Back home, sick and school field trip tomorrow.

Arg! And to think I was hoping my cold was gone on Friday afternoon. It rested safely until Sunday... Believe it or not, I came back from the inSPIRE retreat with my sinuses bugging me and my throat on fire!!!
Anyway, I am trying to deal with this and thinking I am completely crazy to go to the field trip tomorrow... but to be honest, I don't trust the school as much anymore so I prefere being part of it. Solution: GO to bed early tonight to be on shape tomorrow.
Oh the joy to have a cell phone during a retreat... When I spoke to my hubby on Saturday during a free time, I learned that our dishwasher died. Rest in peace! So dear husband let the kids take a nap and went later that afternoon to Sears to order a new one... along with a new oven that we were putting off since about 8-9 months. So for now, we will do dishes by hand which is a good way to include conversations.
So Alex's class is going on a field trip tomorrow at the Canadian Museum of children. He's excited about it. My lovely sister-in-law will be taking the other two little ones which my nephew will love since he will be playing with them! Just hope their cold will be better by tomorrow... Both have runny noses.
So now I am committed to do 30 minutes devotional everyday (including week-ends) and to follow up with another lady weekly. I am paired with a gentle woman from who I can learn to be more patient. She is one of the few grand-mothers in our church. I told her she can be my grand-ma since I don't have any anymore...
We (meaning many women in the inSPIRE group) also realized, during a session, the importance of having 2-3 women close to you who can encourage you when you go through a hard time. Problem is for many that we don't have that many close friends... Wish I had but reality is I got burned in the past and well, it is hard to open up. Well on the way back home with a friend, we both realize that I knew her very well since she was trying to "hide" some money for gas... Without seeing, I told her not to hide anything in the car. She asked me how I knew she was doing it and I told her that I knew she would... So there at the gas station, we both agreed that we were each other one member of the 2-3. This mean I will have to make the effort to call her once in a while and see if she want to go for coffee... Not a bad idea really! Just have to do it!
Jérémy awoke when the garbage truck passed in front of the house... Why these things are so LOUD??? Make me wonder. Poor kid needed his sleep too. Gotta go.

Back home, sick and school field trip tomorrow

Arg!   And to think I was hoping my cold was gone on Friday afternoon.   It rested safely until Sunday...  Believe it or not, I came back from the inSPIRE retreat with my sinuses bugging me and my throat on fire!!! 

Anyway, I am trying to deal with this and thinking I am completely crazy to go to the field trip tomorrow...  but to be honest, I don't trust the school as much anymore so I prefere being part of it.  Solution:  GO to bed early tonight to be on shape tomorrow.

Oh the joy to have a cell phone during a retreat...  When I spoke to my hubby on Saturday during a free time, I learned that our dishwasher died.  Rest in peace!   So dear husband let the kids take a nap and went later that afternoon to Sears to order a new one... along with a new oven that we were putting off since about 8-9 months.   So for now, we will do dishes by hand which is a good way to include conversations.  

So Alex's class is going on a field trip tomorrow at the Canadian Museum of children.   He's excited about it.   My lovely sister-in-law will be taking the other two little ones which my nephew will love since he will be playing with them!   Just hope their cold will be better by tomorrow...   Both have runny noses.

So now I am committed to do 30 minutes devotional everyday (including week-ends) and to follow up with another lady weekly.   I am paired with a gentle woman from who I can learn to be more patient.   She is one of the few grand-mothers in our church.   I told her she can be my grand-ma since I don't have any anymore...  

We (meaning many women in the inSPIRE group) also realized, during a session, the importance of having 2-3 women close to you who can encourage you when you go through a hard time.   Problem is for many that we don't have that many close friends...   Wish I had but reality is I got burned in the past and well, it is hard to open up.   Well on the way back home with a friend, we both realize that I knew her very well since she was trying to "hide" some money for gas...  Without seeing, I told her not to hide anything in the car.   She asked me how I knew she was doing it and I told her that I knew she would...   So there at the gas station, we both agreed that we were each other one member of the 2-3.   This mean I will have to make the effort to call her once in a while and see if she want to go for coffee...  Not a bad idea really!   Just have to do it!

Jérémy awoke when the garbage truck passed in front of the house... Why these things are so LOUD???   Make me wonder.   Poor kid needed his sleep too.  Gotta go. 

inSPIRE week-end

I'm almost packed... I am taking my scrapbook/stamping suitcase in case we will have some free time. So this suitcase is waiting patiently next to the door. My other suitcase is waiting upstairs that I put that cosmetic bag as well as my bible in there. Then I will be able to rest a bit this afternoon. My friend and I are leaving at 5pm. We've decided to stop a bit for supper before getting to the retreat. We won't come back until Sunday afternoon.


I pray that God will speak to me in ways I am not expecting and that I will come back transformed from this wonderful week-end.

inSPIRE week-end...

I'm almost packed...   I am taking my scrapbook/stamping suitcase in case we will have some free time.   So this suitcase is waiting patiently next to the door.   My other suitcase is waiting upstairs that I put that cosmetic bag as well as my bible in there.   Then I will be able to rest a bit this afternoon.    My friend and I are leaving at 5pm.   We've decided to stop a bit for supper before getting to the retreat.  We won't come back until Sunday afternoon.

I pray that God will speak to me in ways I am not expecting and that I will come back transformed from this wonderful week-end.

Congrats to my friend Heidi - Blogger of the week!

Congrats Heidi...  You deserve it.  You update your blog regularly and you pour out your heart in it.   You worked really hard to make it personalize and at the same time you find the way to encourage your friends.

If you want to visit her blog go to Reviews By Heidi.   You can see get on the blogger of the week at the Homeschoolblogger web site.

Congrats again Heidi!!!

              Love from Canada. 

                                           Your friend the Canadianladybug. xo 

Grace-Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel

WoW! Great conference last night with Tim Kimmel. Thank you Focus on the Family Canada to organize this evening full of informaion.

The stories he told us were touching and brought us back to reality. What is grace-based parenting? It is a way to raise our kids with keeping in mind what God is doing for us.

Children have 3 inner needs:

1. Security (Am I loved?)
2. Significance (What is my purpose in life?)
3. Strength (Do I have hope?)

 We need to encourage our kids to live a life of adventure. Adventure requires risks! These inner needs will determine our children view of themselves, others (both christians and non christians), love(both giving and receiving) and God.

