Park Pics

We were at a neighboring park to take pics of a friend's family (which in return she took pics of ours!) and during the evening I took a handful of the girls.

Nothing fancy dancy, just a couple to tide you over until I can get the gi-norm-o summer post done. That being said... don't hold your breath! :) Sorry!

The Gymnast

If you've talked to Alia at all within the last couple of weeks you've quickly been told (within the first 3 seconds, I'm sure!) of her recent endeavor! We have one VERY excited little gymnast at our house! 

 On the way to her first class she said "Oh Mommy, I'm so excited I can feel it in my belly!!" We positively couldn't get her there fast enough!

Oh what FUN to watch your child doing something they enjoy, eh?!

Even though it was new, and different, and a bit challenging for her...

... she did great and had a wonderful time!

Let me tell you, if Alia could make every day Tuesday... than this little gymnast would be on cloud 9!

"Ahhh, Home Sweet Home, Papaya Parrot"

The exact words out of Alia's mouth as we turned the corner to our house! (She's quoting Strawberry Shortcake!) And yes... we're home!

I have mixed emotions... but it feels good to be a complete family of five once again! Unpacking... does not feel so good! After four days of steady unpacking and putting away, our kitchen still looks like this...

... and for those of you that know me, you know undoubtedly, that this is driving me CAH-RAZY!!!! But, one day at a time. At least that's what my husband keeps telling me!

 Between being gone for two months, a small house, getting the girls Christmas shopping done early (and needing to hide those presents!), the change from summer to fall, clearance finds, fall clothes shopping and three very EAGER "helpers"... it has just been a challenge to organize everything and put it in it's spot!

 The bright side in all this madness?! Caidrie's risk taking skills have had a chance to mature!

The boxes and laundry baskets piled high with clothes have done their fair share of keeping her entertained!

So who needs those Christmas presents after all, right!? :)

Summer Extension

Don't let my "silence" fool you! We've had a busy summer, a fun summer, a productive summer, and a connecting summer!

 We flew to Calgary the day Jon got out of school, spent the week with Jon's family, came back to Manitoba for a couple days to unpack/repack/get our bearings and then drove down to Ohio to spend time with family and friends!

I have hardly had a minute to blog (and sorry... I don't see that changing any time soon!) but wanted to let you know that yes, we still exist!

We are so grateful for all the family time we spend together... but will be in for a bit of a change over this next month! Jonathan will actually be going back to Manitoba (by train, of all things!) on Monday while the girls and I stay here for a bit longer! My parents have been building a house this summer and we are close to seeing them move in... so I will be assisting them, connecting with friends/family some more, and doing "normal" life!

(Yes, this is one of those quick pics with stained shirts, dried ice cream smeared faces, and confused baby looks! Just keeping it real!)

The girls are pumped about staying in Ohio for a couple more weeks... but are also realizing that if we stay here, and Daddy goes to Canada, than that means Daddy won't be with us! : ( So we will just take each day as it comes and will head back up north whenever we feel it's time!

I'll keep ya updated as I can... and when I find time to go through the 2500 pictures that have been taken over the last month and a half I shall try to post them! :)

Enjoy these last few lazy days of summer!

Life Trak : The Child-Rearing Expert

Just when we think we've got parenting all figured out... or for the self proclaimed "parenting expert" who has never had a child... Chuck Swindoll makes me smile yet again!! :)

http://www.insightforliving.ca/broadcast/lifetrac/LTCA0277

Big Shoes to Fill

I found this oldie hiding away from early winter in my "I should really remember to blog about this when I get a minute" folder and thought I'd quickly share it with ya.

Big Sisters = Big Helpers

Yeah... I'm pretty sure it wouldn't take me long to get used to this! :)

When Little Miss. Caidrie has a Will...

.... (and something intriguing in view) then she finds a way!

Until those darn dressers set up a road block. Then the will slowly takes a backseat and squeels for help take it's place!

Play Doh Pick Pocketer

  

Three sisters playing nicely on their own ... 

  

 until little sister notices something out of the corner of her eye.

   

Who me? Couldn't be!

  

But little sister couldn't resist ... 

 

and middle sister wasn't too keen on sharing.

   

 So middle sister quickly decided that one handed sculpting was the play of the day!

Keeping it Real

A borrowed tri pod and my wireless camera remote were being tested with the future intention of getting some nice candid shots of the girls and I. At the very least I should have put on some nicer duds and smoothed out my frizzy hair, but for now... you get an all too real picture of what our day to day life is like! 

Me - in my yoga pants and old T-shirt with no make up on and my hair still not done for the day

Alia - laughing at her sister trying to get her panties on while clicking away on the camera remote

Larren - bare bummed and trying to get her panties back on after a mad dash to the potty

Caidrie - trying desperately to get her little mits on the camera remote in Alia's hand while still in the sleeper she slept in

The next time Alia plays around with the remote we'll try to have the sun shining, the birds singing, the flowers blooming, and white frilly dresses on as we're skipping around an open field! :) Cause what Mom wants to look back and remember that she hasn't showered for two days?!? 

