It's about time...

I have been wanting for the last few months to sit down and write and post some pictures. Well, this is better late than never! Here is a little bit of what we have been doing lately. xoxo





For a complete catch-up!




Nothing like having my girls around me on my birthday! xo


























Victoria celebrated her 17th Birthday by going skiing with her friends in the day and then having some friends over for cake and girfriends over to sleep. We then had a big birthday breakfast with Kevin's side of our family to celebrate her big day (the following weekend as on Victoria's actual birthday, Hannah was quite ill)


Hannah became sick a few days after Christmas (fever, cough). After 5 days with fever, her doctor confirmed that she had pneumonia in her left lung. Our poor baby Hannah had never really been sick before. Thankfully, once she started the antibiotic, she was quickly on the mend. This pick is of Hannah and Poppy sharing some snuggle time.








Mara-Grace went to a day camp with her Sparks unit! She had the option of sleeping over, but we all knew we weren't ready for that quite yet! She had a fun day! Mara loves Sparks very much!


Year of the Dragon got off to a wonderful start! We celebrated with a feast at home (spent the entire day in the kitchen... yummy!) and we had my parents over for supper. We celebrated with our main meal the day before actual Chinese New Year (Mom was having dental surgery on the Monday). Mara-Grace's class has been doing a theme on China and they invited us to come in to 'fly' to China on Chinese New Year! Hannah and I happily volunteered and we entered Mara's classroom which was decorated for CNY and also as a plane! Three kindergarten classes were involved and they had gone all out with their activities and ideas! They had stamps and tickets, passports, luggage, tv's on the back of the seat in front of them just like on a real plane, they had stations set up to be rotated for the rest of the day. The children and Hannah ate rice with chopsticks and fortune cookies for a snack, then Mara and friends were going to make a fan, a dragon, use Chinese Ink etc. What an incredible day!!! I was so excited for everyone involved! Madame J. even had Hongbao for the children!!! She is incredible! We are so thankful that she is Mara-Grace's teacher!

Success!!!!!

This week, I will sit down and update the last few months! I have just not found the time required, this week, I swear I will!!!! xoxo I couldn't resist posting this major news though! We have been trying to potty train Hannah for months. She seriously refused trying to pee and I was starting to question if this was ever going to 'get started!'. Then this week, I showed her a blog of another little girl who was doing so well, and I put extra treats in a specific "Potty Prize container" and I also said a little prayer asking God to please give me a glimmer of hope that this will happen. The same morning of these three changes, Hannah peed in her potty and she hasn't stopped since!!!!! She wears a Pull up for now if we go out, but we bring her potty along! She likes one specific potty that we have here (so we will invest in another identical to keep in her room. Hannah wears a diaper at night as she is still very wet upon waking up. And nap time is in a pull-up incase but I don't really think it is needed. Another few days of it just incase... So, I have one VERY proud little pumpkin here who has astonished me once again! I always thought that it just needed to click for her, but this is beyond my hopes! I am so proud of our little Miss Hannah Faith! xoxo

Plume!

Mara-Grace's Kindergarten class has a mascot named Plume! Each child takes turns bringing Plume home for the weekend. Finally it was our turn to welcome this very important house guest! xo

Here is our friend Plume and below is a note that I sent in to Mara's class with Plume this morning. We all miss Plume! xo



Bonjour!
Oh how we have enjoyed our weekend with Plume! She is a wonderful new friend and she is most welcome to visit anytime!!!
Mara-Grace was so excited to introduce Plume to our family when she got off of her bus. She showed Plume around so that she would feel at home right away! After this, Mara-Grace got to enjoy her first candy cane of the season with Plume by her side! Plume was curious, but didn’t want a taste as she was a little concerned about getting sticky! She did LOVE the smell of the candy cane though and then was very tempted to share with Mara-Grace!
Plume showed our family what a wonderful dancer she is by twirling around to some Christmas music with Mara-Grace and her little sister Hannah. Even our pets, Lady and Winnie wanted to dance with Plume!
Plume settled very well on Friday night after some stories and woke up bright and Early Saturday morning. Plume spent the morning with us at the Science Museum in Ottawa. She loved making conductor’s hats and riding on the trains! Saturday afternoon, Plume helped to make a Gingerbread House and she was very creative and talented at decorating it too! Plume even got to meet Mara-Grace’s grandparents and she was so polite. They thought Plume was very helpful and sweet! By the end of the day, Plume could hardly stay awake and she fell fast asleep in her little nest!
Plume and Mara-Grace both awoke very early on Sunday morning and Plume helped make Pumpkin Pancakes. Then she got ready and Mara-Grace even put ribbons on Plume’s head! She LOVED this and felt very fancy! Plume was tired and stayed home while we went to mass and when we returned home; our cat Winnie told us that Plume was still napping! Mara-Grace woke Plume up and they did a lot of playing together!
In the afternoon, Plume helped to make some Sugar cookies and even helped decorate them! She then had a great time making ornaments with Mara!
It was so nice to have Plume visit our family right before Christmas. We will all miss her very much and we hope that she will visit again soon!
Xoxoxo Mara-Grace’s family! xoxoxo

2 years ago today....

We first held our beautiful little Hannah Faith in person! What a gift she is to all of our lives. I will never forget holding our Hannah for the first time or finally delivering those kisses I had been waiting to deliver!

We are blessed beyond measure! I love you my darling Hannah. xoxoxo

Happy 6th Birthday Mara-Grace!

Happy Birthday my darling Mara-Grace! I cannot believe you are 6 already!!! You are such a gift to us all... I love you to pieces! xoxo

Horse Party!

