Primary Presentation 2013 - Amelia the Sunbeam

 

Amelia Ann is 4 and a pretty awesome Sunbeam.

This was her first year participating in the annual Primary Presentation in our ward.  We were all pumped up!! Grandpa Ed and Maureen, Nanny Bird, along with Great Gramma and Great Grandpa Hudkins came out to watch Amelia and Jacey.  So proud of them both!!  Amelia totally knew all of the songs and totally had her part memorized, when it came down to it though stage fright got the best of her...next year, next year!

 

Little sister had to get in on the photo shoot and this photo is totally hilarious catching Amelia mid-sneeze.  Stella is so eager to do what big sister does, adorable!  Stella held up the program outline for 2013: I Am a Child of God and Amelia proudly held up the poster we gave each of our Primary children the Saturday night before our presentation.

 

I hope that as they both grow they will feel and remember that they are truly special children of God. Knowing that I Am a Child of God brings peace to my soul and encourages me along life's journey.

 

~ Momma P

Museum Visiting

 

We booked a date with Grandpa Ed, a little visit to the museum.  I think fun was had by all!

The regular galleries are super cool with bugs, dinosaurs, animals of Alberta, rocks and then the traveling exhibits this time were pretty neat too.  They had an exhibit on Patterns which I found fascinating and bonus - it had great interactive activities for the kiddos. I really enjoy history and the other traveling exhibit was Chinese Food Restaurants and their history in Alberta...So.Darn.Interesting!!!!  Call me a nerd but the museum never disappoints.

 I LOVE this picture of Amelia in the teepee...she looks like she is really trying to have a 'vision quest'. Bahahahaha

 

~ Mrs. P

GRIT Fall Festival

Our cousins ROCK!  We often get hooked up with cool things because of the special little folk in our family.  Jacey uses GRIT as her support and it has provided fabulous Developmental Specialists (DS workers) and wonderful access to super cool activities.  The Fall Festival was one of those wonderful activities that my girls and I got to tag along to.  Behold a plethora of fun pictures capturing an amazing morning at the GRIT office!

 

  There are some truly wonderful people in the world who work hard to help create a niche for EVERYONE and make it possible for EVERYONE to get what they need.  We just love GRIT! They put on a fabulous day.



 This cardboard castle was unbelievable!  It took less then a minute for my big girl to spot the costumes and princess it up, she knows what she likes.

 

 

 Odd/funny pictures of the ladies in a spinning chair - which was such a hit!  They spun and they spun and they spun.

 

Cool stuff I tell ya!

 

We have been so busy it seems but when we get the chance to attend such awesome things with our fam how can we not just jump at the chance?! Such a great day.

 

~ Mrs. P

slow paced days

After a few really busy weeks, knowing that things will start getting busy again as we approach Christmas we've chosen to keep this week slow and chill.  Lots of hanging at home. It has been good!  Some days have seemed long but it has also meant the girls have had time at home to do some of the things they like. A few of my favourite pictures from this week...

 

 

I like being out in our community and keeping busy but there are definitely times when a bit of chill time at home is needed.  These girls are so good, so good for me!!  They are so adored.

 

~ Momma P



bedtime battles

Dear me!!!!!

In the interest of keeping it real, it is about to get pretty real....BEDTIMES AT OUR HOUSE ARE CURRENTLY SUCKING!!!!!!! So I know that it is a phase and will pass.  I know that my Stella will eventually go to bed without having an hour long meltdown first BUT in the meantime it is so darn hard. Naps are on their way out but she still needs them some days and those days when she is showing the 'I need a sleep' signals it can mean a rough afternoon too.  Just letting her lay in front of the TV has been an option.  If I am trying to be positive, I am grateful that it has only been recently that she has taken to being such a bedtime punk. It would be a ton harder if Graham was still working nights and I didn't have any back up or someone to spell me off.  Also, I am really hoping that this strong willed, determined toddler will become a driven, focused young woman!  She is so great and I know we will get through this but gosh it is so darn hard in the mean time.

