Birthday Pics

So now it works to get pictures onto here. So here's a few birthday pictures for you to enjoy.

Early in the morning before daycare.

Opening her present from Grandma and Grandpa Siemens.
Like our wrapping job? I wonder what it is?

While we sang to her, she went for the icing, and discovered she loved it. I'm not sure if she even had any of the cake. But the icing on her piece was gone.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!!

Yes our baby turned 1 today. We can't believe it's been a year already. Times seems to be flying by faster and faster. This morning we (Brooklyn and I) woke Emma up with a song, and then hear LeRoy say he needed to stay in bed cause he was sick. So not the greatest way to start the day, but I managed. I got the 3 of us ready for school and daycare, even remembered the cookies for daycare, and off we went. Yesterday I spent the day making cookies and a cake, so I didn't have to do any birthday preparing today. It was all done. So then for supper Dallas, Tara, Carter and Logan all came over for delicious hotdogs, chips, and cake. And presents of course. It was a lot of fun, and thankfully LeRoy felt well enough to celebrate Emma's day for a couple hours. Then once the birthday fun was over, LeRoy and Emma went to bed, and Brooklyn and I joined many friends outside for a bonfire and s'mores. It was such a fun day. I kept looking back and thinking, "what were we doing a year ago?" Remembering the day Emma was born is so much fun, and I do miss her being so little. But at the same time we love seeing the little girl she is becoming.....our doll, our drama queen, our picky eater, our clown....all of it makes our Emma who she is.

Well, pictures aren't able to be loaded, so hopefully tomorrow that'll work.

Blessed

Today we felt blessed by Pat Brandt. That name sounds familiar to some of you, but I'll fill the rest of you in. Dave and Pat Brandt have come here to RGBI to volunteer their time for about 5 weeks. They are from our church in Steinbach. We have had a chance to have them over for coffee, and saying hi as we pass each other throughout our days. It's so nice to see familiar faces from home. Today Pat came by after Brooklyn's nap, and took her for a walk so we had a bit more quiet to study. When Brooklyn came home she said "we fed the fish, i drink pop, and eat ice cream". So I don't thing she'll have a problem going with Mrs. Pat again. She had a great time. And I was able to have an hour more for studying than normal. Thanks Pat.

Brooklyn has now officially asking "why?" So far we're laughing cause it's so cute. Thankfully she gives up after a bit and accepts our short answers. The girls seem to be growing up so fast once again, maybe more so cause Emma turns the big 1 on Friday. So her birthday cake is floating around in my head, as I figure out exactly how I want to decorate it. We're very excited, but maybe this day should be more of a celebration for us. That we made it a whole first year having 2 kids. It definitely is a crazy life, but so much fun. So we will celebrate Emma on Friday, with friends, cake, and a few presents. I'm sure there'll be pics posted this weekend.

Picture Day

Today was a great day for taking pictures of the girls. They were both wearing new outfits from friends, the weather was beautiful, and Emma turns 1 this week, so pictures of her were needed anyways. So here are our girls at 2 1/2 years old, and almost 1. The new Noah's Ark play structure makes a very nice backdrop.

School..Church..Company

We are into our second week of classes, and I think we are doing okay with it. There is more to do, and it's harder with out teachers speaking 95% Spanish. We also feel we have less time for homework. We're not sure if we actually do, or that's just how it feels. The reason for this is because they changed when the tutors work. Instead of having the option for tutors between 1 and 5, it's now only between 1 and 3. So I have tutor at 1, LeRoy goes at 2. Right when the girls nap. Last semester I'd go at 3 and LeRoy at 4, so we could still do most of our studying while the girls napped. Now that study period is gone. It's a new routine we need to get used to. So far I think we're handling it alright, but it somehow means a little less time to ourselves too.

We are quite excited for tomorrow evening. A couple from our church in Steinbach is here for a month volunteering. Tomorrow they are coming over for coffee, and to deliver a couple packages. YAY!!! We were expecting one of them from a friend out there, but we're not sure about the second. So if you're reading, thank you!!! It will be so nice to visit someone from our church, and to catch up with how things are going out there. And for them to hear first hand from us how we're doing.

