A 6 year old!

 Happy Birthday Kendra!  Yesterday Kendra celebrated her 6th birthday.  She had been very excited about this for quite a long time as it was her first school birthday party.  A few months ago she was quite concerned that it might not fall on a school day but was relieved when she realized that it did!  The big day finally arrived.  Here are few shots of the celebrations!

Opening a few gifts before school - this one was a new bell and basket for her bike.

When we talked about what kind of party she wanted, the response was instant - "A dinosaur party".  This was the same theme as last year but there was no convincing her of trying something different.  So, easy for me, I made the same cake as last year, just changed the colour!  (Last year was an all-boy party so the dino was green, this year it was an all-girl party so therefore, a pink dino cake!)

We did the pary in the school gym which worked out great.  The girls (and Owen) all had a great time playing, crafting, eating and just being silly together!

Kendra painting her wooden dinosaur. 

Park season again!

 Yesterday, we actually saw a glimpse of the sun so we pulled out the stroller and headed off to the nearest park.  I can't wait for spring/summer when we can be outside a little more again!  Here are a few shots of my kids enjoying their time at the park!

This is about as close as its gonna get to a picture of all 3 together!

Matching girls!

I love a good sale.  A few years ago, I found some material in the bargain bin at Fabricland and I thought it was very cute.  I had no idea what I would use it for but it was such a good price that I couldn't leave it there.  They were both end pieces so I didn't even really know how much I had of each.  Into the fabric tub it went!

Then, a few weeks ago I was cleaning out my fabric tub and I came across this material again.  I had also just seen a pattern for a girl's dress that I thought was very cute and looked very simple and easy to make.  A little cutting, a little sewing and 'voila', 2 spring / summer dresses for my girls!  I think they will look very cute on!  I would have liked to have taken a picture of the girls actually wearing them, but if you know my children at all, that was going to be more effort than it was worth!!  I'll have to wait until they actually are wearing them in warmer weather!!

The only thing that I would change would be to make the ribbon on the top out of the contrasting material.  Oh well - next time!!

Lonely Planet books

My husband, Kevin, loves Lonely Planet travel books.  He has always loved travelling and has found that these travel books are the best ones to use.  I think that for pretty much every place that he has travelled to, he has read the Lonely Planet book to go with it.  And, he doesn't just skim through them, looking for the information he needs, he actually reads them cover them cover to cover!  The people who write the history sections in these books will be very happy to know that someone is actually reading that part of the book!

 So, of course, after he married me, we also did some travelling and I soon discovered that the books had to 'appear' in many of the photos he took. Here I am sitting in a pub in Ireland with the Lonely Planet book strategically placed on the table. 

 Another trip to the Maritimes, with the book overlooking Nova Scotia. 

 Then in 2008, we travelled as a family to Lithuania.  Kevin was thrilled when Owen, at 18 months, held up the book for Kevin to take a picture of!

 Here he is, teaching Kendra, 3, all the must know info about reading a travel book.

 So, this brings me to the present day. For the past few days, Owen's new favourite books have been Kevin's Lonely Planet books.  He really did find them on his own, without any coersing from his father!!  He is fascinated by them!  "I just love all the maps and numbers"!  Our future traveller, making his dad very proud!

 Owen showing me one of the many maps in his book of England.

 "This map is on page 235, Mom!

Oh the things our chidren do to make us smile!!!