I just couldn't keep my paintbrush off them - updated

Mom gave us a nativity set last year. It is wooden and the kids love to play with it. As soon as they unwrapped it I saw a problem. Everyone was pink. White. Caucasian. Well, except the token black wiseman. I wanted so much to paint it last year but did not have the energy to do it. So last night, the night before the first day of advent, I dug out the set and realized that if I painted them before the kids saw them they likely wouldn't recall that last year Mary had been white and now she's not. I grabbed my paints and got to work. Here is a photo from the website mom ordered them from - since I forgot to take a "before" photo.



And now my alterations (including two wool camels from Mongolia that have joined our set)



I left some characters pink. I like a multi-ethnic nativity scene, because, though not historically accurate (which is also important to me) it is in keeping with the good news the angels proclaimed, it is for ALL people. Here's a closer look at my changes, I'm particularly fond of Mary's new hairstyle and the Asian wiseman:




I'm really happy with the results. I don't paint much anymore - almost never - so even this little and quick creative project felt good. I enjoyed it so much that I will have to restrain myself from painting the rest of the characters!

And now the set is ready for a full advent season of recreating the Christmas story.

At church tonight we sang this song (Steve Bell has it on his Feast of Seasons album)

Ready My Heart
Music and Lyric by Lois Shuford

Ready my heart for the birth of Immanuel
Ready my soul for the Prince of Peace
Heap the straw of my life
For His body to lie on
Light the candle of hope
Let the child come in

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, Christ the Saviour is born

Mine is the home that is poor and is barren
Mine is the stable of cold and stone
Break the light to each corner
Of doubt and of darkness
Now the Word is made flesh
For the birth of me

May the Spirit ready our hearts during this season. Regardless of the colours of the characters in our nativities.

Aimee

UPDATED: Seriously, if you want me to paint yours Anno - or anyone else - I would love to!

thanks

today I am thankful for:

*our (shared) washer and drier. High capacity front loaders with a pleasant tune announcing the cycle is done. As I folded freshly dried towels I smiled and was grateful for how easy laundry is in this country.

*my baby who falls asleep nursing and looks so peaceful

*homemade pizza

*Christmas oranges

*a visit with Melanie

*new clothes! (Melanie passed on a bunch of lovely clothes to me, what a gift)

*SUNSHINE - it felt to me like Christmas morning as the sun streamed in through our big (and very dirty) front windows today. We soaked it up on a walk and at the park today

*storytime interjections - we went to our local kids bookshop for storytime today. Emilie who reads at the twice weekly storytime is delightful and really enjoys kids. Good thing. Today Eva jumped in at a pause in the story and explained what she would do with the animals in the story who now had no place to stay cozy out of the rain.

"I would take them to my house and they could live in my mitten (a reference to a previous story about animals in a mitten)..."

the other parents and nannies smile at this cute girl...

"or I would take them into my bed and under my blankets that would be cozy..."

more smiles all around and a bit of laughter, Emilie takes a breath to continue reading...

"but not the moose. I wouldn't let him in my bed. He could stay on my carpet..."

all out laughter, Emilie prepares, once again to continue...

"I wouldn't want him in my bed because (here she pauses and does her look that says 'you know what I'm talking about') ...ANTLERS... (she says antlers long and drawn out, her eyebrows raise up and down a couple of times, emphasizing her point) they would (she pauses again, and begins poking herself in her side) ...POKE (poke comes out as two syllables, again, for emphasis)

tonnes of laughter. I crawl forward and quietly encourage her to listen to the rest of the story the Emilie needs to start reading now.

*the pitter patter of Elijah's feet as he comes out of his room to find me in the morning, the cute words that follow and the snuggles.

*preparations for advent. Mom and dad gave us a couple new books and an advent calender. I look forward to celebrating the season with the kids this year as they are even more aware of the story.

*my dishwasher - did you know I have one. I can't remember if I told you. Lance's folks contributed toward a portable (full-size) dishwasher as a housewarming gift. Oh yeah, of course you know I have one, I just told you about the detergent I made! Anyways I need to go load and run it.

So that's all for tonight.

Aimee

Extra biblical words of Christ

Tonight Eva and I were reading a book about the first Easter. She likes this one a lot and always refers to it in a dramatic voice, saying, "The one where Jesus DIES". Sounds a little morbid, but whatever. Tonight she decided to take over halfway through. It is a fairly text heavy book (as far as our books go) and I was surprised at how she quoted sentence after sentence almost verbatim. And then, on the page with the ascension, where Jesus exhorts his followers to share all they have learned and that God would make them wise and brave - Eva pauses a little, mumbles through a few words that are actually on the page and then launches into a new part of the story.



In her sweet reading-a-book voice she said:

And then Jesus said, "Don't ever do that to me again"

and his followers said, "We will not"

"Good" said Jesus.

