Rosie Roo Turns Two!!

Our wee Roslyn Joy had her second birthday on July 5th. It was a day full of fun. The morning began with birthday hats, a little "bling" and waffles. Then we went to the local pool for swimming and sliding and general frivolity.

Here Rosie has donned her birthday hat and necklaces. She is stoic, unaffected by the excitement

Now we are starting to see a glimmer of "party girl" coming through

And at last, she lets loose!

Everyone in party mode - Rosie gives us her classic "cheese" face - the look of actually smelling cheese as opposed to just saying it - very helpful at picture time :-)

In true Sean and Mandy style, we forgot our camera in the car during our swim. You will just have to imagine all the fun. We came home exhausted and ready for a viewing of "Annie".

~Mandy

Waterslide Fun

So what do you do in Caronport when it is hot, dry and dusty? Well, you create a waterslide in your backyard for hours of cool entertainment. Sean came up with this creation: pool under bottom of slide with a bit of water in it, hose held by parent at top of slide with water slowly trickling out, add kids and stand back.

Brookie poses at the top of the run, showing off her ultra-girlie suit

And this is her about to hit the water below. Of course it was a bit chilly but very refreshing!

Rosie the daredevil

She just flew off the bottom, often stopping only when she made contact with the far side of the pool. A splash and laugh then she was off to try again!!

~Mandy

. . . at the ladybug picnic

In June, it was birthday party time! Our friends Lily and Clara Matthies turned 3 and we were invited to their ladybug and worm party.

Brookie had the perfect little ladybug dress to mark the occasion

Here she is waiting for the ladybug cupcakes to arrive

Rosie had a great time mixing, mingling and drinking from a juice box

We played pass the ladybug and had a beanbag toss, ate worm and dirt cake, and went home with bug catcher goodie bags. It was our first twin birthday but I can attest to the fact that we absolutely had double the fun! ~Mandy

Best Friends

Do you know what friendship is... it is to be brother and sister; two souls which touch without mingling, two fingers on one hand. ~Victor Hugo

Waiting . . .

A thunderstorm starts rumbling. We usually stop what we are doing to pull up a chair and watch. Most of the time, although we are supposedly living in storm country, the thunder never really develops into anything. But sometimes, if we are lucky, we are given a spectacular show - thunder that shakes your bones and lightning that rips the sky in two. These moments seem especially grand here on the prairie. I think it is because we really don't have a lot to distract. The sky is so big. On those rare occasions, the wait is well worth it.

When I was growing up, I was an avid stormwatcher. Some of my best memories are of my mom waking me out of a dead sleep to let me know a storm was on its way. I was spellbound by the sight - all that power, the feeling of being in the middle of something so epic. Now, though, my greatest pleasure comes from sitting with my daughters, watching their delight in the storm and feeling their small hands squeeze my arm at the extra loud moments. It gives me a few moments to say thank you to the Stormmaker for daughters, thunder and prairie skies. ~Mandy

Helping Dad in the Garden

There is nothing better than helping dad in the garden - well, maybe not so much helping as standing near dad while he works.

And pants can really get in the way

~Mandy

The Caronport Streaker

Beware! This little menace is at large. She is unarmed, as you can see, but seems to enjoy that prairie wind a bit too much.

Here she is making her latest escape

She spends most of her time walking down the slide - sliding is out of the question given the situation

She lulls you into a false sense of security, stopping to ponder a passing bird, letting it all hang out . . .

but (and I mean literally) then she is off again, avoiding capture at least until bath time.

~Mandy