You've Come A Long Way Baby

A year ago today Eloise Patricia Hardwicke-Brown joined the family - the third child in her immediate family and the 14th grandchild in the MacKenzie clan.


It's been a busy year for the little girl - she has her own passport and at the tender age of three months made her first international flight to Arizona with her Mom and Grammie. She's a seasoned traveller now, having flown to Kelowna, BC with her Mom and siblings in August.

She also participated in the first MacKenzie family reunion in June where she already was the big cousin to James and Alex.


Now at the ripe old age of one year old, she is a force to be reconed with - motoring around the house, climbing stairs, turning her mother's computer off while Sara's busy working on it, terrorizing the cat, and learning to walk.

Happy birthday sweet girl.

Winter Coats

Remember this cute bunny that I blogged about in October...the one who lives on our cul-de-sac and likes to hide/rest under the tree where Lloyd parks the truck???


Well here he is again...all decked out in his white winter coat. Doesn't he look nice. I took this picture yesterday at the same tree that he was under last month. I talk to him but he never answers and doesn't stick around long enough for much of a conversation anyway.


And that's it for today. Sometimes I really feel like my mother's daughter.

Brooklyn's Birthday

Although Brooklyn's 5th birthday was earlier in the month, Lloyd and I went to their place tonight to celebrate with her with a birthday dinner. She was excited to have us there - she's such a sweetheart.


Don't you just love watching little kids open their presents! So much excitement and happiness.
Brooklyn doesn't hesitate to show her appreciation - it's a pleasure to give to her.


She made short work of the wrapping paper.


and loved the Disney crawling baby princess..."it's just what I wanted"... and we were glad that it behaved the way it was meant to - crawling to Brooklyn, laughing and cooing. When we were kids it was enough that our new dolls had 'rooted saran hair and eyes that opened and closed.

She loved her new baby doll. We had good visit with our firstborn and his family, as usual.

Preview of Christmas

First, here's Elly, standing but not walking. She actually did take one step yesterday but she doesn't realize that it's something she could be doing on a regular basis.


Sara's Christmas tree and ornaments were destroyed in their floods earlier this year, so this year she gets to buy a new tree and new ornaments. From among the ones she put up last night, these are my favorite...

A feathered owl, bought because Grammie loves owls - and she's very smart too ;)

My very favorite, Sara's frog prince, to honor Quincey

I love pictures of babies by the Christmas tree.
Here Elly is playing with Max's favorite ornament, a penquin.

Another baby picture.

It's a bit too early for me to put our tree up, but I always get a few new ornaments for it - it's part of the fun.

Flat Tire

I got a call from Sara at 4:30 this afternoon. She has a flat tire, can I rescue her. I bundled Charlie, Max and Elly in the car and head to South Edmonton Common to find their Mom. The kids were excited - Charlie had never seen a flat tire before. Max had so he was very self-important and lording it over Charlie.

When we found her, Max quickly assured us that indeed, the tire is flat.

Charlie had to see for herself - she was concerned that a flat tire can't roll properly.

Sara reassurred them that Daddy would take care of the car later. In the meantime, since we were in the immediate neighbourhood, we went to Michael's and Sara bought a Christmas tree and some ornaments.

A very exciting afternoon for the H-B's.

Youngest and Oldest

With Mary in town for a few days, Jenny and her family came from Lacombe to see her and meet little Baron. Jonah, as the oldest of her five boys, is very comfortable with babies and it was nice to see him holding this littlest grandson of ours - our oldest grandson and our youngest. Jonah is 12 and Baron is 3 months.

Jonah and Baron

Jonah, Baron, Mary, Sam, Jenny

Daughters and Sons - Jenny with her two oldest boys and Mary with Baron

Three Generations
Mary, Baron and Lloyd, the proud Papa

Jenny and Jonah
She suddenly finds herself outgrown by her first son.

No room at the table for Layla and Charlie so they ate dinner at their own separate tables.

Wasn't That A Party!!

Today is Charlie's 5th birthday. She was glad to be 5 but sad about leaving 4 behind ("will I ever be 4 again?" "No Charlie, not until you're 44") She can draw the number 4 really well, but finds 5 a bit harder. She had a good day, topped off by the arrival of cousin Layla from BC who came with her Mom and baby brother to celebrate with Charlie. The 'family supper' turned into quite a birthday party for Charlie.

Sydney, Charlie, Kenzie, Layla

Four little girl cousins and a princess cake.

Charlie requested tacos for her birthday dinner - her favorite. Poor Max is outnumbered by all the girl cousins.

Charlie admiring her cake.

The candles were easy to blow out, but...

...those darn sparklers just would not be blown out.

Elly was lost in the crowd - the youngest girl. She likes the balloons though.

And Sydney was happy with the noise maker and balloons.

These cousins and more will get together at the Princess Palace for Charlie's 'real' birthday party on Saturday. Grammie is excused from that one - one party is enough!! Four little 3, 4 and 5 year old girls can really make a lot of noise (the squealing and screaming!!). I don't remember my 5 daughters ever being that loud, but maybe I've just got selective memory now. Anyhow, it was a fun day and Charlie was happy.