Our Girl Turned SIX!!!

So I guess I'm a little late in posting - after cleaning up the HUGE mess the birthday party made I just started on the Christmas stuff - so now I'm back . . . and here's the birthday party that Navia had on Saturday . . . she LOVED it and it was the first non-princess party she's had - yay!!!

We had a baking party where the kids made their own cupcake liner flowers to put on their chef hats, dipped Oreos in pink chocolate and sprinkles, decorated their own cakes (I had made each girl their own cake standing using a method I found on the internet - plate, candle holder and E6000 glue - works amazingly well - and cheap!!!) and then they measured and poured ingredients into a jar to make a take-home batch of 'Cowgirl Cookies' that they could make at home.  They had a great time, took home lots of goodies and Navia said it was the best party ever!  That's all I needed to hear from her to know that all the work was worth it!

   Navia loves making wishes!

Navia's real birthday was on Thursday, Deecember 15th.  She woke up so excited because she was FINALLY 6 - she's been waiting a long time for this you know!  We all got up early so that we could have a family breakfast together and open presents.  On nights that I'm working we've decided to do family breakfasts because we can't do family suppers together - this way at least we can all be together one time during the day.  I had made a pink, pink and pink cake - as ordered - that we ate after I finished work that evening.  Navia was a lot of fun because she thought she could blow out the sparklers that we had lit - she's still as cute as can be!

There were 3 main things that Navia has been asking for so this birthday was a good one because she got all three . . . oh and I thought I'd post pictures of what the grandparents had gotten her as we were kinda the ones that picked them out.  So when she thanks you for the present at least you'll know what she's talking about - hehehe!

    A walking, barking dog from Gramma and Grampa McGifford    

    A scooter with pink handles and wheels from Mom and Dad. 

    An easy bake oven from Grampa Bailey.

So now we no longer have a 5 year old in our house - everyone is SIX and over!!!  

Happy 6th Birthday Navia - we love you higher than the sky and deeper than the ocean!

This is a video of her singing Happy Birthday when she turned 2 - we watched it together yesterday and she loved seeing how 'cute' she was back then!!!  (if I email this to you to see the video you'll have to go to the actual website . . . sorry)  It's from the last Christmas that we spent in Saskatchewan - back in 2007 at Gramma and Grampa Bailey's house.

What A Mess!!!

I was going to sit down and tell you all about yesterday, but well . . . 

I'm thinking I have a lot to do before I have the luxury of time to just sit and type to you . . . any ideas what happened in our house yesterday - and no - it wasn't a hurricane, although it did feel like it!!!

Need a hint . . .

See you when the mess is no longer . . . and maybe an afternoon nap too :)

Mayor Jim Watson & Emma

Emma's class at school has been researching various levels of government and they were invited to take part in the unveiling of a new community park, Nimiq Park.  Emma was really excited because she and one friend were the only ones that were able to talk with the Major and she told him how she wrote part of her paper on him.  If you look really close you can see Emma in front of the white screen, to the left of the man in the suit.  You can read about the dedication here.  She was also able to meet astronaut Steve MacLean, who was the first Canadian to operate the robotic arm Canadarm2.

Byward Market - Free Wagon Rides!!!

Today we decided to check out the Byward Market downtown.  I haven't been down there since my back first had problems, so it's been a long while.  We had fun just going into the little shops and checking out all the street vendors and even just people watching and listening to the street musicians.

The coolest part . . . as we were walking a horse-drawn wagon driver passed by and told us that there were going to be free wagon rides.  So, of course, we went to stand in line with everyone else.  While in line there was a little rain, but it was much better than snow and cold weather - it was kinda nice out today!  They had books of carols and the kids enjoyed spending the entire ride singing their hearts out. The kids each were also given a few dollars to chose what to do with, Navia and Kaleb decided on BeaverTails (yummy oreo ones) and Emma chose a bobble-headed bird.  

I think it's kinda funny that when you live here the closest you get to the Parliament Bldgs are when you're driving by on your way to something else - you only really ever stop when visitors come and want to see them - hehehe!  

Oh, and the Advent activity was - hmmm - going on a wagon ride!?! (how did that one ever get into today's pocket - the kids will never know!!!) and we learned how Jesus was also serving.  Four characteristics down, 21 more to go!!!

Advent Traditions

Each year we do Advent Pockets that I made a few years ago so that instead of just counting down until Christmas with chocolate calendars every day we have an activity to do as a family - from reading Christmas books, to making gingerbread houses, etc.  This year I added an extra to each pocket - the characteristics of Jesus.  So as we count down to His birthday we learn a little about him each day.  I got the idea of His characteristics from the Milk & Cookies blog.  Each one also has a Scripture verse which the kids look up and it tells more about Jesus.  So far we've learned that Jesus is humble, forgiving and charitable and we've read a Christmas story, made hot chocolate and wrote letters to Santa.

Even though the kids know that Santa is just pretend, they do know the story of how he came about and think that it's a lot of fun to play along - even Emma - and so tonight there were letters to be written and mailed.  Canada Post does a great job here of writing personal notes back to each kids, so they're really looking forward to hearing back from him.  

Christmas Lights

The weather out here has been so nice that last weekend Braden took like to put up the lights on the house and this time the kids convinced him to put them up on the tree . . . which took a bit longer, but Emma LOVED being up IN the tree to help out!  He even put them in the backyard so that when we're out skating we'll have some "atmosphere" - hehehe!

The little ghost at the front right is our Kaleb having fun making himself faster than light :)