Lots of Pics

So, I've been meaning to post some recent pictures of the girls. They are growing up way too fast! Reed and I enjoy every second with them. They truly are the most wonderful children we ever could have hoped for! Makes us want more! Someday... Here's an update on what the girls enjoy doing:

Allyson's favorite things:

Playing princess

Going to the doctor

Riding her bike

Having picnics with "lots of food"

Showing Emily how to play with her toys

Playing with Daddy's new Droid X

Whining (this is NOT Mommy and Daddy's favorite)

Emily's favorite things:

Laughing at Ally when she cries

Pulling up on anything that stands still

Pulling Ally's hair

Putting everything in her mouth (edible or otherwise)

Squealing at the cats and chasing them around the house

Cruising the furniture

Enjoy the pictures! More posts to come soon!

Emily's carrot face looking at Daddy

Emily stuffing her mouth full of kiwi. Other things she's loving: carrots, fresh mango, bananas

Ally on Grannina's and PeePaw's sailboat

Ally and Daddy doing art after dinner

Emily helping Mommy pack up clothes for Cousin Olivia

Nana and Emily playing

Emily playing after coming back from the pool

Girls playing under the coffee table

Emily giving Ally a little kiss

Allyson's Christmas Letter to Santa

So we were trying to explain where Daddy was going for two weeks and we mentioned that it was close to the North Pole where Santa lives. Ally got excited that Dad was going to be visiting Santa. So we played along and had here write a Christmas List to Santa so Dad could give it to him. I carried it up the Thule with me and found this secluded area in a river bed...

I selected that nice flat topped piece of Gneiss in the center of this picture to place the list.
So I placed it on the rock and decided that I would build a small shelter for it just in case it survives the winter I can go an check on it next year. I think the river water level will likely wash it away, but it'd be cool if it didn't.
So Ally drew a reindeer (Bottom Left) and asked for a Prince (Top Right Drawing that looks like an A) and Cinderella (Middle Right Drawing that looks like a bunch of lines). She also wrote something below above her name but she wouldn't tell us what it was.
Here I placed a large flat rock on top of the letter and place several others around it. I'll let you know if it is there next year.

Once in a Lifetime....my second trip....

Got back from my second trip to Thule, Greenland. The trip was wet or cold, not and cold. When it was raining, the temperature was bearable in the upper 40's. When the clouds cleared off it dropped into the mid 30's with a cutting wind. Anyway. I'm glad to be back and will not need to go back until next spring...

Here is are a couple of links if you want to know about Thule:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thule_Air_Base

http://www.athropolis.com/map2.htm

This is a plateau that dominates the area. It's name is Dundas and is the landmark that you reference everything to. One trip I am going to climb it, but not this time. Apparently there is a stone golf course on top.
Another Picture of Dundas showing its "table top."
This view is from a cliff that overlooks the ice bay where three glaciers meet Baffin Bay. Apparently this is the only place in the world where three separate glaciers meet. I'm not really sure how that's possible.
The icebergs are fairly light in the late summer. I hear they are much heavier as the ice is breaking up in the ice bay. Will look forward to seeing that next year.
One of the many glacial creeks formed form melt water from the ice cap. the whitish blue stuff under the rocks on that cliff is the actual Polar Ice Cap. As the ice moves down the valley it shovels stones up like a plow.

This is one of the Arctic Foxes that we saw everywhere. You are warned not to approach them as most have rabies, but that does not stop them from coming up to you. This one hung around the work site and watched us. They turn this ugly brown for the summer, but their fur will change to white by the time winter sets in.

There are also Arctic Hares everywhere. This is a lone one. There were literally hundreds of these hares scatter all over the tundra. I'll have to get a better camera with a good optical zoom my next trip.

Emily Starting Solids

So Emily is already 5 months pushing on 6...the time is flying. So we started her on rice cereal this weekend. Out little vacuum had no issues and ate like she has always done it.

We gave her a spoon to play with, she knew exactly where to stick it.
The Double Shovel Technique...
Look Mikey, I think she likes it.
Gimme some more!

Andon's Birthday Party

The neighbor boy's 3rd birthday party was on Sunday. Ally was very excited to see a jump castle being erected just outside our window. She loved jumping so much that she only ate one bite of cake. I would guess she probably logged at least 3 hours of jumping that afternoon. We may have to break down and get this girl a trampoline.


Before.....
After....

Easter

We went to Lise and Jon's house for Easter. Allyson and Harrison had a great time with the eggs. Wish we could have gotten more pictures, but our memory card was full and I didn't get a chance to delete older pics. Anyway.Ally showing off her purple egg.

Ally found a candy in a plastic egg, she was very proud.

Emily Smiling

Emily is really starting to let her personality shine. She's very happy as long as she's not tired, and will let you know vocally when nap time or meal time is. Ally is really starting to take on her big sister role. She loves being around Emily and holds her hand whenever possible.Ally trying to sleep with Emily.
That's Emily's happy face, we get this one a lot.
She's just so dang cute.