A Fantastic Fourth Week!

Sometimes when I least expect, I have great moments that remind me I'm incredibly blessed in this life that I've been given; seeing the rewards of my hard work, spending time with people who are good to their core and make me better and exploring this world with a couple of really awesome guys.  Does it get much better than that?  I think the answer is no.

Sam and sweet baby Nixon.  He's the cutest little man and just a pile of fun.  We took a road trip to my hometown to visit my cousin and this sweet little boy!

No matter how hard I try, I can't come to Rimbey without a pitstop at Roger's.  Hard to believe that this been 14 years since I worked here!!!  All the good stuff hasn't changed a bit!!

Before getting on the road, we took a quick scooter ride to burn some energy.  Though there was a fairly major crash, he hopped back on and continued down the road determined to get to the canola.  So happy he's got that little bit of country in him!

The Iron Horse Train Park was open during the week, so we went for a very sunny ride.  It's a cute little adventure and super cheap.  Wish it was open during the week all summer, I think we'd be visiting a lot more!  And, since I caught Lindsay in my picture, just a little shout out to a mommy that works hard to give her babes the world.  Always with a watchful eye and kind heart, she approaches parenting from a place of pure love.  It's been wonderful to have many mini dates with the Gordays this summer, time flies with a tea and great company!!!  

This picture represents freedom to me.  My teeny tiny baby is smiling DOWN on my from the top of a ridiculously high play structure with nothing by pure joy.  He's no longer teeny or tiny and he's definitely not a baby.  Reminder that one more month and this little peanut will be a school boy... oh my...

I was given the very best birthday present EVER this year... we woke up at the crack of dawn to head out on a surprise overnight adventure to Victoria.  A quick 1 hour flight and we were on our way to the AMAZING Butchart Gardens.  If you are ever on the island it is a must... sooooo beautiful and a little slice of heaven for this plant nerd.

Looking down on the hidden garden with my two favourite people and a tea in my hand... perfection.

Popcorn pitstop!

Totem and Sam

Sam loved watching the bees.  They must have been at least as happy as me to have stumbled upon this place.

So happy!  32 is pretty awesome!

Found a little lookout to peek at the bay.

There is something about this photo that makes me look to the future.  I look at his little muscles and wonder what in the world they will do, where in the world his feet will go, who his eyes will meet and who his heart will melt.  

We headed to main street Victoria and found out there was a street performer festival.  Pretty cool chalk art!

Live statue!

LOVED this cute water taxi that we took from infront of the Empress Hotel to the Fisherman's Wharf.

Ice cream date on the Wharf!

It was pretty hot and Sam said "This is the best ice cream I ever had.  Maybe even in the whole world."

We stayed at the Oak Bay Hotel and Spa.  It was gorgeous.  So beautiful and well kept.  Not ideal for a crazy little 5 year old, so the poor kid got hushed by us the whole time.  We went for some fun in this awesome pool and mineral hot tubs.  They were right along the ocean, the view was amazing.  

Pongo the Teddy photobombed this picture of our room!

Early morning wake up to look out at the ocean.  We are ready for the last part of our adventure and to travel back home.  Such a beautiful place, really makes you think about how many breathtaking places there are in Canada and how few we actually see.  I look so forward to my next time being wow-ed by the beauty of our country.

Quick pitstop on our way to breakfast to climb some rocks.  Love these guys!

Pretty close to perfect.  Couldn't ask for much more.

A second pitstop to get right down to the ocean, skip rocks on the water and adventure in the tide pools.  Lots of mussels, crabs, wriggly worm things and slimy plant life.   Pretty good exploring!

Made it our final destination... a cute little Belgian waffle place.  A HUGE scoop of ice cream on a waffle for breakfast, that's pretty lucky!

Huge fail but so stinkin' cute!!!  Love this weird and wacky little boy.  I can't imagine traveling without him!

Thank you to Shaun for making my birthday special and rejuvenating me just when I was starting to miss work and the hustle and bustle.  I love you to the end of the earth and back.  My 32nd birthday is going to be a pretty tough one to beat!

Warm Week Three!

My little turkey meets one sweet chick!  Butterfield Acres with the Rishaug ladies!

This was my favourite pit stop.  Sam picked the odd chick out as his fav... love it!

If I've ever complained about being a little hot, I will never EVER complain again after watching this lambs and sheep trying to beat the hot summer heat.  Yikes!

Sam got to have a pony ride!

Love bugs!

What a long awaited visit with a woman I just love.  Aynsley is already an incredible mom who inspires me to look for the unique qualities in Sam and embrace them.  She views the world with an open heart and finds beauty and humour in it all.  She has the most amazing smile, driest and most awesome sense of humour and is truly a beautiful soul.  Thank you for waiting this long for me to finally really meet your babe, I adore her and agree that she will be nothing less than an awesome human being.  PS... I think she loves my Sammy!

Sam and I went for a hike at Big Hill Springs.  It was awesome... we got there to be the first car in the lot and had the whole trail to our selves.  You know what that means... PHOTO OPPS!!!! :)  I have a picture of Sam sitting on a log in this stream as a toddler... oh how times have changed!

I tried to get his picture IN FRONT of this waterfall but by the time I was ready to take it he had already scurried to the top.  At least he paused for a moment up there!