Along with second semester Conversation class comes the "joys" of writing and performing our own dramas as a small class. In my class there are 3 other ladies and it's a lot of fun with them. Every week we need to write a drama based on the Bible story we study the same week. So tonight we are getting together to, hopefully start and finish, our drama on the Prodigal Son. I think it'll be fun, but I sure hope it doesn't take too long, so I still have time afterwards to study. Life is all about needing more time to study these days.

We have also started going to a new church. We found it over Christmas, and enjoy it much more than our previous church. Both girls are able to, and enjoy, staying in the nursery with other kids, and a few ladies, for the whole service. That means I can actually sit with LeRoy, the whole service, and listen to a Spanish service.

Hope you all have a great week. Only 4 more months till we can see many of you. YAY!!!

Daddy's Girl

When I was a little girl, there was this old country song that was played lots in our house. I loved it because it was about a daddy and his girl, and I definitely have always been a daddy's girl. This became one of my favourite songs and I think almost went into our wedding somewhere. So when Brooklyn was born, it became the song I sang to her in the middle of the night, or whenever she needed calming down. These days when we put her to bed, we are often asked to sing this song, but now it's a duet. She sings along with us. Sometimes I am told to sing it as "Mommy's Girl" instead of "Daddy's Girl", which I am so happy to do. Here are the lyrics. Someday I should maybe change them so they are actually applicable to some things we have done. They are great none the less.

DADDY'S GIRL

I recall the day, that you came into this world
I couldn't believe the doctor, when he said it was a little girl
I said, "oh doc", you must be wrong, you see I want a boy
But then he laid you in my arms, and my heart sank with joy

CHORUS:
Daddy's girl, daddy's girl,
I'm the center, of my daddy's world
I know I'm daddy's number 1,
for he loves me like I was a son
Daddy's girl

I recall the day, I took you on a fishing trip
You said, "Daddy won't that hook, hurt the fishy's lip"
You said, "If they don't get air, those things in the can will die"
So we turned the worms all loose, and chased some butterflies.

CHORUS

I recall the day, I took you to a baseball game
You brought along your baby doll, and all its dolly things
We sat there, playing house while the Dodgers played the Braves
And everyone in the bleachers looked at us as if to say...

CHORUS

I recall the day, that your young man came to call
It feels like only yesterday we swam and played football
But I knew the time would come, when I would set you free
But no matter where you go, you know you'll always be...

CHORUS

You'll always be your daddy's girl.

I love you Dad:):)

Things are going...

Classes have started, as has our studying. Tutors only start next week, so we have a week to get used to this new schedule again, and realize when the best times for studying may be. Brooklyn has decided that she doesn't need as long of an afternoon nap anymore, but because of that she's in bed earlier in the evening. So it kind of all equals out to be much the same amount of study time as last semester. But now more of that study time is at the end of the day when I'm exhausted from everything within the day. I still think I prefer this, a longer quiet evening, even if it's full of studying.

I don't think we feel as overwhelmed by our classes as some others do, maybe we were given a bit more heads up of what to expect from Tara, I'm not sure. LeRoy and I ended up in some of the same classes again, one of which we have the hardest teacher on campus. We are really enjoying him as a teacher already. He's a lot more picky, and actually makes us pay attention to what's going on. Oh, and everything is in Spanish this year. No English allowed. That makes it harder on its own, never mind more homework. I do have to say, so far I am enjoying it. Once tutors start next week, I may say differently. I enjoyed having tutors last semester, but for me it adds another stress. I have to figure out what I want to do or study with her, 4 days a week, for an hour, in Spanish. I like having my afternoons all to myself, to do whatever I feel like doing, or need to get done. Sometimes tutor hour feels like I have to entertain, but not always. Some of the girls are tons of fun, and we can go through our hour by just chatting.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!!!!! My baby sister turned 18 today, and got to stay home from school cause it was so cold. This morning I was thinking how cold I was, I could hardly get out of bed. Then I saw how cold it was there, and wishing I could be colder. It was only 10 degrees here, but it feels very different than the Manitoba 10 degrees.

My dialog is calling me, so while it's quiet here for a few moments (the others are enjoying the weather), I better study it. Never know how our evening will go. But I sure hope it'll be quiet for studying. Have a great week.

