Christmas on the Island Part Two...Thanks to Opas Pictures

Ok, Ok...I know I already talked about our early Christmas on Vancouver Island but I have finally gone through the pictures that Nana and Opa took and I want to share them with all of you. After looking at their quality though I want to convince Opa to get a digital SLR camera (if only to take fancy pics of his grandaughter). Anyway here they are...mucho cute.

Opa feeding Dinara "cappuccino"...which is really milk foam with Bernard Callebaut chocolate shavings on it. She loves it...obviously.


Daddy feeding Dinara in the food court in Naniamo.


Dinara meeting Poppy for the first time. Poppy is Andrew's grandfather...a little trivia for you there.


Dinara meeting a local dog in a neighbour's driveway. She loved the littel bundle of energy. Can't miss the dog with that vest on though...too cute.


Three generations are never enough...just repeating myself there.


Andrew displaying the new Christmas Stocking his Mom (and Lea) made for him. He is also displaying that he doesn't understand what a Christmas Stocking is really used for...don't worry he figured it out eventually.


Mommy, Dinara and Carole Matt enjoying the Curious George book bought for Dinara from the Matt family. I think Carole is smitten...she can't even look at the camera she loves Dinara so much.


The Pearson and The Hornicks (I hoped I spelled that correctly). The brought Dinara an Exxon tiger for Christmas...after my heart they are.


Nana is showing Dinara how to walk down the stairs. Thankfully the stairs at Nana's and Opa's are shallow.


The Seibts and The Pearsons celebrate Christmas!


Nana, Opa and Dinara around the Christmas tree. Ok in front of the Christmas tree.


Dinara wearing her new touque from Lea and Joe. Isn't it darling?


Mommy, Daddy and Dinara in front of Nana's big Christmas tree.


Nana, Opa and Dinara in front of the Christmas tree.


Another picture of Nana, Opa and Dinara in front of the Christmas tree.

Well that's all for now. I'll post some New Year's pictures later. Have a great Holiday everyone.

Christmas, Christmas and More Christmas

Well we have had an amazing Christmas this year! Dinara was wonderful and it was great having Grama and Grampa over. We ate, drank and were definitely merry. We were all spoiled this Christmas and have Santa to thank for many of our gifts. He was very generous this year...especially to our little one. She still hasn't unwrapped all her gifts but oh well. I'm sure they will be unwrapped before next Christmas. The only downside to this Christmas is my mom (Grama) was a little under the weather. In fact my dad left yesterday and my mom was so sick she stayed. We have purchased a flight from Saskatoon to Edmonton for her for tonight. She is feeling much better today...especially after sleeping all of yesterday. We bug her and say she just wanted a break from Grampa...hee, hee. What else? Oh! Our friends John and Craig arrived last night. It is nice to see them again. We have chatted shortly over the webcam but that's really all since June. We miss them lots and it is great to talk to them in person again. Lots of gaming to be done over the next week. They also brought her a really, really big gift...a big teddy bear! We call it big ben. Well that's all for now. Enjoy the pics. Have a great New Year. Hope to see most of you soon.

Grampa pushing Dinara around on her Winnie the Pooh mobile. Sorry for the photo orientation something happened and it came out this way. I'll try and fix it later.


Grama and Dinara watching Christmas DVDs. So cute how Dinara would cuddle with her.


Dinara playing Peeka Boo with Mommy under the living room coffee table.


Three generations is always fun!


See what Santa brought Dinara. She loved her MegaBlocks! Daddy did too.


Dinara with her Pooh and Tigger toys (from Santa also).


Dinara showing off her Piglet toy.


Dinara kissing her Eeyore toy. Very cute. She kissed many of her gifts this Christmas.


Andrew and My presents from Grampa. We are wearing them as I am typing this. We love them. Andrew says it is fitting to have these as we are such proud parents. He can't wait to show it to the guys he games with.


Mommy and Dinara cuddling. She needed a little comforting after a NO from Daddy. Yes I am wearing a Stitch Christmas hat (bought on our honeymoon in Disneyworld).


Dinara kissing the Xbox gift she gave to her Daddy. Boy does she know him or what?


Beautiful smiling girl!


Princess Dinara trapped in a Megablock castle.


Princess Dinara showing she doesn't need no Prince Charming to rescue her...she can get out herself.


Another beautiful smiling girl...wait no that's the same cute bug.


Dinara in the sweater that Nana and Opa bought her when they were on their Baltic cruise.


The Swarkovski crystal Christmas ornament that Grama and Grampa bought her this year.


The Pearsons and Watsons toasting for Christmas...Opa would be proud.


Dinara hamming it up. Boy was she being silly this holiday season...well she is always a goof ball but it is easier to capture this with Mommy's new camera.


Dinara hugging her new teddy bear...still partially wrapped.

Well I think that is enough pictures for now. Can you tell Mommy liked her new camera this Christmas? Lots of love from us to you. Bye bye for now.

