Scenes from the Mall..

We stopped off to wave to Santa on the way to the parking lot...he asked the children why they were upstairs and not down with him....Abby said she was on her way down....but we will do that another day when she wears a nice outfit for a picture :)  

I loved this store window display, so Wintry and icy looking:

Field trip to the Apple Store!!

Today we headed to West Edmonton Mall for a field trip at the Apple Store there.  It was such a great morning!  The children were split into three groups and could choose which activity to do - movie making, poster making or music making!  Then they all got to switch!  

At the end they got to print out their pictures and posters and put their movies and music on to cd's to bring home.  They were also given t-shirts to keep!!  All this and the field trip was free!!  The staff were really great and said ours was the easiest field trip they'd ever had because we all just went on in and got on with things - they are used to having to set everyone up and do everything for people - but we all just got on with everything and were more independent than school field trips and summer camps of kids who go to school.  

They told us they can tailor trips to anything we would like - all we have to do is call them up and let them know what we would like.

After the field trip a few of us headed to lunch together:

Then it was off downtown for a quick drive...Abigail's friend came with us for the ride.  We headed to the General hospital to pick something up for a friend, before heading out to their house for coffee.  We stayed there for the afternoon (much longer than planned - as always!!) and the children enjoyed playing with their new kittens.  

Home to see Susannah and Laurence.  Supper was an easy Jacket potatoes after a busy day.  Laundry done.  Sam coloured in his new Lego club magazine that arrived in the mail.  I signed him up a month or so ago and he was thrilled when it arrived!!  Then Sam and Abby disappeared outside sledding until just after dark!!  They do so love having their own sledding hill :)  Rosie loves the freedom of running outside with them too.  It makes me sad that their Father would take that from them.  Take this life they love JUST to get at me :(  He just doesn't understand.....

Oh well....I am making sure they make the most of every moment they have this place :)  

We have had a winter storm warning come through.  15cm of snow forecast tonight and tomorrow with blowing snow.  I am glad we have nothing planned until Friday!  We have everything we need here at home.....we can just stay snuggled up here in the warm.  

Today was a great day filled with friends and fun!!  

I hope yours was too!!

Early morning fog patches...

We were up and out early this morning for a field trip, and although it was a beautiful sunny morning, it was also a little foggy in places....it left a lovely eery effect as the fog was in thin layers and looked like smoke.....Abigail snapped some pictures as we drove along!!

Susannah and I had noticed this structure a couple of weeks ago and wondered what it was, but it wasn't until Now Radio posted about it this morning that I learned what it was!  So this morning I told Sam and Abby to guess what it was and how much it cost!!!  It is a new piece of art work - The Talus Dome - that our city decided we had to have!!  They had  Los Angeles artists design and create it.  It has already been defaced.  Most people hate it.  It doesn't seem to make any sense at all.  It seems a shame that it is not designed by any of the fabulous local artists - or even by a CANADIAN artist!!  It cost tax payers $600,000.  

They have now said that the city has no money left to pick up garbage for the rest of the year as they are over budget!!!  How does this make sense???  I love art - I do think art is important to have...BUT I think it is far more important to have plants and flowers and trees by our roadsides than art....and we have been told we have run out of funding for this......hhhmmmmm I wonder why???!!!!

By the way, Abby guessed that this art piece cost $1,000 and Sam guessed that it cost $4,000.

It looks like a pile of Christmas tree ornaments/ baubles:

You can read more about the art piece by CLICKING HERE

Current book

We are currently reading Roald Dahl's 'The Witches', which we are really enjoying.  It's a nice quick read.  We're trying to decide who we know in our lives who could be a witch.  :) If my children try and pull your hair, you'll know why ;)

Homeschool group - music class.....

Todays homeschool group was a music session.  Everyone got to try different instruments and we all tried out different rhythms and sounds with them as well as rhythms using our bodies (stomping, clicking, clucking, clapping, tapping, rubbing hands together etc etc)  

We sang songs in English and French and sang songs in 'rounds' as well as action songs.

It was a really good session!!  

In January we have a man coming to teach a session on drumming.  

Our Monday.....

It's been a really great day - very constructive....I crossed a lot off of my to-do list today and feel as though I made a lot of progress in a number of areas.  A good day :)

This little munchkin hasn't been eating properly since he started getting sick 10 days ago at his dads house :(  I bought him Pedia-sure or whatever it is called and have been trying to get him to drink that but he doesn't like it - even though its chocolate flavour.  