Also, we learned that grace-based families give the people they love the freedom to

• BE DIFFERENT
• BE CANDID
• MAKE MISTAKES

 The BIG Picture of Grace-Based parenting is the atmosphere, focus on their inner needs, build character and true greatness (humility, gratefulness, generosity, and a servant spirit).

Dr. Tim Kimmel has written many books. You can learn more about his ministry at Family Matters.

Grace-Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel

WoW!   Great conference last night with Tim Kimmel.   Thank you Focus on the Family Canada to organize this evening full of informaion.

The stories he told us were touching and brought us back to reality.   What is grace-based parenting?  It is a way to raise our kids with keeping in mind what God is doing for us.  

Children have 3 inner needs:

1. Security (Am I loved?)


2. Significance (What is my purpose in life?)


3. Strength (Do I have hope?)

We need to encourage our kids to live a life of adventure.   Adventure requires risks!     These inner needs will determine our children view of themselves, others (both christians and non christians), love(both giving and receiving) and God.

Also, we learned that grace-based families give the people they love the freedom to

• BE DIFFERENT


• BE CANDID


• MAKE MISTAKES

The BIG Picture of Grace-Based parenting is the atmosphere, focus on their inner needs, build character and true greatness (humility, gratefulness, generosity, and a servant spirit).

Dr. Tim Kimmel has written many books.  You can learn more about his ministry at Family Matters.

Homeschooling Conference Apr 2007

We had our homeschooling conference this week-end and we came back motivate and very informed. We also came back with our Math curriculum. After investigation and watching a demo DVD from the company, we had decided to go with Math U See. So we got the Primers books, the CD with the song book, the blocks as well as the wooden boxes to keep them in there.
This morning, Alexandre wanted to check it out. He already did one lesson and a half and loves it. Well I must admit that the Primer is for his age right now and he knows his numbers. But it is a good beginning...
Seeing what Alexandre was doing, Dominic didn't want to be left out and ran to go get his preschool book. Isn't it cute? Rob was impressed and thinks our family will love doing this. Dominic is in the age that he wants to do everything his big brother is doing. So that's help for sure.
Now I just have to figure out what I will do for French and English. We were thinking of doing Sonlight but we saw something called "Come Sit By Me" which uses Canadian books. It is a bit life Five In A Row. I think Sonlight is wonderful but I think that for the first year "Come Sit By Me" would be just perfect for us. I need to do some more thinking... obviously! And check out my option for French.

However, we saw a demo of Rosetta Stone. WoW! Can't find the words for it... It is amazing. We are thinking it could be good to go through the English (for me and the boys) and the Spanish. Also the French would be good for the kids as well. Rob connected well with the salesperson and he will present this to some of our clients who are having trouble with their French. If these clients order some then we could get a software for free or cheap maybe... That would be great!

Happy 10th "Officially Going-Out" Anniversary!

Ten years ago... already?   How did that happen?

Ten years ago, we officially started to go out...    It was a Tuesday back then...

We went to the mini-putt and for a walk.   The moon was up in the air and we walked on a bridge.  Afterwards, we went to Tim Hortons ...  (In case some of you are wondering what is Tm Hortons... it is a big donuts chain here in Canada.  Check it out on Wikipedia! (amazing the stuff you can find on Wikipedia...) )

Love you sweetheart! xo

Want to see what we looked liked ten years ago???



We got married in 1998 so this year will be our 9th anniversary...  Time flies!

PS  I can't believe I missed the 10th anniversary of our first date... So much for watching the movie we saw 10 years ago...   BTW, it was The Saint .  

Homeschooling Conference

We had our homeschooling conference this week-end and we came back motivate and very informed.   We also came back with our Math curriculum.   After investigation and watching a demo DVD from the company, we had decided to go with Math U See.   So we got the Primers books, the CD with the song book, the blocks as well as the wooden boxes to keep them in there.

This morning, Alexandre wanted to check it out.   He already did one lesson and a half and loves it.   Well I must admit that the Primer is for his age right now and he knows his numbers.   But it is a good beginning...

Seeing what Alexandre was doing, Dominic didn't want to be left out and ran to go get his preschool book.   Isn't it cute?   Rob was impressed and thinks our family will love doing this.   Dominic is in the age that he wants to do everything his big brother is doing.  So that's help for sure.

Now I just have to figure out what I will do for French and English.   We were thinking of doing Sonlight but we saw something called "Come Sit By Me" which uses Canadian books.   It is a bit life Five In A Row.   I think Sonlight is wonderful but I think that for the first year "Come Sit By Me" would be just perfect for us.   I need to do some more thinking... obviously!   And check out my option for French.

However, we saw a demo of Rosetta Stone.  WoW!   Can't find the words for it...  It is amazing.   We are thinking it could be good to go through the English (for me and the boys) and the Spanish.  Also the French would be good for the kids as well.   Rob connected well with the salesperson and he will present this to some of our clients who are having trouble with their French.  If these clients order some then we could get a software for free or cheap maybe...   That would be great!

Happy 10th "Officially Going-Out" Anniversary!

Ten years ago... already?   How did that happen?

Ten years ago, we officially started to go out...    It was a Tuesday back then...

We went to the mini-putt and for a walk.   The moon was up in the air and we walked on a bridge.  Afterwards, we went to Tim Hortons ...  (In case some of you are wondering what is Tm Hortons... it is a big donuts chain here in Canada.  Check it out on Wikipedia! (amazing the stuff you can find on Wikipedia...) )

Love you sweetheart! xo

Want to see what we looked liked ten years ago???

We got married in 1998 so this year will be our 9th anniversary...  Time flies!

PS  I can't believe I missed the 10th anniversary of our first date... So much for watching the movie we saw 10 years ago...   BTW, it was The Saint .  

What a week so far...

I didn't see the week go by, I must be honest about it...

We just came back from swimming courses and my crew is in bed (husband included as he has a praying meeting tomorrow morning at 5:30am).  