I can't even type this without getting the giggles, I could barely hold it together when she was "reading" this part. I rejoice knowing that no one will kill Jesus again. And I'm just sitting here laughing and laughing. It sounds like a conversation between she and Elijah that I hear daily.

I do want to recommend the book - it is "The First Easter" in the Bible Storytime series. We also have the first Christmas and it is very good as well. The perfect amount of detail for our 3 year olds. Well, maybe not quite enough, since Eva had to extrapolate this evening! (the links go to my dad's store where you can see the covers, and order them if you want)

That's all for tonight.

Aimee

Fall

A couple of weeks ago the kids and I raked the front yard. It was a big job. Not the actual amount of leaves or size of yard (both are relatively small). But the number of kids and the amount of time spent jumping in the piles (which was planned, but after awhile got tiring) and the baby on the back makes it hard to load the yard waste bin. But we did it, and the kids helped - with their sand rakes - Eva's idea. Very cute. Now I miss the leaves - they were the last bit of bright colour left outside our window (except that purple house across the street) and now it is all grey grey grey. Anways, here are a few pictures.

hello again

it's been a little while. but here I am.

Listening to Carolyn Arends Christmas album right now. I've recommended it before, it is very good, and speaks to my heart every time. And to those who refrain from advent/christmas stuff until advent begins, or december 1, remember, I practice an extended advent. Got to get my heart in gear early.

In other news -

I have successfully made my own dishwasher soap! Yes I am excited about this. I followed (for the most part) a recipe found here I had already started using white vinegar in the rinse aid compartment. I was very happy with those results. Then, when our old detergent was all gone, I made the new stuff. The only difference was that I didn't use the citric acid. It's purpose is to reduce clouding, so I guess if my dishes start to get cloudy I'll go out and find some! We're pleased with the results.

We had friends Jonnie and Kaylyn (sp?) stay with us this weekend. The kids were crazy about them! They (J & K, not the kids) treated us to a fabulous restaurant in our neighborhood where we enjoyed marvelous food. (it's called Locus, and I highly recommend it).

Thinking about consistency in parenting lately. Not about having consistent consequences for certain behaviors, but to act consistently regardless about how I'm feeling. To view the situation a little more objectively and not get my emotions all wrapped up in it. Like today, when the dog owner (elijah) yanked on the dog's (eva) fur causing the dog to let out a ear piercing shriek, right outside the door of the napping brother, rudely awakening him... I almost blew up. I had asked them REPEATEDLY to keep quiet in the hallway to not wake Anders. And now, because Anders was awake, the little bit of "me" time I was carving out for myself was over. So my response (though miraculously I did have self-control, thank-you Holy Spirit) wasn't about the kids actions, or even the immediate result (Anders being awake), but about my plans being disrupted. If I had been folding laundry or something less exciting, I wouldn't have been nearly as upset. I'm asking God to give me perspective and a moment to choose a response before reacting. And also for enough "me" time here and there that I don't need/want to freak out when it (inevitably) gets disrupted.

Alright, now I'm going to fold laundry.

hope you are well.

aimee

twin thoughts

for some reason lately I've been thinking of when the twins were little - well they are little, but I mean really little. Thinking of all the little things that I haven't written down but are unique and that I'd like to remember. And maybe you're a little interested. Here are a few of them...

I used to take a full meal to bed with me each night - sandwich, fruit, chips, nuts - to have enough energy - and milk - for the many nighttime nursing sessions. It was momentous when I began to walk downstairs to our bedroom without a dinner plate.

I didn't fold the kids clothes for the first two years of their lives. I just washed, dried and the put in the appropriate bins/drawers. Folding baby clothes for twins was one thing I planned in advance that I would not spend my time on. Funny how that was something I foresaw and planned. Now I fold their clothes but it is still new to me.

I had a girl from CLBI who came and cleaned our house once a week after the twins were born. She did the floors, bathroom and the dishes. A couple of times I asked her to help with folding laundry and, despite my best intentions, forgot to remove the underthings from the pile first. Yeah, it didn't go over well when I told Lance that Mary-Anne had folded his boxers. oops.

I distinctly remember the first meal I cooked (all by myself) after Elijah and Eva were born. Black bean soup for the Zipricks. One baby was in the bouncy seat in the kitchen and the other in the swing. I felt pretty on top of things as I made soup and warmed buns. It was a taste of what was to come. I could actually be a mom to twins and cook food.

Lance and I ate a lot of "treat" food that first year. I think we thought we deserved it cause life with tiny twins was really really hard and draining. I remember being tired and hungry late at night and Lance deciding to bbq us burgers with all the fixings. 11pm? Comfort food.

Pat Lewis came once a week to watch the twins. I would go out and enjoy free time or to appointments. When she would leave she would take the diaper pail home. She would also find out what sort of sugar-free baking I needed. The next day clean diapers and ziplocks full of blueberry muffins would arrive at the back door.

