The Journey Continues

Mitchel has fallen deeply in love with Hockey. In true Mitchel fashion, he eats, breaths and plays hockey. He has been watching hockey, any hockey really that is on Television. He has now been to three games of the local Junior B team and he plays everyday both indoors and out!! He has plans, to build his courage and play "kid hockey" when he is nine, as a goal tender. Secretly, I hope to immerse him in it deeply now, lots of books, games and playing, so the phase passes before he gets the courage to really play. I don't know that his peace loving momma could handle being a Hockey Mom.




We were surprised to find out that Mitch can actually skate, he and Puck went to sticks and pucks at the local arena and Mitch stepped out on to the ice, and started skating.







































We had a lovely visit from the Coey family, on one of the first sunny days we had, had in a while. We were able to enjoy our first outdoor picnic of the year along with lots of laughter and tag! It was soul refreshing indeed.


























We have also been connecting with cousins! You will see below just how much fun the boys had when my cousins girls stopped by for the day. It was hours of fun fun fun, without conflict. It was truly brilliant to have our home filled with that much laughter.






The boys continue to experiment, explore and engage in the countless learning opportunities that arrive in their lives!

January continues

We have been trying, when ever the sun makes an appearance to get out and explore the various nature spots around us. Here we are at Little Qualicum Falls. We hiked the Upper and Lower Falls, well over an hour, no complaints! The parking lot was covered in ice and made for a great temporary ice rink!








We also decided to check out some of the local entertainment, with an evening of Cosmic Bowling .. I chose not to include the photo that shows all three of the boys ahead of me in scoring!



And then there were the fires! The boys are fascinated with fires and so the other night we had a fire, in our burn pit and roasted marsh mellows. All four of us had the best night sleep afterwards.






Mitchel has learned from his dad the art of layering .. so when we decided on a chilly day to hit the park Mitchel put on "fouthles". His way of saying four layers. Makinely suited up in his own special way. We love the Parksville Park!!







And finally .. haircuts. Makinley has been quite determined lately to get spiky hair. Everywhere he goes he is called a girl and he's not pleased. Finally today we went to Beaners in Nanaimo, a kids hair shop. Well the pictures say it all!!

Here are a few videos of the things the boys get up to when the rain keeps us inside far too long!!

December

In a bit of a blur, the month of December showed up and we jumped in with both feet to make it an enjoyable time for the boys. As has been our tradition, we set out to cut down our own tree, we were used to the Victoria scene, however, things are done a little differently up here. We ended up off roading on a flat bed, with a few bales of hail pulled along by a tractor. Did I mention I had whiplash for this adventure?

































Once we arrived at the power lines, along which the trees grew we were on our own to head out and find a tree. The idea was find your tree, let the land owner now and then he comes along with his chain saw, falls it for you and then you drag it back to the trailer bed and balance it amongst the hay bales. It was rustic! My cousins came along and their son had recently picked up a "baby jesus book" which he was quite pleased to read through out the journey. As well, there was Harold the dog, he was loud and lively, which is Kin's least favorite type of animal, he found some comfort with Gram Gram though.




















































On the rather steep up hill climb back, we held tight to out collection of trees. Just as we crested the mountain size hill, our driver, stopped to show us the small church he had built on his property. Inside of which he had pictures of the tractor wreck he had survived, right beside the trail we were currently traveling along!






















A few days later, we pulled out the decorations and got the house looking all festive. Kin's highlight being putting the angel a top the tree!




We had a fabulous trip to Victoria to celebrate India's 4th Birthday. We walked away with the most gifts however, cloaked in love from good good friends and reminded of how each of them blesses our life!





And then with the blink of an eye the big day arrived ... the boys found footprints, fairy dust and a letter to prove indeed the big red guy had stopped by. They were thrilled with their gifts and truly brightened Christmas for all us grown ups!





May the New Year find you all full to the brim with peace, joy, hope and love!!

Fall in Parksville

It has been a while since our last update .. we have been finding moments of fun amongst the challenge...

The boys were focussed on having a party to celebrate Halloween, they are quite used to being the little entertainers. Makinley did say on the day of the party "are all my friends coming to the party? " When I explained how far away most of his friends were and he said "oh I guess they are busy today." Once the food and fun came out .. the house was full of laughter!




Halloween was a packed full of fun as well. We made the Weeks Halloween Favorite of Witches Brew!! The boys carved a host of pumpkins to adorn Gram Gram's porch.


The boys were also thrilled when Gram Gram pulled out all of her Halloween crafts so that they could decorate the door for the trick or treaters! And finally after all that waiting it was time to put the costumes on and hit the streets!!






The night ended with a bang when Uncle Ron showed up with a few fire crackers!!



The next day fueled by candy power, we raked piles of leaves and ... well who can resist with all those leaves !!!

Thanksgiving

We were blessed this year to spend Thanksgiving with a host of family members ....

Hope everyone had time to celebrate the blessings around them this weekend!

Playin' around

Uploaded with Skitch!

Here we are on a sick day (for mommy) having a little computer fun.

Uploaded with Skitch!

Uploaded with Skitch!