Has it really been two months since I last posted??

Feels more like two years! We've had a busy couple of months - 2 birthdays, a spring break and the final weeks of the kids activities.

Sam turned 2 in April during spring break. We spent a few days in Edmonton with Grandma and celebrated his big day with a trip to the zoo (which was only half open it being April and all :P) and some cake after supper.





Sarah's birthday was next in May. She's 9 years old already! We had a much quieter birthday with a few friends and a movie. It was much less stress than last year, I tell ya!





Michael has started hockey boot camp which runs from May to August three days a week. He's been doing mostly dry land training and gets ice time starting in the middle of June. Hopefully, it will show in the evaluations this year as ho goes into his first year of midget (15-18 year olds). He was a little nervous about playing with guys 3 years older than him but he has really sprouted up (he's 5'11" already!) and the boot camp will help him have some confidence, I think. He can certainly hold his own with the big boys.

Emily is still preparing for her big trip to Kenya in the summer. One month left until she leaves. We have shopping to do but she has received her immunizations and prescriptions for traveling to a third world country. We're excited and a little nervous. I think the pros outweigh the cons, though. I think... :)

I had a little vacation in May as well (Henfest 2010 - Runnin' Free in Kimberley!). Grandma came to help look after the kids so I could have an extra long weekend with a bunch of friends. We went to Kimberly, BC where one of the ladies has a timeshare. So much fun!! It was great to get away from the daily grind and hang out with some fantastic and inspiring women. I do think I was the oldest one there but I didn't get left behind - no siree! LOL There weren't any morning runs for me (and there probably never will be) but I did do an after supper walk. My favorite part of the whole weekend was just getting know some women that I have always admired but never really hung out with. I think I made some new friends - hopefully they did, too. :)

Chipmunk Cheeks

Emily had all four of her wisdom teeth taken out today. I was going to take her picture when she had the ice packs on both of her cheeks but I had an attack of compassion and decided against it. This is as close as you'll get to seeing what she looks like at the moment.


This is a picture of her mood:




Luckily we have pain medication. I think she'll be just fine. I hope the rest of us survive. ;)

Toddler Property Laws

If I like it, it's mine.

If it's in my hand, it's mine.
If I can take it away from you, it's mine.
If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
If we are building something together, all of the pieces are mine.
If it looks just like mine, it's mine.
If I think it's mine, it's mine.

If I give it to you, and change my mind later, it's mine.

If it's broken, it's yours.
- Unknown

I came across this little poem in a child development book the other night (yes, I do read them from time to time) and it just tickled my fancy. Truer words were never spoken and I have proof of that every day with Sam and the little girl I babysit, Sophia. They are 6 months apart (Sam is older) and just the epitome of toddler development. The following picture is a perfect example:

Obviously one or more the toddler laws were broken and they are "making up" or, rather, hugging like they were told to because "we treat our friends nicely."

I have to be honest - I read these child development books because I have no idea what I'm doing. It's a good thing I believe in prayer because I fly by the seat of my pants most of the time. I don't take everything the books say as a hard and fast rule, but, as I'm sure you know, it's been several years since I've had to deal with a toddler. The last toddler I had was a dream child. Couldn't ask for a more agreeable, pleasant, adorable little pumpkin. These two test my patience every day. Every hour. Every minute. Okay, maybe just every hour - except when they nap. If they keep the commandments the way they stick to the property laws, they'll have no problems in the eternities :)

Oh, but I do love them so.



P.S. I also caught this little gem on Facebook of all places:

"Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don't listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won't tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff." - Catherine M. Wallace

Good advice.

Consider yourself updated...

I guess it's been awhile since I posted. Once again, stuck in the rut of feeling like I have nothing to say or just maybe no pictures to go with it. So I guess this is gonna be a post without pictures.

So it's been about 6 weeks since we last visited. Hmmm... what's happened since then, you ask?

