So I much like many other people LOVE Ikea...I also, like many other people (usually not the same people) have grown to not love Ikea so much.
I love that you can get some great household things for a reasonable price. I love their kids plates and bowls and cups. I love the whole kids section. I love their organization stuff. I love that I found an Ikea table from the 80s on craigslist and it still looks nice and is so strudy. I love the cheap food you can get there...$1 for breakfast :)
So on New Years Day, I had decided I need to get out of the house so I looked up Ikeas hours online...little did I know I was looking at the hours for the Calgary store. I convinced Jim to take me and the sick kids to Ikea. He joked about it not being open, but I checked...I knew it would be open. Guess what??? Nope totally not! So the next day with a little convincing (not much) I talked Jim into taking us there again. You see I wanted to get Gabby a new dresser for her room. So we started out, got there at about 10am. Bought a few things, plates, roll of paper, some paint smocks, another high chair for the daycare and a new pretty pink dresser for the Princess. (Its a big girl dresser and did you know that big girls don't pull all their clothes out of their dressers??? That is what we have told Gabby anyways)
We also found a new desk that we wanted. It was regular $550 and on sale for $200. We had a little money we got for Christmas so thought this might be a nice thing to get. So after wandering Ikea for hours, having a nice meal of swedish meatballs for lunch we headed into the warehouse to find out items. Our bookshelf (named Alve) was in the far back corner. And they were all gone or so we thought...we saw one like 3 shelves up. Jim asked if they could get it down...the guys response, we can't get out a forklift during open hours, its against BC Legislation. So Jim wanted to get it down himself. I forbid him and he found someone else to talk to. Apparantly, some kids at some warehouse (not Ikea) in some state were killed by a forklift so Ikea will not pull out a forklift during open hours. So we wanted to get free shipping to Abbotsford the next day. The kids were insanely fusy at this point so I took them to the van. Jim waited in the long line up to pay for our current things and then headed to customer service to talk to a manager. Boy was he shocked when the second guy he spoke to walked out. Told Jim he had to come back in the morning. So this morning Jim got up and drove out to Ikea for the 3rd time. He did get the desk :) I just have to put it together now.
Fortunately Jim was able to help out a friend who needed a ride home from the Skytrain station on his way home :) To say the least I have had enough of Ikea for a little while. And I didn't get the bowls that I needed, so if anyone is heading to Coquitlam to Ikea please pick me up some colourful kids bowls and I will pay you for them :)
Blessings :) and Happy Ikea shopping!
Patti
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Reflections from the Christmas season
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Tomorrow both Jim and I are back to work, so I thought I would take a few moments and remember this Christmas that is now in the past.
Our Christmas festivities started on Christmas Eve. My cousin, Megan, was visiting with her daughter from Nova Scotia. Her daughters birthday is on Christmas Day so we had a little party for her. It was very nice with some of my family. Jim made some VERY delicious chili and we had some cake. Mekada got to play with Gabby and I got to hang out with my cousin who I have not seen in about 15 years.
After the party we packed up the kids (well I packed up the kids, while Jim snuck around the city "doing something") and headed to church. The Christmas Eve service is always such a blessing. A time to celebrate Jesus' birthday. After church we headed over to Dragon Fort (a very yummy Chinese restaurant and one of the only places open on Christmas Eve) for our annual tradition of eating out on Christmas Eve. This year Jim's entire family decided to join us, even his dad and brother, who had been in emergency earlier that day made it out. (Why emergency, Jims dad was quite dizzy, the diagnosed him with Crystals in the inner ear). We ate, then drove around a little, headed home and put the kiddos to bed. Jim and I then got to play Santa and arrange our presents under the tree.
