Fall Has Arrived

I've received at least three messages, BEGGING, pleading to continue with the blog.....and with such strong and loyal followers, how could I say no? Perhaps I'll move to a Quarterly update.......who's to say, but there is a good deal of things going on in Coswan Land.

Let's start with the kids......as it likely is about them, right? They are developing a decent sized posse with the neighborhood kids.......we have pretty much any age from newborn up thru teenagers within a few houses, so there seems to be someone for everyone. As the weather has cooled down a fair bit, there is a bit less playing outside, but the groups congregate at various houses for their play dates. It's not odd for me to come home from work to 10 kids, and I likely may not know any of their names! It is good to see them settling in though.....still miss our old FMM crew, but they are finding some new kids to fill the gaps between visits!

Activities......full force! Kate has Preschool three days a week (half days), Lauren goes to "school" a half day a week (the lady is a preschool teacher who runs a day home, so Lauren feels like she's being just like Kate!). There is gymnastics for both of them once a week, Lauren has Tiny Toes ballet (which she REFUSES to participate in....she demands "Take me home RIGHT NOW"), and in a few weeks swimming lessons/skating lessons will begin. So, the van is always going somewhere! We have taken the kids out skating to the Trico Center once as well, as a prep for lessons. Kate pretty much forgot all she knew about skating, and it was starting from scratch for the first 15 minutes, then she started making progress. Lauren, who has NEVER been on skates, wanted no one to hold her, as she had to do it on her own. There were MANY pile ups, but she loves it, and both will be fine in no time!

Andrea and I were lucky enough this past weekend to sneak away for a "kid-free" weekend in Kelowna. Aunty Brenda, Aunty Lou, and Cousin Syd made the journey South to tend to the beasts so we could tour wine country for a few days. We popped into about six vineyards, came away with a nice case of wine, and had some amazing dinners out......with no one throwing food at us, no one requesting potty trips, etc......it was a very nice weekend getaway. If you're a wine fan and haven't spent some time in/around Kelowna, you MUST put it on your "to do" list.

Growth.......God do kids grow! Kate seems more and more to be turning into a "little girl", and Lauren is just simply growing, talking, growing, etc. They both speak very well now, and it's pretty entertaining to hear some of the things they string together. Everyday seems to be a new day.......but it never is dull or boring! We're also blessed with Lauren, that she's making up for stuff Kate didn't do. With Kate, we never really battled thru the "terrible two's".....she was pretty decent. Lauren is making up for it and some! She has a stubborn streak that is amazing......or frustrating, however you want to look at it, but she's definitely her own person, and does what she wants.....so I guess it's not the worst thing.

The new house has been amazing.....we are really enjoying it and the area. We are making some changes though......trying to make it a bit of our own place. Andrea has been working with a decorator from the community.....ironically, the decorator is the person who bought our old Auburn Bay house. So, we're moving along......new kitchen table/chairs ordered, new paint colors being picked out to add some splashes of color, and apparently, I'll be building a locker/shoe area at the back landing. IF that is successful, I will be taking on our closet. We'll see though.....

I'll pop up some pics to see..........and will add more commentary in another post, at another time!


New Auburn Bay Posse


Crazy Hair Day @ School


Ballet Class.....NOT going too well, but she sure looks cute!


Lauren on the Blades


Kate SLOWLY Moving Along......very, very, very slowly.....


The Girls and Emma


GRANNY!!!!!!


Baby Nena


Mission Hills


Another Mission View


Mission Cellar.....each barrel holds 300 bottles of vino


View from our Hotel Room

Summer Days.......

Things are slowly staring to settle down.......the house is somewhat complete (except for hanging some pictures, and a few new end tables), the girls are meeting lots of neighborhood friends, and we are VERY MUCH loving the lake. We find ourselves on/at the water at least 4 days a week, and likely a couple trips to the beach - all less than a minutes walk from our back door. And, the sun has finally started to shine - the past weekend found temperatures near +30 for the entire long weekend, allowing extra time on the water.

We haven't done as much camping as we typically have, but it seems with the move and all, we're really enjoying some casual weekends at home, where we continue to get some work done around the house, and enjoy the lake. The paddle board is getting a LOT of use, and the girls are getting over the "I'm scared of the water" syndrome that the lake has brought on. At the pool, they would both dive in off the edge......at the dock, NO CHANCE! So, today we had Lauren swimming around, and Kate was cruising with Andrea on the paddle board.....big steps!

