Hockey Day in Summerland

My baby is almost 8!! Today Cory had his birthday party..his actual birthday is on Thursday, but we celebrated with his school friends today!! As you can see from the pictures, it was all about hockey!! This was the first year I bought a cake...ever..for any of the kids! Cory is part of the CForce Junior Canucks fan club at Save on Foods and when he saw that you could get a Canucks cake..well that was it!! I must say, I missed making a fancy cake, but also enjoyed the ease of just picking it up..no fuss, no muss!! Rachel and Amy also joined the ranks and sported their hockey jerseys for the occasion!!

It started with mini sticks in the basement...












And then we laced up all the skates and headed out to the Berekoff backyard rink..where they played hard for an hour and a half!!!


Then it was inside for cake and presents...it truly was the easiest birthday party I've ever done.



Happy Birthday Cory... it is hard to believe that almost eight years have passed since you surprised us as a January baby!! You have grown up so much from a 5lb 12 oz peanut to a tall, confident, smart young man!! I am so very proud of the person you have become!! We love you!!

Finally...it is here!!

I am sitting and typing this post on my new computer!! It is very fast :) I haven't had much time to figure it out, darn, work always seems to get in the way!! It arrived yesterday via courier, and I was actually home. Amy had been sick Monday night. A high fever, which prevented her, and thus, me from sleeping. I decided that rather than her passing it on to the rest of the daycare, we'd stay home.
I ran to the school at 6:30 in the morning to prep quickly for a sub and then came home and slumbered in jammies for awhile after the rest of the gang headed to school. We snuggled and watched a few episodes of Dora, played a couple of games and napped together. Around 1:30 the man came with the new computer...so very exciting! Sleep over took, though, and we napped on the couch. I only napped until Heidi dropped Cory and Rachel off, however, Amy slept for 2.5 hours. I knew she wasn't feeling well, as I can never get her to nap at home!! Brian took Cory and Rach to skating and while they were gone..yet another delivery man came..this time with my ottoman that I ordered on line. I was meant to stay home yesterday.
Today, Amy was fine and back to daycare. I was back to work. The UPS guy came by with my chair today...I guess I'll have to go pick that one up!!
I haven't yet tried downloading any photos, but hopefully this weekend!! Cory is having his birthday party on Sunday, so I will try to post a few pics of the boys on the outdoor rink!! For a hockey loving child, a January birthday is a good thing!!

Toothless in Summerland

Last night I was brushing Rachel's teeth and took a look at the recent wiggly one. It seemed very strange when on Christmas she complained that her tooth hurt. I didn't once suspect it being loose, as Cory was well into Grade 1 before he lost any teeth. After wiggling it slightly, she was convinced it would come out that night. Well, just one week later, she was begging me to tie a string around it like we did with Cory's. So out came the dental floss and I wrapped it around and gave a little tug. It pulled it a bit and with one more wiggle from mom, out came a little tooth. She was beaming...so excited to loose her first tooth! I couldn't believe that my little girl was old enough for that.
We had to call grandma and Grandpa and Baba and Deda right away..news like this had to be shared. At first she wanted to keep the tooth for a day and show Avery, but quickly changed her mind and set it out in a container of water for the tooth fairy. This morning she bounded into our room with her blackened sweet smile and container of red water from the tooth fairy. When she takes the tooth, she magically transforms the water to a new colour and leaves a toonie!! She was sure to show off her water, toonie and sweet toothless smile to her best bud Avery today!!

A few more pictures to enjoy...

I think I may have figured out what I was doing wrong on the last couple of posts and why I could only get a few pictures in them....regardless, they were published. I have just a couple of more snow pictures that were taken yesterday of Cory and Amy. Rachel was having some "issues" outside....imagine that a five year old that wanted a camera and diamonds for Christmas having issues...man I am in trouble in a few years!!! We sure have enjoyed the snow!!

More photos...why couldn't I get them all on one post????

I am going to try again to get this adorable Christmas photos up!! Sometimes computers can be frustrating....
Anyways some pictures of the kids on Christmas eve and Christmas morning. Cory got a new bike, Rachel a digital camera...and for Amy it was a Dora filled Christmas!!

Long Awaited Pictures....

Well, today my dear sweet friend Heidi downloaded my pictures and emailed me a select few so that I could blog them....Brian is in charge of ordering our new computer. Please God, help him to do it quickly!!! The pictures...


These pictures melt my heart..Amy singing Away in a Manger at the Church Christmas concert. She is definitely the performer of the family...we are still constantly hearing the other song..Jingle, Jingle Happy Bells!! Pure innoncence.

The passion of the men in my house this holiday season has been hockey. Cory and Brian have spent hours in the back yard skating on our own version of the true Canadian winter tradition. It isn't often that an outdoor rink lasts a long time in Summerland, but this winter the weather has cooperated and fun is being had by all. Amy also loves to skate out there, but doesn't last too long. Although Rachel has the stance of a goalie, I will not be encouraging her!! The one picture is of Cory at one of his recent games...He loves his hockey!!

Happy New Year!!

Wow! 2007 is here....and although I have a beautiful new Digital Canon Rebel with some awesome pics from Christmas and the holidays....I can't share them with you because my computer is so old that I can't download them. I will be taking Heidi up on her offer and downloading them to a disk on her computer soon.
We have had a wonderful start to our holidays...you see we have one week left and although I would love to be somewhere hot with Brian, spending time at home with him and the kids is also enjoyable. We stayed home for Christmas and enjoyed our new upstairs renos. They even got better with the addition of a new TV and electric fireplace. The kids were adorable and had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa here for Christmas. After Church on Christmas eve, we drove around and looked at the lights before going home and getting ready for Santa. They were asleep in record time (my girls are not good sleepers!!) and even stayed in bed until 7:30ish the next morning. They were all spoiled again and enjoyed opening each gift. Amy kept asking, "peas I open anodder present mama??" Even after we passed her one, she would ask. It was adorable . She was adorned with Dora this year...it is so ironic that she loves Dora, as that was supposed to be her name.
After all the gifts were opened, we all sat down to a yummy breakfast..and then the phone calls began and the turkey was stuffed. By the end of the day, we were all tired and full. We had skated on our outdoor rink, sledded down our minute front yard slope and eaten lots of turkey and treats. Boxing Day was similar although with more snow play as the snow kept falling all day. The next day, my parents left and Brian's parents arrived....with more gifts and more treats!! They were here until yesterday morning. During that time, we also visited with some friends, did some shopping, drank some wine and ate way too much!!
New year's Eve was quiet, but spent with terrific friends. The McKelvey clan came over in the afternoon to share yet more food with us and some good cheer with the Hutch's and the Bordeleau's. After they left it was just me and my "sister" and our families!! The kiddies bedded down around 8:30 and we drank and ate some more. We played Mad Gab, our favourite Catch Phrase and watched some really bad 80's videos!! Heidi and I decided we are going to have a girls slumber party sometime soon and watch Dirty Dancing and Grease!!
Today brought a sleep in, taking the tree down and watching some dvd's with the kids. I even returned to the gym...I thought I had gained a ton, but was pleasantly surprised that it was only one pound!! Nobig resolutions for me this year....I have spent a lot of time over these holidays reflecting on how blessed I am ....great family, friends and good health!! Happy New Year to you all. If I ever get a new computer (really it is coming ) I will post some great pictures!!!