The Wizard of Oz

Oh my little Dorothy was so happy! As a gift Nana and Poppa bought us tickets to go see a theater production of the Wizard of Oz. Frankie donned her Dorthy dress and her Ruby red shoes. I put her hair in hot rollers and put a bit of mascara on her amazing long eyelashes and my little Frankie was transformed! The entire time in the car on the way to the theater she kept asking if we were there yet and although she didnt quite understand "theater" is different then "movie" she kept asking if the real actors would be on the screen. Once we arrived it was clear that Dorothy had arrived! She grabbed her dress skirt and skipped through the lobby as every person in the joint looked longingly at her Ruby Red slippers!
She was a little put off that the Slippers portrayed in the Program had Ruby Red 'Ribbings' (Bows on the toes-aka, ribbons) and hers didn't, but she didn't let that slow her down. Instead she said that SHE had the right shoes and they were wrong!
She sat in rapture for the entire show. She had to make a move from her own seat to sit on Quags lap because she couldn't see one little corner of the stage, but after that is was ALL GOOD! So good in fact that at intermission she paraded up and down the concourse skipping, dancing and twirling her way to entertaining the crowd. After the show, she asked her dad if she could go up and stage and bow with the cast!
All in all a wonderful first experience with Theater! She loved every minute of it. Lets hope that the Nutcracker Ballet is as warmly received next weekend!

Forever and a Day

Oh it has been so long since I have written anything. I often think about it, then get caught up in my vicious circle of guilt. You know the one, it is the same with my pictures. I wait too long to do anything with them then I feel bad, then I can't get caught up and so and so forth. Well here it goes. I guess I will just have to ump in to it.
Charley, at 13 months is practically running everywhere. She climbs on everything and rides her trike and anything that moves. Where Frankie was verbally driven Charley is very tactically driven. She loves to put things in a bag and take them out, play with screw drivers and hammers, press buttons and touch the touchy feel books. Frankie was and still is very into her books and pretend play. She is always 'someone' whether she be Dorothy, Willy Wonka, Rapunzel or another one of her favorites.
For Halloween Frankie dressed as Dorothy and Charley was a strawberry. We went trick or treating around Gran's house and Frankie had a great time. Charley was in the back pack and loved looking at all the lights and decorations. She did not, however, like the fireworks!

Frankie is taking swimming lessons and is becoming more comfortable with putting her head under the water and what not. She is, however, a little frustrated at the process. When asked how her lessons are going she replies "Well I can't swim yet!"
They had a joint birthday party this year and it worked out really well. Mom and dad were here, we made scary cupcakes and the weather was nice enough to do it all outside. The kids went on tractor rides, and played on a bouncy castle. It was really a lot of fun and of course the kids got spoiled. Charley was walking before her birthday, and her actual first steps were at 11 months.

I find myself getting sad that fall is over, it is such an amazing season especially where we live. The leave changing, the crispness in the air, the chill in the morning makes me feel like a new beginning is happening. I think that fall is my New Years, or even spring. When all over the place the vegetation is dying and becoming dormant, I always feel like a new rebirth is happening. It is probably ingrained in all of us from school, where it is a new year for school every September, but it seems to always be a rebirth for me in life too. I met and started dating Quag in October, I had both girls in October, the most beautiful season to me is autumn....just seems that it is 'my' time of year.
Now we find ourselves coming in to the Christmas Season. Don't get me wrong, I love Xmas but not as much as fall.
This year will mark a change for our family. Everyone on my side is driving out here. It will be interesting and fun, I am just starting to get excited as I start planning out gifts and what not. Frankie will be uncontrollable! It will be awesome! Anyway, enough for now, I have to upload some pictures before I get distracted again

Summers almost over!

Well the past few weeks have just flown by. We attended Scott and Hayley's wedding in Kelwona at Camp Owissi which was a really great weekend. We sure do have fun when we hook up with the McLean clan. Now we are prepping the house for Grammy and Poppa to come and visit with our NEW (old) Lawn Tractor!! I have been busy trying to finally organize the house and clean and purge everything, but it is hard with the kids around. Yesterday (Saturday0 they attended Daddie daycare and it was Lovely!! I got so much accomplished! I cleaned and organized Charley's room and she moved in last night. It was a bit of a rocky transition. It took a few tries to get down and when she woke up it was with a start, but I think she will settle in nicely ( I hope)!
Today we are getting ready to attend a birthday party and a Grammy Shower! So it will be a fun filled busy day.
In a few weeks I will really start having to put my nose to the grindstone and get job hunting, but being the procrastinator that I am, I am cleaning instead!
Charley is still furniture cruising but is starting to become more vocal and loves her Daddy!! She goes bananas whenever the phone rings or when she 'calls' him. "Hiya Dada, Hiya Dada" over and over again. Frankie is still a bit jealous and is taking all the 'baby' things back, but she is a show off and loves the attention so i can't see that changing anytime soon. He favorite thing now is "Look at me!" She is doing somersaults and is a bit more brave and independent at the playground.
Charley is eating everything and is going to bed around 11pm, till usually around 4 am for a quick feed then back to bed again till 7-8am. I haven't tried her on milk yet but think I will see if she reacts to it in the next few weeks.
Have to hurray now, we have a busy day ahead of us!!

Summer Days

Well we have been happily enjoying the lazy days of summer, seeing as we finally got some nice weather under our belt. Yesterday Diana and I went shopping and I was in shock as I found out that Frankie can fit in to some xsmall clothes! What! My almost 3 year old has completely jumped 4t sizes?!?! It gave me a bit of a shock and sent my head spinning. With all the back to school hype I got tho thinking what will be my train of thought in a few years time when my baby starts school? When she makes those first steps to her independence and will be left to fair the world without me to protect her? What if another kid makes fun of her, or the cool girls break her heart....
I know I cannot do anything about the inevitable, it still makes my head spin that my babies are growing so fast. The other day she put her backpack on and was running the driveway and looked back and said, "Look mom, looks like I am going to school." And it did......
This week we will go to Kelowna for a wedding and we are all looking forward to it. We will be staying in a cabin and there will be games and fun for all. We are trying to enjoy these final days of summer and I am hoping for a nice fall. I want to take advantage of all the nice weather and the time I get to spend with the girls all I can.
This week I am heading to Bowman employment resources to discuss resume options, which is another source of panic for me. I am trying to be optimistic and I hope something that will work for us as a family will come and smack me in the forehead! Until then I will remain hopelessly oblivious to my grown up responsibilities.

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!