Kids sharing in the chores at the Tanis Homestead!

Aidan and Mary's first "music" recording.

The kids get their first music lesson

Near and Far in Mission

It appears that I have been very busy over the last year. I am the proud momma of 3 beautiful children and the happy wife of my lovely American. It has been almost a year to the day since we have moved into our first home. As I have watched the seasons change and our family grow. I am amazed at how us humans can adapt to new lifestyles and change. As the last flowers bloom their last bloom in our garden I am chasing around a beautiful 5 month old baby boy and loving it.
We have started our second year of Homeschool this year. I ordered the Curriculum in a box for Aidan from the Heritage /Cornerstone Learning Center. For Mary, I am using an array of materials.
Our backyard is a Cornocopia of Fruits and Harvest Vegetables filled with Corn , potatoes and crisp apples. Today we went down to the garden and had a lovely time crouching in front of the potato plants that we have grown from old potatoes with eyes:)
As I insisted on gently digging around the potato plants the children leaned in falling over each other to get a chance to lift out the plant and see the tiny nuggets hanging by their roots. Mary brought in one tiny potaoe that had extricated itself from the bunch and tenderly washed it leaving it on the counter for me to figure out what to do with it.
This month alone we have journeyed along the Fraser Canyon watching the rushing rapids as they rush along to their destinations. We were fascinated by the many tunnels that were blasted many years ago through sheer mountain faces. We watched as the train snaked its way along the other side of the river most of the time. It's rails gripping the mountain side as it chugged ahead. On our trip we tasted bear that a friend had hunted with his sons days before.
On our way home we discussed the Gold Trail and stopped at a couple interesting spots.
In CLinton we discovered the City Hall and the Local Museum packed full of years of history. It seemed that their being pretty trusty folk in a small town that we were allowed to get up real close to all sorts contraptions of the last couple 100 years. Aidan enjoyed the old sled that used to pull people from one town to another and was particularly interested in the giant sliding magnifying glass that slid across the top of the display case out front. Enlarging arrowheads, axeheads and what I thought might be unmarked gold still enclosed in stone. Mary loved the old sewing machine and pointed out the picture of the the baby Papoose all wrapped up in its leather wrappings. We noticed a local Native American art Gallery and stopped for lunch. We need to take more trips as a family and plan to do so in the future.
Even though I have the work load of 2 people and have barely time to rest from night till dawn. I am filled with a sense of satisfaction, joy and peace as I learn to give away more of the old me and to embrace being a mother and accepting the life I now lead.

Every trip out with my kids has created another learning opportunity. As we travelled back from the park a few days ago we discusssed why the sewer covers had "Fish Habitat" "Do not Pollute" and a fish stamped on the steel.
Today I was delighted to discover that under about 12 years f gunge that my gutters were a sparkling white color. Even though the eaves leave much to be desired I am able to have a faint hope that this property and home will one day feel like home and that I will feel comfortable in it . After moving 13 or more times in my lifetime I am content anywhere to just put down roots and start making history.
TOmmorw on top of our Come SIt by Me Curr and English we are going to take out our lovingly packed BC Grown apple box and label our apples. I have purchased Made In Canada stickers from the dollar store . The idea is to give a sense of a product that we have grown ,packed and are going to TRY to store over the next few months. The children have derived a sense of self-esteem and responsibility as they have packed each apple in its nest .

Saving some for another day - E

My friend Rani.

