Birthday Weekend Happenings

Yesterday was my birthday so I decided, since it fell on a Sunday, I would just claim the whole weekend as my birthday weekend :) I deserve it, right? Saturday I went yard sale-ing with Bridget and a good friend and 2 of her girls. I had such a nice time with no one around rushing me and begging to leave, haha. Found some good deals. Got a really nice wool jacket and books for me and the kids. I also found some really cool boy toys that I've put away for when the kids are driving me crazy! Nothing keeps them occupied like new toys.

Then while the kids napped I actually took a nap. Wow, so refreshing! Then Saturday night, Mom and Dad watched the kids (yay!! Thanks again!) while Kevin and I went out to dinner and a movie. We saw A-team and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. Lots of action, lots of laugh...really good movie!

We also made a trip to the Running Room to return a jacket Kevin had got for my birthday. It was really too green, like flourescent green. It was a bit too much. The funny part is that I have a green windbreaker that I wore out Saturday to yard sale because it started to rain a bit. When Riley saw me he said, "oh, Daddy gave you your jacket!" Umm...no... Oops. He really didn't mean to spill but Kevin probably shouldn't have showed it to him :) And, what's even more funny, when I got home from yard sale-ing I had a frame that I'm going to alter and Riley said something like, "guess you don't need that frame I got you. I mean, no I didn't. I'm just joking." Haha! The moral of the story is, don't tell your 5 year old about birthday presents! Anyway, I exchanged the jacket for one that is a coral colour (or, just pink as Kevin says) and it's a slightly different style. Should be in this week because they had to order it from another store.

Sunday morning was French toast for breakfast and supper at Mom and Dad's (lasagna, caesar salad, garlic bread and chocolate cake with boiled icing...YUMMY!!) I also had a visit with 2 of my best buddies, Amy and Emily and Amy's adorable daughter Isabelle (who Bridget just adores!). But the highlight of our day was a trip to a local trail/stream. We went to just take some pictures and let the kids play in the water. We saw a butterfly, some minnows and a frog, which Kevin and the boys had great fun trying to catch and then letting go and catching again. Poor traumatized frog. Then we found some tadpoles and Kevin actually managed to catch one in his hands! I was surprised and scrambled for something to put it in and came up with Riley's water bottle (which will be thoroughly sterilized!). We caught 3...one for each kid (they have named them Taddy, Maddy and Haddy, lol). They are in a bucket with some greens and a rock...ahh, tadpole paradise :) Hope we can grow them into frogs! I'm very excited, more than the kids I think. Fun experiment to start the holiday. Riley's going to journal the whole process. And the pictures we took yesterday and the ones to come will make for a cute mini album I'm sure! Here are a few of the pictures from yesterday:

Finding cool rocks with Riley

Smile!

Who's up there?

The rocks were a bit slippery.

Smooches for Mama!

Kieran felt much better going out into the water holding someone's hand. Big brother stepped in to help :)

FROG!

Petting the frog :)

Peek-a-boo!

Frogs are SLIPPERY!!

Got him!!!!

Are you a PRINCE??

Tadpoles! 3 of these little guys are at our house :)

Such a cutie!

Our beautiful, happy, CRAZY family!

Today it is pouring rain and it's the first day of outdoor swimming lessons. The kids probably won't mind, but it doesn't make for a fun day to watch them. Luckily I can drop Bridget off with Grammie and Grampie because she would be a handful I'm sure when she can't just run around and play.

I have some fun scrappy news to share but I can't let it out just yet...soon though :) And I can't wait to scrap the tadpoles, heehee! Have a happy Monday everyone!

Summer!

It's here! And my kids are old enough to splash in little pools and play in the sprinkler while I sit in the sun and read a book. It's lovely! I've spent a couple of afternoons like that recently. There are only 2.5 more days of school left so let's hope they can stay that happy :) The boys start swimming lessons next week which is good because they LOVE the water! Not sure what Bridget will do while we are there for an hour and she isn't allowed in the pool...gonna have to take lots of distractions with me.

Bridget is now pretty much potty trained. Number 2 is sometimes iffy though she did go yesterday and got to pick out a toy at the dollar store. Hopefully she'll keep it up. She wakes up dry everyday and at naptime too which I am thrilled about. I think we are done with diapers after over 5 1/2 years....can it be true?!

It's hard to believe that Riley is almost done kindergarten. I can't believe how much he has grown in a year. He's reading so well and he can pump his swing (thank goodness I now only have to push 2...), he's grown probably a couple of inches from the looks of his pants, haha. He just loves school and I'm sure after a week or two he'll miss seeing his friends everyday.

