to record some of my thoughts on the heat...and how grateful I am that it has cooled down today!! Here's hoping we don't set any new humidex records this summer!

Yesterday was a hot day. At one point, our outdoor thermometer gave a reading of 36.8; inside it was only 33. Yes, it was uncomfortable, but the worst is over, and we survived it. I took this picture of our indoor/outdoor thermometer at around 4:30 (the clock is not set at the right time), when the temperature had already started to drop quickly. The bottom number is the outdoor temperature, the middle number is the indoor temperature. Unfortunately, the basement wasn't that much cooler than the rest of the house.

On Sunday, we were at the beach. Joshua wanted to be buried in the sand. He doesn't look too thrilled about it though. I made him hold still for a minute while I took a couple of quick pictures.
Tessa and Natalee...4 and a half months old and gracing everyone with their beautiful smiles.
Caleb was at a birthday party on Saturday. His hair is spray painted green. I think he said he was The Green Goblin.
The Daddy's with their baby girls. Tessa is quite a bit stronger than Natalee and holds her head up well while sitting. Natalee is often lop-sided, with her head tilted to one side. But Natalee is a lot more interested in standing and is stronger on her legs.

Joshua

This was about an hour after Joshua's encounter with Andrew's head. Right under his right eye, he's got a nice little bump growing. It's quite the lovely bruise now, 2 days later.
Yesterday, Joshua spent about 15 minutes sitting in the wading pool by himself, singing, talking, telling stories, just in his own little world. It was quite funny to watch! More to come on Joshua...

Happy Faces

Joshua, the skateboarder, enjoying a much needed snack break. He's always hungry these days! I'm guessing he'll have grown two inches by the time he gets back to school...hopefully his feet will still fit his shoes.
Caleb & I sure do have something in common! Our love for licking the chocolate bowl clean!
Andrew is learning how to dress himself. Well, we're still working on the undressing, the dressing will still take quite a while. At least he's trying!

Small, Healthy Baby Natalee

Natalee was just at the Doctor today (July 11th) for her 4-month well baby check-up. She has grown 1 inch in length and gained over one pound since her last check-up on June 1st. But she still is, quite easily, our smallest baby! Here's some stats to compare - at 4 months, Caleb was 17 pounds 4 oz. and 25.5" long; Joshua was 17.2 lbs. and 26.25" long; Andrew was 14.3 lbs. and 25" long. Natalee weighed in at 12 lbs. 4 oz. and was 25" long. She sleeps through the night (from about 9 pm to 6 am, usually) and naps 3 times during the day. She enjoys playing on the floor, lying under her gym, and looking at people's faces. She's getting stronger and likes to "stand" for a few seconds when we hold her. She did roll over from her tummy to her back the other day, but it hasn't happened since. She prefers lying on her back, much like her brothers did at this age. She usually is very content and easy-going when she is at home on her own schedule. She has also laughed a few times, when I've been talking to her.
This picture was taken June 29th. Yes, Natalee was crying. I don't remember why. It seems that whenever I want to take "group shots" of the 4 of them, she ends up crying; so I have to take individual pictures of her when she's happy so I don't look back and think she was always crying. I think it's a sign of things to come. By that, I am thinking of when Caleb or Joshua try to help Andrew with something like washing his hands or putting on his sandals...Andrew starts freaking out because he ONLY wants help from Mommy or Daddy!! I asked Joshua what he had done to his brother to make him this way. His response: "I dunno."

Soccer 2007

Caleb and Joshua played for "The Lions" this year. They were among the best players on their team! In one game, Caleb scored 5 goals! Joshua started the year off a little cautiously, but by the end of the season, he was scoring goals along with his brother and pretty much dominating the soccer field! They are both aggressive players. The each got a medal and a water bottle at the end of the season.
Andrew...more inclined for baseball possibly, as a back catcher? Guess we'll see!
Taking shots on goal.
Joshua as goalie, preparing for a big kick.
The brothers, waiting during warm-up for their chance to score. Joshua in the black hat, Caleb in the green. Their coach thanked us for putting them in different colored hats so that she could tell them apart! During the hot games when they weren't wearing their hats, the coaches had a hard time telling them apart, especially when they were running past them all the time!

No thumb sucking

She's not a thumb sucker...but she's a finger sucker. As hard as I tried to get her to take a soother, Natalee prefers her own fingers. What can you do. Oh well, the one benefit is that she will be able to soothe herself during the night and I won't have to get up to help her find her soother!
The 22nd today - time for the photo shoot with her pink bear. I think she's beginning to like the little bear!
I was trying to get a different pose out of her, but obviously she was too hungry to cooperate! She has such sweet, innocent, blue eyes!
This is what the sky looked like this evening. There were reports of tornadoes to the south of us. Fortunately, we didn't experience much severe weather here, just some lightning and thunder that didn't sound very close, but it kept the boys chattering and jumping around and worrying about the possibility of a big storm! By bed time, the show was over and they were able to fall asleep quickly.

