A Super Friends Halloween

This Halloween, we laid low and trick and treated around our neighbourhood. Dan and Erika came along and celebrated their First Halloween as Mr. and Mrs. Helps. They were dressed up as



Batman and Joker.

Of course, this complemented the Super Friends aka Karchy, Tessa, and Maryn who dressed up as Batman, Wonder Woman, and Supergirl.



Karchy was so happy that Tito Dan was Batman too! Here he is proudly posing with Tito Dan.



Check out our Halloween decorations. We do not really go all out for Halloween. But Ray did an awesome job carving pumpkins with K and T. K, T, and Ray also made these milk jug ghosts inspired by a Regis and Kelly segment I watched. Cute, eh?

What a fun night we had! It was definitely a spooktacular Halloween ,especially it being Maryn's first.

Princess Tessa's Third Birthday

Tessa had a birthday party this past weekend. It was a labour of love all around.

A friend of ours who is an art and photography teacher taught a couple of arts and crafts projects to Tessa's cute guests. I ordered some felt crowns from her, and the children decorated them. Plus, she taught them an art lesson based on a very cute book called Emily's Balloon. The kids used watercolours and crayons to draw a yellow balloon in the sky. Here are their finished masterpieces:




The birthday party was a success. We had it a new community centre twenty minutes from our house. It was the first time we had a function there, so we were really happy. The room we rented out was connected to a semi-shaded playground which the kids were instantly attracted to. So, the kids left happy with full stomachs, tons of playtime, projects to be proud of, and these Mama-made chocolate princess wands.



(Zoom in and check out the little favour tags that another friend of ours made.)

Of course, Princess Tessa enjoyed her third Royal Bash, and she was just proud to be



THREE!

*Thanks to Crafty McGraff for all the pictures.

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving!

Despite the craziness of my everyday, I am so thankful for this life.

Happy 3rd Birthday to our Princess Tessa!

You are such a blessing to us. We are amazed at how you have grown to be such a quiet, gentle, and strong-willed little girl. We love you SO much!

Firsts

It's been awhile since I've blogged. It has been a busy summer with Erika and Dan's wedding, a mini-family vacation, and adjusting to our new schedule. I'm now back at work, and Ray is home with the kids.

These past couple of weeks, Karch, Tessa, and Maryn experienced firsts.

Maryn had her first solids.





Tessa had her first day in pre-school. She loves it. Ask her what she does in school, and she says she plays with play dough and rolls it with a rolling pin.



Karchy had his first day of pre-school as well. He's in the four-year-old program, while Tessa is in the three-year-old program. We're glad that he loves school too.

Ocean View

The sun has finally arrived in Vancouver, and Vancouverites can officially say that Summer has started.

While I was torturing myself in hot yoga, Ray took the kids for a walk in White Rock, a seaside community twenty minutes away from us. Karchy, Tessa, and Maryn enjoyed the ocean breeze and one of the many amazing sites BC offers.



Gotta love BC!

Maryn and her Bumbo

Maryn is now three months old, and so I was very excited since that meant she will be able to go on the Bumbo. So, we got our cameras ready and decided to document this milestone. But her neck was not quite ready yet. Nonetheless, we were still able to take some pictures of our little Maryn.




And check out what wet hair and a comb can do. Her mane was tamed, at least until her hair dried.

Sisters by chance,

Friends by choice.

I am so happy that Tessa now has a sister. My aunt who has three girls has told me many times that, if you want your children to remain close, emphasize the fact that they need to stick together and take care of one another. I believe her. I have seen how close her three girls are, and I want the same for these two.




Of course, Karchy is being an awesome big brother, teaching Tessa "the right way" and taking care of Maryn. After all, he is learning how to be an awesome big brother from the best, his Dada.

5 years...

Last Friday, Ray and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. We celebrated it simply and sweetly. My mom treated us to an overnight stay across the border where we shopped, ate some P.F. Chang's, and just spent time with one another.

Happy Father's Day

We are so lucky to have this Dada in our house.
Happy Father's Day!

