6th Birthday Party!

To think of a location to have a co-ed birthday party in a village of 3,000 has it's challenges! We've done Roo's and bowling previously, so this year we decided to have Abbey and Michael's birthday party at the Equestrian Park down the road.

We had a great time! The staff was awesome, the horses were friendly and the guests were perfectly behaved! They had three ponies set up for us (Chance, Evan and Rudy) and all the kids got to ride them all multiple times. There was an indoor riding ring so the pictures aren't great but you get an idea of the set-up!

A few shots of Abbey on Chance.

A few shots of Michael on Evan.

After about an hour of riding we "retired" to the party room where I had activities, food and cake! Can you believe these "cakes" are actually cupcakes?!? Cool eh?!? and so easy to dish out!

Every year while I'm planning their birthday party I ask myself why oh why I didn't time their birth better. I'm always party planning right smack in the middle of report cards!!! Oh well..it's a good procrastination tool...and a great stress reliever!

November 16th, 2010

The night before Abbey and Michael's birthday, I decorate the kitchen with balloons and set out their gifts. It's fun to set everything up because I know in the morning they'll come tearing down those stairs excited to see what's there! Here they are checking it all out!

While the kids were at school, Steve set up the basketball net Grand-maman and Grand-papa bought for them. (including a round trip to Halifax to pick up a missing part...what a Daddy wouldn't do for his kids) He set it up in the back of the house so Abbey and Michael had to look for it! We were SO excited for them because they have both been asking for a basketball net for some time!

Here's Michael and Abbey shooting there first shots! Slam Dunk!!! You can adjust the net height too which is a super nice feature since they'll never grow out of it!

Then came supper and cake time! Abbey likes vanilla cake and Michael likes chocolate.

Look Ma...no hands!!! LOL!

Here's one of the gifts Grandma and Grandpa sent...a new favourite! CandyLand!!! I think everyone has played CandyLand at some point in their lives! So much fun!

New clothes, new toys, new fun memories = another awesome birth day!

And Then They Were SIX!!!!

Where does the time go?!? Michael and Abbey are SIX!!! It seems like just yesterday they were born but in another sense I can barely remember life before them?!?

Six is an exciting year...grade one is huge! They learn to read, become more independent, more of their little personalities come out...so fun!

Michael's sense of humour is really coming out! He makes us laugh all the time. Abbey is quite the performer...which is funny because she can be quite shy, but to see her dance is amazing! She is full of confidence!

We are loving this age...but every age has been great really!

Here are me and my "babies" this summer!

Answers to our annual birthday survey... what Michael and Abbey were like at five!!!

What they want to be when they grow up?

M: basketball player or police officer

A: teacher or doctor

Favourite Food?

M: fajitas and pizza

A: fajitas and "pate chinois"

Favourite TV show?

M: SpongeBob, iCarly and hockey

A: iCarly

Favourite restaurant?

M: Montana's and Pizza Delight

A: Montana's and Pizza Delight

Best friends?

M: Christina, Catherine, Patrick and Luke

A: Chrisitina, Catherine and Daphnee

Happiest when...

M: I'm playing Wii and when I'm playing outside with my friends.

A: my friends come over to play.

I'm special because...

M: I have a happy family.

A: I love my family and they love me.

Big Birthday Party is this weekend! I'll post pictures asap!

Move Over Liberace!!

Abbey started taking piano lessons this Fall. She's had six or so lessons thus far. Her teacher Gina is so outgoing, fun and positive that Abbey loves going! Who knew piano could be so fun!? (certainly not me?!?) During my parents last visit, they brought a keyboard for Abbey. My cousins, Nicole and Bob, were kind enough to give Abbey their keyboard to practice on. She was thrilled! Here's a little practice session...




Love that proud look at the end of her song! So adorable!
Thanks so much Nikki and Bob for sharing!
"Merci" de Abbey xo

Abbey's First Visit from the Tooth Fairy!

Abbey has been VERY anxious for the Tooth Fairy to come visit ever since Michael lost his first tooth months back. (He's lost two now!!) She would have me check her mouth weekly to see if any of her teeth were wiggly. FINALLY one was! I thought she would be wiggling it 24/7, eagerly trying to get it out but no...it sat and sat and sat and sat! Ugh! Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to see a tooth half hanging out just begging to be pulled and not be aloud near it!?! Argh!

Then one evening...she was ready and out if came! A perfect little white tooth!

The picture doesn't really look like there's a missing tooth but it's because the new tooth was already growing behind the baby one! It was ready to come out for sure! The Tooth Fairy wrote Abbey a little note and left $5 for her to spend! (I think Abbey will be my saver...she still hasn't spent the money! Michael had his Tooth Fairy money spent within 24 hours!!!)

Congratulations on reaching this milestone Abbey-Loo!!! xo

Halloween 2010

Michael and Abbey LOVE Halloween! They get so excited about their costumes and of course the candy!! This year Michael was Mario from Super Mario Bros. and Abbey was a Queen. Although it wasn't a cold evening, Halloween 2010 was a wet one. It misted on and off during our trek around the block with our neighbours. We had a great time nonetheless, running from house to house and scored LOTS of loot!

Here are my little trick-or-treaters...


Michael and his friend Luke decided that if Michael was Mario, Luke would be Luigi! Here they are high fiving while doing the rounds.

Hope everyone had a happy Halloween!

Thanksgiving 2010!

Our Nova Scotia Thanksgiving tradition involves Grandma and Grandpa McAlpine coming to visit! We always have a great time together! This year didn't disappoint!

We picked apples at Dempsey's!

Had fun at Evan's Corn Maze!

Do you think our family has an unfair advantage?

SUCCESS!!! We found all the stamps!!!

We even had a visit to the Duck Pond!

Michael getting up close and personal with the wildlife!!! LOL!

Let's not forget the Feast!!! Ann didn't disappoint with her amazing Thanksgiving supper! Wow! Deeeeeelicious as always! and the spoiled brat that I am...she even made me my favourite green bean casserole!!!! Here's Abbey helping Grandma with the turkey!

Thanks grannieoakes...I mean annieoakes! teehee!

The company, the food, the fun... Another Happy Thanksgiving for the McAlpine's!