Mark turned 6

I finally got around to printing and downloading some pictures off our camera. Sometimes we get so caught up in the digital world that we forget that we have to do a few more steps. We use to just develop the pictures. Now we have to download them and develop them. I guess there are lots of positives for the digital camera idea but now I've gone on and on about something so minor...

Mark turned 6 this year. I just read some of my old blogs and it seems like a lifetime ago that he just turned 5. This last year has been busy but fun to watch them grow and change.

One of my favorite memories of when I turned 6 was the big balloons that my parents and Dad's cousin (Lloyd Bartel) put up all over the wall. I couldn't help myself I had to put some 6's on the wall too.

Mark entered school this year. He entered the world of star wars, Wii, leapster, computers and so much electronics. He's mimicking his play with what he watches. Over all, 6 just seems like a different age. We have to limit the DIGITAL world that he lives in to ensure his brain is challenged and developing in other areas. I would say to balance the digital world we have our craft time as another huge part of our week ( which I don't want to see him ever loose). I love watching these guys create things...sure it's a big mess but that's all part of the fun in crafts. He best reaction for any of his gifts were between the big box of Pearler Beads and the case of tape!! Oh don't get me wrong he loved all of the gifts but those were the funniest to watch him open!! Yep, you got it, Tape. This kid can go through a roll a tape a week if he could. Any craft he makes, it's not complete until he's got tape on some part of it or completely all over it!! He could be a true Red/Green kind of kid if I didn't know him better!!

Mark's birthday party this year was only 5 friends. keep it simple.

They had a MARIO Wii party. A little tournament. Taking turns playing Mario, choosing tracks and racing. They coloured Mario character pictures and watched each other race. The kids seemed to love it. I loved it, super easy!

Mark also loves models. He got a model car for this birthday and a model airplane. Obviously a bit of help was required from Dad but the boys here sat down to work and built the car. He absolutely loves it. I wasn't sure at first, giving a boy a car and telling him it's too fragile to play with...but he gets it. It sits on his shelf and he just admires it. The airplane on the other hand, has been flown a quite a few times in the park. We had to go to the hobby shop to get a new elastic band for the airplane. You should have seen him...I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head...he was overwhealmed with excitement...so much to look at, so many options...too bad it's all too much money. I think I know where we'll be shopping this christmas!!

Thanks everyone for celebrating Mark's 6th birthday with him!!!

The Baker

Our boy is growing up and learning new things. He really loves to help around the kitchen which I love and appreciate. It's been great to see how his father was raised to be a kitchen helper too and regularly puts it to practice and now our son is doing the same...muffins, cookies, waffles, pancakes, or adding ingredients into almost anything we are making.

It was Mark's idea for him to bake his muffins and make a book about it. He takes a muffin and/or yogourt to school for snack almost every day. This way he a apart of the whole process.

He does almost everything. Actually, we've been baking together for years now and I'd say he has a pretty go grasp on the measuring now. I read the recipe and he finds most things. We still need reminders on tsp/ Tbsp. but he's almost got 1/2 and 1/3 and 1/4 and 1 cups all figured out.

One of the messy parts of the job is filling the muffin tins to the correct amount. We've learned not to lick our fingers until the whole process is done and no germs get into our food.

Putting the food into the oven will be an adult job for a while...until you are a lot older! But turning the light and watching the muffins rise is still part of the process.

An adult takes the hot food out of the oven but once cooled, Mark removes the muffins from the tins onto the cooling rack.


The best part of the whole activity is getting to EAT IT!!!!

YUMMY!.

shopping with mom

I had so much fun shopping with my mom for a "mother of the bride" dress. We didn't choose any of these but it was fun to see her in a gown.
I'm really not one for shopping at all but since this was like being apart of my sister's wedding plans I really got excited about being there as mom tried these dresses on.
Currently I'm reading Confessions of a Shopoholic which is also nothing like me. Maybe that's why I think it's so easy to read, I don't relate at all and find it interesting that people can convince themselves of wasting their precious time and money on the idea of shopping!

Thanks Mom for letting me come along with you and enjoy in the fun!!

one we like the most

other favorite

Happy Valentines

Love Day. That's what our kids call it.

