Christmas 2008

We spent Christmas together at home in merritt. Darren just returned on Dec. 23rd from 9 weeks of work up in Ft Nelson. It was nice to have him back in time for Christmas.

As you can see her first visit with Saint Nick didn't go over so well. we were the first to arrive for a visit and Shaw cable was in the middle of interviewing Saint Nick for a Christmas special they were running. They asked if Juliette could sit on his knee for part of it, she wasn't happy about it but she's famous.

Christmas morning was alot of fun watching her open presents. She liked tearing the paper and was usually more interested in it than the actual present.

We went to Darren's cousin Rona and Don's for Christmas dinner. Juliette loves hanging out with her big cousins.

Juliette got a sled for Christmas and she just loved going for rides. She would follow along with the big kids and watch them slide down the hills.

Juliette's 1st Birthday

The birthday girl on December 19 2008.

We stayed at Mel & Dave's in Vancouver for Juliette's Birthday. She was a perfect angel, playing with her toys and cousins when they got home from school.

The party began at 5pm when the grandparents, friends and family arrived. We did a fairy theme, Juliette had her own set of wings but they didn't stay on for long before she squirmed out of them. She loved the balloons, kids and all the attention.

She received many wonderful gifts for her birthday including fancy clothes, a walker, tea set, handmade knitted blanket, toys and money to name a few. But it seemed that what she really liked was the cards.

With all her birthday money from Darren & I as well as her grandparents and great grandma, we bought her a James Michels carved bentwood box. I have it for her as a keepsake box filled with little treasures from her birthday. I hope it with be something that she will appreciate when she gets older.

Grandma Mary-Jane, Grandpa Joe, Auntie Nadia and Uncle Andrej were all there to help celebrate. Mary put together a raffle with alot of great gifts to be won, proceeds were for Juliette.

Uncle Dave, Auntie Mel, Grandpa Ashby, Grandma Joan and cousins Justin and Dawson also joined in the festivities. A special Thanks to Mel and Dave for all your help with planning and hosting the party.

It was so nice that my childhood friend Heidi and her family could join us on Juliette's special day.

It was great to see Auntie Nicole and cousin Danielle as well.

Juliette's birthday cake was a fairy toadstool. It was french vanilla with buttercream and fondant icing. It took me 15 long hours to make, Including staying up until the wee hours of the night so i could get some quality work done while she was sleeping. But it was all worth it to see her face light up when she saw it.



by the end of the night she was showing signs of exhaustion after all the excitement of the day. She ended up falling asleep on my lap as i was waiting until 9:52pm to give her official birthday wishes. I think she had a very fun day filled with love and happiness shared by all.

The day after Juliette's birthday we went to see her Great Grandma Juliette so she could give her birthday wishes. She was thrilled with her little dress and shoes.

Halloween

We took Juliette to the pumpkin patch at Spences Bridge. She was all dressed up in her Caterpillar costume, she looked so cute. luckily there was a little dog running around (she loves dogs)so we were able to get some big smiles out of her for the pictures.

We went home with Juliette's first pumpkin, the one behind her elbow on the right. We also picked some gourds for decoration.

Halloween night the pumpkins were lit

For trick or treaters I made some decorated gingerbread cookies with pictures of Juliette tied on them. Being that it was all family coming to the house i thought this would be a nice touch.

I took Juliette trick or treating for her first Halloween, we drove around the neighborhood to all her relatives houses, mainly for a social event. We were with a gang of all her little cousins. She loved playing and tossing the candy all around especially one poor bag of cheezies she hung onto all night and when she was finally through with it their was no air left in the bag.

The candy was graciously donated to MoM! But there was an apple or two in their for her.

Juliette explores hers Heritage

Here we are all checked in and ready for Juliette's first flight. We are heading to the Yukon for 10 days to meet her family up North. We were fortunate enough to get the row to ourself on the plane so i was able to bring on her car seat making things so much easier. It turns out she is a pretty good little flyer.