I snapped this pic of my beauties in their new pj's and slippers from Grandma Hinko, reminding me of their cuteness! Perhaps I need to print it out and carry me in my pocket during bedtime.

~ Momma P

Sentimental Stuff

 

I am a sentimental soul. I save things, treasure things and find joy in memories.  This is perhaps part of the reason I have taken to blogging, it combines treasuring pictures and memories. I have meant for a while to share about a few special things our girls have. 

 

The first is this darling knit family made by my friend Kristi. She made them for the girls and included our pup Tula.  The girls were given them last Christmas and I love when they play with our 'knit family'.

 

Sweet right?

 

Oh the quilted pups!  Oh my heart as I look at this picture.  My friend Sue is a fabulous quilter and seeing that she made these sweet guys, I put in a request.  The most beautiful part of the pup pillow story is that it was on a Friday we let our Tula go and it was Sunday that Sue called to say she was done the pillows. They were this perfect, perfect timed, special gift for our little women and honestly me.  Amelia slept on her pillow for about a month.

 

So just a few sentimental things I have wanted to record.

~ Momma P

Jacober Visit

It is amazing to me how quickly you can pick up where you left off with old friends.  Certainly time passes and our children grow but other then that it is comfortable and great to get to visit, just catch up.  It was just a quick night and then day of hanging out, but so much fun!  My girls asked a few times this week when we could see Ember and Eden again? Adorable. Many pictures of our beauties. Jacey, Neely and their parents joined us for dinner (oh and Nathaniel too), they all enjoyed playing together. Everyone was gaga over the baby...Neely is a very patient soul, she is always mauled when she comes to visit.

The girls had some fun spreading out like EVERY blanket we own!  They had a blast!

 

We decided to go on an excursion. Totally worth the entrance fee, for the climbing/play area alone!

 Would you believe that this is the only picture that Amy and I go together, a butt shot with no one smiling. Ha!

 Just a little snuggle with my big girl, she's all serious and didn't want to take a break from playing but I for once had someone else to take a picture.

 

Great times!

~ Mrs. P



Get-A-Way

 

Fun, fun, fun times together - the G n J combo had a night away!  After a long haul this fall for work we took a night off together.  Started with the temple, had some dinner, did some crazy enjoyable West Edmonton Mall shopping, loaded up on some new music we had been wanting and saw a movie, then hit the hay for an uninterrupted sleep.  Sooooooo nice to be together!

Aside from being together, it was nice to do the things we did so often as a couple before our littles arrived.  It was comfortable to slip into who we are aside from 'mom and dad'. We finished the 24hr date with a trip to IKEA. We missed our girls and talked a ton about them but I must say it was nice to be together.

 



 

~ Mrs. P



first snow flakes

 

We've had more snow since these pictures but I love how my ladies went wild with the arrival of the first flakes of the season. 

 

Simple.

Beautiful.

Joy.

 

They remind me often to stop, slow the pace and enjoy. I appreciate them and love watching them.

~ Momma P



Birthday BOY

This guy just had his birthday!!!!

A 6am picture because why not, everyone in the house was up and ready to party.

 

We try to make it special around our house.  This year I made Graham his own birthday banner, using his two favourite colours.  No, it is not a coincidence that the Oilers sport the colours blue and orange.  After I finished making it Amelia was a bit upset, insisting that her dad also really likes pink...yes her dad likes it... yep totally up there for fav. Poor dude has had a pink banner a lot these last few years, wohoo he now has something a little more his style. 

 

Anyway a little bday fun for the dude even if he had to work that day!

 silly birthday specs

 

 scrumptious ice cream cake as per requested

 homemade cards 

* OUR DAD IS A ROCKSTAR*

decorated with a ton of stars :)

 a winning gift

 The man is very loved by the ladies in his life! 

~ Mrs. P