Happy Halloween!

What a fun Halloween filled month we had! Avery was so into Halloween this year! Every store we went in that had Halloween monsters etc. we would have to run from the monsters! She was so dramatic and into it, I loved it! We did lots of crafts and baking and lots of celebrating!

Avery was lucky enough to wear her Rapunzel costume not once, not twice, but thrice! At our Church party, my girlfriends little kiddy party she had (which was adorable) and trick or treating last night which was a blast to watch! Avery had so many funny comments at the houses. Some of my favourites included: "Who killed that cat", "Ah, scary bat, I don't like bats." Many more I wish I could remember.

Avery and Talia met up with my scary cousins, Casey the Vampire and Kristin the witch!

It was really cute, Jace was facsinated with Avery hair! We couldn't get him to look forward forever cause he just stared at Avery!

Avery in her Rapunzel glory with her weapon... the frying pan!

Marli dressed up like a duck for our Primary party, but it was a little short for her and I'm not sure how comfy she was. So she sported a cute Halloween shirt. I hope all of you had a happy and safe Halloween!

Chopper Ride = One of the funnest surprises!

Jordan's big 3 0 is this year! His real birthday is Nov. 6. I snuck his phone and peeked at his Calendar and there was 2 weekends that really could work before his real birthday that he didn't have class or a assignment due for his CMA program. He was onto me, but I knew he did not like big surprise parties... and meant it!

As many of you know Jordan did Fire Fighting for the Forest Service for many summer before and after his mission. He loved that job so much, and a big part of that was flying in helicopters. So I had the idea of setting up a helicopter ride for him with Avery and myself. I know Jordan and knew that the best part for him would be enjoying the ride with us.

I contacted Jordan's old boss at the Forest Service in Edmonton (he did dispatching for them for a couple summers after we were married) and he connected me with Canadian Helicopters (who were fabulous to work with by the way!)

So thanksgiving weekend Avery and I picked up Jordan from work Friday night. He knew something was up, but didn't know what. My Mom was watching Marli and when Jordan got in the car he asked where Marli was. Avery said "Happy Birthday! Were going on a helicopter ride!!" Jordan looked so surprised and was really excited!


I was a little nervous that Avery would get worried and scared and not want to go... and then what do we do?!? So all week I watched You Tube videos with her of helicopter rides. I would show her how it was going to be loud and that she would have to wear head phones. On a side note, Avery knew about the helicopter ride for months while I was planning this and didn't say a word! Pretty good for a 3 year old!

Well all my worries were washed away, this girl apparently has no fear and must be an extremist! She showed no signs of fear, and was nothing but excited! It made me and Jordan laugh the whole ride to see the joy on her face!

Since Jordan has flown so much in helicopters, he insisted I sit in the front which was really cool! So him and Avery cozied up in the back.

About to take off!

Love this pic of Avery, pure joy!

We flew over downtown and thought it would be neat to drive over my parents house. They loved having these ariel shots too!

Avery thought it was so cool to talk into the headphones, she loved hearing herself. She is quite the chatter box lately, so Jordan was joking that it was nice to turn her off! In the front our head sets just automatically worked when we spoke. In the back Jordan had to press a button so he decided when Avery could be heard, haha!

She got so giddy at times, and she has quite the imagination! At one point in the head set she said "Mom watch out, there is a alligator!!!" The pilot thought that was pretty funny!

We drove over our house, its a little harder to point out that my parents! haha, tad smaller! The big field and building is the school right beside us. Basically we are facing the main road (106 Ave) and the second house in east of the school.

I'm so glad we went in the fall cause it was just beautiful! Shot of downtown Edmonton as we came back to the downtown airport.

Jordan's new building, new Epcor building.

Coming into land at the downtown airport.

Just landed!

In the hanger after the flight.

So much fun! One HUGE regret is not taking a video! Both Jordan and I had our I-phones and Avery loves watching videos on our phones that we take. DUH! Totally forgot, don't you hate those moments, its like you want to rewind time because its not like we are going to do a helicopter ride again anytime soon!

Afterwards we went to Jordan's favourite restaurant Thanh Thanh's. I told him just my parents were there, but he noticed a few peoples cars in the parking lot! We had our immediate family there as well who could make it! We had a really nice dinner and then came back to our house for cake. Pictures to follow of that...

