Hooooola!!

Hey there everyone! 

Wow no one has posted since Christmas?? Ack!! Well i'm posting now so don't worry! I guess it's just been busy around here. So i'll update you on what's happening! I suppose that's what this is for... but anyhoo;

After Christmas, was New Years Eve, and New Years Day, (they kind of go together like that you know?), and we had um, i think 5 families over? And 1 1/2 families slept over. So it was a full house! But we had tons of fun. After New Years, my grandparents moved to Vancouver, we helped pack. Then Liam had a lego thing in Vancouver so we visited my grandparents while we were there. And then it was my birthday!! And i wasn't planning on having my birthday party until February because we were really busy in January. BUT... 

Duh duh duh.....

My parents planned a surprise party for me!! And boy was it a surprise... Let me tell you about, and if you don't want to hear it, just skip this whole part until the green line at the bottom. :) One day i was innocently reading comics downstairs, (and that day was Jan 21, the day before my birthday), when suddenly, my mom calls me,

 "JAMESA!!!" and i answer, 

"YES?" and she says, 

"Go make you bed! The sheets are done drying!" and i say 

"OK!" but i don't do it until 7 mins later when Liam decides to tell me to do it again, and then i do do it, but i was mad at Liam for telling me. So i very quietly stomp to my room and kick the door open gently, (but i was wondering why it was closed because i had left it open when i was last in it.), and then there's a bright flash! And 4 girls standing in my room yelling, 

"SURPRISE!!!!!!!!" Which of course freaked me out so i screamed and jumped backwards out of the room, and then i realized it was 4 of my closest friends and they're all laughing at me, so i decide it wouldn't be very fun of me to not laugh so i do and it turns into a huge laughing fit from all of us. Turns out they caught it on video... :P But anyways, then i said, 

"Well what now?" and they said, 

"We're sleeping over!" and i said, 

"You are?!?!?!" and they said, 

"Yup!" and i was so happy! So we had dinner, (which consisted of lasagne, garlic bread, and veggies. but i was kind of bummed because my dad said that the second lasagne was for a lady at our church that had just had a baby, but it was really for us, so they lied to me! Not hooray.)

But anyways, after dinner, they blindfolded me, and stuck me in the middle seat of the van squished between two girls, to make sure i didn't peek. (which of course i wouldn't.) And then they drove down to the bowling ally, but didn't know where we were going, and whenever i asked a question, they didn't answer or told the wrong answer. So when we got there, they got me out of the van, and then took me inside and made me guess where we were, I got it on the first guess. :D So we went bowling. 

When we got back home, we had desert, and watched 'Phantom of the Opera'. It was so much fun, we stayed up until 1:20am. :) In the morning we had breakfast and two of my friends went home to go to church, and two of my friends came to my church. When we got home, we had lunch and went to the breakwater. Which was soooo much fun, because it was really windy, so the waves were crashing up on the side of the breakwater, and we all got soaked. Then my other set of grandparents that didn't move to Vancouver came over, and so did my cousin who lives in Vernon but was here for a few weeks on a job. He's getting married on the 29th of January! So excited!! :) But anyhow, then everyone left and we had dinner and went to bed. Well actually my grandparents and cousin stayed for dinner. But then they left too and we all went to bed. That was my birthday weekend!! 

Anyone who didn't want to read about my birthday can read now!

_________________________________________________________________________

So after my birthday, well, my birthday was only 4 days ago. But we are going to Missions Fest this weekend! While we're there we'll visit my grandparents again. 

That's what's happening with the Ensings!

"And that's a wrap! Good job Jamesa." 

"Why thanks! See you next time i write a blog post?"

"You bet!" 

"Um, i think we're still rolling..." 

"Oh, I SAID THAT'S A WRAP BILL! CUT THE CAMERA!"

"Oh sorry boss. I thought you said, 'I dropped the bat'." 

"Why would i say that?"

"Well i don't know i was a little confused." 

"Just cut the camera Bill."

"Right." 

jAmesA eNsiNg

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas Eve!!! :) So here I am doing that... well anyways, that's pretty much all i really wanted to say but i guess i could add something else. I'm writing on center right now so everything i write is centered. Teehee! 

But anyways, I'm writing a story! For part of language arts, i am writing a story.

(mom and dad don't read this part pllllllease!!!)

This is the part mom and dad can't read...

I'm giving the story the mom and dad when i'm done it! But who knows if they read this or not i don't really know if they saw a little part of this but whatever. It'll just be there fault they ruined the surprise. :)

Ok mom and dad you can read again.

We are going to a Christmas Eve service tonight, (also known as a candle light service but i don't call it that.) and our grandparents are coming over. What are you doing on Christmas Eve? Comment and let me know! You don't have to, I know for some people they would rather not share what they are doing to other people so thats fine but if you want to i'd love to hear what your doing! :) 

So have a great Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and Boxing Day whoever is reading this! 

jAmesA eNsiNg

(You know once I wrote 'james' instead of 'jamesa' and i was so ticked at myself! And yo know what's funny... well its not really funny, but to some people it might be, but it underlines 'Jamesa' in red squiggly, but not 'James'. Its veeerrrrrrry annoying if you name is Jamesa.) 

Greetings...

Christmas Blessings from our home to yours.... wishing you unending LOVE, uninhibited JOY, uninterrupted PEACE, and unfathomable HOPE that comes from knowing JESUS as LORD.

Love from ALL of us Rockbluff Ensings...

