Jackson turned 7!!!!!!!!!!! What??? He's 7 already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So our baby boy is now 7!!  Not so much a baby boy anymore....sigh.  Where DOES the time go???  Jackson's Hockey Team's Christmas party was on the same day as Jackson's Birthday so we took a cake and all 12 boys sang Happy Birthday.  I should have had the video camera out because it was a PRICELESS  moment.

and now presenting

 #7 (age 7) JACKSON HODGSON

notice the really short hair cut did you?? 

 that's because when Jackson was 6, just a few weeks ago, Jackson decided to change careers from a full time grade 1 student to professional barber and CUT HIS BANGS (REALLY SHORT)...

AGAIN

 So short in fact that this is how the hair dresser had to cut his hair to blend in his work with the rest of his head.

Harry and David have arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's Harry and David you ask???  Boxes full of yumminess!!!

For quite sometime now my Auntie Donna Jean has sent Harry and David goodies to us from the States.  Every year a package arrives in time to fill our tummies with Moose Munch and to die for Truffles.  Our package just happened to arrive today and well the kids have managed to eat all the Chocolate Coins and Cookies.  How do I know this....they are really good at leaving the evidence on the floor!

Happy Holidays!!!!

Jana and Avery

3 months

Eatting a Christmas orange just isn't the same.

Mackenzie turns 4!!!!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Mackenzie

It's snowing outside... (insert big smile here)

Beautiful day here in Saskatoon....Hard to believe it's NOVEMBER!!

It was a beautiful November day her in Saskatoon.  The kids and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and discovered a new park down by the river.  Her are just a few shots.  

and I just bought myself a new camera and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's SNOWING!!!!!

It snowed for the first time today...and it's October 26th, which is exactly 2 months since Jake passed away. 

Which is very fitting since Jake LOVED to run around and play in the snow.  Winter was Jakes favorite time of year.

Bosco's nose

for some reason there was a nose mark on my lens after this shot

Our Annual Berry Barn Pictures...

The kids, Auntie Jenn and Madeleine and Auntie Morgan and Georgia and I headed out
to the Saskatoon Berry Barn..as we do every year to take some photos of the kids
(and missing from this years trip is Auntie Shelley...we missed you Auntie)!!!

Jenn and I practiced our herding skills (we are apparently very rusty) but did manage to get some great
shots of the kids. Unfortunately Mother Nature did not provide the beautiful
backdrop as she usually does...all the leaves have already fallen off the trees :0(

It has been awhile since I last blogged, so enjoy the pictures!

Fairy Princess...

As we were taking photo's of the kids and practicing our herding skills

(something Jenn and I need to work on) a

Fairy Princess ran through the woods.

Georgia and her Mommy...

Auntie Morgan and Georgia...

Is Georgia not the cutest little girl!!

Auntie Morgan is a very close friend of Auntie Jenn's. They have known each
other for years and are so lucky to work together!! (u 2 are so lucky)!

Georgia and Auntie Morgan joined us on our annual Berry Barn photo walk.
Georgia loves popcorn and juice with a side of bubble solution.
She has a beautiful smile and loves to be thrown in the air.
She's also very quick...a little too quick for the camera..but I did manage
to get some great shots.
Oh, and she LOVES purses...I think you may be in trouble when she's older Morgan!!

burnt toast

It will be awhile before there will be a new post...my computer is toast:o(

a conversation with Maddie....

So...Maddie came for a sleepover on the weekend (as you know from my previous blog).  It was her first time coming to our house since Jake had passed.  Jenn and Jason had let Maddie know that Jake had died and he went to doggie heaven.  The following is a conversation Maddie had with me...

As I was sitting at the computer doing some photo editing Maddie came in to see what I was doing and she noticed a picture I have of Jake sitting on my desk.

Maddie, "Auntie, is that a picture of Jake"?

Me: "yep, it's a picture of Jake".

Maddie: "Why did Jake die"?

Me:  "Well, he had a bad heart".

Maddie:  "My Mom says he grew wings and went to doggie heaven.  Do you miss him"?

Me:  "Yes I miss Jake.  I miss him a lot".

Maddie:  "Well, I have two dogs.  You can have one.  You can have Bosco cuz he doesn't bite.  Then you won't be sad".

Me:  "Won't you miss Bosco"?

Maddie:  "Nope.  Because I can come and visit him".




Children really do understand more that what we give them credit for....

sleepover time.................

It's never a dull moment when these two are together. 

It's so quiet in our house...

Even with the kids playing there is this quiet in our house...and even though the backyard is littered with kids toys, it seem so empty.  And when you walk through our front door there's no welcome with barks hello and a wagging tail.

It's still so hard to believe our Jake is gone.

Mackenzie continues to ask questions about Jake.  She thinks the Vet is going to "fix her Jake and then he will be okay and can come home".  Jackson has his moments and is "missing Jake's kisses".

Ten Commandments for a Responsible Pet Owner as dictated by the pet.

My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
Give me time to understand what you want of me.
Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments. But I have only you.
Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, and yet I choose not to bite you.
Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long or my heart might be getting old or weak.
Please take care of me when I grow old. You too will grow old.

On the difficult journey, on the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there. Because I love you so.

Our Jake....

Good Bye Jake

We love you and miss you so much.

1st Annual Markosky Hodgson Photo Walk

On Saturday, the hottest day of the year, Jenn and I packed up the kids and went on a photo walk. Well...WE thought it was a good idea! In hindsight we should have gone to the beach and saved our photo walk for a day when it was NOT 30+ !!!
Considering the heat the kids did really well. They harassed a poor Gopher, got to see two Princesses (Bride's) and kept the bears away. Who needs a Bear Bell when you have these 3 with you. What one really needs is a good set of ear plugs and lots of gum!!

The evening was spent out at Uncle Jason and Auntie Jenn's having hot dogs, hamburgers and not roasting marshmellows. I'm not sure who ate more marshmellows, the kids or Sami!!!

I can only imagine how this conversation went.."okay"?

This is the best shot of the 3...sigh. One would think Jenn and I would have mastered herding cats by now!

My Mackenzie Coo