1st day of Kindergarten!

Atalie was very excited to wear her new clothes and snap the clips on her new backpack this morning as she headed out the door! She's quite cool about the whole thing - excited but not jumping up and down kind of cool. We buzzed away in the van at 8:19 to take Atalie to school, 9 minute later than I had hoped to leave b/c we had hoped to walk to school! Oh well, there's always tomorow right? :) Attie was thrilled to see that she had her name above a little coat hook for her sweater and backpack right outside her classroom. She was a little shy as she walked into the class but seemed like she had done it before and soon found a spot on the rug by her friend. I could have left at that point without her even noticing but of course I would have noticed so I had to go over for a hug and kiss before sending my little girl out into the real world.... bittersweet. ps. I didn't actually shed a tear, somehow. It's a momentous occasion though. That's for sure.

Summer in one big nutshell!

June was a month around the house and yard... July was packed with birthday parties (1 bowling party for the girl I watch, 1 pirate party for the boy I watch and 1 party for Gramma Dyck!) as well as typical summer fun... August has been flying by, with one (Israelson family) camping trip down, one (Dyck) wedding, one baby shower (for two families) and plenty more summer fun... Moose (Alces) Lake, Whiteswan Provincial Park (half hour SE of our house). Ryan Dyck & Stephanie Pigeon were married August 6th in Okotoks, AB. Indian Battle Park, Lethbridge (post wedding day, before heading home again) My first baby shower cake, for Alena Baltrus and Sofia Huscroft. Sitting on hay bails at Nana & Papa's as we pack to go home. The remainder of summer will include one (Aiden's 4th) birthday party, one final camping trip (likely West Kootenays) and plenty more memories to sort through before beginning a new chapter in fall (Kindergarten for Atalie and a possible, very part-time job for me - to be determined)...

Isla's 1st Birthday & Festival Fun!

The Annual Cranbrook Childrens Festival was held today so we made our first appearance! The kids had been looking forward to it all week and could hardly wait to take part in all the food, face painting, hair tinting, train rides, bouncy castles, music, crafts and more... so we did it all! We made sure to be there as soon as it opened up so we could beat the line ups, as neither Kevin or I have patience to wait for hours amongst herds of people. "Crazy Hair" and Face Painting!! (Aiden is our Tiger) (Atalie is our "Beautiful" Butterfly) (Isla is our cute Kitty cat) Car painting!!! --- wait, whaaat??? --- Yup. They got to go nuts on this van, as well as a huge canvas type board, which I plan to frame and put up in their room :) Decorating cookies (post hotdogs) ! My almost 80's kids. Way too funny.... they have added their new biking padding (as they will BOTH! be attempting to ride w/o training wheels this summer!!!) to the crazy-hair and face-paint. Kevin FINALLY found a nice, well-fitting, Canucks t-shirt in town today. So here it is! Isla and I stop for a birthday picture before cake and gifts :) Isla opens her baby-doll from Nana and Papa (also has a new swing in the backyard, which she loves). First bite... ...mid-cake ...post cake! Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Isla - videos

So for some reason I was only able to add one video. I'll try again in a new post for the other. Fishy Face:

Growing up all too fast!

These three amigos are growing up so fast!!! Isla turns 1 in three weeks, Aiden is now (finally!) potty trained, Atalie starts Kindergarten in the fall.... what more could possibly happen at this rate?!? Well, sad as it may be to pass by such cherished, sweet memories of their youngest years, I am greatful for their health, their hearts and their hilarity (is that a word??) that continues to fill our home and hearts! Here are some recent pics, taken in April: Kevin is making Van-fans of even the most innocent! Haha :) Sweet.... ... mischievious! Our first bike ride of the season!! We went on another "treasure hunt" (geocache search) and exchanged a couple gifts in this one... Koda is now the lucky recipient of a bear bell. Not so sure she thinks so. HA! Atalie finds the geocache :) Isla discovers grass!!! Wasn't a hit the first time... or second time! Aiden checks out the bikes ;) Hee hee... This boy LOVES swings. "Mommy can you push me on the swing???" How can I not?!? This boy is bath crazy! Mom and Dad I. came to visit while Moms foot was still on the mend... Atalie had to try on her "leg", which fit like a glove (haha!)!! Isla found another friend - Papa!!! :)

Beautiful

Nearly 3 years ago a great friend of ours, Buckey Ruggles past away in a car accident. One of Buckey's close friends served on the local volunteer fire department with him and was the first one on the scene to find Buck, already gone. Nearly 3 weeks ago (April 3rd of this year), this same man's son began having sudden, multiple seizures and is now fighting for his life in the ICU of Calgary's Children's Hospital. The doctors haven't been able to give a diagnosis but are thinking he has Mitochandrial Disease and aren't giving much hope for recovery. An around-the-clock prayer program has been set up for this little boy and his family. I'd like to post a music video as a prayer for this family and their struggle, particularily the Father, Bucky's good friend. May God provide for you the miracle which your heart longs so deeply for! If you click on this link please say a prayer for a little boy named Baret, and his family, while you listen. Thank you!