Nailpolish and carpets don't mix

I had to write a post and share some of the funny things Leah has done lately.  First of all she is obsessed - no exaggeration here, obsessed with lip gloss and nail plish (what can I say she IS my daughter!).  Anyhow I go to great great lengths to keep her away from these things but with 3 older sisters and a mom, you can imagine that there is alot of lip gloss and nail polish floating around this house.  I have child safety locks on my makeup drawers in the bathroom and we have the child proof door handle  covers - and I am forever after my girls to keep their doors SHUT.  She looks for every opportunity to slip quietly into one of our rooms and ransack through the goodies.  She also looks for my purse, as she knows I keep lip gloss in there.  Funny though - I have a really nice Sephora Lip gloss that I won't let her use and when she gets lucky and finds my purse on the ground or counter she will rifle through it - eat half a pack of gum, smear her face with lip gloss and anything else, but she won't touch the Sephora one.  Then when she is done having her way with the gloss and stuff she will bring me the Sephora lip gloss and say "here Mommy - Leah no use it, only mommy - OK mommy"  Like I should be grateful that she didn't touch my favorite one!  It cracks me up every time and she looks so darn cute with the big sparkly lips, and really I can't blame her for wanting to use it.

Today I took Avri to an Orthodontist Appointment for her braces (coming June 15th).  It was not a great appointment because she had to have the molds done and Avri gags very easily.  I was sitting in the waiting room and I could here choking and gagging in the other room.  It brought tears to my eyes because I felt so bad for her, and I knew it was miserable and hard for her to deal with.  Finally the assistant came and got me - I went in and saw her and she had big tears rolling down her face and she was scared and worked up because the stuff had dripped down her throat.  She had the bottom molds done but the top ones she pulled out before it worked.  The assistant was trying to convince her to try again and Avri didn't want to.  I was sitting there thinking wow this is a great start to years of orthodontics!!  We were finally able to convince her to try again - the assistant used a small tray and missed the clay really thick (why she didn't do this in the first place frustrates and annoys me but either way I held her hand and helped her focus and we got through it.   I can not believe I am old enough to have a child with braces!!  She will be getting them on June 15th.

While we were at the dentist josh was at home with the younger three.  Always interesting!!    Heck it is interesting when I am home with them but when it is him they tend to be more mischievous and try to get away with more.  This brings me to the nailpolish - remember Leah LOVES nail polish.  She got into Avri and Mika's room and did a mini pedicure on herself and meanwhile got it all over the carpet.  This is one of the few times when I have thought that having off white carpets is actually good!!  Using acetone polish remover and rubbing alcohol and HOT water - I actually got the stains out!!  WOW!  Anyway here are a couple of pictures of her toes and might I add that they are the cutest little toes you ever did see!!  She was so proud of herself too!

Well mothers day has come and gone.  I felt really grateful this year for my 4 girls.  I grumble and complain alot about them and about life as a stay at home mom right now, but they are so wonderful.  They bring me so much love, laughter and happiness.  Sometimes I can't believe I have 4 kids - 4 girls.  I secretly love to tell people I have 4 girls just to see their reaction.  Most people say your poor husband, but I think he gets off kind of easy - I will be the one dealing with all the girl stuff!!  I really dont know what I would have done if I had boys.  I am so girly, I love the dance and piano that my girls are involved in, I love the clothes, the make up and hair stuff.  I LOVE it all.  Sometimes I get a small glimpse of the hormones poking through and I worry about the future and dealing with all that stuff for years and years, but really I could not be happier.  If someone had of let me choose what gender of children I would have I think I would have chose 4 girls - really.  I think of all the great things that the future will hold for me, baking and cooking with them (which they already love to do).  Shopping and going to girls movies and girls night out, actually come think of it they already love all those things!  The poems and pictures and cards that they gave me for mothers day were beautiful - Mika wrote me a song, it was so cute. She sang it to the tune of Happy Happy Birthday from Red Robins!!

We are itching for Spring to arrive around here.  We have already bought some veggies for the garden and we are going to get flowers soon too!!  We just need a little sun.  Zoe is my gardener, she LOVES to help me in the garden.  Leah likes to be outside too - although she is a bit scared of anythign that flies right now.  Hopefully that will pass.

Highland dancing is going great - we are in full competition mode.  I have starting making some of the costumes and I love it!!  I forgot how much I love to sew.  I just never seem to have the time!!  Avri got  1st place in all 3 of her dances at the last competition and got the aggregate (highest score for her catagory).  Not bad for second competition. Mika got a 2nd and 5th.  She did really great too!!  There were even more girls in Mika's category! I am so proud of them!!  Zoe will be competing in June at the competition in Bellingham.  I will keep you posted with how all of this goes, we are having lots of fun with it!!  Below is Avri in the outfit that I made - it is her national costume - used for dancing the national dances.  Below that is Leah being cute (not hard for her) and Zoe at her 5th birthday.  I don't have any nice ones of Mika so I will be on a mission to snap a few nice ones of Mika.

