okay okay

So I do want to update the ol' blog but taking the time to do it is another story. I can't believe summer is soo close to ending. Thank goodness as long as the weather stays decent I'm pretending it's still summer. I will do anything to enjoy a few more days lazing outside in flip flops and enjoy the freedom of no schedule & few commitments.
We spent most of last week at my parents with my family. We had fun little day trips and outings here and there and the kids just loved playing together and running around. I just realized I pulled my camera out once, but I caught this lovely little story. These 2 are too cute together.



And by the way when does the kissing cousins need to stop....like now?? I just don't know.


Sadie is in LOVE with her dad. I know that's a good thing. Seriously she has become such a daddy's girl and is always so excited to see him and play with him and have him put her to bed ... not me. It's great, I'll take it second best has its perks too.

all about the baby

I went up to Edmonton to visit Abby because she finally had her baby girl. Niko is adorable and about the sweetest baby ever, she is cuddly, squishy, tiny, and I could stare at her all day. After going 9 days over and 24 hours of labor and a C section the little I mean big (9.5lbs) bundle of joy is so worth it. Way to go Abby.

Ellie & Jen were already there so we had the baby shower on Monday, it was fabulous. Everything turned out great. The food, the friends, the baby gifts, the funny games, including Jenny & I being the nanny and making fools of ourselves.

This was a super rare moment, Niko with her eyes open. I'm not kidding she slept ALL the time, good baby.

I forgot to take pictures before or during the shower, but it all looked amazing. Jen & Ellie thought of every last detail.





Thanks to Brooke & Brett who let Sadie & I spend the night at their place. AND babysat Sadie while I stayed out. I came home & found her sprawled out on the bed fast asleep. Thanks guys.
Sadie enjoying one of the cupcake pops. Yeah I finally made them, we all loved this things.


Before we left we drove around the university area reminiscing about our crazy college days and looking at all the changes that have happened around. Ye I'm sure we sounded like a bunch of oldies. It was fun. Of course we stopped at the Ledge, one of my favorite places in Edmonton. I still LOVE that city in the summer.

Growing up IS a BIG deal

This is HUGE! Yesterday was the 1st day I actually did Sadie's hair. I can't lie I've been waiting for a long time for this day. I was so excited I saw another little girl on Sunday come into church with about the same short and scraggly hair do Sadie has been sporting. Then when she left church her mom had transformed it into 2 adorable pig tails. She was my inspiration I realized Sadie was ready for this big change. Her hair is still incredibly short in the front, but can actually hold a little clip Yeah! Sometimes I think it looks a little silly but I know there is no way I could possibly cut her hair in the back to match the front.



On the growing up topic... potty training. Sadie seems to be somewhat interested in this & so am I. So we've been giving it a go with some success. I don't claim to really know what I am doing, I feel like there are a gazillion ways to do it, and hope it comes sooner than later.

This was too funny she is actually crying because I had changed her diaper (remember only some success) and was going to put on a new one. She lost it, she wanted to go on the potty, so I let her go on but of course she didn't need it, so she was still upset because she would not get a treat or sticker. In the end she got one for trying.

Thanks... Come Again

We were so happy that Lindsay & Derek & their kids came up for a visit last week. In the few days they were here I'd say we kept ourselves and the kids pretty busy. Of course the boys found time to golf once in the rain, and once in the scorching sun. Lindsay & I managed to get out to the mall just the 2 of us, how grand was that. If we could just spend money guilt free we'd be set. We even managed to have some fun with the kiddies.

Trip to the zoo was a HIT. It was so smart to go first thing in the morning, all the animals seem to be out and about. I'd like to take credit and say I knew that, but the truth is if we didn't get ourselves and the kids out the door early, I'm sure the boys would've tried to squeeze in a round of golf.



On Saturday we headed to Canmore and played at the lake out there. The lake was really fun and it was a great day to be outside. This isn't the greatest picture but it was seriously so cute just seeing all these little blonde heads playing together.

Sadie LOVED having James & Alli around all the time. She still needs her space at times and I'm quite happy when she just does it on her own. Rather than the alternative where she freaks out and then gets her way or toy or space.

Ryan & Derek eyed the little cliff on the other side of the lake all day. Finally at the end we insisted we go over and they jump in.

Just before we were leaving it started to rain, & I think it hasn't stopped since. I'm I right??

hmmmm what?

Seriously I'm at a loss. What did I used to blog about. What to say, what to write.... don't know but here is another Sadie show. Starring the one and only Sadie.

Isn't it amazing the emotion you can capture in a picture? I think so, that is pure 100% raw emotion.

Summer isn't complete without the cutest beach bum.

just me...blogging

this picture is courtesy of my Dad. For a good portion of Sadie's life I have talked (maybe even complained) about her lack of hair. There is no denying it here she HAS hair!

I can't believe I haven't hardly picked up the camera in the last 2 weeks. It is weird after taking my camera everywhere with me to all of the sudden not pick it up at all. On one hand it is nice to just go places and enjoy whatever it is, as everyday as it seems I like it. On the other hand I wonder what I have been up to and wish I could just pop in a memory card and update the ol' blog.

