It's Spring!

Spring has sprung and we are ready for it!  

The end of winter brings the end of winter sports for the girls, Grace's 6th birthday, Spring break for Mike (which is almost over), Grace's birthday party, and then Spring Break for Grace!

Early in the month we attended a Easter egg hunt at Becky's cousin's church.  It was supper fun, there were crafts, then a movie, and then they let the kids have at it!  There must of been thousands of eggs for the kids to find!  They even had a little area for kids 2 and under, so that they would have a fair chance.  Olivia LOVED it - because if you know her, her food groups include, cereal, ketchup and candy!!

Grace and Mike attended the last Hitmen (WHL) home game of the season with her team, as a team yearend function.  The kids had fun, and Grace loved it because she got to have ice cream!  Weird how for my kids, their fun depends on the food that is served! :) Mike arranged for after the game, that a player would come out and sign autographs for the kids, as you can imagine, the Airdrie Firehawks were thrilled!

Olivia completed her last class of gymnastics - we noticed a huge improvement in her coordination and balance.  She went back to see her physiotherapist last week, and she was very impressed with her improvements.  A step in the right direction for our little Lou Lou!

We started the ball rolling for assessment purposes for Olivia and her funding for speech therapy.  We have to go back in April to complete the test.  If she receives the funding she will go to school next year - GASP!  If she does not get the funding required, we will put her into a small preschool class, so she can adapt to being away from us.  It's hard to believe that she will be three in September.

Grace and Mike played in a wrap-up game last night.  It was Airdrie Firehawks VS parents!  Needless to say, the kids kicked butt!  It was fun to watch, because the smiles lit up the ice.  I'm sure some of the Dad's maybe feeling a little tight this morning.  One of the dad's had the same gear he had from 20 years ago - I was impressed the it still fit.

Tomorrow brings Grace's party.  It's hard to say that we are parents of a SIX year old - WOW!!!!  Grace always throws pretty cool parties, and this year will be no exception!  We are heading into the Gym at Mike's school, there will be rollerblading, dancing, playing wii, and whatever else the kids want to do.  This year for goodie bags, we are trying something a little different then my standard chocolate and Chapters gift card.  There is going to be a "Candy Bar", where the kids can load up on candy (we will save this to the end, get them sugared up and send them home, hahahaha!).  The girls will take home Hello Kitty Balloon bracelets, and the boys get to take flying Angry Bird balloons.  I can't wait to see them - we are getting them made from a mom on Grace's hockey team- I will post pictures for sure.

Well winter is officially over, the days are longer, the sun seems warmer, and we can't wait to get outside!  Hope your Spring is shaping up as nice as ours is!

Big Day in the Harper House!!

So today was a monumental day - at least for the almost, so very close 6 year old!!  Grace lost her very first tooth!

Her bottom tooth had been a little wiggly for a few weeks now - but nowhere close to coming out, that is until lunch time.  I heated up some pasta for lunch, first off came the Frank's red-hot, after all can't have pasta without Franks, according to Grace.

Next came the Costco size container of parmesan cheese - you know the one, the one with the forever stuck lid, that as a parent I feel it is ok to open with my teeth - but scold Grace anytime her mouth gets close to the top of that thing!!

Well today, unfortunately, I was not on the ball and that container got close to Grace's mouth.  Next thing I know there is a shriek coming from that soon to be 6 year old!  The bottom tooth was gone, now just a hole with some blood - but no tooth!  Literally NO TOOTH!!!  Grace, devastated started searching the counter, the floor, her sister's hand, the dog's mouth, but the tooth was gone.

I know what you are thinking...Did she swallow the tooth?  Or perhaps the tooth is in that very large economy sized container of parmesan cheese?  So be warned, if you come here for pasta and ask for parmesan - you may get a little extra treat!

Grace came up with the wording for this letter all by herself!

Eyes open and mouth open is a difficult concept!

Happy February, Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy February, Happy Valentine's Day!!

