2013 in pictures - january

new apron
walking home from school
snow day
cell phone
toboganning
stuffed animal sillies
snowball maker
jumping on the bed

five, going on fifteen!

Lilah was ecstatic when Baba gave her his old phone, this past weekend.
The novelty of having a "real" phone still hasn't worn off. And no, she can't actually phone anyone!

I can already see her teenage ways! Yikes!

walking home from school

Our daily walk home from school.
That sunshine is so deceiving, today was a frigid -33°C. Brrrr!

snowballs!

One of Lilah's requests this past Christmas was (for lack of a better term!) a snowball maker.

I'd given her the Chapters/Indigo toy magazine several weeks before Christmas to take a peek through and this snowball maker was the thing that caught her eye. Of course, it had to be a blue one, because that, is her favourite colour! She regularly messes with peoples heads - we were at the Dr's this past week and after getting a shot the nurse was searching through her stack of stickers to find her a Princess or Dora one, but when Lilah specifically asked if she has a Spiderman sticker, the nurse definitely looked a bit baffled... she doesn't know my Lilah girl! Have I mentioned here lately that she has her career path chosen, oh yes she does, this one has lasted a good year now, so I'm thinking she might stick with it! She wants to be a firefighter and she talks about it ALL.THE.TIME! But that's a post for another day!

Anyway, she was out playing with her snowball maker yesterday and it works a treat. And I was the one that fell victim to all those snowballs she made! At least she let me set my camera down first! And she may even have gotten a few back at her too!

My girls really enjoy playing in the snow - they usually last being outside for about an hour or so. And then when it's time for Baba to get the snowblower out, the girls come in and they watch him through the window. So sweet!

she's adorable!

She told us this on Christmas day - "Not just presents are great, parents are great too."

“Come on Phebs, let’s put our stuffies on the naughty step!”

lilah: "Mom, how come you didn’t give me dessert for after lunch today?”
me: "I did. I gave you apple slices”
lilah: "Well that’s not really dessert, that’s lunch!”
me: "It’s a healthy option. You really like eating healthy, don’t you?”
lilah: "Yeah… sometimes.”

We’re both mothers, Mama… “Phebe’s a teeny tiny mother and I’m an SK’er mother!” (SK stands for Senior Kindergarten)

After prayers with Baba on Christmas night, she said - "You know what my best Christmas present is... you and Mama."

An expression she uses all the time now - after telling us something, she’ll exclaim... "For real life!!!"

“Mama, I love you to 103… is that even a number?!”

“Phebe, you can talk to me later, but right now I’m concentrating!”

“I like the way my friends treat me when I have curls in my hair. I was a little bit nervous…
that’s why I was yacking on when you curled it, but now I’m not embarrassed.”

“Mom, what is that smoke coming out of the people's chimneys?” (she was actually asking about exhaust fumes, from car exhausts!)
After explaining it to her, she followed it up with this question - "Is that called revving your engine?!"

“Why do people say ‘Amen’ after praying?”

"Do you know who's the best best best best best Mama? You! You're the most special Mama made for me."

“It’s okay if Phebe’s in my business, because I’m always in her business!”

“Little kids don’t have enough money and it’s dangerous out there… that’s why you need to live with your parents for the first time of your life.”

"It's great having a little sister, because she'll learn from me."

"Mama, you've aways been there for me, and I'm always going to be here for you."

"We love our stuffies and we love our parents, even though sometimes you guys are ridiculously silly!"

our family

The dog... is wishful thinking. It ain't never gonna happen!

beautiful new aprons

Last week, my girls received the most beautiful aprons in the mail from a dear kind friend.

In fact, I've never even met this friend in person, however she's been a real inspiration to me. She is a marvellous photographer and just last summer I took part in one of her online photography classes. Her blog is The Long Road to China - be sure to check it out, her photography inspires me, all.the.time. This girl, Lisa, is a cancer survivor, mother to three, full-time employee, talented photographer, owner of 2 Hip Chicks store (where these aprons came from!) ...well, I think you get the gist! She's amazing! But, on top of all that, she also devotes a lot of her time and talents to raising money for the little orphans left behind in China.

Lisa has a heart of gold, doing all that she does and also for sending my girls these gorgeous aprons. Thank you so much, sweet friend.

tobogganing!

We went to Mooney's Bay toboggan hill on Saturday.

Actually, during the Christmas holidays, when Phebe wasn't feeling the best, Baba took Lilah to this hill for some fun! And since the temperature on Saturday was only in the low minus, as opposed to the high minus... we decided we'd all go and have a little fun!

Lilah: Was in toboggan heaven and couldn't wait to go up and down that hill as much as she possibly could.
Phebe: Repeated the word "COLD!" the whole time we were there. Although she definitely had a good time. Sometimes she just likes stating the obvious!

two little monkeys jumping on the bed!

My sister & two nieces (who live in Australia) sent my girls two gorgeous pairs of pink UGGs and two very pretty dresses this past week. It was love at first sight for my two girls! Lilah, not normally the dress lover, was all over this gorgeous tutu dress, maybe because her favourite colours, orange and blue, were in it! She put it on right away and told me she wanted to wear it all again the following day.

And that's exactly what they both did, the next morning they donned their dresses again and since it was Friday, which is my wash-the-bed-sheets day, which is also the girls jump-on-the-beds day! Well, you can guess what happened from there...

They bring so much joy to each other, and to our home. I am such a blessed and thankful Mama.

my prayer for 2013

I've been thinking a lot about the new year. I have so much to be thankful for.
So many blessings have been shown and given to me, by my Father, in not just the past year, but my whole life.

About a month ago I came across this quote and it spoke to me in a big way...

“Your children are the greatest gift God will give to you,
and their souls the heaviest responsibility He will place in your hands.
Take time with them, teach them to have faith in God.
Be a person in whom they can have faith.
When you are old, nothing else you've done will have mattered as much.”
~Lisa Wingate

And today, while pondering the new year, the Lord laid these verses on my heart... Deuteronomy 6:5-9. They made me think,
what I want more than anything, in 2013, it is to grow in my faith and teach my children diligently, to have faith in God.

This is my prayer for 2013.

the past year in pictures

I really enjoyed doing these month-in-pictures collages this past year. And I'll definitely be doing it again this coming year, all being well.
It's so nice to look back over the year and just remember all these special moments we enjoyed.

Wishing you and your loved ones, a wonderful 2013!