the win

another season, and another win for these guys...not so much because of the gigantic cup they hold but more because of another season of playing hockey together~ father and son, uncle and nephew, and cousins, all on the same team....not sure how many more years this will happen, so here is a memory worth noting i'd say.

love these three!! 

sunshine

so, a few Florida vacation pictures must be posted here~ especially this year, as it was a bit unique compared to previous spring break trips.  i miss the sunny warm south and i don't want to forget this gift of time away...

once again, Florida was b-eau-ti-ful!!!!  the dolphins, the ocean, the sunsets, the crazy diving pelicans, the smiles on the faces of my kids and the little girls who vacationed with us, the visits with grandparents, the sight of my hard-working husband sprawled on the couch, snoring like a rested man...there's really just something about it.  so grateful!

this boy, getting his beauty sleep to be fully rested for daytime shenanigans...

actually, he really had a great week.

the cold-loving northern girls were quite happy in the warm Florida sun and spent hours at play...was delightful to see...

the digging, the castles, the breeze, the swimming~ the falling 

asleep at the supper table, repeatedly. :)

miss princess being carried back to the condo.  she was really into that mode of transportation.  

my kids are so awesome with these two.

when your grandma who you haven't seen for two months shows up with so many fresh strawberries~ and whipped cream!!!

shuffleboard~ a first, why not??  Hudson's got the look of "i'm a pro!"

E&H loved Adam's pool antics, the wilder and crazier the better.  

i adore this boy's sweet side.  

an afternoon siesta, under a palm tree...on top of small stones as well, mind you, but she slept like a baby...which isn't that far off for her i guess!

Lay and E., strolling along the pier, on our last evening there...

that sun...blazing and beautiful and so refreshing for the soul...

having these two sisters this year was only added fun.  there was the twelve-seater van adventure, the dance parties, the supper table hilarity, and mostly the joy of seeing the trip through the wonder of a small child.  pretty special! we will never forget Florida 2018 and all that E&H brought with it...

i love every single adventure experienced with this guy~ big or small, he makes it especially fun...

hmm...so thankful!

official mail

i've mentioned Hannah's university and college admissions steadily trickling in.  her top pick has always been Western.  it is still the front-runner even though she's waiting to hear back from all schools before accepting...
the official offer arrived yesterday.

for Hannah this has been a long time coming.  it hasn't been easy, and her relief is palpable...we are so happy for her to be moving forward as she'd hoped!!

she's going to be an excellent nurse, such a great career~ the perfect fit for her personality and gifts...
wasn't it just yesterday she was crying over spilled milk on the hardwood or sleepwalking through the kitchen or dressing up in whatever get-up Joelle would make her put on (she almost always had to wear the western cowgirl theme while Joelle would come up in glittery pink or purple~ the crown, the heels, the boa...not fair, but Hannah tolerated it), or heading to Ardene's for yet another headband or playing chalk on the driveway?!?  how is this even real?  love you more than you know, Hannah Renee...

february 2018 can be done now...

February has included a lot.  more than any month should, i'd say!  lots of real life happening every single second it seems.  dentist and doctor appointments, four wrestling tournaments, six hit with a nasty cold and/or flu, depending on how lucky or unlucky you were (me~ unlucky!) plans made, plans changed, reading week for Joelle, potty training success for E&H, report cards, a birthday for Hudson, a 50th birthday for Jeff (how even?!?!), basketball for two teams, the usual parenting challenges, some early university admissions, and a few other things i'll spare you mention of.  life...typical right?  ahem...just nod and smile...

highlights were there though, amidst all of it...first, my dear Jeffrey turning 50....goodness am i ever thankful to journey through this chaos life adventure with him at my side.  for over half his life we've been together, and with each passing year i'm more aware of the blessing of time shared, faithful commitment and the sweetness of the memories we've made.  this husband of mine has the most compassionate heart and it is a beautiful thing to see the outward expression of this over and over again.  his faith in God is unwavering, and his trust and dedication to living well right where God has placed him is so inspiring...   

