Charley Walks!!!

She did it...well sort of! Haha! I brought in the 'walker' and thought I would give it a try. Frankie only used the walker AFTER she knew how to walk so I did not hold out much hope. As soon as I got it in the door Charley grabbed the handle and was off. Bumped in the railing a fell down, but she got half way down the hallway. Then later in the day she was standing up using my legs as a brace then she just let go and stood up straight on her own. After those feats it was like pulling teeth trying to get her down for her nap, all she wanted to do was walk and stand without using her hands!
Today we had Rene and her girls over and Sarah and her boys over and Charley didn't want anything to do with the babies. After getting chastized for poking Liv's face three times all she wanted to do was follow around the older girls. You can already see her trailer after Frankie begging her to let her play....

Just another Day.

So Yesterday, Saturday, we went to Avery's 3 birthday party. It was nice to be able to spend some time with friends and be able to chat a bit. The kids all played well and didn't get too mad that Avery was the only one getting presents! I had a talk with Frankie before we got there about how it was Avery's house and her toys and HER day and so to share etc and that really seems to help further on in the day. Patty made an amazing cake, but was unfortunately able to attend to eat it! Then we went on a hunt for a BBQ. At superstore they had the $900 BBQ on for $237, but it was only in natural gas. Quag wanted to run a gas line eventually anyway so here starts another project. We need to find someone to run our natural gas line and then we will have a wonderful new BBQ to hook up to it!!!
Charley is doing well, she is starting to find things really funny, like sherberts and peek a boo. She LOVES her dad kissing her neck and will throw herself back onto him to get him to do it more! She is starting to show her own personality more and she will be the get up and go type. She is always on the move.
Frankie is becoming such an actress. Last night in bed she was asking me to sleep with her because "she needed to keep her eyes on me just incase the Poison gas will get us" While she is saying this she is putting on her best serious face and it trying to instill the urgency in the situation....I seriously have to get this kid into some drama classes.
All in all just another day in the world.

The Sunshine Coast

Rene and Cliff invited us to Gibsons on the sunshine coast to spend the weekend at their parents place. What a treat! Such beautiful country! We were graced with great weather so we got a day in a the beach and an hour on the boat! The beach was really great fun. Frankie and Malia played in the sand the majority of the time although Frankie and I did make a swim out to the floating dock to make a plunge in the water. In her life jacket of course. She sure doesn't like anything going over her head. I think with Frankie is that she is not comfortable in a situation where she is not in control. Charley on the other hand LOVES being splashed and thrown about. We took off her clothes and she puddled and splashed and swung around kicking up a storm.
Frankie played well with Malia, they rarely fought and it seems both girls have enough gumption to get what they want when they want it. That combination of personality would make me think we would be playing referee all weekend, but the girls seemed to know how to give and take so they both were happy----most of the time. Frankie instantly called Ray and Lorna Poppa and nana, and thats how they stayed all weekend.
Charley is working on her animal sounds and is just a hoot. She will baaa like a sheep and clip clop with her tongue like a horse walks. She will try to woof but if comes out like a thhhssp. She will blow on her food if we tell her it is hot. Frankie always blew up so her hair would puff where as Charley blows down and spits on her chin!
Charley has her four top teeth and two bottom. She really is a joy. She wakes up jumping with excitement and practically climbs my shoulders to see her sister. These days are going by too fast and it breaks my heart I cannot freeze them in time. Frankie is starting to play with her sister more and they seems to have more fun. Frankie is starting to ask about times and days. She wants to know at what time we eat and what time we go to bed and what day we do what. I will see if I can find a beginner calendar for her somewhere.
Sleeping in the tent was an adventure! We had a queen size blow up and a single roll out for Frankie. Charley slept in the play pen. Frankie ended up with us both nights and so did Charley early in the morning, but it was tolerable and nobody woke up like a bear, so it was good. It was different packing up everything for a tent and not a trailer, but it was fun and I would do it again.
Yesterday we hung around the house and we played outside in the puddle pool. So much fun! The girls had a riot and so did I watching them. We really are lucky to have scored this house. The yard is amazing and I can see the girls having so much fun here for years to come. I am looking forward to next summer when we can make more trips to the creek for some water adventures. Right now Frankie is a handful on the rocks and it is pretty hard carrying Charley.
Anyway we have had a wonderful couple of days and am looking forward to a couple more wonderful days. They are going faster now that summer is winding down and I want to get as much out of them as possible!

Grammy and Poppa Come to Visit

Well last week brought some summer weather (finally) and Grammy and Poppa. Though only for a few days, they came, they saw and they conquered! We explored the back yard, made a pilgramage to Home Depot (of course), and went to the Hastings Horse races!! So much fun watching and feeling those beast gallop down the track. Frankie had a great time, so did Grammy! We left 0.30 richer then when we left, so what a day. They are coming out again in few weeks to bring us our new ride on mower, so it won't be long till we see them again! Frankie just got up with the saddest face in the world! Poor little monkey, misses her Grammy and Poppa! Better go and make her feel better......

