There is Beauty All Around

A friendship like this is a rare treasure.

 We love to feast with our homeschooling friends.

 These strong and smart girlies finished reading the Anne of Green Gables series for their book club- which I think was about 8 novels. As a celebration they planned an Anne Tea Party. They didn't forget any details and it turned out to be a lovely afternoon. There were dresses with puffed sleeves, there were quotations read, there were feather pencils made, there were even tea bag shaped cookies.

We made a trip to the Calgary temple. It filled our souls as always. I was able to sit with the littles inside the waiting room. We laughed about how even Bocky Ezra's rooster has now been inside the temple :)

 She gets so tired of being squeezed and loved and doted on. Well she acts like she's tired of it but then she'll tell the boys to do it again.

 After the temple we went to our favorite restaurant on planet earth. Literally. 

 We have the best snowboarding hill in our yard! It's so handy for some instant winter adventure.

 These two are enjoying their bball season. They both made the their respective B teams and were pretty pumped about it.

Charlie was invited to play in the All-Star game and also won the Player of the month for EYBA. His coach interviewed him for the news but since he didn't have a favorite video game or tv show, he shared his favorite book. And according to the interview his favorite food is apparently Persian food and not pizza :) 

Spelling class in the cupboard? 

 Oilers game with dad thanks to uncle Albert.

He made himself a romantic snack.

 This is Scarlet's first year of violin. She is quite enjoying it and of course it's a treat to work with Rachael. She has been diligent about her practise and very independent. I love to wake up to her music in the mornings.

Scarlet's choir pals.

 Jane and Charlie and Scarlet are now in Choir. They love love love it. 

Thanks for the stylish coat Aunty Mariah

 The kids had an amazing opportunity for some musical mentoring at the Canadian Contemporary Showcase Festival. All four of them won scholarships and were invited to 

perform at the Gala Concert.

Daddy graduated! Yipeeeeee! 10 years of school is over!!!! Wahoooo!!

School Has Begun

Jane's commonplace book.

Fun fieldtrip to the theatre with cousins to see Pinochio.

 Uncle Wade won a prestigious award- we were proud as peacocks for him.

 A friend stopped by with these gorgeous sunflowers. What a delight.

 We went to the fancy new museum for the Grand Opening day. It was superb.

This was our Louis Braille study unit. These two would plead with me to keep reading. They were especially interested. We learned the braille alphabet with rhinestones and then found some books in braille at the library. 

Hazel has diligently sewn a button a day for weeks now. 

 Scarlet at her water color class at the Smeltzer House.

 Yahtzee with uncle Marky.

Constellations with marshmallows and toothpicks.

We discovered the book Lost in Translation- it's about words in other languages that we don't have in English. We are missing a surprising amount of essential words. Jacob and Charlie came up with their own words that they feel we need to add to the English language.

The layers of the earth with playdo 2.0

 Hazel is a keen learner. I can hardly keep up with her.

 Our neighbor friends here for our monthly sharing and lunching together time. 

 We have so many dates together. 

 Hot dog mummies are a Halloween must.

 No one enjoys dressing up like a witch more than Scarlet. 

Healthy Halloween trading table 2018 

We had a spectacular time Trick or Treating with cousins this year. The weather was warm and everyone joined in. It was a special time.

These three were practising Primary songs on the top of their lungs with silly glasses. 

Our ward friends from Sri Lanka invited us for birthday dinner. They made so much homemade food we tried not to think about how much work it must have been.

 I got to spend some special time with Mads. She always smells like a flower and smiles like a flower. 

 Talia came for a weekend. She is an inspirational youth.

 Sand art for art class.

Hazel's busy desk station.