November 29, 2012

Gwen's Birthday Month!

Gwen's 2nd Birthday
She woke up happy and hungry!  We got all our bags in the van and we started the drive to the airport.
10 minutes from the airport Gwen coughs.  Then pukes.  Then pukes some more!
She got her own seat on the flight back (since she was now 2) so we got a bit of gravol in her and she fell asleep before take off (after a delay...snow storm in Calgary!) and slept all the way to Calgary.
We drove home in the freezing snow storm, had supper and all went to bed.  Birthday celebrations happened in the morning :)
 A good sleep made everyone happier and Gwen got a song and a candle in her oatmeal!
 Our happy 2 year old!  We love our Gwen so much!
 Lunch time had more "Happy Birthday" singing!
Gwen knew it meant...
 ...a cupcake and candles!
She is so cute - blows her bangs up trying to blow out the candles!
 Gwen wasn't sick anymore and there was fresh snow so on Remembrance Day Daddy took them for a sled ride.
 They have grown a lot since last winter!
 Sled tipped, Cara landed on Gwen, Gwen had a face plant in the snow.
She might never want to play in the snow again!
 The next weekend Gwen woke up and puked (stomach flu had been go around while we were away) so she missed swimming class and a Baby Group reunion.  Cara and Mummy went to see all the other 4 year olds - this is all of them except Leah!
This began the week of illness for us.  Gwen had it, Cara had it, Mummy and Daddy had it.  A very long week.  We were all better by the next Saturday and ready to celebrate Gwen one more time!
 Gwen loves butterflies so her party theme had to be: Butterflies!

 Butterfly cupcakes!
 Party Girl!
 Cara and Leah enjoying some snacks.
 Gwen loves strawberries so we had to have those too.
 Nana and Gwen :)
 Gwen's BFF Sidney and her Daddy.
 Gwen in her butterfly hat that Daddy made for her :)
 Lots of help opening presents!

 She hears singing again!
 Making a wish!
 Cara thought is was so funny that Gwen kept blowing her hair up instead of the candles!
 She has the icing lick down pat.
 Pin-the-butterfly-on-the-flower game time!
 Leah was good at this one.
 All the girls hugging goodbyes.
Our super cool 2 year old girl.
Gwen brings a whole lot of fun and laughs to our family and we love her so much!

And now the blog is all up to date!
Check back on Monday for a return to the regular blog schedule!

November 26, 2012

California 2012 - The Monkees Concert - Dreams Do Come True - Day 7 Part 2

 ***Monkees Post***Monkees Post***

This is Day 7 - Part 2. 

Day 7 - Part 1 (Safari Park) is here.

 The Monkees started their 12 city reunion tour in Escondido on November 8 2012.
I have been a fan since the early 90s when the TV show was on Much Music every day.  I really never thought I'd get to see them in concert ever so when they announced the tour and the dates worked for the trip to California anyway and they were playing in the same town where the McGinns live it just had to happen!
 The tickets were my birthday present.
Awesome seats - first balcony, first row centre.
With the telephoto lens I got some great shots of the old guys.
 Mike
 Peter
 Micky
 (no Davy - he died in February)
 Singing "Sweet Young Thing"
"Sunny Girlfriend"
 "Mary Mary"
"Mary Mary"
 "Randy Scouse Git"

 "Daily Nightly"

 "Tapioca Tundra"
 "Circle Sky"
 "What Am I Doin Hangin Round?"

"Listen to the Band"
 "Listen to the Band"

The big finale:
 "Pleasant Valley Sunday"







 It was such a great concert.  The guys sounded great - Mike's songs are my favs and there were lots of them!
Special thanks to Jill and Mark for babysitting and driving us to the concert :) And to my great husband for getting me the tickets and going with me!

The next day was the big trip home and most importantly Gwen's 2nd Birthday!!!