Wiebe Family Photos

Really, what's not to love?

In the world of big Mormon families, relations can be complicated, so let me get this straight: Jared's mom's cousin's wife, Karen, took these photo's of the entire Wiebe clan.  She is so talented. It was fun to have everyone together and get some photographs without having to set the camera on timer and hope I get in the right spot before it shoots.

An Apron of His Own

Ever since I made the aprons for the Craftaholics Anonymous gift exchange, Eli has been asking for an apron of his own.  While I'm all about letting my boys play with dolls and wear pink, I thought I needed something a little more manly for my little man than the cute half aprons I made.  So, I let Eli pick out the fabric, and this morning I made him an apron all of his own.

Pretty sure he makes the cutest cowboy chef EVER!

Eli picked the star fabric, and I used the leftover fabric from my apron for the pocket pouch.  The ties were just a fat quarter from my stash. 

Time for a Picnic

I love to picnic.  On one of our most memorable dates Jared took me on a picnic to a park near where he grew up.  My memories of picnicing as a kid are wonderful (except that one time when a mean old bee stung me right on the tip of my finger, and I walked around with grapes on my finger all day long - not sure why - but it seemed right at the time.)

Anyway, I love to picnic, but we haven't done it nearly as often as I would like.  In need of a little inspiration, I decided to make our family a picnic blanket that would be devoted to Wiebe Family picnics.  I want to find a picnic basket and some dishes and have it all together and ready so we can picnic away whenever we feel the urge.  While I was in Sandpoint with Renee I pieced the quilt.

Silas helped a lot!

Laying it out. 

All pieced.  I just have to put the back on, quilt it, and bind it and I'm ready for any picnicking adventure life can throw at me!

Hitchhiking, A Spring and Two French Fries!

Last week my sister-in-law, Renee, and I went down to Sandpoint, Idaho to get a little break and visit with Jared while he is studying to write the Bar.  This month Renee had something to celebrate, so that's what we did.  We shopped like we actually had money, ate really well, and did whatever we wanted for the week. It was great.  As it should, our trip was not without adventure, intrigue and excitement!  Well, maybe not so much intrigue, but it had enough of the other stuff to make up for that.


First of all, let me tell you about Renee.  She is wonderful, for one, and I just love her.  It was so fun to hang out for a week.  She is Jared's oldest sister, and while they both tell stories of how they didn't get along as kids, you wouldn't know it now.  She is an incredibly talented seamstress: six years ago, when I married Jared, Renee made my wedding dress.

She is also a budding photographer, so I let her man (or woman) the camera for the entire trip.  It is nice to have some pictures of me with the boys, for a change.

Although, she isn't to be trusted entirely. I left her alone for just a few minutes, and what did she do?

We did have a good day of adventuring though.  We were heading into Spokane to take advantage of tax-free shopping, and in the middle of a construction zone, in 32 degree heat, the truck broke down. I thought it might be gas, since the gas gauge isn't very reliable, so Renee graciously volunteered to start walking.  Well, let's be honest: the nearest gas station was 3 miles away, and 3 miles is a long way to walk, especially with a 15 gallon gas can, and Renee isn't really the type to stick out her thumb.  I, however, have found myself in similar situations several times in my life and am not afraid of risking it.  So, I left her with the kiddos and hitched-hiked to town.  The wonderful woman who picked me up then drove me back to the truck.  We filled it with gas. And... it still didn't run.  Plan B.  The wonderful woman loaded up Renee, Rhiannon, Eli and Silas and drove them into town to a really classy restaurant, the Rustler's Roost. I called Jared, who called AAA, and planned on waiting.  I'm not very good at waiting.  I tried to start the truck, and I found as long as I kept the RPMs above 3000, it wouldn't stall out.  Somehow I made it into town and to a shop.  Jared was finished his course for the day, so he came and picked me up and we went to save Renee.  Food had been ordered, kids had been fed, and everything was just fine. Except... my baby, who has thus far in his life only eaten organic fruits and vegetables, was fed by his favourite Auntie Renee two FRENCH FRIES.  Horror!!!  After a few minutes I forgave her though, and we went about our day, all six of us loaded into our little Cavalier, sans carseats, waiting for the truck to be fixed.  Turns out a spring broke. Don't ask me what spring.  One that cost $275 and 3 days to replace.  We spent the weekend dodging cops and cozying up in the Cavy.  It could have been much worse: Renee could have fed Silas a hamburger!

The rest of the week was wonderful though. We did make it back to Spokane, where Renee bought a new wardrobe for her new life, and I got a few things myself.  We spent a lot of time crafting, a bit of time reading, and even managed to get out on the boat for some tubing.

Jared even got to spend a few daylight hours with us, at the Farmer's Market.  Silas was glad to see his daddy.

Eli only wanted to play on the splash pad.

Rhiannon LOVED it, too.

We went for walks.  Eli brought a dolly along.

Look at this beautiful baby. I love him so much!

Roasting Mallows.

Eli doesn't get much sugar.  He really liked the marshmallows.  Me thinks I have an addict on my hands.

Noni was happy to sit in the waves and throw sand the entire time. 

Talk about multitasking.  That's me, ready to drive the boat, pulling Eli and Jared on the tube, nursing Silas.

