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!

Camp Sammy - Est 2009

Sam wished for a camping party this year.  So, we built a Camp-in party in our house and tried to scale down the craziness from the years past.  We had lots of fun as a family building and decorating for the party.  Sam wanted a craft, a game, a special cake and to have it in his house.  We did our best to meet his wish list.
I found this year to be the most challenging to capture on my camera.  A busy house, with busy kids!  Sadly I didn't get all the shots I wanted, but I know Sam loved it and was exhausted tonight for bed!  Here are some of my favs...

We used marshmallows to paint pictures of bonfires.  I made camping style rain ponchos (aka garbage bag) and the kids got to work.

Tiniest artist!

 We also played a game where the kids got to pretend scooters were boats and then they went fishing.  It was cute but hectic, I never even thought of picking up my camera.  After an hour of madness in the basement, we came up for lunch and a camping cartoon.  It was nice and calm.  The crew headed back down to chalk the floor and play some more.

Sam told us he didn't want a normal cake this year.  He picked out ice cream sandwiches... so we built an ice cream sandwich tower.  Holy WAY more simple than decorating cupcakes!

Smith helping with the card!

So lucky to have wonderful friends!

Happy camper!

Sam's absolutely wonderful GREAT Aunties who came and partied with us.  Love you both like crazy!

Just hanging out in Sam's new tent... backyard campout in the summer anyone!?!?!

Gorday sandwich!

A couple of buddies reunited and had a blast together!

My sweet camper!  He kept calling the outhouse the 'warehouse' so he was asking his friends if they were going to go potty in the warehouse!!!  So funny!

Goody bags for our guests.

Thank you to all the people that came to celebrate Sam with us today.  He thought his birthday was so much fun and it's all thanks to having amazing friends and family.  It's hard to believe that this little critter is going to be 5 in the morning...

Pre-Christmas Build Up!

I had wonderful intentions of blogging all our December activities as they happened... good intentions, no follow through.  So, I'm now reflecting back on the fun we had this month preparing for the holidays.

Sam wrote his own letter to Santa this year.  He needed help with the spelling of words, but did the rest on his own.

One of our adventure activities was to make a wintery breakfast.  Sam and Shaun made snowman pancakes with chocolate buttons of course!

Westjet Christmas party out did itself again.  While we waited in line we had a chat with Mrs Claus.  Very sweet lady, an obvious match for Santa!

Here is Sammy and his singing debut!  They asked if someone could sing Jingle Bells, his little hand shot up and the next thing we knew he was up on stage singing his little heart out.  I thought I was going to cry!  Click this link: Sam Singing to see him in action.

Santa and Sam just chatting about gifts and flying a sleigh and other guy stuff. 

We had out annual supper with our dear friends that Gordays and Daytons.  This year we chose to do a PJ exchange.  Pretty great for the shoppers but slightly disappointing to the kids... meh, who doesn't love a good pair (or two or three) of PJs!?

After supper and gifts we headed over to the Airdrie lights (I read today that Airdrie ranks 10th in Canada for Christmas spirit because of the festival of lights... kinda cool!)  It was pretty busy and the kids were pretty wild, so the visit was short but fun.

We went to our second annual Munchkin Academy Christmas concert in mid-December.  They are the best darn signers around.  A+ for volume especially during Jingle Bells!!!  Caedon didn't seem to love this tune as much as his buddies to the left of him. ;)

Not only cute, but hilarious Rudolf noses.  Love that little face!

Singing his little old heart out!

Wishing a Merry Christmas... Harper in the front thinks maybe they are too loud on this one too.  Haha!

Super cool finale, all the kids wore glow in the dark necklaces and Jenny shut the lights off.  They sang us Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in very gentle sweet voices.  It was beautiful.  Thank you Jenny and Mariah for this special gift of a concert at such a young age.  It's so awesome!