Storeyland Language

Over the years we have developed our own language mainly derived from the children as they tried to talk. Once in awhile just for fun we use these words to bring a smile to our children's faces :) Here are some words from our language:

Martian Lois: Marshmellos

Penking: Painting

Reuben wanted to go swimming at the SPCA: YMCA

Bummie Flies: Butterflies

Meh toe in Tee: still not sure what this means LOL

Spissssgettie: Spaghetti

Shipwreck: Goulash

Larryboy Casserole: Kraft Dinner with tuna and veggies added to it

Leg pits: Behind your knees

Piddle: Pillow

Mary Cake and Actually: Mary Kate and Ashley

Dummy and Maddie: Mommy and Daddy

Baby Dollie Boochie Girl

Baby Dollie Boochie Boy

~♥~Our Nicknames~♥~

Reuben: Reu, Ben, Reuben Dueben, Roo Roo, Reuven (Shanelle & Jazzy's name for him), Ruby. Rube, Buddy, Bud, Woody (Grammies name for him)

Rachael: Rachy, Rachy Dachy, Rachy Pachy, Lorraine, Ray, Ray Ray, Little Princess (Grammies name for her)

Hannah: Hannah Banana, Banana Girl, Hannie Bananie, Hannie, Honey, Ha Ha, Han, Hannah the Rockstar & Hannah Montanna (friends from School call her that), Tweety Bird(Grammie's Name for her)

Emily: Emma, Emmaleetle, Maleana, Emmie, Em, Jordan, Lee Lee, Lilly (Grammies name for her)

Alex ( his actual first name is Dwight): Ali, Boo Boo, Alexander Booty Boy, Bootsie, Buddy Boy, Prince Ali, Zander, Cutie Pie (Grammie's Name for him)

Joanie: Jo, Jojo, Joanifer, Dish Cloth (LOL) Mommy, Mama, Mom,

Conrad: Con, Darnoc, Tea Towel, Daddy, Dada, Dad

*This isn't all.....to be continued....

Kids are FUNNY!

On the weekend, my inlaws gave us some veggies from their garden. One little tomato got left behind in the van and rolled under the seat. Today, after coming home from Preschool... Emily spotted it. She picked it up gently and brought it close to her face and lovingly said to it, "Aw, you poor tomato all alone. I'll take you to your friends. Do you want to walk?" (I was shaking with laughter and trying to hide it from her because she was being so serious and I didn't want to ruin the moment.... for some reason she forgot it needed LEGS. ) She gently placed the tomato on the ground and waited for it to start walking. With a sigh, she picked it up after a moment and said "Aw, that's a shame you can't walk!" Carrying it gently into the house. I just couldn't laugh silently anymore, it was too funny!! LOL

Storeyland Update

Thursday, Sept 25th

What a day!! First of all, the walk with the Premier was today. Rachael and Reuben were chosen to go on the walk in Fredericton with Premier Shawn Graham and other MLA's. Rachael took the camera and captured some unique pictures. They both came home excited and happy that they went on the walk.

We had a quick supper then headed to the airport to see my sister off. She and her girls are moving to AB to be with her fiancee, Jackson. What an emotional day! I have a headache and my face is all puffy from crying so much. Michelle, is my little sister but she is also one of my best friends and during the past 3 years we grew even closer. Always spending as much time as we can together with countless trips to Tim's or watching movies. Her girls are very close to our children and we've gone on a few road trips together with them. I am so very happy and proud of my sister for taking this step but it is still hard to see them go. Thank goodness for technology for she's only a button away but still that's not the same as hanging out together. I MISS her already and she hasn't even reached AB yet! I am sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear from her............

Sept 29th, Today

We have heard from Michelle and they are doing great. They are on vacation in the Mountains!! I am so happy for you girl! I know that you are content and excited to be there! The previous was a blog I started on the day she flew out....

We went to visit Mom & Dad Storey on the weekend. The kids had fun picking apples in the rain. We did some baking then headed home. We spent the evening preparing for Hurricane Kyle who was due to hit us Sunday night, however all we got was a tropical storm. Thank goodness it had lost it strength as it moved across the Maritimes. Nothing was out of place this morning when we woke up.

God has given us a beautiful day today. The leaves have really turned color and the sun is peaking through the clouds. I was happy to hear from an old friend this morning. After all....Old friends are the Best Friends!!!

The twins have made house cleaning such a challenge today. they started by dumping all the girls hair bows on the floor and spreading them over the house. Those tiny elastics are such a pain to clean up

:( Then, they overflowed the sink in the bathroom as I was trying to clean up the kitchen. I got there in time to see a roll of toilet paper and 5 little tooth brushes floating in a million bubbles in the sink with water rolling down the sides. Two little children soaked from head to toe. Sometimes, I really wish I could be in 2 places at once and have several arms. Yet, even though I get frustrated with them....inside I am smiling. I know this too shall pass. They are growing up so fast and I cherish every moment I have with them even the messy ones :)

Storeyland Silliness..A Sip of Humor!

One particular morning I was picking the twins up from Headstart when I called for the umpteenth time: "Come on Emily, it's time to leave."

Emily rather persistently: "No, I am having fun. I don't want to leave"

Finally, I started walking away in hopes that she would follow: "But we have to go, Headstart is done for the day. You will come back tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Alex is tugging at my skirt and pleading: "Don't leave Emily, don't go with out Emily."

