Jaylene's Birthdays: Dec. 15th & 16th, 2010!

On Wednesday, Dec. 15th, 2010, Jay turned 14-years-old! She had 6 of her friends over for her party.

We had a pizza dinner.

Then it was present time!

First, she opened her friends' gifts.

Jay wearing her new toque and looking at her bookmark while Katja watches beside her!

Jay reading a card from Charlotte.

It was a lot of fun!!!

More gifts to open as Carolyn, Camille, Morgan (Smiley) and Katja enjoy!

Mike enjoying his little girl's birthday!

Deja was in on the fun too!

Then we gave Jay our gifts.

She read the cards and found a couple new books inside...

but it was the final gift she was truly excited about!

Jay's new Netbook!

Josh thought it was a pretty slick gift too!

Cake time!

We all sang "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"!  According to the candles, Jay had one boyfriend.

After eating cake, the girls watched TV, had a hot tub, watched a movie and played Scattegories. They all slept in the living room together.  (Because they are all in the PASE Program, they have an extended Christmas holiday and didn't have to go to school the next day!)  One thing Josh, Mike and I learned: Girls are loud!!!...but it's a happy loud! 

On Thursday, Dec. 16th, we celebrated both Jay and Camron's birthdays with the family!

The kids waited at the table while we added 23 candles to the cake. (14 for Jay and 9 for Cammie.)

The birthday boy and girl!

Blowin' out the candles.

Jay still has a boyfriend!

Present time!

The adults watched...

and enjoyed!

Jay reading the card from Cheryl, Keith, Camron, Helene and Mia!

They gave her a warm hoodie from Board Stiff!

Cammie's turn!  His sisters read the cards with him.

Jay thanked Great Grandma for the card and present (soft, comfy, cozy, red fleece pajamas)!

Cammie and Helene reading his next card!

Irene and I were entertained!

Mike's already trying to get Cammie into volleyball!

Jay opening her gift from Judy & Chester.

Camron got an Oilers jersey from his parents.

The Maguire kids were having a good time.

Cheryl slipped in an extra gift for Keith - matching Oilers jersey, toque and gloves! A very cute father and son photo!

Before the end of the night, Jay showed off her new Netbook to Judy and Cheryl!

A November Hike!

Deja & I thought we'd go for a decent hike before the abundance of snow fell and the bitter cold settled in.

We walked across the street, passed the power-line and into the trails.

Deja explored!

We hit the first steep hill.

A little out of breath after climbing up, a person might wonder why this was the chosen trail.

Then you turn around, look at the view and remember...  This is the first of the "Hidden Lakes."

We continued on.

Another climb.

By this point, my jacket was fully unzipped, scarf open and gloves in pockets.  There's a reason why they call it "Heart-Break Hill."

But the view is so worth it!

We stopped to look at the city of Whitehorse through the trees.

We continued our hike.  Deja lead the way.

You can't beat this scenery!  Even Deja had to stop to enjoy the view: Schwatka Lake!

She loves this walk!

It was difficult to say good-bye to this view.

But we continued on.

We hit the downhill.

At points, we could still see Schwatka Lake.  Beautiful!

We made our way down to Chadburn Lake Road.  Deja made it down first.

She simply waited for me at the bottom of the hill. (She knows she's not supposed to go onto the road. We usually run the rest of the way home together, and, while on the road, she stays on the other side of the guard rail.)

What an amazing hiking partner!!!

October 2010!

I love it when the leaves change colours!

By early October, most of the leaves had fallen off the little trees and bushes in front of our house.  But some of the red leaves held on a little longer.

My handsome husband!

Deja after her bath!

Jenny, Gelo, Hiep, Wade & Vivian, former students who are now attending Yukon College, came over for a rigatoni dinner and a good ol' game of Monopoly!  Jenny monopolized the game!

Jay dressed up as a ladybug for Halloween this year!

Jay had a Halloween party!  5 cowgirls, a giant baby and a ladybug posing before headin' out to trick-or-treat.

Even Josh was convinced to dress-up and go out for awhile when Jordan and his girlfriend, Jessica, showed up at our house.  We found Mike's old pirate costume in the basement.  It fit Josh perfectly!  Arrrrrgg!

Jay and her friends eating pizza!

The girls sifting through their plethora of treats!

Tradesies!

No matter what sort of excitement is going on, Deja just wants a belly rub.

The Jack-o-Lantern 4 of my students carved!  It was the first time they'd ever carved a pumpkin!  They did a great job!  So, this is the face that greeted the trick-or-treaters at our house.

Volleyball Season 2010!

The boyz all dressed up for volleyball!

Josh #8

Josh & Jeremy Mann blocking

Josh and Robin blocking while playing Vanier

Josh covering

The Rams!

Josh spiking

Josh passing

Look at Josh jump!

 

 

 

Mike coached the Porter Creek Senior Rams from the beginning of September to the end of November.  It was a successful season!  The main competition was the Vanier Crusaders (The Catholic high school team). Vanier won the tournament in Dawson City and the PC Rams won the Super Volley tournament!  These two team were neck-and neck throughout the season.  Vanier was ahead during the Round Robin.  However, in the end, the PC Rams won the Yukon Volleyball Championships!  The final game between Vanier and PC was sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat excitement! Judy, Karen, Joe, Krystal, Will, Madison, Gavin, little Kasey, Jay & I cheered on the Rams at the Canada Games Centre.  We did a fair amount of hootin' and hollarin'!  We were so happy to watch Mike's team accept their gold medals!  If you want to read more, check out these Yukon news sites and the Rams blog:

Yukon News

Whitehorse Star

PCSS Rams Volleyball