Let us give thanks

We had a wonderful holiday weekend for Thanksgiving. On Sunday, I cooked a feast for my Mom. She has done so much for me, I wanted to do something for her. It turned out really yummy and we stil have tons of left-overs! It was a great evening.

On Monday, we headed out to Medicine Hat to see Megan, Matt and the kids. Grandma and Papa were there too, which was awesome. It was such a wonderful time. Everyone seemed to enjoy each others company, so much indeed that I did not take a single piture! I was too busy enjoying my nephews and niece. Jaxon, Orin and Ami are very special to me. I don't get to see them too often, so when I do I savor every moment. One of my most favourite things about those kids is that every visit turns into a dance party :)

This year, as in all, I have so much to be grateful for. I am most grateful not only for my family, but for the knowledge I have that the family is central to our Heavenly Fathers Plan of Happiness. It is through and by our families that we are able to experience the highest levels of joy in this life. I know this to be true. I am grateful to my Savior, Jesus Christ, for not only dying for me, but for living for me. By setting the example of how I want to live me life.

Let us give thanks.

Let's go fly a kite

We always enjoy our time in Cardston with Grandma and Papa. One of the best things is that we always 'do' stuff. We don't just sit around all day, we get out and do stuff! The last time we were there, we went to the park to fly the kites. It was wonderful! Nola loved watching Papa fly the kite and Robbie hung out in the swing. It was such a beautiful afternoon!

Nola on her bike. She's so cute!

Only Papa can push Robbie in the swing AND fly the kite at the same time!

My little darling

Nola is 2, which can be trying. Yesterday, however, was so amazing. It went like this

- Nola wakes up with a smile on her face and greeted me with 'Good morning Mummy! Did you have a good sleep?'

- She sat up at the table and ate her breakfast with Robbie and I.

- We got ready and went to the mall to see Grandma and Grandpa. She walked with me like an angel, holding my hand the whole time, using her manners and charming all she passed.

- She left the mall, and Grandma and Grandpa, in a great mood, with a smile on her face.

- When we got home, she went right to her bed for a nap...and she act actualy slept! This is a huge deal! She hasn't napped in 2 weeks.

- After her nap, she played with Robbie in the living room until Daddy came home.

- She greeted Daddy by running up to him for a big hug!

- She ate all of her supper like a champ. No complaints! After the meal she said, 'Tank tou Mummy! Dat was sooo tasty!'

- Nola, Robbie and I went into Lethbridge for a Norwex party. I was nervous taking the kids, but Doug was busy and couldn't watch them. It so happened that my friend Stacey's husband, Tobiah, was watching their boys downstairs at the party, so Nola and Robbie went down to play with them. Tobiah said the kids were great! I couldn't hear any crying, so that was a good thing :)

- At the end of the party, so came upstairs and had a treat. She was very kind and sweet.

- She left the party saying 'Tank tou! See you soon!' and held my hand as we walked to the car.

- While putting her down, we started singing 'Soft Kitty' to her kitty baby, and then we both burst out laughing! We would try again, but one of us would crack and we'd both end up laughing.

That was my day. The most amazing day with my little darling. Nola is such a blessing in my life and I am eternally grateful to be her mother. I am the luckiest woman on the planet.

Love you La-La!

12 month stat!

Weight: 19 lbs 1 oz
Height: 30 inches
Diapers: 4
Clothes: 12-18 month sleepers and shirts, 6-9 month pants
Teeth: 4

FAVOURITES
Food - anything! This kid is an eating machine! For example, he ate just as much ravioli as I did for dinner last night.
Toy - his new ride-on truck, especially when Daddy pushes him around on it, his sippy cup, the heilium balloons left over from his party
Game - riding his truck, being chased, jumping on his and/or Nola's bed, climing up on to Mommy and Daddy's bed

Loves
- to eat.
- to explore.
- to nap.
- to observe.
- to snuggle.
- to yell.

Dislikes
- getting dressed.
- getting his face wiped.
- getting into his carseat.

Milestones
- his FIRST STEP! He took his first step on September 25. Well, he took his first 4 steps! He walked from my bed to the wall without falling down!
- SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!!!! YAHOO! My word, I have never been so excited. It's been great!

What's new
- bye-bye formula! He's now on to milk!

