snow day in May

We woke up to the backyard being covered with in a blanket of white. 

 Now if this was October I would have been thrilled but alas it is MAY!!!!!

Luckily I had procrastinated in washing and putting away the winter gear so when they wanted to go out and play....go to it.

I followed them outside to take some pictures and then I had a mom moment. Sometimes I'll have a moment when a choice arises where I can get something on my to-do list done or seize the moment and play with my ladies.  As I was taking pictures the moment came and I knew it would be fun to help them build a snowman. I ran back into bundle up a bit more. Even though it is May and we had snow, what a fun afternoon it was. 

 Kind of ironic that the girls and I re-did the chalkboard and then it snowed :)

~ Mrs. P

just another day

Today was rather ordinary for us but I have a quote in my bedroom that reads;

Enjoy the little things in life,

For someday you may realize they were the big things.

So I guess ordinary is actually rather extraordinary!

We have company, Auntie Jenn, Rob and baby Max are visiting YEAH!  We love smothering Max in kisses. Every time we see him he seems to have grown exponentially. Company actually happens rather often and we had a quick turnaround this week with back to back guests as Gramma Hinko slept over on her way through town and then Auntie Jenn came down with her peeps. We LOVE having company visit!

There was the usual school pick up and drop off. The mornings when we are early enough we park a block away and walk Amelia. This morning though she just wanted to sit on my lap and talk by the front door of the school, so we chatted, played some eye spy, played a letter game they play at school and I just relished in snuggling my big school girl close. Parents walked by and smiled and I know this won't last forever, her wanting to snuggle me rather then have a few minutes with friends before the bell. Stella stayed home with Auntie Jenn getting in some Max snuggles!  We are on a quest for a new backpack because Amelia's zipper busted beyond repair :( but I refuse to pay a ton of money so we made 3 stops and finally gave up. What was successful was quickly grabbing a few groceries with the ladies, a cookie always helps of course!!!  The afternoon brought beautiful weather so there was some biking, a front porch snack and then Daddy wake up before we ran off to violin lessons. I even squeezed in watching a bit of the political debate because I need to know where I want to through my vote. Post dinner on a Monday means Family Home Evening and it was fun to help Max do Ring-Around-The-Rosie with us (our gathering song for FHE).  I love when lessons are fun, we feel the spirit and the bedtime rush goes smooth.  Tonight we started a new bunny chapter book that Amelia earned for diligent violin practice, she was so excited. Today was definitely another busy, crazy, fun, ordinary beautiful day!!!!!!

~ Momma P

dance festival

 Things got pretty thrilling for our little dancer on the weekend, she had her first dance festival.  It was emotional and exciting. There were both tears and smiles!  Her teacher is fabulous with littles and the student helpers just rock as well.  Things got pretty real for us as we have had a parent make-up tutorial and strict emails with specific instructions, gosh it certainly a culture one has to learn.  It was exciting though to watch....except when there were tears ;)

Stella made the perfect side kick! Gosh how I love these women, Amelia's chill thumbs up and Stella's super smile!!!! So blessed I tell ya.

~ Mrs. P

Chicks ROCKIN our world

Things have been THRILLING at our house!  

Seriously, little chicks have been ROCKIN our world. Wednesday morning was actually day 20 but we noticed a few eggs had cracks showing and the entire day we were in and out of the den peaking in on the incubator to see if there were any changes. It wasn't until 11 o'clock when everyone else had gone to bed did our first little chickie hatch out. Grandma Hinko was sleeping so I called and woke Alyson to tell her the news.  I had been up folding laundry eagerly waiting.  It was incredible to watch and I ended up staying up until 1:30 and was able to watch another two hatch out, it was so cool!

Amelia Ann usually sneaks into my bed sometime after midnight and when the woman woke and tried to come she noticed me in watching the new chick and was pumped up! It was fun to see her all sleepy smiling and so excited.

Thursday continued to be a day of 'watching, watching, watching'.

One of my hopes with this hatching was that my little Joy School people would be able to witness a hatch and they DID!!!!!!  

It felt bit like we have been living in this perpetual edge of your seat, excitement, anticipating every new little chick....waiting each arrival and then naming and looking at their unique colours combinations. It has been an incredible experience!  We have made it a learning experience too because I am a nerd and that is how I roll. We decorated the box, we have graphed and have written about a chick's life cycle and read poems, oh and the best was watching my little Joy School people do the chicken dance!  It has been a blast.  

There is just something amazing watching life unfold before your eyes.  It has been such a wonderful experience for our family

~ Momma P

cutest pirate ever

This chick is probs the cutest pirate ever!!!! I was able to be in her class TWICE this week for a literacy day and then the class pirate party!  Such.a.blast.   I am grateful for good friends and a sister who I can swap kiddos with, because I know the days of getting to be in her class all of the time come to an end.  Sooooo I will take it when I can get it!  Also who doesn't like calling other people 'scallywags' and 'landobers' seriously so fun :)  I am eager to have a similar experience with Stella Bella in a few years. It is fun to watch who your kid is in their own environment!!!

~ Mrs. P

the man

We have been missing the man.  He is here, he is around BUT he is working like crazy.  I can't help but miss him for many reasons but have learned I need to chase the missing him blues with thankfulness and busyness...this works for me in keeping the shutdown burnout disease from creeping in!  I will take the quick squeezes and kisses when I can and hold dear our Sunday nights (his one day off).  It could be tougher and we really do have a good gig going BUT we do miss the man like crazy.

~ Mrs. P

park day beauties

Stunning spring weather, a fun park and good friends....what more does one need?  Definitely the top three things on our gratitude list for the day.

~ Mrs. P