10/18/2010
08/14/2010
08/03/2010
Mark's Birthday
June 19th
Mark's birthday was a lot of fun. We had all our favorite friends over for a bbq and were lucky enough to have Grandma Kozak and Aunty Rachel come as well. Uncle Dan, his girlfriend and my dad rounded out the group.
Mark--how blessed I am to have him as a husband and the father of our children. How happy I am to know that we will be together forever.
June
Adam Essex's ugly outfit party. So much fun, with good friends and delicious food.
Birds of Prey Center
It's a family tradition to visit the Birds of Prey Center at least once a summer. This reserve for injured Birds of Prey is located in Coaldale and we absolutely love the beauty of it. The kids favorite thing to do there is feed the huge flock of ducks and of course hold the cute little burrowing owls.
Ethan loved leading the way, as usaul. He is quite the little explorer and loved looking at all the different kinds of birds. Lena couldn't get enough of the ducks and wasn't afraid at all, even as they swarmed around her and nipped at her fingers.
Lena blowing a bubble--she taught herself, and loves her bubble gum!
Josh wasn't too sure about all the ducks, but sure loved being pushed around in the stroller and looking at the different birds. Birds are one of his favorite animals he goes nuts we he sees them.
Jen Sloan, my best friend came to visit from Kamloops. Amy (on the left) is also a friend from highschool. We met up at the spray park and had a great catch up visit.
Ethan is a marble run master builder. He builds all kids of them and then asks me "judge" them. He likes to pretend that he's on a game show. I love how seriously he takes it and concentrates so hard to build the best and biggest for extra points. We have spent countles hours outside with the neighborhood boys and girls having so much fun. Espeically on the trampoline and playing hide and go seek tag.
06/13/2010
May
Lena's first Day of Preschool was May 5th. My little girl is growing up so fast! She is already 3 and 1/2. Mrs. C. (her teacher) and I thought it would be a good idea to let her have a couple of "practice" months before the fall term. It's especailly nice since Ethan can be with her to show her the ropes and help her feel more comfortable. She was so ready and so excited for her first day, she didn't even bat an eyelash when it was time for me to leave. I'm so happy for her as she has been waiting for this day for a long time.
She had a fabulous first day and to celebrate we had Timbits, she ate two then conked right out. Love my little princess and am so proud of her!
Before I forget, another first took place in the Kozak home. Josh can now go up and down the stairs perfectly. What a relief it is to not have to carry him everywhere. He now comes and goes as he pleases. He is 13 months already and wants to do everything the big kids do, especially be outside with them. Or do anything for that matter as long as he's invovled. Below is a picture of a dinner picnik with some neighborhood friends. I love how Josh just gets right in there.
Ethan is getting so mature and is quite the popular boy. All the kids on the street want him to play with them, which I love because it keeps him busy and happy. All the girls at school want to marry him. They actually have heated discussions over who gets him. It's no wonder, because he is such a sweet boy and so darn handsome!
My Birthday
The big 2 9 ! I can't believe I'm just a year away from 30. I had a wonderful birthday thanks to Mark and the kids. Mark made me a delicious dinner of cedar bbq-ed salmon with a sweet and tangy merinade, rice, steamed-peeled asparagus, and sushi. My trip to Arizona and all the shopping that went on counted as my birthday presents, and what could be better than the yummy ice cream cake from Dairy Queen complete with a butterfly. The butterfly is one of my favorite things and is Mark's little nickname for me and has been from the time we started dating.
Mother's Day
I love being a mom, I was born to be a mom. It helps that I have such wonderful children. Ethan says he loves mommy because "she makes me happy, and she's pretty and I like the clothes she wears." Lena says she loves mommy because "she's my friend, and we have fun everyday."
For mother's day we went to church where each mother recieved a gift. This year Mark was in charge of coming up with the gift, as he is in the Bishopric, and this is what we came up with. I think the ladies really liked that they weren't real flowers and that they would last more than a week or two. It was so fun making them, because all I had to do was sit there and make them. To be able to sit and finish a project with nothing else to do, but that porject was fantastic. Mark took care of the kids and I just crafted all day. Happy Mother's Day to me. There were about 70 all together.
