Photo Dump!

Slip and Slide Fun at Nana and Gpa's, unfortunately I missed Mike on the slip and slide!! :)

Leo and Olivia having fun, cooling off in Nana's sink!

Hard to believe these two are 14 months apart!

I know the pic is blurry - but this is Olivia's new thing, she covers her mouth and says "OHHH NOOO!"

Dog Days of Summer - EAston gets a chance to cool off in the sprinkler!

Mike's new baby!

Easton would just lay on top of the sprinkler!

We spent the day out at our friend's place in Chestermere.

Easton slept for 2 days after his day in the lake!!

Olivia loves the boat!

Devon and Carey's Wedding

For those of you that don't know Devon is like a little sister to me - we named her (and Ashlan) as Olivia's God Mom's, and I have known her since she was born.  She is Dayna's middle sister and Grace is her biggest fan!  Devon and Carey got married on Friday in Canmore - it was perfect weather, perfect setting and perfect wedding.  Mike and I both agreed that we are glad we got married 10 years ago - because it would be hard to top such an amazing day!

We headed up to Banff the weekend of July 20th for the Stag/Stagette - Mike and I missed the Friday night (afterall it was our 10 year Wedding Anniversary!), but met up with everyone Saturday.  It was great hanging out with the Bride and Groom to be as well as the bridal party!

Mike, Grace, Olivia and myself were honored to be in the wedding party and were so excited to share in the celebration.  We headed to Carey's parent's house Thursday night for the rehearsal.  All the girls in the wedding were heading to the Salon to get hair and make-up done in the AM, then we were heading to Canmore in the Limo bus!  Auntie Devon asked Grace if she wanted to come up on the Limo with all the girls - Grace was so excited she was beside herself! Then she asked "What's a Limo?"  Too Funny!

Anyways the happy couple was married at Silvertip Golf Course in Canmore - it was fantastic - such a breathtaking view!  I will let the pictures speak for themselves!

Grace and I heading up to Canmore in the Limo Bus

The girls getting ready

Grace and Olivia

Leo, Grace and Olivia

The three kids did GREAT!!!  No tears at all!

The Huge Wedding Party

Seriously - is this from a Wedding Magazine? (Anne, Devon, and Mike)

These two!  

Little Leo

My Googalou!

Myself, Mike, Dannie and Dayna

Ashlan, Sam and Myself (Don't think I am going to let them go back to New Zealand!) 

Me and Mike - 10 years and still going strong!

So that was July!

Wow - that was quick!  I will do a point form blog so you can be updated!

-Olivia finished up her assessments, she scored severe delay in the OT area!  Bad news to some - Good news to us.  This will hopefully mean PUF (Program Unit Funding) from the government so she will start school in September!

-Grace finished Kindergarten, received a glowing report card and excelled in Math - obviously got that from her dad!

-Mike wrapped up teaching at the school, coaching a hockey school and his physio groups!  Then July brought on volunteering during Stampede!

-Me, well, I completed catering for 136 cupcakes and breakfast for 50 people (back to back days). Then it was off to Ponoka for the rodeo with the girls.

Stampede was fantastic - two words GARTH BROOKS!!  My Dad, Dayna, Dannie and myself headed to the concert and Mr. Brooks did not disappoint!  UNREAL!!

We spent the 10 days of Stampede at my parents place, painted the front porch, refurbished some outdoor furniture, had family pictures taken, Mike and I celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary, headed to Banff to join in some Stag/Stagette fun, attended the wedding of the year, and Mike bought a a new car! (Devon and Carey will get their own blog post!) Phewf!

Not sure if we are ready for August, but guess we don't really have a choice!  Unfortunately, Summer is half over, and we still have loads of stuff to cram in!

Cutest thing ever!!!

So this morning, I woke up before the girls and decided to take a nice long shower before I was officially on "Mom Duty"!

When I got out of the shower I could hear little voices.  So I snuck around the corner and witnessed just about the cutest thing ever! 

Grace had gotten Olivia up and out of her crib - (she assured me that she was very safe!!) and there they were, the 2 of them, snuggled in Olivia's rocking chair!  Grace was reading one of Olivia's favorite books - "Brown Bear Brown Bear".  You can see on the video - that I was sneakily filming, that Olivia was loving hanging out with her sister "Gaga"!

It's moments like this that you have to remember and cherish because you never know when the crazy will come out!  Just kidding, but not really! :) I feel so lucky to have to beautiful, healthy daughters like these two!

