Happy 4th Birthday, Jordyn

Last night Dylan and Haley babysat the Littles while Don and I did some birthday preparation, followed by dinner out, followed by cards with Steve and Lois! So, it was a great evening for Don and me : )

When we got home we quickly decorated for Jordyn's birthday morning. We realized once we had everything set up that we overdid it just a little bit in the present department. But we also did my parents' shopping (since they are in New Zealand), so we were able to justify it : )

Birthday morning decorations. This is a tradition that we started with the Littles...I'm not sure if I will live to regret it : )

Birthday loot : )

Talk about Christmas in February!

Jordyn's favorite food is milk, so we got her Milk 2 Go in every flavor : )
Jordyn walking into the room this morning. We hadn't told her that today was her birthday, so she ended up having a surprise birthday!

Very pleased with the turn of events!

A new Webkinz! She named her "Belle."

Jordyn all decked out in her Cinderella garb.

The rest of the morning was spent playing with the new toys and eating chocolate chip pancakes. Tonight we'll have birthday cake...most likely an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. Stay tuned for more birthday pictures!

Jordyn is 4!

Here is Jordyn, a big girl of 4!

North Otter playground

Yesterday we had such a beautiful day, especially considering it was the middle of winter! I took all the kids (minus Sean, who was at a math competition) to the playground at the girls' school. It turns out that Haley and Dylan had no trouble reverting to elementary-aged playfulness : )

Afternoon playdate

We had a gorgeous day today! We took advantage of it by heading over to the Sumner's house for a playdate with another family from school.

Jordyn with her best friend, Megan. Going into the "pirate ship" with their babies.

Katie.

Katie.

Trying to coax a smile out of her...


This is the best I can do!

Kaleb is in Patience's kindergarten class.

Kaleb's sister, Abbie.

The boys guard the pirate ship...


...while the girls climb a tree!

Nick with 4 teeth!

Dylan, a tuxedo, and a trumpet

I took advantage of Dylan's going to a Kwantlen concert tonight to snap a few. I've decided that I'm bored of our limited backdrops in the front yard...

Another Haley/Dylan photoshoot

More fun with new camera and increasing knowledge thereof.

Patience outside

Another sunny afternoon. I still haven't done my photography homework. BUT I think I've mastered the automatic settings on my camera. These were taken in the Portrait mode. This girl loves to pose...

Nicholas outside...

This afternoon the rain actually stopped momentarily, so I hustled Nick outside to take some pictures. My goal was to do my photography class homework, but I think I took only 5 or 6 pictures for class. I took about a hundred of this handsome little boy. Note to self: next time wash his little face before hustling him outside.

Nick notices Daddy driving in. And he's off to greet him!

Figuring out what he's stepping on, how the gate works, etc.

Concentrating.

Persisting.

Giving up.

Looking at Harley.

Petty Officer Murphy

Boy, it seems like it's been a long time since we've had one of those living here!

This January marks Sean's 3rd full year as a Royal Canadian Sea Cadet, and tonight at semi-annual review, he was promoted to Petty Officer, second class. The nice thing is that Sean could theoretically be in cadets another 4 years, so he has the chance to move really far up the rankings!

Here are some pictures of tonight's event. I focused mainly on the guard, so you don't really get a good idea of what the whole corps is like. Sorry : )

Here is the Guard before entering the gym. Sean tried hard to not smile but failed : )

Here is the Guard marching. John Gammeter is the DPO.

Sam Shaw, Sean, and John Gammeter.

Sean receiving his certificate from CO Derek Bailey.

Petty Officer Murphy with Commanding Officer Bailey, who is stepping down after this year to be home with his newborn twins, expected to arrive in June!