Third Time is a Charm

2010 is a pretty popular year for babies. Check out my friend's cute baby bump,

source

cute givewaway,

source

and cute blog.

Congratulations on your 3rd addition to your family, Kellie!

Backyard Picnic

It was a sunny day today. But by the time dinner came, the clouds came as well. Nonetheless, we still enjoyed a backyard picnic. Maryn, Ray, and I sat on our picnic blanket and enjoyed our view of these smiling faces.

A Bee-riffic Day

Our friend's son, Tannor, had his 4th birthday today, and it was a bug-themed party. Of course, our friend who is probably one of the most creative people I know organized a bee-riffic birthday that we all enjoyed.

Here is the birthday boy, Tannor, mesmerized by the bee-u-tiful sight of

BEES!

The kids did not just learn about bees, but about different kinds of bugs.
Karchy who is the same age as Tannor is also into bugs right now and absorbed all the information he learned today. Here he is touching a tarantula!

Tessa learned tons about bugs too. She even felt courageous and
quickly touched the tarantula too.

While her siblings participated in all the bug fun, Maryn sat back, relaxed
and loved every minute of Tannor's special day.

Happy 4th Birthday, Tannor!

*Photos courtesy of Shawn George and Ian Rivas

A big congratulations to the Grads of 2010

Erika

Ed and Gabriela

and Sissa

Ring bearer & Flower girl

Erika and Dan are getting married in 64 days, so Karchy and Tessa have been practicing their roles as ring bearer and flower girl with their found props.

Happy Two Months, Maryn!

Maryn is two months today. This month has been filled with lots of sleep, coos, gas, and smiles.

Milosz

Milosz is Karchy's friend. They are constantly playing with one another. Recently, they have been playing everyday. Milosz would ring our doorbell at exactly 2:00 p.m., and Karchy and him will play for a couple of hours. But yesterday was a sad day for Karchy since Milosz will be going back to Poland for six months. Karchy will definitely miss him and their playdates.

Puddles!

To save Karch and Tessa from boredom these past few rainy days, I have been walking with them in search for puddles. Although my glasses have been needing their own windshield wipers from the rain we've been walking in, Karch and Tessa could not care less and enjoyed jumping in puddles. Here are Karchy and Tessa after the morning rain stomping on this mini puddle.

3D Experience

Ray and I took all three kids to the movies this past Friday to watch Shrek 4 in 3D. Although Maryn (thankfully) slept through the whole movie, Karch and Tessa loved the whole 3D movie experience. As Karch said, "that was so cool!"

Can't wait until June 18th to take the kids again to see Woody and Buzz on the big screen!

Working from home...

...gotta love it!

Happy Mother's Day

From Karchy

Karchy brought this home from school today. It's his first school-made Mother's Day. I know it will probably be the first of many, but this one is special. Why?

Karchy reminded me that it is the little things that matter to him. The little card attached to this bunch of carnations said this:

Who knew that part of our daily routine meant so much to him?!

I love my son.

Strike a Pose

We had a wonderful opportunity to have yet another photo session with Melvin yesterday. These pictures are just a few of the many shots he took of Maryn and the rest of our family. Maryn was so amazing at striking poses for the camera, but it was definitely a challenge trying to get all the kids picture-ready simultaneously. Nonetheless, Melvin was so patient with the demands of his playful clients, and he was able to do such an awesome job!

Maryn's Monthday

Our baby is one month day.
What a blessing!

Three Musketeers

All for one and one for all.

A Bit of Blogstaking and Thanksgiving

I came across this entry from C Jane's blog. Now, this is a husband who knows how to take care of his wife postpartum. This was definitely a nice read, but I am very, very thankful that Ray knows a thing or two about taking care of me and the kids. He's back to work now after two weeks of being off, but he still makes sure that I am getting plenty of rest and that the kids, especially K & T, are getting the care and attention they need when I can't fully give it to them yet.

Of course, my mom is also helping us out. She is coming to the house everyday after her work to help me put the kids to bed.

Yes, I'm very lucky indeed.

Now, what am I going to do when Ray is at work and my mom goes away on vacation next week?!

Maryn's Many Faces