Remember and Give thanks...

Hi, its Nicole here.

I joined air cadets in September because I want to learn how to fly.  I flew with my papa in his little plane in the summer and I really liked it.

Me and my Aunt Lynn 

When I joined the cadets I didn't think about soldiers or veterans too much.  But I do now.  I thank them for the Canada I live in.

On Saturday, we marched through downtown Acton to the Cenataph along with veterans, RCMP, other military groups as well as Guide and Scout members (so yeah, my sisters were there too,  :(  )

Because I am a new cadet, I was asked to carry our wreath.  I felt honoured ( and a little nervous).  There were veterans watching and I didn't want to let them down.

My aunt Lynn came to watch with my mom and dad.  My mom says that she likes that our small town will close the main road (highway 7) for times like this.  My aunt Lynn loves the bagpipes, though I don't think I will learn to play those.

Lest we forget,

Nicole.

Lucky 13!!

My hair is a bit more frazzled and grey this morning and my coffee is a little bit stronger...

I have a teenage girl in the house now.

Nicole turned thirteen on Friday.  How did that happen??

Thank you Derek for procuring an iPhone 4 for her.  We hid the phone beside her pillow in bed and then called it to wake her up on her birthday morning.  When she picked up, we all sang Happy Birthday.. I'm sure thats the way ANYONE would love to wake up in the morning.

Nicole decided that for her birthday she would like to stay home from school.  It was a Friday before Halloween.. why not?  She came out to watch the littles in their school costume parade before doing   a farm store shopping trip with her Dad and I.

Nicole loves to bake, so one item in her birthday bag was a peanut butter chocolate cupcake mix.  She spent the afternoon baking these and even shared them with visitors over the weekend.  :)

Now,  funny story.

We had really hoped to have a horse out here at SchnickAcres for Nicole's birthday.  While looking through horse ads on the weekend past, we had spotted a large white Percheron standing in front of a familiar barn - the barn that Nicole sometimes takes lessons at.  I pointed this out to Derek who promptly pulled up on his phone, and showed us a selfie with that same horse that he had taken during one of Nicoles lessons a couple of weeks back!

Fast forward to Friday... Derek and our lovely neighbour a few doors down are off to bring Annie the Percheron home to SchnickAcres.  She is a lovely quiet, gentle horse though her size does cause you to pause a moment.  Or if you are a cat - run for cover from her big hooves!  She can be ridden or pull a cart/sleigh but right now is content to graze in the paddock and eat apples from little hands.  :)

And wouldn't you know it... Annie is thirteen also.

Perhaps thirteen is our lucky number.  :)

Jeanette

Nicole's school writing assignment.. aka PARENTING WIN!

Good "Chilly-Autumn-October" morning!

Do you know those days when your kindergartener or grade one child brings home wonderful works of art that are full of love for... YOU?  The mom or dad!  Those precious pieces of adoration that extol all the wonderful traits and efforts that you as a parent had thought had gone unnoticed?

It has been a fact of life for us that as our girls have aged, these "pump you up-feel good" backpack surprises have become fewer and fewer.  And thats okay.  BUT when your almost teenage daughter openly shares what she has written about you (and most notably IN FAVOUR of YOU, her God-given parents) you just have to read between the scratchy lines and jump for joy...  

With Nicole's permission, I am sharing: "Writing Assignment:  Write about someone who is a hero to you.  Explain why.

My heroes do not wear capes or leotards; they don’t have super powers.  My heroes help me with my homework and help me when my sisters are being annoying.  They put up with my mood swings and don’t nag at me when I don’t do what they ask.  My heroes are my parents.

My parents don’t have superpowers but they manage to take care of 4 girls, 2 dogs, 5 cats, 40 chickens and 10 ducks, so I’d call that a super power.

They are not always the most reasonable and the only colourful super hero type clothes my mom wears are colourful socks she knits and wears with burkenstocks.  My mom knits a lot of things, she manages to keep up with demand for sweaters, hats and gloves that my sisters and I want; I’m still trying to convince her sweaters for chickens is not a good idea.

Next, my Dad.  He can build anything and I actually mean that.  My mom and the rest of us built the chicken coop, but my dad did most of the work.  My parents both put up with my weirdness and they love me and somehow my sisters a lot. 

My heroes are my parents.

By: Nicole

Ahhhh... smile.  I have so many points to debate - the most important two of course are my choice of footwear and chicken fashions, but for this morning, I choose to bask in the glow of pre-teen love before the next mood swing occurs.

Happy Friday All!

Jeanette

A 12 year old's perspective... {WORDless Wednesday}

Howdy!

A couple of weeks back I had let Nicole use my Canon 50D for the afternoon (Mom's BIG camera as its called).  I can't recall the exact reason she gave as to why her iPod camera wasn't up to the task she was setting out for herself, but when it came time to view and download her creative masterpieces, I have to say, I was quite impressed:

Little sis - yup we see that look a lot.

I love this picture of Erin - she usually fights having her picture taken.

And then some photos of their 18" dolls that they were playing with that afternoon:

Huh?  You'd never be able to tell this girl had some serious pony love going on.  :)

Happy Wednesday!

Jeanette

THIS girl... {wordless wednesday}

In three months I will be the mother to a teenage daughter...

I'll be happy if she sticks to kissing ponies over boys.  :)
Have a wonderful Wednesday,

Jeanette