Repeat Visitor

Okay every time Zewat makes an appearance someone sends me a comment.   He may not be the cutest thing but he's so good with the kids and just easy.     So making another appearance....... Zewat!

Grassland Adventure

 

After a week of spring break and doing what my kids wanted to do.  It is so nice to get out and take some photos again.  So we headed out some roads I had never been before for some future ideas and then back up the grasslands to see how the shot I took in the fall looks like now with spring slowly creeping back.  It's also great to line up some photo shooting days for the portfolio as well.    It's all good.   Owen even let me take photos of him.    Those you will see tomorrow.   It's over cast here today so don't get too upset with me and the blue skies of yesterday.   

Some green sprouting up on the grasslands

More on that adventure tomorrow after I have gone through the photos. 

Today....

 a pot of veggie chili is simmering on the stove while Owen and I let in the sun and welcome spring.

Or he has a nap on the floor after a long tiring first day back to preschool and I have an incredible chat on the phone with an dear old friend.   Either way very good Monday!

Slowly Spring is coming

Green is coming up from the ground.   Branches are starting to get buds.   Children are spending 60% of the time outside so happy people around here.

Three kids in a grocery store

would never have bothered me before.   But as they get older man do they get more painful.    Touching each other,   poking each other,  hiding in the isles,  all wanting to be in the same cart but not wanting any body part from other child to touch them.   I want,  I want, whinging,  not listening.    No matter how much prepping them to go into the store and what I do and don't want.   They seem to just not hear.    Seriously give me two under 2's in the shopping seats playing with some random item is a breeze compared to talking, walking,   siblings.  

Reality

 So I was reading a blog that I follow regularly.  www.embers.typepad.com    She put up a post about what her house really looks like.   Not the perfect stuff you always see in magazines or other blogs or people expect your house to look like if you are a Stay At Home Mom.    So as I looked around my house again and rolled my eyes at how much clutter is in every room and how I'm not keeping up with it.   (and how am I suppose to when there are three kids home during spring break and at least another three running around after them because they want play dates!!!)   I decided to post what my house looks like this week.  So here is my normal (not everyday normal) because when it starts looking like this I tend to turn into the exorcist.   My head turns around and stuff starts flying out my mouth.  

Thrown boots and jackets all over the floor when they come in from outside.  I do remember my mom yelling at us for this as well.

 Laundry......

 Dishes after feeding the gang of kids in the house.

 Crafts to keep them from complaining that they are bored but seriously did I have to pick the craft with all the little pieces.

 Couches aren't meant to sit on.

 Toys all over room floors.

 How does toothpaste end up on the counter not on the brush or in your mouth?

 

And more clutter on bedroom floors!!!!   Ahhh!  

Last Weekend

We went for some off roading near Tobiano and Savona.     We also helped friends burn some of their brush in the bush.    It was a beautiful sunny day and we enjoyed family time.   We also celebrated some good report cards,  finished preschool term,   good work presentations and a  new business license.  

Spring Break

 

Spring break has arrived.    The kids were so awesome yesterday.   No fighting.   They played happily together for many many hours.    Crafts,   Barbies,   games,   making a picnic.   It was so wonderful.   Especially since I didn't have an ounce of energy.    My throat was scratchy and I just wanted to be quiet.     Spring energy where are you?   I am really wanting you right now.    Well day two of spring break and I must plan something to do today because I don't think the kids will be as wonderful for the whole week.  

Dreary Sunday

Finding some colour around though.    Just not the green I think everyone is looking for. 

It's finally official!!!!

Business license on the wall,   and website up and running.     www.cowbroughphotography.com
I'm focusing in the field of agriculture photography.     So my online portfolio will be changing every week as the spring weather arrives and the farms start getting more busy preparing for the harvests to come. 

Weird things have been going on around here

Wednesday morning at 2am the power went off for all of our area.    Didn't come on until close to 8am.   So got the kids ready for school but the school's power was still out.   It didn't come on till close to 10am.  

Then love hearts started popping up on all the trees around here!

The ice started melting on our pond.   Unfortunately we have been having goldfish funerals quite steady as they didn't make it through the winter.

We got another daughter.    Who competed in the fashion show that was happening downstairs.

We have swinging monkey's and....

flying apes.     So it has been rather busy around here and I haven't posted anything in a few days.   Sorry!