The weather was kind of all over the place in May. Mostly rainy and yucky, but we did get a few nice days.
We went to the river bottom park, had a picnik lunch and played and played. It felt great to get out in the sunshine after such a long winter.
I lucked and just happened to have a bag of bread in the van. The kids had so much fun feeding the geese and ducks.
Projects in May
I love our new house, but miss my flowerbeds from the old house. So as soon as it was even kind of warm enough I set out to build a flower garden. I love it, wish it was bigger, but I'll just have to make some more in the backyard.
I was working in the yard one day and found Freddy the frog. He only lasted as our pet for about a week and then we let him go. I still see him around the yard sometimes (at least I tell myself it's him).
Finally got around to sprucing up our bedroom. It had needed it for a long time and I absolutely love the result and the fact that it only cost around $100 bucks for the make over.
Before
After
05/20/2010
05/07/2010
April
Alot happened in April. Easter, Arizona, Snow, Josh's Birthday, Josh learning to walk, and more SNOW.
This Easter we made cookies for the neighbors, attended an Easter egg hunt at the church and had the Nillsons, and Dad over for Easter dinner.
We had baked ham, corn, scalloped potatoes, homemade buns, and brocoli salad. Mom helped and we had a lot of fun getting everything ready together. After our dinner I took the kids downstairs for some games and to talk about the real reason we celebrate Easter. I read to them from the children`s bible about the Saviour`s resurection,and why he died on the cross. I think it went over their heads a bit, but the effort was there.
Early on in April we were hit by a huge storm. Tons of snow at just the right consistancy for building snowmen and forts. The first day it hit we built a gigantic snowman with the neighborhood boys. The next morning we woke up to a house with no eletricity, the power outage lasted well into the afternoon. This meant no school, how fun for us!! Our house soon become the neighborhood hang out for all the kids. We built forts indoors and out.
We spent hours building the ultimate outdoor battlefield. Once it was complete and everyone had their shelter, an all out war began. Big Ethan (as seen in img 0980) figured out a way to make snow torpedoes using plastic cups as forms. My Ethan and jumped ship and joined his team, clearly his way of doing things was working out better than my wimpy attempts and snowballs.
On April 15th I left the snow behind and headed to Arizona with my mom and Josh. The flight was ver short and Joshie did so well. He was a hit with all the other passengers as he toddled up and down the isle making friends.
Our first stop once we reached AZ was the Farm Grill, located near Chelsi`s house. The best, freshest food on the planet. But what stuck me even more than the food was the fact that even at 8:30 at night there were families enjoying their food outdoors! It was warm and comfortable and oh so relaxing to be outside.
The next day Mom and I walked over to the Mall, Walmart, and Costco. Josh loved being in the stroller, but most of all being outside. I bought some cute new clothes and shoes (Happy Birthday and Mother`s day to me!)
Chelsi got home from work around 3 so we headed out for some more shopping. The next day we woke up bright and early for the Botanical gardens. BEAUTIFUL!
I loved taking pictures of all the unique plants.
We visited the park at the right time as there was a butterfly exhibit going on.
B
U T
T ER
F L Y
Later that day we went out to lunch at Paradise Bakery, then Chelsi treated me too an amazing Pedicure at the spa and then more shopping. She helped me pick out an outfit for our evening out with friends. And even dyed my hair for me before we went.
I loved seeing Chelsi, miss her so much. What a wonderful sister.
Josh`s birthday was on the 30th. We went to the bounce houses at the Y. which is his favorite place to be.
We also went to Rocky Mountain House to visit his Grandma and Aunt. The hotel we stayed in was so fun, we had the pool all to ourselves.
04/13/2010
March
March was a busy month. On the 8th Mark and I celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary.
For our Anniversary we went to the Keg and had a delicious meal. It was nice being able to spend time together and catch up without kids around ( we love them, but it was nice not being interupted 50 thousand times).
