Happy Birthday Uncle Lawrence!

Left to right: Grandpa Letniak, Jaren, Daddy & Uncle Lawrence

August 2006

Just wanted to wish Uncle Lawrence a happy birthday today. We hope that he is able to enjoy it at least a little bit!

The Work Never Stops

From milking a cow for her calf.........
to changing tires in the shop with my cousin Jonathan.
When is there time for a kid to play?

Daddy's Little Helper

This morning Jaren really wanted to help daddy with the chores and the feeding of a little calf that he met yesterday. Hope you enjoy. (We are now trying & testing the YouTube video clips - never done this before so I hope it works! We've gotta love the world of technology that we live in today! )

If you were able to watch these please give me your comments to let me know that it worked - like I said this is a first and a trial for me. I am just interested to know if I should be trying this a little more often or doing something different! I'll have to get tips from the experts - Scott and the Pierson's who post these alot! Thanks for your input!

Our Pets

Here are our pets that we have on the farm. We currently have two cats that are sisters, Alley and Chubbs. We have had them since they were tiny kittens and they will be 5 years old already this summer. We used to have three cats but in February one disappeared and has not returned. And of course most people know our most spoiled pet....Keesha. I don't know what I will ever do without her - she is such a pal and the "bestest" friend that anyone could ever want (and she tolerates Jaren and all of his loving!)! Animals are such a wonderful thing to have in our lives. Just something else that we are all blessed with.

Chubbs - resting in the grass staying a safe distance from Jaren

Our lovable Alley cat
Keesha (always craving attention!)
Alley - taking a quick nap in the green grass
Chubbs (aka Chubby)

Another Wonderful Sabbath

Jaren & Mommy
Jaren relaxing with Daddy in the sun
Catch anyone?

We spent a wonderful Sabbath afternoon together outside. It was a little windy but if you dressed properly it was alright. Later we went to the farm to check on the cows and the calving situation. Hopefully we all will have a good sleep with all the fresh air we took in today.

Just Hangin'

Just hanging outside enjoying the fresh air!

It's Seeding Time at Hemaruka!

Little boy in a VERY big world!

Loading up with pea seed

Father & son team

Future team member

It is hard to believe that seeding time is already upon us. The seasons just keep rolling one into another and I am finding it hard to keep up!! I am not ready yet to be running dinner and supper lunches out to the field but I guess I'd better get some baking done this weekend so Kevin can have some decent food to eat! The long days are now upon us - Jaren may be spending a few hours in the tractor if he wants to see Daddy. I am sure that will not be a problem - the only problem will be trying to keep the little man from driving!

Small But Mighty

Yesterday Jaren had his 18 month checkup done at the health unit (even though he is already almost 21 months old, mommy was a little behind).

He weighed in at 21lbs 90z and he is a whole 30" (47cm) tall! I don't think we can expect him to reach 6 feet at the rate he is going! :) He is still a wonderful small package that mommy can pack around and not get tired!

We are so thankful everyday for such a lively, energetic, healthy little boy!

In Remembrance.....

Grandpa Tom Hovland - Nov 2005
Kevin & Grandpa playing one of his many favorite games - he kicked Kevin's butt!

Nov 2005

Grandma Joan Sparks - Nov 2005

Jaren & Great Grandma Sparks - Nov 2005

It is hard to believe that one whole year has passed since we lost two very precious people in our lives. We miss them dearly but I look forward to every day drawing nearer where we will be reunited with them when our Lord comes.

Grandpa Hovland passed away on April 13th 2006 and then two weeks later my Grandma Sparks also passed away (April 28th). I am so happy that they both got to meet their great grandson and I know that even though they knew him for a short time they loved him very much. Once again I am so thankful for the memory of pictures that we can cherish forever. They will always be in our hearts!

Gonna Be Just Like My Grandpa!

I'm gonna be just like my Grandpa.......I am VERY serious when I am reading any farm equipment magazine, I LOVE CBC tv, I love to work on the computer any time mommy isn't looking and I love my puppy.....just like my Grandpa!

