Tanned Anne

Who knew that redheads could tan?

Not this one.

No way.

Apparently Anne of Green Gables can really

soak up the rays!

I just burn still.

I think Elliotte is going to be just like me.

Piper (lucky girl) seems to have her daddy's skin tone.

She has a lovely color this summer!

This photo was taken in the Avonlea Village, Cavendish.

Nana's three girls!

xo

xo

The ladies with the creepiest Anne ever!

Double Duty

There is a very good reason 

why there haven't been any blog posts this week.

Two good reasons.

xo

xo

Double story time.
Twice as lucky.

Claira's 3rd Birthday Party

Today we went to Claira's third birthday party.

It was an outdoor swimming party,

but unfortunately it was a cloudy and windy day,

so by the time we got there

most of the kids were shivering and wanted out of the pool.

If I had only had one of my girls with me,

I would've gotten in for sure,

but I knew that being on my own with the two of them

would mean that one would have to stand shivering

while I dried off and changed the other. 

No big deal,

unless you know how loudly my girls can protest 

to being cold AND to waiting.

I was not in the mood for that today.

But it was fine. 

The kids had a great time playing in the grassy field,

eating snacks

and CAKE.

xo

xo

Elliotte taking a break.

CAKE!!

Everything was quiet here.
I wonder why.

Cheese!

Elliotte kept running the length of this pathway.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
She did a few face plants along the way,
but got back up and kept on running.

Ring around the Rosie...

We all fall down!

The baby table having a little pow wow.

Taiwan Meets PEI

Who needs to go back and visit Taiwan,

when Taiwan comes to visit you?

We had the most fantastic weekend 

when our friends Duncan and Jenny,

along with their two girls

and two Taiwanese students,

came to visit us on July 25th.

We met Duncan and Jenny when we lived and taught in Taiwan.

I taught at the same high school as Duncan,

and Jenny and I shared a class of middle school students.

Duncan is originally from Nova Scotia

and Jenny is from Taiwan.

They met there while both were teaching English,

got married,

had two BEAUTIFUL girls

and have just relocated to Nova Scotia

within the past few months.

I can't even describe how excited I was to see them.

And THEN they show up with enough food to feed an army.

Chocolate treats,

Taiwanese treats,

Oolong tea,

homemade strawberry jam...

I am spoiled!

And our girls all got along incredibly well.

It was an absolute joy to have them around.

Jerry and Jack were the two students

that were in Canada for a few weeks 

while attending an international language course

at Dalhousie University.

They were so good to us as well.

And to Blue!

That dog was given so much loving attention

that I think he's still depressed that they left.

And the best part for me...

after the kids were all tucked into bed at night,

the adults all gathered around the table to play Mahjong!

Duncan and Jenny taught me how to play using the Taiwanese rules

when I was living there.

I LOVED it. 

I couldn't get enough of it.

I would have played every night if I could have.

So, before I left Taiwan,

I bought myself a beautiful set of Mahjong tiles.

They had never been used until now.

I was happy.

Simply happy!!

Jack and Jerry kept laughing as we played,

saying that when they thought of all the things they'd do in Canada,

coming to PEI and playing Mahjong was not one of them. 

Haha.

And now Piper is obsessed with Chinese everything.

We'll be sitting at the dinner table and she'll ask me to say,

"gee long".

So I say, "gee long".

Then she tells me that that means 'bee' in Chinese.

Sigh.

This kid!

xo

xo

Taiwan meets Miscouche!

Erinn taking care of Elliotte.
She is simply amazing with the little kids.
We've talked about her coming to spend a week with us next summer!
She wants me to teach her how to braid hair
in exchange for her helping me out with the kids for a week.
I'd take her for a month.

Piper asked Jack to join her in her 'tree house'.

The kids were being a pain,
so we did this to them! Ha!

Reunited.
We last all saw each other in 2006
when Mark and I stayed with Duncan and Jenny for a week
on our way home from Australia.
Back then Erinn was the only wee one.
Now we have four.

Lizzie and Piper were great little buddies!

Really great little buddies.
There were a lot of giggles shared between these two.

Lizzie and Jack made themselves at home in the kitchen.

Did I mention how great Erinn was with the little kids?

Hair twins. 

Duncan and Jack won their way to Elliotte's hear this morning.
They kept feeding her bacon and grapes.
She was so happy that she was clapping her hands.

Piper and Lizzie making grumpy faces.

Happy faces. 

Surprised faces.

Double trouble! 

MAHJONG!!!

This makes me so happy,
though you wouldn't know it from this picture.
I was waiting for one tile
when Duncan won.
I'm paying him and not happy about it.

PS.

Sorry for posting so many photos, but I'm trying to catch up on my posts before Nana and Poppy arrive on Monday!!

Move Over Cinderella

We couldn't possibly have Sylvie over

without dressing up like princesses

and having a dance party.

Elliotte has now reached the stage

where she is just as excited about this princess thing

as the big girls.

She will actually go to her closet

and point and grunt at the princess dresses hanging there.

Disney is not going to know what hit them

once my girls show up.

Move over Cinderella.

There are two new princesses in town!

xo

xo

Pretty princess hair.

These two are so girlie.
When they play together it could not get any more girlie!

We only have two princess dresses.
Elliotte wasn't too impressed at first,
but she was happy to wear her own pretty dress
as they all danced around.

I think we're in trouble.
The smallest one is already dancing on chairs!

Elliotte's turn to wear the princess dress!

And this is what it looks like
when you try to change the diaper of a little princess.
We couldn't see each other the whole time. 

Rich in Rewards

A couple of weeks ago,

I posted about the day that Piper was my and Elliotte's hero

by alerting me to the fact that Elliotte

was having a severe allergic reaction in the backseat of our van

while I was driving.

I'm happy to say that Elliotte has been doing great every since,

even if she has had a few swelling episodes on her feet

due to those nasty mosquitos.

After a visit with her family doctor,

she now takes a daily antihistamine,

carries and EpiPen,

carries Benadryl

and must run around with every from of mosquito repellent 

attached to her that you can think of.

This kid is costing us a fortune in the pharmacy,

but she's pretty cute,

so I'll pay the price...

for now. 

Ha!

Piper was well rewarded for her heroic actions.

I took her to the bookstore

where she was allowed to pick out a brand new book.

She LOVES this!

Then we went to do one of her next favorite things:

the Loonie Rides!

(She was kind enough to share with her little sister!)

After that she was pretty content with her rewards,

but I couldn't resist just one more.

Piper didn't complain!

xo

xo

Driving the dog catcher's truck.

They're showing off for a little audience that gathered here.

PEI is rubbing off on Piper,
as she's becoming a real farmer.

Elliotte is sticking with the more traditional vehicle. 

And treat #3 was....
cotton candy ice cream!!!!!

Farewell Friends

I love this photo of Piper's hair.

She looks so small where her hair is so big!!

She thought it was pretty cool to wave goodbye to her friend

as they were about to depart.

Elliotte too!

xo

xo