NEW HOUSE!!!!!

We have purchased our first home...we are still waiting on the inspection, but our hopes are really high for that. We dont' get possession til January 15, which works our REALLY well for us. I will post more pics soon as I get a new computer.

so to all my faithful readers, my posting will be short as my computer crashed...but I am hoping to get a new one soon.

Preschool and a Birthday Party

On Sunday, we had a birthday supper for Rick's Dad. Kim and Chris and Aidan, Carla, and Decoy all came for supper. We enjoyed watching the football game for the afternoon. And for supper, we deep fried a turkey, and had salad, peas and carrots, and suffed baked potatoes, and dressing. It kind of felt like Thanksgiving...but it was awesome to have turkey. And then of course we had a DQ birthday cake. The girls and Aidan were so excited to get up on his knee and help him blow out his candles and sing Happy Birthday to him. MacKenzie and Kaylee were SO excited to be having a birthday party for Grandpa, they got out the cars tablecloth, and they had to blow up a bunch of balloons. They wanted to decorate with streamers and all too...but we never did that. MacKenzie even HAD to wear a dress. It wouldn't be right if she didn't cause it was a party you know...lol. Thats what she tells me.

Yesterday, MacKenzie had her first day of Preschool. She wasn't really excited until the day/and the night before. On Sunday night, we got out her backpack, and packed it all up with some extra clothes, shoes, decorated her little gingerbread girl for the teacher. We packed a snack, that she picked out all herself. Then we decided which clothes she wanted to wear. All that got her really excited.

When she woke up yesterday morning, she woke up with a smile, and asked if she had enough sleeps yet so she could go.

Rick and I never stayed with her as she was ok with everything. It was nice to have Rick be able to be a part of taking her to her first day of Preschool. As a stay at home mom, I feel a little guilty that I get to be there for most of their firsts. MacKenzie really enjoyed it too. And Rick definitely took advantage of every moment. Walking her up to the door, putting her indoor shoes on, and her name tag. He is such an awesome Dad :)

As you can see MacKenzie was so excited for her first day...you couldn't wipe the smile off of her face.

We took some pics by the tree

Her Princess backpack that she picked out herself (no suprise there...lol) but I forgot a picture of the lunch box...which is also princess as well.

Daddy walking her in

Got the name tag on

Coloring a picture for the teacher

And we can't forget about Kaylee ...need to have a few pictures of her...especially in her "purple fleefies" as she calls them.

First Day Home

Here is another page for MacKenzie's album. I really wanted to journal the memory of how we brought her home, and some of our thoughts. I used my Cricut with the Home Accents cartridge for the title, and the snowflakes. The snowflakes are just white glittery paper from Just Scrap It. I also used some Frosted Lace Stickles to enhance the twigs around the edges of the paper to give it a more wintery feeling.

I remember the first day we brought MacKenzie home from the hospital. The journaling reads:

We will never forget the day we brought you home. On January 27/28, 2004 was one of the coldest days of the year. We came home in the late evening and the temperature was -50 with the wind chill. Our little car wouldn’t warm up enough to take you home, so your Grandma Marg borrowed us her car. Your Grandma and Grandpa Sherstobitoff met us at our apartment for your arrival.

We were so nervous about the cold weather that we covered you in several blankets. Then we were nervous that we put on too many and you wouldn’t be able to breathe. We drove home so slowly and carefully because of the cold and the slippery roads. It was so cold in our apartment that our neighbors lent us their space heaters to get it warmed up for you.

After we got you uncovered and we got settled. We both kind of looked at each other and asked “Now what?” We had no clue what life with a baby would be like exactly. And so begins our journey of learning and growing together.

Races

Sorry to my faithful readers for the lack of blogging....we've been busy this week.

Friday night we went to the Races with Rick's Dad, Carla, and Michael. The girls had a blast as they love watching the race cars. It was 14 degrees or so when we got there...but with the wind, it felt much colder than that. I dug out the girls toque's and mitts, and even their winter coats. The wind eventually stopped and it ended up being a nice evening. Here are a few pics from our night.

