Oct 31, 2006 Great Grammi Wilson & Halloween

Oct 29, 2006 - Great Grammi Wilson with Stella and Rowan

Oct 31, 2006 - Jess dressed the girls in the outfits they got from Barb Butler, they were a lamb and a bunny for Halloween

Great Grammi Wilson loves spoiling the girls, she has a T-Shirt that she got a while back that says, "If I knew my grandkids were going to be so much fun, I would have had them first". At 82 years of age she still likes to spend time, now with her Great Grandkids, she is a great help when I am taking care of them when Jess is out.

Oct 24, 2006 Swinging and Jumping

Oct 24, 2006 - Rowan fast asleep swinging and sucking her thumb...

Oct 24, 2006 - Stella also enjoys snoozing in the swing...

Oct 26, 2006 - Rowan getting some jumping in...

Oct 26, 2006 - Stella really got into jumping

On Saturday, Oct 21, 2006 we joined Great Grammi Wilson, and Lesley & Paul at Fairhaven Bowl for some glow bowling...now that was a different experience for the girls and not to be left out Rowan decided to add to the excitement throwing up her last feeding. Other than that it went fairly smoothly and we all enjoyed the outing.

Bruce and I had a Marriage Encounter event to attend on Sunday afternoon, so Aunty Milly and Uncle Andy invited Jess and the girls out to Dalmeny for supper, I believe it was Jess's first out of town trip with the girls on her own. Of course, Andy and Milly wanted to get some special baby time out of it.

On Monday, Oct 23, 2006 Nicole, one of the girls that Jess works with at the "Aroma" restaurant had a baby shower for Jess at her house to introduce the girls to some of her co-workers.

As you can see in the picture of Rowan above, both girls have taken to sucking their thumbs. Jess tried the soother but they just weren't taking to them, they wanted their thumbs as their security blanket.

Oct 19 2006 Sleeping and Bathing

Oct 19, 2006 - Sleeping Beauties, such togetherness...

Oct 19, 2006 - Hey Ma, this bathtub is getting kinda crowded...

The week of Oct 16 to 20, 2006 started off on a sad note for Gramma (Berta) as I was finished my three month leave of absence and was headed back to work. I totally loved the experience and it reafffirmed that idea that I would like to volunteer at the hospital once I retire to "rock babies". Since I only work two blocks from home I am able to come home every lunch hour and have a quick lunch so I can read the babies their stories, Robert Munsch, Dr. Seuss, Richard Scarry, Mother Goose, etc.

Wow, three whole months have already slipped away...the girls had an appointment with Dr. Carla on Friday, Oct 20/06 and Stella weighs in at 10 lbs. 14 ozs. and is 22 1/2 inches long while Rowan weighs in at 11 lbs. 4 ozs. and is 23 inches long. They both have 16 3/4 inch heads but Rowan's chest is 15 3/4 inches while Stella's chest is 15 1/2 inches.

About the pictures above, they didn't just finish lunch before their snooze, they had their bibs on because they were drooling so much from teething...so peaceful though. Bathing is like a three man job especially when they are both in the tubbie together...but oh, they do seem to love the water!

Exersaucer Fun Oct 13 2006

Oct 13 2006 - Stella Grace trying out the exersaucer...

Oct 13 2006 - Rowan Sophia gets her turn...

Not quite three months of age but already the "e" word - exercise, exercise, exercise guess it's just something we all have to get accustomed to.

Oct. 12, 2006 Heading out for a walk...

Oct 12, 2006 - Rowan Sophia ready for one of many walks to come...

Oct 12, 2006 - Stella Grace also ready to head out for some fresh air!

Here we are in good old Saskabush starting to bundle up for the cold months ahead. Love the mittens and hats that Marlene Braybrook made for the girls to keep them cozy warm. Thankfully Grammi Wilson bought the girls a "cadillac" stroller for us to walk them until the snow flies.

On Oct. 10, 2006 the girls started oohing and aahing, trying to tell stories, it was adorable.

Oct. 12, 2006 Rowan discovered her hand and tried to get it to her mouth.

Oct. 5/06 & Trip to Edmonton

Thursday, Oct. 5/06 - Babes in Leaves on our dining room table...