Soon, I had 2 screaming preschoolers...one wanting to stay and the other not wanting to go with out his twin sister. In an attempt to calm them both down, I know I need to get Emily to agree it was time to go. So I say with a lot of dramatic flair: "Mommy needs help carrying her keys, would you like to carry them Emily?"

"Oh Yes!" She eagerly grabs the keys and tries to unlock the nearest vehicle then on to the next. Bad idea! She is still refusing to get in the van...to which I gingerly pick her up and carry her. All the way she is screaming, " You broke my back!! You broke my back...I am going to put you in a cage and lock you up. I am going to throw away the key because you broke my back!" Meanwhile, she is wiggling to get out of my arms as I am shaking uncontrollably with laughter amid the glares of other parents who are calmly walking their child to their vehicles. Once, I buckled her in, I said: "Emily, hows your back?" To which she promptly replied grinning from ear to ear " Oh, it's fine."

You Can't Keep a Good Man Down

You can't keep a good man down.......what a profound quote. I don't know who the author is of it but I am sure they must have experienced some pretty tough situations in life. I think of this quote often when it comes to my Husband. No matter what curve balls life throws at him....he keeps pressing on and doesn't allow life to drag him down to the depths of despair. He maintains a certain calm in the midst of the storm that will never cease to amaze me.


What kind of a man would watch 7 children for the weekend just so his wife could enjoy the weekend away with her sisters and Mother? What kind of a man would become Molly Maid when his wife is quite sick, making sure homework gets done and the kids are fed. What kind of a man hits rock bottom at times only to keep pressing on and never giving up on God or his family? That kind of man is My Husband, my mentor, my lover and my best friend. Some people would think he was a sucker for punishment but we see him as a man of valor, integrity and a fine example for his sons to follow.


I adore my husband and I am very proud of him. I am so thankful that God has brought him into my life 16 years ago. On a more personal note, Conrad.....I want you to know that we appreciate EVERYTHING you do for us. I know this isn't father's day but your special to us everyday! I just wanted to take a moment online to let you know just how important you are to us and how thankful we are for the sacrifices you make for us. Your a good man and we LOVE you!

Another Sip of Humor

While grocery shopping with the Twins today, I asked them to help me load the groceries into the cart. Not only did this keep them occupied but I did appreciate the help :) We were working away when all of a sudden Alex yells loudly, "Mommy look! That man NEEDS a TIMEOUT!!" I turned to see what Alex was talking about and couldn't see anything out of the ordinary so I reassured Alex that it wasn't nice to shout in the store and it certainly wasn't nice to be pointing at people. I started loading more things in the cart when Alex yells again..."Mommy, look at that man over there...he NEEDS a TIME OUT!" I turned again almost spontaneously and only saw a couple of men in line behind us..an elderly and a young man just peppered with tattoo's. I was getting annoyed at Alex and a bit embarrassed by his rude behaviour, so I reminded him if he didn't stop HE was getting in the cart. "But, Mommy," he insisted "that man marked all over himself and so he needs to be punished for it." pointing again to the man with the tattoo's. My face was red while everyone burst into laughter to which the man smiled and replied, " Your right, I probably do need a time out for doing that."



This brought to my remembrance New Years Eve 2007 when the twins decorated themselves and the walls with stamper markers. We did put them in a short timeout for doing that but let them play for a bit before we bathed them. LOL

Conversation With the Kids :)

Take your plate to the kitchen, please.

Take it downstairs when you go.

Don't leave it there, take it upstairs.

Is that yours?

I'm talking to you.

Just a minute please, can't you see I'm talking?

I said, don't interrupt.

Did you brush your teeth?

What are you doing out of bed?

Go back to bed.

What do you mean there's nothing to do?

Go outside.

Read a book.

Turn it down.

Get off the phone.

Tell your friend you'll call her back. Right now!

Hello, no she's not home.

She's still not home.

She'll call you when she gets home.

Take a jacket. Take a sweater.

Take one anyway.

Someone left their shoes in the living room again!

Get the toys off the table.

Get the toys out of the tub.

Get the toys off the stairs.

Do you realize that could kill someone?

Hurry up.

Hurry up, everyones waiting.

I'll count to ten then we are leaving without you.

Did you go to the bathroom?

If you don't go, your not going.

I mean it.

Why didn't you go before we left?

Can't you hold it?

What's going on back there?

Stop it.

I said, Stop it!

I don't want to hear about it.

Stop it or I am taking you home right now.

That's it, we're going home.

Give me a kiss.

I need a hug.

Under Construction

Hi Everyone :)

I had this bright idea after the kids went to bed that I'd play around with the layout of my blog. It ended up being more work than I anticipated. Not only did some things disappear, but I had to go back into each post and edit them to a color that would show on the new background. Good thing I am just starting to write because it was time consuming as it was! Please bare with me as I try to come up with a layout that I am happy with. I've been looking at some fellow bloggers and I really liked the idea of having a big photo...however....I am still trying to figure out how to post a title on it without the words going across our faces.

Today was a long but productive day. We baked some cookies and I managed to get a HUGE chunk of my spring cleaning...oops..rather Fall cleaning done. I washed the walls down in two rooms, dealt with some clutter. Did more laundry...actually I did LOTS of laundry. The pile isn't a mountain anymore. Hallelujah LOL Now we are dealing with a molehill ;-) As I type, I am yawning and my eyes are watering and it's not even 10:30pm yet. Good Night Y'all. I need my beauty sleep!

