More babies!

Here are some pics of our newest additions. As some of you may know this past summer Dan bought two herds of sheep. 24 of them are due to have babies this Dec. Well the first three came on Thursday night. Unfortunately only one of the triplets survived. Since then there has been another 12 born. Everyone is cute and healthy. Most have been twins but tonight there were another set of triplets. The kids have been loving this. Every day they have been out there checking and counting the babies. They have even watched a bunch of them being born! Unlike cattle, the mom sheep are pretty tame so the kids have been petting and holding the babies a lot. Travis has claimed the one spotted one as his. The first set of babies needed to be bottle fed so the kids each got turns feeding them with the bottle. Dan has been busy making pens and moving them around. Tonight he did chores at the barn, came home for supper, then went out to the shed to look after the sheep, horses and other critters out there. It's 10:00 and he's still not in yet. Not sure if he's enjoying the sheep, but the kids are on cloud nine. Tonight Dawson told Dan that we were so lucky and that he's going to tell everyone at school that we have sheep. Even Kortney is having fun. Yesterday when the other kids went out I told her she had to stay in with me for now. Well she got really pissed and told said "Me is a big girl!"

Anyway, just thought I'd share our news. Wish us luck with the rest of the babies. Not sure how many we'll end up with!

All for now,

Michelle

Kaitlin this spring

One of my phobias in life is the dentist. I absolutely hate it and dread even bringing the kids there. I hate everything about it - the smell the sounds ugh! Travis and Kaitlin have been going now for afew years and I feel bad but's been a year since their last apt. I had to canceled the 6 month check up for some reason I can't think of. So yesterday finally came and off to the dentist we had to go. (me + four kids) As if it weren't bad enough I had Kortney with me who is a typical get into everything 2 year old. On a good note though it was Dawson's first apt and he did great! He even let the girl do a fluoride treatment to his bottom teeth. Travis on the other hand is more like me (I never let my kids know I hate it. I try very hard to hide this). Travis gags with the fluoride treatment every time and this time she couldn't even get him to hold the thing in his mouth for the xray. It's really hard for me too, the kids are always in two different rooms and they all want me to be with them. I end up having to run back and forth from room to room to make sure they're ok.

Kortney was cute. When the other three were done she was determined it was her turn! I kept saying when you're older you'll get a turn. The girl let Kortney go on the chair though and have "a turn". She let the lady move the chair up and back, put the sunglasses on, she opened her mouth and got her teeth counted! She was thrilled! Once the dentist came in and checked every one's teeth she wanted another turn. It was too cute!

I guess another part of taking the kids to the dentist is the stress of them having cavities. If they did I would take it personally. I feel like the dentist would think I'm not doing a good enough job as a mom. It's silly I know but I feel them having cavities is a direct reflection of me. So I was thrilled when all three of them had no cavities!!!! It's always something to celebrate. The tradition has been we go to Tim Hortons after and they get to pick out a doughnut for desert. This is very special for them since I usually only buy timbits. So, that was my afternoon. A little stressful but it ended up good, and it's done for another 6 months!!!Thank god!

Michelle

A proud mommy moment!

Kaitlin 6 months old Kaitlin's first steps
Kaitlin's curly hair days
Big sister Kaitlin
Kaitlin this summer

Can you tell I've been busy lately and preoccupied? I've thought of writing now and again but just haven't had time or have been on (dare I say.....facebook)

Not much is new with the Hoggarts, just daily things that have been keeping us on the go.

