Here's Sammy's:
Here's Luke's: (I didn't get a pic of him which is it happy about!)
and I had intended for both Gabi and Erin to colour on a pink heart but Gabi went down for a nap, so just Erin enjoyed some colouring too
Friday, February 06, 2009
Valentine's Butterfly
Earlier this week Laurie posted a craft idea that she put out for her daughter, Sydnie. Thanks Laurie! I took the idea you found and used it yesterday with Luke and Sammy -- I think they turned out quite adorable. Sammy loves doing art-
Here's Sammy's:
Here's Luke's: (I didn't get a pic of him which is it happy about!)
and I had intended for both Gabi and Erin to colour on a pink heart but Gabi went down for a nap, so just Erin enjoyed some colouring too
Here's Sammy's:Here's Luke's: (I didn't get a pic of him which is it happy about!)and I had intended for both Gabi and Erin to colour on a pink heart but Gabi went down for a nap, so just Erin enjoyed some colouring too
Heaven
Elijah's Teacher told me a funny story yesterday. Earlier in the week Mrs. N was sharing a fairly long and involving "story" about how God loves us and has a plan for us and is preparing a surprise for each of us (heaven). The 15 minute "story" ended with a question from Elijah -- "will we eat cereal for breakfast?" in Heaven. Mrs. N had to bite her tongue not to laugh at the cute question and concern of Elijah.In our home, we've been talking about heaven off and on too for a bit. Probably since my Grandma died, conversations have come up about Heaven. It's really neat. I was glad Mrs. N shared that tidbit of humour with me!
19 Months
Gabriella is 19 months... she talks a lot again but most of it no one would understand. I can catch her drift most of the time - she is saying quite a few more words than I led on last month or last post I did on her... she is a cutey pie that we all just adore.
She has been into colouring lately:
And here is a picture I found on my camera that Daddy took of her after her bath earlier this week... her hair is obviously curly/wavy when wet
Here's a picture compliments of Uncle Matt - I should share some more photos like these in another post too:
Some of her words in addition to the ones I posted before:
Paul, Matt, Carla, Sam, poopoo, juice, gog (dog), bath, I d'know, socks, please, thank you, bye, hi, done --- she will repeat basically anything you tell her to say too.
She is still working on her eye teeth. Finally I saw one poke through last week (top) and it's still poked through - phew! She has been feverish the past 2 days which I credited to teething - and yea, I feel her other top eye tooth gum swollen a bit which means it should break through soon?! I hope!!
Gabriella loves to laugh. She loves to go to her Daddy for attention, tickling and rough housing.
She is sitting on my lap right now, just woke from her nap and is feeling a bit warmer than she ought to... off to get some Tylenol to do the trick.
She has been into colouring lately:
And here is a picture I found on my camera that Daddy took of her after her bath earlier this week... her hair is obviously curly/wavy when wet
Here's a picture compliments of Uncle Matt - I should share some more photos like these in another post too:
Some of her words in addition to the ones I posted before:Paul, Matt, Carla, Sam, poopoo, juice, gog (dog), bath, I d'know, socks, please, thank you, bye, hi, done --- she will repeat basically anything you tell her to say too.
She is still working on her eye teeth. Finally I saw one poke through last week (top) and it's still poked through - phew! She has been feverish the past 2 days which I credited to teething - and yea, I feel her other top eye tooth gum swollen a bit which means it should break through soon?! I hope!!
Gabriella loves to laugh. She loves to go to her Daddy for attention, tickling and rough housing.
She is sitting on my lap right now, just woke from her nap and is feeling a bit warmer than she ought to... off to get some Tylenol to do the trick.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Have you ever...
I saw this on my friend Sarah's blog and thought I'd give it a go too.
The latest version in blog-land of Have you ever... The bold ones in pink are the ones I have done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (haha, nope, but we plan to soon!!)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new vehicle
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
The latest version in blog-land of Have you ever... The bold ones in pink are the ones I have done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (haha, nope, but we plan to soon!!)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new vehicle
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Friday, January 30, 2009
Free Fun Night and ActNow BC
Tonight we went to a Family Fun Night at the same Middle School we go to for most of the Festivals we attend... it was something I had to sign up to go to a couple weeks ago. It was a nice evening. It was in the gym and basically we had 2 hours to play with basketballs, hockey nets, sticks, pucks, balls and the jumping castle was set up too. Since it was a limited number of Families there we got a great amount of play in and being active!