On Christmas Day we slept in until 8:30, Jim drove over to pick up his dad while I made breakfast. We ate, then Jim (and Gabby) told the Nativity story using Little People. It was so special hearing Gabby actually know most of the story. Then we got to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and eat cake (Mommy was supposed to make a chocolate cake that Gabby picked out, but just used the leftovers from Mekadas party the day before...she totally asked where her chocolate cake was). We then took the next 4 hours to open presents. The kids would get tired and need a rest, Judah was a huge grump and we had to drive Jims dad home in the middle of it. When we were almost done, we heard a very loud bang and then the power went out. How fun! On Christmas Day no power...fortunately we did not have to make a big meal for people...so we just made some burgers on the BBQ for lunch and the power came back on before dinner time (about 4 hours after it went off) What happened??? A crow flew into the power lines and got fried! Yes really! We then just had a relaxing evening together. Judah was absolutely miserable ALL day...like he had his worst day EVER on Christmas Day...so grumpy!!! At the end of the day though I said to Jim that this was my favourite Christmas yet. It was just so nice and relaxing and the kids are learning so much about Jesus and his birthday and don't care so much for Santa.
Boxing Day, well I woke up at 6am and decided to go check out Walmart...guess what I bought on Boxing Day??? Toilet paper and kleenex...have almost a years supply now :) Then I went home and started cooking potatoes. I think I washed, cut and seasoned 15 pounds of potatoes. Jim kept saying no thats not enough, maybe more. Just a little more...maybe a few more...just a couple... We then packed up the van with potatoes and presents and Jim drove around the corner to his brothers house. I decided to walk with the kids. Judah was content for the few minutes we were walking. Gabby, in her Sunday best was having fun holding her new umbrella on this slightly rainy day...and alas...she steps in dog poo (see the picture)...not once...not twice, but three times! Then proceeded to touch it TWICE while taking shoes off. Never a dull moment with us! We had a nice meal with Jims family, the kids got to play and open a couple presents. I got to go for a relaxing dip in the hottub (just imagine 7 kids, ages are 2,5,6,7,9,12,13 in the hot tub with Julie and I, not so relaxing) and left early to get the kids into bed. The one thing that was missing at this celebration was Jim's dad. He was there, but wasn't, something was off with him all day. He would forget things he had done and just seemed like he wasn't there. He did seem a little happier when he returned in the evening but still not himself. Oh and forgot to mention we brought home about HALF the potatoes...yes I said that...HALF!!! I love Jim!
The next day we had some friends over for lunch. We only see them about once or twice a year since they moved to Gibsons so we squeezed them in when we could while they were here. It was a lovely lunch, we had leftover Potatoes and some turkey :) The were here for a few hours then we had to pack up the van again to head over to another house for a Lasagna dinner. This is an annual tradition at the Benjamin house. We got to hang out with some friends and Gabby and Judah's gramma and grampa Benjamin. They got spoiled yet again! It was another late night for the kids, but Gabby was pleasant and Judah was nicely medicated on Tylenol and Ibuprofen.
The following day we packed up the kids at 10am to head into Vancouver. We were going to meet my family at the Aquarium then go to the Stanley Park train. Judah was running on NO sleep all day! He refused to sleep all day. So on top of his grumpy grumpy teething pants he was over tired! Gabby was so much fun at the aquarium. Judah just loved to be parked in front of the really big tanks and watch the fish. We then headed to the train...Judah finally fell asleep about 15 minutes before we boarded the train so he had a little power nap and was more pleasant after. We were invited to go back to my Aunts house for a late dinner but our children were DONE!
The next morning we woke up to a very sick Gabby, she had caught a stomach bug. Judah now on top of being teething fusy he has a bad cold as well. YAY! So this was our first day to relax so that is what we did. Jim had a little work to do but me and the kids relaxed. Gabby puked all day, pooped all day and Judah cried... the following day...pretty much the same...more puke, more poop and more screaming...Judah had now caught the stomach bug too.
Then we got to New Years Eve. Well we were going to just stay home and relax. Jim and I put the kids to bed, ordered Chinese Food, drank some wine, ate some chocolate and went to bed...asleep by 10:30 :) It was the best way to spend New Years!
