Childrens laughter...

Just thought I would write a quick post on something that happened up north this week that brought tears to my eyes.

Across from the nursing station a few days ago they started construction on something that this northern community didn't have. Something that evey community down south has more than one of. Something that we take for granted, a playground.
Yes a playground!
When the construction was started, the kids were standing around watching the construction in awe and talking workers ears off. No matter when I looked out there were tons of kids anxiously waiting. The poor workers could not work fast enough. When the playground was nearly done the workers caved and let the kids at it while they were doing the finishing touches.
Every day since the playground has been full of laughing children. The sound of the children playing and laughing is amazing and uplifting.
Something so simple has made the wonderful children of this community so happy.

(took awhile to find a time when the playground is nearly empty so I could take a picture, 98% of the time it is jammed full *L*. Behind the playground you can see the ambulances and part of the nursing station)

A picnic ...

Two weekends ago we took the kids out on a picnic. We went outside of the community to a property owned by one of the community members who works in the clinic. The property is often used to hold the community sweat lodge.
It was a fun ride out there on the bumpy road (well if you want to call it a road) beautiful country and fresh air.  Colton loves riding in the truck he laughed all the way there.
While hubby got the fire started for the hot dogs the kids decided to have a game of Frisbee...

Well OK TRIED to have a game of Frisbee! Mostly it was total chaos!

Then the kids helped dad getting the fire going....

Then it was on to the hot dogs! Of course having a whole gang with ADD's roasting hot dogs they inevitably got each others hot dogs covered in ash.

We had such a beautiful view of the Albany River!!

Of course Colton wore his favourite T-shirt! ...

Then check out what we found on the way home!!......

The kids had a great time, we made sure we didn't stay too long so the boys wouldn't be overloaded.
We made some great summer memories!

Laundry...

Laundry in my house is ever growing and growing.
 Large family = Lots of laundry!
Just when you think AH HA I am finished! There is more.
I usually refer to it as Mt Laundry. It's not just one mound however' it's more like a mountainous range. I am the one however that often feels like erupting.
I HATE laundry, well ok, I don't mind putting it in the washer I just hate trying to figure out what belongs to who and where the heck it goes now that some of the kids wear similar sizes!
 Heaven forbid if you put something in the wrong drawer and the daughter to whom it actually belongs finds one of her sisters wearing it.... ACK! DUCK! "Well it was in my drawer" ..."well it's mine get it off"...and so on.
Don't get me started about socks and laundry, you can read back to a previous blog posting about that one!
One difficult thing about laundry in my house is getting a favourite, comfortable item of clothing off one of the boys to actually wash it and get them to wear something else. uggggg
Sometimes I worry that the school thinks that this particular child only has one pair of pants and one or two shirts. No he has other cloths but only a few things feel comfortable to him. *sigh*
I am starting to see hope on the horizon however, the older kids are now pretty much doing their own laundry, guess they got tired of things not being done when they wanted it and me mixing up their stuff!

Sooo tired of studies...

Of course I am talking about the causes of autism studies.
You know the ones, you live near a highway, you took antidepressants...you drank coffee at three in the morning while eating a bran muffin.
No matter what the study, I start frantically thinking back, did I do any of those things? It makes me crazy that some of these studies come down to something that maybe I did.
I love my kids and feel such guilt that life is so tough for them and would do anything to make it easier on them. I have enough mommy guilt thank you very much without some study telling me that I did something to my kids. I have even more guilt when I get frustrated with them because I am over tired after a rough day, life is so much harder for them than for me. I live a life of feeling guilty!
With my boys, looking back, they were not the same as the others when they were newborn fresh home from the hospital. They needed to be swaddled up really tight and secure and be put in a sling all of the time where as my girls loved to kick and have their feet free and hated to be wrapped. One of my sons still likes to be wrapped up tight and held securely when having a bad day. They always hated a lot of noises right from the get go. These are only a few examples.
I fully believe it is genetics in our case.
 I bet that these studies are making new pregnant mothers insane!
My boys are who they are and I accept that, but please stop making me feel guiltier and crazier with each new fly by night study.
 I give them every ounce of energy and more, so help me with more money, services and proper education to help them thrive and survive in our crazy world.

The north...

At the moment I am north of Moosonee off the coast of James Bay.
Life is so different here. The air is clean and fresh nowhere to really go other than the snack shop or the grocery store. It is a great place for walking and hiking, the scenery along the river is amazing. The sunsets beautiful!
 Oh yes, and the blackfllies and mosquitos are BIG!
The other day we saw an eagle, a wolf and a black bear while out away from the community!
Of course groceries are so expensive it is boardering on insane! Milk is just over $10.00 a bag. Naturally things are more expensive since they have to be flown in. I cringe every time I go to the store. My gang eats a ton!!
The one thing that did surprise me the very first time I visited here was that there were so many mini vans and trucks. I expected the number of ATV's but not the other vehicles. I guess this was because you can't drive to get here here most of the year. There is an ice road that is open for a short time over the winter which is how big delieveries make their way here. I was lucky enough this past winter to go to Moosonee on the ice road! Very cool.
In the summer a barge brings up the big things as long as the river to the communiy is high enough.
Why am I up here you ask??
Well I am up here with four of my kids, staying  up here where my husband works, for a month of the summer. He works here full time and so I come with the kids, when I can, so we can have more family time. He does get vacation but usually only two weeks at a time 3-4 times a year. I call this my cottage!
Our youngest loves it here. Not just because daddy is here but he is so less sensory here. Things are not as overwhealming life is slower and I homeschool when here. He would live here if possible. You never know may happen some day but it's not the right time for the other kids yet :).
Why my husband took a job in such a far off location is a whole different post! However, because he took this job we have gotten to experience a part of the country that many never get to see. The kids have gotten learn about a new culture.
Ali has been working with the kids at a day camp this summer and last spring she got to take a few Cree language classes. She also submitted a short animated movie for a festival that was going on in the community.
While here I do a ton of cooking, cleaning, laundry and of course keeping up with the kids! The work never ends so much for any rest!
When I get home I am going to need some wine, rest, relaxation and a vacation!! YA RIGHT!