We celebrated Mara-Grace's 6th birthday this year on October 29th at a local farm. Mara-Grace is absolutely enthralled with horses and so we decided to book a tour and some riding for Mara, her sisters and her cousins! We had a bright, but brisk day outside and we had rented the room above the barn afterwards to open presents and have cupcakes. Unfortunately the room was unheated, so we hurried through this process a little! Mara-Grace LOVED her horse party! xo

Pumpkin Picking!

I have been meaning to post our yearly pumpkin picking pictures! We look forward to this each year! A tractor pulled wagon ride out into the patch and then the search begins! After our ride back, we enjoy a corn maze and some of the animals on site (goat, donkey, rabits etc.). Happy Pumpkin Picking indeed! xoxo

Halloween Night!!!!

What a bootiful night for trick or treating!

Victoria went door to door with her friends dressed as an M&M (for her LAST (again) Halloween experience:)) And even met some 'celebrities' (hockey team). That is a whole other story!

As we are now in the country, despite decorating like mad, we don't really have any trick or treaters sadly. With no other choice but to drive, people don't stop. We leave the house all lit and our candy outside incase someone does come. This way we are not missing out being with our girls for no reason (not a soul, or a goul (sorry!) this year or last.)

So, this is our second year trick or treating in my parent's neighborhood. The girls are familiar with the area and they LOVE it! Hannah was a skunk and Mara-Grace wanted to be Tigger!

It was a spooktacular evening!

xo

Halloween is in the Air!

Happy Halloween!!!!

What an exciting celebration! We have really been celebrating all week long! Hannah has worn her Minnie Mouse Dress or her Snow White dress all last week for story time and dance class, to the store etc... Everywhere!

Mara-Grace has been making all kinds of spooktacular treats at school! At school on Friday the class wore their costumes and walked to a local retirement home and presented some of the patients with a bowl (made of a record!) filled with fruit. They did a dance and were beyond cute! I had the pleasure of accompanying Mara-Grace and friends!!! Such fun!

Saturday was Mara-Grace's 6th birthday party (she will be 6 tomorrow!). I will post later about her party and tomorrow's too!

This morning got off to a bootiful start! Our girls each opened their little halloween loot and they had a spooky breakfast:) Mara-Grace was dressing as Snow White today at school and I packed a Tricky lunch for her ( Eyeball sandwiches, popcorn/hand, pumpkin seeds etc.) I only got away with the popcorn hand and seeds for Tori as she is tutoring at lunch today and didn't want them to think she was crazy:) Noooo, just a very excited Mama! LOL

Ok I am going to post a few pics of our carving pumpkins and of this morning! More pics will be coming after trick or treating!!!! I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxo

Cheerleading!!!!

With the Fall brings Football and Cheerleading for Victoria this year!

This past weekend we went to see the game/Victoria Cheer, and Mara-Grace had the opportunity (thanks to Victoria) to cheer along. Victoria wanted her to stay and cheer all game, but we thought it best/appropriate for her to come cheer with us from the stands!

Awesome job!

xo

Thanksgiving!

What a glorious Thanksgiving weekend it has been! We had sunshine in abundance and along with the beautiful weather, was wonderful memories in the making!

Saturday we hosted at our home Thanksgiving for Kevin's side of our family. The kids were able to take in the sunshine and all played so well. Skipping rope and on the playstructure and up and down the hill! Not to mention the jumping ball balloons courtesy of Aunt Karen! All seemed to enjoy the visit and day!

Sunday we went to my folks to celebrate with my side of our family. It was definitely a little hard thinking that last year my precious Gran was having her final meal, her Thanksgiving meal. She was close in our minds and hearts. The kids again were graced with such gorgeous weather and had a wonderful time going to the park and climbing Grannya and Poppy's tree! Whenever we arrive at their home, Mara-Grace is out and up the tree!!!

Monday was a time to rest a little. Again, we couldn't ignore the precious gift of another exceptional day of sunshine! We went to the cottage and Kev helped Dad out a little with framing where they park. We also were able to walk way out to the sandbar. This is unheard of! NEVER is the water this low... We had such a lovely walk. Hannah loved splashing along so much that she lost her footing and sat down in the river. Hmmmm:) Thankfully we had a change of clothes packed! Hannah and Mara-Grace then built 'castles' in the earth! Poor Victoria felt sick (sore throat, cold) and missed out on Monday's sunshine.

We are so thankful for the many gifts in our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

xoxo

Where did September go?

The time here has been flying by!

Mara-Grace has astonished us with the way she has settled so easily into the school routine. She LOVES school and I have had the opportunity to witness her in her classroom on a few occasions. She was excited to have Hannah and I there for the Terry Fox run but was also very accepting when we came and went. She gave us our hugs and got straight into classroom mood! She is one amazing little girl! I am so proud of her transition into a schoolgirl!

Victoria has jumped in with both feet into her final year of highschool. She is involved in everything imaginable and continues to be a dedicated student both to her studies and social life:)

Kevin has been working as hard as ever and is trying his best to keep the morale high in his group, despite the layoffs at his company. Never an easy time.... So far, he has been safe, Thank God....

Little miss Hannah and I have been having a wonderful time together! It has been very nice to have some one on one time with my littlest pumpkin. She has adjusted well to our new routine and is enjoying Storytime and dancing during the week. She is so funny and still a sweet peach, except for when we run out of grapes!!!!


This picture was taken close to our home. Mara-Grace and her Daddy climbed all the way up!!!!