We welcomed 2014 surrounded by my maid of honour and our families. It was a fun night and one that should be repeated.
We endured a cold and long winter last year. The temps were freezing, the snow was unrelenting and it snowed well into the month of April. The girls learned to downhill ski and it left me wishing Craig could join us. (He had a hip replacement in 2006 and doesn’t feel overly confident on the slopes). When summer finally arrived, it wasn’t as hot or long as we had been hoping for. We enjoyed it, regardless.
We spent the spring renovating a house we would call home for a short while. It was so much work. Most of which, I think, was done by Craig. The girls suffered through it and we moved into that house in June. Spring brings with it the season of birthdays. Piper turned 8 at the beginning of March and I just could not believe that I had an 8-year-old. 8. I still can’t.
Quinn celebrated birthday number 4 and I found myself wanting to hold my baby in my arms. How is that I do not have any more babies in our house? But I don’t because my baby turned 4.
Davilyn blew out 6 candles on her cake this year and I exhaled.
The days seem long but the years are short
Piper and Davilyn finished off their hockey season. One that had Davilyn retiring her hockey skates. I was sad to hear this but I knew that if her heart wasn’t in it, there was no point in pushing her to play. She hated her season and felt unfulfilled by the one day Jamboree at the end. She doesn’t love the game like Piper does, and that’s okay. We tucked her hockey bag away, thinking it would collect dust or get handed down to Quinn. Time would tell. Piper ended her hockey season on a high, winning the MVP trophy for the girls Novice division. My heart exploded.
I felt Quinn was caught up in the mess of it all. She did take skating lessons but found the numbers too large for her liking but she stuck it out and finished the program.
We pulled the girls from school a week early and took a pretty awesome road trip to Nova Scotia. I am not crazy nor am I any braver than any of you. We made it an adventure and our girls loved it. Of course there were moments when they were fighting, we were yelling or someone was crying but they were few and we loved our trip together. We covered more ground than imaginable and visited many cities. We spent a week with Craig’s parents in his home province of Nova Scotia. Memories that will last a lifetime. We returned home weary and well-travelled… thinking we couldn’t wait to do it again.
We spent the summer on the waters of Rainy Lake. Catching fish, jumping from rocks, having shore lunches and basking in the sun. We didn’t do a lick of camping and it was only missed a wee bit. Although none of the girls learned to water ski this summer, they did spend many hours being towed in a tube behind the boat. It was fun! Another adventure to add to their list. We put up an above ground pool in our back yard and they spent many afternoons and evenings in it. Piper experienced some independence this year when we allowed her to go biking (although not far) with her friend and walk to the store for slushies. She had her first sleep over away from home and her first sleep over at home. I’m finding it hard to let go.
Craig and I celebrated anniversary number 13 in July. I always consider myself blessed to share my life with him. I watch him with our girls and I see a Dad that is involved, loving, stern and engaged. He will cuddle with them on the couch, sing Frozen songs with them. He is present and I know that they are lucky little girls to have him for their Dad.
The days seem long but the years are short
Too short. I remember the new years eves spent with little ones tucked beside us. Putting them to bed early and barely seeing the midnight hour ourselves. I am celebrating number 9 with children and it’s hard not to think about how quickly the next 9 will go. It’s hard to realize that soon, my girls will choose their friends over us for this yearly tradition. Those years will be far too short.
Summer ended far too soon, as it always does and a piece of my heart broke away so she could start school. Quinn entered the early learning program and, although I was happy for this, I was also sad. No more day care fees but no more toddler either. My beautiful last born was going on her own adventures. Making friends of her own. Learning without me or her daddy. She went with hardly a glance back and, because I had done this twice before, I knew this was harder for me than it was for her. Those years were far too short.
Fall arrived and hockey started. While Piper and Quinn were lacing up skates, Davilyn was sitting in the stands wondering if she made the right decision to retire those skates. I wondered too… and then a few short weeks into the season, she learned that she could play on Piper’s team. Her mind was quickly changed and she wanted to play. I can’t believe that she almost didn’t play. We are having a season to remember, winning two tournaments and only losing one game so far this season. Davilyn netted her first hockey goal and cried very emotional tears when she held the championship cup. Moments that almost didn’t happen for her. My heart is so happy they did.
Craig and I made another crazy (notsocrazy) decision to look at a house on 30 acres. With the idea of building becoming more of a nightmare, we decided it couldn’t hurt to go and take a look. It only hurt a little bit when we found ourselves moving two weeks before Christmas. I can’t say that I regret it. There is still much to do, boxes to unpack, walls to paint, fixtures to update but it already feels like our home.
We hosted 14 to our dinner table on Christmas day. It was hectic but it was Christmas in a big family. The girls were spoiled just the right amount. Jets gear made Piper’s Christmas. It was all about dolls and accessories for Davilyn and Quinn. Board games and cards. It was fun. Since Christmas, we have been going to bed early and sleeping in! Back to school will be tough.
As I reflect on 2014 (and not one for resolutions), I do resolve not to move in 2015! We certainly knocked a few things off our bucket list in 2014 but in 2015, I would like to slow down a little bit. Have more evenings at home with my family. Hanging out together at our 30 acre wood. Exploring. And enjoying our time as a still young family of 5. These years we have been blessed with go by so fast and I am increasingly aware of how quickly they will pass us by. Despite the long days of infertility, crying babies and fighting sisters, it does not seem all that long ago that Craig and I first married. Trudged through infertility. Started our family. Had our last baby. In those moments the days ticked by slowly but the years did not. The years just were not long enough.
My wish for the new year has not changed much in the past few years. My wish for me, my family and all of you will continue to be the same. In 2015, my wish is that you want what you already have. To look at your life now and know that it is good. To see your spouse sitting next to you and realize that you are more in love with him or her today then you ever have been. To watch your children play and have a never-ending cup of patience for them. To be in the moment that is your life and feel full. Full of love, full of blessings and full of happiness.
Cheers to a New Year,
Lots of new dreams.
