Virgil's First Birthday

On Friday October 1st. we celebrated Virgil's first Birthday. It was a beautiful hot fall day. We decided it would be nice to have a big BBQ bash.

Janessa's motherly instinct kicks in as she feeds Virgil his dinner.

It was so nice that Nadia and Andrej could join us on their way back up to the Yukon.

A Father, Son moment!

Virgil's cake, "The little blue train" took 8 hours total to make. It was alot of fun to put together. though Staying up into the wee hours of the night isn't such a smart idea when you have to wake up with the kids and throw a party.
That sweet little smile was worth all of it!

Serving up dessert.

Juliette polished off her cake and went to Gramma for seconds. Smart girl!

Friends and family gathered around for the BBQ.

We took a moment to gather for a family picture while Virgil enjoyed his first taste of chocolate cake.

We moved inside to open gifts when it started cooling off outside. Virgil had help from the other kids to open his presents. He was more interested in the packaging.

We wanted to buy Virgil a bentwood box like the one Juliette got for her first Birthday. This one has two salmon on it. It was made by Grandpa Wayne's Uncle, Joe Campbell. We really lucked out with this beautifully made keepsake box.

Virgil's first coupe!, He loves it. He was spoiled with many other gifts including; money, His car seat, clothes and more.

He spent more time playing with the balloons than with his new toys.

A little rock star in the making, keep practicing Son! We couldn't have asked for a better day to celebrate Virgil's b-day.

Summer 2010

This summer Iam on maternity leave so we decided to stay in Merritt for the summer. We spent alot of time in Kelowna and Kamloops at the beach and water park. We would pack a picnic and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Hugs for little brother.

We had nice visits with the grandparents;

Virgil enjoys a little jam session

Oma and Opa on their Anniversary

BBQ at Spences Bridge on Virgil's 8 month B-day

Darren's 37th B-Day

(Juliette did not take her eyes off the cake!)

Juliette is a very good strawberry picker, She did not eat one berry until I told her she could have one if she wants. We picked 80lbs.

Virgil just wanted to eat them!

Darren's cousin Scott was down from the Yukon with his family so we met them in Vancouver and took the kids to Playland. Juliette was reluctant to go on the rides until she saw Cameron and her brothers running to them, and she joined right in with the excitement.

She even wanted to go on the Ferris wheel with her Dad, you won't catch me on that thing!

Virgil was too little for the rides but he had fun watching the kids.

Darren's Uncle Chuck and Aunt Barb were also spending the day at Playland, they watched the kids while we did the good old roller coaster.

we all enjoyed dinner at Osaka's. What a fun filled day.

My cousin Duane and wife Carrie just had their 4th child. We wanted to stop in and meet the new little fellow Kason, what a sweetie!

Second cousins together for a photo op.

Oma and Opa were camping in town during Canada Day. We joined the celebration and watched a magic show and Juliette got her face painted at Voght park.

Sibling Rivalry

Juliette being the oldest tends to take advantage of her brother being smaller, its only natural.

The next bucket of water went on his head!

The tables turned when Virgil got a hold of Juliette's Quatchi doll and sent it for a swim in the toilet. She didn't find out thank goodness.

Cute summer pic with the wildflowers in the background.

Juliette's spa day! I wanted her first hair cut to be fun , So she got to sit in a barbie car and watch cartoons. It was a piece of cake. They even gave us a sachet with her hair to take home.

They also offered to do her nails, which she picked the polish off in the car before we got home.

She was thrilled to receive a balloon and felt like a princess!

She looks so cute in the pink summer dress from Grandpa Dave.

Open House at Dad's work

(Highland Valley Copper Mine)

This is one of the giant dump trucks that he drives, can you spot Juliette underneath it?

Virgil's first attempt at getting his face painted, he is supposed to be a cat but could not sit still so he has random black marks on his face.

The theme was mini Olympics, so if the kids participated in the games they received a medal. Darren said her medal was much nicer than his hockey medals!

The mine made the official 2010 Olympic medals therefore they were able to keep a set to show and display.

We were able to hold the gold medal, Only by the ribbon. It was quite heavy, Juliette could barely hold onto it.

The kids cooling off playing in the pool out in the yard. You can get a glimpse of part of the garden behind them.

This is our baby hippo!
we grew him in the garden along with many other odd shaped critters, they are actually russet potatoes and they taste yummy.

Virgil takes steps at 10 months.

At 11 months old he is fully walking and getting into all kinds of mischief. Out come the safety latches and baby gate in full force.

when we let Virgil run free on the grassy field he went the full length a couple of times. He was huffing and puffing. When we went in the car he fell asleep before we left the parking lot.

The last family beach day of summer.

Virgil going in for a big smooch!