a big decision

Today, we had a big decision....actually, Emma made this decision about 2 years ago, and I am the one who needed to decide if it was ok. Emma has been bugging for a long time now to get bangs....and I finally gave in! She has promised me she will let me straighten her hair if it needs it, so I finally made the appointment and let her get bangs! I am so proud of her for taking a chance. She knew what she wanted and didn't stop until she got it! I hope that is a character trait she keeps! She is just as beautiful in the after shot as she was in the before picture taken this morning. (And she is looking so grown up in both pictures!)

...and my roller boy

Some photos of my show off hubby roller blading with the girls....







...ain't he cute?

roller girls

As you know Abigail got roller blades for her birthday and Emma bought some with her birthday money...they LOVE skating around on them! I took these a couple of weeks ago...before the temperature dropped and it started raining almost constantly. They get better each time they go out on them....maybe it's time to replace the ones I bought almost 20 years ago and join them!

a birthday treat

The girls were given the option this year of having friend birthday parties or going to Great Wolf Lodge again. Guess what they picked!



....this post is going to be a little picture heavy. There were a bunch of really cool shots with Emma's new waterproof camera.













One of the things the girls really wanted to do for their birthdays was go to the Scoops Spa at GWL, a spa catering entirely to girly girls! And ice cream flavours! They each had a manicure and a pedicure, and were totally pampered!







They totally loved it!

happy birthday baby

My baby girl is now 7 years old. I can't believe my youngest is 7! We had the same hunt around the house with clues to where her present was hidden, just like we had done with Emma. Abby had tried a friends' roller blades and loved them! She hadn't even considered asking for them for her birthday, so it was especially exciting to watch her as she realized what was in the box! The first picture is Abby reading one of the clues, in the second picture she still wasn't sure what was in the box. The third picture is the exact second she realized she had her own roller blades! How exciting is that!!!



She just couldn't wait to try them out. She practiced for most of the day going back and forth on the hardwood.

happy birthday girls

Emma and Abigail's birthdays are only 5 days apart from each other, so we had the family over to celebrate both of their birthdays at the same time. We went with a simple polka dot theme this year. The top corner of this picture shows a bit of the cute, funky paper pom poms I made for decorations.



This is the banner I made to hang on the wall.



And the birthday girls blowing out the candles on their cake. It was yummy delicious.




I hope all your wishes come true girls! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

the newest shutterbug

It was Emma's birthday yesterday....my baby is 9 years old now, and growing up so fast! The most important item on her birthday wish list was an underwater camera. She has been wanting her own camera for quite a while now, and has recently learned of the existence of waterproof cameras. We had Emma convinced that waterproof cameras are WAY too expensive and there was no way she would be getting one for her birthday. Well.....we found one for her. And then sent her on a search around the house with clues to the next clue, and so on.....until she found the present wrapped up in her school lunch bag.



The first picture was taken at the exact moment that Emma realized she actually had her very own waterproof camera! Look at those genuine smiles! So beautiful!
Emma is now our family's newest shutterbug!

easter weekend

Well, Easter Weekend is almost over.....and again this year, Pierre and I both had to work. One of these days, it'll be nice to spend time with the family when the rest of the world is spending time with their families. We did manage to get a brunch in at my mom's house on Friday. The kids got to hunt for eggs around the backyard and we ate lots of delicious and high calorie foods! And the girls have had a steady diet of candy and chocolate for the weekend.


Notice the lovely jelly bean bracelet Emma is wearing....a perfect accessory for Easter!

Carter was quite enthralled with the wind up toys the kids got from Grandma.


And the girls received some more goodies from Grandma's trip to Hawaii!


We've also had this little creature lurking around in our backyard recently. He is cute, but has been wreaking havoc on our poor dogs! Our Beagle thinks the bunny is her own personal hunting toy! (but we haven't seen him since the day before Easter...hmm, I wonder!)

happy birthday baby jack

It was my nephew's 1st birthday yesterday. Wow, where has the time gone? He is such a happy baby!


He loves Thomas as much as big brother Carter, so I made him a Thomas the Train cake.


I think he liked it!


Carter was SO great! He just stood back and let Jack go to town on the cake! Carter got just as excited watching...such a sweetheart!! (and he has already put in his order for the same cake for his birthday next month!)


Jack REALLY got into the cake! Such a mess...sorry about the clean up Lora!!

Happy Birthday Jack!!

great wolf lodge

We received an amazing gift from my Dad for Christmas this year....a night at Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls! We decided to go over the March Break, and the girls have been counting down the days for a couple of months now. We had so much fun, the time just flew by while we were there. Now it doesn't really feel like we actually went! But I have some pictures to prove it!



In the front lobby, they had animated animals and this tree that talked to the kids.



The girls had a blast in the arcade....so many games to play! This one is that dance game where you have to tap your feet on the lights to the beat of the music to get points.



But the Water Park was the highlight!









Next time we go, it'll have to be for 2 days. 1 just wasn't long enough!