Kalin Riley

For the first time in 9 years my whole family was together, and since we still can't get along...it'll be another 9 years before we all meet again. Just kidding, I love most of them. We stayed for a week in a cottage in northern Ontario (consult your map), on a big lake called Muskoka...or something that sounds just as creepy. The place was totally awesome with tons of stuff to do, although the weather sucked towards the end of the trip. Kalin was a bit fussy with tons of people around and plus she was still adjusting to the time change, but she was still perfect She loved reaching her hand in the bucket and trying to grab the fish we caught from the lake...she was really brave cause they were slimy and stuff, there was also ducks on the lake that would swim up to the boat house and she would try to grab them as well. One night our true Canadian colors came out; Arthur, Darlene and I went out in the hot-tub to drink...it was freezing and raining, although our bodies were warm...my nose and hand that was holding my beer were numb...anyways it was great especially cause just that morning we went out on the lake to drink...and the wind was freakin' ice...so yeah that day was cold.
Oh, speaking of beer, thanks to everyone who supplied the non-stop stream of beer...it was great!! I'm sure Dar will post more pics and write something. Ok, cheers everyone.
P.S. The truck in the picture is my dads, it's totally wicked. Its a monster.

                                              photo 4:  stuffing her face...  
                                              photo 3:  Licking the chocolate iceing off...
                                           photo 2:     "blowing out her candle"

photo 1": She was so excited to hear everyone sing happy birthday to her, I think she liked that part more than the cake...  

Today we started teaching her to eat with a spoon, and she did so well by herself, it’s so cute she’ll pick up the food in one hand and then put it on the spoon…ha…well at least she gets the concept… she knows how to say these words clearly now..”hot, bye, hi, Bible, no”, when she see's the Bible for preschoolers she picks it up and starts singing... "Bible...Bible" cause whenever I read it to her I start singing "the bible the bible the word of God for me"...

She washes her mouth by herself… and loves brushing her teeth..we’re not having such great progress with the potty training though…she loves playing chase/hide and seek with everyone in the house...

It’s 2 days till Kalins first bday… she’s grown so much so fast…. I made a school curriculum for her… she so smart, I want her to learn all she can…I think we’ll make her a dog cake…as she loves dogs… oh it’s sooo cute, for the last few weeks she’s been making a beat box beat sound…    

Kalin weights 9 kgs now, is eating a lot more food, is still basically bald and her first real word(besides mama and dada) that she understands what she is saying is the word "hot". Because we sleep right in front of the heater our "headboard" (a big mirror) gets a bit warm if you touch it, so we always tell Kalin that it's hot. So the other morning when she woke up she put her hand on the mirror, took it off quickly, looked at her hand and said "hot" a few times. 

Kiran got soccer shoes, beer, snacks...etc.. and I got wine, wine glasses, hat and scarf etc... I love the people we live/work with, they are wonderful! Christmas breakfast and dinner were amazing, too much food to list here, the Lord is very good to us. Oh a little Kalin tidbit, she took her first steps the other day! Our little chubs is growing up so fast!

Kalin stands up all by herself now. She got a dolly and playdoe for Christmas!