WINTER WONDERLAND HERE ON THE COAST

Here is Quinn in her FIRST ever snow!!! Even when we went to Quesnel for Christmas last year, it was GREEN!!! She is all bundled up in Hayley's old snowsuit.
Just one part of the driveway, it is up to her knees. She got worn out real fast and from here on in, I had to pick her up.
Not exactly sure what to think of this. That is ok Quinners, I think that speaks for all of Victoria.
How is that for a face?
Catching the snowflakes right out of the sky!

Well, it came. We shut down. We are officially on an island now. We have no passable highway, we have no buses running, no flights out, no ferries running - and for 50,000 homes - no power.

We are the lucky ones here in View Royal (our suburb), as we have not lost our power, and really, we have no need to go anywhere. We are finally eating the fruit from the summer that I froze - yummy smoothies - and our freezer has lots of meat and veggies as well. We have loads of milk, movies, diapers, and hot water - so today is no different than any other day, other than the winter wonderland that is outside the window. Now, I grew up in Quesnel, where we had plunging temperatures all winter, and I find it cold here. We are sitting at -10, but for us in the garden city, it is chilly. I am actually wearing socks and long pants today!!!!!

Hayley, on the other hand, is not so lucky, or maybe she is the luckiest one of all!! She is at Carole and Eric's (her grandparents) who live in Prospect Lake. The have fallen trees, power has been out since 4pm last night, and over 3 feet of snow. Her boots are here!!!!! From what I hear, she is doing more than fine, with bbq steaks, baked potatoes and beans cooked over the wood stove, lots of candlelight and board games. Not to mention snow forts, snow princesses and time spent with those that love her. In my selfishness I hope that she will be able to make it out tomorrow.

I am an AUNTY again!!!

My sister, my very baby sister, became a mom on Wednesday! She and Shea had a baby girl, her name is Elizabeth Kadance Anne Delany. She will be called Kadance - I cannot believe that the little bundle of joy has finally arrived! She weighed 5 lbs 8 ozs and both mommy and baby are doing well.

All my love and joy go out to Steph and Shea, for being blessed with the most amazing gift of all - to see the world through your child's eyes. Congratulations and I love you!

Congrats to my mom and dad too - for now they are the proud grandparents of FOUR grand-daughters! Hayley, Emily, Quinn all welcome little Kadance into the world. YAHOO!

Games Families Play

The word on the street is that Family Game Night can cure what ails your clan. These are the games that you cannot find on the toy shelf at your local WALLLMART. (borrowed from Today's Parent, November 2006):

MOMOPOLY:
object- Players compete to see who can monopolize mom's attention to the exclusion of all other siblings.
how to play - Ignore mother until she's talking to one of your siblings. Interrupt with an urgent request for assistance - with braiding your hair, a permission form to be signed, the proper way to draw a spaceship.
how to win - Make the request that finally sends mom fleeing from the room. Bonus points if she hollers, "Go ask your father!!!"

DUELLING FOR DOLLARS:
object - Players try to reduce mom's or dad's disposable income to zero.
how to play - On payday (or any day), wake parents at dawn and start listing the stuff you need. Five dollars for Hot Dog day or a buck for chocolate milk? Is the field trip or book-order payment almost due? Or maybe you've had your eye on some new running shoes or the latest PS2 game.
how to win - Be the first to wald away with a fistful of cash and a commitment from mom to order pizza for supper.

SCRIBBLE:
object - To make mom or dad wonder why they were so anxious for you to learn to write.
how to play - Using pencils, pens, crayons, markers and even lipstick, print your name. Draw a happy face. Practise your cursive. When you have gone through an entire pad of sticky notes (usually in about 10 minutes), turn to the walls and furniture.
how to win - Be the first to cover the refrigerator and bulletin board with "art". Bonus points if your parents have to haul out the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

RISKY:
object - To encourage parents' growth of grey hair and facial tics. (Note: toddlers and teens seem to have the upper hand in this game).
how to play - Amaze mom and dad with your daring behaviour. Scale the fridge to see what's on top. Taste the spider plant. Build a skateboard ramp with a brick and a piece of panelling. Find out where the sharp knives are.
how to win - Be the first to get mom or dad to say, "If you break a leg, don't come running to me."

