Nothing more important...

An AMAZING Man

 

A couple months ago I was really missing my sister, who I hadn't seen in over a year.  She was about to have a baby (my first nephew) and I was sad I couldn't be there.  This wonderful man offered, of his own accord, to take care of our family while I traveled to Switzerland to see my sister!

It is the greatest gift (excluding our daughters) that Ian has ever given me!  I was very touched and very grateful for his understanding and sacrifice so I could be with my sister.

I have been here in Switzerland for 5 days soaking up some wonderful sister-talk and baby love!

My poor Ian on the other hand has been dealing with endless puke!!!!  Just days after leaving all three of them got the flu.  He has had late nights, lots of laundry, baths and lost sleep.  He has been sick himself and doing the best he can to take care of the kids.

I am SO thankful for Ian and love him to bits.  I miss my family SO much and was ready to jump back on a plan to come home early and help.

I love you Hailey and Quinn and can't wait to see you in 4 more days!!!

Toddler decorating!

The twins went to town decorating for Christmas.  They especially enjoyed decorating themselves with the stockings on their feet and the ornaments on their ears.  Since my sister is coming to Canada for Christmas they didn't put up the tree but gave the ornaments to the girls to find places around the house to hang them.  There are also many ornaments hanging on door and cupboard handles now.

They really enjoyed playing with the beautiful wooden nativity but were soon fighting over baby Jesus so it was put away for a time.  They are also having a lot of fun with the tutu's from auntie Jenny.

My Nephew

He is about 7 weeks now and is such a sweet boy!  He hardly fusses and sleeps great (when his mommy doesn't eat spicy food and chocolate).  He doesn't like to sit down or snuggle.... he just stands straight most of the time so he isn't very cuddly unless he is asleep.  He loves his auntie Jenny and has been talking to me and starting to smile.  It has been so nice to hold a little one again and the best part is that I still don't want another one..... yet!

My little ewok!

My nieces and nephew

I'm here in beautiful Switzerland.... seriously beautiful!  The weather is an amazing 10 degrees outside and I have been having a great time playing with the twins, cuddling my nephew and chatting with my sister (and brother-in-law).

It wasn't the greatest trip... with delays from Edmonton that made me miss my connection in Toronto, which meant an extra flight to London and then to Zurich!  It was a LONG day (literally 24 hrs).  With all the discomforts of flying long distances I was still grateful that I hadn't had to bring my small children along with me (phew).  While in the Toronto airport I met a woman alone with a 10 month old son.  She was flying home to Australia (which meant a 12 hr flight and another 10 hr flight)  UHG!  I hope her flight was as short as it possibly could be.... I can't imagine holding a mobile infant for that long in a confined space!  She is amazing!

I am here now, trying to adjust to the large time difference (actually writing this at 11 pm without a hint of tiredness).

here are some pictures of Switzerland and my sweet Sister's kids...

 (au de Swiss)

 Hello Alps!  This makes me want to sing "Edelweiss" and "The Hills are Alive" (yes I know the sound of music was in Austria)

 The wild one

 Little man

The less wild one

I miss my girls and their snuggles and Ian has been a superstar with both girls getting the flu just days after I left.  I definitely owe him for this one!!!!!  He is already talking about 'his trip' to Madagascar!

Then and Now

We got the girls playing out in the snow for the first time this winter (and yes it is definitely winter here in Lloydminster with a good foot of snow)!  It is with the change of season where I notice the most how much my girls have grown up.  Inevitably Hailey needs a new snowsuit and boots each winter and Quinn remarkably fits into Hailey's old suit that I never would have guessed she would fit!  I went looking back through my pictures to when H was in Q's snowsuit.... oh how time flies!

Who is who?!? ;)

I'm looking forward to a bunch of 'firsts' this winter with taking the girls sledding, skating and all sorts of outdoor fun!  It just wasn't worth it in the previous years to drag the kids out when they were so little, and then I had a little baby last year!

Here are a few more pictures from playing outside...

My baby girl is going to be in nursery in 1 month!!!!!  I can't believe it!  And in 9 days I get to go on a solo trip to Switzerland to see my sister and new nephew!!!!  I'm excited for the trip but 9 days is a long time to be away from my girls.  I will miss my family terribly!

