Aging Country Style

I celebrated my 31st birthday on the weekend... quiet, cloudy country day.  Sam refused to have my birthday without balloons so we headed into Sylvan to get balloons and for a happy meal!  I got to snuggle a tiny farm kitten, took an afternoon nap and watched Shaun take the maiden voyage on the kayak.  Shaun's parents took care of Sammy's bed time and we got to go on a date (first time in... ummm... hmmm... way too long!) and then meet up with a dear friend for a birthday drink hillbilly style.

My best little man.

I just know that hours of my life will be spent paddling around this little creek.  Shaun says it's beautiful just around the bend.  Can't wait to check it out.  

Family

The best ice cream cake I've ever eaten.  If this is what being 31 is like, count me in!!!

Messy Munchkins

I had an awesome opportunity to volunteer at Sam's school for Messy Day.  I use the term volunteer fairly loosely as Jenny and Jodi had everything under control and I was mostly just a bystander for the morning.  The great thing is that I got to take photos and laugh A LOT!  I got there and they were having 'bug infested' jello!  The kiddos were digging bugs and snakes out of their snack with sticky fingers.  Little did I know this was only the tip of the iceberg!

Patiently waiting to check out Messy Day!  Watching the set up going on outside.

Jenny giving a very clean crew the rules.

And this is how it begins... slippery feet and funny faces!

Next step... bum slides... things started to get a little crazier and obviously so much fun!

Everyone slip sliding away.  I love the face of 'K' in the background... she looks shocked at the whole ordeal.  I'm sure my face looked very similar to hers!

Zombie hands!

I don't think they enjoyed this at all...

Oh Sam, you have a little something on your nose.

Messy Munchkins on the hill, ready to get back to play!

A very messy group shot if extremely happy kids.  What an awesome idea.  Who knew a tarp, some shave cream and a big backyard could be soooo fun!  Not going to lie though, one shower and a tub with TWO shampoos later and he still smells like a little old man!  All worth it to watch him and his friends have this crazy fun!

And this happy little face reassures me each day that he is in the very best school each and every day filled with fun play and tons of learning.  That he is growing up with sweet kids and having a blast doing it.  And each day I'm grateful for Jenny and her sisters and the work they put into ensuring that my boy (along with all the other kids) have the very best pre-school experience filled with CRAZY memories!  Each day I know Sam is safe, loved and having the time of his life.  Does it get any better than that?

Exploring Southern Alberta

This is the week of our annual family camp trip.  The trip was planned for a location in Alberta this year which would have been a nice close adventure... sadly Vannie's engine is still broken.  Well, that's not true... it's removed, parts rebuilt and a 'new' one is sitting in our garage.  So, truthfully, Vannie is currently engineless so we had no way to camp.  I'm absolutely not into tenting with my guys, it actually gives me the shivers just thinking of the three of us in our little tent.  For this year, we went for a day trip and because the campsite was only in Fort Macleod it was do-able!

I think one day this will make a great photo to show his future wife... yep, he liked to learn things the hard way!

Here is most of the crew (obviously not me, can just see Sam's hat in the back seat and Grandpa Trev's hand in the front seat) on the shuttle up to the Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump... rowdiest group I've even had to take on a bus before and I've taken a tons of rowdy bus rides! ;)

Sammy and Gramma Bee posing with the buffalo.  First one we saw... first of many... but it was really exciting!

Hey guys, wait up for me!  Heading out to the cliffs to take a peek!

My boys looking across Southern AB

Our herd (minus the Great Grandparents who stayed in the museum)

Sam listening very carefully about the buffalo jump and why it was used.  Very thoughtful little face.

Taking it all in.

Checking out the museum with Gramma B and the GREAT Aunties!

Bunch of bums.

Love this photo.  Sam is showing my grandparents the coin he made inside and teaching them all the things he learned.  So sweet.

More teaching and learning.  He's got them captivated.  Some of my most memorable summers were spent with these two amazing people.  They always have time for a tea or to hear a story or to tell a story.  They are a gift in my life... I am so grateful for them.

