:0)

The house is full of sand and dirty clothes, bags and tents, remnants of snacks and a bag full of stuff that didn't fit back into this bag or that. As the kids make their own lunches in the back yard summer slowly trickles away. I listen to all three of these crazy wonderful kids and hope they enjoyed this summer as much as I did. This summer was not full of reading and writing nor did we keep up on our math skills. Instead we ran wild at the park and took trips to visit family and the beach. We are all tanned and have sun streaked hair.
In two days we will wake up early to head off to grade 2 and later this week kindergarten. The kids have picked out their outfits, oh they are so cute (or cool, because, "Mom" sigh, they are just to big for that now). Our next couple of summers will look much different then this one. I'm so excited for what is to come, but a small part of me is hanging onto right now. I have a very happy heart!

Summer Love

So far this summer

Ava's sleep over, thinking about it still puts a smile on my face.  I heard more "this is the best day ever" a hundred times.  There were little girls running around with freshly painted nails, crazy hairdos and drawn on tattoos (best idea ever!).  We were surrounded by barbies and littlest petshops.  It was a late night and really early morning of giggling as Soots the cat woke everyone up before the sun.  I can't wait to do it again!

Our summer has been busy like most years, but Ant has been away so far :(
His new job has him training in Miami Florida. Which is nice for him, but he is desperately miss these crazy kids of ours and I don't blame him. 

I was however able to go for a little visit, and did I ever need it.  When ever I get away for a bit I realize just how much of me goes to my kids.  This is great and I feel like a great mom, I do however miss me sometimes.  The free and incredibly lofty Jen.  The things I can not afford to be while I'm needed so much of the time. So when I got to kick off my shoes and look into the sun, walk for miles on a rain stormy beach and spend time just watching the world around me I totally soaked it up.

I will be glad when I have my man back, so we can have some more fun with the kids this summer :)

Slumber, I think not

Our house is about to be bombarded by little girls in the next couple of hours. With pillows, pj's and I'm guessing a whole lot of energy. Ava is hosting her first ever slumber party. And as we count down the hours, minutes, seconds I'm afraid she might just burst with excitement! We have been working non stop for two days now cleaning and prepping. I'm so proud of how hard she has worked to make sure everything is ready.
There will be painted toes, scrap book pages, a game of charades and of course lots of loud giggles and crazy girls.
We are going to have so much fun!

And that's the end of Grade 1

This year brought reading and mathematics into the house, some crazy tall grown up kids, who somehow managed to keep all their teeth despite all their desperate efforts.

Ava was in a grade 1/2 split, I wasn't sure how she would do at the beginning of the year, but she rocked it.  With the added homework and the push towards learning more she soared through this year. She got all A's and B's and one lone C and I couldn't be prouder!  She's made the greatest of friends and has even planned herself a fun little slumber party later this summer. 

Ethan started this year a bit behind on some things and with a little help from some great, and I mean  GREAT! teachers he has caught up and is a super star! His second report card blew his first out of the water, he got all A's, B's and a lone C as well. What can I tell you these kids rock my socks off!

Ella was a tad bit disappointed when she found out she had to wait till September to start school. We went to her Kindergarten introduction one night after school and this girl is ready!  All that shyness got pushed aside as she walked right up to the sign in table all. by. her. self. And filled out her name tag all. by. her. self. And found her group all. by. her. self.  I could keep going with that but you get the point. 

Next year they are all in school..... all day...... every day...... excuse me while I go cry in the corner.

Although we have a whole summer of awesome before then :)

The First Day of School

Grade 1

The Last Day Of School

Grade 1

Wild times in the life of a parent

Ant and I got Friday night off thanks to his sister, she popped by after work stole our kids and took them away to the cottage.  They drove away with a smile on their faces.  We in true parent style,  minds going wild with all the crazy things we could do with all this freedom...... went out bought a deep frier, had wings and fries while we watched too many episodes of Game Of Thrones.

Aria

 Aria Rose

January 11 2013 - March 9 2013

Sweet Niece, cousin,

we said good-bye to you 

on the beach at sunset,

Ava wrote your name in the sand,

we found the perfect flower

to place by your name,

we each took one of the petals

to throw into the ocean,

as we did we remembered you

and LOVED you so

 And LOVED YOU SO!

Snack time

Hey Ella

Look out behind you, there is someone after your lunch!

This place

Did this
And
This
And this
To my kids
What a great weekend !

Night skiing

We went skiing after school today :0)
They got a whole 3 runs in, between pee breaks and funnel fries lol

So this is what happens when....

Now that I can blog from my phone you can have crazy picks of my kids still in pajamas eating lunch. I bet you are all thrilled :0)

Happy New Year!

I have only one restolition this year and it is to update my iphone so that the apps work on it again :)
This is not a big goal, but I am attempting it again for the second time today and it has taken me all day, so it is a valid one hehe