Summer time fun fun fun

Well this summer has got to go down on record as being the most rainy, grim and lacking sunshine in all of history! It is warm but not sunny! We are still managing to find some fun though. I like to take the girls to Maple Ridge park, and if it is nice enough Frankie can puddle around in the spray park. She LOVES the swings and will swing for days if you let her. I am finally starting to see a bit of an adventurous spirit emerge and she will climb (or try to climb) to get to the bigger slides now. She is not too adventurous at all and acts like quite the princess about it. Her acting and dancing sure came in handy when we went to the Maple Ridge fair this year. While watching a performer, he asked the kids to come on up for a dancing competition. Frankie led pack and while the other kids kind of danced in place Frankie paraded around the stage back and forth, twirling and toe tapping, running and jumping. In her hot pink tu-tu and high tops she was hard to miss. Of course she WON the competition, and was awarded a CD of the performer (Conrad Flapps-not mt favorite that is for sure)
Charley just got her shots and weighs in at 17lbs 4 oz, and is 27 inches long. She is pulling herself up on the furniture and LOVES to be standing. She really is a good kid (for now)! She gets really excited when her dad comes comes home and says Hi Dada Hi dada over and over . She says Hiya and dada now and bababababa. She makes lip smacks when she wants to chase the cat courtesy of her dad calling Kokanee in like that every night. It is pretty cute when she worms her way up to the patio window and makes kissy sounds-if that cat in near she just abouts pounds the door down with excitement!
Quag has been working a lot of Saturdays and longer days so it has been hard with the girls and the rainy weather. We have been battling Pink eye, bladder infections, Frankie's asthma and the grey days so the house feels like it is closing in on us some days, but I have made a promise to myself to try not to loose patience with them and to get out everyday, even in the rain!
Today we took the double stroller to the Subway to get a sandwich and we made a stop at the wreaking yard to get a new taillight for the truck. Frankie loved all the old cars and Charley loved the rottweiler yard dog "miller" who wouldn't stop licking her cheerio'd hands! I have finally got both girls down for a sleep and am enjoying some much needed quiet time.

Where to begin...

So for the past few weeks it seems we have just be trying to get healthy! Frankie has had 2 bladder infections, a cold and now pick eye. Charley has pink eye now too. Three Dr visits in the past 3 weeks, 4 prescriptions and numerous sleepless nights and we are still not mended. I blame the crappy weather. End of July and we have been able to play outside all day only a handful of times. This has got to be the worst July ever for lack of sunshine. I bought extra vitamins today with more vitamin d in to compensate. But enough complaining.....here's what the girls are up to.
Frankie is weighing in at 32 lbs and 37 inches, so that means she has grown around 5 inches in the past 2-3 months! All her jeans are too short and all her shorts look like belly shirts!! She is in a bit of a 'defiant' stage (please tell me she will grow out of this!!) where she has an excuse for everything and a attitude to back it. She has started to get a bit rough with all of us too, she will hit us or stomp on our toes and she continues to challenge us at every oppertunity. I really think it is all jealousy related, and am trying to be more patient and spend more one on one time with her. But with her being sick and us being house bound we tend to get in each other face quite a bit!
Charley is now able to army crawl her way every where and she can now pull her self up to sitting from her belly. She can also pull herself to standing on the ottoman too and boy is proud of herself when she does this! She gets so excited clapping and raising her hand up to show YEY, she usually falls down again!! I am finally getting her second shots done next week so she will have her weigh in then (I know I know, I am awful!! 8 months old and only her second shots!!)
Frankie is starting to be more adventurous with her climbing and playing which makes me happy, because she was a bit slow on that an acts like a princess. She is also getting better at arts and crafts and pretend, where she will play in her room for an hour or so just talking to her dolls and books, making them 'food' and doctoring them. She is a nurturer that is for sure. She is always concerned with babies and trys to take care of them. If she sees that i need something or don't feel well she tries to make me feel better. She often asks me if I need a hug, which of course I never refuse!! Looks like both lil monsters are rousing from naps, so until next time a Frankie-ism.
Frankie "Mom why do you have to go to the gym?"
Me "To work off my giggly belly"
Frankie "Why do you have to work off your giggly belly?"
Me "Because I don't like it to giggle"
Frankie "I like it to giggle, it makes me laugh when we dance!"

One Day at a Time

Well it seems we have finally got some nice weather to go outside with, so I haven't even turned on the computer lately. It has been a busy week or two. Our truck broke down, so Tyson fixed it, he is a handy little (big) fella to have around, and a really great kid. He is growing into a really great young man...and handy with the tools, so that is always good! Gran is back in the hospital so we have been going to visit with her. It is not looking good for her mobility and it is breaking my heart that such a vibrant woman seems to just be wasting away. Her vertigo is so bad that she cannot sit up most days, so eating and drinking is a chore, let alone getting up and moving around. All we can do is visit and try to lift her spirits, but I know sometimes Frankie and Charley in there is a bit much!
We had a playdate over at our house and blew up the mini pool. I love our new yard and think it is a perfect place to raise the girls. If ever i doubt myself about the house, seeing all the kids run around and play on the swings, ride their bikes and then jump in the pool all in our yard is enough of a reassurance. When they get older the back back yard is perfect stomping grounds for adventure, as long as they wear their bear bells!!!
So we had a picnic dinner at the lake the other night then last night we had a picnic dinner at the gazebo to watch a puppet show in the park so the nice weather is such a blessing. I keep feeling the crunch of time. After summer I have to go back to work and it cause a mini panic attack ever time I think of it. I am still not sure what I will be doing, and the thought of having to FIND a job and go back to work is sending me into a bit of a tail spin. I have to remind my self to live in the present. To enjoy the girls everyday and the time I can spend with them. Enjoy each and everyday, one day at a time......