Wordless Wednesday

Alberta Trip

First Stop: Edmonton - Auntie Tracy, Uncle Jordan, Isaiah, Demaris and Elijah.....and....

The frog! I think he was named Leap.....how terrible to not remember my frog "nephew's" name!

Burn off some energy with a little dance party - Auntie Tracy was showing us her moves!

Family devos with Uncle Jordan

Sweet cousins - about a year and a half difference in age.

pretty braids courtesy of Auntie Tracy

about as opposite as day and night - all boy and all girl!

Sweet father son shot

Grandma cuddlin' her girls

Eli and Ella's favorite hangout!

Next Stop: Didsbury - Grandma and Papa's!!!

Abbigail had so much fun riding in the sled behind Papa's tractor. She even got her friend Lexi from down the street to ride with her one day.

One night we went swimming and then came home for popcorn.

Thanks to Grandma A, Abbigail has learned to do puzzles.....(her mother detests them!)

Smiley Ella

Off for a winter walk and to do a little sledding.....how is it that childhood "mountains" seem like mole hills when returned to a few years later?

Silly Grandma!

Abbigail needs a little help with her numbers so Grandma got out the Rummikub tiles and went to work!

Playing Memory

Ella gets a ride of her own!

Papa bought a new truck while we were there and Abbigail thought it was fantastic to go for truck rides.....now God's blessed us with our own and she is THRILLED!

Visiting Papa at work and making silly faces.....that's what 40 gummy bears in one sitting will do to ya! Dad's secretary had given Abbigail a bag full of candy and Dad had no idea he needed to "monitor" the eating of this candy! In no time flat she came to him with an empty bag! Later he had the nerve to take her out for "coffee". As she was pinging off the walls that night we found out he had given her chocolate milk and a chocolate chip cookie!!!! He said "What did you think? I was takin' her out for water and a toothpick?" Haha! Papa's privelege I guess!

Out to eat with Grandma and Papa

Got to see my childhood friend Jenn - been 5 years since we've seen eachother!

her oldest Eli and Abbigail

Also got to see an old camp friend - Merla.....this is her oldest Owen teaching Abbigail how to be a boy!

Celebrated my cousin Nathaniel's 7th birthday!

and Uncle Curty turned 27!

He and his woman Carlanna

me and my "little" bro

Good times with Auntie Karen's twin dolls - Jamie and Julie......with the other big doll Jesse and Abbigail's doll Jasmine, it was quite the "J" jumble!

12 days and we were ready to get home!

Had to have a McDonald's playland stop on the way home.

Yeah we're home.....hugs for everyone....where's Daddy? Oh ya that's right.....he's unloading everything but the kitchen sink!

A wonderful time had by all :)

My Long Lost Blog

It's been WAY too long......let's see if I can randomly update you on life in the Berube household from the last 2 months.....

* Ella is a walking maniac! First steps were a unsteady but now she's a pro.....and as of a few days ago, let's add climbing to her list of accomplishments....yup....found her at the top of the basement stairs (of course not without Abbigail who was "helping her") and also upstairs in our loft watching Olympics! Guess I'm gonna have to keep the gates up and doors CLOSED!

* I got to take a spur of the moment trip to Alberta to see family and friends with my mother-in-law.....more on that in another post.

*Matt was in a little car accident - totalled the car.....and....now we're new truck owners! Huge blessing for us as our car had seen better days, if ya know what I mean.....a '91 Chevy Silverado now sits in our driveway.

*Abbigail now knows what 40 gummy bears in one sitting makes her tummy feel like thanks to her Papa! Papa's privelege I guess!

*Used a free hotel coupon the other night with Matt - first night away from both girls.....pure bliss....except for Ella's phantom cries in the non-existent monitor! How does that work anyway????

*I'm afraid my Ella is just as bad a teether as my Abbigail.....sigh.....I should buy stock in tylenol I think.....

*shopping in high heel boots is not good for the back (even if they were $2 at a thrift shop) at least not mine....a sleepless night, ice, stretching and a chiropractor appointment later.....and I'm back to NORMAL....whatever that is? And the boots are to the back of the closet.....never to be brought out again unless for an event that requires no walking!

*my days with 1 seemed so easy.....wonder what I'll say about 2 when I have 10?

*I may have to buy the book "The Strong Willed Child".....let's just say Abbigail's sister might give us a run for our money! And then let's just say....I'm gonna blame this one on her father!

*I'm hoping Abbigail's bursts of emotions are not forshadowing the teen years. I like to think of it as PASSION.

*An unexpected gift of flowers delivered to my door is a great way to cheer me up.....finding out they were from my Daddy was even better!

*There's always enough time in the day for what God wants me to do.

*Singulair sure beats antibiotics! Praise God for no more ear infections!

*Curves forgets who I am....."I haven't forgot you....I'm coming....I promise".....if I can get us all healthy, be home instead of travelling, not have company, and have a "normal" back!

*Almost every day Abbigail asks if we are going to church.....I guess that's a good thing? We're there Tuesday morning for Bible Study, Wednesday night for Cubbies and Sunday morning for Sunday School....to her it must seem like daily!

*how is it that I had pretty much weekly photo shoots of Abbigail and I can't seem to find time to get Ella in for her 1 year pics at Sears?

* I think I've finally come to grips with having a messy house.....sigh....that's a relief! Wasted energy picking up all day long.....as long as I can walk where I need to go, the toys can wait till kids are in bed.

* Been pretty thankful that I journalled so much with Abbigail and her stages as baby - amazing how much you forget - been so fun to reference it with Ella.

*loving our new rule for Abbigail - "NO TALKING TILL YOUR FOOD IS GONE".....Matt and I have actually been able to talk to eachother over supper.....what a novelty!

*Conclusion: new siding HAS LOWERED OUR HEATING BILLS - yeah!

*Appointments on my list for the next couple weeks - haircut for me, haircut for Izzy, one year shots for Ella (tears...), ear-recheck for Ella, Izzy's shots, taxes, dental appointment for me, dental appointment for Ella.....we are NEVER bored!

*Super excited for the marriage conference I get to go to with my Hub on Saturday.....Focus on Marriage - some great speakers....right here in Minot :)

*Well....there you have it.....is it bad that I put my girls in the bathtub so I could write this lengthy post?

Not a lot has changed!

Leah Lindquist - 4 Months......Abbigail Berube - 6 weeks.

Leah Lindquist - 4 years.....Abbigail Berube - 3 years and 9 months!
Such sweet friends!