Spring's in the air!

Hahaha I just came to do a lil updating before our Scary movie and realized Ive never published  that post I started writing on Valentines day...So I published it Now!

Well better late than never I say!

So,  as I was saying....I got a DSLR!! Its not the latest and the best but its new to me and a  nice upgrade from my previous camera.

Meet my Nikon D50!

               

I bought it used, but in awesome condition...It was only used at a dentist office!

As you can imagine I've been snapping a LOT of photos! ...here are just a few

 This photo above is a Million dollar shot....as Big Sis doesn't like taking pics and usually just turns her head away! But this time she smiled right at the cam! Ant it turned out amazing!

Aw my sweet little  baby...She is changing so much....She now knows how to Clap, Blow kisses, point when she wants something, she is crawling all over the place, climbing on furniture, she LOVES standing...W think she'll be walking soon! She is just the most amazing, cutest, funniest most adorable baby ever! I am slightly biased but there you go!

Hmmm, in other news...Spring is in the Air here!! Ahhhhh how I enjoy sunny days....It's still a bit chilly at night and my garden is frozen...but snow is almost all gone....birds are chirping, and I am getting so excited about getting our little garden ready....starting some seeds....I haven't done much gardening last year because I was too tired after having the baby and didn't feel like doing it....

I hope we dont get anymore snow!! I am so ready for sunshine!

This last Sunday we went hiking and it was so gorgeous!  So I announced it to everyone that as of now we will be going on a hike every weekend...weather permitting of course...It's important to get out of the house, get away from all the Screens and just be in the nature!

Here are few pics from our Sunday hike

Hope tomorrow is another sunny day! G night!

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines day!!

 Its a gorgeous Sunny day here....I so need sunshine!! Feels like Spring!! :D....and I'm a happy girl!

For few reasons....I traded in my Point n Shoot Fuji....and got a Nikon DSLR camera!!! "GASP!"

So exciting! It's not a new one but used one which is fine by me...I get to learn all the tricks od DSLR on it!

I am not gonna neglect my blog...I am NOT gonna negl....

This is the thought that kept popping ointo my head last few days....which must mean I havent been here in awhile...and that it's time for a new post! 

so...whats new you ask!?

Well, Sequoia-wise she is moving like crazy! cant sit still for one second....all she wants to do is walk holding onto our hands...she loves to stand...and her favorite  activity these days is Climbing! She climbs on Everything! shelves....chairs...and just loves standing holding onto furniture...we're in trouble once she starts walking! oh and she also can stand unassisted for a few secs at a time! 

Its so amazing to watch all the new things she learns every day! For example...she learned how to Point...and yesterday we were watching cartoons and I taught her how to Clap...so now she claps! Its the cutest thing ever!

Its really Cold and gray here these days....with lots of snow on the ground so we're not going anywhere ...except for some walks...cant wait for Spring! I Need sunshine!

I feel like I wanted to write about something else, but just cant remember what it is! I hate when that happenes! 

Note to myself "Blog while memories are Fresh so you dont Forget!" :-P

Ok well, that's it for now....we'll be back with some photos!

Love Books!

Sequoia is 8.5 mths and enjoys discovering the world around her....

She is not liking her exersaucer so much anymore...who would wanna sit in that thing when you can Move around!! her favorite thing to do these days is to pull ALL books off the shelve...

she just sits there and pulls them out....turns the pages...

 

Other thing she loves is to "walk" around while holding on to our hands...That baby just doesn't want to sit still...too much to see and explore!Gets that from her dad!

Oh, she "graduated" from swimming class! She is officially a Starfish!In Spring we'll sign her up for next level, which is "Duck" hehe

1st christmas...

I enjoyed this holiday season....In the previous years  when we were a little short on money it was a stressful and slightly depressing time of the year, but this year was different..we didn't go too crazy with the gifts

  but we had enough so that everyone got what they wished for ...

Also this was Sequoia's 1st Christmas! Just that alone makes this one the Best holiday to date!