To all Mom's Who Lost Patience Today :)

Oh Ye of Little Patience

They say confession is good for the soul, so I must confess..... I don't have much patience!! Especially when I am pressed for time like in the mornings while getting the children ready for school. Everyone is on a different schedule. Reuben needs to be out the door by 7:05, Hubby by 7:45, Rachael and Hannah by 8:05 and the Twins by 8:45! It makes for a pretty hectic morning and even more so when the children just want to dwadle and watch cartoons. Some times I feel like I am herding cattle out the door rather than children!

Ever heard the expression...Lord give me patience but please hurry? LOL Well, that was sort of my mindset this morning. Someone once told me to never pray for patience...I wonder if that's because in order to gain patience we have to be tested? I guarantee you having 5 children will test your patience. So many times people have told me, "Wow, you have so much patience with your children!" I think they would take that back if they could see me scrambling around in the mornings getting everyones breakfast, finishing packing lunches, doing their hair, making sure their footwear matches and that they have their jackets. Checking and rechecking book bags and in the middle of all of that tending to siblings that aren't getting along, turning off the TV several times. Oh we can't forget trying to compel the children to cooperate with me so they won't miss the bus etc...etc. Need I say more? No matter how early the children are up, or how organized I am mornings are still chaotic. On mornings like this, I find myself just wanting to be all alone with no other humans around after dropping the Twins off at Preschool.

This particular morning I drove to The Green and relished in the fact that I was the only one there. Someone had just mowed the grass, which was still wet from the morning dew. I sat on a park bench and gazed across the lake so calm and serene. The only sound was the slight rustle of leaves in the soft breeze as it played with my hair. Ahhhh, I had found my sanctuary for this morning. The boats in the lake sat still as if in reverence to my special place. It was so peaceful and I found myself wishing I had brought my camera. The morning beauty was so amazing and I soaked it in like a greedy child at the candy shop. I needed this stillness, this quietness this time to be alone and to reflect on different things. After a bit, I said a prayer of thankfulness and left feeling like I had more patience :)

It's a New Season

AUTUMN

When autumn wind goes running

It does some magic things.

It gives the shadows dancing shoes

It gives the bright leaves wings

When autumn wind goes running

It curls the bonfire's tail of smoke

And shares a little whispered joke

With cornstalks who delight to prattle

It turns a seed pod into a rattle

When autumn wind goes running

I can not say it enough.....I LOVE the FALL!! It has always been my favorite season. I think it appeals to the creative side of me with all the vibrant colors and majestic scenery across the country. I love how the leaves turn various shades of red, gold and orange and how the air is crisp and clean. Also with the fall comes the familiarity of the daily routine. This year, the routine has changed a bit for me due to the fact that the Twins are in Preschool, but I am loving the change. Having more alone time has inspired me to become more creative. I have even dug my watercolors out today. I haven't painted in a long time. All though it's bittersweet having all your children out of the toddler stage, it is refreshing to be free to do some of the hobbies I once had more time for. Some days however, I am lucky if I get everything done around the house. On those days, I keep reminding myself...this too shall pass.

I think I may try scrapbooking this winter. I've done a little but not really enough to say I am a true scrapbooker LOL. I have a project I would like to complete as a christmas gift for someone. It makes a mess, is time consuming and tedious but the end result is well worth it. Who knows I may even create a masterpiece haha ;-)

I don't think anyone can come close to capturing on canvass the masterpieces created by our Master....Jesus! Wow, what beauty he has created and continues to create. When he dips his paintbrush down on the earth the images he creates are breathtaking. Just watch the sunset on a hot summer night or watch the crest of the waves on the ocean. Pay attention to the beauty that surrounds us, in a simple flower or in a forest filled with colored leaves. Too many times we are blinded by the ugliness of life and caught up in the darkness of negativity. If we would just take the time to soak in the positive light of God's glory, the blinders will come off and we will have the inspiration to face another day. Every day you have a chance to determine what direction you will take. It's a new season...it's a new day. Start fresh with your mind made up that you will take a little time to enjoy the beauty God has given us.

A Sip of Humor :)

This was sent to me via e-mail...thought it was cute and funny..Enjoy :)

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why do we have mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How was she created?

1. Dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. She was made just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of ?

1. They were made out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why do you have your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related

2. She likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms & dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

To all you Mom's out there....Have a fantastic day!!

Proof That Actions are Loud!!

Well, in my last blog I posted about how actions speak louder than words little did I know that after that, I would have a perfect example. Our oldest Daughter, Rachael is pretty much a copy cat of myself when I was younger. She is very creative and loves to write. She saw me working on a blog that isn't published yet and begged to create her own blog. So here it is :)

http://grammiessweetie.blogspot.com/

Feel free to take a look. With a little help from me to set it up....she was on her own. I thought she did a pretty good job for her first try at it. Who knows...her blog may end up being more interesting than mine LOL

~♥~ Happy Birthday ~♥~

Our adorable neice turns 8 today!! Happy Birthday Shanelle!

Love: Uncle Conrad, Aunt Joanie, Rachael,

Reuben, Hannah, Emily & Alex :)

*Ps. I'd like to make this a monthy post as a birthday comes up :)

Do As I Do

With the understanding that actions speak louder than words, parents can use family activities to emphasize important aspects of good character.

