another year

So I had a birthday on Wednesday but the celebrations seemed to go on and on, by the way I'm not complaining. This is the short play by play of it all.
My birthday started off with a sweet early morning birthday kiss and then I drifted back to sleep to nearly 8:00. Is that not the best way to start a birthday. Thank you thank you Sadie for the best present you could've ever given me a super duper sleep in (little did I know I would be getting some calls in the wee hours on the weekend)

Simone got me the most delicious crave cupcakes. If you've had them you know what I'm talking about & your totally drooling and CRAVING one right now. So my birthday wish was to eat them all and not gain a pound, good wish eh. I decided to be a year older and smarter too so I gave in and shared them yummmm.

A visit from my neighbor, Allaina who brought me some beautiful flowers. Just what I needed remind me that spring really is coming. If I stay in my house it is here I can just smell the spring flowers and bask in room temperature. She also babysat Sadie (last minute) thanks a million. I know don't I live by the best neighbour ever.

I met Ryan downtown and we went out for dinner just the 2 of us! It was great food and a good time.

Then I went out with a bunch of girls to the movie He is Just Not That into You. Which also included a little chorus of Happy birthday before the show! Thanks girls. What a late night, yikes I'm getting old he he.

On Thursday Sadie & I headed south for more parties & celebration. Lindsay planned a little party with a few girls down there. Of course fabulous food and treats and fun girl chat.

We are so happy about the sunny and nice weather. But with blonde and bald heads its almost like a white out in these pics.

Friday was the pool party with the kids. How fun Sadie, James and Alli loved swimming. It pretty much wiped the rest of us for the rest of day. Saturday we had birthday dinner and cake (finally Alli had been wishing me a happy birthday since Wed and hadn't seen any cake yet)

Saturday we headed into Lethbridge for the moonlight run. Lindsay, my dad (last minute sub) and me ran it. It was seriously a lot of fun. I've never run in a race with that many people, its kind of exhilarating and a whole lot of runner energy. And with so many people it felt awesome to pass so many people- even if they were walking.


A shout out to Ryan's dad who's birthday is today and my sister in law Carrie tomorrow. So yes we HAD to have cake and such again to celebrate.

There is this project 52 that started out in the blog world. I decided to join so here is week 1 (thanks Linds - I'm gonna have to master the timer if I want to keep it up)


I took some for Lindsay - I don't know if this is the one she'll use so I am posting it anyways. She is such a fun mom -not just when the camera is around. I just love the eyes closed hug with her 2 kids. I'm sure here kids are doing the same thing- hugging with all their might.
I'm never one to really get to hung up on age and the numbers. I seriously don't feel like I am 29, but the number don't lie. I even like it when I hear I don't look it either. I guess I am pretty happy and content with life right now. So I am just living my life. I'm ready to make the most of this year as it is my last year in my twenties. So I have lots of plans to really live it up and just be happy. Thats what its all about right -that and chocolate!

I'm off to do more laundry, cleaning and packing. I don't even know where to begin. I am on the countdown I have 10 days left to pack for 3 months.

Guess What?

Suprise ... we have friends!

Thanks to this cool girl. She, I mean WE have some great friends.

I read this somewhere & was sure someone had been watching Sadie play not so well with others. It's good to know that there are other toddlers out there that have this same MINE attitude...right?!

8 rules of toddler play
1. if i like it - it's mine
2. if it's in my hand - it's mine
3. if i can take it from you - it's mine
4. if i had it a little while a go - it's mine
5. if it's mine it must never appear to be yours in any way, shape, or form!
6. if i am doing or building something - all the peices are mine
7. if it looks like mine - it's mine
8. if i think it's mine - it's mine

It is a really good thing that so far Sadies little friends are younger than her and totally roll with her little attitude. The other girls just give in and give her what ever she wants. Her best defense so far is to scream, which doesn't seem to bad. But it's really turned into more of a shriek and I don't blame them for giving into her toddler ways and just walking away.
Cody is always slightly outnumbered when we get together with these guys. But Sadie really LOVES playing games with him too. I'm happy to let him chase Sadie around, he totally knows how to get her going.