Thursday night was date night. Odegards would come for supper and then we'd take off. Usually we hadn't planned anything ahead, and honestly there weren't many options in Camrose. Sometimes we'd just go to Odegards house, now empty, and watch a movie. Seemed funny to just trade houses, but we were kid free!

We probably received 20 frozen meals from folks at our church and from our baby shower. I asked for food instead of clothes! What a blessing - and what fun - all those meals were.

One night, about two weeks in, we had been having such a hard time getting them to sleep before the wee hours of the morning that we decided instead of going to the basement - where the bedrooms were - we would just all sleep in the living room. I'm not sure logically how this was better, but it must have felt better to us. Something about being in the basement for hours and hours and not being asleep was very discouraging. Well sleeping on the couch and the floor wasn't great and we never tried that again.

We used to call Elijah's birthmark a landing pad for kisses.

We used to call Eva buzz cut princess.

Our kids cost us virtually no money the first year of life (save all of that food I was eating to make milk for them). We were given/loaned almost all of what we needed. The generosity of our families and community was overwhelming.

Mom came out so much during the first year that 3 months was considered a LONG time to not see the babies! Everytime Lance had to be away for a few days mom would fly out and help me hold down the homefront.

Here are a few photos from that first year:














-----

It's good to walk down memory lane. To be grateful for the richness of that time. I'm grateful too for all those blessings that helped us start out on this parenting journey.

It seems AGES ago.

goodnight.

Aimee

Popcorn Party

This was the scene at our house at 10pm last thursday.

Let me explain.

Our homegroup from church was that night, Lance was sick so he stayed in bed. I lead the group, mangled the snack, and wrangled children. By the time the night was over my left arm was sore from carting (not so) little fussy Anders around all evening. Elijah was asleep before the group arrived, and then an hour later woke up asking, "Is it awake time". No my little friend it is not! Eva kept calling out for updates on who had arrived. My pumpkin loaf baked for probably 2hrs and still came out like pudding. So the group - good sports - ate it, and sliced apples for snack. Turns out that even though I was completely scattered for the whole evening as people left I felt very full. As I was in and out with a crying babe and tending to the older kids I still got to hear snatches of what the group members were sharing with each other and I was very blessed by their honesty and hope.

So, after everyone left Lance and I talked for awhile in our room...then we heard giggling, lots of giggling. We emerged from the room to hear silence. Then we discovered them; Elijah has snuck into Eva's room and was up on her loft bed under the covers with her. We pulled up the covers and they (and we) laughed and laughed. Then, hungry, Lance and I made some popcorn and invited the kids to a popcorn picnic. We figured since we were going to have to redo bedtime anyways we may as well make a memory first. The kids were VERY excited. Elijah said his signature, "We haven't done this in a weewy wong time" - which either means what it says or, like that night, means we have never done this before.

So we had a good time - except Anders who doesn't eat popcorn yet. And then had stories, prayers and went right to sleep.

What a night.

I'm hoping this Thursday doesn't end up being a repeat.

an assortment of thoughts.

I've been thinking and planning for Christmas gift-giving. My head is whirling with thoughts of the real meaning of Christmas, what we want our kids to come to expect at Christmas, what they (and I!) think Christmas is about, an overload of stuff in our home and our tendency to over consume on many levels over the holidays.

But, I don't feel I have time or the energy to sort out and type my thoughts tonight. I will post a link to a post I just read. I like some of her ideas and the over all feel. Not changing Christmas habits out of guilt but out of joy. Not cutting out giving, but rethinking ways to give. Focussing on time and really BEING together. "the greatest present we can give each other is our genuine presence." I like that, I want to be free (of endless lists and worries) to give my genuine presence this year.

Check out: Daily Portion: A Modest Proposal

Let me know what you think.

Off to do a little design work.

Oh - I got to have a visit with Shannon and Cherylene today. What a treat. I haven't seen Shannon in for sure 11 years, maybe 15! And haven't seen Cherylene for a few either. It was fun to connect in person.

And one more thing:
"Taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed are those who take refuge in him" Psalm 34:8
A verse that has been on my mind lately. The whole Psalm is wonderful. May the Spirit lead me (and you too) to believe and trust that these words are true.

bye.
aimee

birthday celebration

Anders and Cara shared a birthday party on Saturday. It was great to see my family again. We had a lovely time. Mom made the Thomas cake - Anders enjoyed the smoke stack and the twins were CRAZY about the whole cake. We brought it home with us and it was all they could do to wait till after lunch to have some today.




Anders and Great Grandpa enjoyed some good playtime. They were wearing matching shirts too so mom was sure to capture that. Here are a couple photos mom sent me. I just love them. I haven't seen grandpa this happy in a long time. I treasure these photos.