Monday was a day of snow and no electricity. Tuesday I went to bring the applications for passports for the kids...   I waited a bit and then I drove to CHRI, the christian radio, to get the tickets and book I won that morning and then back home... OUF!   Wednesday... I ended up going to see our doctor because I had an inflammation close to the eye (very red and painful when clinging...) and Jérémy still had these little rashes on his belly and back (remember the chicken pox post I had a few weeks ago? well it was not chicken pox after all... Looks like he might be allergic to something.)  So now we wait for an appointment with someone specialized in allergies...   and I have to give him Benadryl.  Still it is kind of bizarre.   As for me I have an ointment for the eye.   Oh well... as if I needed this.   Thursday (today!) We went to the chiropractor, drove Alexandre to school, went to Wal-Mart because I need to do a project for church and need some paint (didn't find anything I wanted... need to send Rob for this!).  Tonight was swimming course and now I am relaxing a bit.   Can you understand why I was saying I didn't see the week go by...   That's nothing the week is not finished...

Tomorrow I want to bring the kids at the Experimental Farm and I need to go for a medical test in the afternoon!  Evening, we are going to the homeschool conference.   Saturday all day homeschool conference.   Sunday it will be church and it is Celebration Sunday which means baptism and lunch at church.   Also, my husband's sister and her family are moving...  OUF! OUF! OUF! 

And then a new week starts!  

What a week so far....

I didn't see the week go by, I must be honest about it...
We just came back from swimming courses and my crew is in bed (husband included as he has a praying meeting tomorrow morning at 5:30am).
Monday was a day of snow and no electricity. Tuesday I went to bring the applications for passports for the kids... I waited a bit and then I drove to CHRI, the christian radio, to get the tickets and book I won that morning and then back home... OUF! Wednesday... I ended up going to see our doctor because I had an inflammation close to the eye (very red and painful when clinging...) and Jérémy still had these little rashes on his belly and back (remember the chicken pox post I had a few weeks ago? well it was not chicken pox after all... Looks like he might be allergic to something.) So now we wait for an appointment with someone specialized in allergies... and I have to give him Benadryl. Still it is kind of bizarre. As for me I have an ointment for the eye. Oh well... as if I needed this. Thursday (today!) We went to the chiropractor, drove Alexandre to school, went to Wal-Mart because I need to do a project for church and need some paint (didn't find anything I wanted... need to send Rob for this!). Tonight was swimming course and now I am relaxing a bit. Can you understand why I was saying I didn't see the week go by... That's nothing the week is not finished...
Tomorrow I want to bring the kids at the Experimental Farm and I need to go for a medical test in the afternoon! Evening, we are going to the homeschool conference. Saturday all day homeschool conference. Sunday it will be church and it is Celebration Sunday which means baptism and lunch at church. Also, my husband's sister and her family are moving... OUF! OUF! OUF!
And then a new week starts!

Parenting Matters Conference

I'm so excited about this conference.   We learned it is sold out in our city!   Well this morning on the christian radio (CHRI (there was a contest to win tickets to the conference and a book from Dr. Kimmel Raising Kids for True Greatness).   And Brock said "Let's take the 9th caller..."  And I am in the car thinking... (the phone number already punched on the cell phone) "Ah great!  I never get the line when it is the 9th caller thing..." and suddenly Brock says "Well let's make it the first caller and the person must tell us what great parenting advice they ever got!"  Right away I punch the talk button on my cell...   And it RINGS!!!   Brock answers at the other line - I WON!   I even went on-the-air this morning...  
Funny thing is we already have tickets for the conference.   But I knew it was sold out...  So I called my sister-in-law and asked her if they are going.  She tells me no because it is sold-out and they were not fast enough to go.   So I asked her, "would you like to go?" and she said sure but how would I find some tickets...  That's when I tell her I just won the ones on CHRI.   She can't believe it.  She is totally happy about it.    So I am giving her the tickets and they will find a babysitter for my nephew.  
I am happy to be able to bless them with this...   I know they will like it.   I am currently reading the book Grace-Based Parenting and I enjoy so much.   Can't wait to read the one I won this morning.
As for the contest this morning, my husband was also trying to win the tickets... believe it or not.  But since he didn't get the line, he closed the radio in his car and MISSED my 5 minutes talking with Brock.
Oh!  In case you are wondering, the parental advice someone gave me is that every kid is different and that we need to modify our parenting style from one kid to another.  And believe me my three kids are different all right... but I love them no matter what!
To learn more about the conference go toParenting Matters.

Parenting-Matters conference... Next week

I'm so excited about this conference.   We learned it is sold out in our city!   Well this morning on the christian radio (CHRI) there was a contest to win tickets to the conference and a book from Dr. Kimmel (Raising Kids for True Greatness).   And Brock said "Let's take the 9th caller..."  And I am in the car thinking... (the phone number already punched on the cell phone) "Ah great!  I never get the line when it is the 9th caller thing..." and suddenly Brock says "Well let's make it the first caller and the person must tell us what great parenting advice they ever got!"  Right away I punch the talk button on my cell...   And it RINGS!!!   Brock answers at the other line - I WON!   I even went on-the-air this morning...  

Funny thing is we already have tickets for the conference.   But I knew it was sold out...  So I called my sister-in-law and asked her if they are going.  She tells me no because it is sold-out and they were not fast enough to go.   So I asked her, "would you like to go?" and she said sure but how would I find some tickets...  That's when I tell her I just won the ones on CHRI.   She can't believe it.  She is totally happy about it.    So I am giving her the tickets and they will find a babysitter for my nephew.  

I am happy to be able to bless them with this...   I know they will like it.   I am currently reading the book Grace-Based Parenting and I enjoy so much.   Can't wait to read the one I won this morning.

As for the contest this morning, my husband was also trying to win the tickets... believe it or not.  But since he didn't get the line, he closed the radio in his car and MISSED my 5 minutes talking with Brock.

Oh!  In case you are wondering, the parental advice someone gave me is that every kid is different and that we need to modify our parenting style from one kid to another.  And believe me my three kids are different all right... but I love them no matter what!

To learn more about the conference go to Parenting Matters.

Snow, snow, go away, come back another day

Would you believe it that it snowed in Eastern Ontario this morning and then it was pouring rain???   Well it was and here are the proof.   Please make note that there was NO snow yesterday and when we woke up this morning....

We had the visit of a little bird who loves to sing even though it was snowing...

And finally to top it off, we lost power at 6:30ish AM...  So our breakfast was cooked on the BBQ.

