Monkey Chatter.

It seems like I never have enough time anymore to visit my blog and update as much as I'd like, never enough hours in my day!
Jill has just recently turned 5, she had a wonderful birthday party with 4 of her classmates. Not surprising to us, she wanted a cooking party(this girl will be an amazing little chef someday, writing her own cookbooks), we made pizza, cupcakes and had so much decorating with a million sprinkles adding color to my kitchen floor!LOL!
We are continuing to see changes in our baby girl, her speech has been slowly improving(starting another round of therapy soon), she has grown a couple of inches and is enjoying school immensely.
Her Santa list this year includes Bakugans, a coat for Charlie and a DS! I bet this good girl will be getting a few things on her list, wink....

Jen is doing fantastic, working hard on her piano and theory, excelling in her studies and still finds some time to enjoy her Brownie outings. Recently to my surprise she just finished reading Narnia, she is reading presently at a grade 3 or 4 level!! Amazing!! It warms my heart to see how much she is enjoying and loving their new puppy Charlie, I wouldn't be surprised if this soft hearted monkey didn't grow up and study to be a vet, she is like the animal whisperer.
Her Christmas wish list was a coat and toys for Charlie and some books. Santa will be good to her, I just know it...

Spring fever.

I asked Jillian what she wanted to do today, without skipping a beat she told me she wanted to go catch frogs, LOL. I explained they were sleeping until Spring and that we would have to wait until it warms up.
Is it ever going to warm up, is Spring ever going to get here!! This has been a long winter, so for now she had to look at the pictures of frog catching...

On my own...

It's been twice this week she has let go of my apron strings so to speak. This morning she went to a day camp, last year she insisted I go and stay the whole day with her. This morning all packed and ready to head out the door, she left me behind to wave from the front window...

Gotcha day coming up.

It's Puddin' Pops gotcha day coming up on Monday, we usually have a private family celebration, Chinese food, dessert, cuddle up while watching her "Gotcha Day" video. This year she has requested lasagna, cupcakes and her video. We'll see if she changes her mind before Monday....

Holding her heart this morning, not her hand..

This morning Jennifer asked if I would stand at the van while she walked herself to the school yard, what??? Didn't want Mom to walk her to school, my baby has decided she can walk from the parking lot to the school yard!
I sometimes forget that my Puddin Pop is just 6, she has always been my old spirit, has been a very mature little girl, wise beyond her years.
So as I stood by the van I watched her walk across the school grounds to the line up, emotions high, realizing she has grown so much since entering the first grade.
Wishing I could keep her small forever but embracing this beautiful, young girl she is becoming.

Canadian eh?

After some of this...

We had some of this...

A wonderful Canadian winter afternoon, doing what else, our two national pastimes!

We took the girls ice skating and then to Tim Horton's for a donut and apple juice while Mommy guzzled back her third cup of coffee of the day.

Truly Canadian eh? LOL....

Can't beat him, join him!

We took the girls over to a neighbours to toboggan with their cousin and friends. The temperature was -18c so we didn't stay too long!!

Jillian getting a helping hand from Daddy.

Trying out her new toboggan, it was super fast!!

My nephew, covering himself with snow! Kids do not feel the cold?!!

Cuddling up to Daddy, trying to stay warm, brrr...

Coming up the hill, this girl could stay outside all day, loves winter and the frigid temps!!

Well if you can't beat old man Winter, join him. The kids had a great time, tired them out even though we made the event short because of the temperature.The next few days will be spent mainly indoors, the kids are even having recess inside.

About now I am thinking about a white sandy beach, slushy drinks and warm sunshine, hey, a girl can dream....

Just like Mom.

This was the style of my old Easy Bake oven, early 1970's avocodo green, stylin' in the day, LOL.
I remember baking cakes and torturing my parents and Grandparents, never did they refuse, they always obliged me with a smile(and heartburn, have you tasted those concoctions).

This is the latest model, a microwave?? Doesn't say much for the times, can't bake a cake in an oven, where the smells invite and draw the family into the kitchen, LOL. The easy bake still runs on a 100 watt light bulb, warm that baby for fifteen minutes and your ready to create master peices.

Here the monkeys are waiting for their first cake, Daddy ate it with pride.

Some things never change, the excitement you get as a child making a cake for your parents, completing the task with such pride and independence.

Thank you to Grandpa and Grandma for driving all over finding this Christmas treasure, they were in high demand, seems like every little girl(Mom, LOL) wanted one under the tree.

I have go*ogled Easy Bake oven mixes and couldn't believe how many there were, you can even make personal pan pizzas in that baby, guess the girls will be making their own lunches while Mommy blogs, wink. LOL. Kidding...

I'm thinking of you..

Today is my Grandma's birthday, she would have been 89, all day I have thought of how she might be celebrating.
Dancing with my Grandpa, eating chocolate cake or date squares, did she know I was thinking of her all day. Would she be disappointed in me for crying because I missed her today just like the day I got the call saying she had passed away. I know she never wanted me to mourn her passing but celebrate her life.
So today as she would of celebrated 89 wonderful years I think of the times we shared, the laughs, the tender moments, our secrets and private jokes. I thought of what a life she led, one of joy, hardships and how she lived every minute to the fullest. I was so proud to be her Granddaughter.
Your love lives on in my heart, so today I wish you a happy birthday and send you all my love.

