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Miss Kylie (7 months)

It was time to set up a mini photo shoot in the living room once again. Can't we just freeze time once and awhile?? Because our kids are growing up and changing soooo quickly. Kylie's new trick lately is sitting. She's proud as punch and has caught on to this whole thing very well. She loves to just sit near her big brothers and play. Gooing and cooing all the way....

Mom and Braden (4)

Mom and Brett (7)

Proud Mama:)

Brett has joined the running club at school this year. You're not actually supposed to start until grade 3 but for some reason he was allowed. He took part in a couple of district wide runs this fall. The first one was at his school and the second one was the District Championships at Pacific Way Elementary. I went to watch ........WOW! This is definately one of the perks of being a parent. Watching your kids during sporting events; I have always said that this is definately one of the things that I am looking forward to as a mom. I did everything I could to keep myself from crying and was very glad that it was windy and chilly outside so that it just looked like my eyes were watering from the cold air:)

Watching Brett be a little nervous waiting for his turn to run made ME nervous waiting for his turn. Watching him wait for the gun to start the race made my heart pound with anticipation; but most of all watching him come in just metres away from the finish line after running nearly 2 kilometres made me well up with pride, tears and smiles. "That's my Brett"! He's the one giving it all he's got to cross the line with the best time that he could get. Oh my goodness; it sounds cheesy I know. But I also know that all you parents have felt the same way at one time or another watching your kids excel at something they love. It turns out that Brett came 45th out of 80 grade 3 boys.......might I add that he is only in gr.2! Can't wait till Brad can experience this new parenting moment with me on a day off.

Trick or Treat

Shrek, Tigger and a REALLY scray Lion....Braden's "roars" were quite furocious! The kids had a fun time as usual dressing up and collecting their gobs of candy! Kylie, could really care less about the whole ordeal but smiled and looked adorable nonetheless. I decided that next year we are NOT going to buy costumes; we're definately going to be 'creative' as my dear cousins Darcie and Erin were with their kids costumes. Glad it's over and will be even more glad when we don't have two large bowls of teeth wreckers on top of the fridge! Until next year....

glimpses of our summer

One of our highlights of the summer so far is checking out the open house at Brad's place of employment.....Highland Valley Copper. It was absolutely fantastic and I don't think it gets any better for a bunch of little boys than to be around these HUGE mighty machines:) This is the wheel of one of the loaders at Highland Valley Copper.

During one of the tours of the mine pits, Grandma was asking Braden what he thought about daddy's work.....his response was a big 'WOW' as he gazed out at all the big dumptrucks and loaders working.

Copper

Ryan, Brett, Braden and Payton looking so awfully tiny in the bucket of the mine loader

BIG dumptruck. One tire on this dumptruck costs approximately $30,000

crazy sister-in-laws waiting in tour line-ups

Brett turning 7

Braden turns 4......nice lid!

Brett learning how to kayak.......and absolutley loving it!

hang'in out with some of the cousins at the lake

clam hunting

lot's of swimming

learning how to cast

"weeeeee-hoooo!"

loving our camping trips

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Yummy baby feet:)

Our sweet baby girl

I can't believe how fast time is flying by knowing that Kylie is indeed our last baby. I sometimes wish that we could just stop time and keep all our kids this age forever.......but then I snap out of it after we have a 'poop problem'. The other night I was letting Kylie have some 'free time' (no diaper) on her blanket in the living room. I figured we were safe because I had just changed a messy diaper.......NOT SO SAFE! While doing the dishes enjoying the quietness of the boys playing and Kylie coooing on her blanket; I soon realize that she is lying in something rather gooey.....did she spit up?? NOPE. The serene quiet moment vanished with my dear husband gagging in the background and both Brett and Braden yelling "OOOOH, stinky POOP!" Ahhhhhh, precious moments............

sweetness

Isn't that the best??? Nothing like a sweet, little, content baby sleeping. Good life don't you think?

Kylie is doing super. She is now 2 1/2 months old and is a whopping 14 lbs!! YIKES. She's really tall too. Go figure:) She has been sleeping about 10-12 hours every night for 3 weeks now and we are absolutely loving it. Hooray for rest!!

Kylie is just the perfect 'finish' to our family; she is a complete JOY already and is full of smiles and giggles for all of us (but especially for her big brother Brett; I don't know how he does it but she just responds to him like no other)

More pics of our babes!

Ty has officially reproduced!

Well, we couldn't be happier to introduce everyone to our new little niece 'Isabel'. She's as beautiful as her name! She arrived Thursday, April 12th at 12:55 pm. Tara was induced Thursday morning, but baby Isabelle did some gymnastics within a few hours of labor and flipped herself upside down:) so the doctors took quick action with a cesarean.