Tonight's activity reminded me of the brochure Elijah received this week at school called "ActNowBC". It was a Provincial Pamphlet put out as a challenge for BC Families to turn off the TV and Play Stations and get active together... the note to Parent's in this booklet I received says the following, "Research and experience have shown that students who are active every day are healthier and do better in school than children who are inactive. That's why the Province is now requiring all students in grades K-12 to participate in physical activity each day." (that's news to me actually... I didn't realize it was required for Students in Grade 11 & 12 now) "...children in grades K-3 should be active for 60-90 minutes every day." Some of that will be in the gym class, recess and lunch break playtime they are getting at school, but then the rest is up to the Parent's!
So let's get more active!! With that said, Elijah is in a soccer "class" on the weekend for 8 weeks... he seems to enjoy it! I'm happy to finally have him enrolled in something like this!
Tonight's activity reminded me of the brochure Elijah received this week at school called "ActNowBC". It was a Provincial Pamphlet put out as a challenge for BC Families to turn off the TV and Play Stations and get active together... the note to Parent's in this booklet I received says the following, "Research and experience have shown that students who are active every day are healthier and do better in school than children who are inactive. That's why the Province is now requiring all students in grades K-12 to participate in physical activity each day." (that's news to me actually... I didn't realize it was required for Students in Grade 11 & 12 now) "...children in grades K-3 should be active for 60-90 minutes every day." Some of that will be in the gym class, recess and lunch break playtime they are getting at school, but then the rest is up to the Parent's!So let's get more active!! With that said, Elijah is in a soccer "class" on the weekend for 8 weeks... he seems to enjoy it! I'm happy to finally have him enrolled in something like this!
snow again
what a winter we're having! Not that it's bad, but the amount of times it has snowed is pretty abnormal for us! This is on Tuesday, January 27th - Elijah was at school and although Sammy wasn't feeling well, he wanted to go out and play. That lasted for all of 10minutes, but we did it. It probably took us longer to get ready to go out than the time spent outside.
Friday, January 23, 2009
I've been tagged
...more than a month ago by a friend Annette with a private blog - I guess I haven't been to your blog for a bit, sorry!!
It's a fun and easy tag, so I'll do it...
"Click on the fifth folder in your Pictures file and post the fifth picture - then tag five other friends!"
Here's the Fifth Folder, Fifth Picture:
Wyatt, my friend Patti's son - whom I had in my home for child care on and off for 2 years! Here is Wyatt in December of 2004 - he was 15 months old and had been in my care for almost 4 months by this time. :)
I'll tag:
1. Jamie (click her name to see her 5th picture post)
2. Laurie (click her name to see her 5th picture post)
3. Korinne (click her name to see her 5th picture post too)
4. Patti (click her name to see her 5th picture post)
5. Rachel
*You'd think I'd tag Alexa, but in reality she won't have time to do it... she is traveling right now and has other posts yet to catch up on... so that's why I chose not to tag her.
Edit - funny, Alexa did do this tag... :) click her name to see it.
It's a fun and easy tag, so I'll do it...
"Click on the fifth folder in your Pictures file and post the fifth picture - then tag five other friends!"
Here's the Fifth Folder, Fifth Picture:
Wyatt, my friend Patti's son - whom I had in my home for child care on and off for 2 years! Here is Wyatt in December of 2004 - he was 15 months old and had been in my care for almost 4 months by this time. :)
I'll tag:
1. Jamie (click her name to see her 5th picture post)
2. Laurie (click her name to see her 5th picture post)
3. Korinne (click her name to see her 5th picture post too)
4. Patti (click her name to see her 5th picture post)
5. Rachel
*You'd think I'd tag Alexa, but in reality she won't have time to do it... she is traveling right now and has other posts yet to catch up on... so that's why I chose not to tag her.
Edit - funny, Alexa did do this tag... :) click her name to see it.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Nine Degrees
Since mid-week last week (Jan 15th) we have been having beautiful weather - blue sky, fog at night, frosty driveway... we got out on the 17th to the park in the afternoon, after the Festival that we attended in the morning.
the lake was partly frozen over, so there were no ducks in the area where we were, but you could see a whole whack of them over across the lake that was in the sun and not frozen!
the lake was partly frozen over, so there were no ducks in the area where we were, but you could see a whole whack of them over across the lake that was in the sun and not frozen!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Winter Festival
I haven't blogged like this in awhile - where I come home from an event or function or birth ;) and blog right away!! The kids are all having quiet time now before we hopefully head back out to play in the sun, so now I have a chance to blog! This morning we participated in a fun Winter Festival held for Families in one of our Middle Schools. We had a great time!
It's such a sunny day and quite warm in the sun, that the jumping castle was outside!