~ Author Unknown

What a busy weekend this has been! I have come to the conclusion that blogging won't be a daily occurrence for me. There just aren't enough hours in the run of the day some days in Storeyland. Friday, I didn't even turn the computer on and Saturday was spent doing odd jobs around the house. We didn't have much leisure time until today and even then I am still tending to a couple of children that aren't feeling well. A woman's work is never done....*sigh*

Hubby finally had the opportunity to fix our table last night so today we had our first family meal together at the table in a few weeks. It was nice to sit around the table instead of eating on stools at the breakfast nook. The kids were happy to have things come back to 'normal' too even though it hasn't been an overly long time since it broke. It seemed like forever because our everyday routine was affected by it. We have always made it a point with our children to have family meals together. Not only does it create unity but it also gives us a chance to talk about the day's events. Sunday is our day to have a big dinner with all the fixing's.

In an attempt to try and make things run a little smoother here we have been reinforcing the rule of cleaning up after yourself...taking your dishes to the sink when done eating etc. Reuben, our oldest was invited to dinner at a friends house recently. When I went to pick him up, the parents of his friend let me know how impressed they were with his manners and how he took his plate to the sink etc. It made me feel good that even though he was in a home were it wasn't necessary to do that, he still insisted on doing so. Sometimes the task of teaching our children responsibility can seem daunting but for the most part children learn by example so it's important that they see us doing what we want them to do.

I remember growing up, my Mom would say at times...do as I say and not as I do. Well, sadly that principal doesn't work with children. Actions speak louder than words and children will always copy our actions. It would be nice if we could remember that all the time everyday but sometimes we let emotions get the best of us and we forget that little eye's and ears are watching our every move. It is in those moments, that I apologize right away and tell them that it's a problem that Mommy needs to work on to improve. We are human and we will make mistakes in parenting the important thing is to learn from those mistakes and be real with our children letting them know that it shouldn't have happened or been said etc...

My children reassure me often that I am the Best Mommy in the world and that they love me very much. They love me despite the fact that I am impatient with them at times. Grumpy because they haven't completed their chores or they are giving me a hard time about doing them. They love me despite all the mistakes I make in Mothering them. No matter how misbehaved they are, I love them too for our love is unconditional! Unconditional love is an amazing thing. It forgives all and covers a multitude of mistakes. It's the kind of love that should exist between Husband and Wife, Parents and Children and with it comes a deep feeling of peace and satisfaction. God has that kind love for us. His love knows no limits and it has no conditions on it. Some people think they need to be 'good' before they can become a child of God but he wants you to come as you are. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes but the important thing is to learn from our mistakes and use is as a stepping stone into a brighter and better future keeping in mind that actions really do speak louder than words!

I Believe - A 9/11 Tribute

We Will Remember!

911

September 11th, 2001

For most people around the world 7 years ago, this day started as a routine and boring day until the first plane hit the Twin tower in New York, USA. I remember turning the radio on while I was cleaning when I heard the first broadcast. Like most people, I was dumbfounded and in disbelief. I rushed to turn on the TV to see if there was anything about it in the news. We only had 3 basic channels but on one a message came across the screen saying...we interrupt this program with breaking news that another plane has hit the Twin Towers. I was so consumed with the newscast that I didn't hear Hannah for a couple of minutes. She was 5 months at the time and was crying after waking up from a nap. Some of us can probably remember in detail many things that transpired on this day. It went down in history as a very sad and tragic story of death, loss, violence and war.

I didn't know anyone who perished or anyone who was connected personally to this story but it still moved me with sadness and compassion. For many months afterwards there were testimonies and survivor's gaining the courage to share their stories. I did hear one that was pretty amazing at how God protects his children. There was a christian who worked in the office of where a plane hit directly in one of the towers. He was on his way to work that morning feeling great when all of a sudden, he got very sick. He got so sick that he was compelled to turn around and go back home where he watched in sadness as his coworkers perished or were hurt badly.

This was a wake up call for America and Canada and shook these nations to the very core. Family and friends were holding each other a little tighter and all of a sudden what was taken for granted became precious. Most of us woke up and realized that just because we lived in the west doesn't mean we are protected from terror. This even affected our children who heard about it at school or overheard conversations about it. It drove people to prayer and caused them to get back to the basics of life. All of a sudden families weren't so concerned about material things because in an instant they realized you could loose it all.

Tragedies like this are so hard to comprehend with our human minds and we are left wondering... Why? Why would God allow this to even happen? What people don't realize is that God is bound by his word and he gave humans a free will to choose right from wrong. Some people make the wrong choice and as a result, innocent lives are lost and innocent people suffer. It is sad that this happens. For every action there is a reaction and when the action is terror...nations suffer. God didn't do this...Man did. But the good news is, in any tragedy God is able to bring healing and comfort. He is always able to take what was meant for evil and turn it around for good. He is an on time God ready to minister in time of need if we will allow him to. He would never force himself on us because then he would be taking away our will of free choice.

On this day 7 years ago, the world changed. For the families whose lives were touched by this.....they will never be the same! We will remember!!

*If you haven't taken the time to watch the YouTube video I posted...do so sometime. It's a gentle reminder to be thankful for the life you live.*

Busy as a Bee

I love the fall. The air gets cooler as the leaves turn such beautiful colors. Children are back to school and life slows down....NOT!!! (LOL) For some reason, I thought with the Twins going to Preschool I wouldn't be as busy however, I find that I am even more on the go. Getting 5 children in the mornings can be a bit of a challenge if the children don't want to co-operate. Sometimes, I feel like I am herding cattle to the bus stop! Then while getting the Twins loaded into the van for preschool something unexpected always come up. Like for instance this morning, I had both all buckled in their seats ready to go when Alex pipes up...I have to go potty and so of course, Emily had to go too. There is always something to do in the mornings and a lot of stuff left undone.


