Our Family & Our Life

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Our 'baby' turned 3 yesterday!  This is the first year she knew what it meant to have a birthday and wanted to wear her birthday hat.  She knew she was going to be 3 and knew her birthday was in February.  She really wanted..... ... a 'bue buttefly' birthday cake!  We celebrated on the 16th rather than the 17th as Colin wasn't going to be home yesterday.  He didn't get to see her until 10:00 pm when he came home and was able to give her a kiss on the cheek while she slept. We made our Wednesday coffee day into a little party for her  and she had such a good time there was no time to nap.  Oma with 'her birthday girl' A rare photo of me with 'my birthday girl' She loved blowing out candles!  I think we lit it and turned off the lights about eight times, literally.  More to come on Saturday when Aunt Lynne and Uncle Jim come to celebrate with us if she can hold out for 'bue buttefly' cake a bit longer. Happy Birthday sweet I

It's been too long since my last post but by now I'm sure everybody who reads this blog has caught on that I'm just not as diligent in posting as I have been in the past. There have been a number of 'YAY' moments since December: 1. Isla is fully toilet trained; 2. Colin has a full time job; and 3. He has "officially" become a Permanent Resident (PR) as he now has his PR card! Isla ~~ Well, what can I say about the madam.  She's the boss lady of the house  ;-) She'll be 3 next week!  Yes, THREE years old.  Where has my baby gone?  She is now fully toilet trained although we still have the odd accident but they are few and far between.  She usually goes on her own but I like to 'assist' her just so I know she's fully cleaned up, if you know what I mean.  Also, if she gets a bit preoccupied with what she is doing, I may need to remind her but overall she's done excellent.  Thanks to Oma!  Even at night time, no problems.  She

Merry Christmas to our friends and family!  I apologize for the lack of Christmas cards this year but we wish  you all God's continued blessings this season and in 2011. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I suppose most of our blog readers are probaby fed up looking at my African Violet but you'll be glad to know it is still blooming and lovely.  More importantly, Colin is home!  YAY!  After almost 3 months away, he came home on December 3rd and managed to avoid any Heathrow airport disasters or delays. Almost as soon as he was home, he also had a job interview and since then a second interview for the same position.  He felt the interviews went well and we both hope and pray (and ask you to do the same) that this position will be offered to him and he will be able to stay home with us in January.  In the perfect world he would've had the offer before Christmas but no word as of yet.  We remain optimistic he will hear before the end of the week. While he's been home we haven'

.... but thought I would show off my African Violet.  Isn't it pretty?  I can't believe how many blooms it has! Not too shabby for a plant I bought 5 months ago as a $3.99 grocery store special, eh?

... we had immigration news! Colin recieved the FBI Certificate (clear, no record, phew) which was promptly forwarded to Immigration Canada by the not-so-prompt Canada Post...  Next step, Permanent Residence. The next day he received the Work Permit!  ..... we went to the Rockton World's Fair ! I get a kick out of that name.  If you blinked you'd be through Rockton...  Hardly known to the world... But anyways, it was fun.   It's been years since I was last there and it hasn't changed a bit.  Everything is in the same place. The giant pumpkin contest is neat to see... I think this one was over 700lbs... (the pumpkin, not Isla) Even though we live on a horse farm, she LOVED the sheep, especially BLACK sheep ;-) .... Isla turned 32 months on Sunday.  Four more months and she's 3! For the record (unofficially) she's 29.8 lbs and 36.5 inches tall.  Petite, funny, sweet, active and oh so beautiful! We were at the park this morning to play in the leaves an

... now back to the rest of the days dealings.... ATTENTION all those who think Isla can do NO wrong: See this - my plants all over the sofa and floor.. I didn't do it, the cat was outside and didn't do it... So who do you think did it? Yup, this sweet little darling! Did I mention she went crazy with a blue crayon  all over the doors and furniture this morning while I was in the shower? Not as angelic as some seem to think, huh?

I like this time of year....  It's cool, no humidity, the leaves are turning pretty colours and lots of pumpkins... Colin doesn't like it.  Everything is dying and leaves have to be raked up.  Ok, raking leaves is no fun but seriously, it's so refreshing to walk outside... Take a peak: I found a local farmer with a huge field of pumpkins.  She loved running around it and getting all muddy.  I don't care, she had fun and we picked three pumpkins: Daddy pumpkin, Mommy pumpkin and Isla pumpkin!   Oma came with us which made it more fun! The last time Colin was in the UK, he was fortunate enough to go visit family in Ireland for a weekend - yes, one advantage to being separated - and of course he couldn't resist buying something for Isla.  Here she is modelling:  Daddy went to Ireland and all I got was this goofy rugby hat and lovely tshirt! Relaxing together in the warm sun.  I think Colin was taking advantage of the sun as he knew he wasn't  going to see