Life is about to change....

Tomorrow is the first day of school.  Victoria is in her 2nd year of college (science program.  We will hopefully be calling her Dr. Victoria when she is all finished!!). Mara-Grace is beginning 2nd grade and Hannah is beginning kindergarten.  I pray for easy transitions...   Xo. I am definitely cherishing today.  

Guess who?!

Super hero day at storytime!!!

Soccer night!

Mara-Grace is having a great soccer season and really likes her coach this year!  Chad went to highschool with us!  

Victoria is coaching the 3/4 year olds this year!  Hannah is on the right in the white hat.  Xo

Taking care of "Willy"the whale!

Our girls love playing with this fellow!  I love to listen to them playing!  Whale trainers and wonderful memories in the making!!

Feeling hopeful.....

That this paint is as washable as 

it states!!!

Happy Canada Day!!!!

A little glimpse

Our little chickens surprised me today by clearing their closets out and setting up little beds in them.  They played in their nests and ran back and forth to each others rooms for quite awhile.  I love to see what they come up with!  Xo

Hannah's nest

Mara-Grace's nest!

The last day of grade 1

So very exciting, even with a freshly twisted ankle!!!!!

Our last day of Hannah's preschool storytime

A bittersweet day.  We have been coming once a week these past two years for a special storytime and craft for preschoolers at the library.   Hannah has loved this activity very much with Helene, the librarian and Barnaby ( the big, stuffed, storytime dog!). 

Monkeys!

Our love monkey's swinging at the school park!

Proud of their towers!

Lilacs for teachers

Mara is excited to bring these bouquets to Madame Joelle (kindergarten) and Madame Bertea!

On a side note, today is Victoria's last of her first year college exams! Pizza tonight to celebrate!

Biking Beauties!!

At Granya and Poppy's for a bike ride!

Anticipating...

Our new family member!!!!!

According to Hannah

"Mama instead of catching butterflies, I am going to catch rocks. Sigh...rocks are my favourite!"

Hannah's library storytime

Today was a pirate theme!
So thankful for these special moments with my little Hannah-Matey! Xo

How sweet Spring is!

Happy Easter!!!

A little ride on their new Easter bikes from the Easter Bunny! Xo

Excited Easter bunny fans!

Carrots and water all set! Two excited little Easter bunnies!!!!

Our darling Lady

Tonight we said goodbye to our darling Lady. From the time Lady came into our family, and instantly took up a huge space in my heart, I dreaded the thought of this day ever coming. I remember asking the vet on our very first visit about how long the life expectancy of a Shetland was. I was thankful that our much loved furry baby would hopefully have a long lifetime with us.

We have thankfully had many years ( tori was only 4 when you came home) together. You have been loved far beyond measure. And you have loved so willingly. Your were always so intuitive and loving. You felt every emotion of those who loved you so much. Yes you barked, and bossed but always because you expected anyone coming in to be your best friend. You were such a smart little sweetheart. Kind and loving and a wonderful little mother hen! Even today watching closely at my side, as always as we saw Mara -Grace off to school on her bus, and then home again! And then of course there you were supervising Mara and Hannah riding their bikes just this afternoon!

We have been together through so much sweet Lady. I trust you knew how much you were loved. As we have watched your body failing you, each day another gift, we never saw your spirit or your will decline. Loyal and loving and sweet as can be until the very end.

Although it is so hard to imagine life without you Lady, we know you are safe and happy and whole tonight. You have been such a beautiful member of our family and you will never ever be forgotten.

After a turn for the worse early this evening, we knew the kindest thing we could do was let Lady go tonight. She thankfully went very peacefully with Kevin, Victoria and I at her side. We are thankful for the compassion shown to all of us.

We will all miss you to pieces my love. Thank you for being our baby girl. Xoxox. Sweet dreams my darling. Momma loves you Xoxo

2 cookadoodles!

Sleepovers

Our little ladies have been enjoying sleepovers in one another's rooms! They are so sweet. Xo

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Mara-Grace had a play date today and Victoria wasn't wearing green so I only sadly got one of our three wee leprechauns in a pic!

Xo btw we did wake up to a scatter of coins and green milk!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Two excited little chickens were very hopeful that a leprechaun would make a visit here tonight. We've been lucky in years past to find that we've had a special visitor when we find green milk in our fridge on St Patrick's day!

Mara wanted to make a sign and Hannah wanted to leave a shamrock cookie out! We went into the other room and Mara went back to add something to her note when she hollered with glee and amazement that a leprechaun must have come already as the cookie that was on the table was now on the floor?!!!! Such excitement! Hannah was excited but after the cookie episode also apprehensive about this tricky little leprechaun coming into our house. Poor sweetie!

On another note, what a day! We , ok Kev, was starting into changing our bedroom floor when he discovered we had some water damage behind our bed under the base board. Long story short, the floor is waiting in the great room downstairs, and our wall has been opened up, insulation etc now out. Roof stuff applied again etc.( leaving some steps out!) loads of work!

We had pulled our mattress into Mara's room and we are now in here having a sleepover. Hopefully this mess
can be quickly taken care of. Poor Kev, that's all we needed as he is beyond crazy busy at work. Plus, our new bedroom set arrives Thursday! Yikes! Never rains but it pours!;)). Hannah is snuggled in with Mara in her bed very happy to be cuddled and in on "the sleepover" especially when she was so concerned about a wee little Leprechaun making another visit! Xo

Hannah and Winnie!

Love!!!

Bittersweet

Kindergarten registration...

A little bit of March Break family magic!

Well..... here we go!

I will be honest, I am totally overwhelmed about this impossibly long overdue update!  I think the easiest way for me to do this is just to give a quick recap!

Summer was amazing! Went by far too quickly!  We spent some time at the cottage.  The pic below is a picture of our little girls holding the cutest, tiniest frogs imagineable on the shore at the cottage!


We vacationed in our beloved Maine again this year.  We all adore going here as there is the beach, and shopping which is a perfect combination for our family!  A little bit of something for everyone.  People are friendly, the scenery is beautiful and it has become a bit of a tradition for our family each summer.  Of course finding out about Hannah coming back from the beach a few years ago is another fond memory in a treasured vacationland!




Mara-Grace taught herself how to surf in about a day!  She is one coordinated pumpkin! xo



Summer!



We celebrated Hannah's 4th Birthday!!!!  She chose a Butterfly theme for her party!  I cannot begin
to describe how much fun I had with this one! xo


 




One of Hannah's birthday wishes was to go to the Nature museum on her actual birthday!














Hot Air Balloon Festival (We are parked and waiting!)
 

Back to School...  Grade 1 for Miss Mara-Grace and 1st year College for Miss Victoria...
Ahhh I cannot find my other first day of first grade pics!!!!  Not sure why this is on an angle either.... I will find the missing pics I hope!   Miss Mara-Grace has Madame Bertea and school got off to a great start. 

Victoria has settled well into college life.  She is keeping her options open and is in the Social Science Program.  She hopes to be an actress and teacher. 

Fall!  How blessed we are.  Happy Thanksgiving at the cottage!





My helpers enjoying the beaters!






Typical sight, seeing our girls walking along hand in hand.  Melts my heart every time!




Happy 7th Birthday Mara-Grace! xoxo





Well, I am indeed catching up!!!!   I have run out of my online pics so this will need to be part 1 of 2 of my official recap!!!!  xoxox