Its becoming a tradition that we go to Alison's house for an amazing Christmas Eve feast every year, it was no different this yea...this is a photo of Sequoia and me from that evening...

It was a very fun evening! we had the most delicious glazed Ham...eggnog with a good amount of rum in it...who doesn't like that!?

and then we finished with playing Pictionary with Cheristy and Jamison...that was Hilarious!!

Christmas morning was awesome...I woke up...made coffee w Baily's  of course! started breakfast, then Jeff woke up so we opened our gifts!

It was a 1st for sequoia and

as you can tell from one photo when we 1st gave her the gift she was kinda like:
 "I don't know what you want me to do with this" ...But she figured it out quick...she Loved all the wrapping paper! She got a nice dress from Gramma & Grampa Lee....A spinning toy from us...and another little Monster ...named Zelda...shes got Benny already!

We went to Howard and Teresa's that afternoon for a yummy turkey dinner and good company...Always fun!

jeff was off from work for 2 weeks so it was nice just hanging out...we went ice skating with big Sissy few times...I made a lot of cookies...it was just relaxing and nice time :)

 

Cozy night..

Last night we finally got some snow....quite a bit....We were waiting for it whole week! So it finally started snowing....we made hot chocolate, finished decorating our tree...(as it toppled over on Wednesday because we loaded it with ornaments on the front Only and all ornaments fell off!...and it fell on Gabriel and Sequoia...No one was Hurt! Ad it was a bit funny)....

And just sat there in the dark, with a candle and tree lights...and enjoying the coziness

Tree hunt!

Last weekend was a Tree Hunt weekend! Up until 2 years ago we would Buy our Christmas tree from a store close to our house...That was kinda boring...and you never knew what type of tree you were getting as they were all wrapped....so last year we decided to go for a hike and search for a perfect tree...

So we found one....

Or so we thought....

It seemed a perfect Size in the forest but once we brought it home....it was so HUGE....It was way taller than out 10ft ceiling....too wide...there was a Lot of tree in our living room lol..It looked like a tree from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation movie! 

So this time we were careful not to pick another Big tree...

We went up the hill past our house....found a little side road....parked there...and went to search....found it fairly quickly... and then just wondered around...enjoyed a gorgeous view...I snapped some pics(of course!)

Jeff also cut a little baby tree for sequoia...awww

After we got back, Sienna had a friend come over...So we all decorated the tree together...It was a fun weekend

Pinaus Lake search...

19 days until Christmas....an I'm still not feeling the holiday spirit...I'm slowly getting there....maybe this snow that's starting as I type will help...Some people have their decorations up...trees all decorated....shopping done...Ha! we haven't even started any of it...

I think this weekend we'll go get our tree...

Last year we went to one of the surrounding hills and cut our own...it was fun! So this time doing the same thing....I was 5mths pregnant back then so it was a bit tiring....but this time should be better! I'll just pack Sequoia in her Ergo baby and off we go!

Yesterday we went on a little adventure....after picking Sienna from school we went up the mountain behind Okanagan Reserve to look for Pinaus lake....It was quite the drive...Or maybe it just seemed long because it was a dirt, forestry road and we were going slow...Very nice area, forest with some nice big cedars...passed a herd of ponies on our way up....tried to Move a huge tree that had fallen on the road...didn't work so Jeff drove over it...We didnt quite make it to Pinaus lake...We found Little Pinaus lake....which was completely Frozen...yeah! It's full on winter up there! 

It was starting to get dark so we called off the Lake search (we were so Close to it tho, just over one hill....oh well, we'll go next time) and headed back home....we stopped to see the ponies ...Jeff just Drove the car into the field!! 

It was slightly intense when over 30 ponies hurried over toward us and surrounded the car! lol...I know, you dont often find word "intense" and "pony" in the same sentence but it was! 

They were very curious...not afraid at all...One of them was looking at Sequoia through  the window the whole time....She as scared at 1st and was crying but after awhile she was Ok and just stared back!

Sienna was in her element as she loves horses and ponies...

