oUr cAnaDian giRls...

               Well...here are the piCs 

I have been so anxiously waiting for...

             and they were wOrTh tHe wAit!! 

A big pat-on-the-back to our wonderful photographer....

               hEleNe...yep, we totally love you!!

         (& we still would even if you didn't take AMAZING photos)

I have to apologize in advance...there are so many pics. 

       But sErioUsly...

I could not narrow them down anymore.

       But hey, considering that we originally took over 3000 pics, I guess this isn't too bad, eh?

    So if you have five hours...LOL...take a peek!

yEp...sTill heRe

Hey aLL ...

         so I am totally failing 

in the blogging department lately!!! 

          But I promise some new posts aSaP! 

I can't tell you how excited I am to post some of the new and fAbULoUs pics that Helene took of the girls. I saw a sneak preview on Helene's blog, but I am waiting for the CD (that Mark sent in the mail) to see the whole sha-bang!! But all I can say is...cute, holy cute, and FABULOUS (yep, already said that...but it had to be said again!!) Thanks again to our cute Helene...we luv ya! 

    We hope everyone is having a wonderful 

hoLiDay seAsOn in good ol' Scotia land. 

                    We miss you and have a 

      mErRy chRiSTmAs!!

OK...sO wE're kiNda mEan...

So, hopefully this doesn't qualify for child abuse...but it was pretty dang funny. Ireland got some of those Warhead candies trick-or-treating. (For those of you that don't know...they are hard candies that are sour enough to make your eyes about pop out!!) Soooo...yep, you guessed it...we're that mean...you just have to watch!! We were laughing so hard...I guess that makes us even meaner! (JUST A NOTE...I really do love my kids :) !!)

**another note...TURN OFF MUSIC AT THE BOTTOM OF MY BLOG TO HEAR VIDEOS BETTER**

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

HAPPY HALLOWEEN...

I think we had the two cutest ladybugs around 

           (but I'm a little biased!)

       Ireland loved dressing up in her costume &

her and Emmy couldn't get enough of 

                      trick-or-treating.

They loved it, but...there was this trick-or-treater that was on the same path as us and she had a "scream" mask on. Well...Ilie wasn't too fond of it. Every time they would go up the stairs at the same time, Ilie would run to the opposite side and stay there until she left. Then one time they ended up at the door at the  same time and she yelled, "But I don't like her...

               SHE'S SCARY!!" 

       Amber and I couldn't stop laughing.

pLayiNg dReSs uP...

 

Is this just the cutest or what?  

My cute daddy was quite the grandpa 

during his visit to Scotia Land. 

Not only was he good at playing princesses, 

he even looked fabulous in makeup!!!

My two cute pRinCesSes!! 

Ilie decided she wanted to dress 

her little sis up too.

a tReAt fOr the gRanDpas aNd gRanDmas....

Can I just say how much I love and adore 

my two cute girls. 

They make me smile and laugh every single day!! 

I can't imagine my life without them...

even on the craziest of days. 

Here's a cute little video of each of them...

Cici as our little giggler and Ilie as a "fairy" 

on our hike on the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton 

(you'll get a good laugh at her CREATIVE outfit...

       some horrible Mom forgot her warm coat!!)

tHe SHEPHERD fAm viSits sCoTia lAnd...

We just wanted to tell our fam (Dad, Mom and Shelby) thanks for coming to visit us!! We had way too much fun and we're pretty sad that's it's all over. We went on many adventures:

First, we headed to Annapolis Valley for some festive apple and pumpkin picking.

Then on Monday we celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving and my birthday with a trip to Peggy's Cove and a yummy bite at Lonestar (mmmm....my favorite!!)

We also had a fun trip to Dal to visit Mark in action. We showed the fam around and they got to see where Mark spends most of his time playing dentist. Of course we had to end the day with a trip to the "Stache" (our favorite pub/restaurant downtown).

Then we headed to Crystal Crescent Beach and it was a perfect day (besides the fact that they had locked the gaits so we had to push the "bus" stroller all the way in!!) But we were the only ones on the beach and it was warm and beautiful...so well worth the trek!! That night we officially initiated my fam into the wonderful dining of lobsters. I think they loved it (minus the icky green goop...they weren't too fond of that!)

Next, was our trek up to Cape Breton. We left Thursday morning (after running around to the rental car shop because someone decided to hit our van and not tell us about it...how nice, eh!!)