We went to Waterton last weekend I LOVED it. The day just flew by as we spent our time picnicking and wading in the water and all that. We got back to Raymond in time to head out to the lake sans kids. All the grand kids were around so my mom (being the amazing grandmother that she is) volunteered to keep all the kids (6 under 6) while the rest of us went out for a few quick runs.


I don't have much else to say as of right now so I copied this from Christal's blog. Just a little something.
I am: happy to live where I live right now
I have: a great family
I know: that my husband will take care of us
I think: sunshine, fresh air and being outside can do wonders for anyone
I don't think: I read enough, seriously I haven’t read a book start to finish in a while
I want: to stop wanting stuff. It’s just stuff right?
I like: to be organized in some areas of my life
I dislike: my really creepy, weird neighbor.
I hate: the dang Calgary transit system and all the ridiculous parking.
I dream: that I will sleep ALL night long, sometimes I DO. I fantasize about sleeping in.
I fear: that a mouse will sneak into my garage & I will see it.
I am annoyed: when I screw up an attempt to make a good supper
I crave: chocolate, sweets, late nights with girls, New York
I usually: eat breakfast
I search: the Internet and mostly waste a lot of time
I hide: money in my winter coat and can’t wait till winter comes and I find it.
I wonder: what time Ryan gets home.
I know: more about baseball than I ever thought I would
I just can't help: snacking on unhealthy and some healthy things all day long
I regret: passing up on the second helping of ice cream or chocolate when I get the chance
I love: staying at home with Sadie
I can't live without: Love. of a lot of things
I think: about potty training Sadie a lot, have started attempting.
I try to: take lots of pictures of Sadie.
I enjoy: learning how to make my pictures better,
I don't care: about wearing make up all that much, you might notice
I always: fall asleep watching movies. ALWAYS
I never want to: become addicted to the same beverage as Ryan (it’s just Pepsi if you were wondering).
I rely on: my watch to tell me when I am gonna be late or when its time to eat
I believe: honesty is the best policy
I dance: not because I am good, but because it is fun to do with Sadie.
I argue: hardly ever. Usually about things that don’t really matter
I lose: car keys in my car & lock it.
I wish: I could sing & dance that’s some talent.
I listen: to music in the car, that’s about it these days.
I don't understand: math, I tried and failed.
I wonder: how much I should pay the squeegee guy who has washed my window the last 2 days.
I forgot: how old I was the other day.

I'm pretty sure Ryan knows stuff like this happens around the house, but doesn't mean he approves or do I for that matter. But it happens. So I might as well document it.

No pictures of her colouring on the floor. and lucky there is no longer any sign of it either.
I just love a kid that can tire herself out and just falls asleep all on her own.

what a whirlwind

It was a bittersweet day when we packed all our suitcases and left the city we love and came back home. We couldn't be happier to be back home, despite the crummy weather, minor fender bender, and yard full of weeds.

Ryan's last day of work. Pretty sweet view of the city from his building.

Sadie with one of our doormen. She loved them & they loved here. They always said hello, high fived, shook her hand when she came and went, oh and always opened the door for us.

I think we kept it together pretty good on our travel day. It was a freaking long day and we were all troopers and survived. Ryan doesn't look one bit exhausted?

I was not kidding about the weeds, they were BRUTAL and Unbelievable. It's lucky we didn't have a complaint, I guess we just earned the white trash title in the neighborhood. Honestly you really had to see it to know, or I should say you really had to pull them to know how bad it really was. This deserves husband bragging. Ryan did most of the work, I can't believe how fast he had the job done, it was ridiculous how big they were.

We came home to Canada just in time to celebrate Canada Day. So we were of course down in Raymond celebrating with family & friends.


Sadie who had been cousin starved for the last few months was rearing to go and got her fill of all of them. She did not stop the first day we got to my parents, honestly we were beat and she kept going, and going.

More cousin time in the tub

It was so fun keeping up with these two, most of the time.

Where is the hot summer days of Popsicles and sprinkles and backyard pools? We NEED you.


I stayed down in Raymond all so I could have a girls night with some of my favs. These girls are my true original GNO girls and I am so glad we are still doing it. It was soo worth it staying up way too late, and trying to function the next day. Isn't that what a girls night is all about? That is how you define a good girls night and a really good girls night. Thanks for the memos ladies.

I love that we forced Sadie to go to the Stampede. When we got back to Calgary she was a little sick, if you can't see. The Stampede only comes once a year and Ryan got 'free tickets' so you see we HAD to go. In hind sight I wish we would've passed on the 'free' Stampede tickets (it turned out they cost us much more than they were worth). We would've avoided the annoying Calgary traffic, missed hearing some choice words from Ryan, we'd be a few dollars richer and no car repairs on our car or the taxi we rear ended. (For those wondering Ryan was driver at the time.)
It wouldn't be a night at my parents if my Dad didn't take a turn calming and snuggling Sadie back to sleep.