Sew sew sew dance dance dance

Well I am glad that this weekend is over - don't say that very often!!  The girls had their highland dance exams on Sunday.  Avri, Mika and Zoe all did their exams.  It was very stressful for me!!  To start off I decided that I would sew the girls National costumes, all fine and dandy til I pulled out the sewing machine and it didn't work.  Off to the sewing repair shop it went, they told me they could rush it - unfortunately that didn't happen as the guy who fixes them was moving his fix-it shop.  I was so stressed!!  I finally got it back Friday at noon!  Exams were Sunday morning.  I basically sewed all night Friday all day and night Saturday!!  I thought we were all ready on Sunday as I loaded everything in the van ( 5 costumes ) hair stuff, dance shoes, socks, dance underwear, water bottles, you get the picture.  First exam was at 8:30 for Avri and Mika - then Zoe was supposed to dance at 9:40 they had a cancellation at 9am and wanted to stick Avri and Mika in to do their second dance exam (different dance with different costumes).  That might have been ok except that I was in the midst of sewing on the velcro and hemming Mika's skirt.  The top part had not been folded properly etc etc.  So Their teacher was helping me.  Poor Avri was stressed cause she thought that had 4 hours to get in some practice in the studio.  SO we hemmed the skirt with safety pins and pinned them on the girls and I crossed my fingers and held my breath.  When they were done Mika came through the door with her skirt around her knees.  I about lost it then.  I was so frustrated that I hadn't had time to get it finished and she told me that it had been falling down since half way through the first dance (they had 2 dances in this costume.)  She didn't seem to phased by it.  Avri was ok - but a little rattled at the last minute change - she gets that from me.  I was so upset though - I had spent all this time sewing and then it didn't work out the way I wanted it to.  Anyway we got the results today and both girls passed their national and highland.  Mika got commended and Avri got the highest Mark with Highly Commended and the examiner told our teacher that Avri was a very promising dancer!!  The girls teacher also said that this examiner was far tougher than the last few they have had.  Both girls skipped a level and exammed at bronze (as opposed to pre-bronze).  I am very proud of them.  I didn't get pictures of the costumes but they will be wearing them on the 30th of April for their competition and I will get pictures then!

Other big news Friday Zoe got her ears pierced!!  She was so brave and it was her idea so I decided to go for it.  Avri and Mika have their ears pierced too.  I don't have pictures of that yet either - I have been slacking in the picture taking department - need to charge my battery and get on it.  Especially with the nice weather as I love to take outside shots this time of year.  I LOVE the spring - I love to garden LOVE it!!!  This year I am trying to talk Josh into letting me get a greenhouse!  Wish me luck - so far he is not too excited about it!!  I am just in the planning stages for the veggie garden and the flower garden and the perenial garden.  A few years ago Josh gave me some flowers for Mother's day and with it was a card that said he was vowing to never NEVER give me a hard time about buying things for gardening - I have to remind him every year of this but he has been pretty good so far - the greenhouse is sort of pushing it though!  I will have to keep you posted on the outcome...

Hawaii - beautiful even when it rains

Aloha!!!  Well here I am 11 days into our 14 day Hawaiian vacation.  We have been having an amazing time.  Honestly just having the time together as a family - totally uninterrupted by daily commitments is so great!  We had Josh's mom here for the first 8 days and that was great!  Not only did it allow Josh and I some dates without the kids, it was an extra adult at all times.  We have really missed her since she left.  Don't worry though mom, we have kept the condo pretty clean!!  We have spent a great deal of time just lounging by pool, relaxing in the sun.   I could live here.  It is so perfect - not too hot and not too cold, even when it rains it is warm!  The ocean is amazing and I think my absolute favorite thing is the humpback whales.  All you have to do is sit on the beach and you can watch them slap their tales, dive in and out and even breach once in and while.  Then there is the whale watching tours - that is the most amazing thing ever!!  When you get close tot hem you can actually hear them sport and breath!  It is the most amazing thing.  They are so majestic and beautiful.  Brenda and I went out on a whale watching tour and Josh and I also went out on a snorkeling tour that did some whale watching on our way back.  You can also see them as you drive along the coast!!  Here are a few Pictures from my whale watching adventure!

This is mama whale teaching baby whale how to tale slap

This is Baby whale excitedly tale slapping - so cute!!

This is a big Male humpback - he was very close to the boat!

Beautiful Tale!

