Engagement Time!!!

Our family is experiencing something completely new and wonderful!  It seems as though our Richelle has fallen in love with a wonderful young man by the name of Logan.  And he's fallen in love with her too!

And now they're getting married!!!

 

 

These are just a few of my favourite photos of them together.  Can't you just feel the love oozing out of them!

 

 

 

 

Richelle was living at home during their courtship and it's been so exciting to watch the evolution of their love.  It was like having my very own "chick flick" to watch!

They're so cute!

Logan has quickly wormed his way into our family - Mackenzie has loved him from the first time she met him!  It's a little weird to have another boy around the house, but with his cheerful disposition and helpful attitude, he's a nice kind of fellow to have around!  He's already taken on the role of pesky yet protective older brother to the six little sisters he'll be aquiring soon!

 Such a happy couple!

I love this photo of them!

(We tried to use it for an invitation but it turned out being a little too dark.)

 

 

On October 20, 2012 they'll be coming back here to the temple where they will begin their eternal journey together as they're married for time and all eternity.

 

It's such a busy and yet absolutely delightful time for our family!

 

 



Mackenzie Turns 3

Mackenzie's birthday was a pretty exciting day!!! 

 

She'd been waiting a long time for it, and so had a few other people!  Not only did she turn three, but big sister Richelle got engaged to Logan on the very same day!!!

 

We'd been home from church for a little while when we got a very happy phone call from Richelle - she was getting married!!!  The ring had finally arrived and Logan had proposed to her in their spot in the park.  It was fun to hear the details from Richelle, because Logan had already told me his plan, and I helped with a few things.  (But that is their story to tell).  Then they came home so we could celebrate with them, and then we all could celebrate with Mackenzie!

 

Enough about weddings . . . turning three is important too!!!



Does this not look like the most excited three-year-old ever?

Concentrating on the gift opening.

Out cutie-patootie!!!

Admiring the blue icing she requested with a circle of animals and ballerina's around the candles.  I think she was just so excited that it was finally her cake and her turn for a birthday.

Still working on that last candle.

 

Mackenzie, you are such a joy and blessing in our family.  We all love you and your cute little ways and attitudes and mannerisms so much.  Happy birthday Babe!!!



Jazzy Leaves Home

Labour Day arrived - that dreaded day for us, and long awaited day for her!  It was the beginning of September and Jasmine was leaving home and heading off to college to begin her nursing degree.  She was so organized - it was incredible.  She knew exactly what days she needed to take care of all the details (buy books, pay tuition, shots up-to-date, apartment walk-through, scrubs available to buy, first aid course, packing . . . etc.).

 

I snuck in to take a picture of her sleeping in her room at home for the last time.

 

She had her stuff all packed up except for last minute things.  She was up before anyone else that Monday morning and had all her boxes out of her room.  They were all stacked up in the family room waiting to be loaded.  So efficient!!!

 

So we all went off to the free town pancake breakfast, and then came home and loaded her up.  Everything fit in her car, and two trucks.  Then we began our half hour journey, leaving the youngest five girls at home to start rearranging their bedrooms!!! 

I think Jordyn was the saddest to see Jasmine leave because now she has a new role to fill as the big sister at home (even though technically, Richelle still lived at home).

 

 We made it safely to Jazzy's new home, although a big wind gust caused a chair in the truck I was driving to fall over, breaking a table, and requiring a mid-trip adjustment.

 

Jas striking her favourite pose and showing off her front yard . . .

And her new bedroom . . .

And her new kitchen!

Jas has two roommates - Shylah and Alisha.  They are sisters and are Jasmine's second cousins.  This is Jas and Shylah in the living room.

 

We had her all unloaded before noon.  Before we left Jas to get herself unpacked and settled in, we went to lunch at Boston Pizza.  We being the efficient moving team - Rich and I, Chelle and Logan, and Jazzy.

 

Leaving Jasmine at her new home wasn't as mentally difficult for me as it was when Richelle left home.  I think it was because I had already been through the "our family will never be the same again" routine.  I didn't cry on moving day - all my tears had been shed the night before when Rich gave her a Fathers' Blessing and we spent some family time together.  I'm excited for Jas and this exciting time in her life!  My tears were purely selfish - I was going to miss having her around.  She's always been such a kind and helpful person, full of fun stories about her day, a crazy giggle, and I especially liked how good she was at her kitchen zone job - tidying the kitchen at the end of the day (now I have to do it!).  I'll even miss her in that huge blue hoodie she likes to wear - with the hood up!

 

So we left her at her home.  Then Rich went to work, and Logan went to work, and Chelle and I went shopping.  A few hours later we were in Walmart and who did we see . . . why Jasmine!!!  We laughed and hugged and continued on our way!

