Easter Photos with Toffee Elsa

A friend needed a bunny model for some Easter pictures and then ended up using my girls too, I am so very pleased that I have these sweet images of them.

We are animal people and our bunny has filled that role in our family these last two years. She turns 2 on April 1st and the girls are planning a little party for her.  While bunnies are not like dogs with their level of companionship, they are darn cute and we love her.  She is truly fulfilling the measure of her creation being a Polischuk pet!!!

There is a lot of love for the furry girl Toffee Elsa!

~ Momma P

Easter Sunday

Today was the culmination of the last week of the Savior's life, we celebrate His resurrection!

In a world that can be dark, were sad things that test one's heart, there is hope and light in our Savior Jesus Christ.  In the midst of our sorrows or in our great blessings, Jesus is our guide. I am grateful to know that and hope that I can help our  little woman come to know and feel that too!

 I LOVE this sign that Amelia made for Gramma and Grandpa's front door!

I love that we have had so much cousin time! It really has been a marvelous weekend of extended family togetherness, we miss Mr. P but are having a blast with our cousins.  Easter dresses were vintage this year!  Real deal worn by my sisters and I over 25 years ago.  Jacey and Amelia wore dresses that my momma had sewn for us when we were little.  Stella and Neely had matching Mini World dresses that twirled so well ;)  The little ladies were so adorable!  I did twists of some sort in everyone's hair (because I like doing hair) and each woman had a bow or two to tie them all together.  It was pretty special to have such sentimental spring dresses! I love that my mom has hung onto some of our things and now our little women are getting to use them.

 

Now before we gathered the littles for breakfast or church there was a visit from the Easter Bunny that we needed to address!  Each little ones had a basket full of goodies and there were over 130 eggs hidden, just waiting to be found.  Kids ROCK!!!

 

During singing time for the children at church today my mom taught them a song and brought her large marble Christus statue.   At the conclusion of her lesson she allowed each child to come up and feel His hands and touch His feet.  She is a stellar teacher and there was such reverence from the children as she helped them learn the words.  Sitting there today with my girls in front of me it was so special to have our girls learn from their Gma, hear her bear her testimony of Jesus Christ and for us all to be reminded about what the ultimate focus of today is.

Did Jesus Really Live Again?

 

1. Did Jesus really live again?
Yes, when the third day came,
He wakened and he left the tomb;
He called Mary's name.

2. Did Jesus come to those he loved?
Yes, people touched his feet,
And of the fish and honeycomb
He did truly eat.

3. And there were nail-prints in his hands
And a spear wound in his side.
Did Jesus really live again
After he had died? Oh yes! And so shall I!

A highlight for me happened just before bed tonight after scriptures.  Stella turns and says to us, "Guess What? Jesus loves Heavenly Father and He loves us!".  YES, YES, YES Stella He does!!!

~ Mrs. P 

Easter Dinner

 It has been quite the party around here! The day started and ended with bunny ears, sure love these folk.  We had prepared the eggs the night before and got decorating while everyone was still jammies (only one spill ;)!!!!  The colours were so brilliant and I love how the littles each had their own ideas.  I LOVE traditions and the children enjoyed it!   I had wanted to use them as our table centerpiece and they looked great.

The piano bench is the perfect height for little chairs and little kids. 

  I love that we are packed into my parents home, my childhood home, it is charming and cozy.  The turkey was scrumptious and we had a few salads that were all actually salads that my Gramma Hudkins makes :)  It was a traditional, yummy Easter meal.  There was a lot of laughing and goofing off and wrestling.   Just exactly what a family holiday should be like!

These sweet folks, oh how I love them all. 

~ Momma P

Easter Moments

There have been some sweet, funny, silly and real moments over this Easter vacation up in Fort McMurray.

* Uncle Mikel is very popular

* the cat Leia is very popular 

* my Dad got his first cell phone hahahaha this is a BIG deal (he almost looks like he is smiling in this picture)

* they still have snow here and my little women had so much fun

* lots of Max time (sure love that guy)

* our family attended a free movie viewing of the Good Dinosaur at the public library

* Amelia and Gramma were jamming out with the violin & piano

* our last night meant a fire and marshmellows with Grandpa

(ummmm my face is rediculous but the one marshmellow of Alyson's was on fire!!!!)

We are blessed!

~ Mrs. P

using 'The Force'

Since watching Star Wars with thier Dad when I was away last they have been into using 'The Force', like big time!!!! Hahahahha  It is the best thing ever! I found these shirts when we made a trip to the old Peter Pond Mall, they LOVED them.   For some reason using 'The Force' translates into doing a yoga tree pose but who am I to argue with what helps them focus.  