What would be a family camp trip without some crazy theme night!?!?!  This year was Bobbi's Bebop Burgers!  We had a chip buffet, listened to Oldies, the Aunties dressed in '50s gear and we had a muscle car race track.  Sam thought it was the coolest.  He's just about to race his down to cousin Maegan and Big Bob.

At the finish line!

Wet and Wild Sunny Days Sort of Fun

The way I organize my summer is that I do my very best to fill Sam's social calendar with all his/my long lost friends and on the other days I send him to school to play with his best buddies.  So far we've been incredibly busy and having lots of fun adventures with great friends.

A park pirate!

Splish splashin' at the Airdrie spray park with our buddy Sawyer!  He sure is brave for a baby in COLD water!

Sam waited and waited and waited for this to dump on his head!

Maybe the idea of the big splash was more fun that the actual water...

Baby Sawyer hardly a baby anymore... busy busy bee came for a nap and backyard play.  Needed a quick pic of these three pals all together!

On a different day this summer we invited some of the local ladies over for a pool party.  Lots of water guns, sprinkler trampolining and water sliding fun.  Oh and SNACKS!  Don't forget snacks!

Spencer heading into the cool watered kiddie pool.  I had to fill it twice with all the filling water guns and splashing!  Little bit too cold for our little buddy's liking!

Sammy and a herd of pretty ladies!  Not many pics were taken... the mommies were having so much fun chatting without having to intervene too often that we just enjoyed the sunshine, listening to all the giggles and some relaxed time together.

This summer has been so great and I'm only a couple weeks in... a parade, fireworks, 2 beach days, 1 splash park, a pool party, a birthday party, 2 hours of private gymnastics lessons (thanks Auntie Ang... that was awesome!), 2 awesome movie dates and a bunch of great visits with friends.  Summer 2013 has been just lovely so far!

Season One of Soccer Sam = Success!

Sam had a lot of fun at soccer.  It went a little long due to poor weather postponing the final games, but overall it was a really good experience.  And, I LOVE that I have his first ever jersey to hang onto forever... first of many!

Last day of soccer, Sam and his Dad having some fun playing pass.

Good form little buddy!

Soccer star and his little medal.  Mom and Dad are super proud of you!

Triple the Fun!

I cannot say enough about how much I adore this family.  I've blogged pics of my friends' triplets many times and every time we see them they are even more fun than the last.  We came to Red Deer (though Sam suggested we call it Orange Deer because that sounds better) and Stac suggested a trip to the beach.  Even though Shaun's parents live very close to Gull Lake and we recently purchased land by Gull, we've never taken Sam there... today was the day!  So a quick trip to the grocery store and dollar store and then we were on the road - two mommas, one daddy and four crazy critters!

Captured Sam and the triplets all in one shot!  YES!  This was an awesome idea that kept a pile of boys busy... a pond with a river to the lake.  Building houses along the bank.  Lots of great play time building this town.

For those of you that haven't been to Gull Lake, you can walk a km without the lake going above your knees.  I watched my little man chase a beautiful blonde quite a distance.  I realized he would probably follow her forever, I had to go chase him down... luckily this is the shallowest lake EVER.

Our long walk back together gave me the chance to remind him that Mommy is the girl that will always love him most and there is no girl that could ever possibly love him more.  Just kidding.... or not.... either way, he seemed to end knowing I'm his best girl!

Not only did I get to see the Alexanders but I also got to see another long lost friend and her boys.  These two mommas are so awesome.  Hands on, play hard, lots of love sort of moms.  And they have the best ideas... like covering as many boys as possible neck deep in sand.  AWESOME!

And this is the 5 minutes of calm that swept over Gull Lake.  :) 

This is how Sam spent most the day.  The dollar store water squirter was a major hit... soooo happy.

Thank you Orange Deer friends.  We love you soooo much and enjoy every wild moment with you.

Back Yard Fun!

Sunny summer fun in the backyard!

Sam followed this little bee around the yard.  They bumbled around together for 10 minutes or so!

Chalk on trampoline... fun and an awesome result!

Boy in a bubble!