It was a neat ending to our adventure....Now we know where we can visit ponies!

GoodBye MO!!!

MOvember is Finally OVER!!! WoooooHooo!!! I am so HAPPY I have my Hawtie hubby back!! 

LIfe...

Still Here! I will Not neglect my blog ....Like I have in the past! It's been a bit of a crazy week....Our dog got hit by a car over a week ago.

Nudged his way out the door on a rainy night....he is completely black so no wonder driver didn't see him....Lady knocked on our door and said she hit a little black dog and if he was ours....he ran away right after and Jeff searched for him for hours...and couldn't find him....but he came back around 2am...I hear him bark and let him in....next day we took him to the Vet....so he was lucky....he hurt his paw....it's a nasty injury but it could have been much worse....so $800 later (so thankful to in laws for offering to pay for it) his paw is heeling and he will be OK...Stressful few days...At one point when we couldn't find him  we thought he was gone...But he is doing great!

Hmmm....what else??? Sequoia got another tooth! So that's 5 now...She loved her baby massage! I took het to massage college here for 4 Fridays...They needed babies to practice on...It was great, and I learned how to do it as well.

Oh and she started crawling!!....well, sort of....she drags herself across the floor on her belly... So it wont take long until she figures out what those knees are for!

Sunday Hike...

Sunday was a decent day.....By decent I mean not Raining....and not too cold (if you asked Jeff tho he'd say it was Freezing!) So I wanted to go out for a hike....Might as well squeeze few more hikes before real winter comes! So I set out to find a new one...one we've never been on before...and I found it! 

Just 15 minuter away from home...Thomas Hayes Nature Park....This Damp, misty forest with HUGE trees and many different birds, deer.....couple of Bears as a friend told us later(eek!)...And we - avid hikers and nature lovers never even  knew it extisted! So glad we discovered it!

Few times it felt like were in some Vancouver forest....Trees were so Big, mossy....It's quite gorgeous little spot...

Sequoia loved cruising around the forest in her Ergo...she fell asleep for a bit and then woke up and looked around...

And that's my hubby, he thought it was Freezing out so he put on multiple layers, gloves, his winter hat...But honestly it wasn't even That cold! Must be getting old! 

Oh, his mustache is for MOvember."With their “Mo’s” men raise vital funds and awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives. Its all great and everything...But I can NOT wait till MOvember is over! 

WE also found a bunch of mushrooms so I can paint on them once they dry...Oh! Just after getting into the car to go home we saw a flock of Big white birds...jeff thought they were white geese....Of course we turned around to take a better look...and they were Swans!! Beautiful, big, white swans...How ofter does That happen!? Not often....That was the 1st one for me, it was a nice ending to our Sunday Nature hike :-)...I took some photos...but they didn't turn out so good

1st snow!

We had a Good amount of snow this last weekend! It's a bit Early but we were still excited....Jeff and I are like kids when it comes to snow!  We get excited every time it snows and love it when it comes down hard and covers the streets and makes outside look like a winter wonderland....So, I wanted Sequoia to experience it for the 1st time today!! ....And as you can see, she wasn't too ecstatic about the whole Snow thing....she looked a bit confused which is understandable....all of a sudden everything is White! So this was her 1st encounter with snow....Oh, she wasn't it the best mood either....I think she is teething....so maybe next time she will be more excited....hopefully! :-)

1st swiming lesson!

So today was Sequoias very 1st swimming lesson! We go twice a week for 6 weeks. It was a lot of fun and she enjoyed it! We splashed, sang songs, blew bubbles, cruised around the pool....There is about 7-8 other babies in her class...but she and one other 6mth old are the youngest. 

She was really good....considering it was her 1st time in a huge pool, and there was a boy next to us splashing like crazy (slightly annoying I must admit)...she only got startled a few times when she put her face in the water...guess she wanted to explore the water....with her Mouth ...but she didn't freak out! 

At the end we went to a hot tub to warm up....she sat on a ledge and I splashed her with warm water...