Mylee is catching up to Sadie very quickly, so Sadie better look out. I love that Sadie gets excited when she sees Mylee and just points and smiles at her. I don't usually try to take pictures of Sadie being a bully to other kids, but I guess it happens. You would think this is Sadie's bottle by the way she is pulling it away and guarding it. AND oh the dirty looks she can give ... look out. Mylee looking so so innocent.

Jaden is so sweet to these girls. Especially to Sadie I mean at least Mylee is her sister so she is supposed to be good to her. Jaden loves to talk to Sadie and follow her around and help her get whatever she wants.

Sadie & Bella are so very cute. Theses 2 will be best friends whether they like it or not. ha ha. I loved these 2 just toting around their blankies and soothers all day, if we let them. If they found each others soother they would carry it over and put it in the others mouth. Please don't tell me I need to let the soother go, it's just too easy sometimes & I kinda think its cute.


Of course it always takes a while to get settled into a new city and all that. I think that having friends around sure makes a difference. I'm so glad that both Sadie & I have lots of good friends close by.

Oldies

A while back I was tagged for 6 Random things about me. So here it goes only I don't feel like talking about me so I am doing 6 random things about me and my siblings. They are all pretty random and not all that exciting. I have included some very random pictures throughout for your viewing pleasure.


Growing up I always thought my brother Ryan was so cool because of the music he listened to and how loud. I'm sure I looked forward to the days he dropped me off at school way more than he did. I wonder sometimes what he would be his music of choice now. I hope it wouldn't still be Depeche Mode.

Whenever we were on a family vacation where there was a pool there were swimming races at some point. And without fail I would go up against my brother Peter, who I am pretty sure never went that far in swimming lessons, against me who was one or 2 courses shy of becoming a lifeguard. Every time without fail my Dad would put his money on me for the win- seriously. Even though I'm pretty sure not once did I beat him, (my form was probably impeccable though) Not that wins races or saves lives.

I'm pretty sure I was the annoying tag a long sister to Regan for a few good years. When I was in Gr. 1 I got to walk to school with him and his friends (I found out later I was their good deed for the day) When he was in Gr. 4 I would hunt him down on the playground and harass him and his friends for piggybacks and just be annoying I'm sure.


I always thought it would be funny and awesome if I beat my sister Lindsay in a race. I think I missed my chance when she ran 6 weeks post James' birth. I would've whooped her if I wasn't 7 months preggo myself. If you know Lindsay winning is a BIG DEAL, just slightly competitive.

Brooke always the cutest getting load of attention as the baby of the family- despite what she might say. We went through a phase where we were best buds -were still friends now too. She copied everything I did. When we went out to eat (still can't believe my parents took all 6 kids out-insane) she would just want what I was having, until one day I was done with it & I said I'll have whatever she is having.



I'm not even gonna comment on the oldie pictures, they still crack me up. I guess I'll leave it open for laughs and mockery... but I will point out that I don't think mine or Lindsay's or Brooke's hairdos changed for the first 13 years of my life.

Workout Sequence

Don't get the wrong idea in thinking that I'm working out all the time. I definitely think about it more than I actually do it. Sadie caught on pretty quick and was sticking to her workout routine. So maybe she won't have the scrawny arms that I have.... maybe.

Here she is position 1: watching and learning the proper form.

Feeling and looking good after 1 rep.

woooow starting to feel it ... the burn that is. Extending and exerting with every ounce of muscle in her little body.

Carve it up Sadie!

aww take a seat, well done.. can't wait to see the results in 4-6 weeks ... right? Should be just in time for swimsuit season.

Clearly I need to put down the camera and pick up the weights if I want any results of my own.

seriously so cute

We headed down south for the weekend, for some family and fun. It was crazy, exhausting, super fun, caught up on sleep, lost sleep, and hung out with family. Honestly from the minute Sadie and I got there it felt non stop, even though it really wasn't.

Congrats to my cousin Haley who got married to Wes on Valentines Day. They were a cute couple and she looked AMAZING her dress was perfect. I wish I had a picture of them she was absolutely gorgeous.

Besides the cute newly wed couple, James & Sadie were my next favorite. Sadie was totally keeping up with the rest of the crew this weekend, she did not need me to take her around. She was quite good at running around screaming with the others, finding the candy dish, discovering and trying to get into things she shouldn't be. It was a good thing that they were so dang cute because when they weren't they were keeping us busy chasing and entertaining them.