She weighs in at 7lbs 14oz and is 19" long. Tara and baby are doing great and Tyler is quickly becoming very comfortable with handling a babe! Welcome to our big world Isabel, we love you already!!

Our little Kylie and Isabel are only 31/2 weeks apart. It is going to be a blast to watch them grow up together.

I personally think she looks alot like Tara, look at those big gorgeous eyes!

We took the opportunity to take a couple of pictures of Kylie while she was still so tiny......this won't last for very long; it puts her actual little size in perspective when daddy is holding her like this.




Miss Kylie...cute as a button :) She's such a good baby. I think we're spoiled with good babies, knock on wood! She's been sleeping 5-7 hours straight at night, what a difference that makes to my feeling human.

Poppa's 80th Birthday Party

We headed to my Poppa's 80th birthday celebration last weekend and had a great time celebrating with him and spending some time with family that we don't get to visit nearly enough:)

Poppa and Granny have been going through alot in the last 6 months since Granny had been diagnosed with breast cancer; so it was especially nice to introduce them to their 11th great grandchild (Kylie) and just to see them smile and laugh that special evening, enjoying their family.

Poppa was quite surprised (he thought he was going to a midget hockey banquet) he even had a bit of 'nap head' from the afternoon! Bless his heart......

Here Granny and Poppa enjoy their six kids altogether......they don't get a chance to do this very often. Auntie Beryl made the special trip out from Chile for this big celebration.

The 'boy' cousins enjoyed each other's company very much; they had a blast on the dance floor:)

My mom and dad on the left sneaking in some snuggles with their new grand-daughter.....

On the right, we got a '4 generations of women' with Granny, mom, myself and Kylie.

A Simple Look

A couple of weeks before I had Kylie, I was expressing to Brad how important it was to me to get a 'thank-you' through a card, flowers, or a gift for giving birth to his child. It's a very big deal to have a baby and I know that he is appreciative, but I wanted him to show me how appreciative he really was. I know you ladies understand this crazy mentality, and now that I'm writing it down it just seems like a selfish way of thinking doesn't it? That's why I'm posting this thought.

Brad is such a great husband and dad. He is extremely supportive in the things that I do as a mom, wife and woman and I think that alot of times I just don't give him enough credit out loud.

After Kylie was born, the nurse took us to our room in the maternity ward and Brad pulled out the extremely uncomfortable cot to lay down on for a few hours to stay with me for a bit. I was still very awake from the adrenaline rush you get after having a baby and I would notice Brad peeking his tired eyes open once and awhile when he heard Kylie stir or if he would hear me get out of bed. One of these times, I was nursing our brand new little girl and I happened to look up and see Brad gazing my direction and I noticed a special look on his face. It was absolutely priceless and meant so much more to me than any silly card, flowers or gift would ever mean. It was the look that said "Thank you, thank you, thank you for being my children's mother; I love you with all of my heart" (excuse me, I need to go and get a tissue:) He didn't need to say a word, he said it all in his eyes.

I will never forget that gift he gave me on March 19th, 2007; it was the best gift a girl could ever ask for. Thank you Brad for loving me the way that you do; I love you with all of my heart and couldn't ask for a better husband and father for our children.

Baby Kylie is here!!!.....and we live to tell about it

It felt like she was never going to come and join us......BUT Brad's shoulder came in extremely handy(to the left) as he timed a contraction; we didn't have to do this for very long when our little girl decided to bless us with her presence! Monday afternoon Brad took me to the hospital at 5pm and Kylie was born at 7:39 pm weighing in at 7lbs 10oz and 20 1/2 inches long. Fast, fast, fast. She is such a blessing. 24 hours later Brad and I are just looking at her in awe and wonder that God is so amazing to create this beautiful little baby and that He chose us to be her parents. So far so good, she is eating well, sleeping well and we hope that this pattern continues on for awhile. Below are a few pics of our new addition.... enjoy! Keep checking once and awhile.....I'm sure I'll be updating with new pictures very often:)

Proud daddy........ she already has him wrapped around her finger:) Kylie is about 10 minutes old here.

Brad thought that this picture was funny.....notice the middle finger. Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come:)

Fresh out of her 1st bath at home. We got to come home Tuesday morning around 11am. (she was born the night before at 7:39pm....we don't like staying at hospitals)

Right: We thought that daddy was proud. Look at these guys! They are loving this whole baby sister thing like crazy! They're doing an awsome job in their BIG BROTHER role.