the adventures of the hooks

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Small Escape

This past weekend we got away for 34 hours. So maybe minuscule escape would be a more fitting post title. And we didn't take many pictures. Still I wanted to document a quick little family weekend because it marked the first true getaway with just our little family.

We have taken quite a few trips with friends and family and trips to visit family and friends, but we really haven't gone away without any other purpose (conference for Jono, etc.) than to be together - just the four of us. I've been recently inspired by friends who take their little families on trips. Just to be together away from home and spend intentional time building memories.

So when a patient of Jono's offered his place a Priest Lake, we jumped at the chance to visit in the wintertime. Sure, we arrived at 9pm Friday night (and had a pretty terrible night with a baby boy fighting a cold) and departed at 7am (in time to make it to 9am church). We still fit in a nice breakfast together on Saturday, some games and books, a little snow shoeing, a dog sled race, a movie night, and an outdoor run for both Johnnycakes and I. So I would say even though it felt a little bit crazy, it was worth it. There is something recharging that happens for both of us when we leave our home and experience the beauty of creation, together as a family. Even if it means a sleepless night, packing 4,000 kid things, preplanning meals and departing/returning at ridiculous times of day.

Our destination

The blue marshmallow, attempting the stair climb

Excited to snow shoe!

We watched a few dog sled races (of all the random things...)

Beautiful surprise: gorgeous sunset on the lake

We're hoping our next little family getaway is longer than 34 hours, but we will take what we can get.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Australia Day, Take FIVE

This year we had another great Australia Day celebration. It marks five years since we celebrated our first Day of Oz in 2008 in the land down under. It feels like yesterday. Actually I am lying. It feels like it happened about 100 years ago. Or that it never happened at all. I'm certainly glad I have this blog as proof of our life back then because I'd certainly be inclined to think of that trip as a four month very detailed dream.

That being said, January 26th is a perfect day to do a little something out of the ordinary. Thank you, settlers of Australia, for picking a nice dreary day (for us North Americans) in 1788 to sight the content of Australia and land in Sydney Cove. We love the tradition of having family over for a nice little meat pie, some Australian libations, sides and delicious dessert. Here was our Oz Day 2013...

One of the meat pies (with a ridiculously cool surfer on top)

The crew (plus Spot, our special guest)

Grammy and the Lubster

Cousins looking SO big in this picture!

Little man Hunter with his ma & pa

As you can see, Jono busted out some Aussie attire

An attempt at the cousin shot

Always loving his Grampy

Nana & Papa with the crew

The grand finale: Pavlova (yum!)

On another note, it seems as if every year after our annual watching of the slideshow (that Jono kindly made to show my 4th grade class upon our return), I get a very random Australian song stuck in my head. If you know me, you know that I pretty much always have a song in my head. And usually I run to a song repeating in my brain, keeping beat with each strike of my foot. I'm weird. Anyways, since the 26th, I have (no joke), run two different five mile runs singing "give me a home among the gum trees, with lots of plum trees, a sheep or two a k-kangaroo, a closeline out the back, verandah out the front, and an old rocking chair" over and over and over again. I know. It's really weird and probably an admission in blogosphere that will likely come back and haunt me ;). If you'd like this awesome song as part of your repertoire (for long runs or any other reason), here is a good ol' Australian classic for your listening enjoyment. And yes, I know I should eventually invest in some kind of headphones.

Friday, January 25, 2013

The Little Things (& Spot)

There is always such stark contrast between December and January. The former is filled with food and friends, plans and parties, family gatherings and traditions. The latter is basically void of all those things. Okay, not completely, but mostly. When January rolls around we are ready for simple soups and salads after all the delicious (bot not quite so healthy) holiday fare. We intentionally pare-down our commitments out of the desire to just be home a little bit more. We simplify our spending and try and reign things in a bit. We slow down. Way down.

And this year I am kind of loving it. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas time. Love love love it. But I am finding myself enjoying this "getting into the rhythm" thing in 2013. And I am finding so much joy to be had in this exact moment in time. With life with a sweet little one year old boy and with a crazy, fun, wild, and mostly darling three year old girl.