This week I turn 35. I have felt a sadness come over me at this particular birthday. I dont really want to celebrate it this year. Not simply because I feel ancient beside my darling 26 year old husband. But because this year , I cant pick up the phone and talk about my birthday with one of my dear friends , Rani. Every year when we have our birthday we relate to familiar things that make it special. Well she made it special. We would share about were we had come in life. She would discuss her difficult abusive marriage and how she was almost finishing nursing. She would tell me about all the learning projects she had on the go for her little girl and about all the activities that she was in. Now that she is gone and things have settled down somewhat, her husband no longer takes my calls and the only way I have to contact her precious little girl is through sending cards. I suppose I could show up at their door , but what would I say. I feel robbed of a special thing in my life. That took many years of nurturing and love. As I think of the burdens of raising a family and trying to tippy toe through the things you feel you should provide for your children. I think of my friend who had it all , a husband, a lovely home, 2 great careers and a beautiful healthy daughter. But the lack of a moral structure in their life and a husband who couldnt control his boyish temper and who was running away from God. Led to the unimaginable. A complete breakdown of family life and her slow descent into a place that finally finished her. As I reminded that I am yet another year older. I will try not to question so much as to why God has brought me down this path. Why opportunites have passed us by and as to why things sometimes dont make sense. I am so thankful for family and friends for new friends and renewed friendships. Forgiveness and a maturing as I have felt God carving and refining me of late. I must be pretty special to him for him to spend so much time and care on my footsteps. I also am saddened by our loss of a second child almost a year ago. The traumatic events and the things that insued have changed me forever. And as I had promised myself that I would never have a child past 35. (Something passed on from my mother)I am concious of this adamant statement and my torn feelings as to longing for another child. And perhaps accepting that health wise, I will have to walk another path and to not have another and to put my all into my 2 beautiful children that I now know were perfectly timed. If we had waited ....well.

Well, after praying for a long time. We were blessed to receive a car this weekend. This will be a secondary car that is much needed. The extra costs to insure and upkeep it will be a bit more of a burden. but we see this as an answer to prayer. I have felt so unthankful as well. As if I have become so jaded to having to manage with just what we have. This vehicle should allow me to have more freedom to take the children to activites and such. Being a stay at home mother has its drawbacks especially if you are homebound. So now, I can start looking into some physical activities for Aidan especially. We wrestled tonight Aidan and I and later Mary joined in like a monkey on my back. My body was groaning in protest as they jumped on me and wrestled me to the ground. But their cries of delight as they managed to roll me over and pin me down were a reward in itself. Aidan can completely overpower me at 5 years old and 70 pounds. I can also feel my left collar bone twinge as I put weight on an old fracture or tendon tear.
Aidan..some thoughts ...seeing as he takes some maintenance...
Anyway I would love to get Aidan into something physical other than running out across the back mile and playing in the playground. A mother today had to ask me twice exactly how old is your son. Seeins as I introduced him as "This is Aidan hes 5" She did a double take, asked if he was turning 6 any day now and just stared at him for a while while he played to let the facts settle. This is a conversation that I have over and over again with every new person who meets him. My instinct is too protect my child from being judged or oggled. To make matters more interesting, my child is an active ,loud joker . Sociable and fearless of those children who are older and bigger. He lopes around the playground, joyful, innocent and like a bull in a china shop. Tripping over himself and trying to fit himself into places now to small for him to fit. I wonder as I look at this beautiful unique child I have been blessed with. What will he do when he grows up? Who will he be? What is this big frame and loud joyful personality supposed to deliver to the world? I know that every night at dinner that he asks to pray and that he takes his new bible very seriously. He is also Mr National Geographic , spouting out interesting obscure facts now and again. Then my Mary , well Ill reserve her for another day and all the things that make her special. Like her Banshee cry that very effectively wards off those upsetting her. From the sea must be my little Irish Mary, I say. We will have to wait and see.

New album:Glorify

I have had the pleasure to work on this album managed and produced by the talented Ashley Milne. He encouraged and brought the best in all of us. I enjoyed singing a song and was able to realize my long time dream of singing on an album. The actual recording of the music though was alot more difficult than one would imagine and required hints and help from those more experienced such as Ashley. All those involved had some wonderful suggestions and lent there individual talents to create many varieties and styles of songs. The harmonizing and singing together were some of the best times we spent together. Ill try to get a pic of the album and maybe the song if possible.....Ill see what my hubby the IT guy can do for me............

I finally figured out how to get back in here.

Now that the right passwords have come to mind you may hear more from me......