Mommy loves
- our snuggles. By this age, Nola would never snuggle me. She was always go, go, go! Even though Robbie is busy, he always makes time to take a little break, and come give me a snuggle.
- his teeth. Hehe, they are so cute! When he smiles, he scruntchs up his nose and shows off his goofy teeth :)
- when he wakes up. Whether first thing in the morning, or after his nap, he is just so happy! He jumps in his bed and claps when we go in to get him. Melts my heart!

I can't believe you are one! I love you with all my heart, Rob. Thanks for being my bestest little buddy!

Happy birthday Robbie!

On September 22, we had Robbie's first birthday party. It was a really fun time! We had hot dogs with all the fixings, chips, lime suprise and a big dinosaur cake! Robbie was adorable - when is he not? He loved all his toys, especially his new truck. He was so cute riding it!

Happy birthday Big Boy! We love you!

Two and a half

Nola is now two and a half and I want to take this opportunity to write a little bit about her :)

She LOVES
- her babies. Currently, she has a stuffed 'Marie' kitty (from Aristocats) that she packs around everywhere! Over the past few months, she's gone through a puppy, a frog, a pig and as always, Elmo. Not only does she pack them around, but she tells them stories, sings them songs, kisses their boo-boo's, tells them 'It's okay', dances with them, swaddles them in blankets and tells them 'I yove you!' It's so darling!
- to eat! I have been wating for the day that Nola stops eating so well and becomes picky. It very well may still come, but at 2 1/2, she is still going strong. The kid will eat darn near anything you put in front of her! The only conistant thing she doesn't like is potatoes, however she'll eat them if she has too. How lucky I am to have a good eater!
- D-D-Dora! We bought her some Dora VHS' and she is in love with them! She dances and sings all the songs. She has actually memorized the words for one of the episodes. Maybe she watches it too much, but they make her happy and that makes me happy. She still loves Elmo, however Dora and Diego are a close 2nd :)
- going to the gym. This is so wonderful since it took a good couple months for her to go in without crying. Now, she marches right in there, says 'Hi friends', and always colours a pictures for someone. Usually, that someone is Grandma, however she did colour a couple pictures for Kendyl.
- the park. I mean, what two year old doesn't love the park? She always goes with Daddy - it's their special time :)
- granola bars. Every single morning, she wakes up, asks if I had a good sleep, the proceeds to her purple foam chair and ask, 'Can I a 'nola barn, peas?' She then washes it down with a glass of milk. It makes me smile everytime!
- McDonalds smoothies. I must admit, Mommy loves them too! Nola ask's for a 'pink smoodie' and Mommy gets a 'yeyyow smoodie'. Nearly everytime we go for a drive she asks for one!
- Robbie. She gets SO excited when she hears him wake up in the morning or after a nap. She exlaims, 'Mum!! Robbie's awake! Yet's go get'm!' Once in his room, she climbs on to his crib and says 'Awww! Robbie so cute! You have good night seep?' Its so darling! During the day they play together and she alwasy shares her snacks with him.

Nola DOESN'T love
- getting into the bath. Once she is in, she's fine, but actually getting her in there is a struggle. I think she may have gotten into a tub that was too hot at one point, and that it may have scared her.
- napping. Much to my dismay, naps are happening less and less. I still put her in room for 'quite-time' each afternoon, but she usually just tears her room apart and then lays on the floor and kick her wall. Yay....

Favourites
BOOKS - Bunny's book, Grover's book, Violets House, Dora Bed Time
SONGS - Best Friend, Popcorn Popping, I am a Child of God, Dora theme song
TOYS - Her babies, her pink necklace, BBQ brushes, tubby toys
CLOTHES - Dora shirt, Elmo shirt, giraffe slippers

We love her so much and are so blessed to have her in our lives!

Shaw...Grrr!

I haven't been able to blog for nearly a month, all thanks to Shaw. Apparently we have a weak signal outside out house, so our connection waivers, in and out, everyday. I have started writing many posts, then when I go to publish, I have no connection. Did blogger save my work? No, because I had no connection. When I talked to Shaw about it, they said they would send a service call to work on their equipment outsie my house, however that was 2 weeks ago, and tonight is the first time I have had service since I talked to them.

Long story short, I am frustrated. Hopefully that will fix their equipment outside my house so I can have reliable interent again. I have so much to write about!!