Just keeping it real folks, just keeping it real!

Random and Remembering

Did ya'll know that my WHOLE immediate family came to Manitoba for Christmas? (Yes... I mean the Christmas that happened 6 months ago!) That it was wonderful to see them? That we had 10 people in our small little house? And that 10 people in a small house can be a tad stressful? But that I still think about our time together almost weekly?!

Well, I never got to blog about it... maybe it's the whole having three kids spaced 3 1/2 years apart thing that keeps me a little busy. I dunno!



But it was good. And after a few days, it just felt right. 



Simply being together...

... cooking with all of us jammed into a little tiny kitchen
... waking up and hanging out with wild bed head and our PJ's on til noon



... riding snowmobiles around our "neck of the woods"
... story after story being read to the girls by their Gramma, Grampa, Auntie or an Uncle... only to be repeated by the next loved one "in line"

... having a crying, stressed, expectations not being met moment and my mom knowing what to say to make me feel better

... my dad & brothers making me laugh until my eyes watered

It wasn't perfect (as much as I wanted it to be!)... but it was fun. 

These are the people that know me. They love me, despite my many imperfections. They believe in me. And they want the best for our family. There's no reason to be anything I'm not with them around. Slowly, through out the week, I could feel myself start relaxing... becoming more "me"... more at ease. And in just one short month we shall all be together again! That little tid bit alone makes it easier to breathe, easier to bare all the busyness in the day, and easier to let go of the less important things in life.

*sigh*
(Insert a deep sigh of thankfulness here!)

ALL ABOARD birthday!

Our oldest peach pie turned four at the end of May, and I tell ya... it's hard to believe! FOUR! She's not a baby anymore. She's not a toddler anymore. She's a fun loving, kind, smart, caring, only-one-more-year-until-she-starts-school li ttle lady!

Since we are so suber uber creative (wink, wink) we did the EXACT same thing we've done for the past two years... we hung up streamers for Alia to run through as soon as she woke up!

So, we may need to break out of our box for next year... but the girls still get a big kick out of it in the mean time! :)

For breakfast we made "cake batter pancakes" (which did NOT taste quite like I had hoped!) in the shape of a big ole' 4 with "icing syrup" and an extra dose of sprinkles! Our breakfasts are not usually like this, I assure you!

And a bit of fruit for some added sugar!

Our day was pretty normal, with an afternoon "trip to the spa" (a.k.a. our kitchen!) for a mani/pedi with the birthday girl and a sister of her choice! Which just so happened to be the sister that wasn't taking an afternoon nap!

Daddy surprised Alia with her "very own" slurpee when he came home. By "very own" I mean that Jon asked for an extra cup and poured a little bit of his in there for her to enjoy! :) We spare no expense, can ya tell?!

Alia's birthday package arrived from Auntie Erin, Uncle Josh, and Gramma/Grampa Waldman just in time... and we had one VERY excited little girl to open it!!

These gummy butterflies were an instant hit... as you can tell but Alia's very full mouth! 

We had Alia's request for supper and were joined by some of our best friends, Aaron and Charm (with baby Wyatt!) as they passed through on their way home from vacation!

We ended the day with some cookies & cream cake and one smiling, happy birthday girl!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We still wanted to celebrate with our "adopted" family (since we celebrated with our local family when we went to the farm) so we planned a little Gordon themed birthday with them! 

"What's a Gordon birthday party?" you may ask... well, essentially it's a train party. Gordon is the # 4 engine in the Thomas and Friends series... and since Alia was turning 4, and since Gordon's the strongest and fastest train, she thought it would make a wonderful backdrop for her party!

So I made a train ticket for the invites...

... painted a big Gordon poster as the focal point...

... high jacked some pieces from the girls train table to use for decor...

... and hung up some streamers and balloons to make it a little more party-ish.

It was simple, simple... but fun none the less!

See, here's Thomas... who's usually the star of the show...

... and here's Gordon... who got to have the spot light for a little while!

Alia was the train conductor, of course...

... and greeted all the "passengers" with a *toot, toot* on her train whistle and an "ALL ABOARD! Watch your step... you made it just in time!" as they entered the "train car!"

We had lasagna, salad, and garlic bread in the "dining car" and then had a train themed cake for dessert! 

Once again I did not make this cake (I know, I know... my mother of the year nomination was lost a long time ago!) but for $12 (with a coupon!!) I just couldn't even compete!

Alia was THRILLED, as I'm sure you can imagine!

Since our house has not grown (sadly enough!) we decided to just open gifts in the basement since it's the biggest "room" we have!

Once again, Alia was super duper blessed by all sorts of fun things!

And just one last pic to keep it real! All of our passengers... in the most unfinished,  least prettiest part of our house! Good thing they weren't paying first class dollar for this leg of the journey!

All in all we had such a wonderful time and the conductor said it was one of the best train rides she's had yet!

(I've never fully shared our train story from last summer... but I can attest that Alia's right!!)