First Ponytail

Ashlyn has the same crazy hair as Syd did as a baby - it looks like Ashlyn will have curls just like Sydney. They look very similar the color of their hair is different, Ashlyn is much lighter then Syd.

Ashlyn 10 months old with her first ponytail.

Ahslyn wasn't very happy with us that we were taking pictures.

Here is Sydney at 10 months old, also with her first ponytail.

10 Months Old

Ashlyn is 10 months old now.  She is currently teething and will have her first tooth hopefully in the next couple of days.  She is only happy when she's standing, she pulls herself up everywhere.  She has learned how to clap and how to give five, which she loves to do all the time now.  Here are some recent pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Ashlyn and Sydney all dressed up.

She loves her feet and lounges whenever she can.

Bath time, she is wilder and soaks everything more then her sister.

New favorite play area - under the kitchen table.

Nap Time Activities

The other afternoon when Ashlyn was napping I really didn't feel like cleaning or tidying up the house.  I went through my favorite crafting blogs and websites.  I came across the follwing idea -  Fabric Covered Letters from http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/2008/08/fabric-covered-letters.html.  

I ended up not using fabric - I simply took scrapbooking paper. Sydney loves it - she spent the first day the letters were up telling everyone what the letters represented.

Tribute to my Dad

I spent 2 weeks in Canada - My Dad passed away suddenly and unexpected the day I arrived home. I am so greatful that I decided to take the girls over despite the stress of travelling alone - it was so worth all the stress.

My Dad was a simple man who didn't want lots of material things. He loved to fix things himself. A Holiday wasn't a trip to a different city or the beach, but a day in the bush picking berries or fishing at some remote location. He loved gardening and had 2 green thumbs - he even had his own gardening store. He was the best example of hard work. He loved his family, spoiled us when we were younger with a huge slide every winter complete with cinder block steps. I loved to tag along when he had to fix anything - I remember hammering nails in the walls of my bedroom when he fixed up the basement. There are so many other memories that I'll cherish forever, especially the last ones where he was playing with my girls.

I love you Dad, and miss you tons.

Me and my Dad 1981

My sister and me eating with Dad

My Wedding.(2004)

Dad and Sydney (2 months old) 2008

Dad dancing with Sydney at Kerry's Wedding reception 2008.

Dad and Sydney playing in the basement, Christmas 2009.

April Update

I managed to keep my trip to Timmins a secret from my mom for the past 2 weeks.

I survived 17 hours, 3 flights with the 2 girls by myself. Crazy I know, but the trip was well worth it.

Sydney waiting in Frankfurt to board the next flight.

Ashlyn slept through most waits inbetween flights.

Ashlyn turned 9 months old on the18th of April.

 We got pictures of all the grandkids taken for my parents. 5 kids between 2 months and 31/2 years.

I made 2 baby blankets in the evenings when the girls were in bed

Here is Ben's baby Blanket.

 And here is Lilia's blanket.

I Love Handy Manny!

Friday night we were out doing some weekend shopping. While browsing inthe toy section we came across a Handy Manny toy. Sydney loves Handy Manny, we've wanted to get her something from this show for a while but weren't sure what and they tend to be rather expensive. In the clearance section they had a Handy Manny truck that truns into a workbench. It was orignially 90€ and marked down to 20€, this good of a deal we couldn't really pass up. So it's an early Easter gift, even though she has a very expensive Easter gift that she'll get on Wednesday this week, but that'll be another post.

She couldn't wait for the box to be opened

Here is the cell phone where you get the jobs.

Here is Felipe.

Here is Dusty.

Last but not least Squeeze and Rusty.

Very proud of the toy all put together.

Now time to get to work on repairing the engine.

Sydney is too busy with the workbench to look at the camera. Since this toy came home it's all she wants to play with.  Sydney loves Handy Manny!

Sick Days

Sydney has been battling various colds and fevers since she started kindergarten in January. Thursday she woke up with a fever of 39.5 C(103 F), which meant another Sick Day. I decided to make the most of being stuck in the house for 2 days and decided I should get the sewing machine out. Sick Day 1 (Thursday) I fixed up a dress for a friend. Today (Sick day 2) I made this pocket book.

I found the idea and tutorial on the following website.

http://hollandcox.com/blog/2010/10/tutorial-mini-pocketbook.html

Here is the outside view of the pocket book.

Inside view of the pocket book.

Here is what it looks like when it's packed with essentials that don't fit in my wallet. Seeing as I am Canadian and live in Germany I have to carry my passport around with me everywhere. I've been looking for something along this line for a while. Plus it's a quick project to sew up.