Day to Day

Some days I'd rather not say what I did with my day. Only because sometimes they just seem like a blur & not much gets done. But, really everyday is new and exciting for Sadie, and she is happy with some of the simplest things. So at the end of the day it is her simple joys that give me satisfaction and make me smile too.

Today is one of a kind and will only happen once - so make it great!

So here is a bit of what she has been up to.

Building Towers

The fundamentals are the building blocks of fun.

Dress Up ...

Finding the perfect accessory.

The more you dress up the more fun you will have.

Talking on the Phone

Childhood is not preparation for life. It is life.

Getting Some zzzz's
She is getting too old for this, but I like that she will go in it watch t.v and I can get some things done (usually have a shower). Besides she has decided to start getting up way too early so she needs more naps in the day.

Drawing

A pen and paper are all you need to create a whole new world.
Learning to draw and colour... only on paper. Ryan is sure she is going to add some artwork to our wall while I am not looking.

Thinking she is way too independent
Refusing to wear a bib & use her tray.

So clearly things are happening around here. We are loving this time of year and are counting down the days till Christmas, to be with family and friends. Really hoping that it gets a lot warmer very soon. We can't hardly wait for Ryan to have a break from work.

It's beginning to look a lot...

like Christmas. I was not anticipating being in the picture, but not really shocked when Sadie pulled this little fit. I suppose I'm not the only one with a child like this. I think I like this even more than the typical Santa picture I envisioned.

We went to Ryan's family work party it was fun times at Shakers.
It really is looking more and more like Christmas we just got a TON of snow it's awesome. We might even venture out to play in it today.
And I know Christmas is coming when EVEN Ryan asks to go Christmas shopping... Yikes he might regret that as soon as he drives into the mall parking lot.

oh what fun

Happy Birthday to Ryan! As per usual I did not disappoint with the birthday celebrations. We honestly did next to nothing really out of the ordinary. Ryan does not care, and every year I don't do much. Then the morning of I think, am I a bad wife? But, nope he didn't mind at all. It was on Sunday so we were all together all day, probably the best gift for him after his crazy work schedule. It was fun to spend time on the weekend together. We even had the best babysitters -grandparents so it was great all around for everyone.


We did go out to his Christmas Party which turned out to be a good time. Him and the other articling students were in charge of the video this year. He was a little anxious to see if people would like it. It was seriously a hit, you never know if all these "hot shot" lawyers have a sense of humor. They were cracking up, & even an outsider like me laughed out loud more than once (not just at Ryan's acting) .

Today December 1st was a super nice day so Sadie & I went to the zoo. We had more fun then I thought we would. I was really just thinking we needed an outing for the day before I went a little stir crazy. Then we ended up staying there way longer than I anticipated. It was so nice out and she was just loving it.

She is way more into it now and I let her out and walk around to check stuff and animals out.

she sat and looked at the fish forever, she loves pointing at everything.

Sadie building an igloo

Seriously take note, she is in her spring coat, no winter gear, and i have no coat at all. And for real we were not cold.


ok I take it back I put her toque on, mostly so I looked like a REALLY good mom.

Decking the halls

The Christmas tunes are pumping at our house now. I know Ryan is against the tree going up before December 1st, (because he's birthday is the 30th, & he can't mix the 2 holidays). But since I'm the one home all day and I lugged the whole thing out alone, I decided it was up to me. Also I just didn't mention/ask him, so he couldn't do anything about it once it was up. Ok he is not really a grinch. He has always had a million other things on his mind around Christmas and this year is the same. He is BUSY, he just started his Bar admissions course which lasts till May on top of his regular work. Sometimes I find myself complaining for him. He tries to have a good attitude about it all. It's life right.

Lindsay requested to see my tree, so here it is I love it My 1st tree ever!

Just so ya know, it is better in person, and trust me I'll make it worth your while, some hot chocolate and cookies too. So come on over.Love this little nativity Sadie can play with.

