Happy (Belated) Birthday . . .

. . . to our two oldest babies.

Victoria and Austin turned 9 and 7 (respectively). I am very late with this blog post (birthdays were December 16 and 18) but better late than never right? Yep, it's pretty bad that they don't even get separate blog posts for their birthdays this year. I know it's not their fault but such is life when you have a December birthday!

Anyway, they both had great birthday celebrations and were made to feel special on their own day. It's so hard to believe that they're growing up so fast.

Victoria, we love you so very much. You are such a sweetheart. It seems like just yesterday that you were born and already you're turning into a young lady. You are beautiful inside and out and Mommy and Daddy are very proud of you.

Austin, we love you so very much. You are such a kind and loving boy. You often think of others before yourself and you love being a big brother. You are a handsome boy but you're growing up way too fast! Mommy and Daddy are very proud of you.

The things kids say . . .

Overheard in the van as we were driving yesterday (spoken by almost 7-year-old Austin):

"I wish I had black skin like Denver's. It's so much more creative. White skin is so boring!"



Ha! I love it.

Picture Post

This post doesn't need a lot of words. Just a bunch of pictures from a walk we went on last weekend with our photographer friend. It was a beautiful day and perfect weather for a family walk in the woods. The last four pictures are the ones I'm going to have developed in sepia for my four frames going up the stairs. I can't post the family picture because it's hopefully going out in our Christmas cards this year.

Field Trip

Don't you love it when you study something with the kids and then you get to go on a field trip to make it a little more real? This particular field trip was just next door but it was cool nonetheless. A few weeks ago, we learned all about bats and then lo and behold, a bat showed up on our neighbour's house. So out we went with our camera and binoculars and saw a real live bat up close! The kids loved it and of course I did too (mostly because it was on our neighbour's house and not ours!).

Isn't he cute?

Trick or Treat

Well our pictures didn't turn out that great but here they are anyway. We had Batman, Sharpay (from Highschool Musical) in her prom dress, an elephant and Tigger. They all looked really cute and despite the cold weather, a fun time was had by all! Denver was hilarious as usual. He wanted to walk the whole way and wanted nothing to do with even holding my hand. I was, however, allowed to hold his bag of goodies between houses! We drove to a few houses (including Grandma Z's) and then went to a few on our street. The kids aren't into all the halloween decorations and the scary aspect of halloween (obviously because their parents aren't!) and so when certain houses were too scary looking, they wanted nothing to do with it - even the older two. Thankfully no one had nightmares last night!

Our baby . . .

turned two today!

Every time one of my kids has a birthday, I always say, "how did that happen?" But honestly, I mean it every time. I can't believe how fast it goes. Denver was seriously just a baby yesterday!

Denver: Mommy and Daddy are so very proud of the little man you're becoming. You fill our lives and home with so much love and laughter and joy and we are so blessed to have you in our family. We are thankful everyday that God chose us to be your parents. We love you two-year-old!

All dressed up . . .

. . . and no place to go.

Hats and shoes - two of Denver's favourite things. He LOVES walking around the house in anyone's shoes and often has a hat on his head too.

Here he is one night before bed. It's so much more fun to dress up in shoes and a hat than it is to wear pajamas!

Oops - Victoria's shoes with a little heel aren't the easiest to walk in!

A purple princess dress is also quite fun to wear around the house. This is how Denver met Daddy at the door after work one day. LOL! I think the girls had something to do with this one! (But no worries, the yellow shirt underneath is a very masculine hockey shirt!)

Baking with Grandma

Grandma Carmody came to visit last week which is always such a treat. However, it seems that so much is planned when Grandma comes to visit but the time flies by and only half of the things get done. But this time baking was on the list and baking they did. I love it when Grandma bakes with my kids because my poor children have a mother who is challenged in the baking department. Victoria particularly loves to bake and cook and I'm hoping that will continue. She loves to pretend that she has her own cooking show (just like on tv) and perhaps one day she'll have her own REAL cooking show on the Food Netw*rk - which is her favourite channel!

Here are some pictures of the baking fest. Don't worry, Denver removed the lego from the baking sheet before it was placed in the oven.

Oops - I forgot to take a picture of the finished product after it was baked. It was homemade granola bars and they were really yummy! Thanks Grandma!