Last Day of School

 Wohoo!!!!!!! School is out for the summer.

Time to toss those lunch kits and backpacks to the top of the closet.  Time to have more time hahahaha I do love me some routine but I love that summer means we don't have it.  Swimming lessons start next week and then we have a baptism coming up for our big girl but other then those things we will hopefully have lots of down time.

The girls were clearly excited! Did a little comparison on those darling smiles; First Day to Last Day....Amelia's smile has certainly changed this year!

~ Momma P

First Day of Summer

It is officially the first day of summer! Yay!!!!!! 

We still have six days of school but summer vacation feels within our grasp. 

There are SO MANY THINGS that have happened these last few months as I have been on blog silence. I am eager to get back recording here but life has been 'twist turned up-side down'...just a touch.  Grateful for my little crew. Grateful for my extended family crew.  Grateful for good friends who extend a listening ear. 

 Some life highlights as of late:

* The Oilers made it to the second round of playoff hockey this year!!!! It was exciting.  No one was more excited then the big guy.  After years of watching the team struggle we were oh so proud.

* Fidget spinners!!!! They are apparently all the rage and my girls dug into their piggybanks to buy them.  Actually we were at the dollarstore, they saw them, wanted them and then promised to dig into their piggybank to pay me back when we got home.  I think they are kind of silly toys but the women are learning about money and saving.  Part of me is proud of them though and excited to watch them learn money management.

 * The gorgeous weather has meant lots of outside time!  We planted our garden and set up the deck furniture, added some flowers to the yard.  Days like these I wish we could just freeze time.  These women, this dude...my favourites. The sun was warm and we pulled out the slip n slide even.  The women are getting more adventurous because in years past the sprinkler actually freaked them out.

 

* Biker babes - of the tamest kind! One of the most sought after activities is biking up and down the paths in our area or on their birthday scooters in our driveway.  They really like to get out.  Again, one of those getting older perks....they can go farther and for longer!  Graham wanted to wake upa nd go biking with her dad for her birthday but it ended up being rainy so they saved their 'date' for another day.  Mr. P really like biking and although he likes going hardcore in the mountains and by the river valley, I am pretty sure biking on the paths in our neighbourhood is at the top of his favourites list too.

* The Spray Park is such a wonderful way to cool down and eat a meal out side!!! Nothing beats packing a picnic and letting the ladies run around or play in the sand at the park.  I actually like to spread my blanket right between the two because they usually go back and forth.  It usually means they are exhausted and after a bath, it makes for a quick bedtime.  I also love that all of our lessons/programs are done and the flexibility to just go biking or to the spray park are easier.  No spring sports was certainly the right decision for our family this year - for many reasons really!!! 

Now that we are on the home stretch to school being out and the days are long it is making me excited for our summer bucket list and all of the adventures we will have over the next few months.  You can bet I will be snapping lots of pictures and lavishing in our togetherness.  For the last 10 days at Graham's work a plant was down and the possibility of an unplanned shutdown was looming....luckily they got things going again.  It has been a good little reminder though to cherish our time together.  We have some exciting things coming up, some absolutely thrilling things like a special baptism for our big girl, an 80th birthday for my Gramma Hudkins and a few other things. So we are counting down, only six days of school left! Although I love school and routine, I am ready to toss those backpacks to the top of the closet and ditch lunch kits. Bring on summer!!

~ Mrs. P

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!!