Winter!

So we have definitely stepped into Winter here in Victoria...frosty mornings and chilly nights.  I love it though.  It has been a beautiful week with the sun shining!  I love it!
It was a bit different this year anticipating the "break".  With the kids not in school, the leading up to Christmas vacation time was a little anti climatic for them, although they are enjoying getting up in the morning and being able to play rather than getting to work.  I certainly am enjoying getting away from the work part of my computer.  It was a full on term with hosting the MarketDay learning camp and Liam being in the Lego League.  Lots of time and mental energy spent on both of those things but also very worth it!  Jamesa and Liam learned so much from the MarketDay and Liam was stretched in the Lego League.  His team is advancing to the next level of competition and will be going to Vancouver next month.  From there it could be St. Louis or Germany!!  Imagine that!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p12L5Aq3FME
Here is the link to the MarketDay you tube video...Enjoy!


Seasons like Christmas sure change each year as the kids get older...As I write, Jamesa is baking and Dominique is sewing...Evan is surfing Christmas you tube videos and Liam is in Vancouver with Duane for an indoor soccer tourney.   I gotta say, I am enjoying the hands off times as the kids take ownership of things like baking and shopping for each other.  This year they all took it upon themselves to give gifts to each other.  It has been fun watching them sneak away into their rooms to make or wrap gifts and then slide them under the tree when no one is looking.  It will be fun to watch them give them and be surprised at what they came up with!

This last week was filled with outings, carolling with friends,  and what will become an annual event...building a gingerbread house from scratch.  Designer Dad created the house and the kids had fun decorating it with every candy known to man!  One for me one for the house....two for me one for the house.... It was midnight before they were tucked in and sleeping that night.

I was reminded the other day to "be present", be in the moment and don't let your own agenda stand in the way of God's...sometimes they are not the same.... :) Especially at this time of year, allow God the space in your day to day happenings to direct your steps, thoughts, and words.  When we follow Him, it will always be for the better.  I am learning daily to let Him take the lead in my life.  It's worth it!!

Signing off for now...

Trish

Hey there again!

So, whats new with you? You can answer me later... I'll tell you about MarketDay in the mean time. 

MarketDay was awesome, it went really well. Just so you know... standing for 6 hours is really tiring. My feet were really sore afterwards!! But anyways, i sold almost all of it. All my mints went! Oh, maybe i should tell you what i did. Would that help? And maybe i'll tell you about what MarketDay is because i seem to have forgot that too. Silly me! 

Well MarketDay was a 7 week homeschooling course i took with i think 23 other homeschoolers. We learned about micro-finance and business. During that time, we  all came up with a product to sell at MarketDay on November 29, 2011. Mine was beanbag games and little mints that i made. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but i thought they were really good. They were the kind that melt in your mouth. Yum!! 

Moving on, i also had single beanbags, and you could also get it gift wrapped for an extra dollar. But no one seemed to want it gift wrapped. I think 2 people got it gift wrapped. But thats okay. The prices of my games were $5 for a beanbag game that includes 3 beanbags, (all homemade), and a list of things you can do with them. Like games and challenges. $2 for a single beanbag, but if you already bought the game, it was only $1. I also had homemade mints as you already know, for $0.25 for 5 all wrapped up pretty in a package. :) I sold out of those. So all in all it was a success. For me anyway, i don't really know about anyone else. 

What to say, what to say.... Oh! Well you can tell me what's new with you now! Go ahead i'm listening. ... ... ...                                 Hello?? Are you still there? I know, you're too speechless about what i said to say anything your self! Well that's okay, i understand. Most people are speechless after i talk. :D (i'm pretty sure most of you know that i'm kidding, but just in case you don't, i'm just kidding.) :) 


I better go, so it was nice talking with you!! 
Ta ta for now! 
jAmesA eNsiNg

PS. By the way... did you like the picture?? Comment if you like it!!! I like it so i guess i'll comment too. :) 

howdy all!

Hey guys
how ya doing? Because I am good homeschooling and all.
its going well love to here back from you.
keep an eye on us :D




Thats me by the way
liam :D

Serfing in the Kingdom

People keep asking me: “Duane, how the homeschooling going?”.

“Great”, I reply with a big smile on my face, “cuz I’m not the one teaching it”. 

Fact of the matter is that everything you do, your kids learn to do. So unfortunately there’s a lot of body sounds and faces that occur - yes, even at the dinner table. But all of this is a in a fun environment and is done in a way that we can act on an ‘outcome’.  Dog sitting? There’s an outcome. Making dinner? Outcome. Watching a movie? Outcome. Grocery shopping? Outcome. Thanksgiving? Black Friday? Cleaning the floor? Scrubbing the toilet? Outcomes. In each one of them. Market day and Lego league? Definitely learning and outcomes.

We the King and Queen, are trying to develop our little feudal kingdom here to include honouring each other, specifically amongst the little kingdom serfs and their land right-issues that arise on each other’s respective ‘turf’, and with the peasants that interfere in the said affairs of the minute.

Ah, but I digress. I love this little system and the mini-serf, peasants, villains,  merchants and lords under the king and queen’s reign. Each day is different, each fight fought valiantly, and grace and mercy most often prevail. (Serious crimes were heard by the King’s court , all other crimes were punished by beatings or having their hands and feet were tied together and they would be forced to eat worms or cooked tomatoes, or both)!


Mwwaaaahahahah *insert evil laugh here*