long awaited photos!

theo and cousin sam at christmas

theo sitting like a big boy!

raya wanting to go outside and play

licking the beaters after making cookies yesterday

big boy theo with a sippy cup!

raya fell asleep on the back of the chair while playing computer with hallie. she looks like a cat all curled up

hallie playing "dr".

theo and max

sisterly love

Time Flies...

I'm sitting in my living room watching the blizzard outside. I was able to convince Hallie to stay home from preschool today by promising finger painting, a friend over, and baking! Looks like my day is going to get busier. At least I don't have to brave the weather! The girls are playing downstairs with a friend and Theo is sleeping. I love the peacefullness of a sleeping baby in my house.

Theo is a really great baby. He is still so content. He goes to sleep so easily. He loves his crib and his minky blanket. He still sleeps all swaddled up like a newborn. He will be 8 months in a couple weeks. It's been the fastest 8 months of my life! Theo still has a cold and I'm hoping it's gone soon. It's so sad to hear him cough :(

Raya is talking more and more and more and more.... She is such a comedian. Her personality is so hard to describe. She has big highs and small lows. She loves to giggle and is often lifting her shirt up to be tickled.

Hallie is growing like a weed. Her pants are turning into flood pants. I'm hoping to make it till the spring before having to buy her to much. We've been busy planning her "Almost Pajama Party" birthday party. She is having a few friends over and they are coming in their pajamas. We are going to have pancakes for supper, do a couple crafts, play a game, and eat cake!. I've already started her cake. I'm excited about it.

Chris is busy preparing for his trip to Uraguay. He's got alot of reading to do, immunizations to get, and some things to buy. Each person on the trip needs to take their own shoe box along and so I'm excited to get to be a part of that. I think it will be phenominal for Chris to be able to hand deliver a box that our family has put together!!!

I'm just as busy as ever. I'm trying to work extra hours to pay down some debt. I just can't wait until the line of credit is gone so we can pay back some family debt and work at being debt free, other than our mortgage. It weighs so heavy on me and stresses me out. I hate owing money to people. I had the flu earlier this week and thankfully Chris was able to stay home and help a bit. I go to Ladies Bible Study on Tuesday mornings and Craft Night on Wednesday nights after Awana. I still help lead Hallie's Awana class and she loves it that I'm there. Next year Hallie will move up but I'll stay with the Cubbies because Raya will be in that class next year. I also look after little Max on Thursday afternoons. He is so cute and I love that Theo has a little buddy to play with (ok, stare at) once a week.

I gave up Tim Hortons coffee from Monday-Friday during Lent. It's honestly a HUGE sacrifice for me. I don't have it every day but on average about 3 times/week and I really look forward to it. I was explaining to Hallie what Lent was and this was a part of our conversation:

me: "mom isn't going to go to Tim Hortons during the week"
hal: "you aren't going to have coffee every day?"
me: "no, only on the days that daddy stays home."
hal: "but mom, you have to have coffee every day...you are going to be so grouchy!"
OUCH! that hurt! pretty sad when your kid knows you're addicted!

Two weeks ago at breakfast time Hallie asked me if God was old.
I said "yes".
She said "like super duper old?".
"yup".
"hhmmm is he like 31?"
WHAT!!! 31 is NOT old...is it? I guess it's all a matter of perspective.


Well, I should probably start making lunch and preparing for finger painting (i hate finger painting, i hate painting...painting leads to mess, mess leads to clean up and clean up is a never ending job around here.)

no time to edit...theo is now crying. sorry if there are spelling/grammar/puntual errors.

Long Overdue

It's been a while since I blogged so I thought I'd try and update everyone on the happenings around here...

Christmas was great. We went to Lethbridge and had a really good time. We hooked up with quite a few of Chris's cousins before Christmas and the girls had a blast running around in a big gym. We spent time between both of our families over Christmas day and the balance seemed to work out okay. After Christmas we went out to visit some of Chris's cousins again and got to see Adam and Dana as well. Near the end of the trip our kids seemed to be worn out, tired, and getting a little sick. We did manage to escape the flu though that alot of friends and family ended up having over the holidays. We were able to get together with my extended family too before coming home and it was a really nice time catching up with everyone.

We came back home on the 30th and right away had a party to go to with our old homegroup. It was a blast and our kids really enjoyed playing there with old friends they haven't seen in a while. The girls there are a bit older and so they LOVE Hallie and Raya and do whatever the girls want so of course they loved it! New Years Eve we had some friends over that were visiting from Winnipeg. It was awesome to see them but it was just too short! We then got together with two couples from church to bring in the new year. We had no intention of staying until Midnight but actually managed to stay much later!

Chris is preparing to go to Uraguay in Febraury on an Operation Christmas Child trip with Samaritans Purse. It's a great opportunity for him to go and see how the organization impacts the lives of people less fortunate than most. He will be gone for 15 days and the only big negative is that he will miss Hallie's 5th birthday. I will be going to Lethbridge for the first week and then Chris's sister, Barb, will be coming with her baby for the second week. I'm hoping the time goes by fast...I'm definatlely going to miss him.

I'm still working parttime and have also started taking in a little boy the same age as Theo. I only have him once a week for a few hours and it's nice for Theo to have a little buddy to stare at :)

I registered Hallie for Kindergarten this week. I can't believe that time has come. It's been a stressful time for me as I'm trying to decide which education route is the best. Private, Public, Christian..... who knows!!! She is registered at our community school and on the wait list for another public and charter school.

Raya is starting to increase her vocabulary quite nicely which is great as I've been a bit concerned about it lately. I'm sure it won't be long now and I'll actually be able to understand what she's saying when she is telling me off :)

Theo is growing, growing, growing!!! He is a smiley and content young man! I can't believe that my baby is growing so quickly. I'm so sad that our baby stage is almost over and there won't be another. I am looking forward however to all the fun things we can do when we no longer require a diaper bag, bottles, snacks, sippy cups, change of clothes etc...

thats about all for now....sorry....i know that was all boring stuff that most of you know already but...it was a blog none-the-less.

i'll post pictures later when i'm downstairs on the other computer.