we're back!

We're back from a fun holiday to visit our Auntie Faye, Uncle Andrew and cousin Maya. We had a great time.

Here are some highlights:

Playing with sweet Maya and seeing how much she's grown. She can sit up now and thinks her cousins are just hilarious when they juggle for her and entertain her.

Playgrounds:

We played at the playground at Burger King, the playground in Medicine Hat, the playground close to Auntie's house in Calgary and also the playground at the zoo.

Swimming:

Swimming and watersliding at the hotel on the way (and on the way back), swimming at the Hot Springs in Radium and even swimming in the backyard with Maya. It was very hot while we were there so it was great to be able to cool off.

The cabin:

They have the most amazing cabin and we had such a great time. The boys saw the mountains for the first time.

The zoo:

Gorillas, zebras, giraffes, lions, kangaroos, hippos, turtles, ostriches...

And now we're back, but we look forward to seeing them again next week when they come to visit us!

family time

It's sooooo nice to be on summer holidays, to feel more relaxed at the end of the day, to have time for some fun family times in the evening.

Like last evening....

happy belated Canada Day!

Rick and Matthew both have colds, so we didn't celebrate too much.

But, we were invited over to Grandma and Grandpa's for the annual Canada Day Cake!

Mmmm. And don't forget the Maple Leaf cookies too!

And by the way, yipppeee! I'm on summer holidays!

funny things

Mommy: You're funny. You should be a comedian.

Matthew: Ummm, yes.

Mommy: Do you know what a comedian is?

Matthew: Tell me.

Mommy: A comedian is a person who tells jokes.

Matthew: I think I'll be a cameleon... Do you know what a cameleon is?

Mommy: Tell me.

Matthew: It's an animal who tells jokes! (silly grin)


* * * * * * *

Caleb (at toys r us): Mommy, sprinkler. Buy it. Caleb's house. Pleeeeeeeeease!

Mommy: We're not buying anything today, we're just looking.

Caleb: Okay.

(2 seconds later)
Caleb: Mommy, pirate ship. Buy it. Caleb's house. Pleeeeese, mommy, pleeeeeease!

Mommy: No, sweetie. We're not going to buy anything today.

Caleb: Okay.

(2 seconds later)
Caleb: Mommy spiderman. Buy it. Caleb's house. Buy it. Pleeeeeeeeese....
(I think you get the picture)

second annual

This weekend was the second annual suziebeezieland Saskatchewan convention. Nadine and I met up again and I had a great time.

Here's what we did:

The boys and I picked her up at her aunt's house (which is exactly a two minute drive from our house. Really. It is. I timed it on our way home)

We took her to a scrapbooking store that is closing down next week so everything was 50% off!

We let her shop. (well, kinda. Matthew kept recommending interesting products to her and Caleb had a two year old tantrum because we left his soother in the car)

We went out for lunch and kept her entertained by telling silly stories and throwing toys on the floor so that mommy would have to stick her head under the table to get them. Oh and of course we looked at all the scrapbooking supplies that she bought!

We drove her back to her aunt's house and sang "If I had a Million Dollars" to her and pretended to see various animals in the back of the truck ahead of us.

Just your typical suziebeezieland convention :)

Thanks Nadine! You were such a great sport and so kind to the boys! We had so much fun!

turning four

Just some photos from the big four year old's busy weekend. The cake stayed together and the party was loads of fun :)

He started the big day with a banana muffin with a candle in it for breakfast.

A cool new bike from Mommy and Daddy!
Opening presents at Grandma and Grandpa's house (he got a cool scooter and some outdoor toys)
Playing outside that afternoon with the sprinkler and new outdoor toys.

Ice cream cake with the Grandmas and Grandpas (and uncle Mark)Then the next day was his pirate party. Everybody at the party was given a pirate name. Here's Captain Matthew Firebeard! Captain Matthew's brother, "Parrot-Got-Me-Eye" Caleb:Here's the amazing lego pirate ship that Uncle Mark built for the pirate party. I couldn't get Matthew to look at the camera for this. Can you blame him? Before the big treasure hunt, the boys had to decorate their pirate treasure bags with foamie pirate stickers. On the way to the treasure, they were instructed to decorate our driveway with some pirate-y chalk pictures.
X marks the spot (quit looking at my derrière!)
Finally... the treasure!And another shot of the cake! How old are you buddy?
Building with his logs (a gift from Grandma and Grandpa D.)Caleb is learning not to break every log cabin that Matthew makes :)Mommy needs a little snuggle with her big birthday boy.