Girlfriends

Here's Natalee's first little friend! Tessa, on the right, is one day younger than Natalee. Isn't she a cutie? You can't see too clearly, but her hair is red!! I am so excited that Natalee will have Tessa to be friends with as they grow up.
Tessa has a backyard. There is a small patch of mud in her big backyard. Guess who insisted on playing in the little patch of mud and not with the toys in the big backyard? Didn't I once post something on here about boys being a sound with dirt on it or something like that?????

Bye-bye, Training Wheels!

So I learned something new on Friday. Apparently, it's a fact that you don't learn to ride a bike without training wheels on your OWN bike; only on some one else's bike!! We were visiting some friend's on Friday, and the boys headed outside after supper, where Caleb jumped on the 2-wheeler and promptly started driving around like he'd always done so! Well, the next day, that's all the boys could do! We headed off to a nearby park (with the training wheels still on); then I removed the training wheels, and VOILA! Two boys, riding their bikes around the park like they'd been doing it for months! It was a very exciting day for Caleb & Joshua!!
Joshua interrupted his soccer practice with Daddy just so I could get a picture of him on his bike.
Of course, Andrew needed his picture taken too...

Three Months Old

Natalee and Andrew were at the Doctor's last week for check-ups. Natalee weighed in at 10 lbs. 10 oz. and was 23 inches long. Andrew was 26 lbs.!! He was just under 18 lbs. one year ago - and he also grew just over 4 inches since last year!
This is Natalee today - exactly three months old. Caleb took this picture - he was running around the house today with the camera snapping pictures; some of them, I don't even know what they are!! He definitely enjoys using the camera!

It's June Already!

Joshua was at a friend's birthday party this afternoon... Andrew wanted his picture taken after I had taken Joshua's, so here he is - note the belly button picking.
Here are our four little monkey's in our bed last night in their p.j.'s.
We were at Tinker Town last weekend. Joshua and Caleb enjoyed the rides...
...and Andrew had a great time too! It was his first time on this kind of a ride. At first, he just sat there and sucked his thumb, but when we tried to remove him from the ride (when it was done), he threw a temper tantrum.

What I learned from Grandma

My Grandma passed away on Sunday. She was 85 years old. Unfortunately, the last few years of her life were not her best. She suffered from Alzheimer's, and more recently, cancer. You see, what I learned from Grandma, was that the most important things in life were not things, but people, and in particular, family. Grandma was all about family. She had ten children. 23 grandchildren. 33 great-grandchildren and counting. When you married into the Voth family, you became a part of it. My Grandma proved this when my own Mom was sick. Grandma came and helped out at our home the last few weeks before my Mom died. And she did it with a heart full of love.

Family gatherings as a child were always fun. All of us, 40 plus people, crammed happily into Grandpa & Grandma's basement, enjoying the wonderful food she had made. We camped together a lot. The picture above is taken at Spruce Woods, I believe, one of my favourite places to camp. One time, after Grandpa had passed away, Grandma came with us to Thunder Bay to visit Aunt Vera & Uncle Rudy & Kevin. Grandma drove her van there, and I got to sleep with her in her camping van! We shared the bed, and she never complained if I kicked her.

Sometimes, as a stay-at-home Mom of 4 children, I feel frustrated and over-worked, under-appreciated, etc. I always, always end up thinking of Grandma Voth and how she had 10 children, some of them hardly more than a year apart, not counting the twins in there too! Grandma was such a hard worker! I don't know how she managed to raise her family on less than what we have today, without store-bought bread, washing machines, disposable diapers, and all the other conveniences I have today. She obviously loved her family a lot and sacrificed much for them. Her life has inspired me to try to be a better mother and wife.

I remember one story she told me (I apologize for any errors, some details could be wrong). Grandma was the oldest of eight (not sure about that) children. Although she was not a boy, she had to quit school early to stay at home and help her mom and dad on the farm. That must be where she learned how to work so hard! One day, she was out in the field working and her baby brother was sleeping in the house. At one point, she had looked at the house and noticed smoke coming from it. She ran back to the house and saved her brother from the burning structure!

Grandma also had a way with plants. Maybe after all her children had left, she still had the burning desire to take care of something. But I remember her beautiful garden, her greenhouse and how I loved the smell in there. The back corner of her garden held a rock garden in which she planted flowers. It was always so beautiful! I wish I had inherited some of her green thumb!

Grandma cried easily. I don't see that as a weakness. She sure went through a lot of hardships in her life. After my Mom died, whenever I would see Grandma, she would always, like she had always done before hand, greet me with her wonderful smile, and from the way she said my name and the look of love in her eye, I knew that I was special to her. Then she talk to me about how much she missed my Grandpa, Uncle Rudy, Aunt Irene, and my Mom. She cried, I cried, we hugged, and through that, we felt better. It was nice to share tears with someone like Grandma. She always seemed to know what to say and when to keep quiet. Another thing about her that continues to inspire me.