Here they are stealing the show.

Can you see why I can't get enough of these 2.


Honestly never once did we try to make them dance, hug or kiss. These too (usually James instigates) did it all on their own.

My dad is quite the entertainer with the kids. He loves pulling out the movie trailers for the kids to watch. All the kids know who to go ask if they want to watch one. When your only there for a weekend grandma and grandpa will give you just about anything. This weekend the list included, movie trailers upon request, chocolate in bed, unlimited Wii, snuggles and playtime even from midnight till 2, sugar cereals, no car seats in Raymond, and lots of treats if that's what it takes. My parents are the best grandparents really the adore everyone of their grandkids.
My dad put my mothering cuddling skills to shame when he got up and stayed up with Sadie and somehow magically got her to fall asleep in his arms after my 2 hours of failed attempts. I am so lucky, what a great dad, to give up his sleep for me.

Side note directed to Lindsay It becomes very difficult to watch your kids at your house when you leave a spare key; out of my reach, frozen to the metal, and non working. Hope you had fun in Vegas!

unlucky

There are probably more people out there thinking about feb. 14th. But today I have not forgotten it is Friday the 13th. Am not really superstious, but I am ok with blaming my unlucky incidents on an unlucky number.
Unfortunately my day started way too early. Sadie was up and ready to go, this week has been brutal she has been up at 5:30 everyday, I didn't think it could get worse.... it did, 5a.m.
After changing her diaper, again unlucky me (ok not really but lucky would be if the diaper fairy came and changed it for me) I came back to this.

Her first piece of artwork displayed.

I promise I didn't yell, hit, or spank this girl. I didn't need to I looked said, "no Sadie" and my sensitive little girl mess a crying mess.

I attempted to teach her a lesson and she tried to wash it off.

Sadie's lesson learned maybe... well see next week if I find more artwork or super clean walls.
My lesson learned ALL writing tools must be out of reach or used on strict supervision.

short but SWEET!

The weekends always seem too short, but even shorter when it is a weekend away with no kid. Ryan's mom was the hero that stepped in last minute and came up to stay with Sadie. Giving Ryan & I the chance to go to his work retreat at Lake Louise kid free. It was so nice and super fun to kind of remember what we could do with no kids. Sadly for me I still had a hard time staying up too late, and even worse I seriously couldn't sleep in past 7:00. Given the chance again I think I could improve.


The place we stayed was beautiful. Just slightly out of our league, we felt silly using valet parking (have you seen the luxury vehicles we roll in), but a fun perk. It was perfect winter weather we went ice skating, checked out ice sculptures, and went on a hike, ate delicious food and I got to know some of the lawyers Ryan works with. Now I have a harder time not liking them and calling them slave drivers as of course they are all very nice to talk to. Some of them had their kids with them and I think it is always so refreshing to see "big time" lawyers who work ridiculously long, hard hours, just be good fun dads.


I forget what going on a hike with Ryan is like, when it's just us two. I think you learn a lot about the type of person by how they hike. We started out at a good pace and were enjoying the scenery, nature, quiet, and how lucky we are to live close to stuff like this. This is totally my style of hiking I guess I am closer to the stop and smell the roses kinda girl. After hiking a bit further it was all about the pace, how much time we could do this in, we need to set a goal... you get the idea this it TOTAL Ryan. There came a point where we both thought do we have time to finish the hike? Ryan thought maybe we should turn around at a certain time like (4:00) I didn't want to rip myself off of the satisfaction of finishing the hike. So he agreed and I may have regretted this idea. As the rest of the hike he was hot on my heals, pep talking and pushing me up the hike. In the end we made it to the snow covered lake. Then we turned around and pretty much ran down, right after Ryan set the time when we had to be down. Lucky we made it just in time, about half the time it took us to get up.

Cheesy. But this is my victory at the top of the hike.

We got back in time to celebrate Ryan's moms birthday with her. I can't thank her enough for coming up and giving up her weekend to entertain Sadie all day long. It would have been nice if Ryan's dad could have come up too. He is such an early riser, and then I wouldn't have felt so bad when she had to get up at 5:30am with Sadie.