I also made a new "friend" other 6mth baby's Mom...

Here is a photo I took after the class....I don't  know, she looks slightly happy...I think she liked it....maybe...hehe:-P

Oh yeah, tomorrow we go to baby massage at the Massage school...They need babies so the students can learn how to massage them...and they teach moms how to do it as well...Lucky girl!!

Day at the park

This past weekend was slightly depressing...It was rainy, cold and dark...our time changed which made days super short...plus hubby was in a crabby mood...yeah, not fun...so when I woke up on Monday morning and sa it was gonna be a sunny day I decided then and there We are going to the Park! I don't care about the dishes, the laundry...I needed sunshine! So we walked down the hill to Polson Park...I am so glad I brought my camera! and here is why....

Fall colors were stunning...

I managed to wake Sequoia up so she could experience and enjoy the day...

This is what she did ...

She loved watching the ducks, it was the first time she saw them :-)

So that was our Sunny Monday!! Walking around, taking photos, taking by baby to the park for the 1st time (well, this is the 1st time she was awake and was able to go in the swing) and just soaking up the sun was just what was needed! Back to cloudy weather today...but somehow it doesn't seem too bad 

 We are off to downtown! Have a nice Tuesday! 

Swing time!

Not sure which day this was this week....Thursday I think...I was cloudy and cold...so we bundled up and went outside so Sequoia can go in her swing...Jeff was pushing her and she had a Blast!

This week....

Hmmm, let me try to remember what happened this week...Oh! Ok, got it...Sequoia said her 1st "word"....And it's Ma Ma!!! Yup, loud and clear...Jeff tried to get her to say "Da Da" but nope, she kept saying MaMa! It was Amazing! :-D

 She is also sitting by herself....Until she decides to launch herself backwards that is...

Here she is  - sitting 

She is getting So Big!! Awww! Such a fun baby! Full of smiles, giggles, funny sounds....she screams, kicks, makes raspberry sounds, loves having baths, loves being outside...is very curious and sweet!!

Oh aaaand Today is her 6 month Birthday!!
Happy birthday sweet Sequoia!! We love more than words can describe it!!

In other news.....She started eating "solids"...I don't know why they call it solids....It's mushed up fruit and veggies! Anything but Solid ....Anyways, she loves it! She's been looking at us eating for awhile now....following the spoon from our plate to the mouth and figuring it all out...So we knew she would be ready to try some pretty soon...She likes everything we give her...apples, pears, bananas, avocado, peaches....yogurt...etc...Now when its time to eat she reaches and tries to grab the bowl....Looks like she'll be a good eater :-)

Saturday was rainy and cold...so we stayed in...not much happened. Sunday was nicer...We got some Sunshine even! So we spent some time outside. I took some photos of Sequoia in her Dragon costume

 
...and Jeff put up her little swing

 
Big SiSi was here too! She pushed Sequoia in her swing, let the chickens out and Boots was trying to play with them...Quite funny! Chickens were not having any of it....Ok someone is awake and hungry so I gotta go!

Back! (2 days later lol) Here are few more photos from last week

 

Sequoia Eating hir sisters homework! Now Sienna has a Proof when teacher asks "Where is your homework?" hehe....Playing with daddy after he came home from work....and cruising around with me in her Ergo! She loves it!...K, now I'm done!

Get me out of this carseat! - Video

This video was taken....oh maybe a month ago....She was trying to wiggle herself out of the car seat :-)

Photo Idea!

I've Finally figured out how to do This:

Now you don't have to scroll through ton of large photos....Instead I can make a mosaic like this! I always wondered how bloggers did this, and I tried to reshape photos and put them next to each other...but it Never worked....and then it Dawned on me! Picasa!! U make a mosaic save it as a photo and Tada!!!  Now I have a whole bunch of ideas! I'll develop this one and hang it above Sequoia's bed :-)

Fall

We finally had some fall weather this weekend....rainy and cold....Big sister had a friend over so we played board games, watched Blair Witch Project(as Halloween is 'round the corner so you have to watch scary movies - according to hubby)

Actually, attempted to watch it...but it was too scary for the girls so we switched to Ice Age, a family Favorite! It was fun, Sequoia loved watching and playing with the girls too!
I spent part of the Saturday babysitting two adorable girlies I use to watch! 