Kieran is his cute little self. There were a couple of days last week when he was just a little storm cloud but luckily the grumpiness has past. He's getting so big too and I'm sure would go right off to school with his brother. He loves sports and starts t-ball next week with Daddy as one of his coaches :) I think he's really excited..this is the first year he's old enough to do something like that and he's watched Riley play soccer for 2 years. He picked t-ball though I think he would be really great at both. Right now he's begging to play hockey so I better wrap this up.

Bridget just walked in and gave me a toy phone and told me it was Connie. So I start talking and then she clarifies for me, "it's pretend Connie." Oh...right, thanks :)

I have one card to share. I made this for one of my running buddies whose birthday was last week.

I also scrapped a couple of layouts last week but don't have pictures of them just yet. It felt good to do them though, it had been awhile since I did a layout.

Ok, off to play hockey! Have a great day all!

There's a party going on!!

And not just in my living room with Kevin and me playing Dance Dance Revolution, though that is fun as well. Ah, how exciting my Friday nights are... No, the party I'm talking about is a scrapping party over at Treasured Scrapbooking! Erin is having a surprise cyber crop this weekend!! Here's what she has to say:

I think it's time to celebrate! SOOOOOOOO, let's Spring Into Summer, Splash Into Summer, or Charge Stubbornly Into Summer!!!!! The weather here is just awful, we've only had a couple of sunny days, but I'm going to charge stubbornly ahead anyway!

I am holding a SURPRISE CYBERCROP starting tomorrow! There will be prizes and games and challenges!

The first challenge starts RIGHT NOW, though!

Go find some of your online scrappy friends who don't already hang out here and invite them to come play with us! I will do a prize drawing for the people who bring in some new members to the party! If the person was previously registered but wandered off, that's fine too. I just want a lot of people at this party.

The crop will go until next Sunday night, most of the festivities will occur during the weekend, but I might throw some surprises in here and there, and some quick challenges as well.

So, go get your shorts and sunglasses and flip flops! It's time to PARTY!!!!!!

Sounds like fun to me!! And I think I'll probably be able to fit in some scrapping this weekend. We've got a relatively low key weekend and my house is pretty clean. I'm thinking a few household things, maybe some painting and then lots of scrapping! Sounds perfect :)

Here are the cards I promised as well as a layout that I did awhile ago and just got around to photographing.

So, all you scrappy gals head on over to Treasured Scrapbooking and join the fun!

Oh, I have to mention....Riley signed his first yearbook today. I kid you not! Yes, he is in kindergarten. Apparently yearbooks are now a thing for all grades. I mean, really? I didn't order him one. I figure maybe in grade 5. It was cute to see the little girl ask him to sign it though and have him put his name in it. I wish I had my camera! Who knows, maybe I should have got him one, but everything just seems so over the top now...pictures for everything...every sport and activity, preschool, daycare, etc., yearbooks for every grade level. There's always something else to buy and a lot of it is a waste of money. I much prefer the pictures I take of Riley at soccer! Chances are, if he's anything like his dad, he'll be lucky to keep even his high school yearbooks. Kevin and I are quite opposite when it comes to sentimental things :)

Ok, a bit more dancing before bed!! Exciting stuff :)

Potty training, take....3??

I don't really know, I've lost track! Anyway, we're trying with Bridget again. It's hard when we're always on the go. Sometimes she's in diapers, sometimes in underwear. No wonder she's confused. I got a call last night from Kevin while I was at soccer with Riley that made me laugh so hard people were probably wondering what was wrong with me. I had been letting Bridget run around bare bum because she won't just go on the floor, she usually asks to go to the potty. Good, right? Last night after I left, she asked Kevin for pants. He asked if she had to go to the potty. He could tell she did, so he picked her up and as he was walking, she poops on the floor and Kevin WALKS IN IT!!! Hahaha! I know, not funny for him, but after all the poop I've dealt with over the years it kinda makes me giggle! So, he hops on one foot to the bathroom, puts her on the potty and washes his foot in the tub. I'm sorry, but if that's not a funny image, I don't know what is!

Oh, another close second is Kevin playing Dance, Dance Revolution. I told my friend Amy that he is freakishly good for a man of his size! Heehee! He is way better than I am! It's quite amusing to watch :)

I taught a card class at my sister-in-law's place last weekend. We had a great time and the ladies all created some beautiful thank you cards and gift card holders! They finished 6 cards in an evening (even the remedial table, haha!!). I had a lot of fun and was happy the girls enjoyed it! If the clouds would ever go away I could get some decent pictures. You might just have to settle for some bad ones later on :)

What post is complete without some pictures of my babies?

