Bittersweet

This week was the last week our MOM's group met.  It is very bittersweet because it is likely the last full MOM's semester I'll be able to attend.  These women (and a few that are missing) are very special to me because they have truly become my family here in Canada. In this photo alone we have representation from Brazil, the UK, the US, and Zimbabwe (sort of).  In the next 4-6 months four of the women in the photo pictured are moving, back to the UK, Zimbabwe, Regina, and the US. Even though this group will never live in the same city again, I truly believe they are friends for life because once friends become like family, there is no distance that can keep a friendship apart. Thank you ladies for your friendship, your support, your compassion, and your help with Allie when this mommy has needed a break! :)  I couldn't have asked for better friends!

Best Buddies!

Today we watched Callum, who has made appearances on this blog before. He and Allie are best friends, and I truly mean that. Whenever Callum walks into the room Allie literally lights up and he is always her favorite playmate.  This past year Philippa and I signed up for all of the same activities, so Callum and Allie get to spend every day together, which has been so fun! 

Allie convinced him to hang out in her crib (just like she did last week with Maya and Anna) so that she could have her pacifier and play with him (she's only allowed to have her pacifier in crib). She's sneaky!

I love this little guy so much!

Allie giving Callum a hug and an eye poke...Callum's still smiling though! :)

How sweet are these two? 

Callum's family is moving to Regina in a few months and I really can't imagine life in Saskatoon without them.  We are so thankful that we've gotten to know them so well over the last couple of years and know we will be friends for life! 

Florida Part II

Here are a few more pictures from FL that Aunt Deanna sent us.  Thanks Deanna!

The entire Mauer family.  We took this before dinner at the club one night.

Our little family, minus Bella!

Queen of the beach!

Bathing beauty!

Gavin, Allie, and Brennan. 

Allie loved the goggles.

Play Date!

Today Allie and I watched my dear friend Jodi's girls, Maya and Anna.  It was one FUN play date!  The girls were here when Allie woke from her nap and she promptly requested demanded pigtails "just like Anna's".  Her wish is my command these days!

We spent a lot of time racing cars and baby strollers up and down our upstairs hallway.  It was all fun and games...

...until suddenly it wasn't. I'm not even sure what set Allie off at this point. Let's just chalk it up to life with a two year old. 

Notice Allie in the background of these pictures. She was upset because she was last.  She's already competitive!  

Sharing books! These books were my Peter Rabbit books when I was a little girl. Allie LOVES them. She calls them her "cute little books" or sometimes her "cute tiny books". 

These girls had no fun at all jumping in Allie's crib. :)  You can tell by Allie's pigtails that she was getting some good air!

They played in Allie's crib for close to 45 minutes. First they jumped, then they fed their babies, then they relaxed. It was so cute!

We sure are going to miss Maya and Anna when they move to Zimbabwe (yes, they are moving to Zimbabwe because their daddy is from there!). At least they are here until the fall!  

Happy Easter!

We had a fun, quiet Easter this year.  Dan had Friday off work so we relaxed together as a family. Saturday we decorated Easter eggs and our Brazilian friends had us over for a FEAST and an Easter egg hunt for the kids.  I am bummed because I forgot my camera, so I didn't get any pictures of Allie in her cute Easter dress or all of the other cute kids. Hopefully my friends will send me some!  Sunday Allie discovered that the Easter bunny had visited our house, so we had an exciting egg hunt, breakfast and then church. As usual, we missed our family SO much, but this will hopefully be our last Easter away.

Decorating Easter eggs with Allie was very fun...and messy! :) I bought little dye drops about the size of an Advil.  It was fascinating for Allie to watch them change the color of the water.

Uh oh, my hands are messy!

Look mom.

Easter eggs are SO fun! 

Mommy's pictures are NOT fun!  

The finished product. 

Sunday morning we had the egg hunt at our house.

Allie ate a lot of sweets before breakfast!

Her Easter basket featured some recycled chocolate from the party the night before.

The m&m fan was a HUGE hit.

She got a new Dora cup. (Dora has seriously replaced Thomas the Train in terms of Allie's favorite TV show!)

The Easter bunny hid some princess books in her kitchen.  

I love how Bella is in so many of these pictures. She is sure to never miss out on any excitement and was a great help to Allie while searching for eggs! :)

We had a fun Easter this year, but were sure not to forget the real reason for the holiday. That Jesus died for us so that we could have REAL life. What a humbling and amazing holiday to celebrate! But, if anyone has tried to explain the real meaning of Easter to a two year old, you realize just what a hard concept it is to grasp. Maybe next year! :)