It was great to hang out with them again, never a dull moment with those two! Love 'em!

Also on Saturday our car broke, blah...Jeff figured it's a fuel pump...and he will be replacing it!

It's sure awesome having a mechanically inclined husband who can fix the car for the fraction of the cost the "real" mechanics would charge us!

Now Sequoia "news"...This weekend she discovered her Tongue and she's been sticking it out every chance she gets, which is pretty much most of the time! Its hard to take pic of it as she keeps moving all the time but here is one!

 She had her 1st Head Bonk this weekend...she was sitting and toppled over...she cried for a bit and then she was fine, didn't even get a bump on her head! Yep, just a 1st out of many to come I'm sure

She is sitting better every day! Here she is outside this morning..we were playing in the leafs

awww my baby looks so big here!

Oh and I finaly managed to snap a photo of her Teeth! here they are!

I am STILL taking photos with my phone...**sighs**....Charger still MIA

Indonesian Chicken-Lentil-Veggie soup

I have to write this recipe down so I don't forget how I made it. 

That's my problem when cooking...I usually make things up as I go, and use whatever I happen to have in the fridge/pantry but I don't write things down and can never remember how I made a dish we really liked....so now I'll be writing it down Here!

The only thing that makes this soup "Indonesian" is a Epicure spice...It's my Fave at the moment!

"Bring something truly unique to your next Asian-inspired meal with this blend of garlic, citrus, and chili flavors. Kosher/ No Sodium"

• In a big soup pot brown some chicken in olive oil - can put whole pieces or diced 
• Add onions, garlic, red bell pepper, carrots, zucchini - let it all cook in a covered pot
• Add enough water to cover all the veggies and some salt
• Add lentils and cook until it's done!
• Add more water if needed
• At the end chop some fresh dill and parsley and add to the soup
• To finish add 1 tbs of flour to thicken it just a bit and that's it!
• Oh yeah the most important thing - Add the Indonesian spice at any time!

Charger is still MIA so can't take any photos :'(

Growing like a weed!

Our little Sequoia is Little No more! She is growing fast!

Not a tiny lil peanut anymore (sigh)...People refer to her now as a "Big" baby...It's a bit strange to hear that because for the longest time she was in 10th percentile for her weight, but she is catching up nicely.

She is 5.5 mths old, around 16 lbs...she is Strong, likes to stand, moves a lot more now, she is almost sitting on her own....she can scream Loud if she wants to...Personality is kicking in!

She is smiley, sweet, happy, goofy little thing who loves people and has a smile for everyone...she is very observant and curious.

It's exciting to watch her grow and change every day, but a bit sad too...I don't want her to grow too fast...my lil baby :-)

Now if I could just find that battery charger so I can charge camera batteries and post some new photos....

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend was great! Friday was nice and relaxing...Did some errands in the morning and then Sequoia and I visited Crystal and Aluna in the afternoon....we had a nice chat over crackers with smoked oysters and Guinness...Yes, I said Guinness...I am as surprised! 

I am not a huge beer fan...I can have a few sips of some light beer here and there...but generally don't like the taste...Until I tried Guinness...the Darkest beer of all! Until then I thought that's gotta be the strongest, thickest....BEER-est beer out there and there is no chance in hell I would ever try it...

But on Friday I thought "Why not, I'm already eating smoked oysters, so what the heck, bring on the Guinness!" 

Long story short; I really liked it! It does not have the strong, sharp beer flavor like I thought...au contraire, it's very smooth and flavorful. So yeah, now I'm a Guinness drinking gal! Plus its good for you when you're breastfeeding!

Saturday morning we his some Yard Sales! Trying to squeeze a few more before winter.

