Halloween

 

Our ladies add joy to everything and even though Halloween is not one of my more favourite holiday's the children love it so how can I not?!  Costume ideas for the girls changed about 50 times, the girls finally decided on Anna & Elsa (a reverse from last year for who wanted to be who even though Stella went with Elephant in the end) then we couldn't find the Anna dress for Mia the night before the school Halloween Parade. Amelia decided to go with Bride as a second choice and Stella stayed with her Elsa decision even though being a Cat was a close second.  Amelia has such a sweet sense of humour and she suggested a few weeks ago that I go as a 'Mommy/Mummy', so I did.   A white sheet cut in strips did the trick. The school had a great little assembly with songs and poems with grades parading between musical numbers.

We headed up the highway to Fort McMurray for the weekend so we could have Halloween with our family.  We were able to see Max walking - in person - so fun!  Facetime and videos are just not the same!!! He is such a happy little sweetheart. Our whole family enjoyed his smiles and the girls liked getting him to giggle.

 Leslie and I planned out a spooky meal and the littles helped out a bit with the prep ;)

 

Another great part of the weekend was getting to hang with Kingston.  When we arrived watching the hugs was just the cutest, Amelia went running.  At one point Kingston was trying to shepard the girls together so he could hug them both at the same time, it was the cutest thing. I love it that they love each other!

 Also fun was a little driveway hockey with Uncle Mikel.

Fun weekend!

~ Mrs. P

 

so glad

True this!

The views have been so stunning around our place. Out behind our house is farmers fields, shrubs and trees. This will change as the land gets developed but for now it makes for something beautiful to enjoy as the sky has the pink morning glow and the sun rises so I can see the orange and yellow behind us.

~ Mrs. P

young, wild & free

 

We have been lucky to get to spend some time with our little second cousin Grace, her momma is my cousin Beth.  It has been just the sweetest thing watching the girls together. The little women have had such fun together.  We have done some baking together recently and then a few days later we all headed out to farm in Stony Plain to help Uncle Mark wrap meat.  The little women were running wild, it was chilly so they didn't stay out long but gosh were they darling!

They all squished together in the chair to 'read'. It made me think about the many summers my cousin and I spent together. Good times!!! Love these littles.

Mr. P was into it, helping out in the garage with the meat. Eeeeek!

~ Mrs. P

farm animal love

 So even though I could never be a farm girl, I LOVE visiting Auntie Linda's farm.  Seriously looking that sweet goat face, who would not?

Grandma Hinko was out visiting and helping us tackle a 30lb box of apples (sadly I didn't take one picture of the apple projects ha).  Alyson and I went out with the little girls while the big girls were in school.  School can be a real bummer sometimes, we missed them. There is something so theraputic about getting to visit.

The chickens still scare most of us, except Neely...she was crawling around the chicken coop floor and tried to go through the little door.

~ Mrs. P

Monday Family Fun Day

For our Holiday Monday we had grand plans to visit the pumpkin patch with the Birds but rain required us to change our plans.  It turned out to be such a fabulous day!  We googled indoor play places and decided on UPlay and goodness was it fun for the kiddos. I dare say it was fun for the Dads who were with us too :)  We have gone a few times to different places but never with strong Dads along, it was wonderful to be able to have Jacey participate to her fullest.  Her smiles show how awesome it was!

For the little Bird there are just no words!  She has boundless energy and skills, it was wonderful to watch her in an element.  Our girls, goodness the cousin fun and the smiles and the family togetherness....so awesome.

 After playing we decided to keep the family fun going and surprised the girls with a visit to the theater to see Hotel Transylvania 2.

It is pretty cool that the girls are at an age where we can have crazy fun, full days. I love this little crew of mine.

~ Mrs. P

fans even in unfabulous times

  The Polischuk family still has season tickets to the Oilers and we still cheer for the orange and blue.  The summer was full of anticipation and excitement as we signed McDavid after another year near the bottom of the league.  Hope springs eternal! We were able to hit a few preseason games but Graham and I attended the Home Opener the other night. It was exciting and fun as the crowd filled Rexall with energy.  We all received our complimentary scarf and then sadly watched the team lose to St. Louis.  I must say I felt bad for the boys, but goodness what is it going to take for them to gel and rock it on the ice?!  The girls had fun when we were in the Oilers store the other day, so I took a picture of them with the Oiler sunglasses and sent it to Graham in hopes of it making him smile.  

Oh Oilers fans, they just continue to get their hearts broken.

~ Mrs. P

baking and making with Stella Bella

This girl asks daily if we can do a craft :)  She usually comes up with her own ideas, she doesn't even need to consult Pinterest to be inspired.

This girl also loves helping when we do baking. We both go put on some aprons and get to work. She is an excellent side kick.  She will be missed terribly when it is her turn to go off to school next year!! Who will help me make cookies?

~ Momma P

much to be THANKFUL for

Much to be thankful for! 

I am thankful for my family and my Heavenly Father who has blessed me so very much.  We ended up hosting a Thanksgiving dinner and it turned out lovely. We had the Bird family over and then Mr. P did what we called a 'Gramma Run' and picked up Grandma Lorincz and Grandma Hinko, Nanny Bird even popped by for a bit. We went all Ukrainian and made up a big 25lb turkey.  Aside from a bit of turkey grease burning at one point, it smelled and tasted great in the end (if we do say so ourselves ;)   Graham and I tag teamed the meal, he was even the one who stuffed the bird....it was a gesture of love because I really dislike raw meat. Yeah for a yummy turkey meal!

The weekend was very full with a funeral/memorial for a friend on Friday, watching the Jacober girls Saturday and then the Turkey dinner on Sunday. We wrapped up the weekend with a bit of  family time on Monday.   I really want to highlight the importance of GRATITUDE.  I don't think I am necessarily a positive person by nature but I do want it to become part of my nature! Choose Happy ya know.

There is always a silver lining when it is cloudy and this year I have really tried to look at the good. Life can have frustration and disappointment, sometimes by our choices and sometimes by others choices and sometimes by neither, just stuff that happens BUT I can control my attitude and choose to have gratitude.  GRATITUDE really can change the tide.  I have absolutely still shed tears. My heart has still hurt over things but I have so much good in my life. There is a hymn that has played in my mind often...

COUNT YOUR BLESSING

1 When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

2 Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. [Refrain]

3 When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. [Refrain]

4 So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. [Refrain]

Every single person has stuff.
  Some stuff is more physical, some emotional, sometimes both but everyone has stuff to navigate BUT a list of blessings can be compiled no matter what.
Have Gratitude
Choose Happy

~ Mrs. P

Jacober & Polischuk women

These women have a blast together!  

It is pretty crazy that we have girls that are all around the same age; 7, 6, 5 and 4.  Amy and Jeff had a birthday party so we had their little women part of the day and over night....such fun!!!!!! When the Jacober's first arrived Amelia called out group hug and they gathered together cutest.thing.ever.

 It makes me happy whenever the chalk board is being used. 

The weather was beautiful, just perfect for some backyard playing.  My photography course has helped me try to look differently at my subject so I have really tried to me more creative. I just LOVE the sliding Ember and swinging Eden pictures, such genuine smiles!! Saying that, my favorite picture of all the girls is the posed one on the bench...adore these gals.

 Fuzzy feet pictures but I was playing around with the focus and trying to get their faces. Also the Stella tongue stuck out is so classic her, love these little women.

 

~ Momma P