school girl - First Grade

 

We had our back to school dinner Sunday night before our first day and as become tradition the kids picked the meal, homemade pizza and root beer floats.  Root beer floats are great to celebrate any occasion or make things just that much more special ;)  I had set a few books aside earlier in the summer and after reading them we finished up our special evening with blessings for both girls from their dad. There were sweet words of encouragement. Grateful that Graham can do that for them!

Last year the girls each got a CTR necklace with a butterfly and this year I was able to get these CTR bracelets made by a lady at our local Farmer's Market.  I love giving them a physical reminder to go and be a light in the world, stand tall and Choose The Right.  More and more I have to support and built up my wee ones at home and then pray for them as they go out and are beyond my arms reach or ear shot.

We had been away camping until Friday and really wanted to have the weekend to have some kind routine. I am so glad we could savor our last summer weekend together just the four of us.  Starting school was both sad and exciting!!!!  Sad because I LOVE hanging out with these women, it is truly such a privilege to get to be a momma, their momma and we have lots of fun together.  It is also exciting because I know how fun school can be and what growth and experience comes.  Grade one is just that next step or our little family -all day school- gosh I can't even believe how quickly the time has gone.  Amelia was sooooooooo excited, no tears or apprehension.  She would say that she "will be brave and but will miss us"....oh my heart! Everything was right ready for Monday morning and she got up and did her jobs without a hitch, smiling the whole time. It makes a momma proud!

 We parked together and did the cross walk, found old friends and they played at the park while we waited for the bell to ring.  Amelia was eager to find her locker and was soooooo thrilled to have her own desk!  My nervousness dissipated as she simply got to work on her sheet while I filled out the forms, there were big hugs for sister and a kiss for me (just like the kissing hand) and we were off, so quick and simple with big smiles all around.  Stella and I walked out with some other momma's and started our new routine, just her and I.  

Stella eagerly awaits her first Joy School day!

~ Momma P

Anniversary

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." -Ferris.

HAPPY 13th ANNIVERSARY Mr. P

I like when we have adventures together, I like laughing about our children together, I like going to concerts together, I like sitting in church together, I like holding hands and I like when you help me pause to have gratitude for the many good things in our life! Thanks 

~ Mrs. P

visiting the north

There is a lot of love when we go north...for the cat! Seriously, my girls talk as much about the kitty Leia as much as they do their Gramma, Grandpa, Auntie and Kingston.  Auntie Jenn and Max are the two other top priorities when we go north, lots of love when we go up there :)

 Everyone is a fan of Uncle Mikey and his big TV.

 Everyone LOVES my Dad's massive pancakes! The girls asked him almost as soon as we got in the door if he would make them and our five day stay gave him a few days to make us our favourite breakfast.

 We snapped a few pics after church on Sunday. My mom would often get us to pose on the front steps in our church dresses! Even thought the sun was in our eyes these pictures still seem special to me.

 Fun, fun, fun in Kingston's pool in the summer sun!

LOVE all of the cousin time!

These two shared some sweet moments. I love my cousins and I love watching this next generation build their friendship - LOVE

This little guy, love his face! It was awesome so get to spend time with him.  We hung out with Jenn and made some yummy food for her freezer. The girls had a lovely time playing with Mr. Max, he is such a smiley, happy baby.

Park playing with Kingman. This is tradition whenever we go north in the winter, hit up Thickwood Heights School Park. Amelia and Auntie Leslie were just darlings, swinging together. This was the Hinko kids elementary school and of course the park is updated, way different but so fun to be there.

Cousins Camp

We started a new tradition, cousins camp!  Leslie planned a craft (from Mr. Maker) and I planned a t-shirt activity.  I want the littles in our family to have a time each summer devoted to them and have some special things planned for just the cousins to do.