It makes me smile!

 Love these two!!!

~ Mrs. P

dance dress rehearsal - things learned

Long but Good Story:

Our big girl LOVES her ballet class each week!  There is always excitement when she get to put on her tights and go dancing, she hasn't complained once during these seven months of ballet (I may have complained once or twice about a Friday class over the dinner hour). Some very neat things have happened lately.  She has began to recognize the importance of being part of a team.  When someone is missing from class there is a hole in their routines and she commented to me on that point after class the other day.  It opened a great discussion about dependability and responsibility.   Another pretty big opportunity for growth has been in overcoming her performance anxiety.  Last year in Kindergarten no big deal, slight hesitation but smiles on stage, no tears ever.  Her teacher and the assistants are FABULOUS!!!! This year at her Christmas recital there were big tears and I literally had to pass over my crying daughter who was clinging to me to the ballet teacher, it was heart breaking but she went got on stage with her class and came out smiling after. We praised her and talked about how she can do hard things. She also prepared a duet with her violin teacher and planned to play "What Child is This" in sacrament, but big time performance anxiety and her teacher ended up doing a solo.   Amelia has been assigned to do scripture at church once since Christmas and chose to play an Article of Faith song on the iPad, she just stood at the pulpit and pressed play.  Then last week during ballet class they have what is called parent watch where the studio is lined with parents and there was a ton of tears but she eventually stood with her ballet classmates and cried through the movements of the routine.  It was heart breaking to watch, her teacher handled it soooooo good and there were some darling little girls putting their arms around her and holding her hand. She did it though, she did it!  Fast forward to this week....dress rehearsal for the big girl with her much anticipated Rainbow Dash costume.  I told her the morning of to avoid any potential build up of anxiety and I kid you not the girl skipped down the sidewalk to car pool in the morning.  After school as she got her costume/hair/makeup done I could tell she was excited but a tad apprehensive.  Once we arrived at the theater and went backstage she gave me a huge 'bear hug' and a kiss and joined her fellow dancers...mini miracle.  I said a little prayer of gratitude as Stella and I walked to find our seats.  This Sunday the women has been assigned to talk in Primary and we talked about it tonight, she seemed ok with it.  During bedtime prayer she prayed for courage to give her talk, oh my heart. I am so proud of our Amelia Ann. So many little things about growing up!

Also to be noted, Stella Bella just has to get in her ballet gear too! Love these little women.

~ Mrs. P

St. Patrick's Day

I say it a lot but children make every holiday come alive and give cause for celebration!!!

We decorated the mantle last week and the girls got a kick out of the boy playing his guitar on a toadstool and the girl playing her harp. It makes me feel good that some of my 'teacher stuff' gets used at home.  We all wondered if there would be any mischievous leprechaun tricks happening over night and there were!!!!  The girls stuffies were moved from their beds and lined the hallway!  Their very favourite stuffie's were switched; Stella had Chihuahua in her bed and Amelia had Cuddle Bear! Stella had built a trap on the kitchen stool and aptly noted movement of her 'trap'.   It was a pretty fun morning!!!! Amelia had also built a trap at school during science but didn't catch a leprechaun there either but it was fun to hear all about the other mischievous tricks that happened to friends from school and Joy School ;) We finished off the day with a Lucky Charm dinner with the Birds, I think there was also some toast and sugar cookies...surprisingly bedtime wasn't any later then it has been due to daylight savings :(  There was however big plans discussed for next years trap and confessions of perhaps seeing the leprechaun in action during the night ;) Kids ROCK!

The girls made these Girl Leprechaun's to add to our decorations :)

In a last minute switch with friends Stella and I hosted Joy School and it was a blast!!!!  Because it was last minute there was a lot of things I had done before that were easy for us to pull together.  It was SO MUCH FUN! They loved throwing coins at me - but first they had to tell me the letter I was holding and it's sound then they tossed away, awesome.

Love holidays!
Love my little women!

I read a great blog post from a friend, 'NOT a Holiday Pinterest Mom'. The title alone made me smile, I would say I LIKE being a holiday pinterest mom and love doing the creative ideas out there with my family, it brings me great joy to craft and decorate with my girls.  BUT I am no pro in the kitchen and really struggle with creativity there, while I enjoy baking, cooking is just NOT my thing.  Her thoughts were interesting because she is a fabulous, healthy, cook from scratch, grow your own food momma....while I do not have that as a strength I am still encouraged by her and want to strive to get better in that area.  Life is beautiful sometimes, we are all so different, a beautiful mix.  Just a little holiday after thought ;)

~ Jenny