Tomorrow is the Day

Well, tomorrow we head back to school. Except we don't really have to do anything tomorrow, except really start to study. Our semester starts off heavy, heavier than the last semester ended. Or so that's what it looks like so far. I think we are ready to begin once again, before we lose more of our Spanish. Brooklyn is very excited to go back to daycare tomorrow, and finally play with kids. We'll see how excited she is when she's woken up almost an hour earlier than this past month. Emma is, of course, oblivious to all of this.

But, Emma did start moving around on her stomach yesterday, which kind of resembles crawling.....she's at least on her tummy moving forward. And she does this cute thing, shaking her head so hard, while getting her right arm right in the action too. Kind of like those action figures where you hit a button to make their head and arms move. That's what Emma looks like. Very funny. Have not yet been able to get in on video.

I have a feeling we may not be able to blog quite as much with school starting again, but please keep checking back. You never know, we may just use this as our excuse for a break from homework. Or maybe we should start practicing our Spanish on here......or not. Have a great week to you all:)

Scatter Brained

I really have wanted to write something this whole week, but every time I sit down to write, my mind goes blank. So this post may be all over the place. This has been a week with very quick ups and downs, and a couple "plain old grumpy days". Those are bound to happen sometimes, and this was the week for it. LeRoy's family left early Tuesday morning which left us to an empty house once again. It has been lonely, but also good to have our house quieter again. We had a wonderful time with his family, doing the tourist stuff, and hanging out. Thankfully after a long flight, a long drive, a flat tire in -40, all within 24hrs, they made it home safely.

This week has mostly been full of doing a good cleaning before classes begin again. We have also begun homework to try and get ahead a little. I'm hoping to get more done before Monday, but we'll see what all comes up.

The other day we were driving down the street, and we suddenly notice the van in front of us. THEY WERE FROM STEINBACH. I was so excited, as I get extremely excited every time I see someone from Manitoba, never mind Steinbach. And last night when we went out for ice cream, LeRoy was wearing his Flames hat of course. The couple standing behind us asked "are you really a Flames fan"? Of course we are. It turns out they live in Calgary, but he is originally from Winnipeg, and had been to Steinbach tons for Derksen Printers. It's amazing what little seeing little connections like that can do. It brings a little from home to us, even if it's just seeing a vehicle from there.

Brooklyn and Emma have grown up so much over the past month of holidays. Emma's changes seemed to be very sudden. The day after LeRoy's family left, she all of a sudden decided she was going to learn to move around. If you haven't seen the video yet, check my post a couple days ago. It shows how she moves around, on her butt. It's cute, and we're excited that she finally learned this development. Yesterday she decided maybe she should try to walk holding onto furniture. So she made her way slowly along our couch. She is still her joyful, sensitive self, and she loves having a big sister to copy. Brooklyn is a trying, strong-willed child, testing us every day. Of course, she's 2. She started with this much later than most 2 year olds, from what I have heard. Screaming tantrums (only sometimes), and talking back (lots of the time) are part of our days. She is also a sensitive girl, very quick to pick up different emotions we may be showing, and quick to try and make everything better. I think she will be very excited to get back to daycare as she has played with other kids (other than Emma) for 4 weeks. It's time.

This morning Brooklyn was talking about Carter, of course, and asking if he was back yet. Again I had to tell her he was still far away, but soon he'd be back. She went on playing, but then came back holding her doll wrapped in its blanket. Then she looked at me and said, "my baby is Logan", with the biggest smile. She is very excited to meet Carter's baby brother Logan.

School starts for us on Monday with a low key registration day, and then full throttle on Tuesday. I'm scared as I have really loved this past month without the stress of school. By the end of last semester it felt like I had found a way not to stress with the homework, and just balance everything. I'm scared now to start over again, in a way, especially knowing this semester is supposed to be twice the work. Please pray with me, that I will learn quickly how to balance everything again, and enjoy it all at the same time.

Today is a cloudy day, still suppose to reach a high of 27, a comfortable day. It feels like it's going to be relaxed, maybe I'll even do some baking. Tonight we are going to some friends' place for supper, which will be a nice change. Hope you all have a great day and weekend.

Finally Moving Around

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