NIFTY FIFTY!

This week my wonderful friend Donna turned 50! This is completely insane to me because in my eyes, she's the same age as me?!?

Donna is affectionately known around school as "The Queen" and some of our staff took the "royal" theme to town for her birthday celebration. When she arrived at school on Monday morning, her office had been transformed...complete with a throne and plenty of decorations. It was awesome! Every class in the school was assigned a time to surprise Donna with 50 "something". Some people were so creative! She was totally surprised! Donna got everything she deserved for her birthday... lots of attention, gifts, sweets, surprise visitors and special treatment. I hope you had a super day Donna! We all love you so much! You are the glue of our school, my personal therapist, my lunch time date and a perfect friend! xo

Here's Donna in her office with a little visitor! To read more about her birthday you can check out her blog too http://peterssm.blogspot.com/

Chester!

Last weekend my friend Andrea bought a little puppy Pug for her girls. On Saturday night we went over to visit it and Oh My Goodness...is it adorable! Makes me want to get a dog soooooooooo bad! Abbey and Michael LOVED playing with the little pup.

Abbey was so smitten with Chester and wanted him in her arms ALL night long. I think she would be fantastic with a pet.

Chester fell asleep on Michael in this position. So sweet! There are two more males left Steve...hmmm! What do you think? lol!












Thanks for having us over Andrea. We love the new addition (and Willa too!)

Base Christmas Party!

This weekend Michael, Abbey and I went to the Base Christmas Party with our neighbours the Tromp Family. It was a big pancake breakfast with face painting, balloon making, magic shows and of course Mr and Mrs Claus. Tons of FUN! We had a great time together! It was nice to see all our military friends and their families. (and also get so many words of encouragement about surviving without your husband from women who have done it and lived to tell ha!ha!!)

I can't believe the difference one year can make. Abbey and Michael aren't scared of Santa at all now. We waited in line and they went right up to Santa and told him what they wanted. They are still asking for a pink dress (Abbey) and a big truck (Michael)....and they won't be disappointed!

Hats off to the Base for putting on such a great family fun day! (and to the Tromp Family for letting us tag along!)

Michael's Turn!

So, Michael wanted to sing a Christmas carol too!...and you know how my kids love anything and everything that sings. Well he decided to sing along to a decorations that my friend Shannon bought me years ago. From the constant playing (and probably being dropped many times) it skips every now and then. This video was us trying to get a good recording of Michael singing but it totally didn't work out...but it's cute nonetheless so here it is! More laughing than singing really! ha!ha!

Abbey's Christmas Song!

My Mom bought this beautiful musical snow globe for Abbey and Michael...and no joke I hear it play "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" no less then a dozen times a day. They love hearing the song and shaking the globe...all day long! Here's Abbey singing to it (little French accent and all!)

P.S. A parent of one of the children in my class gave us this unicorn costume and Abbey loves it! She always has it on...so that explains why she's singing a Christmas song in a Halloween costume! ha!ha!

Visit with Santa!

This is the first year that Abbey and Michael sat with Santa...without Mommy or Daddy! No tears and they actually told him what they wanted. Abbey told Santa she wants a pink dress and Michael wants a big truck (the boy seriously has like 50 trucks already...good grief!) Anyway, I'm very excited to scrapbook a Santa picture where they are not crying or Steve and I aren't in the picture as well. YAY! I'm so happy!

Aren't they adorable!?! They are smiling but not 100% sure! ha!ha!

P.S. Thanks for scanning Donna! xo

Snow Day #2!

What a difference three days can make! On Monday I took this picture from my back deck.

This is a picture of the same view taken today. Snow is all gone but we are home again due to all the freezing rain last night. WooHoo for Snow Day #2!

Lots of activity in the McAlpine household during Snow Days. Aside from cooking, doing dishes, cleaning up, doing laundry, changing beds, running some errands, eating out, playing and of course NAPPING...we did this today...

crafts, crafts and more crafts! A good family friend of my parents sent me 4 huge boxes of scrapbooking supplies and the kids have a field day with all the treasures we found in them. I was LOVING Denyse today because those "treasures" filled up a good hour of our day! Merci Denyse!

We also tackled the puzzle Mary sent us again! Abbey and Michael love finding the face pieces! They'll scream out "I found Jackson's eyes!" It's hilarious! Thanks Mary!

And we made forts! I am not an expert fort maker like Steve but this one was pretty good if I do say so myself! ha!ha!

Busy busy day! but totally FUN!