Our Little Angel

Jaren is growing and developing so much every day. It is hard to believe that he will be coming 2 in August. I do not know where the time has flown. He talks up a storm from the moment he wakes in the morning until his little head hits the pillow at night. He must come by that naturally with the Hovland/Simpson gene! It just amazes me the little things that he is now putting together like being able to recognize people and remember their names and who they are. He is a little boy who definitely loves life (and tractors, quads, trucks & cows!!) We are so blessed to have him in our lives and I just hope that we can treasure these years because everyone says they go by so quickly. That is one reason why I am always trying to capture the moments with our camera so we can look back and laugh or cry or just remember. My prayer is that he will be a blessing to each and everyone who gets to know him as well!

Peek-a-Boo!

I noticed two little black ears poking out of my empty flower pot this morning as I walked by the window. Here my cat, Chubbs, was hiding from the birds that I regularly feed which you can see in the grass in a few of the pictures above. Everytime the birds would fly over the pot she would leap up into the air and try to catch one. Needless to say her plan failed so she gave up after awhile! But I must say that it gave me a good chuckle this morning as I watched her.

Sabbath is a Happy Day!

Ready and waiting to go to Sabbath School!

Ring-a-ling-a-ling, Sabbath bells are ringing!


We love having our cousin to share Sabbath School with.......

and mommy too!

We were able to celebrate a belated birthday for Curtis after church

Pictured above: Curtis, Jonathan, Julie & Kaitlyn

Just borrowing Jaren's cap for a minute - everything's ALWAYS about tractors with the boys! We really gotta get a few more dolls!

Congratulations Yan & Kim!

Congratulations to Kim and Yan Senechal on the safe arrival of their little boy Nicholas Christopher who was born on April 17th weighing 8lb 2oz. Can't wait to meet him!

My Youngest Patient Yet!

This was one of my patients this past week.....no, he actually observed his mom the whole appointment while I provided her dental hygiene therapy. I just found it very hard to concentrate on my job because he was just soooo cute. He is only 3 months old and his name is Kayne. What a doll!

Playdate at Callan & Kya's House

Callan & Kya Robinson

Tea & snack time
left to right: Jaren, Kayla & Callan
Cousin Kaitlyn came along for the ride!

At the beginning of the week we went over to the Robinson's for a playdate and visit. I think we spent more time trying to teach our children how to share and mediate between the most favorite toys that they all wanted. I know that I at least just enjoy the opportunity to get out and visit with other moms for a bit. It was so nice to have Julie and little cousin Kaitlyn join us as well. They have been staying at Grandma Letniak's for the past week so we have had lots of opportunity to play with our cousins over the past couple of days.

Sweet Dreams

One of our most peaceful moments of the day!

Calving Time

We are into the full swing of calving right now and thankfully the weather has been quite decent for these little calves to enter the world into. It is just such an amazing thing to watch them tearing through the field when they are so young.

Jaren is really liking the calvies - he can't wait to get out there a little more and be a REAL help to daddy! Right now he is very content to "drive" the quad for mommy and daddy and go check the pairs to see if there are any new ones around.

A little calf that we were able to watch being born, within minutes she was up and wanting to eat - how incredible!

Happy Birthday Curtis!

We just wanted to wish Curtis a happy birthday today. We hope that all is going well on your business trip and we look forward to seeing you this weekend. Have a great day!

Picture taken June 2006 - Curtis and his daughter Kaitlyn

Happy Birthday Jenn & Celeste!

Jenn McMynn and Jaren (May 2006)

Sara Hegberg, Celeste Marcotte, Leah Lyle, myself & Jaren (Nov 2006)

I just wanted to wish two of my good friends, Jenn & Celeste, a happy belated birthday! Celeste's birthday was on April 13th and Jenn's was on the 14th. :) I hope you both had a great birthday and were spoiled lots! Miss you guys & we look forward to seeing you all again!