Christmas is coming and OHHH so fast this year, and I am dreaming of Nova Scotia. We are still in a condo and we really miss our little home in the valley. Slower pace, quiet life, some amazing people and a wonderful place to be at christmas time. Full of snow, cozy wood fires, baking, caroling  and sledding. (  I know what your thinking... I can do those things anywhere)

Our boys often ask about our  home in Nova Scotia.
 Can we can go back?
 Are the swings that papa hung from the huge trees  still there?
 Do our wonderful neighbour /second grandparents ( Irene and Hank) still live down the street?
Will we go back?
Can they still ride there bikes in the unfinished basement? ( that I miss!!  A wonderful way in the winter for getting energy out)
How come our yard here isn't as big? ( 3/4 acre ...or...a grass strip.) hmmm

Home is where the heart is...... My Family is my heart.. and yet I miss our little home this christmas.. The first little home that Jim and I ever bought full of our first memories.  Somewhere that was just us and just ours.

And so I think I will share a few christmas pictures from our home in NS..

                     Thats Jimmy digging his way to the wood shed so we can have a fire!

                                  Owen realized ( as I snapped this picture) that he doesn't like candy canes.

Visiting Santa. We lucked out with a very nice, unexpected photo of the boys. Our kiddies didn't cry or make a fuss just got up on his knee happily and smiled for the camera. How could I say No to this cutie of a photo?

I'm a lovely boy!

It started with a protest down the stairs of  "Mom I don't want to go to heaven!"
"Why Ethan?" I asked with caution, as his mind can be sincere or in silly mode.
"I just don't want to! Gramma Ruth is there right now and she can't come back."" Why would she go to a place that she couldn't come out of? Doesn't she know I'm a nice boy?" " Doesn't she want to know me?"

I heard "lovely boy" as he asked because he is!  Who wouldn't want to meet him? Really?
He crawled up onto my lap with tears in his eyes, and I held him tight with tears in mine trying to answer all of his questions.

Ethan is unlike Logan, Logan takes the quick answer and is ok with it. Logan believes it  and doesn't need anymore. Ethan needs every detail ~ doctors, medicine, allergies, ages and the full history. Still he will asks why? why? why? He even asked if because she died at 36 would I ? ( yep he's 5)
Luckily it was in this moment that I giggled as I thought of myself asking a similar question to my dad fearful of course that he would leave us early too.  My dad said " Don't worry you'll be stuck with me for a long time!" ( how lucky we are to still be stuck with him)

I  love how Ethan's mind works, how he yearns to know more. He is very much his dad as Logan is very much like me in this way. I just hope that my seemingly small answers help him better understand this life we are in and not to fear the unknowns of life, heaven and God.



* To each of you my Logan, Ethan and Owen  I know without a doubt in my heart that Gramma Ruth would have given anything to be here to meet you, hold you and treasure you as you grow.*

A trip to Heritage Park.
This trip, yes was for all of us.. but really just for Owen to ride the train. He has moved to the right place with the tall train trestles of Lethbridge. He watches hundreds of cars go over this amazingly long bridge and blowing it's whistle and he is in awe.
Here are some pictures to prove his amazement,  I mean really could he push his little face any further through the boards to see the train approach?

                             Thank you to Nanny who braved the Ferris Wheel with the boys.

                     I can't tell who is having more fun on the merry-go-round Papa or Owen!

