Hi Everyone Again,

I know it has been a loooooong time since my last blog post, again!

Ken and I continue to paddle regularly. We are doing the Deep Cove race every Tuesday night. We have done a couple of weekend races. Ken did a 3 hour race around Bowen Island. Between watching Ken start and finish his race, the girls and I went to the Bowen Island Children's Festival. It was a lot of fun:)

We have also been to Whistler a couple of times. We are currently there now and the weather has been amazing. We are getting a lot of bike riding in and we had fun down at the lake.

A couple weeks ago I took Anika and Makenna to the Island to visit Ken's relatives including his Grandma and Grandpa, Auntie Trudy, Uncle Ed and Auntie Wanda. Ken's Mom was also there and we made a day of it.

Last week I hosted the year end preschool meeting/party. I reorganized the whole family living room area including putting half the toys in Ken's office, a quarter downstairs and the last quarter confined to the space between the couch and the cabinet. I liked it so much I kept a lot of what I did. I had to take the toys out of Ken's office though:)

Anika loves to have friends over to play on the swing set and to play doctor. They also like to play house with one being the Mom and the other one being the baby. It is too funny:)

Well, I guess we have been busy again. I hadn't downloaded my camera since the last post. I had 267 photos/videos on the camera! Well here are some of the hightlights. Once again, I am out of order with the photos. I guess that is what happens when you don't do them for so long. You forget how to get it right!

Anika's friend, Elliot, from preschool and my friend, Krista, came to visit us at the cabin. This is Elliot and Anika walking back from the lake. Elliot seems to be leading.

Here is another view of Anika and Elliot walking back from the lake. Perhaps Anika is leading?

Makenna and Anika in life jackets down by the dock at Alta Lake in Whistler. Makenna's life jacket makes her top half look so big!

Makenna trying out the boat Ken was paddling.

Anika's friend, Elliot, and Anika walking out to meet Ken as he was coming in from a paddle.

Makenna enjoying the beach at Alta Lake.

Makenna enjoying some time on a ride on toy in our cul de sac at Whistler as all the older kids enjoy riding around on their two wheelers.

Anika and Elliot riding around the cul de sac in Whistler.

Anika giving some of her soft friends a spot to sit while watching Treehouse:)

Makenna taking a seat while playing in front of our house in North Vancouver.

Anika enjoying a pony ride at the Bowen Island Children's Festival.

Anika showing us her ladybug she had painted on her face at the Children's Festival.

Another photo of Anika during a pony ride at the Bowen Island Children's Festival.

Makenna showing off her feeding skills. I tried pig tails in her hair. It really changes her look.

Another photo of Makenna in her pigtails. She looks so different with her hair up.

Here is Makenna with her hair down:)

This is how Makenna's hair usaully is. She loves strawberries.

Here is one of only a few photos we have where we are all in the photo! My brother Jason was in town and he came down with us to watch the Lynn Valley Days parade. He took the family photos for us. Thank you.

Anika having some hugs with Auntie Trudy while we were visitng on the Island.

Ken's Grandma, Anika, Auntie Trudy, Ken's Mom and Makenna.

Makenna

Anika showing off her hula princess outfit. Once again the crown is on her forehead:)

Makenna trying on the tiara and blowing a bubble at the same time.

Makenna

Princess Anika fallen asleep after a night of visiting with Uncle Bill, Auntie Marilyn, and cousins, Hollie and Trent.

Makenna

Makenna and Anika. Makenna continues to put her arms up when she sleeps. She looks so comfortable:)

Makenna and Anika hugging. It doesn't get any better than this:) We love it!

Makenna and Anika enjoying the swing set.

Anika and Makenna enjoying some lunch outside. Makenna now insists on sitting at the picnic table with Anika and at the little table in the house too. It stresses me out because I feel that Makenna could fall back or off the chair at any moment.

Makenna enjoying some yogurt.

Anika and Makenna played with these foamy chairs every day for about two weeks! Who knew they would be such a hot item?

Makenna loves corn on the cob. She is really good at using the little cob handle things and she gets lots of corn off the cob.

Makenna eating her corn on the cob.

Makenna and Anika playing in the kids room on the ferry. Makenna looks up to Anika all the time. She likes to do whatever Anika is doing. It has started...

Makenna on the ferry.

Anika enjoying lunch with her friend, Hunter.

Anika and her friend, Kenzie, playing in the kitchen in matching sun dresses and socks. Makenna coming in to check out what is going on.

Anika's friend, Kenzie, giving Anika a hug.

Anika is good a giving hugs. She will often give a friend a hug a preschool and then another couple of friends will see and then they line up to get a hug from her. It is too cute to see.

Well, Anika finished her last day of preschool for this year. She will be in the afternoon class next year. Then she will be in Kindergarten the year after that! Yikes, it is going by too quickly.

Makenna is growing up too fast too! She is pretty good at using a spoon and feeding herself. It is weird to put a bowl of cereal and spoon in front of her and just let her feed herself. I am not needed so much:(

Makenna continues to say more words and understand a ton! Of course her words are usually represented by one syllable and only Mommy or Daddy can tell what she is saying. ( Ni= Nikki, Ta=Tia, A-A= Anika, To=Shoe, Ba=Ball, Ra=rock, Me, My=mine etc. Makenna is learning about taking turns. It has been pretty tricky. She just wants to tell us that she wants to continue her turn. So when we end her turn to give Anika a chance she screams and gets really upset. If Ken tells her in a firm voice to stop crying, she does! She actually stops crying! It is crazy. Makenna may be feisty but she can also be very compliant. I must say that she doesn't stop so much when I tell her to but that is ok. She is only 1!

Well that is enough for now. We hope you are doing well.

Lots of Love, Jennifer, Ken, Anika and Makenna:)