Rachel, 10 months!

Long overdue for a Rachel update. I like this picture of her because we get that face so much. She does give out sweet smiles and laughs a lot too, but when she is just chillin' or exploring, this is the face we most often get!

Rachel is already 10 months. She is still big and growing, but I think it is starting to taper off a little. She is a great eater and tries about everything we give her. She does love blueberries, yogurt, baby cereal, cheerios, pears, and peas and carrots. She loves when she gets to feed herself. 

She is starting to be mobile. She still doesn't crawl, in fact she can barely roll from stomach to back, but she sits well, and scoots on her bum to get around. I really need to get the baby gates out! She loves being able to explore and get into everything. 

Rachel needs some major improvement in the sleep department. She usually has two naps during the day, and is good with them, but she still regularly wakes up at night, and all over the place with regards to what time. I don't want to jinx it, but the last few nights she has shown improvement, and I really hope she keeps that up! 

Rachel loves to babble, and loves to clap her hands. She has a great laugh, and loves when you give her lots of attention. She loves her big sister Macy, who is great at giving her attention and making her laugh. However, Rachel is now getting more possessive over her toys, and Macy is having to learn to share with her sister.

We love having Rachel in our family. I can already tell she is going to have a strong personality and I can't wait to see more of it!

First Day of Preschool Picture Woes

I share so many of these with you so you can feel my pain in how hard it is to get good pictures of this girl now! Like pulling teeth!

 Anyway, we finally get a good one here.

 It isn't any better once we get to school!

 Or after when we went for lunch!

Macy started preschool last Tuesday. This year she is two days a week, doing a Pre-K French Program. It is through the county, and only 6 kids registered for this term so her class is super small, and it is awesome. Also, one of her teacher's from last year, Miss Melanie, switched schools, so Macy has her again and is very happy about it!

Here's to another fun year of preschool and lots of learning and growth!

Summer Activities: Symphony in the City

Macy and I had a girls night out! The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra gave a free Disney in Concert performance in Churchill Square. We decided to go, and Macy got decked out in her princess attire. 

We brought our camping chairs and had a great time! I heard something like 13,000 people turned out. It was jam packed! Churchill Square is downtown where city hall is, and where we go every year for Taste of Edmonton. The concert was amazing. They had a video going showing clips from the Disney movies they were playing and four very talented singers to sing along. Macy loved it, and was dancing and singing along, and clapping at the end. My favorite was Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast. The performer singing was great! The Symphony usually does a concert at Hawrelak Park, but it is paid admission. This year Edmonton was hosting the World's Triathlon at the Park, so the symphony moved it to downtown and made it free. I really hope they do it again!!

Summer Activities: Kinsmen Park

We had to drop something off for Chris at work one day, so we decided to try out the Kinsmen Park in the river valley close to downtown. I'm so glad we did. This has become one of my favorite parks! The had a great play area with lots of play structures spread out. Very ideal for lots of people. It was probably pretty busy, but it didn't feel like it. Macy loved running around from structure to structure, and especially loved these big slides!

 Rockin' the stroller, yet again!

 Can you see Rachel in the back?

 They also had a spray park (they actually also have a great outdoor pool, Macy and I went last summer, but you do pay for that). I liked this spray park better, larger, with more things to do. Also, it was separate from the play area, so we did play structures first (no sand!) and then the spray park.

 Needing a snack break. I don't know what it is, but as soon as we get outside, this girl is always 'hungry' for snacks!!!

Somebody else snacking!

 Happy girls!!

Summer Activities: Clover Bar Ranch Spray Park

Spray parks are great, close, and of course free. However, they aren't my favorite, but the kids like them. We've been a couple time with friends from preschool and our friends the Fixsen's. The spray park is just ok as far as spray parks go, and right beside it is a big play structure with sand. I don't really love it because Macy tends to spend all her time in the sand, which is no fun to clean up. But oh well. It's great to be around water when the sun is out, and a fun way to get out of the house. Plus, I love how close this one is, no falling asleep in the van for Rachel, which means she'll actually take an afternoon nap when we get home!

 Love this cutie! She was so great with all the summer activities we did.

 Great smiles!

Summer Activities: Fort Saskatchewan Lions Pool

Fort Saskatchewan is a little town about 15 minutes northeast of Sherwood Park. I heard about an outdoor wading pool that is free and for kids 8 and under and decided to check it out. We went with our friends the Fixsen's and had a great time. It was old but well maintained and tons of fun. It was a hot day and not very busy. The water wasn't very deep, but deep enough for the kids to swim and splash around. We will definitely hit this place up again next summer!

Rachel in her classic summer pose, love the crossed legs! 

We brought out little inflatable for Rachel to go in, but she was not lovin' the water and preferred her stroller instead!

 You get an idea of how big the pool is. It is all one depth.

Stayin' cool on those hot days!

Chris' Birthday

We were happy to celebrate Chris turning 29 this year! He worked, so we did presents and dinner (chicken enchiladas) and cake (chocolate skor cake) in the evening. It was low key and relaxing.

 You can see most of his presents are food! Ha Ha! He did go and buy himself a chainsaw with his birthday money and has had lots of fun with it so far.

 Happy Birthday!

Canadian Cuties!

 I just love these girls!

Summer Activities: The Alberta Legislature

We have had a great summer, and so I am introducing the 'Summer Activities' series. I tried to take lots of pictures this summer too, so we could remember all the fun outings we've done.

One favorite stop is the Alberta Legislature grounds. It has lots of perks; close to Chris' works, so sometimes he'll walk over on his lunch break to say hi, free parking, lots of room to sit, in the sun or shade, and the wading pools. I could sit on the blanket with Rachel and watch Macy run and play through the water. It only comes up to her knees, but she can get plenty wet. We've gone by ourselves, met Chris, met Aunt Crystal, Clark, and Bruce, and met up with other friends.

Perfect for all those hot and sunny days!

Airplane in the Sky

Macy loves singing, and often makes up her own songs. Here is one I heard her sing a while back, I call it 'Airplane in the Sky'

Airplane in the sky
when it falls down
everyone needs to help their Dad to
fix it, fix it, fix it


I believe she would like to dedicate it to her Dad and his remote control airplane!