First Skate

After Christmas we thought winter was going to come so we went out and got some bob skates and a helmet for Cara so that we could go skating....well, it took a few extra weeks for there to be ice but we finally got her to the outdoor rink they make by our local playground.

She thought it was great!

She didn't enjoy the falling down part too much.

But she did like pretending to be a goalie in the net!  We will be getting out there again soon with Daddy and Mummy on our skates too.

Gwen watched enthusiastically from the stroller and then had a good time walking around the playground on the snow.  Come spring time she will really have a good time there!

Cara with braids!  She will actually leave them in!  So adorable and makes her seem so grown up.

Gwen enjoying a snack.  She is chewing so much better with her big chomping teeth!

Dance Dance Dance!

 

We have a routine around here and part of that routine is evening dancing.  After supper we turn on some dancing tunes and Cara and Gwen (and Daddy and Mummy) dance!

Cara's favourite song is "Witch Doctor".

Gwen's favourite song is "Along Came Jones" (from an old K-tel collection that Daddy remembers from when he was little).

It is a great way to get the last bit of energy out before bed time!

Cara also started ballet classes for "tiny ballerinas" at our city rec centre.  It is 45 min of cuteness.  Cara had a blast and was a maniac on the dance floor!

Gwen is still teething pretty hard.  The 4th molar is practically through and we noticed a surprise front tooth was all the way through this week so she is up to 9 teeth and very rosy cheeks!

Last weekend Howie & Nana brought Cara's new big twin bed over.  Cara has been very happy sleeping in it and hasn't fallen out at all!  She was getting very big for her little toddler bed and now she can actually roll over easily in her big bed.  

Gwen all ready for bed and puckering for a good night kiss!

She now can say "night night" and also has added "ara" (for Cara) to her vocabulary.

**warning parental bragging**

So Cara was in her tent and brought in Gwen's blocks.  Daddy and Mummy were talking then Cara says "Mummy, I spelled Cara! How do you spell Mom?" So we watched her find the M O and turn a W upside down to be another M.  Such a smart girl!

**bragging now complete**

Teething and Hippos

Gwen is cutting through her last molar.  Bringing her teeth total to 8!  Four front teeth (2 up 2 down) and 4 molars.  Her cheeks are so rosy!

Cara is enjoying be back in school and we're getting back to our routine.  

Cassidy came over for a visit this weekend and brought along Hungry Hungry Hippos!  Cara loved it!

She even carried on playing it after her opponent left!

Mummy has been playing with her new camera so Cara has also picked up her camera again and is commanding us to "smile" and "hold still" for her snapshots.

Cara's artist abilities.  This is her "Family Portrait - in chalk".  See the four faces?

Eat the chalk? No way - not me!

January Spring Days

Happy New Year breakfast 2012!  Elmo waffles!

And Cookie Monster waffles!

Starting the year off right with some cuddles from Daddy.

Littlest Pet Shop obsession in full force.

A shocking plot twist in Sesame Street?

Having a fun visit from Leah.

Gwen having a good time with Sidney.

Most evenings after supper are spent dancing these days.  Cara and Gwen have lots of fun!

Gwen gets tossed up high!

Portrait with night cap.

Gwen tasting lime wedge.  She ate it all!

Gwen excited for bath time!

Soaped up Cara.

Gwen's favourite place to be.

A trip to Bowness Park during another Chinook day (+12 but very windy).  Spring days in January are the best.

Gwen ready for a slide.  This girl loves adventure.

Monkey girl on monkey bars.

Gwen overjoyed to be posed in such a way!

The more of these Spring like days we get the shorter winter will feel.  We have been waiting for a winter like this since we moved here!  A little snow would be ok so we could go sledding but we'll take + temps as long as we can!

Christmas Catch Up Part 3 (of 3!)

Boxing Day started off with some hard work on the laptops.  A whole lot of computing happening around here!

Gwen likes to relax after some hard work with some percussion.  Brings to life "I don't want to work - I just want to bang on the drum all day"!

Cara and one of her favourite presents "a BIG Angry Birdie" magnet.

Elmo/Daddy love.

We had a nice Boxing Day visit with Freya (and her parents).  All the girls got to play and play and craft and play!

A beautiful Boxing Day present!

Christmas week in full swing.  Long mornings in pjs, playing with new toys, smiling for more pictures that Mummy insists on taking!

HRH Princess Gwen!

Giving Nana her birthday presents!

Many faces of Gwen on December 28 2011.

And the many faces of Cara on December 28 2011.

Dec 28 marked the occasion of Cara's first sleep over at Nana & Howie's!  She did great and so did we.  It was very quiet in the house without her!

Cara got a very special gift this Christmas.  Belle from Beauty and the Beast (see doll) was given to her by Santa and he included tickets for her and Mummy to go see the touring Broadway show on Dec 30!  Belle came along to see her story on the stage.  Cara was great and for a late show she stayed awake and quiet and interested the whole time.  A very fun night!

Gwen stayed home with Daddy and waited patiently for Mummy's return.  Daddy did great :)

New Year's Eve dinner!  We forgot crackers on Christmas so we got some for NYE.

Gwen preferred to eat her supper... and crown!

We went to see the early fireworks at 8:30 and Cara fell asleep in the short car ride to the lookout.  We woke her up as the fireworks started and she loved the look of them but not the noise and the cold.  Gwen was happy to watch them too.

As you can see Beast (a souvenir from seeing the musical) is now a part of the family!   

Well that is the end of the Christmas Catch Up posts.  We have had a great Christmas season this year with many many great memories. 

We'll be back to Sunday updates for the blog so you can follow us along in our adventures.  We hope that 2012 brings us visits with everyone.  Gwen really wants to meet the McGinns and DeBruyns in person (although Skype is great it just isn't the real deal!).

Happy 2012 everyone!