Catch-up time!

Well, it's been half an eternity since I last posted. Four kids under the age of 7 will do that to a blog, I suppose. :)

Anyhow, it's a new year and I've decided to tweak this page a little. Instead of desperately trying to keep up with my photos and all the things that go on around here (and fail miserably and lose my momentum and feel angst about lost memories...) I am going to simply post 

pictures of blessings.

Because there are a lot of them.

Some days they are more difficult to find (like today :) but they are there, 

often hiding in the mess.

I've started a notebook - a pink notebook - daily keeping track of gifts from my Jesus, big and small. As big as the clear blue sky outside; as small as Gloria's perfect little pinky fingernail. As big as having an amazing, faithful husband, as small as having a good hair day. :)

And sometimes when I have hand free of diapers and dishwater, I capture these treasures on camera.

So this will be the other place where I attempt to record God's faithfulness and generosity - but in pictures.

Because goodness knows this heart needs reminding as often as possible.

He is AWESOME.

And I need to practice my awe of Him.

So feel free to snoop in on the goodness of God going on in the middle of the hard stuff over here at the Balfour house. My prayer is that it stirs up a hunger in all of us to treasure Him more.

The Blessings:

(disclaimer...this is also a catch-up post so these photos are from the archives. :)

Sticky fingers, joy-filled eyes.

A shared reading moment.

A family photo that captures reality.

Those eyes.

Cars everywhere, always.

Nana.

Tongue-aided concentration.

A father's delight in his girl.

Baby snuggles.

Passing on the love of books.

A hand-held vacuum: putting the 'fun' in 'functional'. :)

Those cheeks!

The wonder of a new tradition. (We carved a cross in this one.)

Baby joy.

Learning to roll!

Little 'helpers'.

An unexpected visit from an old neighbour.

Floor time.

Baby skin.

Getting that messy space in order. Yesss!

Finding them under the tree.

A cardboard guitar and hours of giggles.

Caring for the younger ones.

Monkey see, monkey do.

A little girl convinced of her need to be baptized.

Fake camera smiles.

Extra hands to love her.

His favourite nonsense, multi-purpose word, "Bon bon bean!"

Brothers!!

Sunny, quiet afternoons with the girl.

Fresh air.

Celebrating Advent freely.

Another good eater. Eats till she pukes.

THOSE eyes.

Amber teething beads. Pretty sure they're working. :)

5 months!! Love every month milestone!

(Gloria likes getting older, too. )

A strong immune system and mercy from the Lord that helped Gloria conquer a horrible cold.
A sister to cuddle her.

Baking on Christmas morning.

Celebrating the King of all Kings.

Giving him a gift just right.

That smile.

Her first Christmas.

(she just woke up)

That he loves music.

Her love of creating.

The exersaucer. One of the best inventions known to man.

 Will post January blessings shortly...

One FINE Evening

One week ago today we spontaneously decided to eat our supper outside.

The weather was PERFECT. No wind. Fall scent. No bugs. Beautiful sunset.

The kids had already had their baths and were in their pjs, but nobody cared.

It was a little taste of Heaven.

All this is hard to believe since it's been snowing all day today.

Cheers to Manitoba weather!

Delicious gourmet soup. Not our real supper.

(Couldn't post the real handstand for modesty reasons!)

So thankful to Jesus for a second chance at summer (not pregnant, not all-consumed with a newborn) to squeeze in a few good sidewalk chalk-athons, long jump competitions in the dirt (I get wasted by Josh every time!), stroller races and backyard hide-and-seek matches.

Now, LET IT SNOW! :)

We think School's Cool :)

I didn't think I would be, but I was totally one of those moms the day Ellie went back to school this year. I cried for 2 hours, folks. Embarrassing. I think I was grieving life as it's been since I became a mom. Ellie has just...always been here, chattering away, oozing creative energy, leading imaginary play and generally bringing sunshine to all of us. The prospect of her being gone all day, every day was so different from normal that it required a little bit of grieving. I'm thankful for friends who don't mind (and laugh at me) when I call them because I can't pull it together.

Of course the boys and I (and Gloria) have discovered our new normal and we have lots of fun in a much more boyish way. (I've gotten really good at Lego).

Grade 1 Ellie is hilarious and full of life. She's one of the girliest girls you'll ever meet, but she's fearless in the water, climbing trees (to the top), skateboarding, riding bike, etc.. She is determined to learn to do a handstand. Her hands are callused because she is forever practicing the monkey bars. She did not inherit this from me! She devours books, comes up with CRAZY outfits and hairdos, works super hard to get good at piano, has music/stories-on-tape playing at all times, eats as much as me, and makes friends wherever she goes.

She still loves all things pink and purple.

She wants to be a teacher/violin player/artist/hairdresser/mom/pastor's wife/farmer's wife/vet when she grows up.

Ellie's heart comes alive when she discovers an area in the world/in her life that needs help or prayer.

She often dreams up new ways to make money for the poor/needy.

Her best part of her day is 'chatting'. Whenever that might be. 

Her only fear, that I know of, is too much silence. 

She loves to colour. And she brings colour to the world!

I am so thankful that Ellie has a wonderful teacher who loves Jesus, goes to a school with MANY of the kids from our church, and that she thrives in an environment where she gets to read - a lot! - and is full of girls who love to play 'ponies' as much as she does. 

(Dad made Ellie her favourite breakfast on the first day of school - cornbread muffins)

Mr. Joshy Bosh is rocking preschool. This change did not make me cry. (I can handle two afternoons a week. Talk to me in two years - grade 1. :)

Each day he comes home with a few more names of people he likes.

And a few names of people he wishes didn't always sit by him.

Preschool Josh is also hilarious. By far our most sensitive guy, he had not one ounce of nerves going to preschool that first day. I asked him if he had butterflies, and he replied, "No, I just need to tap dance!" And he did. 

I asked him if he was nervous for show-n-tell yesterday, and he said, "Nope! I'm just going to tell them that I made my Lego robot all by myself and his hands move!" And he did.

Preschool Josh loves words and is always experimenting using new ones. Tonight I told him he needed to make a card for his cousin in the morning before his birthday party. Josh said, "You mean, I need to make that card PRONTO?" He talks about as much as Ellie does. Usually both at the same time.

This guy could play Lego for hours, seems to have a gift for (accurately) drawing whatever he can think up, loves to sound out words and write things down, and is trying super hard to read. He would ride bike everywhere if we let him. His smile is super winsome.

His best part of his day is always 'wrestling with Dad'. 

His biggest fear is heights and older kids he doesn't know.

He loves everything blue or having to do with dogs.

He wants to be a lifeguard when he grows up, so he can swim AND save people.

Josh comes alive when you ask him to do a 'man job'...like taking out the trash, or lifting something heavy.

He prays with passion. God answers. He seems to really get difficult truths about God.

Ice cream dates also make him come alive.

Again, I'm super thankful Josh has the opportunity to learn in a Jesus-loving environment. So pumped that he's adapting well to a big group of kids (groups are not always his favourite) and that he gets the thrill of packing his snack, going somewhere special, and being his own little man while Ellie's not here.

Josh with cousin Drew, in the same class!