So here we are in September and I haven't written for over two months. So I will try without rambling to much  to highlights some of our summer. ( with hopefully a few pictures to follow.)
This summer was well needed. I really got to a point  in June where I was missing my older boys and wishing daily that they could just stay home from school and hangout with me.
 So summer finally came and we took advantage of our time together. First a trip to winnipeg to visit with the Great Grandpas. This was such a great time to watch my kids be loved and enjoyed by the grandpas I grew up with. How special to watch as an adult the same love be showered onto my own kids. Both Grandpas homes had many adventures fun and scary. Lots of gardening and eating fresh from GG's house, and loads of exploring and tree trimming at great grandpa k's house. ( which by the way lead to Ethan in the hospital with 4 stitches and luckily keeping the tip of his finger.)
I would show you pictures but I also lost my phone on this trip..yikes!
Next was a visit to papa's house for swimming lessons, water fights and lots of SUN. Papa's house is so relaxing, a great getaway for the spirit. Thanks Papa!
We then had a few blurry weeks with camping for the first time, which is fun but hectic as a parent. ~"Don't touch the fire, stay away from the river, and keep the tent closed the mosquitos are getting in!!"~ Mixed in with some quick trips to Calgary, hiking and family photos. ( which our friend Chelsea took and they are really fun!)
As for our last few weeks before school we filled those with 2 full weeks with Nanny and Grampy.
These two weeks were full of ice cream, 3 birthday parties, a family reunion, pirate days,pie baking, another quick trip to BC and many BBQ's.
Summer was wonderful, busy and full of family.

Someone told us when we were first engaged, take a picture every year together. It's your day! Remember each year as being special! Take the time to reflect on all that has happened and soak it in.

So here we are at 9 years, 

He still loves me, even though I don't put things back in the same place every time.

He still loves me, knowing I do try to listen... but most of the time I forget.

He loves me, I know because he works so hard for me to be right where I want to be.

He loves me & I do love him,

Here we are at 9 years

                                Crazy Haired Boy!....(must get it from)... Crazy Haired Mom!

 

Our last soccer tournament. It was a beautiful day with lots of mosquitos and many goals.
We did win 3/2. Logan had a wonderful first year in soccer and is really looking forward to the indoor season in the fall.

Celebrating the end of another school year. Logan will be finished grade one  in two weeks and Ethan has just finished preschool. I really need to HOLD ON, as this year has flown by way to fast. Hold onto my last little snuggles as they run to school. Hold onto their hands a little tighter as we walk to school. Hold onto all of them as they still wrap there arms around my thighs in crowded situations. It really won't be long till I want to hold onto them and they don't want me to.

 Ethan at his Little Lambs Preschool Ceremony.

He had a wonderful year and was a little disappointed to find out that Teacher Shannon wouldn't be following him to his "big boy school".

                                                            Logan sporting his spider!

 Of course Ethan had to get a RED DINO painted on his face before walking out onto the stage!
                                                 
These two are the future for Little Lambs Preschool. Levi and Owen would probably love if they could just go this September. ( Great idea for a picture Chelsea!)

Although Hawaiian Day was last week, Mckye was such a good friend to dress up with Ethan for school today ( and let me take a picture of him) as Ethan was disappointed that he missed it last week while we were away. Yeah Dress Up Days!!

First I apologize for the quality of this photo. This is my mom and I, also known as Papa's special girl, or Gramma Ruth. Logan first noticed that papa was alone when he reached kindergarden. It really upset him that his papa whom he loved so much was all alone. That he didn't have a special lady, like his Grampy did.  Papa did assure him that  he was fine and that he wasn't alone because he had many little boys to love and that loved him. Logan still has many questions and  has brought me to tears many times with his  wonder, worry and curiosity. Today Ethan was looking for his favourite picture of Gramma Ruth. He wanted it right beside his bed. He said this was his favourite picture because he wished that Gramma Ruth was holding him and not me. Now if that doesn't bring a tear to your eye.... don't worry I shed enough for everyone, as I wish he had pictures like this too.

                              Getting his number for the race and then off to warm up and stretch.

                     Ready at the start line to run the " The Little Children Marathon" 2km Race. His first race ever! He has been busy training for the last 2 months. I was so excited when he asked me to train with him. We had a great time running, Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays together.

                                                                      GO LOGAN!!

Crossing the finish line at 11mins 45 sec!! He even beat his training time of 14 or 15 mins.. must have been me slowing him down.

We are really enjoying the trains and train tracks that we get to see everyday. Today we went on an adventure to touch the base of them. Luckily we didn't encounter any rattlesnakes.