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Showing posts from 2013

2000 Years Ago...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our friends and family wherever you are!

2013 in Art

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Jonas and Nadia, you created so much wonderful Art this year.Whether it be at Preschool, Kindegarten or at home - wherever there are crayons, paint and paper you always have fun and often amaze us with your creativity and imagination. This brings us great joy. Bravo! 

Birthdays

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Oh yeah, some of us had birthdays recently!

Lil' Footy

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That's our boy! Way to go Jonas!  Kindergarten Jonas' first ever goal! You gotta love the celebration.

More memories

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Since summer ended and Fall came, life has been busy for all of us. Looking back at few highlights: PNE Labour Day weekend brought us the fortune of winning an authentic signed Canuck's jersey - fits Jonas nicely. September weather was nice enough to enjoy afternoon bike rides to the park. Jonas started up 2nd season at Cliff Avenue United Football, this time Under-6 and his first real team with Dad as coach! Jonas likes to count goals but we remind him the importance of assists and defence. Nadia's birthday, of course, was pure magic. Both she and Jonas are growing mightily and, even though they butt heads quite often, they can be quite charming and compassionate for each other. Nadia commenced Ballet "ba-LAY" lessons, so cute in her pink tutu. Jonas gave us a glimpse into his kindergarten classroom. Off to Kelowna for Thanksgiving to meet our brand new cousin Mattias and take a tractor/hay ride at McMillan Farm. Grandma and Grandpa Bob are fun to hang around wit

I found a girl

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Nadia Fairy Princess of Flowers - is 3 Years Old!

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Nadia, on her third birthday party, was visited by Loria, Fairy Queen of Flowers, and is now a Fairy Princess - how magical! Nadia's birthday month was highlighted by recognition at preschool, Loria and a visit to some our animal friends at Vancouver Aquarium. Happy Birthday Sweetie - many fairy kisses to you!    

Ready to fly / let me tell you something...

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Jonas has started Kindergarten, Nadia preschool! Both are keeping us very busy! Nadia occasionally likes to start a conversation by saying "Let me tell you something..." Jonas loves to read and write and has already an impressive grasp of some complex subject matter - numbers, nature, biology. We joke that he will soon be teaching his class. Nadia and Dad ride - just like Jonas did for a year and a half! Jonas gets to and from school on most days with the help of some kind neighbors. Jonas recently did about half the Grouse Grind on his own - pretty good for kid his age and his first soccer game was a huge success.    

Wheels

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Jonas is now confidently riding his bike with no training wheels - the first true free ride taking place earlier this month at the local park, and continuing in the hot Kelowna sun. The first several rides Jonas would naturally request the training wheels be put back on. Now he demands, in no uncertain terms, they be left off! The kids love riding up and down the pathway in front of our house. We have been playing Tennis too, occasional matches against our Russian neighbors, on our very own court! This month the kids have been harvesting tomatoes they planted with their own hands. Jonas is approximately 44 inches tall, loves to help, and is becoming quite the independent and imaginative young man, enjoys his Lego projects (Mom too), and is ready-eddy for Kindergarten. Nadia, 36 inches tall, has quite the singing voice, has taken some big-girl steps with potty-training, and is eager to start Preschool!

Nadia, que linda!

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Nadia's first Princess Party, first hair cut, first time meeting cousin Matias, sporting swimwear and the latest summer fashion trends. We luv ya sweetie!!!

Summer Lovin'

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Summer lovin' includes camping in our new 8 man tent at Whidby Island with Pereiras, Cultus Lake with Mitchells, hangin with cousin Matias, tubin' Uncle Randy's boat on Lake Okanagan. Epic.

4OFUS

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Ribeiro means river. I think about the river of life written in the bible: "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal..." and I thank God for my family.

Jonas 5.0

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Jonas, believe it or not, your fifth birthday celebrations spanned more than two weeks and 400 kilometres - from Kelowna to Vancouver, and included several waterparks, Canada's and USA's birthdays, BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps games, a tank, a little gardening - the peppers you and Nadia planted and nurtured from seeds, bike riding, zip-lining, English Bay beach, lots of laughs and YES, three birthday cakes! Thanks for the presents and well wishes from all of Jonas' friends and family. Jonas, the smile on your face says it all!

Guess who's...one - two - three - four - FIVE???!!!

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Thank you Jonas for 5 wonderful years! We love you to the mountains and the oceans and the stars! Love, Mommy, Daddy and Nadia.