Then we hit the road, and SIX hours later we arrived in Ingonish and ate at a cute little restaurant on the Cabot Trail. Then we headed to our cottage and I have to give a little recommenation on this spot:

It was absolutely fabulous, it is called Lantern Hill and Hollow in Ingonish. They were little cottages on the beach (and I mean like ten feet from the sand...we could hear the waves crashing all night!) And the grounds were beautiful and the cottages were really nice and clean and new and the owner (Susan) was awesome. It was such a cute spot. I definitely recommend it for the summertime. It would be so nice to hang on the beach when it was warmer and spend a lot of time there. 

OK...back to the trip!! We spent the next day seeing waterfalls, soaking in the GORGEOUS fall leaves, driving the Cabot Trail, checking out the beaches and hiking the Skyline Trail. It was the most beautiful time to visit the Island...a little cold at times, but still GREAT!! 

It was a great week and thanks again Dad, Mom and Shel for everything, we sure had fun and we hope you did too (minus the sleeping on the lovely hard futon bunkbeds!!)

(I posted the pics on two slide shows...because there were too many!!)

(Cape Breton pics...)

a TRIBUTE to my sweet Grandpa...

So how do I even begin to pay tribute 

to a person who sculpted

such a huge part of who I am today?

My Grandpa, Russell Dean Shepherd, was a man of 

extreme TALENT,

immense LOVE,

witty HUMOR

& quiet, firm TESTIMONY. 

 

 

I will be forever grateful that he gave me the 

eyes to see the 

beauty, expression and vibrance of the art world 

and the ears to hear 

Mr. Miles Davis and the world of Jazz.

 

I will miss the "LOOPTIE-DOOS" on his lap, 

the lunches every Tuesday afternoon, 

 pouring over his paintings and the checking out the latest "masterpiece under construction",

laughing at his "under the radar" humor 

(while trying to talk him out of his talk radio philosophies)

& most of all his sweet kisses and hugs!!

My Grandpa touched my life in about every way possible and even in his passing he continued to do so. He had been writing a life history for quite sometime and he finished it not too long before he died. On the last page he wrote his last words and a little bit of advice for each of us. I first read these words at his viewing and I absolutely broke down. I was touched beyond words, because his words were perfect!! I could just hear him reciting them, with his cute little grin and his baby-blue eyes a' shinin'. The words were absolutely what I needed to hear. I needed that message...right then...at that moment, I needed those words for MY LIFE!! Some how, my Grandpa wrote the words that I needed. His life continues to bless my own, even when he is gone from my sight. Thank you Grandpa. I love you and I can't wait for the day when I will get that last hug that I missed.

I thought I would share his last words with you, for I know there is lifetime of wisdom and love behind them. Hopefully they will touch you as they have forever changed me...

"To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.

A time to blow your chorus

and a time to put your horn away.

A time to paint your masterpiece

and a time to put your brushes away.

A time to be born

 and a time to die.

I, Russell Dean Shepherd, realizing that I have reached the ending of my life do lay my pen aside and make an end to my writings. Peace be with you my friend, and I will see you in a season or so. In the meantime, some advice...

LOVE thyself.

You cannot LOVE someone else if you cannot love thyself.

  LOVE your loved ones with an unconditional and charitable LOVE and care for one another.

Family is your most prized possession. 

LOVE your fellow men.

And LOVE the gospel of Jesus Christ and make it an important part of your life.

LOVE IS THE SECRET!

Click your Heels,  pull the curtain, & put out the light.

I am out of here!

This the last day, my friend!

...I THOUGHT THEY WOULD NEVER END!"

a nEw tRiCk...

The other day we noticed that when we were playing 

with Cici and sticking our tongues out at her...

she would do it right back!! 

Now she'll just sit and stick her tongue out at us 

and wait for us to do it back. It's pretty dang cute!

i aM...

