The Keowns

Monday, April 28, 2008

Hot weather and Snow

What a crazy few weeks we have had. I am so excited to see May right around the corner. May is always a busy month, we celebrate two birthdays in our family (daddy and Liam) plus mothers day. Soccer also begins in May and Cassidy just started gymnastics.
Our weather here has been so crazy! Last week we hit HIGH temperatures, I got sunburt and even started a good sandle tan. We even got our first thunderstorm for the year! Then thursday we had some wild winter system come through that dumped snow, sleet, hail and rain. Not much snow, it is already all gone but it was still a little depressing.
It is now back to sunny times and today should be a beautiful day! Warm enough to break out my capris and sandles again.

Over the weekend I went to the church woman's retreat. It was the first year I have gone and I quite enjoyed myself. They go to camp Cederwood which is up in Lac du Bonnet(which is more like resort then a camp) and we have lots of sessions, food, cool crafts and just hanging out. I am still trying to catch up on my sleep and feel very 'hung over' from being sleep deprived. Steve held up the fort here all weekend and everyone was still in good spirits when I got home.
Cassidy started gymnastics two weeks ago. She loves it, I am rather impressed at all the stuff they are learning. They don't allow the parents in the class (easier for kids to focus if we are not there) so I have yet to get any pictures. Next week we are allowed to watch. Cassidy is enjoying it much more then ballet.
Aidan starts soccer right away and that is always a big time commitment for us but I look forward to it and he is very anxious to get started.
Not much else is new here. I have quite a few photo shoots set up for the next few weeks, plus tons of yard work so I am sure I will keep rather busy. All of these overgrown flower beds are overwhelming and I don't know what to keep and what to chuck. The kids are excited to plant some vegtables this year.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

been a long time. . . .

I know it has been a very long time since I have posted. Mainly because blogger has been giving me problems and I don't feel like fighting with it. As well, I have been working on my other blog and have come to the conclusion that I need to create a good website for my photography, not this cheapo blog thing.
Life here is on fastfoward like usual. Not much free time here as we go from one place to another.
First of all I will give a little recap or our spring break. We didn't anywhere to far. The kids and I did some different things, museum, library etc... here they are with painted faces from the afternoon at the manitoba theater (they had an open house with activites for kids)

We then had Laura and the cousins Maddy, Olivia and Judah over for a sleepover. We enjoyed some play time at a park with them and for some reason my kids managed to get soaked and Laura's stayed dry
The end of the week we headed to some friends cottage and the kids had a blast. The temperatures were cold and it would have been nice to be warmer but we still enjoyed ourselves. I was happy to see lots of snow melted when we arrived home. I have to say I barely took any pictures when we were there, which is rather odd.

It was then back to real schedule. The kids were very ready to get back to school, and we were excited to see temperatures start to rise. Now the snow is gone and I am comfortable in sandles and capris. It is about time!

We have been spending every minute outside, I am a tad overwhelmed at the landscaping that needs to be done but terribly excited to start mowing grass!! We have lots of big plans for the yard and although I hated the layout, and the fact we aren't all fenced in, the bay is so quiet that I have no problem with the kids playing all over it.

It was VERY excited for the kids that after two long summers we were finally able to set our trampoline back up. They can not get enough of it.

That is about all that is new. The kids are still the same active self and I am so glad the weather is warm enough to send them outside. Liam's birthday is in a little over a month and I am starting to think about what we will do for him.
I am seeing more and more the changes with the kids before my eyes. Especially Cassidy. She spends hours in her room drawing, writing or doing her "homework" as she likes to say. She does very well with her words and letters and I can see what her strong point in school will be. She is working along Aidan with the Hooked on phonics and is doing excellent.
Cassidy is also growing like crazy. I can not keep clothes that fit her and unlike Liam (who is still wearing 18-24 months) she seems to need her drawers cleaned out constantly. I am defiantly going to have to shop for her for summer.
Liam on the other hand still fits all his 18 month summer clothes from last year.
Now my question for you blog readers, where do you find the time to blog anymore???

Monday, March 24, 2008

Easter Weekend

Sunday evening we got home from our fun packed weekend at Granny and Grandpas farm. We had not been out to the farm for quite a while and the kids were counting down the sleeps before we left.
Friday morning we headed out. It was nice to have no work and no school that day so we could make the trip a little longer.
When we got there Steve got to work with my dad to finish there sunroom ceiling which they were lining with cedar. The kids were right in there in the action and had to do some building of there own.

Aidan enjoying a fresh snowfall.

Cassidy baking with Granny
Liam eyeing the dessert
Saturday the kids cousins Maddy, Olivia and Judah came over and the painted some easter eggs.

Saturday evening Granny did a special activity with them. She had found an Easter story cookie recipe. As the kids made them, each thing represented part of the story and we read scripture along with it.
The white cookies represented the tomb.

At the end, the kids had to put the cookies in the oven and tape it shut tight, so that they knew no one could get in.

In the morning they opened up the oven, took the cookies and broke them open to find that they were hollow, representing the empty tomb. It was a great object lesson for them.

Sunday morning I also made a little treasure hunt for the baskets. I usually do an easter egg hunt outside, but was a little lazy this year and tried something different.