Then comes New Years Day, we took it easy, went for lunch with Jims dad and well this started our THREE trips to IKEA! Another post to come soon about IKEA!
With all that said, I am very excited about 2011. Some prayer requests for the coming year are
1. Jims dad - for healing and/or peace for him as well as knowledge for the doctors
2. Jims Uncle Bernie - he is suffering with a form of anemia (I think so anyways) that attacks Bone Marrow
3. church - direction for our Pastors
4. our Pastorate - this is our bible study (just that everyone can learn exactly what we should)
5. our family of 4 - that we can continue to teach our children about God and the love that he has for them AND that Jim and I can make date nights a priority
6. our businesses - that both Jim and I can run our businesses in a way that honours God and that we can be good stewards of our money
If you have anything that you would like to add to the list, let me know :)
Blessings!
Patti, Jim, Gabby & Judah
Tomorrow both Jim and I are back to work, so I thought I would take a few moments and remember this Christmas that is now in the past.
Our Christmas festivities started on Christmas Eve. My cousin, Megan, was visiting with her daughter from Nova Scotia. Her daughters birthday is on Christmas Day so we had a little party for her. It was very nice with some of my family. Jim made some VERY delicious chili and we had some cake. Mekada got to play with Gabby and I got to hang out with my cousin who I have not seen in about 15 years.After the party we packed up the kids (well I packed up the kids, while Jim snuck around the city "doing something") and headed to church. The Christmas Eve service is always such a blessing. A time to celebrate Jesus' birthday. After church we headed over to Dragon Fort (a very yummy Chinese restaurant and one of the only places open on Christmas Eve) for our annual tradition of eating out on Christmas Eve. This year Jim's entire family decided to join us, even his dad and brother, who had been in emergency earlier that day made it out. (Why emergency, Jims dad was quite dizzy, the diagnosed him with Crystals in the inner ear). We ate, then drove around a little, headed home and put the kiddos to bed. Jim and I then got to play Santa and arrange our presents under the tree.
On Christmas Day we slept in until 8:30, Jim drove over to pick up his dad while I made breakfast. We ate, then Jim (and Gabby) told the Nativity story using Little People. It was so special hearing Gabby actually know most of the story. Then we got to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and eat cake (Mommy was supposed to make a chocolate cake that Gabby picked out, but just used the leftovers from Mekadas party the day before...she totally asked where her chocolate cake was). We then took the next 4 hours to open presents. The kids would get tired and need a rest, Judah was a huge grump and we had to drive Jims dad home in the middle of it. When we were almost done, we heard a very loud bang and then the power went out. How fun! On Christmas Day no power...fortunately we did not have to make a big meal for people...so we just made some burgers on the BBQ for lunch and the power came back on before dinner time (about 4 hours after it went off) What happened??? A crow flew into the power lines and got fried! Yes really! We then just had a relaxing evening together. Judah was absolutely miserable ALL day...like he had his worst day EVER on Christmas Day...so grumpy!!! At the end of the day though I said to Jim that this was my favourite Christmas yet. It was just so nice and relaxing and the kids are learning so much about Jesus and his birthday and don't care so much for Santa.
