Remembering The Little Things

Friday, September 9, 2011

Our Little Garden

This was my first time ever doing a garden and truly for the amount of work and watering it took I am not sure if it was worth it! I loved it for the first month and then I just kind of got sick of it! We had a few great little items and Danika and I had some fun, but we'll see if I will tackle this again next year! Check out my stunted, weird cucumbers and little carrots! I just don't think my garden was deep enough, but oh well.. the pepper was good and the tomatoes are great!! .. And of course I have the most beautiful helper in the world! ;)

Caroline's B-day!

Last night I planned a little girls night out for Caroline's birthday... as she so deserves it! It was a wonderful night with lots of laughs and wonderful ladies!

Thoughts at the Bottom of a Beanstalk

Once upon a time there was a little boy named Jack who was about to climb his very first beanstalk. He had a fresh haircut and a brand-new book bag. Even though his friends in the neighborhood had climbed this same beanstalk almost every day last year, this was Jack's first day and he was a little nervous. So was his mother.

Early in the morning she brought him to the foot of the beanstalk. She talked encouragingly to Jack about all the fun he would have that day and how nice his giant would be. She reassured him that she would be back to pick him up at the end of day. For a moment they stood together, silently holding hands, gazing up at the beanstalk. To Jack it seemed much bigger than it had when his mother had pointed it out on the way to the store last week. His mother thought it looked big, too. She swallowed. Maybe she should have held Jack out a year...

Jack's mother straightened his shirt one last time, patted his shoulder and smiled down at him. She promised to stay and wave while he started climbing. Jack didn't say a word. He walked forward, grabbed a low-growing stem, and slowly pulled himself up to the first leaf. He balanced there for a moment and then climbed more eagerly to the second leaf, then to the third and soon he had vanished into a high tangle of leaves and stems with never a backward glance at his mother. She stood alone at the bottom of the beanstalk, gazing up at the spot where Jack had disappeared. There was no rustle, no movement, no sound to indicate that he was anywhere inside. "Sometimes," she thought, "it's harder to be the one who waves good-bye than it is to be the one who climbs the beanstalk."

She wondered how Jack would do. Would he miss her? How would he behave? Did his giant understand that little boys sometimes acted silly when they felt unsure? She fought down an urge to spring up the stalk after Jack and maybe duck behind a bean to take a peek at how he was doing. "I'd better not. What if he saw me?" She knew that Jack was really old enough to handle this on his own. She reminded herself that after all, this was thought to be an excellent beanstalk and that everyone said his giant was not only kind but had outstanding qualifications. "It's not so much that I'm worried about him," she thought, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's just that he's growing up and I'm going to miss him." Jack's mother turned to leave. "Jack's going to have lots of bigger beanstalks to climb in his life" she told herself. "Today's the day he starts practicing for them... And today's the day I start practicing something too: Cheering him on and waving good-bye."

--Author Unknown

Danika's teacher sent this home with us and as I read it I got tears in my eyes... it is so true. I think I have been making Danika a little nervous for school, because all summer I have been a baby about my big girl all grown up and going to school 'full-time'. I know she will do fine and I need to be just cheering her on, but its hard, because I will so miss her! This week I have really been trying to hold onto 'most' moments with Danika. The times we have just by ourselves when Adessa is napping every afternoon, her helping me outside in the garden or her singing songs loudly while she plays. Life is full of last moments and I hope I can make the most of every moment with my girls, because they are growing up so quickly!

Danika Raeanne, I am so excited for this next stage in life for you, and I know you will succeed at whatever you put your little mind too. Your the sweetest little girl and I know you will be a friend to everyone and I am so excited to see how God will use you here at the Crofton school. I love you baby girl and I will be cheering you on always!

