Happy SEVENTH Birthday, Blue!

The furriest member of our family turned seven today!

It doesn't seem like that long ago that Mark called me from Tsiigehtchic, NWT

to tell me that there was a little blue eyed puppy 

living under the bylaw officer's house.

My response: "Don't you dare bring it home."

Blue had other plans, however.

And here we are... seven years later. 

In all fairness, 

Mark didn't just show up with the puppy.

I was against adopting him because of the timing. 

Mark was working atrocious hours and I was due to fly to Yellowknife 

for medical reasons.

Who would watch the puppy?

I asked Mark to find out if the bylaw officer would keep the pup

until I was back from my trip.

Obviously he agreed.

Blue adopted us as his family soon afterwards.

Oh my!

Happy Birthday, Blue!

We sure do love you!

xo

xo

Blue not long after he adopted us!

Blue turns ONE in Fort McPherson, NWT.

Blue turns TWO in Yellowknife, NWT.

Blue turns THREE in Yellowknife, NWT. 

Blue turns FOUR in Yellowknife, NWT.
This was a big year for him, as he became a big brother!

Blue turns FIVE in Miscouche, PEI.

Blue turns SIX in Miscouche, PEI.
Look. Do you see what I see?
Blue became a big brother again!

Year seven... it's Blue's birthday...
is it time to make cupcakes yet, Mom?

While the girls were busy making PUPcakes,
Blue was not far away 'supervising'.

He got a little closer as we added more and yummier ingredients.

The PUPcakes are ready to go in the oven!

Cupcakes and PUPcakes.
Looks like they are a crowd pleaser! 

Blue turns SEVEN in Miscouche, PEI.
Happy Birthday, Blue! We love you!!!

I couldn't stop Blue or Elliotte from eating their cupcakes.
Piper waited patiently for a candle. 

Maybe I should have called this one Blue instead.
Look at those eyes!

Piper singing Happy Birthday to Blue.

This is what happens when you have icing on your toes. 

Picky Eater

I've said it before,

Piper is NOT a picky eater.

She will eat just about everything,

but there isn't a thing that I can think of that she wouldn't try.

Elliotte is not as great. 

She's still a really good eater 

and a million times faster than her sister,

but she can be a little choosier.

When it comes to berries, however,

she's the PICKIEST of all.

She picks and eats.

Picks and eats.

Picks and eats.

Poppy Lynch would never have enough berries to make his wine

if he depended on this little one!

xo

xo

Picking blueberries in Newfoundland with Poppy Lynch.

Elliotte would pick a berry, put it into her cup and then....

... bottoms up!

Nanny Lynch was there to pick blueberries with us too!

Elliotte's big sister was kind enough to share!

This little one was happy to sit and eat until she ran out of blue blueberries that she could reach.
Then she'd find a new spot to sit and eat some more.
Yes.
We had a few less than enjoyable diapers after this!

Happy 4th Birthday, Jack!

I'm still working my way through the photos

from our trip to Newfoundland,

but I have to take a time-out to wish Jack a happy birthday!

We had so much fun celebrating with you at your bowling party!

Thanks for inviting us.

We love you and hope you had the best birthday ever.

xo

xo

Piper and Elliotte's first time bowling was at Jack's birthday party!

The birthday boy and his mom and dad.

Eli's bowling shoes.
(Not that he needed them. He's not in the family photo of the candles being blown out
because he slept through the entire party!)

My mini bowlers watching Elliotte's ball go down the lane.
It took a looooooooong time,
but both girls would watch and then clap when it finally made it.
(More often than not, the ball stopped half way and had to be pushed down by a staff member. lol)

Piper giving her little sister a high-five for doing a great job bowling.

Piper with the birthday boy!

Jack and his dad looking like pro bowlers.

Eli being a party pooper!

Piper was finally getting the hang of it.

I love this photo.
Elliotte is being such a little ham,
just like a little sister should be!