We also enjoyed a very low key August Long Weekend......first time in years that we just stayed home. Andrea did dinner with one of her girlfriends on Friday evening.....a much needed break from the girls. Saturday, myself and two friends paddle boarded down the Bow River.....it was amazing! Lots of great wipeouts.......a few cuts/scrapes.....Pat lost his glasses, but we all returned! We then enjoyed a family bbq @ the Payne house - likely too much beer/wine/rum, but we all had a good evening. Sunday saw the Rozak's arriving for a day - we spent a good deal of time @ the beach, got in some paddle boarding, and enjoyed a good smoker dinner (ribs, chicken, and sausages.....mmmmmm). And Monday Kate and I spent a few hours at the golf course......a nice lunch followed by hitting some balls at the range. Dad and Shiela also popped by for a quick visit, as they were passing through......it was also Dad's 71st Birthday, so it was good to get in a quick visit.

That's the story for now......we do have some camping coming up with some friends, and really not a whole bunch on the plate for the rest of summer. Hope everyone is enjoying some heat, and hopefully the mosquitoes around Edmonton are starting to die!!!!!


Underduck from Cousin Kaleigh for Lauren!!!


Riding the Surrey's @ Waterton...the MOST hated of all pedal vehicles (but the kids love it!!!)


Kayaking @ Waterton


Kate @ Our Beach in Calgary


Where did it go Kate?


Lauren's new Strider Bike....no pedals!


Hells Angels?


Kate Driving the Bumper Cars @ Calloway Park


Boat Ride with Jada, Kate, and Lauren


.....flying home!

Southbound and down......

I know, I know.....it's been a while since we've posted anything. Well, truth be known, it's been a tad hectic these days around the Coswan household. What's new.....well, we are officially residents of Calgary again! An excellent work opportunity came up for me, and after some discussion, we went for it. Even funnier is that we're back in Auburn Bay.....a few blocks from our old house. So, it's great to have some old friends nearby, and it's fun meeting new folks in our cul-de-sac.

The kids have done quite well with the transition.....of course, they do miss their old FMM friends a lot, but for the most part, they're getting out and meeting the new neighborhood kids. We bought a lake access home this time, so our back yard is a very "common type" of area with a path connecting about 20 homes that leads to a private dock. So, while we do give up some privacy, it is great having a paved, caged-in area for the kids to ride their bikes, etc with all the neighbour friends. It's also a very short walk to the lake/dock....less than a minute, so we've been trying to spend the hot days swimming, paddle boarding, etc.

We've also continued a long family tradition, of the July Long Weekend camping trip to Long Lake. We had more or less the same crew present this year, but were able to book a group site. Must say, it was a bit less private than individual stalls, but it was an amazing setup.....we had power, we had a cook shack c/w stove, and a grass area with a huge fire pit. We did manage to get some great weather, but WOW, were the mosquitoes BAD!!!!!! Have never seen bugs that crazy at +25 degC, but they never took a break.....whether it was 8am and cool, 2pm and HOT, or 10pm by the fire.....they were just everywhere. Kate also caught her very first fish.....a small Jack, on her brand new, pink Dora rod on a orange jig (her favorite color....no surprise she choose that jig). Lauren also LOVED the tube rides that Tim was giving......Kate loved it once we convinced her it would be fun, but it took some time!

That's the quick summary.......yes, there has been a LOT more going on, but I thought I'd get up some information, and some pics to show how the girls are growing. Hope this finds you all doing well, and we hope to meet up with some old friends soon.


Kate's Preschool Graduation from FMM


Monkey see.....monkey do....


A Visit to Waterton to see Granny and Jim....thanks for having us! Notice the bandaids.....whew, we go thru a LOT of them!


A Visit from Kathleen and Katherine to the Calgary Zoo


Lauren Ready for the Beach


Playing Catch with Uncle Terry


...and now playing Fetch with Uncle Terry


Kate's First Fish....thanks for helping Cousin Jared


Bedtime in the trailer.....NOT! They had to be seperated!!!!!


BFast with Maddie


Kate pulling Owen on the boogie board


Tube Ride......thanks Tim


You Build it..........I will CRUSH it......


Andrea on the New Paddle Board

4th Birthdays.....and Sun.......

The hectic schedule these days continues......I've begun commuting to Calgary every other week (or so) to begin the new job, the girls are signed up for events pretty much 5 days a week (swimming, gymnastics, preschool, etc), and spring weather is getting us out and about doing more things.

The first recent highlight was a Mothers Day Tea at Kate's school, where the Mom's were invited in for an hour to have a Mothers Day Tea with their child. So, Andrea and Kate dressed up and headed into school, but not before decorating their tea cups! There were special songs for Mom, a tea/snack session, and a great gift - a hand painted plate that Kate crafted up for Andrea. They both had a great day.