Yesterday there was a bit of commotion at the resort - people were talking about a beached Seal down on the beach.  At first they were thinking it was dead.  Then the wildlife association came out and roped the area off and put up signs that said Monk Seal resting - do not disturb!  She has been there for over 24 hours now.  We take the kids down and go visit her, every once in a while she lifts her head and looks around.  She even snorted and swatted at a fly that was pestering her!  When the water comes up to high she hops up further on the beach.  The wild life people have been there the whole time, answering questions and sharing information about the endangered seals.  There are less than 1100 world wide.  This one is a female about 20 years old.  She has had at least 12 pups!!  It is common for them to beach themselves to rest and they tend to be solo animals!  We think she is very cute.

Another thing I love about Hawaii are coconut M & M's!!  I am not even kidding they are so good!!  I am not a huge M&M fan but these are so good.  They are a bit of a weakness for me - hence the fact that I am on my 2nd box of 24 packages :)  Don't worry though - I will bring some back to share :)  Maybe!  I have actually even continued running while on holidays.  I started in January - well I have pathetically started about 6 or 7 times in the past 6 months but I really buckled down in January - with the motivation of having to wear a swimsuit in Hawaii!!  I was actually doing quite well so I am pleased that I have managed to keep it up a little.  There is something so great about going for a run at 8am in February, in a tank top and shorts, and being plenty warm.  Gentle breeze keeping it not too hot!  I tell ya I would be in better shape if I lived here - cause running on the treadmill in your basement is not nearly as exciting as running down the board walk in Maui looking at the ocean!!  But the good news is I think I have burned off most of the M&M's ;)

Josh and I have really enjoyed having the extra time off together with the girls, lots of swimming, fun at the beach, movies and games in the room and eating meals together as a family, uninterupted!  Here are a few pictures of the trip so far!

The restaurant's are ok - the good ones are REALLY expensive - and the rest are just your typical family style restaurant.  Even Hard Rock cafe leaves much to be desired.  We do have a great one at the hotel called Duke's and it is right on the beach - we have enjoyed a few good meals there!  I love the Mahi Mahi!!  So fresh and yummy!  We haven't been to any farmer's markets this time - which really isn't such a bad thing as the grocery stores pretty much carry all the same stuff.

I am looking froward to getting back home to the pets - and of course my lovely family and friends, but I will miss Maui, the sunsets, the warm air, the humpbacks and even the tropical rain!  I am sure we will be back.

Time Flies

I can't believe it has been over a month since I wrote - and really the only thing that prompted me was reading my friend Tasha's recent post (Thanks Tasha!!).  I am really terrible at keeping up with this thing!  I don't even know why anyone would bother to read it since it is so darn sporatic!  Anyhow - here goes!  It has been another busy month.  THe girls competed in their first dance competition which went very well!  Mika got two 3rd places.  Avri did not place but she was in a very hard catagory - she was the youngest and alot of the girls had alot more experience, but she danced so well and I was so proud of her!  School is back in full swing too!  We have anew neice - her name is Ally and she is the most beautiful little thing ever! I'll sneak in a picture :)

We have had a ton of birthday's too!  Mika turned 8 and she was baptised!  It was a beautiful baptism - she looked adorable in her white dress and it was a good evening.  Leah turned 2 - so we are now in full swing with terrible two's!  She is a love most of the time - but when she wants to be difficult.......she has no trouble!  She loves her sister, loves to follow them around, loves to ask where they are, loves to get into their stuff and just generally LOVES them!  It is so fun to see.  We had a fun birthday party for Mika - with a fun rainbow theme and a family dinner to celebrate Leah turning 2 - both with lots of fun!

 Something Else funny that Leah has been doing lately (well for quite a while actually is dressing up in her sisters shoes and clothes!  She loves anything that is their's and she loves to dress up.  So below is a picture of her doing just that!!  note the mismatched socks and shows ont he wrong feet - but she was so darn proud of herself "wook mommy - EAH do it"!!

Well one week til we take off as a family for a much needed or at least much wanted 2 week holiday in hawaii.  I promise to bring my computer and blog while I am there with some fun pictures and updates!! below are just a few recent cute pictures!

Merry Christmas - a little late and WOW happy NEW YEAR!!

Shame on me it has been alomst 4 months since I posted - it's not like I am that busy or anything!  I don't even know where the time has gone and that is the truth.  One of my new years resolutions is to be more organized and in doing this I am hoping that it will allow for more time doing the things that I love!  Soooo let's back up a bit here.  The three older girls have been doing highland dancing since September and have been really enjoying it!  In fact they are getting quite good at it!  Avri adn Mika will be competing on January 15th so that is very exciting.  They have also been doing there piano but are on a bit of a break as there auntie/teacher is just about to have her little baby girl!!!  A GIRL COUSIN!!!  YIPPEE - very excited around here!  The fall literally zipped by, I think the months just ran into one another!