Oh, kids up from naps. Sigh. On to the rest of the day. Have a great Thursday! Weekend's almost here!

Since we last met...

I've become a runner. Well, at least I run :) I've been going out with a couple of friends and it really helps to stay motivated. Don't want to fall behind. I'm very bad at just going out by myself so I love having buddies to go with. The other night we ran 8.5K...phew!! I couldn't believe it and we were all totally proud and bragging the next day! We even went last night in a cold rain! Me, out in the cold rain. I am always freezing and don't even like to walk to my car in a cold rain, lol! But I did it and it feels awesome after (and even more awesome after a hot shower :)).

I promised some pictures of my latest creations. I realized, there aren't that many. I actually did a sweet album for Mom for Mother's Day but was too lazy to take any pictures. But, take my word for it, it was pretty awesome, haha. Here's some stuff I did take some pictures of...

The clipboard was a gift. I'm actually making 2 more as gifts and think then it will be time to make one for me :) I love them! I have at least one more layout I haven't photographed yet. If I don't need pictures for a challenge or an assignment I guess I'm very lazy about taking them!

And what post is complete without pictures of my beautiful children :) Oh, a quick Bridget funny first (I'm sure there have been so many more, really need to write them down when they happen). We were at my parents' house the other day and Bridget started running towards my dad and mom said, "Here comes trouble!" Well, Bridget stopped suddenly and turned around looking for 'trouble'. "Where trouble?" Haha...it was so funny!

Kieran's at kind of an uncooperative age for pictures :)

My reason for just letting the dandelions grow...how cute is she?

Bridget pretending to sleep in her big bed. She actually is sleeping in it now, but that night she went back in her crib because she wouldn't settle. Only took a few days to get her used to it though. She loves it and loves showing everyone her big bed. She gets so excited :)

The kids in the bouncy castle the morning of Kieran's birthday party. When they saw it all set up it was a little like Christmas morning :)

Hope you all have a great long weekend. I hear the weather is supposed to be great, yay!!

Just a good Canadian tune :)

OK, Jill, you have to recognize this now :) Remember it for next time you need to hum it!

He's 4!!

Kieran's 4th birthday was yesterday. Who knew he was born on Star Wars day....May the fourth be with you...ah, how cheesy :) He now also shares his birthday with his new cousin, Evan! Congrats to Adam and Julia!!

His birthday party was Saturday and I'm such a bad mother that I haven't uploaded any pictures yet. I do however have pictures of his cake (here ya go, Jill...isn't it totally skookum??)

He had a fun time at his party. We rented a bouncy castle and actually had it set up in our playroom for when they woke up Saturday morning. It was like Christmas :) We moved it outside for the party though. We were lucky to have such a gorgeous day. I refused to let anyone in the house, haha!

He had his 'special day' at preschool yesterday. Basically, it means we bring the snack and he gets to wear a crown and be the leader to wash hands before snack. Heehee! All the kids love it though and really look forward to their special day. Oh, I guess they sing Happy Birthday too :) I also took him out for lunch after for a Happy Meal and we picked out some books at the bookstore. The downside to all of this is that both Kieran and Bridget missed naps so the afternoon was not too fun. We had one of Kieran's favourite suppers...pancakes. Second only to hot dogs I think :)

And, ok...this may only be exciting for me, today he zipped the zipper on his coat. He's been trying for awhile but just got it today. I told him it was because he was a big boy now :)

Oh, and a little Kieran funny :) We were at Kevin's sister's place on Sunday for her birthday. I thought Kieran knew why we were going. Anyway, we were having the kids guess the adults ages (always a fun game, lol) and someone said something about a birthday and Kieran says, "Grown ups have birthdays too???" He sounded genuinely surprised...to cute :)

Since I don't have any pictures of the party yet, I'll share some cute ones of Kieran and Bridget. They actually called me into the playroom to take their picture. They're both sitting in a little green rocker together and knew Mommy would want pictures :)

Don't ask me why Kieran is wearing gloves. I can't remember, but he's probably also wearing shorts :)

More exciting news...ok, again, probably only for me...I went for a run last night. Well, more of a walk, run, walk, run, repeat, but it's a start :) It was nice to get some form of exercise other than vacuuming and chasing my kids around. Thanks to Liz for letting me tag along :)

I've been scrapping on and off. I was actually kicked off the island on scrap-ivor, lol. With all of the birthday preparations I didn't get my layout done in time. Still cheering on my team though!

Here are some things I've created recently but don't think I've shared on the ol' blog :)

Hmm...only 2 cards. Think some project pictures must still be on my camera too :) I'll have to get some pictures up soon!

Happy Wednesday! Half-way through the week, yay!!