Dad

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday Papa!

We love you!

xoxo

Surprise!

NANA TURNS 70!

Alison & Steve, Adrian & I planned a surprise party for Carole for her 70th birthday. It worked - she was surprised. The kids loved hiding and yelling "Surprise Nana".

Then the boys occupied themselves by playing shuffleboard.
And the girls danced.

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Nana

Happy Birthday to you

We love you - Happy 70th Birthday!

xoxo

Justin is 8

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JUSTIN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Cannot believe that my first nephew turns 8 today.

Here he is last year on his birthday...

And here is when he turned 6...

Such a sweetie!

Love you Justin!

Auntie Jen, Uncle Adrian, Owen, Isabelle & Oliver the dog.

The big boy room

For about one year now, I have been planning on updating Owen's room as part of his 6th birthday celebrations. His room still had a lot of baby things and a mish-mash of big boy things. I saw these wonderful photos of a boy's bedroom room online and just fell in love.

I started collecting things: mobile of the solar system on ebay, mosaic photo of R2D2 on etsy, robot ABC poster on etsy, stars from IKEA....and on and on and on.

After school on Friday, Adrian took both kids to our friends house to play and I got started on the room with the help of my friends and my mom...thanks guys...could not have done it without you! When Owen came home that night we video-taped his reaction...priceless!

He was speechless, wandered around the room, eyes wide open, looking at everything. He would run up to a poster, touch it and say "this is new!"

and then run to the lamp, turn it off and on and say "and this is new!"

After a while he started to notice things that were missing..."Um, mama? I like my new room...but where is my bank and all my money?" "And I do not see my Ben 10 poster mama."

I told him that I still had everything and we would make room for whatever he wanted back in the room the next day. Once he felt confident that all his treasures were safe, he grabbed the camera and started taking photos...he is such a budding photographer!

Then he and Bella played Great Wolf Lodge. He sat in his new swing rocket chair from IKEA, she sat on the red star-lit tree skirt (acting as an area rug) from IKEA and he read his sister a book.

Owen fell asleep quickly that night in his new Big Boy Room.

He is 6

Owen's Birthday

A diary of the day Oct.4.2009.

12:06am: exactly 6 years after he was born
8:00am: Opening cards with Mama, Daddy & Isabelle
8:14am: the excited face "but I can't do it any more mom cause it hurts too much"
9:12am: new Ben 10 costume. It was worn for the whole day. We think he likes it ;) Going Hero!
9:28am: "OK Mama, one more time, and then that's it!" (mama trying to get an artsy shot of him showing his age - and happy with the results :)
9:30am: a little breakfast - Frosted Flakes with Corn Flakes, eggs, applesauce, granola bar (ok a lot of breakfast!)

10:00am-11:00am: A little DS break for the Hero and the Fairy
11:15am: snacks!

12:45pm: Nana Carole arrived and brought the coolest Ben 10 book. It was an instant hit!
1:00pm: Grandma arrives and brings a Star Wars volcano (super cool!) but no pic...sorry!
1:30pm: squeeze in a little healthy food (one bite of sandwich, one gummy worm)...it is his birthday after all!

2:00pm: the party starts, friends arrive, kids make wands, general chaos in the house

2:30pm: Nana and Grandma take care of Oliver during the party - outside for his business, a couple of short walks...thank you both so much!!!
2:45pm: magic show! The Magician and his assistant
3:45pm: the last trick of the show. Needle through the balloon!

4:00pm: pizza arrives and there is a fleeting moment of silence
4:10pm: silence is over and chaos resumes
4:30pm: MONEY CAKE!!! Grandma made a Harry Potter money cake...it was awesome!
4:35pm: Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday dear Owen...Happy Birthday to you! Make a wish and blow out those candles!
5:00pm: parents arrive, kids leave, calmness returns to the Gill household
6:00pm: dinner

7:00pm: jammies, play with new games, open and assemble toys

8:00pm: start the bedtime routine

8:30pm: Bella is OUT! (no nap today so she was TIRED!)

9:00pm-11:00pm: lots of recapping of the day, stories told of the day he was born, many requests for more water, lights on / off, tickles, jammies on / jammies off, 1 more story, "but daddy, I am just too excited to sleep" was heard more than a few times...until finally....
11:00pm: finally asleep after a very wonderfully full birthday!
11:35pm: Mama takes a bunch of after party photos. Want to remember how great this day was. The wall of cards:

6 is big!

6 is all day school.

6 is riding bikes with no training wheels.

6 is crossing the road all by yourself.

6 is calling on friends on the street without mama and daddy watching out the window.

6 is reading chapter books.

6 is using 2 hands to count your age.

6 is making your own bed.

6 is less meltdowns, more ability to control your emotions and use words to express yourself.

6 is walking the dog.

6 is reading books to your younger sister.

6 is still little too!

6 is still kissing and hugging mama and daddy in front of everyone before school.

6 is still needing a snuggle first thing in the morning.

6 is still loving stories read to you before bed.

6 is still wanting to be first; washing hands, getting up the stairs, in line at school...

6 is still liking being walked to school even though you could go on your own.

6 is still holding hands on walks in the neighbourhood.

6 is wonderful!

Owen, today you turned 6 and I still cannot believe that 6 years have passed since you were born a tiny wriggling 7lb baby. You are a funny, smart, serious, amazing boy and I am so happy that you are my son. You are the best big brother and Isabelle adores you. Daddy and I are so proud of you and love you so much. Happy 6th Birthday Owen! xoxoxoxoxo

Kiah is 3

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday sweet Kiah

Happy Birthday to you

Kiah on her 2nd birthday:

Kiah at 1 year old:

We all hope you have a wonderful day!

Love,

Auntie Jen, Uncle Adrian, Owen & Isabelle

Happy Birthday to Me

Today I turn 36. This past year has been wonderful for me personally. I joined Weight Watchers in November 2008, shortly after this photo was taken:
This is another "before" shot that was taken in Nov.07 on Isabelle's first birthday.
Here is a photo of me earning my 10% charm at Weight Watchers:
And a recent photos from this past weekend doing the 5K for Terry Fox:
I feel wonderful! I am almost 70lbs lighter than I was last year at this time and I know that next year, when I turn 37 I will be feeling fantastic.

Happy Birthday to Me!
xoxo

Jackson is 6!

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dear Jackson

Happy birthday to you

Jackson is all about Ben Ten and Pokemon right now:

And like my very own boy, he loves to make faces for the camera:

Thank you for sharing your birthday with us - it was so nice to be able to celebrate with you on your very special day. Happy 6th Birthday Jackson!

We love you!

Jennifer, Adrian, Owen & Isabelle

Check It Out

charity water

born in september

Sydney is 3!

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Sydney

Happy Birthday to you

This sweet little button is 3 today. Happy Birthday...we love you!

Jennifer, Adrian, Owen & Ibbitybo

Skylar is 3

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Skylar

Happy Birthday to you


We hope you have a wonderful day today!

We love you!

Auntie Jen, Uncle Adrian,

Owen & Isabelle

Isaac is 6

This year, he got his face painted:
This year, he lost a tooth:
Isaac...one year ago...

Happy Birthday Isaac!
We love you and miss you!
xoxoxo