beefcakes

Soooo Graham and I should be called 'beefcakes', you know the kind of athletic folk who frequent the gym and get all healthy.  That is us. You could pretty much say we have been nailing the beefcake title these first 3 weeks of 2015.  I took this picture of the two of us at the gym.  Graham did his gym thing and I have enrolled in a yoga class. Stella actually gets to play in the kiddie care and although it has been hard to leave her each week, she actually does pretty well we are told. We have a little joke about the gym from when we were newly married. Apparently people don't talk at the gym and I was surprised to discover that people REALLY don't talk much at the gym. So Graham and I have never really done this kinda stuff together (other then yoga I don't really do much 'stuff') and we actually just happen to be together in the same building, hahahaha still worthy of a picture of us being beefcakes together!!!!!!

Mrs. P

oilers winter family

This year has been another very challenging year for the Oilers but one good thing about every game we attend is the opportunity to visit with Ron and Julie.  These guys are such a good couple!  They are kind and Julie, a crazy good crafter has cleaned out her stash a few times giving me things for our young women or to donate.  Good, good people. Other then a date night and a rare win for the Oilers, getting to visit with Ron and Julie is a highlight.  We have had season tickets right behind them for seven years, lucky us!

Mrs. P

picnic and a movie

Sometimes we just need to slow the pace and have a picnic lunch. 

Favorite movie and one of our favorite lunches!

Momma P

miss independent

Our little girl is truly such a little preschooler, so big!

She is so determined, focused and creative.  Stella Bella and I have moments of awesome fun together (moments of serious challenge too) but I am often blown away by what she comes up with. She likes to make wagons or strollers with the TinkerToy at the music studio where Amelia has violin lessons.  She likes to dress up, is pretty particular with her clothes and I keep thinking that I need to put together a collection of her outfit selections because there have been some cool pieces.  Our girl will lay out clothes in the morning and say she is "putting things together" eeek she is a little like her momma I guess. Just such a cool chick, love her to bits.

Momma P

bunny sweetness

Our Toffee Elsa is a cutie!

She is pretty patient with our girls because they really, really like to love on her.

Momma P

Sunbeam Sweetie

Our little lady has truly become a big girl, she had her first week as a Sunbeam at church!!

Her teacher had been visiting the Nursery class (kiddos 18months-3yrs) for the last month and she is the mom of a little buddy so I was feeling pretty good about this transition. We had previously visited Stella's new classroom and went to see where she would sit for Singing/Sharing Time, yeah for our big girl.

 

When I brought Stella to Singing Time today there were still tears, I gave big hugs and a Primary worker scooped her up and she went to sit by her big sister Amelia, then moved to her old nursery teacher's lap (who now teaches an older class) and then eventually moved to a seat with her class, yeah!!!  There were smiles when I went to pick her up so I would say it was a WONDERFUL day!!!!!!!

A little Polischuk lady pic <3 div="" little="" these="" women="">

~ Momma P

December concerts and recitals and parties

 School Christmas Concert

 To say that both Amelia and I were excited for her first Christmas concert would be an understatement :)  We felt lucky that Great-Grandma Hinko could be there and a sad because our Dad was in Finland for work. Technology is amazing in that I took video with my phone and sent him pictures too so he was able to enjoy her performance from across the world.  Amelia's class performed with the other morning and afternoons kinders, so there were around 60 little people belting out the songs they had practiced, it was darling.  We got a picture with Amelia and her music teacher, who also happens to play the violin (coolness!!!!).  Ms. F played the violin as prelude music and I couldn't help smiling, taking in the melodic sound, watching the younger brothers and sisters quiet down and listen as her bow slid across the strings. 

 Songs included:

Rudolf the Red nose Reindeer

Away in a Manger

We Wish you a Merry Christmas

M-E-R-R-Y C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S

 Joy School Nativity Party
Can I just say that our Joy School group ROCKS!!!!!  We actually had enough for two little groups of four this year so are usually divided but decided to get together for holiday celebrations because being together sometimes is just so wonderful.  It was fantastic :) We did a quick performance for the mommas and sang a beautiful song called Mary's Lullaby with the iPad accompanying us.

 First Violin Recital Christmas Edition

Oh my this was darling!!!!!!!!

Our girl was a bit nervous, perhaps because it would just be her and her teacher Hazel. We did lots of talking about it and Amelia ADORES Hazel so even though there were a few tears when I brought her back stage, she walked out confidently to perform with a big smile, violin under her arm all professional like, gave a little wave then got all focused.  She played Jingle Bells and I dare say she received quite loud applause for a recital! She did soooooo good, finished up with a little bow and was all smiles for the rest of the night.  Her teacher Hazel is in university to be a Music Teacher and there is some mutual adoration going on there. Hazel calls Amelia Miss Mouse and asked if she could take Amelia to meet her parents....it was rather adorable!  On Amelia's second lesson Hazel played her 'Let it Go' and I had tingles knowing that Hazel would help show Amelia her potential, the potential of the instrument and helping a love of music (that was already there) to grow.  It is beautiful!

Grandpa Ed and Maureen were able to come see the recital, pretty special!

Serious enthusiasm going on here!!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!

 

Ballet Christmas Recital

The song 'Suzie Snowflake' was never more enchanting then having little ballerinas perform a darling routine to it! The adorableness was off the charts.  Our ballet beauty did a fabulous job remembering the routine and being graceful.

Little Sister Hot Chocolate Date with Momma
Little sister has been a wonderful sidekick through the holiday season.  Her and I are pretty much inseparable!  No, for reals the woman and I really love one another. With Graham being away, lots of evening concerts etc and our routine being different I knew that our little miss might need some extra loving, she is a routine needing woman.  A special hot chocolate date was just what we both needed.

Joy School Reindeer Party 
Five kiddos wearing antlers freeze dancing to Christmas music, doesn't get much cuter. Also playing with the nativity costumes was a highlight.  This angel pic makes me smile for some reason.

 Gingerbread House Making at School
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE any opportunity to be in Amelia's class.  It is the fun-est!!! Gingerbread making, I was totally into it.  It is fun to get to know the kiddos and be part of some of the special things she does at school.  I also went another day when they sewed stockings with their grade 6 buddies. It was nice to meet her buddy CJ, who I have heard so much about :P

Ward Christmas Party
Our youth from church were the 3rd and final group to use the nativity costumes our family has.  It is a privilege to get to serve the young peeps in our ward. How do you get Young Men and Young Women pumped to dress up and on time??? Offer a first come, first picks for beards and cool costume accessories :) The youth rocked it!!!  They even used Gramma and Grandpa Hudkins script.

That is a wrap for parties, recitals and concerts this year. It was busy but good!

~ Mrs. P