Anyways I am excited to have my house feeling all Christmasy. Which has all got me thinking about the whole season. There is soooo much that happens around this time of year, service, celebration of Christ's birth, chocolate, cookies, baking, the food is endless, parties, friends families, cards, gifts, Santa, elves, caroling, snow, tradtions, and more. I love it all, and want to do it all too!
Since I'm starting to think of us more as a family I was thinking about traditions. Things that we will do some old some new.
A few I have been thinking of
see the nativity
Secret Santa another family (remember pixies)
limit our gifts (I've been thinking lots about this one)
a trip to the zoo lights
and of course just more of the little things that are so fun.

What does everybody else do?
My family is classic the pyjamas just can't die year after year my mom can't not have them for everybody Christmas Eve.

A few years a ago.. obviously

On Oprah today she Did not have her Favorite things this year. Instead, it was all about being thrifty, which in turn means gifts from the heart. It is so true these gifts mean way more and become the ones that we treasure. As cool as the new iphone, or those diamond earrings would be. You can go to oprah.com and get download some of her favorite Christmas songs.

I tried to take Sadies picture by the tree and it wasn't happening & then I got this great idea in my head & it is much better in my head. Here is the game who do you spy in the ornament?

Again confirming my rookie photography skills, I may try this again.

step it up

So I've been slacking & its time to get going again. Lately everything has been sporadic. I have only been making dinner like twice a week, exercing maybe that much, cleaning when I feel like it, you know. Now I am ready to be motivated and get in the swing of things.
It all just comes down to me, no one is ever going to make sure I get "it" all done everyday or every week or whatever. So starting with the workouts I want to get my butt in gear & in shape. I have been tossing around different ways to do this and debated 1. getting up before Ryan and going for a run all by myself- then I took note of the time he left & knew that it was not possible seriously 5 am 2. working out in the evenings via workout video (gets old) 3. go to an aerobics class at the church with babysitting (Sadie fails they won't keep a crying baby ugh) 4. go running outside with Sadie in stroller -seriously I'm Canadian and I do like being outside so the fresh air will do us both good. Although it is fun to come up with excuses, and I never run out, I really am going to try to just do it.


Other good news I WON! I was so excited when I found out I won a pair of these cute little shoes. I'm not one to go crazy and enter into the bazillion giveaways happening in the blogging world. But I am glad Melissa posted on her blog that Simple Finds had a giveaway. So I entered once and WON. I know rub it in. They just came in the mail, & I LOVE them. So now I have record I can never say, I never win anything.

On another note I am pretty lucky everyday.

Lucky me.....

• gets to dress Sadie everyday, I love this part of my day she is still pretty fun to dress (as if I thought it would get old) - it is funny how long she can wear the same clothes because she isn't growing tons and she is just tiny. I moved her out of 3-6 months stuff but she could still wear some.
  
• gets to take Sadie out and not to brag or anything but I get to hear how cute she is. Again her compliments don't get old. Love em even from complete strangers
• gets to watch Sadie rock out and dance to music daily, of course I can't resist & join in singing and dancing, (making a fool of myself). She loves music right now
  
• gets satisfaction from getting all the laundry and ironing done on laundry day- Monday
  
• makes supper for one on most nights.(hint of sarcasm)
• gets to chase Sadie around YEP she is officially walking. Its funny to watch her move like a little robot.
• lucky Ryan got to see Sadie this morning becuase she woke up at 5:30 and wouldn't go back to bed. Ryan thought it was awesome, becuase he usually kisses her goodnight on Sunday and sees her Friday night. thankfully this is not the norm
  

the pantry a new favorite hangout.

I've done more video lately than pics so here is a few clips. I totally put the video together then was like Laugh, dance, walk. Its like Ellen only her big thing was laugh dance vote. I'm totally making shirts ha ha. Sadie is totally walking now, this clip is from a couple weeks ago. I think my favorite it how excited we or I sound cheering, then Ryan is total pride when he says "shes all over that baby." like walking is the newest sport & she WILL be #1. Ah kids its like a whole new world, and a whole new person they can bring out in ya.

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEENfrom the cutest little chick

Okay please tell me I'm not the only one that had chocolate before 11:00 today. It's all in the spirit of the season. The bad thing is we still have way too much candy in our house we got less trick or treaters than anticipated and Sadie got way more than we anticipated. I have a bad idea of where most of it will be going. But I'm ok with it.