He promised me he would eat his favourite Tims chicken noodle soup if I took him there, so today we headed out for soup!  He was a good boy and ate a whole bowl with a large bun!!  

he looks so thin with his sunken eyes and head too big for his body - he loses weight so fast and he is skinny anyway!  

Tonight he had lasagna and ate most of it which is good, so hopefully he is back on track.  I understand his lack of appetite - I also can't eat anything - I still feel nauseous and everything I eat tastes horrible so I do understand, but he is just wasting away so I have to force him :(

He 's a happy little thing though and has his energy back...I do love him so :)

As we were running errands today we told Laurence we would pick him up after school.  We got there a little early and sat in the parking lot for 20 minutes.  It started to snow as we arrived but there was none on the ground...by the time Laurence came out, the ground was covered and the snow was coming down heavy.  It was soooo pretty.  I don't mind winter driving now - I got so used to it last year.  

Abby napped while we waited for Laurence to come out of school:

I asked Laurence if he wanted to drive home but he didn't want to because traffic was heavy and the roads were bad - Now radio was reporting a lot of accidents.  But i did stop closer to home and we swapped places so he could drive the rest of the way and experience winter driving on quieter roads.  He did great and I think appreciated the chance to try driving on snow covered roads for the first time.  He needs the practice as he will be doing a lot of it in the years to come.  

We got home and I had a few phone calls to make, and then we all relaxed down in the kitchen by the fire etc and had supper.  I'm enjoying sitting by the fire watching the snow fall as I catch up on some Emails and work related stuff.  We're going to sit and watch Footloose together later.  

Sunday night at our place :)

For today......

Outside My Window... Beautiful blue skies....breezy and chilly.  A dusting of snow on the ground.  They forecast more later today but only flurries.

I am thinking...that the worst part of this stomach flu that has been through the house, is the energy it has taken from us all.

I am thankful for...my budgeting skills, my forward planning,

From the kitchen...beef stews, sausage casseroles, rice dishes, pasta's.....homemade caramel apples...homemade pies :)  Lots of action in the kitchen lately....

I am wearing...yoga pants, t-shirt, socks.

I am creating...My journal ready for 'Journal Your Christmas' - which officially starts December 1st, but I will start next weekend when we go to the Festival of Trees and the Celebration of Lights.  I am also creating canvases, art journaling pages, and gifts for Christmas.

I am going...to take the children to the library this afternoon to see if Susannah's book is in yet, and to pop to the bank and run some other errands.  
I am reading...'The Witches' to Sam and Abby.  A book on drawing portraits in different styles, for myself.

I am hoping...to get to the homeschool Moms coffee night at France's house tomorrow night.  I'm also hoping everyone is well by Wednesday when our busy week starts!

I am hearing... Christmas music - the children seem a little obsessed :)

Around the house...we are slowly decorating for Christmas - just a few things out so far....ornaments here and there....and the children have made a few crafts...as soon as the snow arrived the Christmas fever arrived too :)

One of my favorite things...watching Christmas movies with the children - we watch one almost nightly in the run up to Christmas and the children love it :)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...We have a field trip tot he Apple store this week where the children will be taking part in various projects on the computers.  We also have Homeschool Science Day at the science centre, Bricks 4 Kidz class (Lego class) and the Festival of Trees and Celebration of Lights to look forward to!  Library visits, coffee night and who knows what else :)  It's a busy week :)

Canvases I've been working on.....AEDM

I have managed to do a little art almost every day this last week even though I have been ill and have had sick children.  I did miss a couple of days, but have tried when possible to fulfill the 'Art Every Day Month' promise!!!

Busy prepping a background....

Banana-girl with pigtails...

Susannah looking like her big brother Chris!!

Saw this truck at Sobeys today :)

Love this!!

(Thank you Christine for posting this on FB)

First snowfall.....

We woke up to our first snow fall yesterday morning.  The children were soooooo excited to open the curtains and see it so white outside :)  Even though it was just a dusting, they couldn't wait to get outside to play in it!!  Thankfully they were both healthy enough to go!!

They called me to show me they had written 'I love Mom' in the snow :)  

At one point Rosie ate the snowball Abby was trying to turn into a snowman and Abby was stomping back to the house...thankfully I managed to soothe things by suggesting Rosie come inside for a while, but I caught the stomping on camera, which I love: