Still Alive

(Sechelt Beach, Sunshine Coast)

Hello! Yes, the Haffners are still alive. Wow, I cannot believe it has been a year since I posted! I have become lazy with Facebook as you just upload your pictures to it and that is that. However, I have been reminded that not everyone is on Facebook and that the commentary is not there, so I am back. Here is a snapshot of the Haffner Four.

(Grace & Claire in our front yard)

(Grace @ Savary Island)

I would say the main change in the last year has been Grace. She is now 31/2 and is coming out of the toddler phase and becoming a little girl. I often call her baby and she quickly informs me that "I am not a baby, I'm a girl!" I am blessed to have many girlfriends with babies that I can snuggle because I do love that baby stage. . .but not enough to have another! Grace is attending a community play school program which she loves. I think she loves the fact that she goes to school just like Claire. And she is in a ballet class which I will video and upload for you all to see as it is just the best thing to watch. I think I go from laughter to tears in minutes.

(Claire's first day of grade 1)

Claire's big change is her height! That girl is growing like a weed. She loves school and would rather go sick then stay at home as school is her "favourite." As Claire would say she is a "grade oner" in that great beginning stage of reading and writing. She wants to know how to spell everything which means our days of spelling things out so the girls do not understand are numbered. Claire continues to play soccer and she has taken an interest in art specifically drawing.

(Mike and Claire @ Bridal Falls)

(An enormous penguin & Claire)

Mike continues to teach high school science and math classes. Unfortunately with his back issues, he no longer can play basketball but still gives his time to coaching. He is fortunate to have a wife who played basketball for 9 years, so I understand the time constraints as it is a busy time for him from November to March. He also helps coach Claire's soccer team when needed.

(My Dad and I, Pender Harbour hike)

Last but not least, me. I am finally starting to find a balance between family, friends and school. I have returned to UBC to work on my M.Ed in early childhood which I am really enjoying. I am holding down the home front and most of the time we find ourselves happy and healthy.

We are truly blessed to have such great family and friends. Thank you for sharing in our joys over the last year, and I promise to update more often. All the best! The Haffners

(Our Hershey Kiss and fierce Kitty)

Tis the Season

First Christmas Concert

Claire partook in her first Christmas Concert. It was the cutest concert I had ever seen. The Kindergarten's sang Frosty the Snowman, while the whole school participated in a play called, Melton the Warm Hearted Snowman. Claire was overjoyed, and she was getting a little worried at first when she couldn'tt find us in the audience but once we were located her little hand couldn't stop waving.




Haffner Christmas Tree for 2009 (Daddy saves the beautiful blue jacket and orange gloves just for the occasion)


Ahh, I just love this one of Grace!!

Grace is looking forward to Santa's visit! She loves hunting for Christmas lights, and then yells out, at the top of her lungs, I see one. She enjoys the festive baking and is a great little helper. I look forward to her little eyes on Christmas morning.


Claire decorating her treehouse and own tree.

Though Grandma Tangeman is no longer with us, her Christmas Spirit lives on in Claire. Claire really wanted her own little tree for her treehouse, so Saturday night in the snow we went out. She decorated it and added lights. It looks fabulous, and Claire's comment was "my heart is so full of Christmas spirit right now!" Ahh...this what it is all about!

From our house to yours, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and all the best for 2010!!

Merry Christmas from the Haffner Girls and Boy ;-)

We're Back!

We’re back!!! Yes a few months have passed us by, but we are back to say that we are happy and healthy (most of the time). The girls are doing extremely well. Claire started Kindergarten this fall and is in the Montessori stream. She has made many friends, not that we are surprised from our social butterfly, and has an amazing teacher! She is also playing soccer this year and so far is enjoying it. Grace is up to trouble and in to everything. This girl keeps us on our toes. Just ask Uncle Lonnie who lives downstairs…she is a loud one ;-). She loves taking Claire to school and when she awakens from her nap instantly asks, “Where’s Care?” Mike has gone back to work, and he is teaching high school again. He is working in the science and math departments, as well as coaching basketball. Myself, I am the manager/cook/event coordinator/cleaner but happy to be at home with my little ones at this time in our lives!





Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair.

Good Times!

We have spent the last month having birthday bonanza at our house! Gracie turned 2 on March 15th and Claire turned 5 on April 9th. I think they both ended up having two parties each and throw Easter in there too. It has been a lot of fun to say the least. The girls are doing really well. Grace is talking up a storm and we understand about half of it. Claire never stops talking, so Mike is enjoying his days. All of you with more than two children, we don't know how you do it.

Claire is starting soccer tomorrow for the first time. We are curious to see what she thinks of it and how she handles it. I guess this will tell if she has the Markley competitive edge or the Haffner calmness. We'll keep you posted.

Grace is our pistol! She screams, throws and runs after Claire. Remember how calm she was as a baby-we didn't know what was coming. In the end, they are perfect!! :)

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! We have been snowed in here in the Pacific Northwest. We actually even awoke to snow for our first morning of 2009! We spent Christmas this year at my parents' cottage in Secret Cove. We originally had planned to leave Christmas Eve; however, the weather report was calling for a snow storm on the 24th. So spur of the moment we decided to leave on the 23rd. I had 3 hours to pack the entire family, while Mike ran out to find cables for the car. It took him 3 hours to get out to Surrey and back, and when he did return he had to put the roof rack and cargo box on the car which didn’t want to go on. Let’s just say Mike made it on the naughty list this year for his vocabulary! Now many of you know we have to take a ferry to my parents’ so timing was crucial and to add to that Mike’s sister was waiting for us in North Van. We ended up leaving 45 minutes later than planned, made it to the ferry where they proceeded to tell us that the ferry was running an hour late! We laughed, in the end we were lucky we did leave right away as we would have never made it there on the 24th. Christmas was beautiful with all the snow and the roaring fire, and Santa was good to us all!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2009!




Gracie helping decorate the house for the holiday season.


Snow time!


The three grandkids.

One of the birds that my mom likes to feed.

Halloween Fun

I hope everyone had a happy Halloween! We lucked out as the rain held off, so no rain coats needed. The girls and I had a wonderful night, as all three of us were Snow White! I have to thank Michelle for loaning me her costume which was a hit with the girls and at school with my grade 1 class. Much chocolate was had, actually too much for mom and dad! Saturday night Mike and I both felt sick from over indulging in treats!! Grace quickly figured out what to do, by stating "pick or peat." And she held tight to her bag of chips. Claire also was a fast learner yelling out to Mike before the neighbour's door had closed, "Daddy I need to empty my bag in Grace's, mine's full!" Hugs to everyone!

The Best of Summer '08

Summer '08 was a lot of fun! I've attached an assortment of pictures from our summer adventures!

Testing our first patch of tomoates.

Raspberry picking with two young girls meant a lot of berries in their mouths not in the buckets!

Lots of park trips.

Cottage style bathing.

Hanging out at Secret Cove with Grandma, Grandpa and Ty.

We went camping twice this summer, once to Harrison with our neighbours (we forgot our camera :( and with the Geekie Gang to Golden Ears.


Tristan making his moves!

Claire's first day of school and note the Tree House is done!!

And our last fun event was spent at Playland! Notice my face in the picture below. I guess I'm not as brave as I used to be.

Till next summer, when the sun appears again ;-)