Smoke from western edge of the continent (BC) made for a surreal setting in the middle (MB).

Smoke from western edge of the continent (BC) made for a surreal setting in the middle (MB). Thankfully it cleared up the next day.

Liam took it upon himself to put his clothes away in his new closet himself...

Liam took it upon himself to put his clothes away in his new closet himself...

A couple days ago:

A couple days ago:
Liam is excited and yells, "Oh boy!"
Elle follows up with an equally excited, "Oh girl!"

Watching Planet Earth with Elle, is notably different than with the boys.

Watching Planet Earth with Elle, is notably different than with the boys. First animal is introduced, Elle, "can I pet it?" Next animal is introduced, Elle, "can I pet it?" Next animal...

First +30 degree day of the season. Kids drinking hot chocolate because they insist they're cold.

Nothing like a good book on a spring day.

Nothing like a good book on a spring day.

Elle excitedly, "Mum, look what I found!" Places object in Sara's hand.

Elle excitedly, "Mum, look what I found!" Places object in Sara's hand.

Sara curious, "Oh?"

Elle just as excited, "Mum, look what I found in my nose!"

Sara no longer curious, "Oh."

Elle has gotten really good at drawing lately.

Elle has gotten really good at drawing lately.

I just discovered that Liam can now write his name without assistance...

I just discovered that Liam can now write his name without assistance...

Normally I read bed time stories, but I'm feeling under the weather, so I told the kids, "If you're lucky, Mum will...

Normally I read bed time stories, but I'm feeling under the weather, so I told the kids, "If you're lucky, Mum will read you bed time stories."
Liam excitedly, "I'm lucky!!!"

Picking out the Christmas tree

Picking out the Christmas tree
https://photos.app.goo.gl/upeIWRm3NZBouaAg2

Oma had been explaining to the kids that Opa was at home because he was retired from work.

Oma had been explaining to the kids that Opa was at home because he was retired from work. When I got home, Liam excitedly exclaimed that, "Opa is at home because he is REAL TIRED!"

I was getting breakfast ready in the morning with the youngest two.

I was getting breakfast ready in the morning with the youngest two. It was crunch time, so I couldn't pay full attention. Out of the corner of my eye I see Elle reaching for the bowl of knick-knacks on the counter, which she's not supposed to get into.

Before I can say anything, Elle very sweetly and cheerfully goes, "Sorry, Dad!", while continuing to rummage in the bowl.

Then Liam follows up with, "It's ok, dad still loves you."

On the one hand it's great that they understand unconditional love, on the other...

Elle refused to wear her princess dress for Halloween and insisted on the cow outfit.

Elle refused to wear her princess dress for Halloween and insisted on the cow outfit. However, her brothers hand me down mitts were met with protest because they were not pink. #justellethings

We told the boys that they could have as much candy as they wanted the first night...

We told the boys that they could have as much candy as they wanted the first night...

Classic

Classic

Liam, telling a story at the dinner table, "The monster was chasing me down the stairs..."

Liam, telling a story at the dinner table, "The monster was chasing me down the stairs..."
James, "Was the monster Ellie?"
Elle, who has been busy eating her dinner up to this point, looks up at James and begins growling.

Sara, "James, you really need to clip your toe nails.

Sara, "James, you really need to clip your toe nails. Your feet are so dirty I can tell exactly where they need to be cut."
James, "It's ok, I lick them every night."
Sara and me in unison, "You do what?!!"
James, "Yeah, it's great, they taste sweet, it cleans them, and it cools me down."

On weekends Liam likes to help me make breakfast.

On weekends Liam likes to help me make breakfast. I'm a bit of a coffee snob, so I always use good beans and grind them myself. One of the things he always does is ask to smell the coffee grounds right after I've ground them, and he always responds by enthusiastically exclaiming, "oh, that smells good!" I just assumed he always said it just because, but today I was cleaning the grinder by running cheaper President's Choice beans through, and he asked to smell them, just like normal. Except this time he goes, "l don't like that daddy." Great, so we have another snob, but he's not even drinking coffee yet...

Neighbor boy (who's Nate's age), "I have more muscles than my dad."

Neighbor boy (who's Nate's age), "I have more muscles than my dad."
James, "OK, are you done making stuff up just so people will like you?"
Nate, "Humans have the same amount of muscles, unless they've had some removed by surgery."