HOCKEY NIGHT IN BONNYVILLE

Devon Social Club organized a night at the rink. Junior A Hockey in the VIP room at the RJ Lalonde arena in Bonnyville with good food and good seats.  

Daddy and the kids braved a night out, with no naps and a late dinner. To say Macie and Wade were excited about seeing a hockey game is an understatement. They couldn't wait to get there and see the hockey game. It was going to be a very long day for them so Daddy was a bit nervous to take them out, but it was a free night and a chance for them to meet new friends and get acquainted with Canada's sport.

The party started at 6 o'clock, Daddy drove home from work to pick up the kids and take them back to Bonnyville. Time wise it all worked out well. We arrived at the arena at 10 min to 6. There were some people already in the VIP room with some munchies. There was an area for the kids to play some mini stick hockey, luckily we brought a few mini sticks. There were a few 7-10 year old boys already playing. They were awesome to let the 2 and 4 year old uncoordinated children try to whack around the ball in an unanticipated direction.

Soon enough Macie and Wade were famished, and need sustenance. They started  pounding the party mix, apparently Wade loves pretzels over cheezies, who knew.  The Pizza and veggie trays did arrive in time for the kids not to completely ruin there appetite, and they did eat some greens, believe it or not.

After the meal the kids went back the the mini hockey and someone brought a plastic bowling set. They played hard for some time until the players started coming out to practice. Macie watched intently and for a moment I thought for sure this night was going to turn out ok. The zamboni cam out and started doing its thing, while we went and sat in the stands. It was pretty cold in the arena, so as you can guess our sitting didn't last to long. Once the zamboni was done so were the kids. Back up the room to play with whatever and whoever was left.  After that it was in and out and in and out, and lots and lots of whining. 

I don't believe the kids will ever be as excited for a hockey game ever again, as this experience has shown they were not too into the actual game. And that may not be a bad thing...

All in all, I have enjoyed spending time with  and getting to know those little people. They can be so much fun. 

Fashion models

Today I was the fashion designer and the kiddos my models. We dressed up, walked the runway and took some photo ops. 

PICS OF THE KIDDOS

I am definitely no photographer, and I don't have any kind of set up in my house to take good photos, but seeing as it has been over a year since we got professional pics of the kids, I figured it was time to pull out my good camera and get a couple pics of the kiddos to at least update photos in the house. Hopefully this summer we will get family pics that will look much better. It does helps though when you have a decent camera and cute kids, to get decent pics without having to see a professional.

Getting pretty!!!

Macie loves getting ready with Mom when I am doing my hair and makeup. This morning as I was getting ready for work she asked in her adorable pretty pretty please voice if she could put some make up on and if she could do it herself. I totally caved and let her go at it. She did pretty good on her lips and mascara, but needs some work on her eye shadow. After make up she wanted her hair done all cute and I couldn't say no to that either. I can't lie I love moments like this with Macie without a doubt some of my favourite things to do with her is hair, getting dressed and make up.   

And yes my bedroom is that dirty all the time lately :( 

ANSWERED PRAYERS!!!

Today me and the kids were going for a walk outside and Cobalt like usual started following us. She usually only comes for a couple blocks and then heads back home. It was exceptionally gorgeous outside today and I guess she was feeling really curious so she kept following us. After about 6 blocks I realized she was still following us, I had two little kids and two puppies so I could not just pick her up and carry her home. I just hoped she would keep following us until we headed back home. The kids started acting up and I forgot about Cobalt and after about 3 more blocks I looked back and realized Cobalt wasn't there. I tried looking for her and calling her name but she was no where. I started heading back home and I just hoped she would be there waiting for us. The kids were acting a bit crazy and were getting tired so when we got home I had kind of forgotten about Cobalt, it wasn't until Mark came home from work that I thought about it again. She was not in the garage or outside. I decided to give her a little more time and when Mark got back from taking the kids for a run at the indoor track here in cold lake I decided it was time to go looking for her. I was walking and calling her name, tracing my steps from when we went for a walk earlier. I finally got to the point where I think I might have lost her, and was calling and calling, still nothing. At this point back at home Mark and the kiddos where saying a prayer that Mommy would find Cobalt and bring her home. I decided to keep walking forward and head in a different direction when all of a sudden I got this feeling to look back on more time, at that moment I saw these eyes just staring at me, Cobalt was hiding right beside this persons house and looked scared to death. She wouldn't even come to me she was so scared, I went and picked her up and she was so relieved to see me. As I was as well. I carried her all the way home and when I walked in the door the kiddos came running to see Cobalt and were telling me how they prayed that Mommy would find her and that Jesus answered there Prayers. What a wonderful and powerful moment to have with my children, and as a family. My heart sunk a little today as  I thought the fist pet Mark and I ever had was lost forever, and then was filled with immense Joy as my children learned the power of Prayer.