oh, yes, the pictures~ a small dose of February sweetness unrelated to the text, but who can resist?!?!  above, Hannah doing manicures on the little girls and below, cookie making...um, well sort of....a prepared cookie dough scooped out in random sizes and tossed onto the cookie sheet....a stretch for my type A personality, but i'm getting better, i decided.  i was able to enjoy the moment and only did a little fixing at the end, which i'm sure you'd agree was necessary...

one last highlight...Hannah has received early acceptance to four nursing programs for September 2018, but the real highlight was the admission offer from Western~ which is the current front runner~ her top choice...after a difficult last term of school which stretched her in many ways, she was able to see the results of her effort and feel the relief of a goal achieved...love you my dear, and can't believe you're flying the coop in a few short months.  whatever will i do when the only other "neat and tidy" person in this home leaves.  i might not survive.  actually.

anyway, i'm okay with letting February pass now!  it's a wrap!

fevered

different variations of a cold/flu have been taking down prisoners in this house we share.  only a few are left standing.  it is unpleasant and draining.  i think i was second in line...it makes you wish you could crawl into your mom's bed like you did when you were a kid and wait for medication administration and cold clothes to your forehead and extra blankets and green grapes and chicken soup and all the other good comforting things my mom did when i was sick~ thanks Mom!!  so when it hit the two little girls this past week, it was so sad to see them laying around on the couch.  understand this~ they are in constant motion normally, so this was a sure sign of something being amiss in their resilient little bodies.  thankfully once the medication started to work in their systems they perked up really fast, until it wore off again.  thankfully by the third day they were back to normal, aka wild and crazy...

here's a picture of Miss E, on the couch under her new "I Spy" quilt made by Gramma...she felt warm and loved and secure in that moment.  

it was a gift for all of us to care for them through it.  i felt the same about my big kids too~ always nice to have an excuse to love a little larger in tangible ways that feel good!  still, hoping it won't be long before we have fresh spring air blowing through open windows!  

thirteen

somehow this kid is thirteen today.  can't even believe it myself.  i've known it was coming for weeks yet still struggle to process this number.  

so how would i sum up Hudson?

this boy loves basketball~ but pretty much any sport for him is super fun.  he loves to eat and has the healthiest appetite~ he's always been a joy to feed.  he loves to dance, and is ridiculously good at it.  he loves yogurt, he loves operating anything with an engine, he loves people, he loves to help, he loves babies, he loves life.

he also loves his birthday present!  another pair of basketball shoes to add to his collection.

yes, the boy loves his shoes!  LeBron James shoes this time~ size 9.  he's been wanting them for awhile.  

i'm so thankful God chose me for you, Hudson.  it's one of my greatest honours in life, being your mom~ even on the hard days.  the fact that God intersected our lives and began preparing us for eachother even before your birth leaves me standing in absolute wonder...

Psalm 91 (NLT) is a chapter i chose for you, son.  my prayer is that you will grow in wisdom and truth and integrity.  i hope and pray this is your best year yet!   

xo

january

the first month of 2018 has come and gone.  it's usually the "draggiest" month (new word! :)) for me.  it's darker, colder and sometimes a bit sluggish as the "groove" returns after the holiday break and the routines and schedules press in from all sides.  there were moments to love within those thirty one days, however. and i even caught a few!

above, morning beauty outside my front window.

below, sweet "E" lining up the cars like a champ in her Wranglers ball cap (which is actually Hudson's and she's unofficially claimed it from day 1)

trying out skating one day after extraction of six teeth.  she is so tough...and standing on real skates??  no problem!! these girls LOVE being outside and rarely want to come in when the rest of us wish to.  cold hands and cheeks and noses aren't an issue for these two.  we are wimpy.  they have proven that.

Layla and some snowman magic with the girls.  he was so handsome while he lasted...

cherished gift.  a handmade scarf from Joelle.  it's warmed my neck and face and also my heart.  love it...

Lego fun, watching and modelling Hudson.  

and the matching jammies get me every time.  nothing like the cozy look and feel of fresh pj's after a warm bath on two clean little people...