As is always the case in October we made our annual pilgrimage to the Okanagan to spend Thanksgiving with the Maclean/Martin/Suuban family and also to pick grapes and make wine.
The drive went pretty well considering we had 17 month old twins in the back seat and as usual, the mountains and fall forests did not disappoint.
Sunrise over Skaha Lake and the vineyard
Fortunately, timing worked out perfectly and both the Gewurztraminer and Merlot grapes were ready for picking right on Thanksgiving weekend. It wasn’t long before we were put to work picking grapes.
We flew out for a super quick visit to Kaleden in order celebrate grandpa Maclean and grandma Martin’s joint 70th birthday party along with friends Yvonne and David.
The party itself was lots of fun with excellent food, wine and dancing in the historic 1912 restaurant in Kaleden.
Moms: Janet, Heather and Gina Babies: Ewan, Eileen, Bryce, George and Madelyn
Wow, one year! I am trying to remember all the good times but it’s so hard. Everything was such a blur in the beginning. This has been the best year of my life. I am just so grateful, words cannot express.
Ewan started making kissing noises to Kyle and I, especially when we are kissing his head. He is so sweet and full of expression. He loves to climb and smack objects together, make noise, zoom around the house and cuddle. Ewan joined Sara and I in laughter during our conversation a couple of weeks ago, it was really cute.
Eileen is crawling from room to room and taking her time exploring every detail along the way. The first thing she did when she was in the kitchen was open a cabinet drawer. Ewan has been crawling for months and only once came close to discovering that the drawers open. Eileen was very sick this month with a high fever lasting 4 days. Thanks to Grandpa Maclean for all the medical advice and talking us through it. The highest her fever got was 39.6, which was scary. Eileen handled it like a champ though.
Ewan crawls circles around Eileen. They are like the tortoise and the hare. Eileen is a lot happier now that she is mobile. She laughs out loud while crawling forward.
Sara lent us a walking toy that helps kids learn to walk. Immediately Ewan pulled himself up and started walking with the toy. He picks up new skills extremely easily. He learned how to drink from a straw and eat from a snack pack in a day. Eileen isn’t as quick to learn, it takes her time to figure things out.
They are sleeping through the night about half the time. Hopefully this increases as I am preparing to return to work. Eileen was having troubles falling asleep this past week, she isn’t crying, in fact she is laughing and rolling around her crib. She has been laughing a lot lately. Just expression of pure joy! She’s been laughing in her crib while Ewan is crying in his crib. Ewan has three more teeth along his top gums.
A couple times this month Ewan crawled over to Eileen and pushed her chest knocking her over. It seemed very deliberate. Eileen continues to poke Ewan in the eye with her pointer finger, especially when breastfeeding. It’s so cute to watch her raise her hand with her finger already pointing out towards his eye. Ewan often breastfeeds with his hand over his eye for protection, so now Eileen is poking him in the ear.
Diana and I flew to Courtenay with Eileen and Ewan to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa Shivas’ belated 40 wedding anniversary. It was a very quick 46 hour trip, but worth it! During the trip Eileen and Ewan picked up a head cold and then shared it with Kyle and I. We also met Heather’s new baby boy, Bryce, and Gina’s twins George and Madelyn.
On Sunday we celebrated Eileen and Ewan’s 1st birthday. Kyle made a banana cake with yogurt and peanut butter icing, and they opened gifts. All the grandparents, auntie Diana and Jeremy attended the party.
Plane ride home from the Island
Easter Monday at the McEwen’s houseBaby Bryce-1 month old
Ewan and Eileen enjoyed their first Christmas. Actual Christmas day was spent on Vancouver Island with my family, but we got some photos of Eileen and Ewan opening gifts at our house back in Calgary. Kyle carried on his family’s tradition of preparing a venison tourtière for Christmas Eve dinner, and Grandma Shivas made an Acadian Chicken Fricot. Christmas Day was full of family, fun and good food. There were 14 of us at Christmas family dinner. We had a great time!
For Thanksgiving, we braved the longest drive with the twins yet and made our way to my parents vineyard in the community of Kaleden in the Okanagan valley in British Columbia. What is normally an eight hour drive became a nine hour drive with the twins but all things considered it went remarkably well with only two feeding breaks and minimal crying and the fall foliage made for a very scenic drive through the Rockies and then the valley.
Click on images to enlarge.
The view from mom and dad’s deck, thanksgiving 2017
Kyle, Eileen, Ewan and I just spent 2 weeks on the island visiting family and fishing.
The twins were amazing travelling. They didn’t make a peep of noise on the plane ride there or back (Ewan had a little 30 second cry once we landed in Calgary- but I can relate!!).
My immediate extended family (cousins, aunts/uncles- basically sisters and second parents ??) got to meet and snuggle babies.
It’s been decided these babies are water people! They loved it at the cabin and on the boat. In fact when we were home they seemed to be upset spending time inside. Just like their parents and grandparents they are outdoorsy people.
Eileen started sleeping 4-5 hours in a row at night. Ewan still wakes up frequently though. All the change and travel didn’t effect the babies one bit. They are born travellers ?
The trip was wonderful, I miss the island so much. I really wish we could move there.
Aunt Liz, Eileen, Uncle Dave and EwanHunter, Ewan, Grady and Eileen Uncle Bill and EileenSandy and Eileen Grady and Eileen. Grady told Alli the next day ‘I love the babies’ – Awe!!!
Aunt Liz, Ewan, Eileen and Hunter
on the boat fishing on grandpa’s new boat – named Island Time. They were immediately dubbed good luck charms as Kyle caught a fish in the first 20 mins of their first fishing adventure.
The first fish the twins witnessed being caught
This is Heidi (Katie’s baby girl). Gina, Heather, Katie and I spent the day together. It was absolutely fantastic spending time with my childhood besties. We’ve been friends for a looong time!
Aunt Liz, Eileen, Uncle Dave and Ewan
Hunter, Ewan, Grady and Eileen 
Uncle Bill and Eileen
Sandy and Eileen 
Grady and Eileen. Grady told Alli the next day ‘I love the babies’ – Awe!!!
on the boat 
fishing on grandpa’s new boat – named Island Time. They were immediately dubbed good luck charms as Kyle caught a fish in the first 20 mins of their first fishing adventure.