Boxing Day, well I woke up at 6am and decided to go check out Walmart...guess what I bought on Boxing Day??? Toilet paper and kleenex...have almost a years supply now :) Then I went home and started cooking potatoes. I think I washed, cut and seasoned 15 pounds of potatoes. Jim kept saying no thats not enough, maybe more. Just a little more...maybe a few more...just a couple... We then packed up the van with potatoes and presents and Jim drove around the corner to his brothers house. I decided to walk with the kids. Judah was content for the few minutes we were walking. Gabby, in her Sunday best was having fun holding her new umbrella on this slightly rainy day...and alas...she steps in dog poo (see the picture)...not once...not twice, but three times! Then proceeded to touch it TWICE while taking shoes off. Never a dull moment with us! We had a nice meal with Jims family, the kids got to play and open a couple presents. I got to go for a relaxing dip in the hottub (just imagine 7 kids, ages are 2,5,6,7,9,12,13 in the hot tub with Julie and I, not so relaxing) and left early to get the kids into bed. The one thing that was missing at this celebration was Jim's dad. He was there, but wasn't, something was off with him all day. He would forget things he had done and just seemed like he wasn't there. He did seem a little happier when he returned in the evening but still not himself. Oh and forgot to mention we brought home about HALF the potatoes...yes I said that...HALF!!! I love Jim!
The next day we had some friends over for lunch. We only see them about once or twice a year since they moved to Gibsons so we squeezed them in when we could while they were here. It was a lovely lunch, we had leftover Potatoes and some turkey :) The were here for a few hours then we had to pack up the van again to head over to another house for a Lasagna dinner. This is an annual tradition at the Benjamin house. We got to hang out with some friends and Gabby and Judah's gramma and grampa Benjamin. They got spoiled yet again! It was another late night for the kids, but Gabby was pleasant and Judah was nicely medicated on Tylenol and Ibuprofen.
The following day we packed up the kids at 10am to head into Vancouver. We were going to meet my family at the Aquarium then go to the Stanley Park train. Judah was running on NO sleep all day! He refused to sleep all day. So on top of his grumpy grumpy teething pants he was over tired! Gabby was so much fun at the aquarium. Judah just loved to be parked in front of the really big tanks and watch the fish. We then headed to the train...Judah finally fell asleep about 15 minutes before we boarded the train so he had a little power nap and was more pleasant after. We were invited to go back to my Aunts house for a late dinner but our children were DONE!
The next morning we woke up to a very sick Gabby, she had caught a stomach bug. Judah now on top of being teething fusy he has a bad cold as well. YAY! So this was our first day to relax so that is what we did. Jim had a little work to do but me and the kids relaxed. Gabby puked all day, pooped all day and Judah cried... the following day...pretty much the same...more puke, more poop and more screaming...Judah had now caught the stomach bug too.
Then we got to New Years Eve. Well we were going to just stay home and relax. Jim and I put the kids to bed, ordered Chinese Food, drank some wine, ate some chocolate and went to bed...asleep by 10:30 :) It was the best way to spend New Years!
Then comes New Years Day, we took it easy, went for lunch with Jims dad and well this started our THREE trips to IKEA! Another post to come soon about IKEA!
With all that said, I am very excited about 2011. Some prayer requests for the coming year are
1. Jims dad - for healing and/or peace for him as well as knowledge for the doctors
2. Jims Uncle Bernie - he is suffering with a form of anemia (I think so anyways) that attacks Bone Marrow
3. church - direction for our Pastors
4. our Pastorate - this is our bible study (just that everyone can learn exactly what we should)
5. our family of 4 - that we can continue to teach our children about God and the love that he has for them AND that Jim and I can make date nights a priority
6. our businesses - that both Jim and I can run our businesses in a way that honours God and that we can be good stewards of our money
If you have anything that you would like to add to the list, let me know :)
Blessings!
Patti, Jim, Gabby & Judah
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
At least I know I am not alone...
So Christmas is coming up really fast...I hope you are all ready, but hey even if you aren't it will come and go as it does every other year! :) I just hope that you can all find a few spare moments to really ponder the true meaning of Christmas, the coming of our Lord and Saviour. And that He came in such an unexpected way...as a baby in a stable full of animals. But how miraculous is way.