Well another month is upon us and it has been steady!  Grace played in a tournament last weekend in Claresholm - she did great.  I snapped this picture of her and thought it truly captured her spirit for the game!!  We have another one day tournament in Chestermere on Monday!  Nana watched Olivia during the Claresholm tournament and took her to gymnastics!  Then on the Monday after the hockey tournament, poor Bev fell while running and sprained her wrist and broke her ribs!  She's hoping to get out to the tournament on Monday!

Grace LOVING the game!

I attended an information session for a preschool program for Olivia at the beginning of the month.  The preschool is run out of a public school here in Airdrie, it is called PIP - Preschool Intervention Program.  It seemed like a great program, as it has all the therapies (OT, SLP, & PT).  The therapists will work one on one with the children in their particular area of need.   Olivia will have to be assessed, and if she qualifies, she may attend the 4 day a week program.  After seeing the program, both Mike and I had mixed emotions, excited at the prospect of Olivia flourishing, but sad at the thought of her being without one of us for 2.5 hours a day!  However, after speaking to a good friend, she shed the perfect white light on the subject.  She asked if we would pass on therapy for Olivia at the hospital, and that we need to think of it as a therapy based program, rather then preschool!  Thanks - that was just what we needed.  Now we wait for the assessment!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Most people have an idea and notions of what they want and what they should give for Valentine's Day!  My only request this year was a box of 64 Crayola Crayons!  I know - LAME!!  But I have developed an addiction of sorts!  Pinterest!  I found this melted crayon art and was so hyped to try it!  I think Mike only bought me the crayons so I would stop talking about it!  Anyways he came home last night with my perfect gift - keep in mind it was MY idea of a perfect gift!!  1 dozen pink Gerber Daisies, a 2kg box of Dad's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and a box of 64 Crayola Crayons!  Ahhhh, Heaven!  Only my best friend knows me that well!  Anyways check out my melted Crayon art below - it is going to go in the girls bathroom!

Crayon art - before melting

Crayon art - after melting

Mike was at the Flames game tonight - so no special Valentine's Day Dinner for us!  Instead, I got to spend time with my favorite 2 1/2 year old watching our favorite 5 1/2 year old playing hockey!  Can't really think of a better way to spend my day!!

Me and Lulu at Grace's practice!

Is it really Winter??

It is hard to believe that it is the last day of January when you look outside!  We have no snow, and have only had one super cold week this year!  Grace is very disappointed that there has been no snowman building, no tobogganing and just a few trips to the outdoor rink!

With that being said - we are not complaining!  In fact we were thankful for a mild winter day this past Sunday.  We headed west to Lake Louise to take in the Ice Magic - Little Chipper's weekend!  What a fantastic day - there is for sure more snow in the mountains, and as a winter lover, it was nice to see!

We had an excellent time, they had activities for the kids at the townsite of Lake Louise.  Grace got to try her hand at ice carving - Becky had told her it was pretty tricky, as it was an activity that she did while attending SAIT.  There was an ice tunnel, ice slides and a mini golf course made of ice.

Grace chipping away

Olivia heading through the tunnel

Olivia LOVED the slide!

After trying the activities downtown - we headed up the mountain to the Chateau to take in the ice carvings and to do some skating on the lake.  Becky has a new telephoto lens for her camera and she was anxious to take some pictures and look like a true tourist!  Many photos were taken, and the lens is well loved!  Grace could of skated all day if we let her.  The view of the lake and mountains never get old, and Mike has added an item to his bucket list.  Every year Lake Louise puts on a pond hockey tournament on the lake.  Hard not to want to play in that epic event with that amazing backdrop.  One year he will participate - I am sure!

Unreal View

One of their favorite things to do together!

"Getting ahead"

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!

A quick update...

Hard to believe that we are well on our way with the month of January.  With that being said, it seems like the New Year brings hustle and bustle to the Harper House!

This past weekend was spent in two different rinks, a hotel, and 2 different homes for birthday parties!  Busy - just the way we like it!