I had my doubts with Sadie coming in to Halloween. Of course I tried her costume on before the big day (okay 3 different times) and she hated each time as much as before. After I took it off she would try to toss it far away from her. I thought she genuinely hated me forcing her to put on a big fluffy yellow suit and velcro on a big head on top of her. I didn't get it, why didn't she share my same excitement about dressing up after all I really just wanted to show her off.
Well don't worry I won & I feel like a have a crazy amount of pictures to prove it.

I took her out pre Halloween, it was so nice out early this week. We went down to a park clearly just for pictures, I know this won't happen every year but it was fun for now.


Then we went & met Ryan out the mall and he took her around. There were loads of kids there running around, Sadie was entertained by them all. She got 2 candies and just held on tight to them.
I feel like we are greedy (Sadie can not eat all the candy she got) but I took her around our neighborhood anyway. A couple of excuses/reasons I wanted to meet a few more of our neighbours ( i know you're all thinking yah right) and it was seriously too nice she didn't even wear a coat how great is that. Ok I do like chocolate and candy too. And like I said we have way too much.
I seriously took way too many pictures of the event but I guess its cause I just thought she was so dang cute. So here are a couple more I thought if I combined them it doesn't seem so crazy overload. Also a BIG shout out to my sister Lindsay who we got the costume from. Thank you, thank you we loved it and everyone else thought she was pretty cute too (which is what we're going for right?!)



She gets tons of sweet treats and she is trying to figure out a way to eat the playdough.

Hope you all had a great halloween!!
I think next year I'll have to get into it and dress up myself too. Oh yeah, I'm gonna be one of those moms.

always a good time

The highlight of last week was Lindsay & Derek came up to visit. It was fun what can I say we mostly just hung out, chit chatted & let the kids do their thing. It was a good thing we went to Chucky Cheese for Alden's birthday party, because after that it didn't matter what else we did for the kids. I'm pretty sure this is like Disneyland to a kid who doesn't know any better.

I think this was the favorite they stayed in here for quite a while.

I sent some pictures to my mom and I think she thinks that Barney is Chucky Cheese, I laughed to myself. Oh Grandma.

Also on Friday night we (meaning No kids) all went out. It was sweet! We got a babysitter and headed out for dinner and a movie. I've really got to do that more often it was great.
After they all left Sadie & I were still sick and we didn't feel like doing much, mostly just laying around. I guess that is the beauty of being a stay home mom, we did just that. She cuddled with me and just lazed around. She just layed on the floor doing nothing, not even watching t.v. weird I know. Ryan cam home early to see her and she was so not in the mood for anything he tried. She is feeling better, just got to get her napping again.


And lastly I feel like she is a decent sleeper now. So we are on to the next thing, eating, so far she is terrible. Any moms who have experienced this, know how annoying and frustrating it is. I may be to blame as I used to give her snacks and now that is what she would like for lunch and supper. She loves breakfast, no problems but it just goes down from there. I have tried a lot of things & will just keep trying. Unless it is one of the few things she likes she throws it on the floor or if i try to give it to her its like poison when it hits her lips. I'm trying to be tough so she cries through a lot of supper and goes to bed hungry. Is that heartless & cruel or will it work? Any tips?

And here is Ryan & Sadie before bed, and Ryan the baseball LOVER changed the channel from the World Series to Treehouse!! Just because he would do anything for this little girl.

thankful

I have always had so much to be thankful for. It is nice to take some time to remember and enjoy them all. To list just a few

I am so thankful for my own little family I just love them!

For a husband who is so motivated and works so hard and puts in some long days.

To be a mom staying home with Sadie everyday & just doing pretty much whatever we want.

For great families that are so close and we get to visit them often.
For the basics in life (house, food, clothes) there are so many that go without or have lost them.

I AM GRATEFUL
everyday.

JAMES & SADIE

It was meant to be an ode to James & Sadie. I realized the few pictures I took this weekend were of them. These 2 are so cute together.

Sadie & James are starting to have more in common. James has been so quick to do all the baby things. Sadie is by no means caught up but she is getting closer and they are both starting to realize they have a few things in common and are going to be seeing a lot more of each other so they might as well be friends right?!

