We had a hockey festival come to town. 
Free jerseys, toques and mittens. 
Road hockey, air hockey and hockey shots.
Ron McLean, mascots and local hockey stars.
I felt chills as I watched people watching hockey.
The spirit of hockey is so much more than just a sport.
Hockey is woven through our communities through shared time, fun rivalry and good old Tim Horton’s.
Thank you hockey for coming to town…
We went to visit Papa.
We saw one of these:
But it was green.
It was the exact green transport ambulance that brought my mom from the hospital to hospice house last Christmas.
And what did my three year old say as we drove by this green transport ambulance:
“Mom, look! An ambulance! We can tell it to go to heaven, get Nana and take her to Papa’s house!”
I wish son! I wish!
My three year old thinks an ambulance took Nana to heaven.
He now calls my parent’s house, Papa’s house.
He wants to bring Nana back to Papa too!
Me too, son! Me too!
In sadness.
With gratitude for these moments with my boys.
Goodnight!
Three years old.
Training wheels in the garage.
Pedal.
Pedal.
Pedal.
Flying on his bike.
Way to go OC!
What rituals or traditions do you have, intentional or unintentional?
I love me some traditions!
Yearly activities to look forward to.
Our God, seasons and people to celebrate.
Four years ago we started a pumpkin carving party with some very good friends. We have managed to make it happen every year, even during last autumn’s cancer journey with mom. Here are 2013 photos!
My heart overflows with gratitude for this incredible evening we got to share together carving pumpkins.
Simple fun.
Together.
Memory making.
Creating.
Laughter.
Competition.
Food.
Friendship.
Fun!
Look at these creative people:
Proud boys.
Their very own creations (with help from Papa, Lizzie and Princess Penny).
From Daddy: 
From Mommy:
The boys are ready!
I love family photos with a professional photographer.
I love thinking about meaningful locations, picking out matching clothing and being able to look back on family photos many years after.
I have numerous treasured photos of me as ‘getting ready to grow girl’, ‘getting ready to grow into my teeth girl’ and my personal favourite ‘mullet hockey hair girl’. Priceless memories.
Today, I was again able to instil this torture love of family photos onto my boys.
It started with me asking them to wear jeans and good shoes then proceeded to asking them to wait to play at the playground so that we could do our rapid fire fifteen minute PAC fundraiser photoshoot traipsing around the top of a local mountain for family photos.
Pure awesomeness.
Memory morning.
Family time.
I had to take a few of my own after we were done:
Thanks boys for humouring your Mama! It was wonderful to see you climbing trees, sitting on fences and making chairs out of stumps. The dust on your shoes, your uncomfortable jeans and beautiful smiles will create wonderful family photos.
I can hardly wait!
Be present.
Be listening.
Be open.
What does a mom say when her two year old looks out the car window one Wednesday morning and suddenly yells, “I see Nana in heaven. On the mountain.”?
What do you do that same day when your middle son paints a picture of Nana in heaven? He’s painting her right now.
And what do you think the next day when you have your oldest son’s friend over and she asks you to put on music and play “It’s a Small World”, my mom’s favourite ride at Disneyland?
Be present.
Be Listening.
Be open.
I am grateful my children are so assured their beloved Nana is in heaven. I can’t even accept she has died.
I love that my children are so connected to their ever-present Nana that they think to paint her. I can barely look at her photos without being overcome with sadness.
I am blessed that there are so many signs on a daily basis that remind all of us of my mom’s love, kindness and who she was. She was a great human BEing.
Be.
Be.
Be.
Take a plate.
Pour in some milk.
Add a few drops of food colouring.
Pour in some dish soap right in the middle.
Et viola!
Magnificent colours.
Swirling.
Mixing.
I was mesmerized by the colours.
My boys were filled with wonder.
It is truly the little things in life.
"Be" ENOUGH 