Interview for Kindergarten

On Thursday Danika had her first 'day' of kindergarten. Steve and I had to go with her and meet her teacher and try and figure out if she could be in a K-1 split as there is so many children signed up this year. She was told to write her name and draw a picture of herself and she did so well. The teacher was impressed and said she may be a good candidate, but Steve and I would really like her to just be in the Kindergarten class... we find out on Tuesday where she will be placed! I am so nervous for my baby girl to be in full time kindergarten! But I know she will do so well.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Potty Training

Adessa Mattie (as she likes to call herself) is one determined little girl... if you haven't already noticed. This week she has decided to potty train herself! She has been wearing big girl panties for the past few days and goes each time on the potty by herself. Knowing that their is a 'treat' at the end of it is good enough motivation for my girl. Isn't she amazing?? 2 years old and potty training herself!!! So proud of my baby girl!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Jones Family

After Parksville Linsey and her beautiful family came to stay with us for a few nights as Adam has never been to our home yet. We took them out to Lake Cowichan all day Saturday and then Sunday Linsey came and helped me teach Sunday school (shes wonderful!) then we took them to Transfer Beach in Ladysmith. We stayed up late playing games, and then one night we had a babysitter and went to Duncan for a movie. We so enjoyed our time together and it makes me so sad to be so far apart. However I think we almost convinced Adam to move here... they loved it so much! Ella and Danika played so well together and little Max is growing up so quickly. He seriously is the best baby boy ever! He just sits there and smiles ALL day. I had lots of good cuddles with that little man and he stole me heart! I am sad that my sister and I are both stay at home mom's right now and we don't get to see each other all the time! But am so very blessed that we were able to see them and spend a week with them! So Adam and Linz thanks so much for spending your vacation with us, we enjoyed every minute!

Me and my crazy sister!

We asked Adessa to go wash the dirt off (she had a diaper on) when we looked over she had the watering can and was cleaning herself!

My beautiful girl

Ella Bella... my beautiful niece

My big beautiful girl!

Cutest boy in the world!

3 pretty girls

Jones familia

Happiest baby in the world!

Roasting their own food

Whats a fire without s'mores?!

Adessa loves her little cousin!

Whirlwind of Awesomeness

I can't believe it's over. Something you look forward to all summer and then in a blink of an eye its over! With my parents we met my sister and her family up in Parksville for a week. We stayed at Pacific Shores Resort, and it was amazing! We enjoyed every moment. The weather wasn't hot, but it was nice.
Monday we took everyone to Parksville beach where we played for a bit, but then everyone was frozen so we went back to our resort to the beautiful indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs. Tuesday we headed out to Horne lake caves. We were told that kids were fine to do the caving and we were expecting something huge, but instead got half way in and all the kids (except Adessa) started to get pretty freaked out... I don't blame them. It was very tight and you had to crawl and squeeze through areas. So we went back out and then Steve and I went in by ourselves and loved it. We turned off the headlamps and its amazing how dark it is, your eyes never adjust. From horne lake caves we went to the englishman river falls for a long hike and found the most crystal clear swimming hole. It was so beautiful. Wednesday we decided we had better spend a day at our beautiful resort so we took over the corner area of the resort where there was lounging chairs, a bbq and a hot tub. It was beautiful. We explored the beach and found hundreds of sand dollars... I am always amazed at God's creativity when I see them. Then we took out the resorts kayaks. My mom, sister and I took them out first and paddled our way up to 2 seals playing in the ocean, it was so cool and I felt very blessed to be out there enjoying God's amazing creation with my mommy and my sister! I love them both so much! Then that evening mom and dad watched the kids and we went to the resorts amazing restaurant for dinner. Thursday was pretty dreary looking so we went mini-golfing and then headed to Little Qualicum cheesworks where we tried cheese and mooberry wine. Then spent the rest of the eveing playing in the pools. Friday it was time for mom and dad to go home. We had a wonderful, amazing time together, but it is so hard to say goodbye. Mom and dad blessed us so much and we are so thankful for them. Thanks for spending your vacation time with us, we love you so much!!!

The view from the resort