Sunday: normal

It was a pretty normal day today and so not much to write about.  The church clay was almost stiff, but not quite, so the kids split colors and enjoyed having two colors at church.  It did eventually end up as a slightly lighter red, but it was interesting to watch the marbling in the clay as they worked it.

Saturday: kitchen

 Joshua made a fruit Pikachu today.  He decided to do it based on the cake.  

Friday: O:CtH

This afternoon I decided the only way I was going to get anything done was if it was 'fun' work.  So I cleaned one of the kitchen cabinets.  I decided to do the drink/spice cabinet.  I had done it a few years ago, so I didn't expect too much change, but I had gotten some new spices for Christmas and I wanted to change them out for the old spices.

In the end though, I got rid of so much stuff.  Probably at least 1/4 of the stuff that was in the cabinet, which was amazing to me.  The weird thing was getting rid of a few tea boxes, but I haven't been drinking tea lately and it's pretty old.  I also have two small boxes full of water bottle tops.  I put them in a few years ago and haven't looked at them since then, so I'm going to assume that I don't actually need them.  There are also some candlestick holders; they came with the house and I don't think the previous owners are going to care anymore. 

The saddest thing I am getting rid of are unopen but well used tea bags.  I had them in a different cabinet when Isaac was small and he found them.  They became a favorite toy but I kept them around because the foil wrappers had never actually been opened.  Since I'm getting rid of tea though, I decided I could take a picture of them and remember that way.

Thursday: errands

This morning was supposed to be a work morning, but it turned into an errand morning.  I got the oil changed, I picked up some auctions, dropped off some stuff at UPS, dropped off the compost, and went to the library.  Some errands were very fast and some were very slow.

I also went for a walk with Aunt C.  It was rather misty out, but we still had a lovely time.  We went to Ottawa Discovery Center to walk.  We found the birds of prey exhibit!  I haven't gone to ODC that many times, but I guess the times I have gone we've skipped the exhibit.  I thought it would involve a building that you go inside of, like nature centers.  So imagine my surprise when a Bald Eagle starts squawking at us!  There were two bald eagles and they were both quite vocal.  One made normal bird screeches and one...didn't.  

Anyway, I've never been that close to a bald eagle before and they are beautiful.  There were also owls, hawks, and a few other assorted birds of prey.  (FYI, most of the birds were in an accident and now can't fly or hunt anymore.  I think there was one that was imprinted on humans.  But none of them would survive in the wild, which is why they're here.)

Wednesday: wig

About a week ago I got pictures of the wig that was made with my hair!  It was my hair and hair from three other people.  And while I think the mannequin is ugly, I think the wig is really cute!  (Also, it's supposed to just be a partial wig and worn with a hat.  They're less hot and take less hair.)

Tuesday: last day

Today was the last day before the kids go back to school, which is a bit sad and a bit happy all at the same time.  We didn't do anything all that special, although we did go rock climbing and stayed a bit longer than normal.  I also tried to bring some returns to UPS and the line was about 5x longer than I've ever seen it.  While it would still probably only take 10 minutes, since I had two kids in the car I decided to come back later.

Weekend: family

Nathan and family came this weekend!  It was a wonderful weekend.  The kids keep getting older and entertaining themselves and sometimes it feels like we barely see them.  (Although, to be fair, we kicked them into the basement a few times because they were being loud.  You don't get to be loud in the main area.)

Friday: we worked medium hard all day before they arrived, but it did also include a nap and making some food.  Isaac finished his deviled eggs (all by himself!) and I helped Joshua with his Pikachu cake.  Now, we had gone to the library to try and find some easy dinner ideas that he could make by himself that sounded good.  What we ended up with with an involved dessert.  Oh well.  It was very good and I expect we'll make it again.

Saturday: in the morning we went rock climbing.  Nathan and Liz also tried it out, while I still haven't made it off the ground.  I did get to belay some adults though, so it was nice to do that for the first time.  Liz was no problem, but I did feel the weight difference a little bit with Nathan.  I was floatier than normal.  Isaac worked on the challenge wall a lot.

After lunch we opened presents!  Yay!  We all got some good ones.

Kate came by for dinner...it was nice as we haven't seen her in a long time.  We did a New Year's countdown around 9 and sent the kids to bed.  They were out quickly.  (Actually, they were out quickly the night before too.  Maybe they had had enough time to see each other and burn off some energy.)  Isaac stayed up both nights to watch the new Top Gun movie with us.  I just though it was ok, although the plane scenes were good.  I don't know if Isaac understood all the minor plot points.

Sunday we went to church to watch Pat play the organ.  She did a lovely job.

In the afternoon the kids made a wood craft with Dad.

After the three youngest went to bed Ben and Isaac taught Nathan how to play Magic: The Gathering.  I read my book.  I just started a new one and it is hilarious and excellent.  (Beware the Chicken!  However, it is based on an Eastern genre, and if you haven't read at least a few of that type it might not be as good.  Still funny, but some items might not make as much sense.  Thousand Li was the series I read first to help out with some of the background knowledge.)

Then, as always, they left the next morning.  While it's nice to go back to normal and not run the dishwasher twice a day, it's also always very sad and quiet.  However, there are plans to see them during Spring Break!