We were greeted by alot of friends and family, it was great to see everyone again. Thanks again to Jay and Teresa for all your help and hospitality while we were in Whitehorse. Here are the 4 cousins; Deuce, Jordo, Quanah and Teresa hanging out with Juliette.

Dave and Kathie joined us and the gang for dinner. Sorry we didn't have a chance to meet up again after.

We took advantage of the nice weather to get this must have tourist picture with the SS. Klondike paddlewheeler.

Darren drove up a week before us to do his bush stuff and then we met in Whitehorse. This was taken on the Haines Road after picking mossberries.
We went to Klukshu and stayed in Grandpa Dave's cabin for a couple of nights. There is no running water or power so Juliette had her bath in a large bowl. Paul and Kathy sent over a nice bowl of moose stew for dinner and we had pancakes with fresh mossberries for breakfast. Who says you have to rough it when your living in the bush.

We took a drive down to Dalton post to visit the site where Grandma Jesse Joe once lived. This is now an old ghost town.

Juliette's was a bit shy at her first meeting with her great Aunt Frances. (whom she got her middle name from.) At their next meeting she warmed right up to her especially after Frances gave her a doll and shirt from Alaska.

Aunt Kathy and Uncle Paul had some toys and 2 little dogs in their cabin that Juliette loved. Uncle Chuck and Auntie Barb stopped by for a visit.


We captured these great shots on our way up to Beaver Creek at Kluane Lake.

She insisted on trying to eat the rocks but we managed to get them away from her just in time.

We arrived in Beaver creek late after stopping for a nice barbacue dinner in D.bay at Darren's friend Walter's place. The next day we set out for a long day of picking high bush cranberries.


Debbie put in a shift helping me pick. She also fed us the majority of our stay in Beaver creek. We were staying out at my trailer so it was nice to have meals cooked and the use of her facilities.

Juliette is the first baby that is not scared of Tuff. I think she likes being carried around like a football.

Cousins Kendra and Juliette get acquainted. We had a great visit and stay in the Yukon. Looking forward to our return next spring.

Grandma Juliette's 92nd Birthday

We were happy to be able to celebrate grandma Juliette's 92nd Birthday with her. She was in great spirits and said this was her best birthday ever. We brought her a cake and a few other goodies. It was a nice visit.

Greenhouse

I was very lucky to have Darren build me a greenhouse last spring. I didn't see him for 3 days while he was doing it.



This was in the beginning when there was plenty of room and i was trying to stuff as much as possible in there.


A few months later after a scorching hot summer the plants have really flourished. We have everything from brussel sprouts, peppers, lots of tomatoes and more.


Even watermelons! they are small but tasty. I had alot of fun working in the greenhouse this summer and Juliette liked it too, everytime we went in to water she managed to pluck a leaf off of some innocent plant. With the warm spring we are having the growing season is still going.

Cousin Nick's Wedding in Golden

We went to Golden, B.C. August 22-25th for Nick and Brenda's Wedding. It was a great reunion, seeing our auntie's, Uncle's and little cousin's (that are all grown up with kids of their own). Juliette loved playing with the kids and even got to go for her first cruise on Soly's motorbike.

It was so nice to see Uncle Ron and Auntie Diane and Auntie Gwen and Uncle Ted (parents of the Groom).

The morning before the service we took a drive up Mount 7. we were looking for huckleberry's and found a beautiful but scary lookout on a paragliding ramp at the top. There were a few jumpers setting up but we didn't have time to wait around and watch them go. The bride Brenda is among the brave souls that have made the big leap.

Brenda and nick's big day on August 23rd. They had a nice service and everyone looked stunning in their attire. It wasn't all business, these two showed their playful side when it came time to do the cake.

Here are the 2nd cousins gathered together at the reception.

This is a rare shot of Mel and I with cousins Amber, Nick and Crystal. We were thrilled to learn that Amber (purple) has baby #2 on the way. Congratulations Amber and Jason.

Juliette was a bit fussy during the service so Darren had to take her out for a drive, but during the reception she was a real party animal staying awake the whole time. She even got up on the dance floor a few times. We all had a great time in Golden and wish Nick and Brenda all the best. Congratulations!