Over the past few months though, I have had the chance to meet someone new and learn something amazing about Kaitlin. It all started after Christmas last year when a new little girl came into Kaitlin's class. Up until the last few months I haven't thought much of it. To make a long story short this new friend of Kaitlin's has selective mutism. She does and can talk to family but does not talk anywhere else. Well this fall I was floored when I found out how much Kailtin and this girl have bonded. Kaitlin does talk lots about Ashlyn but I wasn't aware of how good Kaitlin has been to her and how much that has helped Ashlyn in coming to a new school. It's hard for her to bond with other children but I have been told Kailin has been so accepting and caring that Ashlyn is happy at school. It's just been this past week that Ashlyn has actually talked to Kaitlin for the first time! This is a huge step and we're thrilled. Kaitlin came home from school and told me she had the best day cause Ashlyn let Kaitlin sit with her, her mom and the teacher while she read a book outloud at school for the first time! It's wonderful to see the happiness Kaitlin has for her friend. And to hear how wonderful my daughter is, and how much she has helped Ashlyn makes me speechless. I'm so proud of her and the friend she's being to someone who needs a patient caring friend. Her mom wrote me an amazing letter about Kaitlin which I will treasure always. It's exciting to see the friendship of these two little girls blossom. There's a bond there that both myself and Ashlyn's mom are so thankful for. So what could make this awesome situation even better?....Ashlyn's mom and I get along great as well! Sometimes you just have to sit back and think, yes things happen for a reason (like her moving here) and how strange and wonderful events seem to unfold like it was planned by "someone".

Somethings are just meant to be and I'm so thrilled that this has happened for these two little girls and me too!

Michelle

A weak moment

Last week I said yes to something I've always said no to before. The kids and I were in Wallmart and if they're good I always promise we can go say hi (then bye)to the fish. Well this week before I knew it I found myself checking out the beta fish. I was surprised to see they were only $3.97. So we picked one out. I figured we could use the big vase from Debby's wedding to put it in. Well Travis then discover the snails....he didn't want just a fish anymore. It was only $1.47 but I told him I didn't think you could put anything with a beta fish. Turns out I was wrong, so the lady told me. Needless to say we came home with two new pets. I have to say though I'm enjoying them. The vase is in the middle of the table so we watch them while we're eating supper. It's great to give the kids something to keep them busy while eating and of course they all love it.

Kortney is too cute. She's still telling me the fish is going to bite her and she's afraid of the snail. I keep telling her they won't hurt her so then her next question is always are they going to crawl on her neck? So I spend the day reassuring her the snail and fish don't come out of the water, we just look at them.

The biggest problem with these new creatures is cleaning them out. Yesterday I dumped out the water, and rinse it, then added new water but it still had little things floating it it. Yes I have to admit, I like the "look" of the fish and if we're going to have them I want it to look nice all the time. Yucky water on my table isn't the look I'm going for. So if anyone has suggestions on cleaning please let me know! Is there a trick to it without having to scrub the vase every time??

Anyway wish me luck...I'm hoping to be able to keep them alive! The pressure from the kids is on!!

Most of you know that this past weekend Cheri and I did a road trip to Debby's by Pembroke. He couldn't wait to see Scott, Debby and 5 week old Andrew. Isn't he cute!!! We had a great weekend visiting and playing with the baby. I have to admit I felt a little guilty leaving Dan with all our kids when I know how busy he is right now, but it all worked out. The kids had bonding time with him and I got a much needed break!

I can't wait for Christmas now when he will get to see Scott, Debby and Andrew again. The kids will love to see their new cousin. By then there will be another new niece or nephew too. Can't wait!

Michelle

This was just too cute! As I was on the phone and making dinner the other day, Dawson came down to tell me I need to come see what they were doing upstairs. Well that can mean anything and I wasn't sure what they were up to. This is what I found. The four of them up in Travis' bunk wanting to show me how they sing "Hot Cross Buns". This is the first song Travis is learning on the recorder at school and is surprisingly liking it. So here is the little concert they gave me. I just had to share!

Michelle

Nice surprises

Here's my blue delphinium ready to bloom for the second time this year! I don't think it's supposed to do that.

Do you ever feel like life is just shity then all the sudden things just keep happening that change everything? That's what the past few months have been. Nice surprises. I still can't believe what a day can do. I'm hoping I'm not jinxing myself, but it's nice to feel comfortable and happy with life. I do believe everything happens for a reason so I'm thrilled about what some of these new changes can mean.

Wishing great new things to come to everyone,

Michelle