Super fun in the tub playing with Kingston's googles! I think we may need purchase a few of our own :P

 

So even though not all of the little people are into this group selfie I LOVE it!  We spent a day out at Gregoire Lake.  Going to the lake holds a ton of summer childhood memories for me.  Growing up we would often pack up the minivan with a picnic lunch and towels, stop so my mom could pick up a second hand novel from the Salvation Army and head out to the lake for the day.  Such great memories.  When we pulled into the parking lot I was blown away with how mature the trees had gotten and as dorky as it is, I had a moment of nostalgia...park of my childhood.  The beach was in pretty good shape, lots of weeds but meah the kids didn't care.  They ran between the water, the sand and the park. A perfect way to spend a beautiful summer day!

~ Mrs. P

zoo camp

Zoo Camp was crazy awesome!!!!

The girls were able to attend a half day camp at the Edmonton Valley Zoo this past week.  I honestly went back and forth about sending Stella because she is my baby and still little but both of the girls just love animals so I knew she would be sad if Amelia was able to attend and she didn't. A phone call got special permission for them to be in the same class.  Voila we set aside a week this summer for them to have 'close encounters' with critters!!!  It was such fun to pick them up and hear the excitement as they spilled out the stories of the animals they were able to touch and see. There were stories and crafts, the week ended with a puppet show...it was adorable as it sounds!!!!!

I just love these animal loving ladies of mine.  We are super lucky to live so close to such an amazing facility and I am grateful the girls had the opportunity to attend something like this.  Also super fun was to wear animal outfits everyday :P I am a nerd and I know it!!!!!!

~ Momma P

Skeleton Lake

Grandpa Ed has been excited to show us the progress at the Skeleton Lake cabin so we made a stop on our way from Zoo Camp to Fort McMurray. We had a fun evening and a yummy BBQ.  I love watching the ladies being all free.   I guess I can admit that I am kind of an uptight momma and playing in the dirt, putting sticks in the fire....ummm not normally how I roll.  Perhaps it is why the girls love camping so much ha!  It is good for me and them I guess.  The cabin was looking great and it is always fun when the ladies get to spend time with family.

~ Mrs. P

a rockin date

Not much gets better then having a date night with your love watching a band you both love!  We couldn't remember if it was the 3rd or 4th time we have seen the Foo Fighters but they NEVER disappoint.  For Mikel's first concert we actually took him to see the Foo.  This time however was a different experience because Dave Grohl had broken his leg so was playing from a crazy throne his crew built for the tour.   It was also a memorable concert because they pulled a fan on stage to sing the Rush song 'Tom Sawyer' and it BLEW EVERYONE'S MIND!!!!!!

Love hanging with my love watching a band we love.

Our date night ended with one if the most cliche date endings.....watching the stars! There was actually a meteor shower that the radio said would be best after midnight. It was perfect really, we sent the sitter home and then I grabbed. BlNket so we could curl up on the back deck. We were able to see a few before exhaustion got the best of us and our post concert high started to fade.  It was pretty romantic and a beautiful way to end our night. So glad to be Mrs. P and have him as my Mr.

~ Mr. & Mrs. P

cheesy but true

It is so cheesy but I LOVE BEING TOGETHER with our little crew!!!

Graham took the Friday off before the long weekend so we had a four day run of family togetherness.  It was pretty freakin awesome!!  I continue to have reminders of how precious this time is with my little ladies and have gratitude for the good things I have, even try to have gratitude for the hard things in life because they are refining.

~ Mrs. P

Camping in Jasper

A weekend in the mountains is always good for the soul.  To be surrounded by beauty from ground to sky just does something....the beauty is stunning!!! 

Jenn and Rob suggested we camp in the overflow parking of a campground minutes from Jasper and the views were stunning. We had a blast with baby Max and although poor Stella had the flu, the weekend rocked otherwise.  There were bubbles, beans, some great walks around our campsite and a lovely dinner in Jasper.  Such a great time!

 Baby boy Max is crazy adorable and my little fam jam, they are the best!

Also super awesome about the weekend......I got a selfie stick!!! I am a tad excited about it. So many times I have thought to myself, 'dang I could really use a SS here' ;)  I am using my point and shoot less and less so it is a fun little investment.

 

~ Mrs. P