Got some good stuff this time: pants, baby toys, oh a rebounder aka Mini Trampoline!! Apparently bouncing on it for 20 mins a day is the BEST workout you can possibly have! We got it for $5!!

How awesome is That! And I finally found my perfect house coat...It's dark gray (one of my fave colors!) Has a hoodie and is super soft! I am ready for cozy Winter mornings!

Saturday afternoon we went to Alisons for dinner! Ham, potatoes, mashed yams, stuffing, green beans were delicious!

Plan for today(Sunday) is to go get some fall decorations....Pumpkins, corn stalks etc and decorate outside...I already have an idea how!....and maybe play some tennis....watch a movie tonight...so we'll see that pans out...

Continued....

Yep Sunday we found this new U-Pick Pumpkin Patch! They even had corn stalks and gourds!
So we got our stuff and came back home to decorate....Here is what our front door looks like 

This is an old wicker rocking chair we found while out walking one night...I'm planning to spray paint it some funky color at some point, but they way it is now it's perfect for fall pumpkin display

On Monday afternoon we went to crystal's for a wonderful turkey dinner! Food was delicious....We played Cranium afterwards and had a blast!

Here is the sweetest moment I captured ...Sequoia was tired and she finally fell asleep in her daddy's arms....awww

Afterwards we went to visit Ross and Mary Anne...had some more turkey and stuff there...met whole bunch of nice people...They seemed to be fascinated by Jeff and my story...

And on our way back home from home we saw Northern Lights!! How awesome is that....That's my 2nd time Ive seen them....No spectacular colors ...But you could see this illuminated strip accros the sky...it was beautiful...

And that's it! That was our Thanksgiving weekend! Filled with family, good friends, good food, laughter....Good times!

Thanksgiving weekend plan

It's almost Thanksgiving weekend!! And so far we have two dinners to go to...Saturday is at Alison's...Monday at Chris and Crystal's.

That leaves Friday and Sunday totally Open...Hmm what to do...what to do? We are having spectacular fall weather...cold, crisp mornings/evenings but warm and sunny days...

I'd like to go for another hike somewhere new!...Maybe have a picnic lunch at the beach...

Or maybe not go anywhere and just drink lots of Peppermint tea and have a relaxing weekend at home...Play it by ear...

I did it!

Long story short I've been Afraid of canning! 

I thought it's just too complicated, you have to add too many weird ingredients, takes forever to do...I always wanted to, but was too much of a wimp to do it...

So few days ago Jeff and I discovered this little plum tree...it was full of fruit, and we didn't want it to go to waste so we picked 2 bags of plums. 

I don't about you but I can't Eat that amount of plums in a short period of time! So naturally I decided that this will be the day when I will can something!...Plums! And so I googled a really easy plum recipe and did it! I only have 2 jars as I wanted to test it and see if I can do it right....And I did! 

Lids sealed, and everything! And not only that, I even made a little jar of plum Jam, GASP! 

I am so proud of myself right now! Canning Virgin No More! (photos coming when I get my camera back)

Milestones...

Few photos from this week taken from our blackberry...

Getting Too big for her bouncy chair...she is Sitting in it!...You are Not suppose to be sitting in it you silly 5mth old baby! Not even suppose to be sitting at all...But she does :-)

Sitting by herself(not in a car seat) in BOB the Stroller!  She looks like she isn't quite sure about this whole "sitting by herself" thing...Oh and notice how she is holding the bar with her Toes!/ She was born with these long monkey toes!

Somehow she moved from pink mat all the way over There!

2nd Vancouver Trip...

This time we wanted to visit Whistler, so we headed up the mountain as soon as we got to the city....there was some dirt biking event going on there so it was full of young people...I imagined it was gonna be a bit more snobish...but it wasn't...it was gorgeous, vibrant...they had a band playing some reggae tunes on the street....so we picked a cafe with a patio and had some nachos and beer...Loved it!

Before we left I said to Jeff "I hope we see a Bear on this trip, haven't seen one in a long time"...And law of attraction worked and we saw a momma bear Plus 3 cubs on our way to whistler!