We are really getting in the mode of camping....
Just for your information, the power didn't came back until 2:30ish PM...
Alexandre didn't went to school - no power there either...  So we did a few pages in his math book and we went to Zellers to get some socks among other things.   We got good things in sale... so in a way it was a math lesson as well.
In ther afternoon, it was construction time as I took my old LEGOS out and we build things.
Oh the joy of early spring....  Never know what the temperature will be!!!

Snow... Snow... Go away! Come back in December....

Would you believe it that it snowed in Eastern Ontario this morning and then it was pouring rain???   Well it was and here are the proof.   Please make note that there was NO snow yesterday and when we woke up this morning....

We had the visit of a little bird who loves to sing even though it was snowing...

And finally to top it off, we lost power at 6:30ish AM...  So our breakfast was cooked on the BBQ!

We are really getting in the mode of camping....

Just for your information, the power didn't came back until 2:30ish PM...

Alexandre didn't went to school - no power there either...  So we did a few pages in his math book and we went to Zellers to get some socks among other things.   We got good things in sale... so in a way it was a math lesson as well.

In ther afternoon, it was construction time as I took my old LEGOS out and we build things.

Oh the joy of early spring....  Never know what the temperature will be!!!

Life goes fast

Right now I am sitting on the sofa and everyone is sleeping... It is 6:20am (EST) and I am enjoying some time alone. Somehow, God is waking me up at 6am regularly. I guess he knows I need some time for devotions or reflections.
This morning, I was thinking how fast time goes by. It will be 9 years this year that we are married, 10 years this month since our official going out date. Alexandre will turn 6 in June. WoW! He grows so fast it is unbelievable. Dominic at 3 is a bilingual chatterbox... He has much to say! And my little Jeremy is walking all over the place now... He even tries to run at times. So cute! To be honest it is a relief since he is a late walker (16 months while is brothers were 11 and 9 months). Oh mind you he was cruising the furniture since he was 9-10 months old but somehow, he was not interested in walking. Now you can't stop him. He is so happy when he walks.
So my sons are growing up, I'm getting older and I realize how important homeschooling is. Really, Alexandre is already 5 3/4 and I feel like I missed most of his growing years. When he was younger he was in day care from 17 months until Dominic was born. Then at 4 years old he was off to school. We were both emotional that first days on the bus.
Never thought that homeschooling would cross my mind someday though. I always reacted as though it was not something for me. Does anyone loose patience sometimes? Just wondering....
Somehow God has something else in mind and he brought this into our heart back in October 2006. I needed to get informed and so I asked about 10 families in my church and 2 friends from outside of the country how they do it.... Oh I had a long list of questions... But most answered which was good. One friend in particular, Julie, even took time one morning to show me her curriculum and how she gets organized. I needed to see....being a visual person. I read a lot on the subject and I know it is something that I need to do.
Originally, we had set our decision to be made after the homeschool conference next week but since about 1 month or so, we are more and more convinced about this... So many little things happening at the school...
So I lift this decision to my LORD and I ask him to fill me with patience, innovation, strenght and courage.

Life goes fast...

Right now I am sitting on the sofa and everyone is sleeping...  It is 6:20am (EST) and I am enjoying some time alone.  Somehow, God is waking me up at 6am regularly.   I guess he knows I need some time for devotions or reflections.

This morning, I was thinking how fast time goes by.   It will be 9 years this year that we are married, 10 years this month since our official going out date.  Alexandre will turn 6 in June.   WoW!   He grows so fast it is unbelievable.   Dominic at 3 is a bilingual chatterbox...   He has much to say!   And my little Jeremy is walking all over the place now...   He even tries to run at times.   So cute!   To be honest it is a relief since he is a late walker (16 months while is brothers were 11 and 9 months).    Oh mind you he was cruising the furniture since he was 9-10 months old but somehow, he was not interested in walking.  Now you can't stop him.   He is so happy when he walks.   

So my sons are growing up, I'm getting older and I realize how important homeschooling is.   Really, Alexandre is already 5 3/4 and I feel like I missed most of his growing years.   When he was younger he was in day care from 17 months until Dominic was born.  Then at 4 years old he was off to school.   We were both emotional that first days on the bus.  

Never thought that homeschooling would cross my mind someday though.   I always reacted as though it was not something for me.   Does anyone loose patience sometimes?    Just wondering....

Somehow God has something else in mind and he brought this into our heart back in October 2006.   I needed to get informed and so I asked about 10 families in my church and 2 friends from outside of the country how they do it....  Oh I had a lond list of questions...  But most answered which was good.   One friend in particular, Julie, even took time one morning to show me her curriculum and how she gets organized.   I needed to see....being a visual person.   I read a lot on the subject and I know it is something that I need to do.

Originally, we had set our decision to be made after the homeschool conference next week but since about 1 month or so, we are more and more convinced about this...  So many little things happening at the school... 

So I lift this decision to my LORD and I ask him to fill me with patience, innovation, strenght and courage.

Our field trip at the Museum of Science and Technology

The first thing we did as we arrived there is to get a little "course" on planet Earth.   Does rotatio and revolution mean anything to you?   When the Earth is rotating on itself and by doing so we see day and night.   A rotation takes 1 complete day.   At the same time, Earth is doing a revolution around the sun and this takes 1 year which is why we have the seasons...   To illustrate how the Earth is doing both, the lady needed a volunteer... and Alexandre went to wear the Earth costume and to illustrate the rotation and revolution at the same time.

This done, we went into a planetarium to look at the stars and the position of the sun depending of the season.   Very interesting!   Makes me want to learn more about astronomy for sure.  After lunch, the kids could explore the museum as much as they wanted.   The crooked kitchen was a hit as well as the snowmobile.   However, after a certain period of time, I wanted to make sure Alexandre could learn anything else.   So I brought him close to the area where there is an old snowmobile.  There we saw a box with on wheel on one side and a track on the other side.   The box seemed to be filed with false snow.   So I asked Alexandre to tell me why we don't find wheels on a snowmobile but tracks.   He told me that we would go deep in the snow if it had wheels.  I said yes and then showed him why a track was better.   We also explore the internet section and he sent an e-mail to his dad.  

Here's him looking at the wheel-track display.

Even though this museum is almost as it was when I was younger, I still learned a few things during the few hours we were there...

How can you be comfortable?

This picture was taken not too long ago while Jérémy slept.   No really, try this position and you are not comfortable at ALL!!!   I wonder how he does it...   Good picture to post when he will get married though...