Let's see - hockey is temporarily finished (more on that later), preparations for Kenya are still ongoing, and Sarah is going to be a major theater star. Nothin' huge.

First, hockey ended for Michael before Sarah. Michael's team did make it to the first round of playoffs but couldn't pull it together to keep going. Sarah's team made it to the second round of playoffs but also petered out. They played well and tried their hardest and we had lots of fun so I'm happy. As for hockey being temporarily finished, Michael will be playing more hockey at the end of the month and at least one more weekend in April. He's going to try and make his zone team for the Alberta Cup (http://www.teamalbertahockey.ca/default.aspx?p=alberta_cup) which is a tournament in April in Leduc. I'm really glad he's going to give it a shot. I think he'll surprise himself with what he can accomplish.

Preps for Kenya are coming together. We're waiting for the passport and have the travel immunizations scheduled (cha-ching). Poor Emily has to get all 4 wisdom teeth out first on March 25. Lots of ice cream and jello, I guess. I can't believe it's coming up so fast. She leaves at the end of June and comes back just after her birthday so we'll have a Happy Birthday/Welcome Home party for her when she returns.

Sarah is going to be a major star after she gets discovered in the children's chorus of the Rosebud Theatre summer production of Oliver. She was very brave and auditioned at the theater and was accepted - because she's awesome! We're really excited and it's going to be a fun summer.

I'll leave you with a picture of Sam because, well, let's face it - he's the cutest of all and I don't really have a cute story about him. He is in a big boy bed in his own room now - I guess that's news. Here's a picture anyway even though I said I wouldn't post a picture.


I mean, look at those dimples!!

Time flies...

We survived the month of hockey tournaments. Phew. I'm a huge fan of my kids in hockey - I do enjoy NHL hockey but don't ask me about players or statistics. I don't keep track of those things. I like watching hockey but I don't think I could ever play it. I LOVE watching my kids play hockey. LOVE it. If you have seen me at their games, you'll know. Now don't get the wrong idea - I'm not a crazy hockey parent who yells at refs and insults the coach. I yell myself hoarse cheering on my kids and their teams. I have a cowbell that I bought from the UFA specifically for hockey. I even got all crafty and painted and decorated it.

You should know that I yell differently at Sarah's games than I do at Michael's games.

Mostly at Sarah's games I'm just chuckling with delight at these little munchkins falling all over themselves to touch the puck. You might see the odd superstar who can carry the puck from end to end but not often. I love how much FUN I have at Sarah's games - we're there for the pure enjoyment of the game. No pressure.

Michael's games are another matter. He's been in hockey for 7 years and I have different expectations of him and his team. I will yell at them to skate, hustle, shoot and, yes, even the dreaded "hit 'em!" It's a fact that contact is a part of the sport at Michael's age so when our boys are getting pushed around on the ice, I like to encourage them to give a little back. It's frustrating to watch them skate with the opponent down the ice (the opponent has the puck) and not give them a little shove off the puck. Anyway, a whole different level of intensity. LOVE it. :)

Contrary to what you may think, life is not ALL about hockey at my house. Emily has been in Drama and we were able to go see her in a one act play in January. She was awesome (no surprise there) and she was also the tech (props, lighting, sound) on another play. She's so smart and creative. I am really proud of her. She just told me today that this semester, her class will be doing "The Breakfast Club"! I am so excited!! She will also be doing her own directing project where she will get to choose her own one act play and cast it and everything. How fun!

Ooooh - a giveaway!

Check it out!

http://cheekytees.blogspot.com/

Fun, fun fun!

My bad...

I made a MAJOR faux-pas when I did my Olympic Torch post and I forgot to mention the most fabulous friend who joined me in this adventure.

We waited for a little over an hour for things to start and she was such a stalwart friend to stick by me and help me move my stroller over the ice and snow. Who could ask for a better friend?

Autumn, you are truly one of the best people I know and I count my blessings every day that I am lucky enough to have you as my friend.

(How's that?)