Tuesday night we had our Gr. 6 orientation at HP for Reuben. What a fantastic staff they have and it was really neat to see that Reubens homeroom Teacher was someone I graduated from High School with. We were fortunate to have my sister babysit for us so, we turned this night into a date night. It was nice to relax and chat with Hubby about different things and after we got home, my sister and I were able to have some girl time at Timmies.


I cherish every moment I get to spend with Michelle before she moves away. (I have started a blog about us but haven't published it yet) She and her girls stayed the night and needless to say she was surprised at how busy I was and how fast the day goes with the kids coming and going at different times. There is never a dull moment around here. Even though sometimes I am so thinly spread I feel like I am going to snap, I am thankful that I have this business in my life. For the last year I have been battling some health problems so that only adds to our busy days. What I am not able to accomplish in a run of a day, Hubby is kind enough to fufill the task. We are busy as bee's even when we work together but when one of us is sick, we find it hard to even sit and relax for a moment or two but we wouldn't change things for the world...except maybe my health improving. :)





I can relate to these cartoons as I am sure many of you can! They got me through some pretty stressful days :)

Listen!!! The Silence is LOUD

Today was a bittersweet day, I had a mixture of emotions. Today, I realized the Twins aren't babies anymore. They have made that big step towards even greater independence. Today was the first day of Preschool for our youngest, Emily and Alex.

I couldn't help but reflect on how much time has passed since they were newborn. They were born early and so they stayed in the NICU for a few weeks until they could learn to suck and breathe on their own. I remember seeing their tiny bodies hooked up to all sorts of wires and feeling so overwhelmed and helpless. Since they were born premature, they had to be monitored a lot. Sometimes they would stop breathing on their own and in those moments fear would grip a hold of me and I thought they wouldn't make it. Now here they are 4 years old, totally healthy and strong. Totally excited that today was their first day in "school"!

It took a good half hour to get them settled into their class. Not because they were crying and didn't want to stay but because I was getting them from their outside shoes to the inside shoes (etc) and then they both had to go to the bathroom. Alex went first and as I got back I was just getting ready to leave and Emily had to go. I figured I'd save their teachers the trip as I knew they would be bugging them often throughout the morning to go. After Emily was done washing her hands, she looked at me and said matter of factly, " Mommy you can go now!" I informed her that I couldn't because I hadn't told Alex I was leaving and that I had to walk her back to the class. To which she piped up and exclaimed, " It's ok Mommy, I can tell him and I CAN walk by myself. I am BIG girl now!" LOL ....*Sigh* She is right of course. She is a big girl now and I have to stop thinking of them as babies.

After dropping them off, I was flabbergasted and wondering what now? I wasn't sure what to do at first! For 4 years my daily routine revolved around the twins and the other 3 children when they weren't in school. Since I wanted to get back into the routine of going to the gym, I decided to head there. After a vigorous workout I realized...... It had been way too long since I visited the gym and I had better make more of an effort to go more consistently. Thanks to Headstart, I can now make this a part of my morning routine. On the way home I grabbed a coffee thinking how weird it was there was no arguing or fighting going on in the back seat. I didn't even turn the radio on like I usually do. That's when I realized that the silence was way too LOUD!!

Here I thought I would enjoy the peace and quiet, and I did somewhat once I got home but all of a sudden I had an overwhelming surge of loneliness sweep over me. However, it didn't last long! I totally enjoyed their little conversations in the morning as I sipped my coffee or watch them do silly things. They are quite the entertainers however, I am thankful that I can now take this time for me. It's been hard to have alone time since they were born and I am looking forward to finding myself again! LOL

Once I realized my time was up and I had to get the twins, I found myself wishing I had a few more minutes to myself. They will be going three days a week in the mornings so we will still have part of the afternoon and two mornings of the week to go on our little adventures like we used to last year. Actually, it is refreshing to have them take this step. I don't care if the silence is loud in the mornings, I welcome it with open ears :)

Showers of Blessings

Rain, rain go away

Come again another day

Little children want to play

Rain, rain go away!

How often have you wanted to sing this song in the past few weeks? We have gotten so much rain recently that some of our friends have flooded basements. It's amazing how it just keeps pouring down oblivious to the fact that there are disgruntled parents cooped up inside with bored, crying children. No matter what activities you try to encourage your children to do they don't want to do those things. Whether it's playing a game, playing with each other in their rooms, doing crafts, play with play dough or watching a movie, nothing is exciting enough for my children when it's raining. Why is it on a beautiful day they want to stay inside and all of a sudden those activities hold their interest but when its horrible weather they want to go out?

One particular rainy day, I had set the twins up with crafts. Since they were distracted, I decided to tackle the ever growing mountain of laundry. The older children were at school and I was making it a goal to have everything done before they got home. As I was sorting clothes, Alex decided he wanted to make breakfast. I had already cooked them oatmeal and they ate all of it so I don' t think it was hunger that prompted him to do this. I was focused on my task at hand and about 10 to 15 minutes into doing laundry I could hear giggles and laughter coming from the kitchen so, I decided to investigate.