Easter Day picture

As I mentioned previously, we hid some eggs around the house for an Easter Egg Hunt the next morning for the kids...  Not sure my little Jérémy understood completely but the older ones did.   Of all the places to find an egg, my husband put one in the fish bowl...  I must admit that I really need to clean that bowl and that the water level was REALLY low so that Rob could put the egg in there.   His first attempt went directly in the water... Mind you we changed the chocolate eggs in there and washed the egg before trying again.   Here's how it look.

I wonder if Nemo (our fish) likes chocolate!/

Our field Trip to the Museum of Sciences and Technology

The first thing we did as we arrived there is to get a little "course" on planet Earth.   Does rotatio and revolution mean anything to you?   When the Earth is rotating on itself and by doing so we see day and night.   A rotation takes 1 complete day.   At the same time, Earth is doing a revolution around the sun and this takes 1 year which is why we have the seasons...   To illustrate how the Earth is doing both, the lady needed a volunteer... and Alexandre went to wear the Earth costume and to illustrate the rotation and revolution at the same time.

This done, we went into a planetarium to look at the stars and the position of the sun depending of the season.   Very interesting!   Makes me want to learn more about astronomy for sure.  After lunch, the kids could explore the museum as much as they wanted.   The crooked kitchen was a hit as well as the snowmobile.   However, after a certain period of time, I wanted to make sure Alexandre could learn anything else.   So I brought him close to the area where there is an old snowmobile.  There we saw a box with on wheel on one side and a track on the other side.   The box seemed to be filed with false snow.   So I asked Alexandre to tell me why we don't find wheels on a snowmobile but tracks.   He told me that we would go deep in the snow if it had wheels.  I said yes and then showed him why a track was better.   We also explore the internet section and he sent an e-mail to his dad.  

Here's him looking at the wheel-track display.

Even though this museum is almost as it was when I was younger, I still learned a few things during the few hours we were there...

How can you be comfortable???

This picture was taken not too long ago while Jérémy slept.   No really, try this position and you are not comfortable at ALL!!!   I wonder how he does it...   Good picture to post when he will get married though...

Easter day picture...

As I mentioned previously, we hid some eggs around the house for an Easter Egg Hunt the next morning for the kids...  Not sure my little Jérémy understood completely but the older ones did.   Of all the places to find an egg, my husband put one in the fish bowl...  I must admit that I really need to clean that bowl and that the water level was REALLY low so that Rob could put the egg in there.   His first attempt went directly in the water... Mind you we changed the chocolate eggs in there and washed the egg before trying again.   Here's how it look.

I wonder if Nemo (our fish) likes chocolate!

 

One of these days...

It all started this morning, as I forgot that one of our employees would arrive while we were going to the chiro... So as we left, I put the alarm on the house. Well you can imagine what happened... the alarm went on when he got into the house. So my stress level went up a notch...
In the afternoon, the kids arrived (mine plus 4 other ones I look after for 30 minutes after school) and there was a bit of problems on the boys side. The girls were crafting. But the boys kept bugging each other. Oh well...
Now I feel totally tired somehow. I was able to organized my pictures from Feb-April so far... So I am planning to put picture up for the field trips we made in the last little while... It will come...

Having a sick child at home?

Do you have a sick little one at home?  Stomach flu is no fun for anyone.   SickBear.com came up with this Sick Bear Cup to help to ease the problem...  It comes in three nice colors; pink, blue or yellow.

Here's what it looks like...

Want to win one?   Please visit  5 Minutes for Moms to participate to the contest.   Simply add you name to the list and include a blog about the little cup.  Voilà! 

One of those days...

It all started this morning, as I forgot that one of our employees would arrive while we were going to the chiro...  So as we left, I put the alarm on the house.  Well you can imagine what happened... the alarm went on when he got into the house.   So my stress level went up a notch...

In the afternoon, the kids arrived (mine plus 4 other ones I look after for 30 minutes after school) and there was a bit of problems on the boys side.   The girls were crafting.   But the boys kept bugging each other.   Oh well...

Now I feel totally tired somehow.    I was able to organized my pictures from Feb-April so far...  So I am planning to put picture up for the field trips we made in the last little while...  It will come...

Back from the field trip and another toy to test

Yep!  I'm back from the field trip.   Got some pictures on the camera... I will tell you more about rotation and revolution of the planet Earth later.   Amazing what you can learn in a couple of hours in a museum...




While driving back, I decided to get a cut for my hair.   I was trying to get them grow but I sense it is not me.  So I went to the haircutter and she said "Getting your hair grow longer I see".  I looked at her and said "Yes and I am here to get them cut..."  You see, I don't have the patience to arrange the hair in the morning and my husband is having trouble doing my color when they are longer.   So short it will be.   Right now it is not as short as I use to wear it but it's nice.   I left her the control of the hair this morning.   I have a whatever day...


So I get back home with my new hair-do and there is a message on the phone to go pick up another toy to test.  Horray!   So I drove to my distributor and got this small box.   Total of number of pieces less than 30 I think.   Time to assemble: 0.   Why? you might ask... simply because it is a game of dominos called Bendomino - Dominoes with a Twist.  Check it out on  Blue Orange Games.  It is quite cute to be honest and can't wait to check it out...  All made of wood and you have to do a half circle when you play the dominoes... instead of having a straight line.  Fun!

Field trip at the Museum of Science and Technology

Today there is a field trip for Alexandre's level (Senior Kindergarden). So I was planning to go with my three year old, Dominic, and accompanied the class. As a good mother, I wrote a note to the teacher and she wrote me back saying that I could come but not Dominic as I will have to help to keep track of the kids. I'm a bit frustrated but I understand as well. So last minute, we had to figure out babysitting - meaning my mother-in-law - and Rob will go pick them up at lunch time to bring them back for nap afterwards. OUF!
I will prepare my lunch as soon as the bus pass and grab a few things for the other twos. They will spend the morning with their cousin Sam so this is good.

Got to go. Will tell you more later.

PS Another PD day is coming up so I should plan to go somewhere with the kids.... Either the museum of Agriculture or the museum of Aviation. It has been a while since we went to the museum of Agriculture... probably this one and see the new baby animals...

Back from the field trip... and another toy to test.

