We had a lovely birthday party for the girls. I thought it might be a bit chaotic, but the weather was good, we were outside the whole time, the kids were happy, the adults were well fed, and a good time seemed to be had by all.

Last birthday, we had a quiet celebration with my mom, dad and brother. But planning this birthday, they decided they wanted the big shindig with friends. Anyone who knows me knows that I love parties, so fine with me! So we had a bugs and butterflies themed birthday, and most of the kids dressed up. Facepainting, colouring, playing in the yard and a butterfly pinata kept the kids busy and amused. The adults even got to visit a little, which was super nice. And to top it off - two cakes! (Of course.) Strawberry cake with vanilla icing for Sugar and chocolate zucchini cake with darker chocolate icing for Spice.

Something we did a little different is that we asked people not to bring gifts. Instead, people brought donations for Faya Orphanage, in the forms of clothing, toys and cash. (and a couple of thoughtful presents for the girls too.) The girls were totally cool with it. And after all the dust had settled and their friends had gone home, we opened the gifts from theirf family members. As the girls are the only grandchildren on one side, and the only girl grandkids on the other side of the family, they certainly weren’t hurting for thoughful, wonderful gifts.

Happy birthday, my darlings! You sure have grown a lot in a year - wow.

The girls, my mom, my sister and I had a wonderful time hiking at Lake O’Hara. It’s just such an amazing, wonderful place… even if we did have rain for the first day and a half.  But us ladies are no strangers to roughing it, so we packed warm and had lots of fun.

It’s an interested unique place for many reasons. First, you are living communally with other hikers from all around the world. You brush your teeth together, cook together, warm up in the shleter together.  We met a lovely family from Isreal on a 5month tour of Canada. They had a ltitle girl the same age as Sugar and Spice, so they really enjoyed playing with her.  We’re going to write her letters close to Christmas time, when she is due home.

It’s also amazing because youreally are just below the tree line, in high alpine. So there are all these fun ground squirrels, picas, snowshoe hairs and other little animals for the girls to spy on. They are micro-level hikers… the spectacular moutnains and vistas were the big people’s delight; the small people enjoyed the animals, mushrooms, lichens and mosses.  The trails are so fantastic that it makes high alpine accessible for four year olds (and grammas too!)

Enjoy the video… It’s fun to take you along. I’m sure Auntie Ena got much better pictures… but mine will give you the idea, anyway. Thanks to my mom and sister for accompanying us! With their help and good cheer, we had a positive, cheery experience, even in dreary weather.

All the time I am amazed at who reads our blog… Here are some of the places people have said hello to “Sugar and Spice” and I: stores, the park, the beach, adoption gatherings, a funeral, a wedding, friends’ houses, Ethiopian hotel, on the phone, on-line discussion groups.

Even though we in no way still get the traffic that we did around the time of our adoption, all of you are still visiting. And I just wanted to say thank you for stopping by! I started this blog for two reasons: 1. to keep up with family and friends, and 2. to provide a resource and perhaps some inspiration for adoptive and pre-adoptive families. Three years later, I consider it a worthwhile endeavor. The bonus has been that this blog is a bit of a journal for me too. I mean sure, I keep it light and don’t share a ton of personal stuff.  but it’s helpful just to catalogue the joys in our life.

Thanks for visiting!

If you have never left a comment before, please leave one below. I’d love to hear why you visit, and/or what you would like to see more of on the Rowan Family Tree blog!

Cheers;

Nicky, Jrock, Sugar, Spice, Maggie, Laughlin, Vega and Haatim. And 8 fish.

With three computers simultaneously freshing refreshing at 7am in the morning, we (J & C and us) by some miracle of fate, managed to secure two campsites for the weekend at Haines Point in Osoyoos. It’s only BC’s busiest campground! But there’s a reason. The small campsite is gorgeously situated in the middle of a lake on a spit; each campsite almost has its own beach, there is a big dog beach, it’s shady with big cottonwoods, etc.

We had a lovely time with our friends a couple of weekends ago. The girls hadn’t spent time with their friend Tigger most of the summer, so it was so nice to reconnect and just chill.

One pair of boots is a little more tarnished than the others.

So off we go this weekend… our intro trip. We’re hiking at Lake O’Hara, up in the alpine meadows of Yoho National Park. It’s supposed to rain, but what the heck. It’ll still be fun and lovely. We’re going with my sister and my mom - just us girls! The girls actually told me they thought hiking was a girls-only activity; I had to explain it’s not a segregated thing… just this trip~ no boys allowed!

BTW: You will see some pics of Sugar and Spice’s friend Tigger.  Guess what? she is going to have a new sister. Check out the Drinkwater’s blog for the cute pics of tigger’s new sis!

We’re in full harvest mode, as you can see… there are veggies every day and we give a lot to our neighbours and friends.

The veggie garden going nuts. Behind you can see some blackberry brambles are producing too.

Our apple and pear trees don't have much fruit this year. Well, the other apple did but the branches were torn off in a storm.

The girls playing in their splash pool by the peach tree. Later the same day, one branch broke off from the weight of the peaches.

And here are the peaches form one branch, all trying to sun rypen.

The side garden - not bad for a first year. The thyme I've had to add to, since Laughlin often runs over it.

 

But the perennials seem to be doing well, especially the back-eyed susans and the hollyhocks.

 

A few words from Spice about her yellow Ethiopian scarf, and scarf wearing in general. You get a sense of how she talks. (Although she is more verbose when not being taped. Aren’t we all…) She got this scarf at the women’s weaving cooperative near Entoto mountain, in Addis Ababa.