"Victims...and Perpetrators" Walter Bruggemann

Mighty God, giver of Peace, slogan for war,
We watch while cities burn and
children cry and
women weep.

We listen while tanks roll and
missiles zizzle, and
mobs assemble.

We smell while
flesh burns and
old tires smoke and
oil wells flame
out of control.

We dare say,
we dare imagine,
we dare confess, that Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory.

We come to you as victims of terror and mass death.
We come as perpetrators of death and massacre.
We come as citizens and patriots and taxpayers
and parents and children.
We come bewildered, angry, sorry.

You, you beyond the smell and the din and the smoke.
You, beyond our hopes and our hates.
You, our beginning before time
our end beyond time.
Be present in ways we cannot imagine.
Be present -- save us from our power,
save us from our violence,
save us from our fear and hatred,
save us as only you can do.
Save us as you have before saved us...

in love and power
in compassion and justice
in miracle and in waiting.

Save us because we are your people
and because this is your world.

Elijah

From a recent trip to a park near our house. In the first pic he is very proud of himself for finding and then climbing the small gravel mountain behind the school. When the rain lets up - even a bit - we dash outside wearing our rain gear (thanks mom and dad!) and try to get rid of this cabin fever.

Today the older two are playing together REALLY well. I am rejoicing about this as it hasn't been that friendly around here lately. Anders and I were up early today and now he's napping. I've got vegetable soup simmering on the stove, and after a day of almost no vegetables (!?) yesterday my body will thank me for the nutrition. I've been eating quite poorly lately - which for me means, too many carbs and too large of meals resulting in long lasting low grade headaches and fatigue. So I'm trying to get back on track so I can feel good again.

I better get going. There are mounds of clean laundry EVERYWHERE that need some serious attending too!

Aimee

J & J

A big congratulations to Jane (Lance's sister) and Jason who just got engaged and are getting married this February!! We're excited to be a part of their celebration and to welcome Jason into our family.

This photo of them - and Anders - was from the summer when they met me in Kimberley to take care of Anders while I took photos at Elli's wedding. It was my first time meeting Jason and he was already doing me a major favor, driving out and helping Jane with Anders. He obviously got in my good books right away! We have heard nothing but good about him and look forward to getting to know him more. We rejoice with you guys!



The funny thing about this picture is that it looks like Anders is their baby and the funny thing about that has to do with Eva and Elijah's view of marriage. When the twins found out that Jason had asked Auntie Jane to marry him they were very excited. They were happy that they would be husband and wife...and then they immediately launched into talking about babies. "Auntie Jane is going to have a baby" they'd exclaim delightedly! "Yes, one day she will, first she's getting married" we'd say. Then they'd get right back into their baby excitement. I guess we can see what they view the purpose of marriage is eh? BABIES!!!! So the big news is that Jane is getting married, no matter how excited the twins are about babies!

Once again, congratulations Jason and Jane.

Anders

we can't get enough of this guy!

Face Painter

Eva is enjoying using my water colour pencils to paint her face almost daily, One time I let her paint mine too, then one Sunday morning she wanted to paint both of our faces before church, I politely declined. Here are some photos of her most intense paint job yet!






I love this girl.

desert

Unbeknownst to me I put Elijah's yogurt in the wrong bowl at snack time, after happily eating it and then finding out there wouldn't be a second helping in the desired bowl he absolutely lost it. Full throttle screams accompanied with a -what I later found out was not a scratch but a "lion pinch" - on my chest. I carried him to his room so we could talk about what was going on...

He began rattling off things like, "you have to obey me" and "I don't wike that face mama"

and then he dropped the big one:

"then I will weave you and wun away to a desert far far away"

his eyes fiery, fists clenched as he spit the words out.

I respond as dramatically as he, but with sadness,

"All alone? Oh no then I would be so sad and miss you so much"

head cocks, demeanor changes, just a little, the words still coming out with force...

"No, not aw awone, I would take you mama"

and then the anger melts rapidly

"and I would take Papa and Eva and Anders too, the whole famiwy"

And from there things turned around pretty quick. He apologized for the lion pinch and we agreed to use the right bowl for supper.

I'm glad that he won't be running away to the desert, and it good to know that if in the future he does decide to go, that he would take the whole family.

I love that guy.

a thought

I was just over at frugal hacks and read a comment that caught my eye, and heart. The original post was about what you are gathering this time of year. The commenter said she was gathering ideas and materials for creating Christmas gifts, then she said,

"I like to be finished with all gifts before Advent starts–then we can focus on the spiritual riches of the season."

That sound lovely! Idealistic? Maybe. Something to shoot for? Yes. With just under a month before advent begins, why not aim for that? I desperately want to focus of the spiritual richness of the season. It think cutting out the usual stresses of gift buying and making would really help make room in my heart/mind/spirit for Jesus' arrival.

Here I go. Off to make a list!