Yep!  I'm back from the field trip.   Got some pictures on the camera... I will tell you more about rotation and revolution of the planet Earth later.   Amazing what you can learn in a couple of hours in a museum...

While driving back, I decided to get a cut for my hair.   I was trying to get them grow but I sense it is not me.  So I went to the haircutter and she said "Getting your hair grow longer I see".  I looked at her and said "Yes and I am here to get them cut..."  You see, I don't have the patience to arrange the hair in the morning and my husband is having trouble doing my color when they are longer.   So short it will be.   Right now it is not as short as I use to wear it but it's nice.   I left her the control of the hair this morning.   I have a whatever day...

So I get back home with my new hair-do and there is a message on the phone to go pick up another toy to test.  Horray!   So I drove to my distributor and got this small box.   Total of number of pieces less than 30 I think.   Time to assemble: 0.   Why? you might ask... simply because it is a game of dominos called Bendomino - Dominoes with a Twist.  Check it out on  Blue Orange Games.  It is quite cute to be honest and can't wait to check it out...  All made of wood and you have to do a half circle when you play the dominoes... instead of having a straight line.  Fun!

Field Trip to the Museum of Science and Technology

Today there is a field trip for Alexandre's level (Senior Kindergarden).   So I was planning to go with my three year old, Dominic, and accompanied the class.   As a good mother, I wrote a note to the teacher and she wrote me back saying that I could come but not Dominic as I will have to help to keep track of the kids.   I'm a bit frustrated but I understand as well.   So last minute, we had to figure out babysitting - meaning my mother-in-law - and Rob will go pick them up at lunch time to bring them back for nap afterwards.   OUF!

I will prepare my lunch as soon as the bus pass and grab a few things for the other twos.   They will spend the morning with their cousin Sam so this is good.

Got to go.   Will tell you more later.

PS Another PD day is coming up so I should plan to go somewhere with the kids....   Either the museum of Agriculture or the museum of Aviation.   It has been a while since we went to the museum of Agriculture...  probably this one and see the new baby animals...

A new book for the kids

I went to Indigo this morning after the cooking class of Dominic and found a book with CD based on words from Ecclesiastes.
The book is Turn! Turn! Turn! from Pete Seeger and Wendy Anderson Halperin.
Here's what it looks like... however, it seems that it is not available on Amazon.com .

But at our Indigo store there was a few at 3.99$Cdn. You can purchase it on their website also at: Chapters/Indigo.
Have fun signing and reading to your kids!

A new book for the kids

I went to Indigo this morning after the cooking class of Dominic and found a book with CD based on words from Ecclesiastes.

The book is Turn! Turn! Turn! from Pete Seeger and Wendy Anderson Halperin.  

Here's what it looks like...  however, it seems that it is not available on Amazon.com .

But at our Indigo store there was a few at 3.99$Cdn.  You can purchase it on their website also at:  Chapters/Indigo.

Have fun signing and reading to your kids!

Ladybug lesson for Maths...

I was surfing the net... minding my own business when I got on this site.   And I saw this lesson for maths and I couldn't resist to share with you... My own children are a bit too young for this but I am keeping it in my favorites...

www.thefutureschannel.com/hands-on_math/ladybugs.php

ENJOY!

Proud and emotional moment!

Yesterday as the kids we looking for chocolate at the grand-parents, Alexandre wanted to give his to my nephew, Deven, because he was the only one with no boxes yet...  I'm so proud of him.  He is the oldest of all the grand-kids (all boys by the way) and he wanted to make sure that his cousin had something.

Love you Alexandre xo

A trip to the French bookstore

I just realized while typing my last entry that I never shared what happened on my trip to the French bookstore.   I had an appointment with a lady there to go through the different things I could use to teach french to my son.   Well I got there last Tuesday on time to discover that she couldn't make it and someone else helped me instead. 

I must admit that I was quite impressed with what they had and to know that I could go anytime to get something if needed...  Lots and lots of books and educational materials.  WoW!   Anyhow, I got an idea of the prices but I must admit that it is not the same as English curriculums...

Later that week, while Alexandre was at school, we drove to the Costco on the Quebec side to see if there would be anything we could get.  We found some french books for teaching Dominic and others ones to read (Atlas, sciences, history, and our wolrd).   We got those and some groceries.

The homeschool conference in our city is approaching fast.   Two more weeks and it will be there.   I can't wait to go!!!   We had originally set our timeline of decision for the conference but with what we discovered in the last few weeks with school, we are more and more inclined to try homeschooling in the Fall.

What happened?   Well for one thing it's the lots of television (movies) that they are watching.  I lost count since the last two months...   Some things not so bad but others questionnable.   And the same movie twice within three weeks because a kid in the class missed it the first time...  The teacher gave him the choice to watch it and he said yes.  Give me a break here!   Also, the fact that there is little or no supervision during recess when the weather is bad outside and the kids stay inside.   Only two teachers are going from one classroom to another...   What if something would happen???   Why not putting a 6th grader there to look after the little ones (let me remind you my son is in Senior Kindergarden and that he is 5 years old).   Another thing that I've discovered is that dictation is done at school but the teachers are not correcting the mispelled words since it is not part of the curriculum in Ontario.   I don't understand this... Really stop sayiing our kids can't write properly and show them the errors they made...   My neighbor has to show her daughter the errors she made during dictation...  Can you believe it?  

These three things that I learned or discovered lately, make me want more and more to try homeschooling.  Am I scared?  Totally at times.  I wonder how I will be able to do it and if Alexandre will learn anything.   Do I think it is worth it?  TOTALLY.   POSITIVELY.   I see many kids in my church who are homeschool and I think I should go for it.   I read a lot about homeschooling and I know it won't be easy the first year.   I sure hope that it will go nicely and that I will be proud of his progress.

Technology!!!

My husband is working in technology and he discovered something really great called Beyond TV.   We tape our shows directly on a PC....  So if we miss something, no need to worry about programming the tapig, we know it will do it automatically since we have scheduled it.   It is great!   We are not TV junkies but there is some shows we don't want to miss like Smallville or Extreme Makeover Home Edition (that's mine!) or Heroes (that's for Rob!).

Now we our new TV, I can surf even the net and update my blog because I can read better.   So here I am sitting on the sofa in the living room (and not at my laptop in the office) and typing  to tell you how much I like technology.   We are using a wireless keyboard and a mouse. 