Elliotte bowling with Nana Shirley.
Check out those tiny bowling shoes.
Seriously!!!!

Mount Pearl Baymen

These little ones love Poppy's quad. 

Elliotte more than Piper, 

but they both love it.

Elliotte would actually go to her Poppy's back door and cry,

hoping that we'd take her for a ride. 

She also got excited and clapped her hands

when she saw the ride on lawn mowers at Sears.

Silly little girls.

xo

xo

Little dare devils.

Poppy taking his girls for a little ride around the backyard.
Could you hear Elliotte squealing from where you were?

Their little friend, Joseph, came by for a visit as well!

They also took time to play in Poppy's new boat for a little while.
Newfoundland is fun!

Duck Duck Grandparents

With every trip to Newfoundland

comes a trip to Bowering Park to feed the ducks.

The kids always love this!

xo

xo

Poppy Lynch is always armed with the good bird seed.

Checking out the ducks.

Elliotte is calling out to Poppy Lynch here
because she ran out of bird seed. 

Thanks, Poppy!

Feeding the ducks with Nanny Lynch.

She got a little rowdy and fell down.
I'm not entirely sure what happened here!
We're just glad that she didn't get hurt. 

Carseat Sanity

On this particular day we had to go out to run some errands.

BOTH of my girls were very vocal in their protests

to being strapped into their carseats. 

It was stressful.

Very stressful.

Even Nana was flustered with them

and that never happens!

After we got home,

I had to take their carseats out of my parents' car,

so that my father could take his turn driving his carpool group to work.

After I placed the carseats in the hallway,

my girls proceeded to sit and play in them for ages. 

Really??

REALLY???

Ugh.

xo

xo

This really did go on...

... forever!

FYI:

Today I spent roughly 40 minutes walking around Sobeys trying to do my grocery shopping. I pushed Elliotte in a cart while Piper followed us around throwing a screaming tantrum because I didn't allow her to push the button to lock the doors of our van. (Disclosure: I actually asked her to lock the door for me, but she decided to ignore me and push MY buttons instead.) Anyway, I refused to give in to her behavior and proceeded to continue my grocery shopping while struggling to keep talking to her in a very calm voice about how no one wanted to listen to her not-nice noises while they were shopping. When I had had just about enough and was on the brink of crying, a lady who is unknown to myself made a point of approaching me. She told me that she had been listening to me while she was shopping and that I was a good mom. Sigh. Thank you ma'am. It was such a small gesture on her part, but it really changed my shopping experience. I may even have smiled through the rest of the tantrum. Hugs to you all with young children that are throwing tantrums these days. YOU are good moms too! xo

Fishy Business

What are these three so intensely interested in?

A kids show?

A cartoon?

A Disney movie?

Nope.

A fishing show.

Fishing!

These two must turn after their grandpa!

xo

xo

So serious.

Seriously!!

Fresh Garden Goodies

It wouldn't be a trip to visit Nanny Gandy

if we didn't go out into her garden.

While Piper is now a pro gardener,

this was Elliotte's first time.

It was pretty evident in their work ethic.

Piper did most of the picking,

and Elliotte did most of the eating.

Surprised?

I didn't think so.

xo

xo

Piper picking the fresh peas.

Elliotte eating the fresh peas.

She couldn't get enough.
I had to take them away from her because I was afraid too many would hurt her belly. 

Elliotte headed out to the pea plants to pick her own,
but little legs don't always cooperate in the garden beds.

Her dirty little bum after falling in the garden.

After I stopped feeding her the peas, she decided to help herself
to the ones that Piper had already picked.

Elliotte pulling up her very first carrot.

She was probably trying to figure out why in the world anyone
would bury a carrot in the dirt!

This little pro is just proud of her 'catch'. 

Potato time!
Piper was diving right in there picking them out of the dirt.

Elliotte wasn't far behind.

Proud of their potato! 

It's always important to take time to stop and smell the flowers. 

Nanny Gandy's beautiful garden!