Low and behold, there they were just 2 1/2 years old making their own breakfast. There was a dozen eggs smashed all over the floor! Emily was in the process of pouring cereal on the eggs while Alex was adding the milk and stirring it. What a MESS!!! I laugh now when I think back but at the time I wasn't smiling. Nonstop for almost 2 years and even sometimes now, I clean a room while they trash another one. There are countless stories I could tell of them. Like the time I came into the kitchen after getting clothes off the line and they were jumping on the counter on JUICE BOXES laughing as the juice squirted out and ran down the fridge and wall. There are times I wonder if our house will ever be normal or halfway decent again. But in the midst of all this chaos, I am counting my blessings. Thankful for all that God has given me and knowing that He wouldn't give us any more than we can bare.

Just this morning, I was more tempted to groan and complain rather than count my blessings. I tackled the downstairs washroom and while I was giving it a thorough cleaning, Alex decided to shine my kitchen floors......with margarine!! Not only that but he shined the stove and stools too. I am not sure if Emily helped him. He blames her and she said that it was him but I only saw Alex in the kitchen. What a mess to clean up. On the bright side, everything is very slippery and smooth now. LOL

I am so thankful that it is not a rainy day today. The twins are now ready to go outside with me for a nice walk. As I reflect on the showers of blessings in my life, I am so thankful that I serve a God who wants to bless us beyond measure. So much so that we can hardly contain it. He gave me a double blessing when he gave me the Twins. He has blessed me with a wonderful husband and 5 healthy children. It would take hours to share the showers of blessings that have come into my life. To many time we focus on what we think we need and take for granted the blessings that have already happened to us. The old hymn says "Count your blessings, name them one by one....Count your many blessings see what God has done!" It will amaze you as you begin to count your blessings just how much God has blessed you with!



"And I will send showers, showers of blessings, which will come just when they are needed" Ezekiel 34:26, NLT

A Sip of Humor

On one of our Mother/Daughter outings, Rachael decided she really wanted to go to Burger King for Dinner. We ordered our food and she choose a window seat by the front entrance. She was sitting facing the window and I the crowd of customers happily devouring their Burgers.

All of a sudden Rachael pipes up in a loud surprised voice, " Mommy is that an outdoor toilet?" So, of course I turn around curiously peer out the window behind me not seeing anything out of place let alone an outside toilet. I said " Rachael, what are you talking about, I don't see anything eat your lunch we have to go soon." Then I proceeded to take a drink of iced tea.

"It must be Mommy," she insisted loudly " Look, it says Butt Stop!" pointing at the ashtray tin for cigarettes hanging on the side of the building. Needless to say, the window got a good washing of iced tea for I laughed so hard I couldn't swallow and all you could hear was ripples of laughter from everyone within hearing distance.

Where Did the Summer Go?

One morning, I woke up to the sound of chirping birds and the bright sun stretching it's golden rays towards our window. It was the last day of school for the children and now here they are going back again. Where did those summer months go? It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating Reuben's grade 5 graduation and making plans for summer vacation. Our summer turned out to be a lot busier than what we had planned. There were weddings, funerals, reunions, parties and our annual summer Albright Christmas tradition. Every summer my side of the family gets together and celebrates Christmas rather than doing it in December. Our family is so large and live a few miles from each other that it is easier for us to do this in the warmer months where we can fire up the BBQ, meet at a park or at each others houses. We do countless fun activities with the children and swap gifts. We always have a blast.



My mother has 19 grandchildren and she isn't even 50 yet. I have one brother and 4 sisters and between the six of us we have given all these grandchildren to our Parents. Family functions are filled with laughter and a lot of noise as all these children except one are ages 11 and under! We have come to realize that time spent together is precious and that it goes very fast. I wish we would have had more time to do what we wanted to do this summer. In August it rained nonstop for well over 17 days straight. This put a damper on any outside activities but I am thankful that I got to see a lot of my family that I haven't seen in years and happy that we were able to take the children on vacation to Nova Scotia where they had the time of their lives :)



Isn't it funny how when we were children time seemed to stand still? Now, as adults we don't have enough hours in the run of the day to do all we want to do. Many times I lay my head down at night disappointed that I didn't accomplish all I wanted to however more importantly I realized I am blessed because I took the time to spend quality time with my children. We may have gone on a hike or explored nature in a local park. Or maybe we baked cookies and watched a movie together. It is those little moments where the child feels more important than housework that matter. We had a lot of projects planned for this summer and not even half of them got done and it left us wondering...where did the summer go? I know where it went...it drifted off down memory lane like all of our yesterdays!

Summer 2008 in Nova Scotia

Mommy for Sale

"Mommy for sale...only 50 cents! Mommy for sale only 50 cents!"

Mommy for sale...only 10 cents! Mommy for sale only 10 cents!"

Mommy for sale only 1 cent! Mommy for sale only 1 cent!"

This song can be heard all over the house when our Twins, Emily and Alex sing it at the top of their lungs. They sing it with such enthusiasm that it makes one wonder if they really mean it. Of course they really don't. They are just repeating a song from a movie that the Olsen Twins star in where they try to sell their brother and so they sing, " Brother for sale...etc" It's a repetitive song and sometimes can get annoying but hey, at least I am worth something in their eyes. LOL Of course I know that they love me and that I mean the world to them. They cry when I leave the house and they aren't going. They fight over who is going to sit beside me at the supper table. They constantly hover around me and follow me from room to room and even though they don't quite understand the concept of monetary value. I know that in their eyes they wouldn't want to "sell" me to anyone. Goodness, they don't even want to share me with each other or their other siblings sometimes it drives me to the point where I want to sing at the top of my lungs,"Children for sale...only 5 cents" (I figure hey, 1 cent per child and I could be onto something here.... LOL) I am JOKING of course. My children are priceless!!!!!!