A day that we celebrate all the people we love. Some are far and some are close at hand. The kids received valentines cards in the mail. They were so excited that they created some more to send back. The problem was that I sprained my ankle this week and have been house bound all week. Thus those valentines weren't mailed in time. They finally got mailed and those cousins will receive them next week. A package arrived this week and the kids painfully have waited until today to open it. Mail has always been an excited thing. There is so many reasons why technology works in our world but are we taken away the simple treasures in life?

Valentines Day. A silly holiday in my mind. Why make day different then the rest just to say I love you. Shouldn't we be saying it all the time? I appreicate that Ray got me my flowers last week. It makes them more of a meaningful surprise. Wouldn't we want to be loved all 365 days in a year not just one?

The kids and I love baking together. Cookies, pies, cakes, cinnamon buns. We just love to bake and I love that they help out. It does make it messier but it's more important that they help out in my mind.

This week we baked heart cookies. They each put in an ingreadant or two. They turn the mixmaster on and off. They rolled the dough. They cut out the hearts. They tasted one each. As I wrote on each of them Mark practiced reading the work "LOVE" like a hundred times! Finally they brought them to their classes to share with their friends.

To ALL OUR FRIENDS AND FAMLY - WE LOVE YOU AND WISH YOU A HAPPY VALENITINES DAY!!

Picture taken by: Mark Peters

She's a girly, girl

Kyla. She is ALL girl. She loves to dress up and loves to be a princess. Her favorite is Cinderella. It's probably because it's the first Disney princess movie she saw. She's seen moments of other ones but many of them have scary parts. On this day she borrowed our neighbour and friends dress and did the whole Cinderella story as a play for us - 3 year old version. Many parts were mixed up, there was an eagle (which is very apart of the movie) the mean sisters were the ones who turned into pumpkins, she "spelled" everyone and everyone loved each other in the end. Oh it was priceless to see. Lots of spinning around and dancing. I love the imagination that comes with turning 3. She has blossomed so much this year and her creativity and mimicking is so fun to watch.

She's daddy's little girl. One of my favorite parts of going for a walk is seeing this moment.

She'll be a great babysitter someday. She might have been a good big sister but many times a day/ week I'm thankful to be only raising the two. God knows that's all I can handle.

Just give her a 10 years and she'll be watching these cousins of hers.

She loves her new baby cousins. She loves babies and plays with her dolls all the time. Auntie actually gave her a newborn diaper so she could change her (my old) Cabbage patch doll. The one thing we do have to watch is that she can go through an entire box of wipes on that doll if they are not put away. That baby has a lot of poopy diapers!!

my purse

I don't think of myself as boring or repetitive but somethings in life you just love and you never want to change.

I've never been a girly girl when you think of shopping. I attack it like a chore. I know what I want, go in, and get out. Especially something that I know I need or want. Hence why shopping for others doesn't happen very often. I don't just hang out in mall and enjoy it. I'll do it if I need. Oh, I'll go for walks when I know they won't be busy. Inside walks in the winter are better then do walks at all. The new movie shopaholic would be my nightmare of a life I'm sure.

Speaking of shopping...

I purchased a purse 12 years ago at MEC and found it to be the perfect purse for me. I love the number of pockets, the zippers, the snaps. I appreciate the color - BLACK it goes with everything. Ok ok it's not a fancy purse but nor do I dress up fancy more then once a year. It's an every day bag more like it. It suits me perfect.

Now fast forward 12 years and we have a problem. This purse/ bag has been used and abused every day since. It has been left behind many places, washed too many times to count. Full of toys, snacks, pictures, papers, crayons rather then pens. It's been a life savor.

Needless to say it's zippers are tired. It's time to retire.

I went shopping for a new one. I hate shopping.

I went looking in Mexico...never found one I loved.

I came home and realized I just love my purse and wouldn't trade it for anything.

I went on line and bought it again. The exact same one just brand new!!

A holiday in Mexico

We've been home for a few weeks now. I"m missing the blue sky and the warm weather. Our family vacation to Mexico was much anticipated and very memorable. The kids did great.