Grace had a tournament in Rimbey, it was lots of fun - she won the "Heart and Hustle" award for her team during one of the games.  The highlight of the trip - staying in a hotel with a water slide!!

We capped of the weekend with celebrations.  First off was Abbie's 5th birthday (Grace's cousin), and then off to celebrate Leo's first year!  Hard to believe he's one already!

Grace and Becky are off to the Flames game tonight - hopefully it wont' be a sleeper like the last game we went to, where Grace actually did fall asleep!  Olivia gets to hang out with Nana and Bubba!

This weekend brings another hockey tournament (4 games), start of gymnastics for Olivia, more Flames games for Mike, and a post Christmas party at Bev and Norm's!  Good times all around!!

Grace with her new toque - Heart and Hustle!

Grace going down the waterslide

Our Year in Review!

January 2011 – This was a super busy and extremely exciting month for us!

The first day started off VERY special! We got to meet our Family’s newest addition- Leo Michael Morgan. We were so happy to meet Dannie and Dayna’s first child, proud to be called Auntie and Uncle, and extremely honored to be his Godparents!

Next up was the BIG MOVE to our very first home! We moved on the coldest of weekends - it was -40 C with the windchill. That made the boys move even quicker and they were rewarded with some hot Tim's! The move went off without a hitch and we were ecstatic to be into our house. The process took just over a year from the first signature to the last one - with not too many problems in between!

Next up, we had our very first House Guests! Tammy and Al flew up from Florida for an extended weekend! Unfortunately it was EXTREMELY freezing so most of our outdoor plans were foiled, but that did not impact on our fun times we had with them! We were excited to show of our new home and can't wait until they head North again - next time maybe in warmer months!

February 2011

More cold temperatures!! We celebrated the birth of Leo with a shower hosted by Leo's fabulous Aunt's (Devon, Ashlan and Becky). It was a great day, after all, any day getting to snuggle a baby is a great day! Becky worked hard on perfecting Lion and Lamb cupcakes to celebrate this special occasion!

Mike and Becky were super excited to attend the 2011 Heritage Classic, Calgary Flames VS. Montreal Canadians - it was a cold one, but super exciting to be a part of an Outdoor NHL game!

We finished off the month by saying good bye to Ashlan and her boyfriend Sam – they were heading out on an incredible journey to India, Nepal, Indonesia, and New Zealand, just to name a few! It was very hard to say good bye – but at the same time exciting to see them continue to live for their passion! We love them and can’t wait to see them again, some day!!

March 2011

Started out the month with very exciting news! Devon and Carey got engaged while away in San Francisco – a July 2012 wedding to look forward to!

We celebrated Grace’s 5^th Birthday party – we had over 25 people for our “First Official Party”. Mike’s parents made the 18-hour drive from Minnesota to join us in the celebrations! It was a fun day for all who were able to join us!

April 2011

April brought the arrival of the newest member of the Harper Family – an 8-week-old Black lab that we named Easton. We had not planned on getting a puppy yet, but this little guy needed a home and his face was too cute to resist!

Our family became famous! Well not really, but we were featured in the Home Section of the Calgary Herald. A photographer came out and took a few pictures of us and we ended up of the front page of the Home section with an article to match!

May 2011

Grace was signed up for her first year of t-ball, with Becky being one of the Coaches. It seemed like a long season of kids playing in the dirt, trying to catch butterflies, scratching mosquito bites, and parents who knew EVERYTHING about the sport! Come on people – the kids are 5! Needless to say, this was Becky’s final year of coaching t-ball!

We also celebrated Mike’s 33^rd birthday with a get together at our house. Another great evening with friends and family!

June 2011

The last month of school before Summer Vacation!!!! Grace was wrapping up her first year of school – Junior Kindergarten – she did great!

Mike was also finishing up another busy year of teaching and looking forward to the down time!

The girls headed North to Ponoka to be in the parade for the Ponoka Stampede. It was fun, however Grace was most excited about riding in the back of the truck with no seatbelts!

