Barkers Bday

Barker is EIGHT!

We picked the kids up from school early and went swimming!

Barker was so excited for his present we did it in the van- classy I know.

Can you tell what it is?

Its a Lacrosse shaft- the stick part of the whole unit. He wanted a pink one so bad- Justin got put in charge and found one for him. 

He is thrilled.

Swimming at southland is one of Barkers favourite things to do as a family. 

We were happy to oblige.

For Dinner we meet Grandma, Grandpa, Grandma Moxley, Mark and Lindsay and the girls at Boston Pizza! We had a great time laughing and eating- celebrating Barker being 8!

Grade 6 Showcase Band

Kalia and Annaliesse have been looking forward to the Grade 6 Band Showcase for months.

They remember last year when Kalia was in Grade 5, watching the Grade 6 demo and dream of the day she would soon be in band. Being able to be there for her sister was just too exciting. Barker and Remy got in on the excitement as Kalia chatted about it nonstop with them for days. 

Kalia has done well this year in Band, learning the trumpet and even playing the tympani for a few songs! She is wanting to change interments for Grade 7 but she's going to further her trumpet skills for a bit longer I think.

In High River the rule is ALL Grade 6 must take band, so the Grade 6 band is massive- the trumpet section alone is almost big enough to be its own band! 

Grandpa was able to stop by her performance for a minute and all 4 kids were happy to see him- its one thing for Mommy to be there- but Grandpa was the star observer.

After school, I took the kids into Okotoks for a few errands- as I have been using every second of alone time sewing. In return for good behaviour we got slurrpies for on the way. But by the time we got to Walmart Remy was freezing- Kalia helped her little sister out by stuffing her into her hoodie with her! HAHAHA

It didn't last long, as Remy was hard to hold that way- so Kalia gave her her sweater to wear. 

I love the special relationships siblings have.

This evening for YW we were missing so many girls the activity I planned was not going to work.

So we joined the YM and did archery! None of my beehives had done it- and my one older had done it once. It was fun watching them learning something new and a few being pretty good at.

Mondays

I was so excited to get my next quilt kit in the mail!!! 

Unfortunately with so much going on, it had to wait a few days before I could start. Plus I had to photocopy the pattern, cut out the paper pieces and have longer then 20 minutes to start!

Finally Monday I was able to semi start. 

My first paper pattern- turns out it was a lot more work then I was thinking.

Its fine- just takes longer to do a quilt then normal piecing. 

I would like to note- I came to enjoy paper piecing more as the quilt went on- it just takes so much more time :) 

Monday as the kids got home, I had really just started and Grandma called. She asked me what I was doing and I said sewing. She said she was coming over and we were planting our garden. The kids were SOOO excited and so we planted the garden... even though this mom just wanted to sew.

Our garden would be nonexistent without this Grandma.

Justin was working away for a couple days and not only did Grandma help with the Garden, she took the girls while Barker and I biked to his soccer pictures and practice at George Lane Park. While I was hanging at the park during soccer practice Grandpa organized a impromptu to Ice cream stop at Diary Queen with everyone. Grandma and Grandpa came by after practice and picked us up- and off we went to enjoy a pit stop.

Random Dairy Queen runs are another amazing perk of living in the same town as family!

There is nothing like ending a busy day with people you love, who love you and your kids. 

George Lane and Evelyn's Cafe

Remy and I met up with Lindsay, Arlie and Lena at George Lane the other day. 

It is to fast coming to my attention that I don't have many days left with Remy at home durning the school year, and we are living them up to the fullest. 

Remy had a great time playing with their cousins.

After an hour at the park we headed to Evelyns Cafe for lunch! We have stopped there once before for ice cream but we didn't stay inside for very long just got ice-cream. First time inside for Lunch and it was a lovely lunch!

One of my favourite parts was watching Remy trying to eat her sandwich- she couldn't take a bit without her front teeth, and she also didn't like the ham- opted for cheese and mustard. She had a cheese and mustard sandwich ripped apart for lunch. haha

Community Baby Shower

Last year we did a Fashion Show for our big Young Women's Service Project and it was so fun and rewarding for our girls. This year we decided to do a Service Baby Shower for a local Woman Shelter- Rowans House. A Service Baby Shower is just what it sounds like- a Baby Shower where you attend with a gift for a baby or mother and it is donated!

The girls worked hard on the decorations and plans weeks proceeding and the week before then the day of we showed up at 5:30 tp decorate! The branch YW were also in on the service they made the centre pieces which were presents to the mothers in need.

They all did such a good job and we are so lucky the Ward and Branch RS sisters came out to support us. It was a fun night- thank you for all the donations we were able to give our Community Sisters.

Soccer and Lacrosse Saturdays

Saturday mornings are all about Soccer and Lacrosse. At least in May and June. This year it has been rainy and cold most Saturday Mornings- and even on practice nights its been cold. 

Remy lets nothing get her soccer spirit down- she lives for this.  She loves soccer and asks every day if its time for her soccer. 