To top it off, Rob got the Left Behind computer game so that we could play together.   We just need a wireless game console....   So we are shopping around to get one. 

I love technology but at times I wonder how much we are taking it for granted...   What if someday all this won't be available for whatever reasons we have...  I'm sure we would find some way to created something else.

Can you believe that I knew the internet in it's infance when no images were available and all was text???  Scary!   I remember it clearly since I was in university.   Unbelievable how fast the internet had changed in a short time...

Couple project!

Last Saturday we went to a store to get some new material to change the chairs in the dining room...  We found something so this morning we did one chair...   Our old chair seats were getting so old that the material was breaking.  

As we worked and started over after one error, I said to my husband that we were working on our communications skills...  What a great way to get closer to your spouse and to improve your communication - work on a project together.  For us this time, it was doing this seat.   We completed our assignment and it doesn't look bad.   Thanks sweetheart for your GREAT help!

Now, we only have 7 more to do....

Ladybug Lessons for Mathematics

I was surfing the net... minding my own business when I got on this site. And I saw this lesson for maths and I couldn't resist to share with you... My own children are a bit too young for this but I am keeping it in my favorites...
www.thefutureschannel.com/hands-on_math/ladybugs.php
ENJOY!

Proud and Emotional Moment

Yesterday as the kids were looking for chocolate at the grand-parents, Alexandre wanted to give his to my nephew, Deven, because he was the only one with no boxes yet... I'm so proud of him. He is the oldest of all the grand-kids (all boys by the way) and he wanted to make sure that his cousin had something.

Love you Alexandre xo

A trip to the French bookstore

I just realized while typing my last entry that I never shared what happened on my trip to the French bookstore. I had an appointment with a lady there to go through the different things I could use to teach french to my son. Well I got there last Tuesday on time to discover that she couldn't make it and someone else helped me instead.
I must admit that I was quite impressed with what they had and to know that I could go anytime to get something if needed... Lots and lots of books and educational materials. WoW! Anyhow, I got an idea of the prices but I must admit that it is not the same as English curriculums...
Later that week, while Alexandre was at school, we drove to the Costco on the Quebec side to see if there would be anything we could get. We found some french books for teaching Dominic and others ones to read (Atlas, sciences, history, and our wolrd). We got those and some groceries.

The homeschool conference in our city is approaching fast. Two more weeks and it will be there. I can't wait to go!!! We had originally set our timeline of decision for the conference but with what we discovered in the last few weeks with school, we are more and more inclined to try homeschooling in the Fall.

What happened? Well for one thing it's the lots of television (movies) that they are watching. I lost count since the last two months... Some things not so bad but others questionnable. And the same movie twice within three weeks because a kid in the class missed it the first time... The teacher gave him the choice to watch it and he said yes. Give me a break here! Also, the fact that there is little or no supervision during recess when the weather is bad outside and the kids stay inside. Only two teachers are going from one classroom to another... What if something would happen??? Why not putting a 6th grader there to look after the little ones (let me remind you my son is in Senior Kindergarden and that he is 5 years old). Another thing that I've discovered is that dictation is done at school but the teachers are not correcting the mispelled words since it is not part of the curriculum in Ontario. I don't understand this... Really stop sayiing our kids can't write properly and show them the errors they made... My neighbor has to show her daughter the errors she made during dictation... Can you believe it?
These three things that I learned or discovered lately, make me want more and more to try homeschooling. Am I scared? Totally at times. I wonder how I will be able to do it and if Alexandre will learn anything. Do I think it is worth it? TOTALLY. POSITIVELY. I see many kids in my church who are homeschool and I think I should go for it. I read a lot about homeschooling and I know it won't be easy the first year. I sure hope that it will go nicely and that I will be proud of his progress.

Technology

My husband is working in technology and he discovered something really great called Beyond TV. We tape our shows directly on a PC.... So if we miss something, no need to worry about programming the tapig, we know it will do it automatically since we have scheduled it. It is great! We are not TV junkies but there is some shows we don't want to miss like Smallville or Extreme Makeover Home Edition (that's mine!) or Heroes (that's for Rob!).
Now we our new TV, I can surf even the net and update my blog because I can read better. So here I am sitting on the sofa in the living room (and not at my laptop in the office) and typing to tell you how much I like technology. We are using a wireless keyboard and a mouse.

To top it off, Rob got the Left Behind computer game so that we could play together. We just need a wireless game console.... So we are shopping around to get one.
I love technology but at times I wonder how much we are taking it for granted... What if someday all this won't be available for whatever reasons we have... I'm sure we would find some way to created something else.
Can you believe that I knew the internet in it's infance when no images were available and all was text??? Scary! I remember it clearly since I was in university. Unbelievable how fast the internet had changed in a short time...

Couple project

Last Saturday we went to a store to get some new material to change the chairs in the dining room... We found something so this morning we did one chair... Our old chair seats were getting so old that the material was breaking.
As we worked and started over after one error, I said to my husband that we were working on our communications skills... What a great way to get closer to your spouse and to improve your communication - work on a project together. For us this time, it was doing this seat. We completed our assignment and it doesn't look bad. Thanks sweetheart for your GREAT help!
Now, we only have 7 more to do....

Happy Easter

We have a tradition in our house on Easter to go around the house to find the eggs we hid the previous evening. So the kids had fun to do this right before breakfast.

Rob and I are watching the Gospel of John and it is quite good.
Our service is at 10:10 this morning and then later this afternoon we will go for supper at my in-laws. The whole family of my husband will be there.
We called my mom this morning to wish her an Happy Easter and the kids talked to her.
HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE!

Happy Easter!

We have a tradition in our house on Easter to go around the house to find the eggs we hid the previous evening.   So the kids had fun to do this right before breakfast.

Rob and I are watching the Gospel of John and it is quite good.   

Our service is at 10:10 this morning and then later this afternoon we will go for supper at my in-laws.   The whole family of my husband will be there.

We called my mom this morning to wish her an Happy Easter and the kids talked to her.

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE!

Snow??!!??

Would you believe it if I tell you there is snow on the ground here in ON, Canada? Well there is. Not much but enough to bug us a bit. It was so nice last week-end and we had the spring jackets out, NOW winter jackets are out again.
Oh well... There is that saying in French that goes like this "En avril ne te découvre pas d'un fil" and it means in April, don't get undress too fast (obviously because the weather is not stable!!!). So out the winter boots and the winter jackets.
Actually, I just looked outside and IT IS SNOWING right now! A cold Easter for us, let me tell you!!!