Camping Holidays

Last week we went on a camping holiday. We went up to Kipabiskua Regoinal Park. Rick used to go there all the time as a kid. So we thought it would be a great lake to go to to see where he has some memories. We stopped at a couple cabins while we were there...one was the old family cabin-which is now his aunt and cousin's cabin. And then we stopped at a cabin that belongs to friends of his family. All in all, we had a really great time. Definitely have some memories from this trip, from almost capsizing the boat, and having a squirrel jump on Rick's leg. I don't feel like going into too many details today about those stories...sorry... :) We had a little bit of rain, but where our campsite was, it was very sheltered, so we didn't get very wet. Rick changed a strangers tire on our way out of the campground.

We stopped at his Aunt and Unlce's farm for a visit on our way home. Stopped in Melfort at another Uncle's house, and at his Grandpa's house. Went for supper with his cousin and his cousin's girlfriend. We stopped by the flower shop and got some flowers to put down on Rick's grandma's grave. It happend to be her birthday that day as well. Then we drove home missing most of a storm, but the sky around us was AMAZING....(see picture below). Anyways, that sums up our camping trip. Enjoy the pictures :)

Walking through the trail to get to the park

The new - old cabin

Kaylee driving the boat all by herself
Kaylee and her cousin Morgan
Kaylee fell asleep with Uncle Rod
Our chipmunk friend






My awesome man changing a tire for these ladies. Super Big Heart that Rick has...and love him so much for it.
Mack holding a baby sheep

We went and layed down a few yellow roses for Rick's Grandma's Birthday on Wednesday
The girls and their Great Grandpa Kucher

This is the sky we drove through on the way home...a little scary, but SO neat

Holidays

So this past weekend we wen on holidays. We went through Drumheller, stayed in Calgary at my Aunt and Uncle's, went up to Johnston Canyon, and Lake Louise, and went to the zoo. We had an incredibly busy trip while we were there, but SOOOO SOOO wonderful.


We went through the Royal Terrel Museum Friday afternoon on our way up to Calgary. The girls were very fascinated with the dinosaur bones. And loved driving through the valley. On friday night, we just got settled in at my aunt and uncle's place.


Saturday we went to Ikea, and I got to stop at a Scrapbook store on the way :) Spent way too much time and money in there (the scrapbook store). Never bought anything at Ikea...suprisingly. Then we came back to my aunt and uncles, and they had a few of my other extended relatives over for supper. It was great to see everyone too!!


Sunday we got up early and headed out of Calgary up to Johnston Canyon and Lake Louise. Rick and the girls had never been to either before, so I was excited for them to see the beautiful sights, as I have been to both places before. We went on a long hike to see the waterfalls, seen an elk on the side of the road...which the girls just loved as it was RIGHT outside their window. And Lake Louise was so beautiful, but yet so busy. We really enjoyed the drive and definitely the scenery. And it was great to spend some good quality family time together. When we told the girls where we were going, MacKenzie asked..."Where is she" meaning Louise....lol thinking that Louise was a person not a lake.


Monday we went to the zoo. The girls loved seeing all the animals. Their favorite part was feeding the giraffes. They also liked the adventure through the dinosaur park there, and looking for all the dinosaurs hidden in the bushes.


Tuesday we headed back home. We thought it would be too rushed for me to come back to work on Wednesday night if we left that morning. We stopped at Horseshoe canyon on the way back. Then we went to the fireworks that evening.

Here are a bunch of random pictures from our holiday. They are in no particular order cause I didn't feel that organized. lol. Enjoy!

This is us at Lake Louise

This was a little cave at Johnston Canyon. We had to climb up a little hill to get there, but the girls enjoyed it.

My Aunty Dawn helping the girls get ready for the day. Kaylee was putting on her own lipstick...lol. I remember doing this with her when I was a little kid. So when I walked in there and seen the girls doing the same thing, I just had to take a picture.

This was at the Museum in Drumheller

Kaylee and my Great Aunt Rogina

Kaylee and me at Lower Falls at Johnston Canyon

The little church in drumheller

Kaylee feeding the giraffe

MacKenzie feeding the giraffe

An elk on the side of the road

MacKenzie inside a cave at the zoo