Happy Birthday Avery girl!

I cannot believe how late this post is! The problem was all the pictures were on my parents camera, so believe it or not I just got them!

So this was Avery's 3rd birthday party... Dore theme as requested! I hate to admit this, but it was very thrown together... and my 39 week pregnant body was quite exhausted so not as elaborate as I would like! But my sweet little 3 year old did not seem to notice or care! We had a lot of fun.

I was trying to cram this party in before Marli arrived! And man... I did it just in time. Unfortunately the weekend that we were able to do it was the Friday of August long weekend so a lot of our party guests were out of town. But we had a nice time, and as you know Marli came a week early (2.5 days after this birthday party) so I really did sneak this in party in just in time!

Here are some pics from the happy party!

Enjoying the swing, I just love my parents house! Its like a one stop Birthday place, an extreme activity center!

Avery and her cousin Casey, she just adores her!

Avery loves Dora... and loves Rapunzel from Tangled almost just as much! So this present from her cousins Kristen and Casey was just about the most wonderful thing! She just loved her Rapunzel dress!

I think this was our last picture as a family of three, with our sweet little three year old!

Me and Rachel literally ready to pop! The next day Rachel went into labor and had her son about 36 hours after this photo, and I went into labor just over 48 hours after this photo and have Marli 2.5 days after this photo!

Tree House!!!

This tree house was yet again another labor of love from Jordan! And sheer creativity and INSANE construction skills! When Jordan had this idea to build a tree house in the back yard I had NO IDEA it would be to this magnitude! The really crazy part is that he thought of this all by himself, lots of people who have seen it have asked if it was a package he bought... nope! Designed and constructed by builder man Jordan ;)

Jordan has said it was a project where he bit of more than he could chew. It took countless hours, and most of those hours were right after we had Marli. So he was helping me, working, and trying to finish the tree house!

Here are some pictures of the tree house project! Avery was Jordan's little helper, she spent lots of time out there with him while I was inside with Marli. He got her some little tools and she just loved being out there with Dad.

The Finished Product!

The amazing thing is the deals that he got on everything. The slides were off kijiji, Tube slide for $200 and the one underneath for $50. Most of the wood he got for free at this place pat Nisku. It was raw natural cedar and maple, so he even planed them down to show the nice wood grain and then stained it all! Pretty incredible!

Some new things

Sure... I'd love a new living room set! BUT, its not in the budget right now! Plus, we would like to use this in the future family room once we have the basement (and are not renting it anymore) so where would we put this furniture when we have a new set??? The couch we got when we got married, so almost 7 years strong! Green is still my favourite color... but this couch has its fair share of stains; despite multiple washings.

Jordan has a great idea... new slip covers from IKEA! And perfect timing, they just came out with a few new colors and fabrics for this couch!


So new brown slip cover... throw in a few toss cushions o the mix... ta da!!! Living room make over!

This was a fun little project! Before I left work on mat leave we were cleaning out the back room. This fun little gem was about to be tossed. It used to hold a perfume line we carried, it had a different back and a couple shelves to hold the perfume testers. DUH... didn't take a before, sorry! You think I would have learned back now!

Well I took the shelves out, wallpapered the back to match our wallpaper wall. We found this antique egg beater at a garage sale in our area. Jordan mounted it for me, and there ya go! Some art for the kitchen! haha. I just love it, simple too!

And this tea pot, 50% off at Tin Box (one of my favourite accessories stores.) Since I have dark on most of my walls, I love accessorizing in white. And how cute is a tea pot that is an elephant! So yes... for all the tea I drink... hehe!

Oh and one more little change, our Marli girl! Smiles and cooing and ooing, and just melting my heart everyday! Avery loves that shes interacting now, today while Marli was in her swing and Avery was swinging her, Avery would just die in giggles when Marli would smile or make funny faces!

We've learned Marli has some reflux issues, as well as some eczema that flares up. We have her on some reflux medicine from my doctor and I cut out diary (not the easiest thing I've learned) and got this great cream recommended by a friend who's daughter has bad eczema. Wow! She is like a different baby this week, her eczema cleared up a ton! She is so much happier, feeding good again, and just adorable!