Spring in PG

Ahhh, spring has sprung. It is so delightful to see the snow melt and oh...what do you mean we can't go outside because the mosquitos are so bad? What? They are bad this year and we are finding creative ways of being outside without getting munched: mesh nets, mosquito zappers, cutting the grass at top speed on the ride'em lawn mower...you know, fun stuff like that.

We are settling into our new place. New furniture and appliances are slowly arriving day by day, landscaping is getting done, and we are making the place our own. Painting and other inside projects will have to wait until the fall. I hired an interior designer for some consultation on colours, furniture selection and placement, etc. That really helped.

Saige has 2 teeth now, 10 months old which is weirding me out just typing it, and she is a joy. She loves it when Jasmine throws things in the air, shares her dolls, or just breaths because sister is Saige's favorite thing. We've been doing sign language with her over the past few months and last week for the first time she signed! She was tired and made the sign for sleeping...it was as clear as the nose on my face-I couldn't believe it! Communication! I love it. Now we are madly signing everything in the hopes that she impresses us again.

Jasmine is starting another set of swimming classes next week with her friend Amiya. She is totally into living in the country, basically runs around with no clothes on half the time, rolls in mud, runs through the sprinkler, catches some beetles, rides around with Matt on the lawn mower, and runs around. She is challenging, as most 3 year olds are, but sweet most of the time. We went to see Robert Munch in the Civic Centre last weekend, he did a reading/show and since then we've read nothing but Munch books all week. Her favorite is Ribbon Rescue if you know Munch. Anyway, all is well. Matt's sister Carolyn had a baby girl 2 weeks ago named Maia Kay Maude McCall, weighing exactly what Jasmine weighed 8.10. Delivery was long and arduous but she did it in the end and has a beautiful baby to show for all her hard work. All is going well for them in Victoria.

Our summer solstice party is coming up June 21 if anyone happens to be in town, feel free to come. We will be partying into the wee hours of the morning during the longest day of the year! Enjoy your Spring all.

Trip to Hawaii

We took the girls to Kawai in March with the Manning Family (Nickey, Scott, Noah, and Grayson) for 10 days. Although being on the plane for 6 hours with two little ones pretty much rated as one of the most tortureous experiences I've ever had, the time in paradise was spectacular. I don't think Jasmine walked anywhere for 3 days after we landed, it was run, run, skip, run, jump, swim, run some more all day. For once in her life, she begged to go to sleep each night she was so tired. As you can see from the photos Kawai was magnificent. Matt and I got out for a scuba dive one morning and heard the whales singing under the water for the entire hour we were down. We kept looking over our backs thinking we'd see one they were so loud.

Highlights included: Jasmine snorkeling for her first time and seeing 3 sea turtles on her first trip out, drinks on the Manning's patio every night as the sun set,visiting a new beach every day of the trip, falling asleep to the sound of waves, spending time with good friends.

A new year, a new house...

We got the new year off to a great start by finding a new home! We are moving to a 10 year old home on 5 acres just outside the city limits. The property is well treed but also has a pasture and half built new barn if we ever wanted livestock (not), although Matt keeps threatening that he's going to buy Jasmine a pony. YIKES! We are in the midst of showing our house to potential buyers and all the angst that comes along with that process, never mind the stress of always having the house clean. Here are some photos of the girls and a couple of them with us. Jasmine is learning to spell her name and is always coming up with new things that blow me away (today while getting ready for preschool she scuffed her boot against the floor and states "Friction". Hmmm? Pardon me? Where did you learn that?)and Saige is teething with her first teeth big time right now. No pearly whites yet but anyday I bet.

Christmas Time

We spent this Christmas with Matt's two sisters Carolyn and Lisa at our home in Prince George. Lots of tobaganning, walks in the snow, horse drawn sleigh rides, etc. The following photos are from December...note the one of Jasmine chowing down on the turkey drumstick at Christmas dinner...that girl is ALL about meat on the bone these days. Enjoy.