I know my heart is in the right place and that's what matters the most

First off, YES those are extra kids in my house that are not residents of our home. Secondly, NO we are not having play dates just for fun and to ease the boredom. Thirdly, YES I very much know and RESPECT the recommendations that we are to self-isolate and not be around anyone who doesn't reside with us, however, in our world that just doesn't work for every circumstance. Jim's job on Texada is still operating and up until early next week I have still been going into the office most days to work while Jim has been home from work on holidays and in the mornings. 

After VIU's year end next week, I am extremely fortunate that for the foreseeable future I am going to be working from home, which means that I am able to still continue with watching kids while I'm home with my own 3. 

 I have been watching Hads and Kins for almost 3 years now and Katelyn and Tye for around the past 6-8 months. Both sets of kids mom's are essential service workers (nurses) and K&T's dad is a small business owner. PLEASE know that I understand that this is NOT a choice that everyone would make, but it is a choice that Jim and I have made and we feel comfortable and totally at peace with it. 

I love all 4 of these extra kids (and any of the other extras that we may end up with down the road) and not for a SECOND when I heard that schools were closing did it cross my mind that I would back out on any of them now. It's just not who I am.The work their parents are doing is invaluable to our community and I so respect the position that they are in with needing to work and run their business. In our every day life I feel like we go above and beyond to be of assistance with watching other kids and we will continue to do it in the months to come. I would take in more kids if I had to for other essential service workers too. Yes, I understand that this does increase our risk of catching the virus seeing as we are having extra people in our home, but because of that risk we are not seeing my parents, my aunt and uncle, my sister and brother in law, etc. We have literally seen no one face to face except these 4 kids for the past 2 weeks and I plan to keep it that way. All of the parents involved here understand that if anyone gets sick that every day/week is up for discussion and that is what makes it easy for us to be as flexible as we can.

I'm sharing this not because I overly care if people agree with our choices or not, but because I do want to take photos of them over the next few weeks in our Adventures of Homeschooling and wanted to be able to share without people thinking we were just having them here for fun. I've had the photos below all week and wanted to share but didn't for fear of the questions I would be asked. I'm hoping that this will explain my position on it. I am okay if you judge me for my choices (although I do hope that you won't), but in my heart I know that I'm doing it for the right reasons, and to me that is all that matters in the end. 

Oooohhhh....let the fun begin! Next week we're going to spend our days together doing fun stuff like arts and crafts, outdoor walks and scavenger hunts, some math worksheets, reading practice, a science experiment or two, and lots of outdoor recess and lunch time too! Wish me luck because with this crew it could get very interesting! 

Today we did some coloring, tomorrow we break out the paints for some rock painting!

I love this girl. She's got a heart of gold and is the best helper ever. 

These two were adorable helping me paint the hearts on the door at the school

Yummy new favorite snack - strawberries and Nutella!

We just set up the Wii again in the basement and now I have to figure out what school subject that could relate to for those afternoon tea breaks I will want to take. PS: Kennedy's face is how I envision I will feel on some days! :) hahahaha

Saturday Smiles - Mother/Daughter hockey fun!

A rare photo of just us girls! We all went to the Kings game on Friday night and I randomly thought to snap a photo of the 4 of us because I think it's been a long time since we took one. Not the best photo of us, but I still love it for the people that are in it!

Family Day 2020

This year we were determined to get out and enjoy Family Day together. My FB memories tell me that the last two years we’ve been home sick and haven’t done anything so this year we decided to go out to Saltery Bay for a fire, complete with hot dogs and s’mores! Our plan was almost changed due to a sick Kennedy but we decided to go anyways and hope for the best. She was certainly tired and under the weather but was a total trooper too. She was sound asleep in the truck before we even got moving! Thanks to all those that came out and joined us today as well! I have found this year that I’m more in the moment and haven’t been taking nearly as many photos as I have in the past, but here are some of my favourites.

She was so tired we were snuggling by the fire and she just about fell asleep in my arms

He’s an amazing little man already

Stole this post from my FB because I wanted to always remember both the cute photo of these two, and the comments between me and Aaron 2 years later about an adorable moment she witnessed at a recent Kings game. My hope is that even if they don't end up as husband and wife as they now truly believe they will, that they just go through life side by side as friends, knowing that the other is always there for them if they need them!

Saturday Smiles - Horizon Business Awards

This beautiful lady and I have been friends since we were 12 years old! We've had years along the way that we weren't super close, but we've always been connected in some way or the other. She means the world to me and whenever we do get together and get caught up we never lack in things to talk about.

Tonight we worked the ticket table at the Horizon Business Awards and spent the night chatting away the hours like no time had passed! Thanks for the quick photo snap at the end of the night my friend!

Maybe I should sneak down to my office tomorrow and see if I can find an old picture of us to go side by side to this one and see how well we've both aged!   :) 

The big Polar Bear Swim of 2020

Last year on January 1 while watching the Polar Bear Swim, Dane looked at Jim and said "okay Uncle Jim, I think we should do it next year". Jim kind of laughed and said "oh yeah for sure buddy". Fast forward to about a month ago and Theresa mentions it to me that Dane had brought it up and was still wanting to do it. Hahahahaha the look on Jim's face when I came home that day and reminded him of his commitment from last year was priceless.