Anti-Halloween

I've never been a big fan of Halloween.  Probably because I don't like anything scary.  I only did what I had to do to get that candy, which was to put on something that would 'pass' as a costume and take my pillowcase to every door I was brave enough to approach.

I still don't really care about it, and I guess my children will likely sufffer for it but really it isn't a 'real' holiday.  I personally wouldn't care if the whole thing was canceled all together.  I can buy them whatever candy they want at anytime of the year!  But, until that day where we FINALLY teach our children not to take candy from strangers, I guess I will comply... with store bought costumes, a box of candy and one really sad looking carved pumpkin!

I do enjoy those cute pictures of the kids though :)

Does anyone else think Halloween is lame? Probably not!

Yogurt anyone?

I am trying to let Quinn 'self-feed'! 

Of course she has been feeding herself finger foods for a long time but I hadn't yet braved the 'semi-liquid' zone.  YOGURT! 

I put in a little at a time and she was doing great (I was getting ready for work and wasn't exactly supervising the eating process).  I came back after I put the last amount in and it was EVERYWHERE. 

Of course I was already late for work and then had to clean up this messy lady.  I pretty much ran a cloth through her hair and took her over to the babysitter sporting 'au de yogurt".  Come to think of it she still hasn't had a bath (this was yesterday).  She is in her high chair eating breakfast right now... maybe I should just give her another yogurt to 'practice' since she is already wearing it ;)

Are meals a frustrating time at your house?  My girls are terrible eaters!

Thirt-eeeeeeeK!

It's over......

My youth that is!

I am now officially old as I reached the big 3-0 last Friday.  I know most people say they don't feel any different, but I do.  Just hearing 'thirty' makes me cringe!

I did, however, have a REALLY great start to my thirties, thanks to Ian and his day full of surprises!  What A SWEETHEART!  This was definitely his (my) best birthday yet!

Ian took the day off work (I didn`t know till that morning when he told me I could sleep in).

He made me these AMAZING chocolate waffles!!!!!!

 

We took the girls to a babysitter (thanks a million Kalinda!) and we went to a new gym to work out
* this may not sound great to some of you but I have been trying to get Ian to come work out with me FOREVER!

Then we went to another friends house (HUGE thanks to Tiffany and Graham) to relax in their hot tub.  Ian brought some bubbly and chocolate covered strawberries he made himself!

cell phone pictures

Then we picked up our girls from Kalinda`s to get them home for lunch and nap.

After a relaxing afternoon (I didn`t have to clean or cook or change diapers) we got the girls dinner and did cake and presents.

This is my "I can`t believe you got me EXACTLY what I wanted" face!  
*I ordered my own birthday present online and had it shipped

Hello super cute camera bag/purse
(I had to stop here and figure out how my keyboard started typing in French but it is fixed now).

Then in came ANOTHER babysitter (Thank you Fyfe's) and I was told we were going out for dinner!

The Canadian Brewhouse is my new fav restaurant!

and then a  movie at the good ol' Lloydminster theater ;)  
 I bet your thinking, wow they are REALLY early for that movie!!!  Nope, it was "The Trouble With the Curve" and no one wanted to see it I guess *it was our only option for something not rated R.  It was okay but I wouldn't watch it again probably.

All  in all it was a FABULOUS DAY!!!!  

Ian you were so thoughtful and I loved having every part of the day a surprise!!!!  

Thank you to everyone who made my birthday special!

Quinn walking

This was still about a month ago but it was super cute.  She was trying to jump over the 'monies' just like Hailey (they are poker chips)

August

Our summer continued...

Grandma and Papa's - We went for a weekend visit at my parents house in August.

Tutu's - We (aka -'I') made lots of tutu's for Hailey and her upcoming birthday party.  She has been enjoying dancing in them!!!

Somebody learned to walk this summer!!!!!

She is much quicker and more stable now.  She is trying to master running!  It sure took her long enough as she was almost 15 mths old.

Hailey's 3rd Birthday - There were festivities galore at the end of August as we celebrated Hailey's 3rd birthday.  Just 2 more years until school *only somewhat joking ;)

For her party there was a bean bag toss, fishing, a teepee to play in and tutu's for our dance party.  I left it pretty open with no structured games.  They could just travel about as they chose.  Maybe next year will be the first 'drop-off' party where it is just me and her party guests!