There are some things in life that we just can't put a price on and yet we take them for granted. The value of these things are so great that there isn't enough money in the world to come anywhere near being close to the worth of those things. Our husbands/wives, our marriages, our children, family and friends are sometimes under appreciated and taken for granted. We take life for granted even. In the end it is not going to matter how many people you impressed or how many material things you accumulated. It's not going to matter even how much your worth. What is going to matter is if you made a difference in the lives of people around you. If you shone a light where there was darkness or if you encouraged someone with a kind word or a smile.

Awhile back in my personal devotions, I began a study on the Proverbs 31 woman. The virtuous woman, the woman that God wants us to be. The woman I desire to become with Gods guidance and 'the woman whose price is far above rubies'. ( Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Prov 31:10) I am not perfect and I fall short at times but I am so thankful for a loving, merciful God that can restore us and bring healing to our lives. He knows we are human and he doesn't expect us to be perfect. And all though His mercies are new and fresh every morning, that doesn't give us a license to do whatever we want to. ( It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lam 3: 22-23)

That kind of mercy is priceless and we shouldn't take it for granted. We have people in our lives right now that we don't show enough appreciation to. These people may have hurt us or disappointed us but sometimes we forget they do those things because they are hurting and not happy. If we could learn to not take it personally and see past their pain, I believe that we can make a difference in their life. We live in a world where getting even justifies everything, however it is forgiveness that releases us to a life of peace not the act of getting even. The act of forgiveness is priceless. Not only does it release you to heal from the hurt but it also frees you up to help others who may be facing the same thing. I know how hard it is to forgive. If you knew my life story and you will someday in the near future when I post my testimony, you would realize that I have had some terrible things happen to me as a child and in order for me to heal. I had to forgive those people that hurt me. Also, how can we expect God to forgive us if we refuse to forgive? You can't put a price on your loved ones even if they do disappoint you or hurt you. They are just as valuable as you are in the eyes of God. He is no respecter of persons and he loves us all the same. I encourage you to take that step and maybe give your loved one a hug or call them up and tell them how much they mean to you. You never know the impact you could make on a persons life. I leave you with a quote I heard one time:

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world!

The 7 Storeys

~♥~ Welcome from the 7 Storeys ~♥~

To those of you who may not know our family, I wanted to introduce you to the 7 Storeys. As stated in my profile, I am currently a stay at home Christian Mommy of 5 adorable miracle children. Every baby is a miracle however my babies are they type of miracles that you could only hope for. The Doctor told us that we would never have children after loosing 4 babies and I was devastated. But the God I serve is a Healer and one night a Bible School Student prayed for me and I had a miraculous healing much to the Doctor's surprise! I will be posting my personal story in the near future that has more details about this. My husband and I are blessed and thank God for our adorable children. Not only did we end up with 5 of them, but included in that is a set of Twins. A double portion!!! :)

I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, Conrad who has put up with me for over 16 years now. Hard to believe that 14 of those years were in marriage. I was young when I married him and he is such a dedicated husband and father. A man of God and truly a man of integrity. A man that I am so proud to call my husband. He is a Senior Systems Analyst and volunteers in many areas for our local church. He also plays the drums and enjoys fishing, spending time with the kids and the occasional wing night at JJ's. He has an amazing sense of humor and puts his family first.

~♥~ Storey 1 & 2 ~♥~

Conrad & Joanie

~♥~ Storey 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 ~♥~

Hannah...Alex...Reuben...Emily...Rachael

Our oldest, Reuben is 10 (soon to be 11) and is a compassionate, loving boy. He enjoys biking and playing his DS. Rachael, our second child is 9 and is very much a mother hen. She is easygoing and very artistic. Hannah is 7 and enjoys playing outside and doing puzzles. She has a bubbly personality. The twins, Alex and Emily are 4. Alex is very protective of Emily and is more mischievous whereas Emily is a nurturer. They enjoy playing outside and doing crafts. All of our children are a joy to have and they mean the world to us. To view more pics or to learn more about us you can visit our website at http://www.the7storeys.piczo.com/ It is not totally finished yet as I don't have much time to work on it or up date it. It will always be a work in progress, I am sure. God Bless and have a wonderful day!

~The 7 Storeys

The Battleground

A new day, a fresh morning and another battle. To all you Parents with budding pre-teens, I am sure you can relate to what I have to write about today. We are entering a new season, fall is just around the corner and the children are now back to school. For our family, this means making a concentrated effort to be organized the night before so that mornings are less stressful and the children aren't going to school with mismatched socks or missing items. However, lastnight I went out with my sister and got home after the children were in bed. I wasn't able to ask their opinion on what they would like to wear to school the next day.

After I got home, I laid the childrens clothes out and packed most of their lunch. Returned agendas and signed papers to their bookbags and made sure all sneakers were matched up and on the shoe rack. Everything was in place and after loading the dishwasher I headed to bed thankful that the children had a great start back to school and that my fears for Reuben starting Middle School were pretty much nonexistant. God had given me a peace about it.

Rachael was up for 5 minutes this morning when the first battle begin. She woke up grumpy so that didn't help matters much. She is normally our calm, easy going child but when she makes her mind up about something she is determined to see it through. The battleground was the livingroom and the first battle was over clothes. I had chosen the wrong outfit for her. An outfit that she loved two weeks ago and now all of a sudden she hated it. I wasn't going to argue with her or try to convince her to wear it. Since, we were up extra early this morning and didn't have to rush. I simply told her to go choose another one with the understanding she had time for that this morning and that from now on that she was responsible for getting her clothes out the night before. Well, she didn't like that idea. I told her that we would discuss it after school.