Oct. 7/06 Rowan and Stella get ready for their shopping trip to West Edmonton Mall...

Sunday, Oct. 8/06 we took the girls to the water park at West Edmonton Mall...

Aunty Nadine's sister Kayla Suveges also had a project for her photography class at University and asked Jess if the girls could be her models...they posed for a good hour or so and did pretty well. Kayla's photos turned out much better than mine but you can get the idea anyways.

On Oct. 6 to 8, 2006 Bruce & I, Milly, Lesley, Jessica & Stella and Rowan, and Tricia all went to Edmonton to find Lesley's wedding dress and of course to take in some of West Ed Mall. On Saturday, Oct. 7/06 we set off dress shopping and the first and only wedding store Lesley went to "Ethos" is where she found her dress, it was the eighth one that she tried on there - what a beautiful bride she will be! Since that was our main agenda for the weekend and it was completed by noon on Sat. we then spent the rest of the day "browsing" and such. On Sunday we took in the water park, a nice dinner at Moxie's on Bourbon Street and a movie at the Imax there. The twins were again great little travellers, they have already experienced so much at such a young age.

Oct. 2, 2006 Garden Gnomes

Oct. 2, 2006 - Stella Grace Mansell, a Garden Gnome...

Oct. 2, 2006 - Rowan Sophia Mansell, a Garden Gnome...

Oct. 2, 2006 - Stella and Rowan in their "made in indonesia" shirts that Dave and Bibian bought for them...

Kami had a project for University that she needed to write a children's book. She decided to write a book called "The Adventures of Stella Stinky Pants and Rowan Rotten Bottom - the Garden Gnomes" which included many cute pictures of the girls in their outfits, King Wraughty (Colby's dog) and Princess Peanut (Kami's dog). It is a great story, thanks for putting together such a wonderful book Kami.

Jessi's good friends, David Stonhouse and Bibian Rajakumar gave the girls their "made in indo" shirts at the Baby Shower in August - they finally got to model them a couple of months later. They look so long here, Dr. Eisenhauer said that she believes they will be above average height...wonder where they get that from. Hadi had still not received the pictures that we had sent over to Indonesia July 24/06 so that he could see his daughters, so we sent another bunch on Oct. 3/06 and he did finally receive those ones. He was so excited, he can't wait to get over here to meet them.

Enjoying more lake time...Sept. 24, 2006

Sept. 7, 2006 someone said that you start using these bumbo chairs at three months, guess the girls like to think that they are advanced since they aren't even two months old here.

Aunty Nadine and Aunty Haley are some of the many arms that come by to get in some hugs on Sept. 10, 2006.

Sept. 16, 2006 Jess and her girls in their dresses they received from the Dregers.

Sept. 24, 2006 We took Stella and Rowan out in the pines by the lake for a "quadding" experience, getting out into nature.

On Sept. 4, 2006 Rowan was "going hard" as Jessi put it, trying to suck on Stella's elbow as Stella was sleeping next to her in the playpen.

Closer to the end of Sept. Stella and Rowan tried again and again to "get" their thumbs.

On Oct. 1, 2006 we packed up the girls, said goodbye to the lake for now, would still be coming up on weekends but we thought we should have a couple of weeks in the city to get the girls into a routine there before I (Berta) went back to work.

Growing Girls Aug 25 2006

Aug. 27, 2007 Stella and Rowan with their soothers that turned into thumbs later...

Sept. 3, 2006 Cruising on Guy and Deb's pontoon boat at Emerald Lake...

Sept. 5, 2006 Sandy feet at Emerald Lake...

After returning from our trip out to B.C. we took the girls back up to the lake where we stayed until the end of September. We did, however, take them in for a check-up with Dr. Carla Eisenhauer on Friday, August 25, 2006. Rowan weighed in at 7 lbs. 15 ozs. and was 20 7/8" long. Stella also weighed in at 7 lbs. 15 ozs. but was 21 1/16" long (beating Rowan by a whole 1/4 of an inch). I will always cherish those first three months when we got to rock them and sing them to sleep, I believe they loved the cuddle.

Visiting in Vernon, B.C.

Four Generations of Mansell's, Vernon, B.C. August 12, 2006

Stella and Rowan just chillin in Vernon...