Jim has been sick for almost 3 weeks now and I really thought a few days ago that he wasn't going to go through with it, but the day came and he was ready! James also decided a few weeks ago that he wanted to do it too. Me and Jordie boy were a big old hell no on joining in, and our little KJ girl would have been in that water in a heartbeat if we let her. It won't be long before she's joining in to this now yearly tradition. 

Jim really enjoyed it and said he would for sure do it again next year. Jordie said he'd consider it. James said he'd do it again. I'm still a huge hell no. And maybe we'll wait till Kennedy is 4 or 5 before we let her take the plunge?! Or should we let her try it next year at 3 to see how she does? 

Here's the photos and videos of the day!

Yay for Post #1 of 2020! My goal is 52 posts....we'll see how it goes! I always have the best of intentions and then life just gets in the way somehow. Fingers crossed I can get back to it more regularly. 

Just another crazy morning at the Barrows house

I have said it many many times before. I love having extra kids at my house. Playdates (which aren't as common anymore with my working and the kids ridiculous sports schedules), before school, after school, sleepovers, etc. I truly love my friends kids and my kids friends and genuinely enjoy having them around. Some people say I'm crazy for saying yes to the craziness, but what most don't realize is that once you get past 3 I don't feel like it's any more crazy than it already is. Lots of times when other kids are here it makes my kids fight less (although they still listen like shit!) and they often occupy and help with Kennedy too which is very helpful. On the days that I am running short on time I can usually sneak in a quick shower while someone somewhere is playing with Kennedy.

This morning was another one of those days where I had both the Foster girls and the Doxsee kids. This combination doesn't happen super often but when it does it's pancakes all around! And usually a much earlier morning getting going so that I have time to get everyone ready and out the door in time for me to get out the door to get KJ to the babysitters before I have to work!

These girls were amazing and unloaded the dishwasher for me while I made lunches and the boys got ready for school. As a treat they all got some vanilla steamed milk.

Before the craziness of breakfast hit I caught her laying alone on her little couch just flipping through James's book. This is rare at our house, especially on extra kid mornings when she is rarely left alone for a moment.

Wanted to attempt a group pic but they were impatient so I didn't push it! Here are the boys heading off on their bikes. 

And here's the girls with Tye walking ahead. It really helps living right around the corner from the school and having kids big enough to walk together!

Throwing it back to December 2018 and another wild but fun day with these 7 great kids!

Favourite Photo Friday - a new weekly post!

I think this one should be an easy one for me to pull off seeing as I take photos every single day!

Funny enough when I started to look through my pictures for the week I realized that I actually didn't even take this photo...and for once it's not of the littlest one that seems to be the most photographed these days. It was no different when my boys were little, they just happen to be near me the most!

Danielle sent this photo to me the other day when she watched the boys for me for a few hours. I love these four little monsters so much and a picture of all 4 of them smiling at once is rare!

I know it’s Spring when...

....mom and dad are sneaking slurpies and ice cream after the kids got to bed!

A few nights ago we were thinking we wouldn’t get them again and then Danielle texted to say she was thinking of them since I mentioned them. So off Jim went for a treat for all 3 of us. Yummy!!

Bear Mountain Resort weekend getaway

This post has been a long time coming and has some great photos of an amazing weekend that Jim and I had with Ashleigh and Sean way back in May! We escaped all of our kids and took off to the Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria for 3 nights and it was glorious. We ate when we wanted, drank as much as we wanted and slept in with no kids to wake up and take care of it. It was definitely one of the most fun weekends I've had in a long time!

We tavelled over to Comox by ourselves because we were taking our van to the Dodge dealership for  a repair. It was so strange for us to be in the vehicle alone...that almost never happens in our world!

Here are the boys admiring the view from our room

Looked right down onto the putting green

We had adjoining rooms that made it one big large suite. This was the kitchenette in our room

Our room had two beds...then beside this room was a large kitchen/living room area with a bathroom, and then Sean & Ash's room was adjoined to that living area. 

We went for a walk to check out the pool at the resort. 

Oh and for some of us to try out the gym...hahahahaha

Then we went to do some shopping...and I convinced the boys to try on these awesome short shorts. I was laughing so hard that I was crying...and the sales lady thought we were all crazy!

Back up to the resort to get changed to go out for dinner and drinks

I had a fair amount to drink that night and was having a great time!

Off to the pool for a little late night swim!

Jim snapped this funny photo of Sean that night too!

Beautiful weather for the boys golf round that morning

Highlight of my day...sitting alone drinking my tea in the sunshine!

Here is a shot from the course

Ash and I were in our room when the boys hit the 18th hole so we were able to watch them finish the hole from our balcony.

After golf we did some more shopping and enjoyed these massage chairs outside of Winners

Hahahahahaha...highlight of the weekend was Sean trying on my new and very comfy onesie pajama romper that I had bought! 

Up and ready to go for their second day of golfing!

Second day of spa treatments commencing! Ash got a pedicure and I got a hot stone massage.

Eating some super yummy crackers while enjoying the sun on the patio after my treatment

The view from where Jim & Sean ate lunch after their golf

The view of the hot tub from the spa patio

A great photo of the T's before we headed downtown for dinner with their friends Derek & Laura.

A little group elevator selfie

Harbour sunset

Late night card playing for the boys

Some more golf photos from the boys

Overall it was a fantastic weekend and one that I would love to do again sometime! It was so great to just be husband and wife again, instead of just mom & dad. Plus we always have so much fun hanging out with Ash & Sean! :)