Just in case...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

As the title says I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year. This is just in case we don't get to post until well after the holiday season. I'm not saying we won't post but if I am busy (which will likely be the case) I just want you all to know that me and my family wish you and yours a great holiday season.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Hello Everybody out there in Internetland. We have had a fantastic day playing in the snow. Well we actually only played in the snow for 30 minutes but it was enough to last all day for us. We have had a major dump of snow here in Saskatoon and Andrew decided we should go out and enjoy it. Plus we got to test out Dinara's new Minnie Mouse snow suit. It works perfectly...she was as toasty when we took her out of it as when we put her in it. However, our little bug does not like having her mouth and face covered with a scarf (my scarf from when I was little I might add). Oh well. It was warm here just snowy so we didn't bother her about it too much. Oh, to get back to the main story...we went tobogganing today. It was fantastic! We had a great time and Dinara was really enjoying the snow. She didn't really enjoy it when it was piled up near her face but she loved sliding down on the toboggan and scooping it with her hands. We tried to get her to make a mini me snow angel but she is a little too young yet (I photographed what we did get though). I think we may have finally finished our Christmas shopping today...well for those in Saskatoon. The rest of you we are shopping for after the big rush. It is much more difficult to go shopping long term when you have a little one that constantly wants to be entertained (and no I am not talking about Andrew there). I think we managed nicely though.
I think that is enough for today. Hopefully we will be seeing some of you in the new year...hint, hint there Edmonton friends. Miss you guys lots. Talks soon.

Dinara in her new snowpants. Yes, Mommy was trying to get out of the shot but Daddy thought it would be funny to include her.


Daddy trying to get Dinara to walk to him in the snow. She was a little trepidacious...as you can tell.


Dinara's mini me snow angel. She is just too cute for words.


Daddy and Dinara going down the hill.


Dinara going down the hill by herself. Such a big girl!


Dinara after tripping and falling in the snow.


Dinara trying to get up from the snow.


Dinara standing in the snow.


Dinara having a post snow drink of warm milk, vanilla and a little honey and talking on her cellphone. She just loves Mommy's old phone.

I hope you enjoy all the pics. Lots of love from us to you.

Dinara's Passport Application

Well today we went and applied for Dinara's first Canadian Passport. It is so cheap for children's passports ($27). Everything went fine and we should have her passport in the beginning of January. We have also booked our airfare for our Disneyland trip and we leave the 18th of February return on the 22nd (sorry Mom but I/we are going to miss your birthday...again). We are very excited!! Our good friend Bridget (the Disney friend) is going to arrange for accomodations with her Vacation Club points (which we are going to buy into when we are down there...hopefully the Canadian dollar stays good) and we will buy our passes later this month for the parks. Dinara is free as she is under 3 years old. Well that's all for today. TTFN.

Dinara's Citizenship Card

Just a short note to tell you all that her citizenship card arrived today. It is so cute. We are going to the passport office tomorrow to hand in her application for a passport. We are almost 2.5 months in advance of our Disney trip (which we booked our airfare today) so it should hopefully (keep all fingers crossed) arrive before we have to leave. I'll update soon. Not much more to report really. Lots of love from us to you.

Early Christmas on the Island

Well hello again.

I know I said I would update yesterday but I got busy...sue me. Oh well. Well let's see where to begin? Well we left on Sunday of last week to go visit Nana and Opa on the Island. It was a fun time. We flew Air Canada (never again if we can help it) and boy was that a mistake. They seem to forget (often) what preboarding is and then ask stupid questions on the plane. For example: Did you seat belt in the car seat? I wanted to belt back a witty retort but left it with a simple yes. Stupid flight attendant. I wanted to say "uh you mean I have to belt in the chair not just my kid?" Duh. Oh well other then that and Miss Dinara peeing through her diaper (once each way) the flights went well. Dinara really doesn't mind flying and plays nicely while in the air. I think it would be a little better if we had a portable DVD player (think this will be purchased before our trip to Disney).

So our visit on the island went well. We had an early Christmas (with presents and everything) and Dinara was thrown a cocktail party in her honor. Christmas was fun (as you will see by the photos) and Dinara loved all the wrapping paper and boxes she received...oh you mean there were things in the packaging. Well our little one didn't really notice that. She also liked the food you get to eat at Christmas. The cocktail party was a hit and lots of presents came from that for Dinara too. Suffice it to say our luggage was a little heavy upon our return to Saskatoon. Dinara wore a pretty little cocktail dress that Mommy and Daddy bought in Saskatoon at the party. It is very cute...black velvet top and red plaid bottom. She looked like a little angel...well close anyway. She loved all the people at the party...especially those she could convince to give her food (which was everyone). So everything was a hit.

We had visits from old friends and family (John & Carole, Lea & Joe, Ted & Marie). All of which were totally enamored with Dinara...some even shedding a few tears after meeting her. Others made fast friends with her by inviting us over to have morning pancakes (which were amazing)...Dinara loves her pancakes (well she loves food end statment but you get my meaning).

That's really all for now. A litte tired this morning as Dinara made all sorts of noises starting at 6 am...the time we pinpointed when she must have peeded through her diaper soaking her bedding. Our girl is definitely the Pee Queen. Bye bye for now.


Dinara before her haircut.


Dinara after her haircut. She looks like she is saying "what ya talking about ma?"


Dinara wearing one of Mommy's field hats. It was so funny when she put it on that I had to photograph it.


Dinara looking surprised when Mommy put in a Disney film. This is the face she makes when the Disney castle appears in the opening credits of all Disney films.


Poppy giving Dinara some milk foam with chocolate shavings on it. She loved this and this was a popular thing to have Opa make her.


Dinara's first reindeer...I mean deer sighting.


Dinara opening her first Christmas present. This one happens to be from Joanne Thorpe. Thanks again for the present.


Daddy with wrapping paper on his head.


Dinara with wrapping paper on her head.