The whole Mansell clan in Vernon, B.C. August 12, 2006...

After the houseboating came to a conclusion, we loaded our vehicles and headed over to Vernon to the Sunflower B and B (Judy & Bob and Jon's business) for a visit. I must add here that Judy and Bob's son Chris had joined us on the houseboat but then he had another committment when we headed to Vernon so we had a "stand-in" Chris (thanks James Turner) for our Mansell Family Photo, notice white piece of paper in group photo - it has Chris written on it, anything for a laugh.

We had a really good visit with the Mansell/Diehl clan, their B and B is a great place to stay, you should all check it out. While there though, Rowan decided that she would break Gramma Mansell (Berta) in really good while I was changing her...yes she got me a good one and not just by urinating on me - it was a moment to remember, I am sure they all heard me from outside!

Houseboating the Shuswapps Aug 7-11, 2006

"Captain" Grammi Wilson at the helm at 81 years of age... turning 82 in November!



Stella gets a bath in the sink on the houseboat...

Jess, the girls and friends on the houseboat...

Rowan gets her bath in the sink onboard the houseboat...

There was our "Captain" Grammi Wilson at 81 years of age then at three weeks of age Stella and Rowan were the youngest members of our group of 37 people who Houseboated the Shuswapps from Monday, August 7 to Friday, August 11, 2006. Needless to say there were lots of arms again to take part in feeding, burping, changing, hugging, etc. (when they weren't in the midst of partying).

The girls were great little travellers, even though we took two days to drive out, they were in their car seats for six hours or more each day. We found it funny that each day around 30 to 45 minutes to the end of our journey, they let us know, they had had enough and it was time to take a break...but, all in all, they were quite content.

Baby Shower

August 3, 2006 Baby Shower organized by Auntie Lesley & Nadine & Amy

August 3, 2006 Four Generation Wilson's at Stella & Rowan's Baby Shower

August 4, 2006 Jess "Multitasking" booking hotel room in Revelstoke

On Thursday, August 3, 2006 Jess & I and the girls headed back into Saskatoon for the baby shower that Lesley, Nadine and Amy had organized. We played games, ate lots and passed Stella and Rowan around from arms to arms. Jess won't have to shop for too many diapers for awhile and she received a few gift cards, clothes, toys, etc! Thanks to all the organizers and to all you wonderful participants who came to help support the cause!

We took the opportunity to have a Four Generation picture taken with Great Grammi Wilson, Gramma Mansell, Mom and Stella & Rowan.

On Friday, August 4, 2006 Bruce and I had to run out on some errands before we left for B.C. and our wonderful Houseboat vacation that 37 people were attending. Jess was at home with the girls multitasking, trying to find us a hotel room in Revelstoke for Sunday night...and she did it!

First Baths, etc...

Rowan's First Bath, Friday, July 21, 2006



Stella Re-entry into First Bath for Photo Shoot


Stella & Rowan Snug as Bugs in a Rug, Saturday, July 22, 2006


Rowan and Stella in Vibrating Chairs with Mitts on and Flowers Sunday, July 23, 2006


Grampa at cabin getting right back into the swing of things changing Stella July 29 2006

The girls had their first baths at home on Friday, July 21, 2006. It had been a few years since I had bathed a baby, we were thankful there were four of us to make it happen, one to wash, one to hold, one to take pictures and one to get the other twin ready while we bathed the first. Rowan was the first to experience her bath and she did not take to it too well, she screamed the whole way through, but she survived and so did we! Stella was the second one up and in all the commotion we forgot to take her picture so meany old gramma made them put Stella back in the water after she had been dried off, just so she could scream for the camera. Again, we all survived.

As is shown in one of the pictures above, the girls are quite often sporting Mitts! There are a few reasons for the Mitts, so they don't scratch themselves, to keep their little fingy's warm and to keep them from sucking their thumbs or fingers! Jess was hoping to get them used to soothers.

The girls second day home they seemed to be settling in but we were looking forward to moving with them up to the lake for the rest of the summer and part of the fall. Jess had to take the girls in to see Dr. Eisenhauer on Monday, July 24, 2006 to make sure that everything was going well before we made the move on Tuesday, July 25, 2006. So, the girls had their first one and a half hour car ride out to the lake and they were excellent travellers.