I'm a mean, mean lady.

So as I was making Teresa's lunch, I heard cries of "Help.....Mommy help!" I walked into the dining room to find this:

I controlled my laughter long enough to grab the camera, and then rescued her from certain doom.

On a different note, the baby is doing great and I still feel fine. Teresa is pooping on the potty like a trooper and I saw a deer in our neighbors front yard, and have proof:

Tomorrow is halloween, so brace yourself for an onslaught of unbearable cuteness.

Train 'em early, or....how I learned to love manual labour

So this was a really hard week for me and the Friesen clan, but I'm doing okay. Thank you to all of you who called and e-mailed, it meant a lot. Now on to happier things.

Today Teresa "helped" Ken rake, which means as he piled the leaves she spread them back out again. It was priceless. She also helped him bag, threw sticks at Rowdy, and had a good time outside with daddy.
I have a ton of pictures for you, so I will give you a longer update later, but, for now, enjoy.

So, this one is pretty much self-explanatory.

I only included this one as proof Ken was actually working:)

Thank God we have eagle-eye Rowdy in control of the situation.

The super cute face of child labour

This is how she poses when I say "Teresa....smile"

That is indeed a clothes hangar she is wearing as a belt

The view from the front.

News - Good & Bad

First, the good news...  Today. Teresa went to the potty (pooping!) all on her own, pulled her pants down and didn't say anything until Cara until it was done.  Hurrah!  We had a brutal week on the poop front so this is great news!

Now some humour...  Yesterday's Bizzaro seemed appropriate.  Cara mentioned that she informed Rowdy that her toys were hers and he should not be playing with them.  Sadly Rowdy's comprehension level is a little low and hasn't figured that out.  Also she doesn't make is easy as she plays with her cars on his back.

Unfortunately, literally as this story was happening Cara was on the phone with her mother who informed her that her grandpa Friesen had died at work, likely of a heart attack.  I came home as soon as possible and Cara is off with her sister to Steinbach.  Funeral arrangements aren't set yet, but I am sure the family would appreciate your prayers.  Cara & her sister are quite distraught, as this was unexpected as he seemed in good spirits & health over Thanksgiving, although he has had heart troubles in the past.  I have compiled a few pictures of him & Teresa over the past few years.  Teresa was the only great grandchild he ever got to meet...

Having fun at Ray's 50th birthday in Kenora.

Andrea & the grandparents at Ray's 50th

Meeting Teresa for the first time.

Watching Teresa open gifts at her first birthday

More of Teresa at her first birthday...

Have a good day & keep everyone in your prayers.  Ken

"She dresses SO weird!" And other things I'll still be saying in 15 years...

So Teresa is into dress up big time, which is awesome because it entertains her, encourages play and imagination, but most importantly, make me laugh....hard.

My favourite outfits so far include: the princess gloves with a fireman's hat, the dragon mask, and the tiara combined with 3 different purses. The most hilarious outfit though was the tiara and princess gloves, which she put on in order to ride her Harley. That's my girl!

So here is a collection of the highlights from last week:

Teresa loves wearing my shoes, or in this case, slippers.

Here is a better view

Here is her dragon mask, which also has a matching hat.

The basket she is in contained all her nicely folded summer clothes, Teresa decided to unfold them and bury herself in it.

Life just can't get any better.

So my term is officially done, and I am looking forward to resuming my former lifestyle. My plans for tomorrow are as follows:

• Get up early and go to the gym (this is actually a new development)
  
• Let Teresa stay in her PJ's for hours and eat pancakes.
  
• At around 10, we will go for a walk to the nearest polling station and vote.
  
• After voting, it will clearly be time for the park.
  
• The park will be exhausting, so we will retreat home to watch Super Why and eat lunch, then stories and a nap.
  
• After nap time it is snack time, and then crafts:)
  
• Ken then comes home, so it's Daddy time all the way!
  

The adjustment will be tough, but I think we can handle it.

Check out the belly yo!

So the baby is growing, and growing, and growing. There is now no way on God's green earth I can fit into pants which do not contain elastic, nor am I feeling the urge to. The new kid is just as squirmy and kicky  and it's older sister was, but moves most when I'm walking Rowdy and reading to Teresa. I have a sneaking suspicion this is Little Yostie's way of warning Teresa that her lap hogging days are over!

We also had or first ultrasound on friday and have photographic evidence of Yostie (like the belly wasn't enough!) The ultrasound actually took over an hour, due to the squirminess of out latest addition, and most of that time the technician was looking for the bladder (she found it, but had to work fast). All is well with the little one, and the two areas of concern (the heart and spine) have developed normally so that is a relief.

In other news, I have completed 5 of 6 working weeks....yes, I am counting down. The school, kids and staff have been great, but I miss my real job. This term has actually reinforced Ken and I's decision to have me stay at home, and I can't wait to get back at it. I never really felt isolated when at home, and working all day makes me feel like I'm neglecting those who need me most (that would be Ken, then Teresa, then Rowdy in descending order of neediness:)

So without further ado, here is the belly...soon to be known as the swollen mass that attempted to eat Cara whole.....oh, and the baby, and Teresa.

Oh yeah....that's some belly.

This morning, Teresa had tucked Brown Dog in for a nap...

Our fuzzy gray miracle. Here is a profile shot.

This is another profile shot, the mouth is wide open.

Here are the arms.

And another appendage I don't recognize at the moment.

Our Teresa:)