OMG It's The End of November!

Well, I guess this is what I get for waiting almost 6 months to update things! Many pics to sift through and have to pick out the highlights....

I can't believe it's the end of November already, and the end of another year is upon us. 2011 saw us through many more adjustments and changes, but also the creation of new routines and new normals. Rowan and I are doing well...or at least I think we are!

Sorry about the delay, and I will try to stay more on the ball!

Random Ro-ness

Happy Halloween!

There was no fear this year at halloween....kids completely 'got' the concept and the distance between houses (and candy!) was covered by sprinting! Ro made for a very cute ladybug!

Visit From The Stagers

In October Uncle Chad, Auntie 'Chelle, Kayden and Issy came up for a visit. We opted to head out to a local 'Farm' to check out the Fall celebrations. There were scarecrows (freaked Ro out!), story time, corn mazes and pumpkin cannons! Rowan loves spending this kind of time with her cousins, and has decided that "Isabelle is sooooo cute!"

First Day of School!!

In September Ro started preschool! She is attending one day a week, but it is pretty much a full day from 9-3:30. She is loving it and doing really well. And I am loving the free day a week too!

Road Trip to Cranbrook!

At the end of August, Lena and I packed up the kids and headed home to Cranbrook for a weeks vacation. We had perfect weather the whole time, and were able to enjoy much of the local fun. We checked out waterparks, visited the farmer's market, did some craftwork in the backyard, went to view the Falls in Marysville, and had two wonderfully hot beach days! Kids loved it and it was nice to have the comforts of (Mom and Kasper's!) home to stay in.

The Dog Days of Summer?

Other activities that filled the summer on a day to day basis included hanging at the park...

regular trips to Ft. Edmonton Park,

backyard pool time play

picnics at the legislature grounds for a dip in their pools

and a couple trips out to MaMeO Beach! A great way to spend the sunny days that we had....

Happy Canada Day!

For Canada Day Ro and I took the LRT down to the legislature grounds and toured around for a bit. Then in the afternoon we hit the Millwoods celebrations for some face painting, castle bouncing, live music and hotdogs :)

Time Flies

I know it has been about 3 months since I have posted anything here. Two things: 1) I rely way too much on Cath these days to be taking pictures! and 2) I'm making a point of letting life keep us busy.

Now that spring has arrived we are spending our days taking trips to the zoo, to Ft. Edmonton Park, to the playgrounds, having picnics and generally spending as much time outside as we can. Rowan has been involved in a couple of programs where she can go on her own and she loves socializing with the other kids there. She is in a dayhome a 1/2 day a week, which gives us both a break and again, she loves having the interaction with new (well, now not so new) people. I have taken another years leave from work, so once we settle into new routines in the fall (with preschool and such), we'll see how far I make it in my pre-contemplative thoughts about if/when I return. Nothing in stone at this point....

This summer is going to see us making a couple of trips to Cranbrook, Calgary and hopefully to some nearby beaches around here if/when we get the sunny days. No other big trips planned right now, but I never rule it out. We'll just see where the next few months take us....

1st Time Golfing With Mom

So I decided to risk it and take Rowan to the driving range with me the other day. Of course she loved it...the lady at the range let her borrow a kids driver they had on hand and Rowan marched right up to the tee mats, proceeded to steal the balls out of my bucket, tee them up and smack 'em! She was very adamant that she would "show you how to do it, Mom." Then in true Tityk form, she got extremely frustrated when she missed, growled a bit, and threw her club into the range....but she wants to go again... :) I won't lie, it was nice to have my own cheering section as when I would hit she would get very excited and yell for all to hear, "Nice hit, Mom! That was a great one!"

Couple of Favs

May Visit With Cousins Kayden & Isabelle

In early May Michelle brought the kids up for a visit and a change of scenery. We had a series of nice days, which allowed the kids to play in the backyard together and have trip to our (less than amazing!) zoo. Was also nice for Michelle and I to have have some adult time...okay, maybe me more so than her, but all in all it went pretty well. Rowan and Kayden just pick up where they left off, and Rowan is pretty interested in her new cousin Isabelle. In fact, she loves her so much that she is the only reason I am allowed to get rid of anything in this house...only if we are "giving it to Isabelle, because she is smaller than you!"

Colin, Kate and Cath....yes, us big people squeezed ourselves into the kid train!

Love this smile!

Random Ro-ness

A Little Bit of Easter

This if from a pre-Easter party that took place early in April at Ft. Edmonton Park. The kids had a chance to decorate cookies, dye easter eggs, make baskets and go on a hunt down the park paths! As they continue to get older and better at this little outings, they get just a little bit more enjoyable for us!

Rowan also spent some time later in the month (over the actual Easter holiday) at Nana and Papa's. More egg hunts, more candy! It is June and we are still making our way through the mini eggs!

Happy Birthday Kayden!

In March we made our way to Calgary to visit family; we wanted to meet our new baby Isabelle and celebrate some birthdays. Kayden turned three and had a wonderful birthday brunch. Was good to see Auntie 'Chelle and Uncle Chaddie too!