That's Renee on the left and Eli and Rhiannon squished on the right.  Rhiannon wanted to go faster, and Eli wanted to go slower the entire time.

And Jared got a kick out of shooting at the ducks and geese on the dock.  I'm not much for stepping in duck poop, so I didn't mind.

All in all, it was a wonderful week. It was great for Eli and Rhiannon to play, and for Renee and I to do the same.  I love summer!

The Teacher in Me

The teacher in me is freaking out.  July is almost over. Summer is almost half done.  Four weeks of summer has already passed, and what do I have to show for it???

Nothing!

Okay, that's not entirely true, but seriously, I had planned on doing so much more.

So, although September means nothing more to me than tomorrow when it comes to daily routine,  here's the list of stuff I'd like to accomplish before Labour Day hits:


Scavenger Hunt Cards
Blanket
ABC Board
A Bored Board

Plus, there's this rusty, nasty vinyl chair sitting in my parent's garage, which mom has said I can have if I recover it.  And, I am searching for the perfect piece of furniture at a garage sale to make a play kitchen for Eli. There's the picnic quilt I need to quilt, and the afghan I need to finish for Sarah...

Okay, realistically, there is no way I'm going to get this all done before September, but I've never been harmed by setting my expectations high.

Spreading the Crafting Joys

Adrienne is throwing a baby shower for a friend tomorrow night. She already gave her a Moby Wrap, so didn't need to get her anything extravagant, but did want to give her something at the shower.   In steps Jenny, crafty and cheap.  Just what Adrienne needed.

So, my best friend, the cowgirl/firefighter sat in front of a sewing machine for the first time since junior high and made the cutest receiving blanket and burp cloth.  I bought the fabric at Joanne's on sale, so the whole thing cost only $5.  Who could complain about that.  I threw in a cute little hat, and I'm pretty sure it will be the best present of all!

Yup, those are skulls.  I never thought I would, but I love skulls.  I would dress my boys in skulls every day if I could. Get over it.

I bought enough fabric for two sets, and made one myself.  Now I just need a friend to have a baby so I can give it away.  Or maybe I need to have a baby... no, 9 months is too long to wait for this to be enjoyed.  So cute.

The Worst Two Months of My LIFE!!!

I have a friend, Coreen, who has six children.  She is amazing to me for so many reasons.  She is an incredible mother, a devoted friend, a spiritual giant and an inspiration.  Due to the wonderful housing market in the US right now, her husband has been finishing his residency in Pontiac, Mi. for the last 10 months, and she has been living with their 6 children in Tennessee.  I've always thought she was amazing, but having just spent the last two months with Jared in Spokane and me on my own in Calgary, I am in complete awe of her.  Honestly.  I am so sick of being a single mom, and can't wait until Jared is back with me. I can't imagine how single mothers survive day after day, week after week, month after month, and for some, year after year!  I see why Heavenly Father created us to procreate in pairs, because doing it alone is really, really hard (the raising the creations, not the procreating itself- although that would be really hard too.)

The past two months has given me a lot of time to consider just why I am so lucky to have Jared in my life, and why I love him so much.  So, here's to him:

It started a long time ago, before the idea of kids even crossed my mind. I thought you were crazy, and funny, and kind of liked you. We dated.  I was right, you were crazy and funny, and not ready for commitment, so I dumped you, and then I realized I loved you.

So, you said you wanted to get serious, move to Kelowna, and asked if I would come with you, as your wife.  Then you decided that Kelowna wasn't for you, and dropping out of university wasn't the best idea.  You stood faithfully by me through our crazy 3 month engagement with all the emotion involved there.  You supported me wholly through the worst teaching year ever when I worked for the crazy feminist, and we made it wonderfully through our first year.

When we decided to multiply you came to every one of my prenatals.  You supported my decision to hire midwives, even though they were expensive, and have a homebirth, even though it was so strange to you, knowing that although I was having our baby, it was my body and my experience, and so you researched and learned, and you were there when it all fell to pieces and I needed you most. 

You didn't want to leave Calgary, but you knew it's what you needed to do to "pay for the family" so you packed up the house and drove across the continent.  You suffered through 3 years of Law School. You spent countless nights reading, typing, studying.  You worked harder than you've ever worked before to finish school.

You have trusted your instincts, and mine, as we have learned how to parent.  You have embraced the gentle parenting approach that we try to live by.  When I bring information to you about health or parenting, you strive to understand it and then wholeheartedly go for it.  You are my biggest supporter when it comes to some of the things I do that others don't understand.

When we made another baby, you drove me to all my prenatals across the border, you again understood my desire for an empowered birth, and so you supported me in hiring midwives again, which was still expensive, and have a "hotelbirth," as we had no home.  And again, when plans changed, you were there to hold me up when everything around me was falling down.

You have used the power of the Priesthood, which you are worthy to hold, to bless me and our sons countless times.  You read the scriptures to them and teach them how to pray.  You show them how to be a good man and a wonderful father.

You continue to work hard, knowing that the adventure isn't quite over.  You are willing to live alone for two months to study for the hardest test yet.  You call me every night to tell me you love me and wish you were here.  You say prayers with Eli over the phone, and tell him you love him too. 

I love you so much. I am so glad that you stole me away from that boy.  I love that you love me, and can't wait to be with you again!