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Modern Christmas Christmas

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Pretty please with a cherry on top...

...stay this way. We love you just the way you are -- this size and everything...



Cake Smash pictures taken by the talented Little Trends in honour of Maryn's 1st Birthday

Stand up

Our baby M is standing up now. She still needs quite a bit of support, but she's standing. Next up, walking. Although, we're not looking forward to chasing her around quite yet.

Family Bed

Yes, the kids are still sleeping in our bed. Uncomfortable? Yes. Cozy? Yes. Just a few more years? Hope so. Treasuring it? Every minute...most of the time.

10 months

Is there a portal I can enter and just stay there awhile, so I can savour all her babyliciousness?!

Pink Ears

Guess who got her ears pierced today? Tessa!

This was her post-ear-pierced reaction:



She was so brave. She didn't even flinch or shed a tear. I think she might have been shocked about the whole ordeal, although I did warn her it would hurt. She just made a face that told the world that she was ready to get out of the store and go to our next destination.

2011

Happy 2011, everyone! This blog has not been forgotten, just neglected as things got a bit hectic during the holiday season.

A new year's resolution? Will try to post a blog a week. Promise.

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