Next up was Kate's 4th Birthday! She was very excited about the bday this year, so we made sure she had a good, event filled birthday. The official day fell on a Tuesday, so we told her that she could choose anywhere she wanted to go for a family Birthday Supper - thinking she would choose old faithful, BP's. But, in true kid fashion, she mixed it up, and requested that we go out for Chinese food, and sit in the restaurant to eat! Nice!!!! We went to a place we've ordered out from a good number of times.....great food for takeout, so eating in should be even better. Turns out it took FOREVER, but when it did arrive, boy, was it worth it!!! We all had a great dinner out.......with both kids destroying the supper.

We then booked the bouncy castle/party room at the Syncrude Center in town the following Saturday, so we had an hour for Kate and 9 other kids to bounce/play, then it was off to the party room for snacks, cake, and a few games. We weren't certain the day would go off as well as it did, as I was in Edmonton for meetings, and was to fly back Saturday morning. I got on the 7am flight, flew to Fort Mac, but it was too foggy to land, and flew back to Edmonton (all this on 2.5 hours of sleep.....as we had a bit of a party for one of our Edmonton friends/co-workers). The rescheduled WestJet flight wasn't set for Fort Mac until 6pm, so I had to find another way.....and after digging with Air Canada, got on a 10:30 flight to try again and land. Luckily this time we did land, I was home around noon, and then off to the party!

Other than that, we're slowly getting ready for the move.......very slowly. There isn't a pile to do prior when the moving company does the packing, but we're trying to decluttter a bit, are piling things up for donations, and may even brave a garage sale. We'll see how it all goes, but in just over a month, we'll be back in Calgary. Crazy!!!!

Hope this post finds you and yours well, and enjoying some warm, spring weather.


Leaving for the Mothers Day Tea

The Tea Cups and the Plate.....

Birthday Dinner Out

Dad's Home Made Cake (cake....great. Icing, not so much......)

...now Lauren's turn.....

Personalized Toy Story book from Granny....

And REAL golf clubs......just like Dad's (....but mine aren't pink??)

Playing in the Bouncy Castle

Lauren Rolling Around....

The Party Room

The Professional Cake (ie. not one made by Dad?)

Best Buds (Katherine, Daniel, and Kate)

BIG Post.....sorry for the delays!!

We've received threatening calls from all 5 of our blog followers, and though it's been busy, we figured we'd better get a post up.

What new......well......LOTS!

1) The kids continue to grow/change every day. Kate is becoming more of a little girl, and Lauren is doing whatever Kate does (and many things that Kate does not want her to do). Lauren's talking is very good too.....she's just over two now, and strings sentences along that make decent amount of sense. Lauren is also fully potty trained now......she took A LOT more effort/energy than Kate did (Kate was done within two days.....Lauren drug out the process almost two weeks, but she's good now!). Kate is also riding a "big girl" bike now.....still with training wheels, but she loves to get out on it. Only one decent pile up to date.....bit of a skinned knee, but she's doing very well.

2) We're moving back to Calgary! It's been a bit over two years since we relocated up to Fort McMurray, and though we truly have enjoyed our time here, a work opportunity came up for myself that was too good to pass up on. We have made a number of great friends, and are blessed with AMAZING neighbours, so hopefully we'll end up with quality folks next to us in Calgary. We have decided to move back to Auburn Bay - the area we were in prior to moving North. We had spent a fair bit of time exploring other inner city neighbourhoods, but just could not justify the prices for an older, "needing work" type of house. We found a beautiful two story home about two blocks from our last home, so it should be an easy transition back to "The Bay".

3) The winter seems to have dragged on FOREVER!!! We had some great weather early in the spring (while Calgary was being hit with piles of snow), but now it seems we just can't leave winter. We'll get snow overnight, it will get warm, it will melt, and the cycle will continue. They're calling for near +20 this week, so hopefully that will put the snow behind us!

4) We've had lots of visitors......thanks to all of those that have made the trek North to spend time. Numerous family/friends have been here, and we've loved entertaining them, and the girls LOVE having guests. Thanks again!!

No official order to pics.....but many updates.


"Rules Girl Andrea" breaks the rules.....

Katherine and Kate Tearing down the Hill

....what was left of our snowman in the spring

Kate and Katherine....best buds!

Lauren Taking Care of Things on her Own......

Poppa Jim up for a Visit

Lauren LOVES Pockets.....cool!!!

Big Girl Bike c/w turtle bell

Getting Ready to Color Eggs

Classic Egg Coloring Kit - 50 years, same stupid kit!!!!!

Is it working Daddy?

....drop it in gently Lauren.....smash!

End Result....not bad

Easter Gift from Granny......thanks!!!

Easter Gift from Granny.....thanks, but I'm still not going to smile....

Heading out for the Egg Hunt!!!





The Haul!!!!

That's it for now.......keep in touch!!!!