July 2011

YAHOO!!! Stampede time in Cow Town! Mike was extremely busy as he volunteers during the 10 days of Stampede. He dresses up as a mascot and entertains guests at “Rope Square” which is downtown. The girls headed down to take in the festivities and to grab a “nice” family photo!

We attended 3 weddings this month and also celebrated our 9^th wedding anniversary! We went out for a beautiful dinner, just the 2 of us at the River Café on Prince’s Island. We both forgot what it was like to eat 3 courses and eating while it’s hot!

July also brought grass and a tree to our front yard! Our homebuilder completed our street of grass, trees and shrubs. It is amazing how much nicer our street looks with grass!

August 2011

This year we decided not to take any major vacations – but at the last minute we decided that a quick trip to Vancouver would be nice! We stayed with Becky’s cousins. It was a nice relaxing vacation – that was filled with Stanley Park, Lynn Canyon, Whiterock Beach, and an interesting drive down East Hastings! We even took a quick drive down to Washington for a trip to Target.

We were fortunate to be able to celebrate Becky’s Great Aunt’s 90^th birthday. Joyce partied like a rockstar at Bev and Norm’s with friends and relatives from Edmonton, Calgary, California and everywhere in between. It was a great day, and we were so happy to be part of it!

September 2011

Summer over already? This can only mean that work was starting again for Mike.

Grace was starting Kindergarten at her new school in Airdrie. Big changes for Grace – she now had to walk to a bus stop, and she was taking a big yellow school bus to class! Exciting times!!

Mike, Becky, Bev, and Norm went to Edmonton for a family wedding. It was a beautiful wedding, and the girls were able to have a fantastic time as they stayed home with a good friend of ours.

We celebrated Olivia’s 2^nd birthday! She has made so many steps in becoming a big girl – she is walking, and is able to express herself, not always in words – sometimes growls!

October 2011

Another crazy month for the Harper’s – Grace was in full swing of school, baton and hockey was about to start. Grace was making friends easily at school and she had 4 birthday parties to attend in the month of October!

Norm and Bev headed south for a vacation and Bev ran in a ½ marathon in South Dakota. She did fantastic, and finished quicker then she did her first ½ marathon.

We had Olivia’s birthday party, and she was spoiled as usual, and had a great time with all her friends and family.

Becky celebrated her 32^nd birthday was equally spoiled – she is no longer constantly dropping hints to anyone who is listening for an iPad 2!

The girls enjoyed being Thing 1 and Thing 2 this year for Halloween and Becky enjoyed making their costumes.

November 2011

November brought a trip North to Edmonton for the Canadian Final’s Rodeo. It’s always a great rodeo and we love going!

Upon return, Norm was scheduled for knee replacement surgery. Becky and the girls spent some time in Calgary with Bev and Norm to help in the recovery process. Due to the surgery Norm was no longer able to volunteer at the Flames Games, so Mike was glad to snap up that opportunity. Mike is doing so well that he will stay on once Norm has recovered. He enjoys it – afterall, he gets to sit in the press box and watch the games!

December 2011

Christmas season is upon us, which means FAMILY! We are fortunate to be able to spend lots of time together.

Grace had her very first hockey tournament – she had so much fun, and she was so fun to watch!

Olivia was getting excited about the holidays and was pretty into it this year. She still was not fond of Santa, and we had to get a group picture at Bass pro shop!

Christmas Eve started with a candlelight service, then was spent at our place with family, The Rogers’, The Morgan’s, The Maillot’s, and The Little’s. We enjoyed a trip to see the Festival of lights!

Christmas Day was a busy day of present opening at our place first, and then into Nana and Gpa or as Olivia calls him – Bubba! We had a fantastic dinner there and we were all spoiled rotten!

Now we are enjoying the last few days of 2011 – a few birthdays to squeeze in, and then we will toast the New Year!

Here’s to a most fabulous 2012, let it bring health, love, and peace! Looking forward to more time with family and friends!