Spring is in the Air

The weather is nicer.  Not warm by any standard.   The bikes are out.   The trees are being climbed.   Hide and Seek.   Chase the sisters around the house numerous times while yielding a broom.    It's all good.   They are getting outside and having fun and playing with the neighbour.    Maybe just maybe I'll see some green coming out of the ground soon. 

Growing

Some days my little baby is gone.   He's growing up and doing things that amaze me.    But then I look at him watching daddy or the girls with such intense interest and he is just barely looking over the counter.     Little and big all at the same time. 

Cool clouds lately

My baby is drawing!!!

This is Owen's very first people drawing.    And it was of me!!!!    So cute and glad I photographed it as he demolished it pretty quick to make random drawing of other things.  

Zero to Spastic at the speed of sound

And I thought kids were hard to photograph!!!!    Newborn  (and I mean new less then a day old!) calves can go from quietly watching you to full bore run with legs going everywhere right at you in less then it takes to blink I eye, let alone hit the shutter.   I'm looking at the photos and hating everyone.   But that is my usual I have to not look at them for about 3 days after I have culled blurred (see above)  or not pow in focus photos.   Then 3 days later I can look at them and see them for a good photo or not.   Had a fun day.   As much as I complained to my parents while living on the farm about doing farm work.   I do miss it.   The noises, smells and work.    So yesterday I go to run after cattle,  and open gates,  cut baler twine of bales,  slop through *%U#! (note didn't take a lot of photos!!!)   I'm not as agile as I was and I realized while watching  that this was a lot of work for my whole family.   I still felt happy after.     Maybe that's what I should do when all the talk starts about going back to work.   Maybe I should be a farm hand again!!   Really it's no different then trying to schedule going to take photos.  Best times to photograph and farm are when I am suppose to be looking after kids,  feeding kids,   or taking/picking up kids from school.   So if I can find a babysitter from 5am to 7:30am and then 2pm to 7pm.   I have it made.  

Mom's aren't suppose to be sick

I just want to lay on the couch like this and have someone pick up the kids,  and cook dinner tonight.   I just want to lay on the couch because if I wander this house I see something that doesn't belong it each room.   It's so cluttererd!!!   Then I feel like I have to do the laundry and tidy.    I don't have the energy this chest cough is draining.   And why oh why can such a cute little boy make such an unbelievable mess in his room.   There is a heap of trains, tracks, books,  packing foam,  clothes and other toys all over the place I can't even open up the door easily.   So he's staying in his pj's all day because if I go in then I will have to tidy it.    So can I just lay on this couch and pretend that my house looks like other peoples photo blogs?   (yes I know they just push things out of the way to achieve that shot but......  I can dream can't I.)

What he has been up too

Owen has been really into colouring and writing lately.    He colours in the line and then grabs any lined paper and pretends to write long stories.    There are many moments of quietness now.   All three kids doing homework or crafting.    It's kind of nice.   And Owen showing  his "pretty" drawings to me to put in my room. 

The Munchkins

They all have been a little under the weather.    Bad coughs and fevers have been going around school along with a belly that doesn't feel well.    So this weekend we laid low and just were quiet.

Fancy Dinner

We have been eating on the run or without daddy for a few nights.    Which means hot dogs or something easy by the tv.   It was time for a nice seat down dinner with fresh bread,  shrimp cilantro tomato sauce on pasta ( a plan tomato sauce for the kids!)    Some fancy wine (AKA Ginger Ale) for the kids and a bottle of wine for the adults.    Ahh!   And everyone ate without complaining.

A Robin

Is it too much to hope for.   This first sign that maybe spring is on its way?    I don't know but my this little bird was very cheeky.    It would fly away but then was so curious that it had to come back and closer.    Maybe looking for some seed?

Hannah = Tae Kwon Do

Hannah has been patiently waiting until she turned 7 so she could go to Tae Kwon Do classes.   So we let her try the free classes and she was hooked.   

Eyeballs, Eyeballs everywhere

That's all I have been looking at for the last day.   Not just on the computer screen sometimes it's a little boy putting his face right in mine so I'll look at him.    Not very exciting.   Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Happy Birthday to me!!

Eric is gone to Vancouver and I am with the kids.   So we didn't do too much.   No cake.     But my three closest girl friends called from across country and world or dropped by with a present.   So made me feel very good.   Oh and mom and dad's never forget either!!!

Eric picked me up some water glass a few weeks back so this is taken with the glass between the flowers and my camera.   Makes it look like a painting.   I'll have to play some more with this. 

He's Sick!

A cough that people on the phone have mistaken for my dog!!    And a fever of 103F at times.   Yes he is sick!!