i am: a mommy of the two cutest girls
i think: way took much!!
i know: that God lives!!
i want: to move back to Utah
i dislike: cantaulope (however you spell that)
i miss: my family :(
i fear: losing someone I love
i feel: frustrated, hungry and tired at the moment (not a good combo)
i hear: the football game
i smell: nothing...got a stuffy nose
i crave: gummy grapefruits, Smartie blizzards and Cafe Rio
i cry: more than I'd like to lately
i usually: talk to my mom a lot
i search: for cute clothes and great deals
i wonder: how we are ever going to pay back all that loan money....ahhh!
i regret: STUPID mistakes and forgetting how to play my guitar
i love: my husband, my girls, my family and friends
i care: too much about what other people think
i always: want a diet coke
i worry: about anything and everything...and then something else on top of that
i am not: good at being on time
i remember: sitting in the meadow in Christmas Meadows...and that makes me happy
i believe: that we are bigger than anything that can ever happen to us...I just have to remind myself that a lot
i dance: when I am cleaning and with my Ilie-girl
i sing: Old McDonald, If You're Happy and You Know It. The Wheels on the Bus...etc, every day
i don’t always: "just say no" to shopping
i argue: with myself a lot (never said I wasn't crazy;)
i write: email to my friends
i win: at NERTS (ha, yeah right...that's McCall)
i lose: my patience more than I should
i wish: I was more laid back and a little less OCD...Mom, Dad...your fault...ha, ha--luv you
i listen: to mt cute girls jibber-jab, scream and sing all day
i don't understand: when life doesn't seem fair...oh, and wht I can't ever buy a can opener that works
i can usually be found: cleaning, fixing, feeding, showering, stressing, playing, loving, eating and when I am lucky...shopping
i am scared: of spiders (the big Nova Scotia spiders) and deep dark water
i need: a house!!
i forget: how to get to places
i am happy: when I am with my hubby and my girls
i tag: Amber, Sonja, Melese

dOn't leAve yOur kiDs aLone...

So, you've probably seen this photo in an earlier post!! 

Well...Ilie just LOVED having her FACE PAINTED. 

So...the other day she was WATERCOLORING in the kitchen 

and then she came into the family room and said, 

"Hey, look at me!!"...

Well, she loved having her face painted so much 

that she decided to 

DO IT AGAIN HERSELF!! 

Gotta love two-year-olds!!

ciEnna iS tHree mOntHs oLd...

Our little Ci-monster (as Markus calls her) is THREE MONTHS old now. She is getting so BIG so FAST! She still is a little CHUB and she still is the cutest little baby around!! She loves to SMILE and is LAUGHING a ton! She loves to stand up on her LEGGIES and she's doing pretty good at starting to SIT by herself. What a CUTIE!!

cOrn bOiL...

At the annual Halifax 1st Ward's corn boil. We ate YUMMY corn and hotdogs and played at the park!!


Our cute girls in their CUTE outfits from Nana.


Ilie was very excited about getting her face painted like a kitty-kat!

oUr tRip tO iSlanD pArk...

This is a little overdue...seeing that we went on this trip about a month ago!! This was our fun adventure to Island Park with Mark's family. We did lots of fun stuff...fishing at the pond with the kids, exploring the town of Yellowstone, iMax movies, Mark did lots of (much needed) fishing with his Dad and brothers and on the way home we stopped at Bear World. That was Ireland's dreamland, and I quite enjoyed it too!! We were able to drive our car through the park and have bears walk right up to us...pretty cool. The second time we drove through, the feeding truck came by...so about every bear in there surrounded our car to go and follow it...it was AWESOME! The park also had cute little bear cubs, a duck and fish pond, a petting zoo and a mini amusement park. I thought Ireland wouldn't be daring enough to do the rides...but she surprised us and loved them. Even more to our surprise...she wanted to go on all of them by herself with her cousins. It was a fun trip!

ciCi's biRth anNounCemeNt...

sUmMer pHoTo sHoOt...

ciEnna's bLesSing...

uTah sUmMer fUn...

We've been playing hard and enjoying every minute of our time in Utah. It has been so fun to be home with family and to introduce our new little Cienna to everyone. They all adore her (and how could they not)!! We've been on lots of fun adventures...we spent a week at the Shepherd family cabin in Christmas Meadows, we've been to the zoo, had BBQs, done lots of swimming (Ilie is slowly warming up to it), been golfing, had Cienna's blessing and been out to eat way too much (but I am NOT complaining!!) This week we are headed up to Island Park with the Redds, so we are excited for that. We hope everyone is having a fum summer...those in Utah and in Halifax!! Enjoy every minute, because it goes by tooo dang fast.

bEacHes, bEacHes, aNd mOre bEacHes..

Well, this last week we have about ran ourselves crazy trying to fit in lots of summer stuff before we cruise out to good ol' Utah. Tuesday we headed out to Queensland beach after Mark got home from school, Wednesday we cruised out to Crystal Crescent Beach for the afternoon and then Saturday we joined the Peterson's fabulous beach party at Conrad beach. So needless to say, we are a little beached out at the moment...but we are definitely loving the great weather and the fun times!! We also took a trip out to Lunenberg, Ovens Provincial Park and Mahone Bay on Friday. Lunenberg and Mahone Bay are these cute little fishing towns and the Ovens is a Provincial Park famous for sea caves that you can hike down into. It has been a FUN and BUSY week!