hatching little chickies

It is incredible that the time it takes for an egg to become a chick is only 21 days!!!!!

It truly is an amazing thing!

Alyson and I feel extremely lucky to have Auntie Linda trust us enough to lend us  her incubator and share her eggs, then take the chicks back when they are ready to leave our house. We also feel very lucky to have Gma Hinko come to stay so that the whole process is overseen by a professional.

Hatching this time seemed to just be a little wack.  Our first batch ended up going to a friend around day 19 because my dad was in the hospital and our second batch was set to come a few days after Tessa was spayed which would have been fine except for the sweet pup had some scary complications.  In the end we had 19/24 hatch and lots of love was given.

~ Momma P

Amelia turns 8

Our baby girl is not a baby anymore and before our very eyes she is growing into such a lovely young lady! She was so excited to wake up and turn EIGHT.  June 10th fell on a Saturday so we were able to have her party on her actual birthday (we did that for Stella too), it always makes things just a touch more special.  As per our tradition  she woke to some balloons and this year I found massive gold eights which we will use for her baptism photos. I just love how excited she was - who wouldn't love a tower of donuts for a birthday breakfast?!?!?!

 

 

 

 

  

Usually after Christmas the ladies start brainstorming birthday party ideas but this year Amelia has consistently been talking about going horseback riding. It is rather pricey so we gave her the choice to go ahead with a horseback riding party and have cousins only or choose a different idea.  She went with the riding and it was INCREDIBLE!!!!!

Because I am a nerd I made sure everyone had a bandana in their favourite colour and by chance I found little second hand cowboy boots for Amelia to wear. It was pretty rad!

 Keno Hills Ranch is just south of Sherwood Park and is a little gem, set amidst a few rolling hills. Our little crew got there quite early but we wanted to set up and ensure that Jacey could be accommodated.  The staff was absolutely incredible!!!!  They were so welcoming and Amelia was in love with the horses and the little foals that they played with before guests arrived and the party got started.  The gals managing the stable that day was phenomenal and so good with the littles.  The stable had a saddle that worked great for Miss Jacey Bird.  Kingston was enthralled and the manager was so intuitive and understanding. The kids went for rides and played games like 'Red Light, Green Light' and 'What Time is It Mr. Wolf' and 'British Bulldogs' on the horses!!!!! Amelia was able to be on her horse the whole time, for both groups. Her horse's is name was Misty and it is pretty safe to say Amelia Ann fell in love.

 Thanks to pinterest I was able to make the table look adorable and the party/team room was just such a special setting.  Oh and have I mentioned the smell? It is a legit, actual working barn with attached riding arena.  Authentic, authentic, authenic and fun!!!!  The parents and the groups of kiddos waiting to ride sat on the side in some bleachers and just basked in the smiles of the children.  There are moments when you watch your children have tremendous experiences and just feel pure joy....today was one of those times. 

We finished off the day with some pumpkin pie per the birthday girls request! Eight candles in the pie and the birthday song one last time before she went off to bed one year older.

 

A few weeks ago Amelia had her Baptism Preview Fireside and we stopped after to snap a picture because I have been dreaming of doing this for her bday this year. Eight is so special and our girl is so special. 

~ Momma P

for the love of MUSIC

 I am tickled that Amelia continues to choose to play her violin.  This was her third year and her growth has been pretty fantastic to watch!!!  The little lady is still shy of performing but she has a blast each week with her teacher Hazel. For her last lesson Stella and I were invited to the back deck for a mini recital and it was lovely.   Hazel was able to score her own music class teaching music kinders - grade 3 this year and we feel pretty lucky that she has still kept a few students.  It is my desire that our girls play for the love of music, the magic that you feel when things come together and you create beauty.  A few times I have picked up my flute and played what I can, sometimes I will pick through the children's song book and find the super simple songs and play them for the ladies.  It is a regret of mine that I stopped piano lessons.  I can't play from the hymn book and wish I could, wish I could easily sight read.  You know how parents sometimes project things on their kids.....sorry kids.....I am strongly encouraging you to continue with your instruments.

So proud of this girl! 

 

~ Momma P

Recitals & Festivals

Ballet and Ukrainian Dance were the dance choices this year.  The weekly practices sometimes get daunting and you want to skip, stay home or make other plans (this is the mom who drives them speaking) BUT when you make a commitment you follow through!  

This was Stella's first year doing performance ballet.  She has waited patiently to be able to get a real ballet costume that matched her group and do 'real' performances.  Her teachers are FANTASTIC and when the instructors talk about them being a dance family, they mean it!  Such a fantastic organization. It made me all emotional watching Stella dance at her first festival.  Then when she got to participate in the recital studio finale....so great!

Amelia tried out Ukrainian Dance this year and it is the coolest!!!!! Graham and his sister did Ukrainian Dance as kids so it was quite awesome to have Amelia get to try this out.  The costumes are also just the coolest, the tradtions and learning about the different dances.  Attending Malanka (Ukrainian New Year) this year made me emotional - yes I get emotional a lot I guess hahaha! Amelia also worked hard to overcome some performance anxiety, such a supportive group of kids and an empathetic instructor.  

Also to be noted; while dancing is super great, wrapping up dance is AWESOME!!!!!!! Practices, festivals and recitals being done is so darn nice.

So proud of these ladies!

~ Mrs. P

Stella turns 6

Our little lady Stella turns SIX this year!!!!!!

She is our little darling. 

She knows what she wants and likes.  

She is determined.  

She is a hugger and a lover.

She is an observer.

She is a helper.

She is a wonderful sister!

She is a fantastic daughter!

Our birthday tradition means that you wake up to balloons and the gifts from your parents.  Usually we do pancake towers but this year I thought it would be fun to do a donut tower.  We always put up a birthday picture banner so we can see how much growth happens each year.  The pictures make me both happy and sad!  It is such a privilege being a momma to this lady, both these ladies.   Each year is special and amazing in a different way! Year five meant Stella went to kindergarten and learned to read. So many changes that school brings....bittersweet!

 Love this birthday girl!!!

 

Stella had requested a trolls theme birthday and I think we pulled off a success!!!!

We set up the bouncy house in the back yard, played a little 'Draw the Hair on Poppy the Troll' AND of course we painted wood 'Troll Tree Houses' (gotta do a little crafting at a Polischuk party).  Stella was also ticked to have the most adorable welcome sign.

 It seems a bit crazy but because we had her party on her actually birthday she had three sets of candles to blow out; on donuts/cupcakes/cake!!! I think if the smiles are an indication....she felt special!  

 Such a great day to celebrate a great girl!!

Camping in Long Lake with the Hogg Family

A weekend camping with the Hogg family was a happy coincidence! We were able to rebook our sites to be across from one another when we discovered that Long Lake was our common destination.  The weather was lovely and the kids had a blast. It was all fun until Christa broke her color bone biking with her family - poor lady.

The kids had a blast together!

~ Mrs. P