So...here is the floor plan!

Well, more or less

:)

This first photo is the addition plan

Split into two rooms

The left side is a pantry / sewing room

The right is the new front entry

with closet space & storage!!

This second photo is the current

kitchen & dining room but

somewhat reconfigured!

The dining room will be my new sitting area

with space for my recumbent bike!

This is a shot of the

two spaces put together!

To the right of identified sitting area

is the current front entry!

It will become the new laundry room

with loads of more hanging space!!!

*****

In the end it is only 10' x 18'

Rather small by some people's standards but...

when you are increasing your space by almost 1/3

it is really rather impressive!

I'm am SO excited!

The snow will fall,

the wind will blow

and the mercury will hit rock bottom,

but nothing can stop

that guy of mine

;)

:)

WOW

he really is that great

hummm...now for the roof

I can hardly wait

!!!

Introducing

****

ADELAIDE ANNE FITZGERALD!

****

A Yukon resident, this young photographer

takes talent to a whole new level!

Being raised with a camera in her face,

Adelaide Anne finally had had enough.

She decided to get BEHIND the lens to get even ;)

Now hooked, this young artist has discovered

that there are no boundaries

once the batteries are charged &

the camera is in her hands!

It is no wonder that she is so talented...

Her Grandad is a well know photographer

within the family circle & her mother...well,

she tries...

So, look forward to future shows

where this talented

camera wielding toddler's

work is featured...

most likely on a Blog near YOU!

"Are you SURE Mummy won't mind you

playing with that &

by the way,

how the heck did you turn that thing on anyways??"

Finally it arrived!

Honestly, I didn't think they could

take another night of waiting

as their anticipation mounted...

for their first kick at Trick-or-Treating!!

Brenda's was the first house...safe and familiar.

Here they practiced their "Tricks"

Sarah sang "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

Adelaide blew her whistle...

The delight of their first Jack-O-Lantern

was magical...

and their building confidence

made me proud!

Sarah took it all with quiet excitement while
Adelaide had no time for photos....there was another house just next door
and chances were, they'd have candy there too!!

It was fun to watch our little Giraffe approach
the strange things...and discouver the magic of Hallween!

We had a blast, as a family, going from house to house...

and Sean & I could not have been

more proud of our litle troopers...

They took great joy in singing & entertaining folks

and remembered their manners, at every stop,

without ever the need of a reminder or prompt!

I loved this Jack-O-Lantern

It was full of humour & personality

:)


And finally, we reached the last house...
Here, our friend took us in, warmed us up


and entertained us with live music
while Daddy went to pick up the truck!
I was extremely grateful for this welcome!


With bags full of candy and toes toasty warm,
it was off to the community bomb fire!



Where the sky filled with magic!

The fireworks were splendid,

though, they proved to be too much for Adelaide.

She retreated to the truck with Daddy

where the booming noise was tempered

and once safely snugged in, she had a grand time yelling "BOOM!"

with every explosion of light & colour~

Sarah, on the other hand, was front & centre,

gazing into the night sky with a look of awe that

truly defies any worthy description!

After every explosion,

she asked me,

"Is there more?"

Much to her delight,

the show lasted a very long time!

Much to my delight,

they survived their first Halloween

with flying colours...

In fact,

the very next morning they announced

"It's Trick-Or-Treat day again!"

;)

WOW...365 days must

feel like an eternity,

at least, to Princesses & Giraffes.

My 45th Birthday brought many surprises

and each was wonderful!

Sean & I drove to Whitehorse & if the mountains were not enough to sooth the senses, three moose were there to pull up the slack!

And while Sean was to drive to the airport to pick up a package

while I was in an appointment,

he failed to tell me that the package was being hand delivered!!

What an awesome surprise to be greeted by non other than....

the infamous UNCLE IAN (aka: the delivery boy)!!!

Upon our return home, we had just enough time to

get dinner fixings together & head back out the door!

Friends gathered to enjoy candle light and laughter

our family's favourite spot, Kathleen Lake :)

I was excited to make Grandee's scrumptious
Carrot Cake, because in doing so,

I was honouring on an age old Dodds' tradition...

and Adelaide & Sarah did a fantastic job of

decorating it, don't you agree??!!

(oh Grandee...it tasted as if you'd baked it yourself:)

The day that followed was just as awesome!
Ian pulled out his guitar & played & played & played
much to the delight to all !!
Adelaide & Sarah absorbed every note, and danced...
Music is magic & this very important detail is not
lost to my two girls thanks, largely in part, to their marvelous Uncle!
There is nothing like family!!
If you look closely, at the photo above,
you'll see Adelaide playing along with her much cherished whistle
(of course...a gift from her Uncle Ian!)

The visit was all too short.
Heck...with the abundance of new snow on the ground
(yet another birthday surprise, from Ol' Jack Frost)
I was starting to wonder if the family visit might be extended...
In the end, Aunt 'Reen & Uncle Ian did make their way
down the wintery roads.
In my little cabin, back to it's quiet state
only the girls & I at home...
I found the space somewhat empty.
I always do at the end of a family visit!
It isn't my own need for their company,
though I do love each of them ,
it is my overwhelming need to see my children
wrapped in the folds of family...

***
My girls are so loved,
and for that, I am eternally grateful.