Enjoyed the the popular Pelicans. Most of the time they were flying in packs of 20. Most we saw was 22. It was nice to see this one up close on the roof of a hut close along the boardwalk.

We love the pool and ocean view. The swim up bars and all the activities. The kids loved the kids pool with waterslide and also loved swimming up to ask for slushies and Pepsi pop.

The resort from our deck view...

Mark is into drawing lately... he was content sitting and looking out to find things to draw... remember this is our busy monkey child normally...sometimes you look and wonder, where he is on those crazy days. For example...

Kyla's favorite memory is the pool and the Pepsi pop. She got a new Mexico dress and a drum. She was often content to sit on the side of the pool like a typical sun bather...

A hot vacation with children is somthing we have been dreaming of for a while. It was a great get-a-way. Really enjoyed the sunshine and the 30 above temps. Not too hot and not cold like back home.

Playing in the kids pool for many hours....

We stayed at a very family oriented, all inclusive resort. Highly recommended.

Ray and I have both been to Mexico before. For mission trips. To the dirty, slums or major cities. Hard to imagine this beautiful clean place. I can honestly say I don't remember being in a cleaner airport before. Marble floors and all. Travel through the night is the best and worst time to travel with children. It has it's challenges but as that was our only challenges for the week, we can't complain.

Food was pretty good. Lots of selection. Loved the fresh omlets and waffles each morning.

Went on a city bus to the down town to shop...Kyla's first time on a bus ever never mind having to be standing up and jostled around.

Some of our favorite memories were the sea turtles hatching on the public beach.

And our excursions on the catamaran

and the Pirate ship.

While on the pirate ship Kyla and Mel got extremely sea sick with the huge swells while sailing. I got to go on a banana boat with Mark which I have always wanted to try. We got to see a humpback Whale while out on the water...makes you think of how amazing God is...and Ray's highlight was a chance to go snorkeling once we got to the remote beach, and Mark got to seach for burried treasure.

Doesn't this make you want to go? Sure makes us remember that dreams can come ture....

Christmas Day

Christmas day with the Peters...Brunch was amazing with all of us there. I think there is 15 of us now. I guess one or two wee ones were not at the table yet.

The kids enjoyed the gift exchanges and everyone seems very excited with what their cousin got them. Grandpa and Gramma got something for each of them too which they all love too!!

Mark loves his remote control truck and his Lego garbage truck,

Kyla for example loves her tea set...looks like Uncle Levi is practicing for Avery in a few years!

She also loves her barbie Princess carriage that goes with her Cinderella dolls.

The guys played guitar hero...obviously playing a real guitar gives you the advantage of strumming skills.

And the two wee ones this year are so beautiful and full of cuddles.

Kyla loves holding the babies too...I guess since she'll never be a big sister she'll have to one day she'll grow up to be a good babysitter.

The night ended with Gramma and Mark and a drawing challenge...
Think of something to draw, find your own spot so no one can see and draw it as fast as you can, reveal your artistic talent. We're pretty proud of both of them. Anything from remote control car, a piano, santa, snowman, apartment building, airplane, grandfather clock, and candles to name a few. Some of the details were impressive.

Christmas with Us

This year we had Christmas on Christmas eve. The struggle with both of us growing up with different traditions is deciding on which one to use with our own immediate family. This year it worked well as the Christmas eve service was early afternoon. We had our family time before heading over to Grandpa and Gramma's house. I'm so glad to share in the traditions that have been passed down and some we keep from my family and some from Ray's.. As long as it works I'm fine with whatever. Some of the best moments that afternoon were... Just US time...

Kyla and her Dream come true Cinderella Barbie doll...

Mark's expression with MarioKart...

Ray's new look with his Ski goggles...

And I re-entered the world of cell phones after 8 years...

There were also many M&M's to last me till next year (thanks Marianne), games to play, Wii fun to be had, transformers to figure out and lego to build. Thanks to Aunties and Uncles and cousins from afar.

Christmas eve ended with Birthday cake for Jesus with the kids, sending them off to bed early so the adults could have some appies.

After the kids were in bed we had a nice bit of adult time! Listing to Dad telling us adults a story and just sitting and talking!!