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.