Younger Me

In case you were wondering, yes... I am doing one of those "photo-a-day" challenges. I am supposed to take a picture everyday for a month, but that has proven too difficult. So instead I think I am averaging every other day. I just want to get back into the habit of taking pictures and posting them. Even just doing one every other day, I have posted more than I have all year previously (which was 0, in case you were counting).

When I was young, my siblings and I spent a lot of time with trees. Climbing them, building tree houses, and using their branches as swords. Even burning them on occasion... but that's another story. I have many memories of my dad teaching us how to tell which tree was what. To this day I look for "puzzle pieces" in the bark of every pine tree to see if it's a Ponderosa Pine.  Growing up in Southern Oregon there were always trees around. Here in Southern Alberta trees are a little more scarce. We are lucky to have a nice little willow in our backyard that my children are always climbing. That's where I took this picture.

Lunch

Happy Easter!

Something I love...

I bet you were thinking I was going to write about how much I love these two boys. And I do. But that isn't what this post is about. This is about how much I love their costumes. They have been dressing up lately as "fighters" complete with armor, a single boot each, and a cast on their arms (I think the cast is in thanks to you, Chase). Some pretty intimidating warriors here. Seriously, how can you not smile with these two boys running around playing and laughing in these AWESOME costumes! I LOVE IT!

Merry Chistmas

Movember is Here

Well, it's finally happened. Scott has found an excuse to grow facial hair again. But this time it is actually for a good cause. At least, I'm going to do all I can to make sure it actually raises money for a good cause and I'm not kissing a man with a creepy mustache for nothing!

The month of November has been dubbed "Movember" - where men everywhere grow a mustache to raise funds and awareness for mens health issues. Lets face it (no pun intended), most men don't go to the doctor. Ever. Not when they need stitches and definitely not to get a check up. There needs to be more awareness out there. And Movember is seeking to change that, one mustache at a time.

Check out this Movember video (it's funny).

The Movember website lists these goals for the funds they raise:

Survivorship

We will fund survivorship initiatives that provide information and support for men and their families affected by prostate cancer that helps them make informed decisions and improves their quality of life.

Awareness and education

Through our annual campaign and funded programs we will significantly increase the understanding of the health risk that men face and encourage men to act on that knowledge.

 

Prostate cancer research

We will fund catalytic research and clinical trials infrastructure that leads to significantly improved diagnostic and prognostic tests and treatments to reduce the burden of prostate cancer.

Influencing change in men's health
We will fund research that helps to inform health policy and knowledge translation that accelerates improved health outcomes for men.

So support Scott and men everywhere - Go to www.movember.com/m/1511134 (you can click on this link for a shortcut) and watch Scott's mustache growing process. You can also donate funds to change the face of men's health. Scott's medical corporation will match all funds donated to his campaign.

Happy Halloween!

I think Angry Birds are taking over our lives! But seriously - didn't our pumpkins turn out so awesome?! 

(If you have been living under a rock and aren't sure what exactly "Angry Birds" are - click here)

Our little Peacock, cowboy, and black Angry Bird

Kindergarten

Check out this adorable Kindergartner! Yes, Moses has started Kindergarten. He has school every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30-3:30. So far he really loves it. He comes home with so many stories about all the fun things they do in Kindergarten. Yet as much as he loves it, he still worries about what he might be missing at home. And sometimes on school days he doesn't feel like he has had enough time to play with his own things. He is already worried about going to first grade because then he'll "have to go to school EVERY day and I'll never get to play with my trick tracks!" And I did find him crying once when he realized that in grade 13 (a.k.a. college) he doesn't even get to come home at night! He said he would miss me way too much, so of course I promised him that as long as he wanted to he would always be welcome to live in the same house as me. I hope that promise doesn't backfire on me. Please, Moses, decide to move out onto your own before the age of 45!

Fisrt Ever Ponytail!

So after an entire year of willing her hair to grow - I can finally force Berlyn's hair into a ponytail. I am still so amazed that she has been so bald - Moses and Kael had SO MUCH hair. Now all I can think about is pigtails...

Not a zero anymore!

The boys have been saying Berlyn is zero for a year now. And now they can finally say she's one. 

Looking at pictures of Berlyn as a little baby now, I can hardly believe she was ever that small. Was her head always flopping over like that? It is amazing how much babies can change in a year. We have enjoyed every minute of the last year with Berlyn. She loves music and does the funniest dance moves. She loves to play hot wheels and wrestle with her brothers. She likes to be held and cuddled. She loves necklaces and having her hair played with, and she LOVVVVVES shoes! She says , "uh-oh", "hello", "dad", "hi, Dad", "high five", and "eeee" whenever the boys try to take her toys. She also signs milk - but isn't really into signing and usually looks at me like I'm crazy whenever I sign to her. She started really walking on her birthday and her hair is now long enough to put in a little ponytail.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

 

She didn't actually like the cake much - but she ate up the frosting!

She loved opening presents. It was a little tricky for her to do by herself - thankfully she had two older brothers who were willing to help out. She loved her presents, although she didn't get to play with them for the first few weeks because her brothers were monopolizing them. I've discovered that baby toys, big kid toys, girl toys, boy toys - it doesn't matter what they are as long as they are new toys! 

Cutest Kids EVER!