This smile and perfect scenery pretty much sums up how wonderful our morning was.  I think the trail is a 2km loop.  We went up a steep part, had a snack at the top, hiked through the forest, found some teepees Sam is certain are real, visited a special name and returned to a lot full of cars.  Beat the rush and had lots of fun doing it!

We took these 3 monkeys to the zoo to check out the Canadian Wilds.  Stork siting!

Bear hug!

Ahhhhhhh! 

I told Sam to look scared and Logan to look determined... I got bored and incredibly happy... regardless I pretty funny pic!

We headed to Bentley for the weekend.  Spent a couple hours in town having lunch, playing at the park, touring a cool bike shop and visiting Gramma at the Farmers Market.  It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon.  We we got back, Sam got to actually drive the tractor.  No wonder he LOVES it out at the acreage!

Mom LOVES pictures with canola.  There was a big storm rolling in so we went to check out the sky (really it was a trick to get him out by the field!!!)

Sam wanted his picture with Roxy-dog!  Bestest buddies.

He switched spots to cuddle in front of her and she took the opportunity to give him a GIANT kiss!!!

Live is good.

The Fun Continues.... WEEK TWO

Another action packed week in the life of summer time Sam!  It's hard to believe him and I have spent 16 days straight together and for the most part have had the very best time.  I was secretly worried and dreading a WHOLE summer with Sam to myself; thinking I wouldn't be able to keep him happy and me happy for two entire months... that we'd get sick of each other and need a break.  And then I realize the last full summer we had together he was just a baby and I had just completed the most challenging year in my teaching career.  Five is wonderful... he's funny and smart and independent and lovely.  I'm so blessed and so proud to have this time with this little man.

We spent a morning at Calaway Park with Karen and Sawyer.  The sun was shining, the lines were very short, life was good!

Oh jeeze... I picture 15 years down the road... these two monkeys behind the wheel of a real car... YIKES!

Now that's an awesome mom... I'm making sure to pause this summer and appreciate the amazing moms I have in my life.  I let life take over during the school year and forget to work hard on these important relationships.  I love Karen... she has boundaries, yet knows how to let Sawyer be independent.  She know all about having FUN!  She talks to him like he's grown, but in the next moment she sits with him in a puddle while waiting for us on a ride.  Karen has been one of the most influential friends in my teaching career.  She has helped me realize who I want to be as a teacher and that what I believe is important is worth fighting for.  She is always honest, but with only the best intentions.  She has gifted me this same relationship in the mom world too and I'm grateful every day to have her in my life.

Who loves the ferris wheel?  We do!!!  High five!

Terror and joy all wrapped up in one sweet little face!

We got to spend a morning at Mac's lake this week too.  Mac and Sam played in the sand and water, roamed the playground and then had their butts kicked by a couple Brazilian kids in a game of soccer.  It was a great morning!  For me, selfishly, it was a long overdue visit with Robyn.  She is a person that I can relate to so well.  We go months and months without seeing each other and then when we do it's like no time passed at all.  Robyn is a tell how she sees it kind of girl, with a heart of gold.  I cherish our friendship, her parenting style, our similar love for teaching, her selflessness... I'm so happy to have this woman as a friend.  

Beach boy!

A hot morning we filled the pool and then by afternoon the water was warm.  Sam loves loves loves to splash!

VEGAS BABY!   We had an awesome mini-trip to Vegas this weekend to be with our friends as they got married.  The night before the wedding we went to Tournament of Kings (if you have young boys this is an AWESOME pitstop in Vegas) and then hit up the arcade.

Sam's viking helmet from the show... Uncle Bill wore it most of the time!!!  

Take a bus... NO, take a cab... NO, rent a limo bus to drive us 3 blocks... HECK YES!!  Though Sam looks as tired as I felt, it was a pretty cool ride back to the hotel.

My handsome boys waiting for the beautiful bride to arrive.

Post-wedding (sorry, no sneak peeks, the couple hasn't seen the pics yet!).  Two beautiful faces that I just adore.

Bam!  Classic wedding jumping picture!

Nothing like a post wedding dip in the pool on a 40 degree day!  Only wedding I've ever been to that has pool time between ceremony and reception!

Dining at the Paris - Mon Amis Gabi.  DELICIOUS!

Lucky boy snagging a quick snuggle with the bride!  Chelsey is another mom in my life...  She works hard to balance love and discipline, to give Linc the world without spoiling him.  She is patient, consistent, determined and her love is unconditional.  She is a friend that shows genuine interest in our lives, adores Sam and completely understands that somedays are a little more emotional than others.  I value our friendship and I'm so happy to have her in this 'sisterhood' with me.

How many kids do you think can say the got to climb up the leg of the Eiffel Tower this summer!?!?  I know at least two who loved it!

Nothing says wedding night like a quick on the street shot with Bumblebee!  Only in Vegas...

Teaching Sam the art of photo bomb... I'm sure that's going to come back and bite me in the butt!

We spent our last morning in Vegas at the Shark Reef.  I said "Quick, Komodo dragon face!"  Nailed it!

Just petting some stingrays.  You'll have to ask Sam sometime about the one that climbed the wall and jumped up at me.  Hilarious and terrifying all at the same time.

Look at this rag-tag group of resting tourists!!!  Love these guys!

Couldn't leave our Vegas hotel without a couple sweet flamingo shots.

A flamingo momma and flamingo Sammer!

Now that was a memorable week!!!  It's going to be pretty tricky to top that one.  Two weeks in and six to go... wonder what fun this week will bring us...