March

Sorry, Picasa is no longer allowing me to put up lots of pictures in a slide show format. Maybe its a good thing, so you don't have to see a ton of pictures, but makes me mad because I liked to photo journal more than write-its just easier! Anyways, a few clips from March: Joey started Speed skating! He really enjoys it, the skates are quite different from hockey skates and if we didn't have a wedding yesterday he may have participated in his first meet, but we might do that over the summer and see if he really likes it. He was learning his turns using buckets at his last session and was getting into it more and more. We also celebrated Nonna's birthday and a few pictures from the wedding yesterday. Today Joey shaved his head for St. Baldrick's in honor of his friend Connor at school who has leukemia. Joey was very brave and proud to shave his head for his friend.

Feburary

Some pics and updates: In February we had plenty of snow so took advantage of a friend's recipe for homemade snow-scream, ice cream made from snow! Joey caught all the snow we needed and we mixed it up to make a delicious concoction! Joey has been busy at Lego Builders Club at the library, they both have been having fun learning karate, and we went with Auntie, Uncle Chris, Andrew, Emma, and Grandma to a Steele hockey game where we found out Emma takes after her mother and won Blackhawks tickets to their game at Soldier Field!

5 years of missing Joshua, but feeling him by our side and in our hearts every day. I am so thankful that Joey and Jillian know, love, and miss him too even if it is emotionally difficult at times. I am thankful for my entire family. I love you Joshua.

December 2013 and January 2014

So as usual I am going to post the rest of the month's pictures and activities and then move in to the new year. Jill had her dance recital which she wore a jingle bell skirt and danced a great performance. The next day we went to the Arboretum for their Illumination event. It was very cool and interactive, hugging trees to make them light up, seeing our faces projected in lights on the trees, going for a winter hike, warming by the fires, and at the end finding our luminary in remembrance of Joshua. The following day was our first Christmas exchange with Auntie Miya, Uncle Mark, Nathan, and Jake. The following Friday we were already at the last day of school before break so Jill had her Christmas program. Christmas Eve: Christmas Day: Jill's Birthday party and birthday: New Year's Eve at Auntie and Uncle Chris' house: New Year's Day skating with the Soles: Jan. 4 Auntie's birthday, but also Jill's first ER visit when she poked her eye really badly by breaking sunglasses and snapping them in her eye on her way to dance class, a late Christmas get together with Miklautsch family and their little ones, Jill started karate, and Joey started Lego Builders club! (I will get the other pictures up, for some reason I can't embed them and I need Phil to figure out this stuff!)