 

When we arrived home, we found . . .  

. . . that Carlee was settling in nicely to Jasmine's old room!!!

 

Jas leaving meant that both Jordyn and Carlee would now have their own rooms.  Jordyn said, "Getting my own room is the only good thing about Jasmine leaving home."



The Final Summer Jaunt

It just wouldn't seem like summer if we didn't go the the amusement park!  So we took a little trip just before Jasmine left home.

 

We were at the front gate waiting for Daddy to arrive - he'd already been to work and was meeting us here.

Jordyn and Carlee kept us (and others!) entertained by clogging for us.

 

Daddy finally arrived and in we went.  The big four girls went off on their own and Rich and I took the two little ones around.

 

What fun to find that Mackenzie was tall enough to drive the bumper cars this year. 

And she was actually a pretty good little driver!

We eventually did meet up the with big girls, and Carlee took Mac on this bouncy quad thing.  Mac didn't like it too much.

 

Oh I discovered a ride I liked!!!  It was so much fun I couldn't stop laughing.  Jas videoed it - it was just two rows of seats on a platform that goes up about 30 feet in the air and then drops suddenly.  Up and down like that, over and over.  Fun feeling and no dizziness - the kind I like!

 

 

 Taking pictures on the Merry-Go-Round is difficult.  By the time they come around and you find them in your viewer, they're past you!  Or, the horses go up and down and you lose the person you were trying to shoot!

So, it's Jordyn - and Jenna's shoulder and arm!

The back of Katia and her mount.

Jas and the "clinging-to-the-pole-for-dear-life" Mackenzie.  She didn't enjoy the rides too much and there were quite a few she didn't want to go on.  But it was a fun family day with perfect end of the summer weather.  A trip to the Cheesecake Cafe ended our day perfectly.



More Summer Fun

My cousin Jordan and his sweet little family came to stay with us while they were in the area for a wedding.  We were trying to remember the last time we saw each other, and we're thinking it may have been our wedding.  He was just a kid way back then, but he's grown up very nicely!  Jordan's wife's name is Carly, so this was a little confusing for my daughters Jordyn and Carlee!  But we managed.

 

We spent one day at the lake together, so these pictures are all from that day.

 

Jas, Jenna, Carlee and Jordyn checking out the surf.

 

Katia - so fashionable in matching shirt and shades!

 

Gramma and Grampa with little second cousins - Adrien and Mackenzie.  They loved the umbrella.

 

Jordan getting his kids all safe - Kristian and Adrien . . .

. . . so they can go out boating.

 

Our goofy girls!

 

 

Here's our picnic area - sun and shade to please everyone!

Rich talking with his parents, my mom talking with Carly and my dad sneaking up behind Carlee.

 

Those goofy girls again!  Seriously though, they have so much fun together and are just a hoot to be around!

 

My dad and Jordan out in the rubber dingy.

 

Rich and I trying to steal a romantic moment.

Didn't work!

Katia using her hair to clean the slide so her clothes won't get dirty!

 

Five of my girls at the playground.

Watch out Carlee!!!

 

Mackenzie just loves to be in the playground with her sisters.

 

 

Those goofy girls and their lovely hair.

 

Too cute - Adrien and Mackenzie ready for church.

 

It was so much fun to reconnect with Jordan and his family.  Makes me yearn to attend a family reunion on my dad's side of the family.  They have informal gatherings every summer but it's always been so far away.  I've got lots of cousins I hardly know!  I think it's time to fix that!!!

 



Katia Swims

Katia's swim lessons were great this year!  She passed that barrier of being afraid and now she knows that you can actually float in water!!!  It'll get better quickly from here!

This is her ninth and final day of swim lessons - each one lasted half an hour.

They're searching for diving toys.

Bailey was her teacher and she had all boys in her class - which I think was a good thing because she worked hard in the beginning to keep up with them, so she really progressed.

Ready to jump in the pool.

Preparing for a relay race with the noodles.

And she passed Level 2 - great work Katia!!!

I think her greatest achievement was going off the diving board.  The first day they went off, the boys all ran and jumped off no problem, while Katia stood in her lifejacket at the end of the diving board for quite some time.  Eventually another lifeguard came up and lowered her off the board into the waiting arms below of her instructor.  The next day, Jas and dad came to the pool to watch Katia go off the board.  Jas walked over and gave her some encouragement, and she jumped - all by herself - to her instructor.  Yay Katia!!!  But then, on the next day, she went off it again, without a lifejacket!!!  By the end of her swim lessons she was a pro at jumping off the board and swimming to the edge - no instructor or lifejacket needed!

Way to be courageous!!!