Monday, January 26, 2009

This weekend Past

This past weekend Justin went to visit his gramma.
She offered to have him as she didn't have to work on Monday this week so could have him for an extended period of time.

He's apparently had a very good time. Playing out in the snow, going to her church (lots of children), playing with Thomas, watching TV, helping gramma work on her things and so forth. They've had a great deal of fun.

Jim and I went to a movie on Saturday afternoon...Inkheart. It was a good show. Have to admit, some things seemed silly to me...like what was the point of dressing the girl up in some old greyish dress? That just seemed odd. But overall, not a bad show. Good triumphs over evil.

Yesterday I found it very relaxing to just be able to go to church and LISTEN to a sermon. To not have to mind a toddler who either wiggles and makes noise (which gets people tsking) or that I need to take out to the quiet room (so we can have sunday school). Both make it difficult to heed the sermon. So that was rather nice.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Toilet training basically complete

So I had promised Justin if he went three nights without wetting his diaper/pull up, that he could try going to bed without one.

Last night he did so! YEAH!! No accidents.

He did get me up at 4 00 a.m. though, crawled into bed with me and kept me up until I threatened him..GO TO SLEEP or we won't go to Missy's today (playgroup). He really wanted to go to playground so he settled right down again. Slept until 8 a.m.

He had fun at Missy's, didn't play with trains at all, played with cupcakes and the play kitchen. T'was all good. :)

Shopping, then home for lunch...which he took upstairs because he was going to play (I think he missed his trains). Silly lad...and today I'm too tired to make a point of where he eats.

Cheers!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

January Updates

January has been A COLD month!

I am slowly getting better from the bug that inflicted me in one way or the other throughout December. Doctor tests revealed nothing. I find I still need to focus on blander foods lest my digestive system react negatively.

Jim is doing well.

Justin is starting to figure out the whole toileting thing at night. Sometimes he gets up and goes back to sleep, other times he's up at 230 and raring to go. Jim and I tend to disagree with him at those times and then it's just a matter of trying to keep him quiet enough that SOMEONE can get some sleep. :)

I've managed to sell most of our baby guinea pigs. Justin has requested that we keep one of the Rainbow ones, so we've done so. Just three left to sell, two are spoken for.

One of Jim's cichlids has a mouthful of babies. He caught her today and put her in a net holder for live bearers. She's unimpressed, but hopefully those babies will survive. :)

My guppies are starting to multiply well. My hope is to sell them, but if for some reason I cannot, they will make good supplemental food for the cichlids.

Hmm...now what else?
Not a whole lot. We're having snow tonight. Kinda pretty, but rather miserable to work in. :)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

I'm Blogging Through Calvin's Institutes

I decided to read through Calvin's Institutes this year. As I started to do so using the Reformation 21 schedule, I found that I desired to blog this as well, so I have started to blog my way though it.

First Post
Second Post
Third Post

Kerussomen Christon Estauromenon: Calvin's Institutes 1.4.1 - 1.5.1

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Scrapbooking with a toddler helping

Jim was tired today, so I thunk to myself...how do I feel like I'm relaxing today WHILE keeping the boy child quiet and out of his father's hair?

Scrapbooking!

yes...I actually dared to try to scrapbook with a toddler.

it was actually fairly fun.

We looked through albums, laughing and talking about how much he has changed.
We looked through pictures and figured out which ones we wanted to scrap with, and which were "HIS!" (those we put in a small album of his own), and which ones would wait for another day.

Then we actually worked at it.
It takes MUCH longer to actually do it when a toddler helps. :)
It means you add things you didn't intend to .... like train and car pictures. It means usually toddler words to explain things. it means using markers that he chooses.

It was a good time together and I think worked to meet the ends of all concerned.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Annual Tinholt Potluck

Today our annual Tinholt Potluck was held at the Drayton Reformed church.
Jim stayed home and mostly slept. He's still not feeling the best.

We all had a good time.
I had a chance to connect with aunts and uncles and cousins.

Justin had fun following "the big girl" around (his cousin Marisa).

Good food.
Fun with card games.
Conversation.
Singing.
Prayer.

Can a person ask for anything more?

Prayer request though: my Aunt Hen's brother has passed away.

Friday, January 02, 2009

Our buggy visiting his grandparents

Sierra and Marisa (my second oldest brothers' children) are visiting my parents Thursday - Saturday. Mom mentioned that if I wanted, Justin could come as well. This way Justin can visit Oma and Papa and get to know them better while the work load of caring for a toddler is not too much for Oma.

Justin likes playing with Sierra though he says..."she's bossy", but then in his next breathe tells me "but she plays Thomas with me". So it all kind of evens out for him I think. :) Sierra for the most part plays well with him too...mostly remembering that he is three and not eight so patience is sometimes called for. :)

I like my boy getting to know his extended family. I do hope to instill in him the importance of family in him. Not just caring for immediate family but seeing that family has a broader picture to it. This will help I think in him seeing that the family of God is bigger than just our immediate circle but includes people beyond as well.

We'll be picking Justin up again on Saturday when we have a big family get together in Drayton. Should be fun.

Having Justin away allows Jim and I a bit of breather room too...after a month of various illnesses striking our household...it's good to just relax and not have to be too concerned about much beyond each other. :) We even had a chance to sit for a while. Was good that. :)