Happy 13th Birthday, Nathalieland!

Have I really been blogging for 13 years? Indeed I have! Happy birthday to my blog, which had its first post on January 27, 2010. I'm so glad that I'm still here, keeping a record of our family activities. And my, how those activities have changed, from the days of babies and toddlers to those of school-aged kids, tweens, and teens. That's 1,665 posts published to date!

I don't take for granted the fact that my family still allows me to take pictures and post them here. It probably helps that my readership is almost exclusively family and friends. I've always considered my blog to be a private, family scrapbook that I can share with those who want to see updates. Thanks to everyone who continues to check up on us, year after year!

New Background for 2023!

Backgrounds over the years

In recent news, we had yet another snowstorm yesterday (and Snow Day for the girls!). It took two huge shovelling sessions to clear our driveway, and sadly Steve couldn't help because his foot is still healing from a bruise and deep gash with 3 stitches! The injury was caused by his rucking backpack (holding 33lbs) falling on his foot. Poor guy! 

Otherwise we are well and can't believe how fast January went by. 

Happy Birthday, Welcome to Nathalieland!

School Photos - A 10-Year Recap

The girls' school photos were taken in the Fall and I got prints done just in time for Christmas. Here they are!

Grade 8

Grade 6

I started looking on my blog for school photos from previous years to compare, then realized I didn't have a complete record of them. It's time for a recap of the 10 years Emily has been in school and the 8 years for Jessi. Man, they've grown up a lot!

Emily

2013 - 2022:

Junior Kindergarten

Senior Kindergarten

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Jessi

2015 - 2022:

Junior Kindergarten

Senior Kindergarten

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Notice any resemblances to me and my school pictures? 

I am so proud of my girls and their years at Holsgrove Public School. Can't wait to see what they think of their new schools this September!

Interview with (13.4-Year-Old) Emily and (11.66-Year-Old) Jessica

I was reading through the girls' last interview (Feb 2022) and while not much has changed as far as interests and personalities, I thought it'd be nice to hear firsthand how the girls are doing these days. All answers are their own, and for fairness, Jessi gets to go first this time!

Nathalieland: Hi Girls! How's it hanging? (I'm a cool mom).
Jessica: Good.
Emily: Life is good!

N: Are you happy to be back at school after the Winter Break?

J: Yes, but I do like all the free time of staying at home.

E: Even though the Winter Break was fun, I'm definitely glad to be back at school. I missed my friends and the kindergarteners.

N: That's nice. Anything new and exciting since your last interview?

J: I'm considering either going to Acadie or Challenge for grade 7.

E: I'm a teenager now! I am very excited to grow up.

N: Yes, very exciting! What's something you like about yourself?

J: I like that I'm easygoing, that I have an interest in bugs, and I am able to do well at school without really having to worry about it [yet!]. 

E: I like how I'm very organized and always on time. I enjoy school and I'm a kind person.

N: And a tougher question: what's something you don't like about yourself?

J: I don't like that I'm always late, as in it takes me a while to get ready to go somewhere. 

E: I don't like that I'm a bit of a perfectionist; things need to look right and if they don't I need to fix them. Another thing is, I don't regret much, but when I do I can't stop thinking about it.

N: Nobody's perfect! So I know you girls get a long well... But do you really?

J: Yeah. Especially when I see other siblings with each other.

E: Definitely! The only time we would ever be fighting is if it's pretend, like in a game.

N: Well that's nice! What are your nicknames for each other? Do you ever use these names in public?

J: I'm Choon and no, we don't really use them in public because they're so different from our real names.

E: I'm Boon. I know these names sound weird, but they evolved from a long line of other nicknames we used when we were younger. I've accidentally called Jessi Choon in public a couple of times but I don't think anyone heard.

Choon & Boon

N: You girls are sweet. What is something you'd like to accomplish this year?

J: I would like to at least get accepted to the Challenge program, even if I don't end up deciding to go. It'd be nice to know that I had the choice.

E: I am so excited to go to high school. I can't wait to start doing all the things, like going to class, doing volunteer hours, and having more responsibilities.

N: Any more thoughts on what job you'd like to have when you grow up?

J: I don't really know what I want to be right now. I'm hoping something to do with animals that's not a veterinarian or a butcher. 

E: I really want to be a secretary or some kind of office clerk. I just love the idea of organizing papers, answering emails, and keeping track of information.

N: Nice! Tell me about your dream home (because I know you think about it a lot).

J: My dream home would be something like our house now, because I really like it and even though people say that when you're a teenager you just want to move out, this is the only home I really know and love.

E: I would like to have a big house with lots of windows. I want light-gray brick with white trim and lots of light-gray and white furniture.

N: Do you think you'll have kids when you grow up?

J: I want kids, but when you think of having kids you only picture them at a mature age or cute little toddlers, but I'm kind of afraid of the other parts -- like screaming babies and mean teenagers.

E: I know this is very specific, but I've always wanted just one girl. I've always pictured her with blonde hair and freckles, but that's probably not going to happen.

N: That's sweet. Do you have names picked out?

J: Not really. Every name I think of doesn't seem to quite fit.

E: I definitely want her name to be Willow.

N: I know you're still a little young for questions about relationships, but what are some qualities you'd like to see in a partner?

J: Nice, funny, smart, not argumentative, and doesn't smoke or drink.

E: Pretty much the same as Jessi, but I also don't want someone who's awkward to talk to.

N: Sounds like a good match! Last question: do you like doing interviews like this?

J: I do, but I'm not very good at answering questions that require a lot of thought.

E: Yeah, I like answering questions, I just sometimes find it hard to word my answers.

N: Well maybe that'll get easier as you get older. Let's chat again next year!

J: Ok.

E: Ok!

N: Love ya, bye!

J: Love ya!

E: Love ya, bye!