The second battle was over hair. Rachael doesn't like to wear anything in her hair and since her hair is long it really does need to be kept back from her face. I like for my children to be well kept and I find when she wears her hair loose, it isn't long before it looks like a tangeled mess. Today, we comprimised and after her being dermined not to wear anything....I was just as determind to do something with her hair. So, I told her she could wear her hair loose for the most part. I just wanted to clip it back on the side. I was firm yet gentle with her and thankfully she finally agreed. Of course she had to approve it first by looking in the mirror. She came out of the bathroom beaming, exclaiming "I love it Mommy!" Ah ha!! I won that round.

The third battle took place in the kitchen. This time with Hannah who wanted a bowl of cereal then partway through it changed her mind and wanted a bagel. Of course I told her no that she had to finish her cereal first. Well, she didn't like that and started to whine but I stood my ground and she choose not to finish her breakfast. Time went so fast this morning, and the next thing I knew they were off to school and I began my morning routine.

These battles are common and a part of growing up. It's a way for children to develope their personality and character. Even though all 5 of our children have the same parents, they are all unique and very different individuals. Our youngest are a set of boy/girl twins and all though they have a strong bond with a lot of similarities they are as different as night and day. Wrapped up in these adorable packages lies a lot of talent and potential. They mean the world to me and I love them very much.

I know this post is sharing an example of parental battles but there are many battles that we fight in our life. Some big, some small and some we fight on an almost daily basis. Has life gotten you down or disapointed you? Are you constantly on a battleground with no rest or break from the cares of life? Do you sometimes feel like no one cares and that even God is 'out to get you'? I want to tell you that is not the case at all. God loves you and he has your best interest at heart. In the Bible there is a scripture found in Jeremiah 29:11 that says:" For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. "

You know sometimes He calms the storm and at other times he calms his child in the middle of the storm. I read a quote one time that said, "Instead of saying God here is my problem...say Problem..HERE IS MY GOD!" Wow, that really put things into perspective for me and all of a sudden the problem got smaller and I had renewed strength to press on. Being a follower of Christ is not about religion. It's about a relationship with a loving, merciful God who cares deeply for us. You are worth a lot to him. So much that he died for you so that you could live a life of peace, joy and happiness. (John 3:16) He has a special gift for you and all you have to do is ask, believe and recieve. ( Acts 2:38) That void you have in your heart that you've tried to fill with different things that disapoint or hurts you will be filled with the love of Christ and you will know what true happiness is if you surrender your life to him. There is a battle going on daily for your soul but that battle was already won on the cross. However, God is a gentleman and will not force you to serve Him so the choices you make today will echo throughout eternity and will determine who gets your soul after you pass from this life. I hope and pray you make the right choice.

Joshua 24:15: " And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Back to School

Author: Joanie
~♥~Hi... to all you consistant blog readers out there! This is my first post and first attempt at creating our little corner on the internet. Welcome to the Adventures in Storeyland!~♥~


Groan, the alarm clock went of so early this morning and I did not want to get out of bed. After getting my sleep interupted for the third time in the night from restless toddlers, I had a hard time going back to dream land. However, Hubby hurriedly jumped in the shower and urged me that Reuben needed to get up now because he was in Middle School and his bus comes an hour earlier than the one the girls catch for school. I looked at the clock..... YIKES it was 7:04 and Reuben's bus comes at 7:15!! Quickly, I jumped up and rushed downstairs to toast a bagel and put up Reubens lunch while he got dressed. It wasn't long and he was outside waiting for the bus, all fed and clean and with me thanking my lucky stars I got him to take a bath lastnight!





The Girls woke up and came downstairs. I got their breakfast and finished putting up lunches. Hubby rushed off to work and the twins amused themselves with morning cartoons. Rachael realized that the van was home so she immediatly started begging me to drive them to school. Ahhhh, an excuse to go to Timmies and get my much needed cup of hot coffee! LOL So, I got dressed and got the twins ready and after much picture taking we piled into the van and drove away. Today was so emotional for me! It's hard letting go of your children a bit so they can enter into another stage of independance. Reuben is growing up fast. He didn't want to be driven to school today. It wouldn't be cool, Mom, he said. I am worried about what sort of things he will be exposed to at Middle School. Drugs...Sex...Bullying...etc. You know the regular things Mommy's worry about. Sometimes, I wish I could be a fly on the wall at school that turns into a warrior when he needs protection or influance to make the right choices. We can only hope that the morals and values we instilled in them from the time they were born will stand the test of peer presssure. Combine that with our daily prayers and God's protective power, we have to be encouraged that everything is going to be ok.





When I watched Hannah and Rachael get ready this morning, I realized that they are growing up so fast too. Hannah was our baby for quite awhile until the twins came along. She is going into grade 2 and was very excited that she would be seeing her friends today. Rachael is going into grade 4 and she was looking forward to seeing her friends too. We live in a Military Town and a lot of their friends move away during the school year due to postings to another province. Rachaels good friend Melissa moved away this summer and Rachael had a few sad moments when she realized that Mel wouldn't be there today. All in all, they were very excited to be back to school. Dressed in their new outfits with huge backpacks, they looked like little ants carrying a huge load. It won't be long and I will be seeing Emily and Alex off to school. They do start headstart next tuesday! Ahhh, my babies are growing up and letting go is so hard to do.