We haven't done too much lately, but we've been enjoying the little things, like...

Go out to breakfast on Daddy's day off (to Central Food - yum!)

Playing cars and balls for hours at a time with this little man

Spontaneously taking in a Chief's game with the Picks

Taking a snow hike on a gorgeous sunny day

Watching these two rug rats interact

Going to princess birthday parties

And of course, cuddling this little love. Rough life, I know!

Oh yes, and there is nothing like a "Spot Assignment" (Clara's preschool pet), to motivate some random picture taking. Thanks, Mrs. Reidt, for forcing us to capture some random moments around our home this January ;)...

Spot loved broccoli & hummus, just like Clara

And of course he loved playdough

We took him to Daddy's clinic for a little excercise

He was so tired afterwards, he needed a nap on a patient table

He ate every meal with us

And was serenaded at night by Daddy and his guitar

He was pulled in the xc ski sled with Mr. Calebo

And he joined in on our family game of "go fish" too

He loved watching Clara paint (who wouldn't?)

And he fell asleep to some nice cello music, like Miss C

And of course he was a fan of the green smoothie

Whew. What a month of January it has been. I'm just hoping and praying that we'll stay healthy in February and won't break any Hook family records. I'm pretty sure we took up residence at the pediatrician last February and I would love to avoid repeating it. :)

Monday, January 14, 2013

Caleb Dedication

Just about eleven months later than with Clara (2 months vs. 13, but who is counting?), we dedicated Caleb at church. We had been holding off for a Sunday around Christmas when my siblings would be in town, but the date didn't work out. Instead we decided to go for it this January before he turned two or three or twelve (time is flying fast, people).

We wrote him a letter just like we did for Clara, and I thought I'd include it here too. We are so incredibly blessed by this little man. And with our awesome church family. And with our family and our friends. #mycuprunnethover ;)

Dear Caleb,

We stand in awe of the gift God has given us in you: a sweet little boy who is a perfect addition to our family. Neither of us will forget the moment, at the hospital, we learned you were a boy. From that moment we have loved discovering all the ways you are unique and very different from your big sister. Your personality is still unfolding, but we find ourselves continually blessed by your laid-back nature, easy laugh and sweet spirit. Your tendency towards exploration has already begun to reveal itself and we are excited (and slightly fearful) about all it might entail. We love you and feel so blessed that God has given you to us to mold and shape, love and guide. You are a gift that was worth waiting for – and we are so thankful that God’s plan for our family, and His timing – meant the incredible blessing of YOU. We will forever be grateful. We are undeserving of this awesome gift and are continually blessed and humbled by all that it means to be your parents.

Your name, Caleb, means faithful and devoted. Just like the Caleb of the Old Testament, who fearlessly believed God and was devoted to him against great odds, we pray that you will also faithfully love the Lord and follow him. We pray that from a young age you will come to see your need for a Savior and will place your trust and hope in Christ. We pray that your relationship with him will translate into a life that is lived to love and impact the world around you for the Kingdom of Christ. We commit to loving and serving you. We commit to praying for you and with you. We commit to instructing you and teaching you in the ways of Christ. And we commit to holding loosely. You belong to God, not to us, and so we choose to place you in God’s hands and trust Him for the plans he has for your life. He has a beautiful plan for you, Caleb George, and we are so excited to see what lies in store.

A verse we will faithfully pray for you is Joshua 1:9 - “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” We can guarantee that you will face many challenges in this life. We pray that during these times and always, your source of courage and strength will come from the Lord and not yourself. May this courage be contagious and demonstrate the hope that can only be found in Christ.

We love you so much, Caleb George. We will be forever thankful to God for the gift of you in our lives and we look forward to the many adventures we will have as a family in the years to come.

Love,

Dad and Mom

Friday, January 4, 2013

And the Rest of It, In Pictures...

I'm not feeling extremely inspired in the world of blogging at the moment, but I really want to catch up!! Christmas this year was full and fun! We spent a total of twelve days with family - when you count the first visitor to the last. We packed a lot in but still managed to have plenty of down time. As always, it was wonderful being together with the people we love most. Here are December 23-January 3ish, in pictures...