~ Happy 4th Birthday Lennah ~

Happy 4th Birthday to our precious First Born! Lennah's birthday was celebrated the Saturday following her birthday of August 21st. We combined a Hawaiian themed BBQ with her party as it was to be our last get together before the end of summer and William's arrival. The kids limboed until the sun came out, played outside, ate great hot dogs and hamburgers by Daddy the BBQ'er and even got to unwind with a cartoon. Thank you to everyone who could be there to celebrate Lennah's big day!

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~ My Budding Artists ~

Too proud not to share the girl's latest Art. Lennah is very proud of her painting and the colours used. Her handprints turned out beautifully and of course, Charley's are wonderful in colour and composition as well! Thank you to Martina for getting the handprints I so desperately wanted.

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~ Bunk Beds ~

From this, last September.

To this today!

Since we need to make some room for new Baby Fox, due this September, we've decided to put the girls into bunk beds in Lennah's old room. We decided on this cute set from JYSK. First place we checked out, and after looking at a dozen (almost literally) furniture stores, the one we ultimately liked the best. The price tag also agreed with our pocketbook!
So for now, we decided to put them side by side as we transition Charley out of her crib and into a big girl bed. As well, I didn't want Lennah attempting to climb down out of the top bunk to come and visit Nathan and I in the middle of the night as she's become accustomed to. There's still some more decorating to do. I've been thinking about a cool wall decal instead of painting. A few flowers perhaps, adding their names above their bunks when we stack them?
Tonight was the first night in the new beds and so far, so good. Charley was out in about 5 minutes, asleep that is! I struggled a little more with Lennah, but I think that may have been due to the excitement! Let's cross our fingers it's a good sign that tomorrow night may go as smoothly.

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~ The Cream Soda ~

On our trip into Prince George this Monday, we bought Lennah her first bicycle. Not another trike, but a big girl bike! Behold, the Cream Soda. It literally is cream soda pink, with sparkly streamers at the handlebars, the all important bell and a hand brake. She adores it! I hope to have more pictures tomorrow with Charley on her trike for the first time as well.

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~ Early Spring in McBride ~

Lennah and her friends, Amelia and Sydney

Spinning Charley

Wheeeee!

Lennah and Lucas

Spring has come early in McBride this year. We've been heading to the park most days lately.

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Charley's first time on the ice "skating", with a little help from her big sister.

This was probably Lennah's last time on the ice this season. Hockey ended today with hardly a bang. I'm glad Lennah had a good time on Wednesday at the mom and tot skate. It was so exciting to see Charley on the ice for the first time. Can't wait to get some skates on her this fall!

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~ Figure Skating/Hockey 2009/10 ~

Halloween Party for Lennah's figure skating group. Lennah dressed up as Rapunzel.

Lennah's first day of hockey and Daddy's first day coaching.

I added this one just for fun, Lennah flaked out one afternoon. But, this was not the norm!

The official figure skating portrait.

Her medal from the Winter Carnival.


The official hockey portrait.

Lennah's first Jamboree, jersey and medal.

It's not been without a lot of tears; Lennah, me, Daddy too if he wasn't such a daddy! But, we've persevered. We spent much of the winter at the hockey arena, at times 4 to 5 times a week. Lennah was probably a little young to have been thrown into both hockey and figure skating, but she's done great. Lennah finished figure skating in late December and hockey is over next month. Looking forward to a much needed break before soccer starts in the late spring!

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~ Halloween 2009 ~

The Evolution of our Pumpkin!

I thought Lennah would enjoy carving her first pumpkin - I was mistaken. I thought she would love to stick her little mitts inside and pull out all those pumpkin seeds - wrong! After making sure her fairy wings were on, she proceeded to draw the faces she wanted me to carve. I think she was surprised at the "eau du pumpkin", that seemed to seal the deal. She was having none of this messy job! It was now all up to me. I think with Lennah's direction, our pumpkin turned out okay!

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Here are the kids in their respective costumes. Lennah as Rapunzel Fairy, Charley as our monarch butterfly, and my bad boy biker, Nathan

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We had a great Halloween weekend, full of many firsts for both the girls. Lennah attended her first Halloween party at figure skating. She carved her first pumpkin. Both the girls trick or treated for the first time, and saw their first fireworks show. I found myself (and I think Nathan too) getting right into the holiday and enjoyed myself immensely.

~ Toilet Paper ~

I know I've been deliquent to the nth degree when it comes to my blog. But, here are a couple of photos of the girls to tide everyone over. I still have my sister's visit and Jasper camping trip to post, as well as Lennah's hockey saga, which continues. Keep checking, I'll some more for everyone soon enough!

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Doesn't she look so innocent? NOT! We happened upon Charley after she'd disappeared for some time. This is the perfect example of why we've come to putting the toilet paper way, way up high where little "Corns" can't reach it. But she had fun, and we're almost finished using that brand new roll up!

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~ Mom's Visit to McBride ~

I finally got a chance to give Mom a tour of McBride on Monday. First stop, the Whistle Stop Gallery and Beanery coffee shop. As we walked out of the train station this is what we viewed. I have never seen an entire rainbow! We witnessed not just one end, but both. Sadly, we were unable to see the pot of gold!

Next stop, Dunster. This is Mom outside the train station.

Then we were off to the West Twin Old Growth Recreation Trail. It's a 1.5km trail through an old growth forest. It was amazing and so beautiful. Hard to believe it was just along the side of the highway.

Next on our tour was Horseshoe Lake, with it's birdwatching gazebo.

My Mom came for her first of many visits (hint, hint) to McBride this August. She made it up on the 22nd, just in time for Lennah's 3rd Birthday party, that post to follow. We had a very busy 4 day visit. After the birthday on Saturday, I hosted a very successful Undercover Wear party - you're welcome Mom! Then, as you can see from the photos, we kept ourselves busy touring around the immediate area. I didn't even mention that the whole household came down with a cold while Mom was here - sorry 'bout that! We're so glad you could make it up to visit us Grandma.

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~ White Rock ~

Grandma with the girls at the White Rock

This would have been a great photo of Charley without my behind as the backdrop!

Charley's first steps in the ocean. Dontcha just love those booties? Thank you to Nana.

Here we are in the actual ocean, not just the rivulet into the ocean.

Awww, squishy in the barefeet.

On my last visit to the coast this September, Mom and I took the girls to the ocean at White Rock beach. It wasn't Lennah's first visit to the ocean, she went to Crescent Beach when she was about 8 months old with Nana and Auntie Ju. But it was Charley's first time. We had a lot of fun. We walked the promenade all the way to the Rock, past it to the pier and back for fish and chips lunch. The kids played for about a half hour in the water and again, they went home sans pants and shoes in their panties and diaper!

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~ Library Card ~

This one is for Nana! I'm proud to report that Lennah has 'acquired' her first library card this week. We attended a Mother Goose program at the McBride Public Library on Tuesday which prompted Lennah and I to sign up for our memberships. Here's a photo of the first of many books Lennah will no doubt read and digest to their full literary potential!

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~ Puddle Jumping - Chapter 2 ~

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You can see in the background the temptation - PUDDLES!

It all started out innocently enough, or should I say tame?

I'm not sure who was having more fun - Nathan or the girls?

Pruney Feet! Both the girls rode home sans pants, socks and shoes!

We've finally ventured out to see some of the surrounding area here in McBride. The girls and I have been here since mid July and I haven't seen anything but the town itself. So, Nathan took us to Holmes River about 10 minutes out of town. The falls, while small, were very pretty. But, as you can see the girls and Nathan had a ton of fun in the mud puddles.

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