Enjoying the weekend.

We started our Christmas baking, but we have to stop eating it if we want some for Santa, LOL.
The girls had just come in from outside, they were pretty soaking wet from building one of these....

Our first igloo of the season, today it's taking a bit of a beating, the temperatures are rising..

We made snow angels...

and smiled for Mommy's camera!!

I spent part of the weekend painting the girl's room, covering the tree, butterflies and ladybug mural. I was a little sad, my little girls are growing up and leaving their nursery behind. They wanted a big girl room, they helped pick the colors, the art and their furniture. I loved all their choices, they are growing up before my eyes. I will share once I finish painting the trim.

Hope your having a wonderful week...

A lazy weekend.

Today we lazed about, building a snowman, drinking Tim Horton's, just having a family day.
Hope you having a great weekend!!

Fall frolic.

Every year the girls can hardly wait for Fall so they play in Grandpa and Grandma's leaves.
Picture of Grandpa and Grandma playing with the girls.
Jennifer took this shot of Jilly, Mommy and Daddy.Trying to take Superman down...

I love!! this shot!
The look on jilly's face says it all, she had such a great time.
Jump...
Daddy took this picture.

Ready for round 3..

Conversation I had with Jilly-bean last night while cooking dinner.
"Mom, I am a far"
"Yes, Jillian, you are a star"
In Jill's class, they use symbols and their name for marking their cubicle, cubby, desk and personal articles. It makes for easy identification. The teacher gave Jill a star so she could practice her "S" sound, we are still having some difficulty with the pronunciation.
The conversation continued..
"Mom, could I have a $ucker(we have some left from the Thanksgiving parade)?"
"No, not right now, we are going to have dinner soon"
"Why Mom, I want a $ucker(I'm shaking my head no), hmm, Mom your a real finker!!"
Jillian leaves the room angry, I'm doubled over laughing!!

Yes, we are ready for round 3, hope the speech therapist meets with us soon!!
Can't wait until our "S"' is no longer an "F"....

Makeover madness..

Before....
After, not too much shorter....(this shot might have to be framed)
Glamour girl....
I think she is happy with her new do...
It is a very busy weekend in our little town, we have a fair, parade and of course it's Thanksgiving!!
Jennifer was in the parade today, she was on the sparks float, the theme was taking the harvest to the table. Jen kept calling herself Top Sirloin, LOL, I just may not ever be able to eat beef again, LOL.
I love this girl!!

Monkey Makeovers-first edition

Today was the day for makeovers, Jilly-bean went to the hairdresser this morning, big sis will go after school. Here is Jillian going in, she is excited to go Mommy's hairdresser Sheri.

Before......
Not looking too impressed now, LOL. I love this shot!!
After....
Her beauty leaves me breathless...

My heart could burst!

This has been a very special week for our family, my heart could burst I'm so proud.
First my Father was awarded a medal from the Lieutenant Governor of Canada. He was given this award for his outstanding service in his field, he is a Paramedic, he has been doing this job for 40 years. To be honored in his career by his peers and the Government of Canada is an incredible honor, one he truly deserves.We are so proud of you Grandpa Bill, we love you.
Then to complete an already wonderful week my girl run in the Terry Fox Run.
She run a kilometer, her Mommy, Daddy and family are really proud of her accomplishment.
Way to go Puddin' Pop.

An idea, let's hope it works..

The last couple of weeks have been a little hectic around here, getting back to schedules, two girls in school, planning lunches, you know the routines of back to school.
Jennifer now being in grade one has changed schedules the most, she is going to school all day everyday. I have noticed some behaviour changes with her the last couple of weeks, I put them down to changes in routine, the teacher was even involved in one incident.
Being a very mature, precocious little girl I can tell when something is bothering her immediately, so I sat her down and we talked a great lengths.I finally figured out from our discussion what has been going on, she is missing Mommy time, she thinks her sister is getting more than her share now that she is school full time and her sister is still home every other day.
I come up with the idea that once or twice a month it will be big girl day for Jennifer and I, anything she'd like to do with Mom.
I am hoping this will help, I know I can't wait for some one on one, I have been missing her too.

What's new with the monkeys.

This one has been growing way too quickly this summer, sigh, such a little beauty inside and out.
Has mastered the Wii game and can beat her Mom, hits home runs and bowls strikes constantly, what's up with that, LOL!!!
Dirty monkeys, just picked the vegetables out of their garden. We decided to let them plant, weed and pick their own vegetable garden, I'm so proud of their accomplishment.

Jillian has just started her second round of speech therapy, I'm so proud of her, she is already showing great improvement. I look at how far this little monkey has come and I am overwhelmed with pride, she is such a beautiful, determined, strong willed child(LOL, challenging for me a times!!), always one step ahead of her Mommy.
Jillian has really sprouted up this summer, can't believe she starts school next month, where did my baby go, LOL.

We are just enjoying our garden, our pool(when it's not pouring rain), the parks and just hanging out enjoying every second.