I love being married to Mark, he truly is the only one in the world for me. After seven years we are still madly in love, but even more so we really like each other.He can calm me with a touch, and with one look make me feel more than just his wife, but his forever partner. Plus he smells really good.
For our Anniversary dinner at home I made grilled chicken, salad, twice baked potatoes and for dessert a chocolate cherry cake with chocolate covered strawberries.
March is a tough, long month. It's like a never ending Christmas eve. It's the month before the promise of spring and warmer weather. We did get some warm days and took full advantage of them and went to park after park. The rest of the days were filled with whatever whimsy we could come up with to past the time.
March also saw the end of Ethan and Lena's session of Gymnastics.They both excelled, and loved going. Ethan pasted all of the requirements to move onto the next level, and Lena mastered the summersault on her first try (she has rythm like her mama).
Valentine's Day 2010
My favorite part of Valentines day was deffinately the gift that Mark and the kids made me. What could be better than a huge card full of chocolate. That, and they left the house for hours so they could buy the stuff, then make it. Not only did I get all this yummy candy, but I got to take a nap too.
This is what the card said:
"Today we are not going to play any "TWIX" on you and tell you, you are a "BIG TURK". Rather we want you to "SHINE" and "EAT MORE" treats that remind us of how sweet you are and thank you for the love you give in so much "BOUNTY" . We also wanted to give you a "PEP" talk on how "SLIM" you look, since you "ROLO" vered a new healthy leaf. Everyone says "HUBBA BUBBA" when they see you and your "HOT LIPS". We just tell them that's our MOMToday we are not going to play any "TWIX" on you and tell you, you are a "BIG TURK". Rather we want you to "SHINE" and "EAT MORE" treats that remind us of how sweet you are and thank you for the love you give in so much "BOUNTY" . We also wanted to give you a "PEP" talk on how "SLIM" you look, since you "ROLO" vered a new healthy leaf. Everyone says "HUBBA BUBBA" when they see you and your "HOT LIPS". We just tell them that's our MOM. Ps Daddy thinks that "AFTER EIGHT" He is going to "SKOR"
Love them!
Another fun event was going to Ethan's Preschool to help out with their Valentine's Party. Grandma Drewry moved in with us this month, so I now have a built in babysitter. Mrs.C (Ethan's Preschool teacher) had set up all sorts of fun centers.
Feburary
Ethan turns five!
Ethan's Birthday was a blast. He invited his two best buds Austin Kozak and Oscar Weibe. Ethan had the hardest time deciding on what kind of party he wanted, but finally narrowed it down to a Batman party, with swimming at the Ramada, and lucnch at the Burger King play zone... so that is what we did. Ethan recieved a new Wii game from Austin and Martian Madness from Oscar (Ethan is a very lucky boy).
We had the family dinner with Grandpa and Uncle Dan on Sunday night. We had sweet and sour chicken and of course birthday cake. Batman Birthday cake. Ethan also got to open gifts from us. We gave him some b-day money, and a few new toys, but his favorite were the hotwheels tracks.
Ethan, I'll never forget the day you were born. It was the day that I went from ordinary human being to being a mom.
You are my special sweet boy and you're growing up way too fast. If only there were a way to freeze time so that you could stay my sweet little five year forever. I've had glimpses of the young man that you will become someday. You are so kind to your sister and brother, you love to teach them things and are so patient with them. You have the temperment of me...which most times is a good thing, but boy can you get grumpy when you're hungry or tired...just like me. You are smart like your dad and love learning. You are reading already, and know all your numbers and letters and can even print your name and a few other words. You can not wait to go to kindergarten and honesty, I can't wait either. Because you'll love it, and I'm happy for you.
Your favorite thing to do is play with your friends, be outside and to build things. Especially hotwheels tracks, and marble runs. And you love game shows. Your favorite is A Minute to WIn it.
Though you won't admit it you love to be cuddled and have your back stratched while I sing to you. Especially this song.
I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be.
I love you Ethan. You are my special, special, boy.
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