The kids went in a police car as usual...and saw Ronald McDonald as usual...
and this crazy tall man who called himself "Jack Frost"
and we got in on the free pancake breakfast (though we did the games first and then ate, so for us it was lunch!)
and of course we ran into Jenna and Family there (we always run into them at these kinds of things)
we ended up staying in the Strong Start area for quite a long time. The kids kept busy with art (Soobin made some puppets and things) and building towers
and reading books (we have this book at our house, and Sam loves it and all the ones that are "Look and Find" books, so I guess he likes things that are familiar to him)
(and yes that is a hole in Sammy's jeans knee... the Gap Jeans are WAY too cute but now the hole has gotten a bit too big for my liking so this will be his last time wearing them out I think. And Patti - these jeans are Wyatt's... they've gotten great use!)
and dramatic play
It was a well spent morning!
It's such a sunny day and quite warm in the sun, that the jumping castle was outside!
The kids went in a police car as usual...and saw Ronald McDonald as usual...
and this crazy tall man who called himself "Jack Frost"
and we got in on the free pancake breakfast (though we did the games first and then ate, so for us it was lunch!)
and of course we ran into Jenna and Family there (we always run into them at these kinds of things)
we ended up staying in the Strong Start area for quite a long time. The kids kept busy with art (Soobin made some puppets and things) and building towers
and reading books (we have this book at our house, and Sam loves it and all the ones that are "Look and Find" books, so I guess he likes things that are familiar to him)
(and yes that is a hole in Sammy's jeans knee... the Gap Jeans are WAY too cute but now the hole has gotten a bit too big for my liking so this will be his last time wearing them out I think. And Patti - these jeans are Wyatt's... they've gotten great use!)
and dramatic play
It was a well spent morning!
Triple the Help Making Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Last night I had invited 2 of Soobin's Korean Classmates to come over after school and for the evening. I borrowed High School Musical 1 and 2 from the library for them to watch and we found time to bake a batch of cookies together.
and of course my boys had to be in on the action too
*this Kitchen Aid was a gift for me at Christmas! I love it. We've baked a few times already (maybe not such a good thing to be baking too much though!) -- which is what I anticipated using it for. Apparently it's great for mashed potatoes, but I don't make those... so cookies it is. ;)
and of course my boys had to be in on the action too
*this Kitchen Aid was a gift for me at Christmas! I love it. We've baked a few times already (maybe not such a good thing to be baking too much though!) -- which is what I anticipated using it for. Apparently it's great for mashed potatoes, but I don't make those... so cookies it is. ;)
Welcome Laura Natalie
My friend Anita and her Husband Ian and son Nathan welcomed into the world a daughter and sister... Laura Natalie born on Sunday, January 11th. Welcome Sweet Angel! 
Congratulations!!
(Anita did give me permission to publish this - you look great - less than 12 hours after Laura was born!)
Congratulations!!(Anita did give me permission to publish this - you look great - less than 12 hours after Laura was born!)
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Happy Birthday Samuel
well, I am sad to say my middle child, Samuel has turned 3. Two just sounds so much younger than three does. I know he hasn't acted like a two year old since he was just over two, but still it was nice to say he was just two. Oh well, life goes on apparently... I would like to do a more thorough post of Sam, but not now...On Sammy's real birthday we went swimming as a family, no pictures to prove it though. And then we waited til the weekend so that we'd have something to do and since we knew Soobin would be here, to go to Chuck E Cheese (this seems to be a bit of a tradition for our children's birthdays) for some fun. It was sure fun -
man, speaking of getting older Gabi looks old to me in these two pics
Soobin Arrived
Well, this year we were hoping to have the group from Shenzhen, China again come to Canada so we could host some more girls - but nope, they aren't going to the school we host with but have chosen to go to another school in the surrounding area. So our other option which we agreed to was to host a shorter term Student that is from Korea. This is our first Student from Korea. Our Student's name is Soobin, she does have an English name which is Lisa but her Mom said to use her Korean name, which is okay too since it is easy enough for us all to remember and pronounce! Soobin is only 9 years old - in Korea she is 10 but that was one of the first things we talked about and now if someone here asks her how old she is she says 9. She is in grade 4 and integrated right away into the school which is different than the Chinese Students we host. Soobin has excellent English. So far so good! She arrived on Friday the 2nd and will stay until February 21.
Here Soobin is playing outside on Saturday in our mounds of snow --
Here Soobin is playing outside on Saturday in our mounds of snow --
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Happy Birthday Jesus!
Well, it is one of our many traditions at Christmas to have a special treat for breakfast on Christmas Morning and have a little birthday party for Jesus. First we read the story of Christmas found in the Bible in Luke 2 (Amy and Fran, you can find this story in your Chinese Bibles) and then we sing Happy Birthday. This year I didn't plan ahead very well for this treat so we just had some of the goodies we have here for Christmas, worked just as well though.
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