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.

With all of the work going on around here,

the girls were getting tired of the lack of play time...

so was I...

Gotta say, there is nothing like a

good old fashion campfire

with hot dogs & smores

especially when you are only 2 & 3/4 years old!

Even New One (aka: Rattle Puppy)

joined in the fun, just like he always does!

Daddy got the fire started

while Aunt 'Reen organized the grub

and I found the roasting sticks!!

Mum managed to make us a yummy cup of hot chocolate too!!

Adelaide seem to get the hang of the marshmallow thing rather quickly!

and she kept going back for more!

The look of shear delight was smeared all over her face :)

Second course was to be hot dogs!

Octopus Hot Dogs to be more specific!

Now how cool are THESE!

Aunt 'Reen really knows a thing or two about camping!!

I can't wait for our next campfire!!

That Sarah Grace of mine...

what a cutie-pie!

Like her sister, she had such a great time...

And after was all said & done,

my two little marshmallow faced angels

slept...
.....

note: the best way to roast a marshmallow

is to first stuff it with 3 smarties!!

YUMMMMY

Adelaide Reporting!!

All work & no play??

Well THAT isn't likely to be an issue

around here ;)

Nothing like starting the day with

a wake up call to Aunt 'Reen !!

And once the grown-ups consumed their

tea & coffee & the we (the little ones) had eaten our

yogart, cerial & blueberries...

the digging began!!

There isn't much in this life that is more fun

than digging in the dirt!

And there isn't much in this life that is more yummy

than the fruits of our labour!

All the while, Mummy was having fun with her burn pile!

She plugged away dragging the deadfall from

around the front of our property in an attempt to

pretty things up ...

Aunt 'Reen joined her in her efforts & before we knew it

we could see the forest through the trees!!

Aunt 'Reen is SUPER Woman!

not only did she dig up the potatoes with us and

help Mum with her brush clean-up,

She was Daddy's side-kick in the digging and pouring

of our new foundation!

There is NOTHING that my Aunt'Reen can't do!

She sure did earn THIS glass of apple juice!!

Notice anything different ?

SNOW!!

Out of the blue we got tons of snow!

It started on Mum's birthday & dusted the ground.

The next day it just wouldn't stop falling!!

We were SO excited!!

Nothing like an early snow to

get those adults into play mode!!

Apparently the snow was too much excitement for my sister!

She fell sound asleep before we even got out the door

for our snow date with Aunt 'Reen
But not MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

I wouldn't miss this for anything!!

You're the best Aunt 'Reen!!

:)

Mum kept saying,

"Thank goodness Daddy got the concrete poured

before the snow came!"

September flew by

With visits from Aunt 'Reen, Helen

and then Uncle Ian!!

I took Helen, Aunt 'Reen & the girls north up the highway

We visited the Kluane area,

Soldier Summit

and Sheep Mountain

and we visited Alexander Fisher's Cabin

dating back to 1906

This came after the girls returned from

their trip to Haines AK

Where they enjoyed
their first time away from Mum & Dad!

The girls threw rock into the Pacific Ocean

and took a ferry over to Skagway!!!

(I haven't even done that yet!!)

and they enjoyed awesome weather

and a cool playground...

..........

Both had a great time exploring life away from home

and away from Mum & Dad!! :)

Mum was having a not so great time

adjusting to empty arms...

then, just as I was adjusting to their absence...

they were back home

Next time we are separated,

I vow to make better use of my opportunities ;)