SUZY SAYS:
object - To make your parents' eyes glaze over with boredom.
how to play - After school or during dinner, fill mom and dad in on the events of the day. "And then Suzy says......and I'm like.....and then Johnny comes up and.....so I'm like.....and the teacher's like......". Pause occasionally for breath and be sure to wave your arms for emphasis.
how to win - Get mom or dad to confess that they stopped listening 10 minutes ago.


I thought this was apt, although I do see myself playing any and all of the above mentioned games on any given day. Now, can we invent a game to win with our kids.......

Apparently skirts are optional....

Quinn and Hayley fooling around in the kitchen, sans skirts. They both took them off, ran in the kitchen and started goofing off!!!!!!!! Hilarious what the two of them can get up to together...
Whatever you do Quinners, don't put down the baba - this is the one "posed one" that I got.
Check out those gams! I LOVE tights on girls - they are so great. Don't get me wrong though, I would never be caught dead in a pair. Ya, with my skirts that I so often wear here and all.
Have to include at least one "booty wiggle" shot. Her tongue looks like Gene Simmons with no teeth to get in the way! Did I mention that FIVE have fallen out so far - with an additional THREE more that are really loose? Good thing it is not corn on the cob season here!

Christmas Tags

Last night, in the torrential rain, I decided to do all my Christmas tags. I did it!!!! They are almost all done, they are just missing the hole punch and ribbon to attach to the gifts now. I always make my own, some years are more elaborate than others though. I am really trying to do a scrap page a day, but am hooked on the mini albums and for some reason the 12 X 12 books of Hayley and Quinn's are overwhelming me. So I think I will stick to the mini ones for now. I also started to cut out the fabric for the ornaments I am going to make for the little day care kiddies for Christmas. On a roll now ladies ...... which I hope keeps momentum!

THE LOOT

Just had to add this for good measure. This is the haul that we have in our house right as we speak. The Queen would have no problem with her addiction here!

Halloween Antics with the kiddies

Look everyone! Even I dressed up - I was a SKULLITON as Hayley called me. This was a costume that my mom added to the dress up box for Hayley, I am sure that it has seen many a Hallos' Eve. It was very warm, which was good, because here in sunny Victoria it dropped down to +1! Hayley was a mermaid from Mermaidia (with two sweaters, tights, leggings, and boots on underneath so the full effect of the costume could be had) and Quinn was a ladybug..........well what did you expect? Each of my kiddies have to be ladybugs at one time or another!
Here she is, all bugged out. Eating a lolly. She thought that all of trick or treatin' was finished when she got her first lolly. She was done. Had no idea that she could keep on going and get more and more! She is only interested in the lollies in the bag as well. Aren't the bags cute - my mom made them for the girls last year!
A very serious mermaid. Thinking about what?
Just some of the kiddies that we went out with. There was a power ranger, spider man, a fairy a witch, a mermaid and a ladybug. Great company!
I threw this one in for good measure. It is me and the girls at the Government House pumpkin night. There were over 400 pumpkins on display. Interested, if not real.


Had a great Halloween. Made out with a ton of candies. Girls were happy and strung out on sugar and anticipation all night. Those were the days! I remember going out in Quesnel, with my dad or mom in the warm car, travelling down Lombardie, Cypress and Dogwood, with the pillowcase in tow. Then we were off to the bonfire at the Kin Hall with hotdogs and hot chocolate. In THOSE days there was usually snow on the ground for trick or treating. A great holiday, and we live in the perfect place for it - not only do we have 50 townhouses in our complex, there are 63 in the one next door. That is 113 potential treat houses! When we came home that night our bowl that we left on the step with all the candy in it - still had some in it! Talk about a great neighbourhood!