Guess I could have taken a longer shower!!

Pro Award

Told you that I would be posted again right away!  We attended Grace's assembly today to see her receive her PRO (People Respecting Others) award.  As soon as you walk into the school there is a positive vibe!  I love it!  Since today was Friday, it was spirit day - most teachers and kids were wearing their "Nose Creek" red t-shirts.

At the beginning of the assembly the principal raised his hand and the entire gym (400 + students, staff and parents) all became quiet - man I wish I had that much power.  You can just tell that the kids and staff respect the principal!  He talked about the virtues and characteristics one puts forth to receive a PRO award.  I can tell ya', Mike and I (Nana too!) were some pretty proud parents!

He touched on the point that awards are almost always given out for Sports and Academics, but hardly ever given out "just for being a great person"!  So true!  We all need to acknowledge those around us who make out lives a little bit easier, a little bit happier and those who keep us smilin'!!  Pay it forward people!!

Anyways, here are some pics from today!

Mike and Grace

Nana made it out to the assembly - Gpa is away at the Rodeo

Grace asked me if I could see her "legs wobbling"?  She was pretty nervous!

Our attempt at a nice Family photo

Grace and her kindergarten teacher Ms. Martin

Woohoo it's June!!

Wow - June is here - hooray!!  Although that means a ton of "stuff" is going on for us this month!  I think looking at the calendar we have 4 days in the entire month that have nothing on them!  Those blank squares have me excited - but apprehensive, as I'm sure something will fill them in!!

Olivia has been a busy busy little girl- she is attending a balance, strength and coordination group that is on Mondays.  It is run by her physio therapist, it's cute to see her interacting with a bunch of little ones! Last Monday it was an obstacle course, next we have a session of Sportball at ACH (The Children's Hospital), then Dance and Stretch - a little Dance class, and we finish up the sessions with a gymnastics class at COP.  She has a dietician appointment, a pediatrician check-up and her final assessment for her funding.  We have received her results back from both speech and physio.  She scored quite low in her expressive language, and scored with a moderate delay in her receptive language.  Her physio scores were similar, very low in her locomotive skills, but a little better in her balance and throwing skills.  Now we wait for her OT assessment (fine motor).

Quick update on Grace - school is winding down for her - can't believe that she will be finishing up Kindergarten and heading into grade one next year!!  She has been loving her gymnastics class on the weekends, and she is looking forward to summer!  She's especially excited that rodeo season is here, and is pumped about camping in the trailer that my dad is renting for the Ponoka Stampede!  We as parents are so proud of Grace, she has been nominated at school for a PRO (People Respecting Others) award, and she is attending the school assembly on Friday to receive her award (Kindergartner's don't even go to school on Fridays).  Of course we will be there with camera and video camera in tow to capture this moment!

Mike is wrapping up his teaching at school for the year, and hockey, and physio groups are almost done!! Then brings on the Stampede!  Mike is volunteering again, but on a new committee this year.

With the end of the school year, brings me with some cooking orders.  I have catering jobs for 130 grad cupcakes and breakfast for 50 people!

We are having our very first garage sale!  I have never had one, and only ever been to a few with Mike's sister Colleen!  Our neighborhood is doing a big one, so we thought we might as well get some stuff out of the basement and the garage - wish us luck!

The end of June brings a celebration - My Uncle Keith got married a few months ago to a fantastic gal, Robbi!  They got married in the Dominican, and they are having a reception at the end of the month!  It will be a great time I'm sure!!

Well, that sums up the going's on here at "The Harper's"!  I will update with some pics of Grace's award ceremony, the garage sale and our rodeo's!  Until then, Happy June!!!

Our Hobey Baker

Our Beloved Bo-Bo

This past weekend was a very hard one for our family - unfortunately we had to make the decision to say good bye to my parent's dog Hobey.  He was truly a family dog, as we got him when he was a pup and although he stayed with my parents when Mike and I bought our house and moved, he was definitely everyone's dog.  He was Grace's first best friend and we miss Bo-Bo dearly!  Grace came up with the name Bo-Bo when she was learning to talk, she couldn't say Hobey, and somehow Bo-Bo just stuck with him!  We are thankful that we knew him, and that he instilled a love of animals in Grace!

Run Free Bo-Bo!

Handsome Hobey Baker

Grace and Hobey - Best Friends from the start!!