Just for fun a few random things about these 2

• both bad sleepers (Lindsay & I have exchanged stories, tips, good nights and bad nights way too often) they are both way better now.
• both have extremely blonde hair
• neither of them have a ton of hair (I know I will be corrected for this YES James definitely has more)
• James is as pasty white as can be and Sadie looks like she basking in the sun all summer
• both have worn dresses see Lindsay latest post
• both were sick yesterday yuck
• right now Sadie eats like a lady, James like a total boy
• both make some funny crazy faces
  
• both love having baths and playing in the water
  

It is fun to see what James is up to because it makes me see what will come next for Sadie, which is exciting & also makes me enjoy some phases just a little more.

• This is James' awesome face that totally cracks me up
  

Sadie's nose crinkle face (I think I'll being seeing a lot more of this one)

a sweet moment of sharing

As soon as we got to my parents James was already there he walked on over saying "saDDiee, SaDDieee, Sadddiee. and totally checks out her shoes, her shirt and gives her a hug. I love it I hope he always looks out for her you know in a big brother sort of way. They played together which meant actually sitting and playing sometimes or him bringing her some toys, them battling it out for the same toy (sadie not giving in). James occasionally slowing down trying to hold her hand to help her learn to walk. Aren't this two so cute?

I love not a toy in the tub and they are as happy as can be.

I'm excited these guys are coming up for a visit tomorrow, I just don't think we could EVER get sick of them.

getaways

Ryan & I both had getaways on the weekend. We both went our separate ways for own getaway. Sometimes its better to have time away. In this case, this was true as I do not share the same passion for golf. He went out to Kimberley which has some great courses he would know because we went at the beginning of summer. Most of his time was spent golfing and relaxing.

It is thanks to Ryan's friend Tom that this golf getaways continue to happen. Tom has a place out there to stay, he is single therefore when he has a free weekend he doesn't think twice and just goes.


I headed up to Edmonton for my own fun. I had a blast in Edmonton. I stayed with Brooke & Brett, they just might be the best Aunt & Uncle to visit. (Peter & Gab you are just to far) Since they are kidless they LOVE playing with Sadie and give her soooo much attention. They love Sadie & Sadie loved them. I even got her to babysit for me while I went out. It was pretty cute when I came home and caught Brooke & Brett in the 2 man act of changing her diaper and putting on her pyjamas. he he. Brooke even woke up and came out at 4 am when Sadie was screaming her head off, offering her help.

It was Abby's birthday while I was up. I love that girl, we have so much fun and memories together. She is an amazing girl. She just opened up her own Salon, it is awesome. So she is older and wiser, and lets add beautiful. Love you Abby.

We hadn't seen her in a while but Sadie still loves her.


Loving the fall in Edmonton down in the river valley.
Maren snapped these of Sadie & I.



Yes it was fun to go back to Edmonton. It was so fun to be in a city where I know where everything is (never getting lost). Seeing & visiting friends. Going to WEM. Seriously it is the best I even went on Saturday & it wasn't too crazy, not worse than the traffic here. Where else can you go and have the best shopping (in Canada) and its all in one spot, get a bite to eat, check out flamingos, sea lion show, the waterpark, an amusement park (I can't believe I forgot to take Sadie there) you can say meet me at the whale & everyone knows what I'm talking about, and even run into some friends. Yes I love that mall.We did watch conference did anyone else here the talk where the speaker was listing a few simple things to do to brighten someones day it was something like, a friendly smile, a kind word, a comment on the blog. These guys are in tune, any blogger knows how sweet it is to get comments, but I'm sure he is a non blogger but he knows. I thought it was funny anyway. And the rest of conference that I heard was good too.

It was a birthday weekend! Alysha turned 27 too! I stayed an extra day to have a suprise night out for Alysha. Alysha is the sweetest friend and I am always amazed that she is such a great mom to her 4 kids!!

I was a little sad to leave Edmonton but I was excited to come back home to Ryan (sometimes his weeks are soo busy it seems we hardly spend anytime together). Ryan was soo excited to see Sadie too. Another good reason for the separate getaways so fun to be back together again. If only Ryan was actually home right now....