Summer's here!

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Jonas and Nadia are definitely outdoor kids so we are happy the weather is better and we can go outside more. A recent visit to our great friends Nuno and Cara, and family, in Comox has been a highlight - it included sun, beach time, and crab catching. Jonas is counting into the hundreds, reading and writing, at what seems to be a high level for a kid his age. Grandpa and Zeezee swept him off to Kelowna this week while we installed hardwood flooring on our main level - horay, no more carpet! Other highlights include Jonas' Kindergarten orientation, swimming and a new love for cake - with a big glass of milk, of course. He will dress and undress himself with no problems, likes to help with chores/bringing in groceries, etc. and is learning how to play Tennis (with Dad). Nadia loves bugs and squishing bugs, loves princesses (thanks Zeezee for the dress), princess birthday parties, big girls, had her first taste of lobster (thanks Dave and Brenda) and looooves it! She likes ente

Take a hike

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Earlier this month I climbed Mt. Tom Taylor, in Vancouver Island's Strathcona Park, with Nuno Covas and 5 other hardcore dudes. It was a great adventure - 3 days total, 1789 meters (5869 ft), good weather, great food and fantastic vistas! Click on the links below to see photos and video. Click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithribeiro/sets/72157634273724107/     and here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/98004678@N06/

The Graduate

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Jonas' final year of preschool - then on to Kindergarten. What a difference a year makes. Jonas is reading and writing short sentences, doing addition and subtraction, somehow knows about "patterns". It must be true - kids these days are smarter than we were.

4:24

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May 5th, I completed my first Full Marathon, 42.2 kilometers (26 miles) through Kerrisdale, Dunbar, UBC, Spanish Banks, Point Grey, Jericho Beach, Kitsilano, Burrard Street Bridge, West End, around Stanley Park Seawall, finishing in downtown Vancouver. Time: 4 hours, 24 minutes.  

New York City

We recently visited New York City for five days (without kids) something we always wanted to do and it was an amazing experience.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithribeiro/8740710030/in/photostream/lightbox/

Seasons

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Since February it seems like we've had four seasons, and the kids have been changing as much as the weather: Jonas came home speaking Mandarin - some simple language/music lessons from preschool - ni hao. Nadia came home singing Spanish "arriba up, abajo down" - thanks Aurelia, Dora. Mommy and Daddy will have to catch up. Nadia's owies require a "Bam-Baid", and new batteries for Jonas' "Peep-Pad" (Leap-Pad). Events include Nadia taking up photography, Jonas skating lessons ending, seeing and meeting Bobs and Lolo at Lougheed Mall, February trip to Kelowna (winter), swimming, we're "still riding" (Jonas and Dad) to work and school, rain or shine (or snow), hair curlers, Nadia learning how to ride her trike, another trip to Kelowna, for Easter (summer), lacrosse, nail polish. A highlight was Nadia and her great grandmother playing with the doll house; all-around good times! Jonas weighs 39 lb, Nadia 27-1/2 lb. 

Firsts

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Nadia's first time skating, Moody Park Arena - she loves it. I guess watching Jonas for so long has driven her. Jonas' first time skiing, Mt. Seymour. Thanks Tanya, Dino, Daniel, Grace for letting Jonas' borrow Daniel's gear. Jonas' first time operating an excavator (at Dad's work) fun dig-dig-digging. First time meeting baby Ella Viveiros - welcome to the team!  

2013 Update

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Here's a little update: Jonas and Nadia are continuing to grow and learn. When they are not competing for toys and attention they can be quite charming. After seeing an old picture (right) Jonas asked: "where's my neck?" Jonas was 38lb at Christmas, is writing his name, small words, numbers and even doing simple arithmetic. Over the holidays and since he is often heard saying something in reference to "...when I was 3 years old..." as in: "that was my favorite - when I was 3 years old!" He is continuing indoor soccer, once again in skating lessons, mastering LeapPad (thanks Grandpa and Zeezee).  Nadia (28lb) after putting on a night gown for the first time:  "oh no! I forgot my pants!" She says "mines!" versus "mine!"  (usually fighting with Jonas over something). "I carry you!" versus "You carry me!" - funny when she's reaching for Mom or Dad at the same time. Refers to Simon cat as

Memories of Christmas/Winter Part II

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Memories of Christmas/Winter Part I

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After Jesus was born...