Our Grassroots Soccer program started doing Festival Format for U5 and U7. Its more than just a once a week practice and game day on Saturday. The kids are learning skills and practicing the skills in different ways twice a week. 

She has grown so much already, learning skills, working with teammates and listening to her coaches.

It's a bit of a bummer for the spectators the new format. But Grandma and Grandpa have come once to watch her. Which is enough for Remy :)

90% of the time we also have a Lacrosse Game Saturday morning. Usually in the city. So as soon as Remy is done soccer we jump in the van and head to Lacrosse. Barkers lacrosse team has done really well this season- especially compared to last season. Last year they won one game- the last one of the season, ending in last place (of 17) in their division. This year they are currently sharing the 5th and 6th spot in their division. Justin has been loving coach Barkers team, it has been such a joy for both of them to be able to have some Father Son time, driving to and from practices, time in the dressing room and of course with the other boys.

Barker has done really well lately averaging 3 goals a game and usually leading their team to a win.

Justin holds the fort down with me on Saturdays- when it takes two of us to keep things moving.

Remy and Robs Flowers

Remy and her flower.

Both of our neighbours are named Rob. Both sides. 

Rob on the right has 2 sons who are recently graduated, plants flowers and works away on and off. Rob on the left lives with his girlfriend Michelle and they have a few little dogs. 

We chat with both neighbours and in the relationship we are the annoying ones HAHA

Remy is LOVING Rob likes to plant flowers. Since it has been warm and they are outside playing all the time she has taken up with Rob. She has stood beside him while he plants, and talks his ear off. Rob even has a small watering can she uses with him when they water the plants.

She is his over enthusiastic helper. 

He sent her home with a flower in a pot. She LOVES her flower and takes very good care of it.

She almost loves it to death.. she asked me the other day when she can touch it and hold the flower part! HAHA. I love her to pieces. 

Let's hope she doesn't overwhelm our neighbours and they grow to love her sweet spirit. 

Snapshots

Monday we met up with some of the Moxley crew to go swimming at the new YMCA in Seaton. It is quite the new pool- with a flow rider, 2 big slides, slow flow river and a kiddie playground.  It also has a competitive swimming poop attached to the fun stuff. Lucky for us it was also open as the pool just got busier and busier. Over there they had a witbit blown up and the diving boards open, the older half of the kids - Barker and up had a great time over there. 

Barker, Kalia and Justin all tried the Flow Rider and had a great time. Annaliesse was a bit bummed she couldn't try with her broken finger. Remy was too small, but she didn't really care for it. 

Justin and I missed our temple trip as stated, so we tired again for a Friday night. Kalia asked if she could come with us and do Baptisms, we were happy that expressed the desire to go- so we took her with us!

Another bit of a kafuffle. We got them renewed Sunday but somehow mine had been missed when scanning into the computer- so my recommend wasn't valid! Lucky for me my old one was still good for a few more days.

Kalia was able to do a few names for Aunt Lindsay and a few for me! Thanks Kalia!

Remy felt she needed a paint day- all morning she enjoyed a sucker and painting every cardboard box in the house.

There has been a few hot days this spring. Not as many as last year but a few. The kids have been quick to enjoy every bit of the heat. Our neighbours the Murphy's are moving at the end of June and our kids are sure going to miss their built in playmates. So until they move the kids have been playing NON stop outside with them- the beginning of the summer is going to come with some pains... relearning how to play with siblings and outside without 3 more friends.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Sunday's we have dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house. 

Its really a two fold relationship- Grandma and Grandpa get company and family around- and I don't have to cook.

Win Win in my books.

May 19 is Grandma's Birthday but that just means they invite more people... right! 

Hahaha. 

Cardston/Raymond Family Time

This Saturday will be remembered as the trip Justins recommend was expired.

We drove to Cardston to attend the temple and to see our Grandparents in Raymond.

Jen was nice enough to watch our kids while we attended the temple- but we didn't realize Justins had expired in April and mine in may. Which was a bit frustrating for us- but if you ask the kids, they were most annoyed that they didn't get the whole play time with their cousins! 

So Justin and I went to the bookstore, had lunch, drove around the booming town of Cardston and THEN went and got the kids. 

We went and saw Grandma and Grandpa Martin first- chatted and played Cards Against Profanity. Which was great for the kids and Grandparents- really you just choose a card and hand it in. Remy was the card hander outer, and Barker had help from Mommy and then Daddy.

We all had fun and ended up hanging with Grandma and Grandpa for a couple hours- which when your visiting in a Senior Centre is a long time. Plus Grandma and Grandpa were feeling really good so they were "in-the-mood" to laugh and play.

My parents showed up to visit Grandma and Grandpa and Justin took the kids down to see Grandma Selman- who was also wide awake and talking. 

Grandma  loved the Penguin on Remy's shirt and was annoyed she didn't have one. Remy and Grandma sang I am a child of God. 

We left Raymond and headed into Lethbridge to meet Grandma and Grandpa for dinner before the drive home. Montanas for dinner, playing quarter football, drawing and laughing.

It was a good day- so important to show our kids what family means to us.