Aidan and Cassidy were thrilled to find Webkinz in there basket.

My nephew Judah (I was able to do some portraits of him and have included a few on my photography website, he was SO adorable I had a hard time choosing one or two to post)

Now we are back to regular schedule. Liam went for another speech assesment today. They are planning to start some kind of program with him. We meet again in a month plus have another ear test. They are concerned with his slur speech and the fact he is hard to understand. He is similar to how Aidan was at that age and Aidan has defiantly come along way.

Aidan also got his report card for this term. It was excellent and again the teacher commented on his imagination and love for science. She also said how much he has improved in his speech. It is hard to believe in three months school will be done for the summer. The year sure has flown by and I can hardly wait for Cassidy and Aidan to both be in school.

I am also going to be doing quite a few photography shoots in the next little while. I have lots booked and a ton of interest so that is rather encouraging. I am not planning to make much money with it but maybe eventually I will be able to. I have been adding alot more to my site so feel free to check it out. Someday I hope to splurge on a nice site, but hey, can't beat free blogger for now!

I am officially back to marathon training. It is SO nice to run in this spring weather. This is my favorite temperatures to run in.

That is about all that is new around here, last thing, next week is spring break, so you can pray for my sanity.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

HAPPY EASTER!!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

nice weather

It is beautiful out today. I don't want to get too attached to the nice spring weather yet. It has been such a nice change though. The kids have enjoyed most of yesterday and today outside. Although it is wet, and they come in drenched, they are happier with all the fresh air in them.
Yesterday, when they got home from school, we enjoyed the sunshine and took advantage of the perfect 'snowman snow' and made a few.

Cassidy made a princess, Liam a mickeymouse, and Aidan was making a giant. Here they are displaying there work.

Over this past weekend we took a quick trip to Brandon. It has been a very long time since we have been there. Steve had a bit of work to do in our rental there and he wanted to work on our taxes with his dad.

It was a quick trip and the kids were sad that we had to leave so quickly. We really have to make it out there more often.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

It was time. . .

It was time for a new header on my blog. Not too creative, but nice and simple. I didn't have the time or energy for anything more.
I just needed to post this one picture of Cassidy, this one is especially for Granny and Grandpa.

Friday, February 29, 2008

It is March tomorow. What a sigh of relief! We have almost done it, made it through another winter.

As I walked through Zellers today (to buy a plunger, will fill you in on why later), I noticed all the summer patio sets, BBQ's and other stuff is out. How exciting is that? I am really starting to get excited about all of our summer activities that we enjoy. This weekend is soccer registration for Aidan and he is very anxious and excited to start again.

Today was another eventful day. Along with the running around between schools, Liam decided to flush an entire roll of toilet paper down the toilet, and then he tried to clean it up himself. This whole process happened in a mater of minutes while I was changing Nathan's diaper and disposing of it.

When i walked into the hallway there was water everywhere, and of course, we left our plunger at the old house. But now it is done and I just have lots of dirty towels to wash. Through it all I was rather calm, which surprised me. Liam sure keeps me on my toes.
This past week Jamie and the kids came back to visit, It was also Granny's (my mom) birthay and she was able to celebrate it at our place

We have another busy weekend coming up. I feel like every weekend has been jammed packed from start to finish and they haven't been very relaxing. I think this is why the last few months of flown by so fast.

I registered Liam for preschool last week. This was something we have debated about. I was told it was filling up fast and decided to register him anyway, that way if I decide not too in fall, I will just cancel it. I think preschool will help with his speech.

As for other news, I am looking for willing participants to photograph to add to my portfolio. Especially infants and maternity, but really anyone who is willing and ready. Email me if you are interested, my head is spinning with creative ideas. ekeown@mts.net

Monday, February 25, 2008

Warm weather

Yesterday was a beautiful day! I think we reached about -2 degrees celcius which is defiantly a heat wave for us.

It was good to send the kids outside, although Liam is still battling this awful sickness. It is now day 9 of the flu and he finally is improving. He has developed a terrible cough and so after talking to a nurse on health links, they sent me to the hospital to have him checked out. After almost 4 hours, a few x-rays later, we come home with a clear chest. We just have to let it run its course. He was able to get more fluids and food down today so that is defiantly progress. The other kids have felt fine so that is a relief.

I am just sick of runny poop and puke! Honestly, I feel like my house stinks like it. So today I went shopping and bought several hand pumps of hand sanitizer to put in every room, bleach and lysol spray. I am trying to get things clean and sanatized. I know my house is fairly clean to begin with but whenever the kids are sick I always feel better with a good cleaning.

Here are a few pics of the kids outside.

Last week my sister Jamie and her two kids and my parents stayed at my place for a few days. The kids had a good visit with each other. Cassidy was quite taken with little Keziah.

We celebrated my birthday, and Steve even sent me flowers (he was in Montreal) I think he felt guilty for being gone!

I noticed on the calender that March is next week. Wow, that means spring is almost here. I am so thankful we have almost gotten through this harsh winter and soon we will be enjoying warm days. My kids are defiantly experience cabin fever and Aidan and Cassidy can't get enough of the outside now that the weather has warmed up. Liam on the other hand, hopefully he will feel better so he can join the fun too!