This is Avri doing the fling at the old folks residence in Maple Ridge Bailey House.

This is Zoe getting ready to do her high cuts and Pod - a- ba's (that is spelled very very wrong!)  Anyway they are important steps they learn for the other high land dances!

This is Mika getting ready to do the Lilt!!

Christmas was wonderful - it is my favorite time of year!  I truly do love it.  I love the baking, the shopping, the music, the entertaining, the magic, the whole thing!!  My girls seem to have inherited that love for the christmas season as well!  It sure comes and goes quickly though!  THis year I joined a small choir that performed in our Church Christmas service and I loved it!  I am by no means a great singer but I love to sing and I worked quite hard it!  I think the end result was good - at least that is what most people told me!!  One of the things the girls really enjoyed doing this year - as a family was the operations christmas child.  Where you fill show boxes with gifts that are sent to third world countries!  We had so much fun doing them.  Each of us did our own box.  It is very important to teach my girls how to be compassionate and generous and giving.  I also want them to grow up with grateful hearts.  It is a huge goal of mine to raise my children this way.  I don't ever want them to take for granted the life that they have been blessed with.

The christmas break was fun - gotta admit I am a big fan of the no schedule - but 2 weeks is long enough.  They even let me sleep in until 8am a few times!!  We ventured out to the movies twice - and it was an adventure - me with all 4 girls!!  But even little Leah sat though them for the most part, of course the big tub of popcorn helped with that!!  Josh took the older 3 ice skating - which they loved, even though there were a few falls on the ice!  Overall we spent alot of time together as a family, just simply having FUN!!  But I am happy to be back to routine again!

 This is the girls all dresses up for our church christmas party!!

This is the girls in their new jammies on Christmas Eve!!

So here we are in 2011 - I can't believe it.  I hope that this year will be as great as 2010.  I am sure it will bring many surprises and challenges - I hope I am up for them!!  For now I hope that I will be able to some what achieve my resolutions which are first to be more organized and second to find joy in everything - and I really mean EVERYTHING!!  I am a little bit of a pessimist at times and I don't want my children to see me that way so I am going to try really hard to change that!    Oh ya and thirdly - to keep on top of this blog :)

Back to reality

I can not believe that I am sitting here typing this and it is labour day weekend?  Where or where did the summer go?  It was a wonderful summer but it zoomed by so fast I can hardly believe it!  We got home from veranda beach last weekend - that was an amazing week.  It was hard to come back home.  I could have stayed there for another month.  This week has been a little challenging as the kids are bored and they had just spent a whole week with Josh around to help entertain them.. Apparently I am a little disapointing when it comes to entertainment!  The weather has been a little cooler but the sun was out most days this week so we can't really complain.

Today was a little challenging by times.  Leah got a hold of a bottle of nail polish from my bathroom and managed to get the lid off when I wasn't looking.  The she proceeded to paint her arms legs and face - yes face with this lovely shade of burgundy.  Then she dumped the remained out on my cream coloured carpet.  She toddled back into the bathroom and looked at me and said "pitty" her word for Pretty.  I didn't know whether I should laugh, cry or scream.  So I stood there stunned for a second trying to figure out what to do and in what order.  I managed to get most of it off Leah - I left the one toe nail that she had painted!  THen the carpet...........I looked up a few things on google and then I attacked it.  After 2 hours I managed to get most of it out.  Just how I wanted to spend two hours of my day!!

Well we will try and make the most of our 3 day weekend - life is pretty hectic right now as we have a new store opening in Vancouver in 2 weeks.  Josh is run off his feet right now.  Below are some cute pics from veranda beach!!

Here we are at the beach in front of our cabin.  We had just been to church down in Orville and got a rare family shot with everyone in it!

      

heaven on earth

Here I sit on the very warm deck of our cabin  in Veranda Beach - an amazing resort in the small town of Orville (the US side of Osoyoos).  We have been here 4 days and already booked for 2 weeks next year!  It is so beautiful.  We are right on the lake, the cabin is perfect ( and big enough to hold 5 adults and 5 kids!)  We only have 3 days left which is kind of sad.  We have been boating, tubing, swimming, building sand castles, lounging by the pool, eating,  reading, laughing, playing games and having an amazing time!  I do not want to go back to reality in 3 days.

I am sitting out in the warm air  listening to a frog while the kids are sleeping peacefully because they are absolutely warn out from swimming and playing outside in the 35 C heat all day!  Josh is sleeping on the window seat in the living room as he is absolutely wiped out too!  I feel like I am on another planet.  I am so relaxed and just enjoying all this family time!

I have some amazing pictures to share but I forgot my cord to connect the camera to my laptop o it will have to wait til I get back home.  Til then - good night