Snow???

Would you believe it if I tell you there is snow on the ground here in ON, Canada?   Well there is.  Not much but enough to bug us a bit.   It was so nice last week-end and we had the spring jackets out, NOW winter jackets are out again.

Oh well...  There is that saying in French that goes like this "En avril ne te découvre pas d'un fil"  and it means in April, don't get undress too fast (obviously because the weather is not stable!!!).   So out the winter boots and the winter jackets.   

Actually, I just looked outside and IT IS SNOWING right now!   A cold Easter for us, let me tell you!!!

Contest at Homeschoolestore.com

So I decided to participate to the contest by being creative.   Being creative for me meant a poem...  You probably read it by entering my blog...  As it is the BIG poem at the beginning!   It was fun to do... Thanks sweetheart for helping a bit with the rhymes and with creating a jpg out of it!

The reason why there is picture of our children in there is because we want to reach three little minds.  These children are the minds talked about in the poem.

Check out the contest at Homeschoolestore !!!

Chickenpox anyone?

Good afternoon,

My youngest son, Jérémy, seems to have a mild case of chicken pox according to our doctor.   It all started last week with one or two spots but he has a bit more now.   Someone told us that giving him a hot bath might help the spots to comes out...  (we usually give him a shower... easier for us!).  So tonight it will be BATH TIME!!!

Alexandre, my eldest, had it a few years ago.  But neither Dominic or Jérémy had it so far.   So I sure hope it is chicken pox then we would be done with it...  Spots like a ladybug...  How cute!

Grace-Based Parenting

I am currently reading (devouring would be a proper term...) the book Grace-Based Parenting from Dr. Tim Kimmel.   WoW!   It touches my soul and wants me to become a better parent.   Dr. Kimmel is coming to Ottawa on April 25th and we got our tickets to go to the Parenting Matters Tour from Focus on the Family Canada.

Can't wait to learn more.   In the meantime, I will continue to read this book as it is on my list of Spring Reading.   I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more on how to parent your children with Grace.

Grace-Based Parenting

I am currently reading (devouring would be a proper term...) the book Grace-Based Parenting from Dr. Tim Kimmel. WoW! It touches my soul and wants me to become a better parent. Dr. Kimmel is coming to Ottawa on April 25th and we got our tickets to go to the Parenting Matters Tour from Focus on the Family Canada.


Can't wait to learn more. In the meantime, I will continue to read this book as it is on my list of Spring Reading. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more on how to parent your children with Grace.

Toy Testing...

Someone asked me how I got into toy testing.   I must admit this is my first year and so far I like it.   I got to a play group with the two younger ones and there I learned that the Toy Testing Council were looking for French families.   So I applied, I got contacted, I went to the information session and here you go...  Our family is testing toys!   Simple like that!!!

The kids had fun with the playmobil so far.  Even the kids of my neighbour played with it.   They all wanted the forklift though...  Bummer, only one vehicule in both sets...  Oh well!

More Toy Testing

Someone asked me how I got into toy testing. I must admit this is my first year and so far I like it. I got to a play group with the two younger ones and there I learned that the Toy Testing Council were looking for French families. So I applied, I got contacted, I went to the information session and here you go... Our family is testing toys! Simple like that!!!
The kids had fun with the playmobil so far. Even the kids of my neighbour played with it. They all wanted the forklift though... Bummer, only one vehicule in both sets... Oh well!

Construction ZONE! Part 2

Well, while my two young ones were sleeping this afternoon, I decided to build the airport.   Last time, I had built the Cargo...   Time:  1 hour 20 minutes

Now testing time can start...  Keeping the small tiny pieces away from the baby!!!

Construction Zone ... part 2

Well, while my two young ones were sleeping this afternoon, I decided to build the airport. Last time, I had built the Cargo... Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Now testing time can start... Keeping the small tiny pieces away from the baby!!!

I'm back and rested

I came back last night at around 8:45pm or so (eastern time).   I had a great time with other pastors wifes and we had great teaching as well on the them of being light of the world.
During a free time, I went for a walk and discovered a little scrapbooking/stamping store in Vankleek Hill, ON.  The lady was showing me a lot of new stuff and I felt as though I needed to encourage her a little bit.  So I bought some embossing powder that has three color in it.   I was happy to have found it.
I brought one lady to the conference...  we didn't know each other before hand.   The Friday afternoon, she was saying that she was going up with someone she didn't know  and another lady asked her who it was so she gave my name...   The lady said "Oh I know her, she goes to my church!"  Curious I asked who it was and it was one of the homeschool mom I asked information about homeschool.    Turns out that the lady in my car is homeschooling as well.   So we talked about this and I learn that she is doing Math U See with her kids...   Personally, I think it was a total God thing that I was her "chauffeur" so that I can talk to her.
Many other women at the conference were homeschooling.   One lady in a small group encouraged me a lot.  I also met a woman who works with Focus on the Family and who will be speaking to the RVHEA conference later in April.  Interesting don't you think?
Oh BTW  HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!

I'm back... and rested a bit

I came back last night at around 8:45pm or so (eastern time).   I had a great time with other pastors wifes and we had great teaching as well on the them of being light of the world.

During a free time, I went for a walk and discovered a little scrapbooking/stamping store in Vankleek Hill, ON.  The lady was showing me a lot of new stuff and I felt as though I needed to encourage her a little bit.  So I bought some embossing powder that has three color in it.   I was happy to have found it.

I brought one lady to the conference...  we didn't know each other before hand.   The Friday afternoon, she was saying that she was going up with someone she didn't know  and another lady asked her who it was so she gave my name...   The lady said "Oh I know her, she goes to my church!"  Curious I asked who it was and it was one of the homeschool mom I asked information about homeschool.    Turns out that the lady in my car is homeschooling as well.   So we talked about this and I learn that she is doing Math U See with her kids...   Personally, I think it was a total God thing that I was her "chauffeur" so that I can talk to her.

Many other women at the conference were homeschooling.   One lady in a small group encouraged me a lot.  I also met a woman who works with Focus on the Family and who will be speaking to the RVHEA conference later in April.  Interesting don't you think?

Oh BTW  HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!