I can happily imagine that Grandma is in extreme bliss in heaven! I know that she is in heaven, meeting up with Grandpa and all her loved ones. Rejoicing with Jesus! And although I'm sad that she is gone, I am so happy for her too, because the last few years of confusion and pain are gone, and she is so much better off now. She is where she has wanted to be for so long! I wonder if God did a special favour for her when she passed from this life to the next and sent Abe to pick her up from "Senior Camp"? Thank you Grandma, for your love, and for all the wonderful memories!

Another Month Goes By...

Here's Natalee on May 22nd with her teddy bear. She's almost looking plump! The teddy bear is definitely starting to shrink...
Almost a smile. Caleb wanted a picture of Natalee with the pink horse he got from a birthday party.
Caleb giving his sister a kiss. What a sweetheart. Both of them!

The Long Weekend

May long weekend...the weather forecast was bleak, but many people braved the weather and decided to go camping. For instance, Grandpa & Grandma Voth were among the brave folks who headed out in their camper. Lucky for them they weren't tenting! We went out for a visit on Saturday afternoon, since the forecast for Sunday was rain. We ate barbecued hotdogs and hamburgers for supper. Caleb and Joshua were thrilled to finally eat outside! They have been begging for a picnic for a while now.
While the rest of us filled our tummies, Aunt Margaret cuddled with Natalee. Unfortunately, Natalee wasn't as happy as the rest of us to be outside! I hope that next year will be different.
Andrew eating an ice cream cone in the gravel. Maybe this is when he got his wood tick??? Yes, he got a wood tick firmly stuck on his head, and after much experimenting and NO complaining from him, Daddy & Grandma managed to get it off! Mouthwash, apparently, is one thing that helps woodticks loosen their hold on human skin. Either that, or Andrew just tasted bad! But how could such a sweet boy taste bad?
At the lake. The boys lost the pail. A toy sand pail!! They sent it out on the lake and the wind blew it away! They tried their best to do their own impressions of fishing. A good time was had by all, even though we did manage to find another three wood ticks before we headed for home.

Birthday!!

Happy Second Birthday, Andrew! You can...walk, jump, almost run, ride the dinosaur, make messes, and say "Mommy, Daddy, cookie, puh-ZEE (please), Na-ee (Natalee), Zah-Zah (Joshua), tzuck (truck), cow (car), bye, hi, do (two), Mama (Grandma & Grandpa interchangeably), guck-ooh (thank you), cack-ah (cracker)" among the many other words you are attempting these days. Your bright blue eyes and infectious laugh are so much fun! The way you suck your thumb and pull up your shirt to play with your belly button with your other hand when you're tired or waiting for supper to get on the table. Your temper tantrums. Crying when we clean you off after you make a mess at mealtimes. Looking at your truck book. Building towers with your lego. Playing with your BBQ. Trying to grab small animals. Copying your big brothers. Giving hugs & kisses by touching your head to ours. Group hugs with Mommy & Daddy. And finally, sleeping in your big boy bed!! The past two years sure have flown bye!

Mother's Day

Tuesday & Wednesday this week were really quite hot. It felt more like summer than spring. We got out the pool and water toys, and the boys had a great time playing & cooling off.
Andrew is finally able to stand in the pool! Last summer, he was still mainly crawling around, so he'll have great fun this summer learning about all the things he can do now that he's on his feet! Just what I need - something to keep me busy. ;)
Natalee, sleeping. She must be going through a growth spurt again. Some days, she seems to sleep a lot, and other days, it seems like she's awake all day! Fortunately, she has been having longer stretches of uninterrupted sleep, sometimes at night, and I'm looking forward to the first time in many, many months that I'll finally get 7 (or more!) hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Mother's Day picture! When I was looking for pictures of me and my Mom last year, I found very few; so I've started taking pictures of just me and the boys...and Natalee...every Mother's Day. I took one too of Mike and the children since the sunlight, or there lack of, was conducive for picture taking...and the children were actually behaving. Natalee is yawning, not screaming or crying! Then we skipped church and went out for brunch. And the day is still young...I'm hoping for maybe a blizzard (DQ ice cream treat, not SNOW!) after supper, if I actually eat supper. Maybe the blizzard will be my supper - sounds like a great Mother's Day to me!

Andrew's Little Sister

I am so happy with how well Andrew has adjusted to having a new baby in the house. He absolutely loves little Natalee! When he hears her crying in the morning, he heads toward the stairs saying "Nanny, Nanny". He's very affectionate, giving her lots of hugs and kisses, and touching her gently on the head. I hope he will always feel this way towards her!
Little Natalee is growing!!! At 8 weeks old (our last visit with midwife Tracey), she weighed 9 lbs. 1 oz, and had gone from 19.25 inches at birth to 22 inches long! Her head also has grown 3 cm in diameter. Wow! Little Natalee is now quite AS little anymore! She's also smiling and cooing, and very interested in the world around her. It's fun to be able to interact with her now.
Just a reminder on how small she was at birth...I cropped this picture to use as an avatar, and I was quite pleased with how it turned out, so I just wanted to post it here.