So, Gabby is learning more and more about baby Jesus and Santa this year. We have been to visit him 2 times and at first when I asked her what she wanted, she said "Me not tell you, me tell Santa." She later told me she wanted bongos. I am not sure if she knows what bongos are but I can assure you she is not getting bongos. Gabby has also really learned the skill of temper tantrums. Oh boy, my little princess turns into a raging monster sometimes. Imagine a wild pig screaming and running away, now imagine trying to get that pig into a carseat in the 3rd row of your mini van. Well that was pretty much me this morning, expect now replace the wild pig with my "sweet innocent" little princess. It is a learning curve and daddy just keeps saying, "I am glad it is your job to stay home with her not mine." So I am pretty sure he doesn't want to trade jobs any time soon :) Such is life and the encouraging part about all of this is that as I talk to more and more people I know "I am not alone". Apparantly pretty much all my friends are dealing with the same thing. I love my children, I really do. I am just glad that it is not all tantrums and that in between the tantrums she is a very loving little girl, full of hugs, kisses, kind words, sharing and smiles.
Judah is all smiles these days except for the little falls that he takes on a very regular basis. He is my little man and puts up with his sister a lot. I am a little afraid when he gets bigger than her (which will be soon as he is 28 lbs and she is 29). He is going to retaliate in a big way...no he won't, he will always be a good little boy. :) Well I can dream can't I.
Jim and I are both well. His family on the other hand needs some prayer. His dad was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and is waiting for an appointment to see a neuro-surgeon to see if it is opperable. Then his uncle is just really sick and currently in isolation (I think) and they are unsure what the issue is. They are awaiting bone marrow biopsy results. So, if you remember in your busy schedules to lift them up, please do.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Blogging???
Really? I had kinda been thinking of blogging for a while now, but had someone tell me recently with all our crazy adventures I should write about it. So here goes, I am going to try to blog every few days...we will see how that goes!
Well although yesterday was a crazy adventure with Gabby she really pulled through and showed me her beautiful little heart last night.
The crazy part? During nap time (which is now just quiet time) she somehow managed to sneak a stamp into her bedroom and covered her body including face, carpet, wall and bed with black ink from the stamp. We managed to get most of it off her face but while at church she was so proud of her tattoos she kept showing them to everyone. Then I got paged during church, only to be greeted by poop right up Gabby's back, then while changing her we ran out of wipes so had to try to use toilet paper....I am sure you can all see my frustration there.
The heart part? Well, it was Compassion Canada's night at church last night so we had decided ahead of time to let Gabby select a little girl to adopt. She looked at a bunch, then picked one up and said, "Please mama, can we take her home?" Melted my heart so we chose her, Pimwonal, from Thailand. We told Gabby about her and her family and that we were going to help her get enough food and medicine and go to school. Then at bedtime, she had to pray for Pimwomal, sing to Pimwomal and even wanted to sleep with her. She wants to send her blankets...who knows maybe one day Gabby will get to meet her little friend, Pimwomal.
Blessings to you all today!
Patti
Well although yesterday was a crazy adventure with Gabby she really pulled through and showed me her beautiful little heart last night.
The crazy part? During nap time (which is now just quiet time) she somehow managed to sneak a stamp into her bedroom and covered her body including face, carpet, wall and bed with black ink from the stamp. We managed to get most of it off her face but while at church she was so proud of her tattoos she kept showing them to everyone. Then I got paged during church, only to be greeted by poop right up Gabby's back, then while changing her we ran out of wipes so had to try to use toilet paper....I am sure you can all see my frustration there.
The heart part? Well, it was Compassion Canada's night at church last night so we had decided ahead of time to let Gabby select a little girl to adopt. She looked at a bunch, then picked one up and said, "Please mama, can we take her home?" Melted my heart so we chose her, Pimwonal, from Thailand. We told Gabby about her and her family and that we were going to help her get enough food and medicine and go to school. Then at bedtime, she had to pray for Pimwomal, sing to Pimwomal and even wanted to sleep with her. She wants to send her blankets...who knows maybe one day Gabby will get to meet her little friend, Pimwomal.
Blessings to you all today!
Patti
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