Homemade bridge!!!

These kiddos Dad made this awesome bridge out of Popsicle sticks for the kids to play with.

So today we made houses out of Legos and got our bridge and played pretty much all morning with Legos and cars and our new bridge. 

I absolutely love days like today, pajamies till noon, hardly any fighting and hours of playing and imagining. 

Growing up!!!

This little boy is growing up way too fast and I can't lie, I am loving it. It is no secret Wade was a tough baby, when he finally got out of the spitting up 24/7 stage I thought it was gonna be easier. Boy was I wrong. Wade was 18 months old and still not saying Hi, Mom, Dad, nothing not a thing. The poor little guy now had another obstacle in his way and was not happy about it. He had on average 2-3 temper tantrums a day cause he couldn't communicate to us what he wanted. It was very hard and stressful and at the end of the days I wanted to throw my own temper tantrum and just cry. Then all of a sudden this boy turned 2 and bam he learned in 2 months what most kids take 8 months to say. Now we are seeing Wade and seeing his true personality. He is such a joy to be around. He is ridiculously funny, full of good energy, is crazy polite says please and thank you and sorry without even being told. He is smart as a whip and learns things really fast. I learned a lot these past two years about myself and being a Mother, and I wish I could go back and do it all over again and be more patient, more kind, more loving and more understanding. It was interesting how one night about 4 months ago Mark and I were talking about Wade and discussing how we need to be more patient with Wade and more loving, that we need to focus on his positives and love him for who he is. It was but not two months after we started trying harder and praying for help that Wade started to make these big changes in his life. Started talking, had less temper tantrums. I can't help but feel it is because he felt more loved more at peace. There is no question he felt my stress and my anxiety and once I calmed down he calmed down too. I love this little boy soo much and am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for letting me be his Mom.

A whole day with Macie

Yesterday Mark took the day of work so me and Macie could go to Lloydminster and watch the live theatre showing of Annie Jr at the Vic Juba Theatr. We left around 1:00 and had such an enjoyable drive up talking and singing songs from Annie. We got there nice and early so we could do some shopping, cause you can't have a Mommy/daughter date without shopping. We first got some tap shoes for dance class, then went to sports check and got Macie some work out clothes as she is excited to run on the treadmill like Mommy. Then we went to winners and got a couple cute sundresses for spring. After some good shopping we went to Vic Juba as we paid for the dinner they had before the show. The food was good and we sat with some lovely people who thought Macie was just the cutest. Next was the play, the kids did such a good job, and the girl who played Annie was outstanding. After the play Macie wanted to meet Annie so bad. We went and found her and it was so cute. Annie got on her knees to talk to her and Macie told her she liked her dance and singing, me and Annie's mom had to get a picture of her favourite fan. It was seriously beyond adorable to see how much Macie loved her. She asks me all the time know to look at the picture of her and Annie. Such a great time with my little girl 

Callings

So back in November both me and Mark got called as Sunday School teachers, Mark for the adult class and me for a youth class. I was super excited as I have been actually wanting to teach youth sunday school for awhile now. For the past month though I have been having these feelings that a change was coming, I brushed it off as I didn't want that to happen as I love my calling right now so much. Then two weeks ago the 2nd councillor in the Relief Society stopped by to visit and see how I was doing since we moved in. While having our visit she informed me that her family will be moving in the summer as her Husband works for the military and was reassigned to Montreal. I had this feeling in my heart that I was going to get called into Relief Society. I again shock it off and said no way, I am not compassionate enough to be in Relief Society and we just moved here, there is no way I would get called in that soon. While this past Saturday I got a phone call from Bro. Stonehocker that he wanted Me to meet with Bro. Hatch (1st councillor in the Bishopric) My mind and heart went nuts and I tried not to think about it all day and night and just put it out of my thoughts. Sunday Morning Mark and I went in to meet with Bro. Hatch and he informed me they were calling a whole new Relief Society Presidency and that Sis Melanie Ellis will be the President and has asked for you to be her 1st councillor. I about died, even though I kind of new it was coming, I really never thought those words were going to come out of his mouth. I am so unbelievably nervous, that I will not do a good job, that I will not meet the expectations of the sisters, that I will not help the President they way she needs me to. I am excited for the opportunity I have to work with such amazing sisters, and to find maybe some strengths I didn't know I had. I know the only way I will do my calling well though is with the help of my Saviour and the support of my family.

Let the training begin

Doing a half marathon on my own 4 years ago was amazing (crazy that was almost 4 years ago) but I am even more excited to do one with my hubby this year. What an awesome thing to work towards as a couple.