Phew! And then we celebrated Father's Day on Sunday too! What a busy weekend. But so much fun!

hope

Let's hope this stays together until the kids come in a couple hours!

Arrrggg! :)

popping in

Hi!
Just popping in during the busiest month of the school year (I haven't worked the full month of June since 2002 which means I planned all my maternity leaves very well)

And if Chrissy happens to be popping in too, here are some photos to show you what we've been up to for last little while... (just kidding Chrissy)

Caleb, just being cute :)


You know that game where you throw the tennis ball and it sticks to the velcro? Well, this is Matthew playing that game. Honest, that's Matthew.



Just in case you needed proof:



Cutie Caleb again. His favourite things to say lately: "maybe", "of course" and the ever famous "no".



Cousins Matthew, Caleb and baby Maya


Matthew getting his graduation folder (there is such a cute story to go with this)



Even though he still has another year of preschool, he still had a graduation. Isn't he handsome?


And don't forget about the pirate party coming up next weekend. Yesterday, the boys dressed up as pirates and we hand delivered the invitations (the invitations are rolled up inside those water bottles) And yes, that is a tea towel on Caleb's head :)

ten on tuesday

1. Matthew's birthday is in a couple weeks and we are planning a pirate birthday party. Argggg! It's lots of fun! Anybody have any fun ideas?

2. We were blessed with a visit from Maya and Auntie Faye this weekend. I'll try to post some pictures soon.

3. I have been drinking (at least) one rootbeer float a day since Saturday night when I got the clever idea to buy vanilla ice cream and a 2 litre of rootbeer. Yummm.

4. Matthew's farewell for preschool is on Thursday. I think I'll make tarts again and bring them for the potluck.

5. I'm a little bit worried about weighing in at my weight watchers meeting on Thursday night (due to the rootbeer floats and cherry tarts)

6. Caleb's imagination is developing like crazy and he pretends his crackers are people talking to each other. And then he eats them. It's so cute.

7. We have a new computer! And it seems to be working!

8. I made these grilled chicken wraps for supper yesterday and they were quite fast and yummy. :)


9. Matthew was excited to borrow this book from the library today.


10. And Caleb wanted a pirate dvd and found this one. Arggg! (practicing my pirate noises)


Thanks for checking in on me! I'm predicting that I'll be quite busy for the next month or so, but then I'll be on summer holidays! Yippee!

if I had a million dollars...

You know that song, If I had a Million Dollars by the barenaked ladies?

Well, it has become a favourite to listen to in our car. And it has prompted some silly things to be said.

"Mmmm, a cake car. Mommy, can you imagine a car made out of cake?"

- Matthew, in reference to "I'd buy you a K-car"

"Haven't you always wanted a Mon-Keeee?"

- Matthew again

"Sausage song, sausage song"

- Caleb, in reference to "pre-wrapped sausages"

"Mommy, what's a 'he-mu'?"

- Matthew, not understanding the word emu

But the sweetest thing of all, was on Mother's Day, when Matthew told me a secret,
"Mommy, if I had a million dollars, I would buy grandma a new mom"

remember me?

Hello! Remember me?

1. I've been computer-free for almost a month (well, except for a few peeks at school and at my mom's) and I'm a new person.

2. Not really, but I do get alot more done around the house :)

3. I finished my cards for the card swap last week! Really, really early for me.

4. Don't ask if I've mailed those cards yet.

5. We have been having some very beautiful weather around here lately. Hooray for May!

6. Yikes I just realized I didn't even show you any pictures from the wedding last month. Well, actually I didn't get very many good ones. But here's one of the little ring bearer (Matthew) taking a nap between the ceremony and the reception. He had soooo much fun at that wedding.



7. Some other things that we've been doing are:

playing outside




and going to the park (sorry no photos)

8. We actually made butter one day too! (like shaking cream in a container. really. we did)

9. Today we went to a petting farm with Matthew's preschool. It was so much fun.

Can you tell that it was fun?

10. Caleb was so excited at the farm too! (he's been so shy lately) But he was talking like crazy "Hello cow! I Cale. You cute." It was adorable and he said it to every animal (the llama, the horse, the turkey, the sheep, the goat, the bunnies, well you get the picture)