Summer Fun... WEEK ONE!

I truly hope to be a better blogger over the summer.  Honestly, I've promised myself that I will pick up my camera more often and capture this growing boy.  Sam is quickly leaving anything slightly resembling a toddler or preschooler stage and is becoming a very independent little boy right in front of my eyes.  It's awesome and remarkable and a little tiny bit sad all at once.  I count my blessing each day that I get to spend this last summer before he's officially a school-aged child with him.  I'm so lucky!

One of our fav family traditions is going to the Canada Day parade.  Airdrie holds a long, candy throwing parade and we get curb seats each year.  This year we went with Linc, Chels, Brady, Jen and Berkeley.  It was a beautiful morning!

Couple pretty cool Canadians!

The whole flock!

What else we love about celebrating Canada Day is the firework show.  Sam got to stay up SUPER late so we could go. He was quite a happy little man and the ice cream daddy found us definitely helped everyone stay alert.

Really awesome firework display.  I've never taken a pic that does the fireworks any justice.  It was a beautiful evening.  The fireworks ended just before 11pm and we packed up to head to the car.  Just then, we heard screaming from all around us... we were a little panicked until we realized the sprinkler system had come on at 11pm and people were being sprayed!!  It was really funny... we got a bit wet but the memory is awesome!

Sam and I had a mom/Sam date to see the How to Train a Dragon 2 movie.  We decided the next thing we needed to do was go check out the new komodo dragon at the Calagary Zoo.  We ran into this cool guy on our way...

That is a pretty awesome dragon face if I've ever seen one.  Our buddy was just chillin' right by the window so we got an awesome view of him.  He's pretty neat and the enclosure is awesome too.  I don't know how other komodo dragons live, but this seems pretty ok.

All this dragon watching was exhausting!

My joey jumped in this pouch!

My mom won tickets to the Calgary stampede parade this year.  The last time I went was when Sam was a baby and we went on our own.  First ever time riding the C-train on the busiest ctrain day of the year with a stroller and no real idea where I was going... needless to say, this year the adventure was a million times more enjoyable and so much more simple.  Here's Sam just playing in traffic (PS the road was obviously closed, I'm not a terrible parent!) !!!

Some awesome Gramma Bee time!

No real good parade shots but here is another one of Sammer on the road.  Can't beat a perfect road closure to allow for a Calgary Tower pic.  Handsome little man!

Sam has learned lots of little boy tricks this summer already.  One is tree climbing.  The acreage has the BEST trees to climb and they are right outside Gramma and Grandpa's house!!!  Sam likes to keep his helmet on 'for safety' and that's just fine with me!

The awesome skill he's acquired is riding a two wheeler.  Around and around the yard he drives for HOURS.  It's amazing.  Only one crash all day and no tears.  Happiness is a little boy discovering the freedom a bike can bring into his life.

Kaili had an awesome idea to build a tree swing.  She had a dream and Grandpa made it happen.  These two chilled in the trees for the afternoon.  Two peas in a pod!

Sam received his heavy duty trike a couple years ago.  With shorty legs there was no hope that he'd drive it for a long time.  Shaun pulled it out of storage and by the tips of his toes, Sam burned around the yard on yet another type of bike.  Mom even loaded him in the wagon in the back and drove it down the hill... though hilarious and fun, I'm grateful there are no pictures of that!

Happy Daddy Day!

A huge shout out to a wonderful man who is the very best dad Sam could ever ask for.  For Father's Day we joined my parents in running a race my mom helped put together in Rimbey.  It was an awesome morning and we were so lucky that Kaili decided to join us on the run.  Sam probably ran 4kms of the 5km and loved every second.  He's born to run, just like his dad!!!

We love you Shaun, every day more and more!

Christmas Festivities

Some highlights from a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Eve cookie decorating and supper with our dear friends Jen and Naoto.

We woke up to find Santa had built Sam a race car track.  Silly Santa forgot batteries so it was a little slow to play with...

Santa left some footprints!!!!  Can't even believe it.  While making breakfast Sam called out to me and said "Those prints aren't snow, they are sugar!"  Should have guessed my guy would taste test!!!  Little did Sam know that the snow in the North Pole is sweeter than here.
We drove down to Rimbey Christmas day and all my siblings were there with all their kiddos!  It was a busy crazy house but so wonderful to have Sam off playing with his cousins and some time to catch up with my family.

Boxing Day morning we helped Grandpa feed the kitties and we brought them their Christmas present.    Mommy loves those farm cats!

Then out to Granny and Big Bob's for our Boxing Day tradition.  It was so nice to see all my cousins, watch the newest generation play together and spend some time laughing through a wacky gift exchange!

Sweet Sequoia... I spent a good chunk of time winning this little sweet pea over.  I tea partied until she realized I wouldn't give up and just decided to join me!  Love her!

This was a little magic wand moment when the crew opened Auntie Brie's super cool gift!

Littlest love, baby Nixon, experiencing his first CRAZY Boxing Day on the farm.  Such a little sweetheart.

Another tradition with my family since I was a kid is that we go bowling Boxing Day evening in Ponoka.  The little guys all had their own lane.  I call this the "Gorilla".

'This is the "Kickin' It"

And lastly the "Floor Smash".

On the 27th we had Christmas with the Connolleys.  Firstly Roxy got her gift from Sam.

We are so lucky to have the BEST EVER tobogganing hill.  Grandpa fell off the back and speedy Kaili took off without him.

Super cool and super fast sled!

We bought Sam a snowboard for Christmas.  Shaun got a little tow rope with it so the first day Shaun pulled him back and forth without his feet in bindings.  Here is Sam getting his first Daddy lesson!

Coolest boarders on the hill!

Lorraine cooked the most beautiful Christmas dinner.  My tummy was so full that I was uncomfortable even in my stretchy pants!!

Two best buddies.  Kaili is the sweetest cousin to Sam... she is patient and fun and willing to spend hours listening to Sam chat about everything.  

My Momma and Auntie Bobbie.  Some of my family came out to the Connolley's on Dec 28th for some sledding and homemade chili.  It was a little cold, but hiking up and down the hill kept us warm.

Sam's first ever run down the hill all strapped in and super confident.  It was AMAZING!

My snowboarder.  I can just picture years of father and son fun on the hill snowboarding!

Love

This could be one of my favourite Christmas' to date.  So thankful for all the holidays brought my family... love, laughter, gifts, time, food and happiness.

The Connolleys Go to Mexico!

We had the gift of a family vacation this spring break.  We spent 7 days in the Mayan with Shaun's parents, his brother and our niece.  The weather couldn't have been more amazing.  The resort was OUTSTANDING!  I would recommend it to any of my friends (with or without little kids).  

Waiting at the Calgary airport to take the long flight to Mexico.

We arrived at our hotel 12 hours after leaving our home in Airdrie.  We took a little golf cart ride to our hotel room.

First day at the pool hanging out with one of the many iguanas we saw on the trip.  Sam loved them.  He even named the one that lived outside our hotel room.  He was originally named Crocodile but that got confusing so we called him Buddy.

First dip at the beach! SAND THROWING!!!

My favourite guys hanging out in the water.

Family shot!

Only a few short meters off the beach there was a school of fish swimming around.  Some people were feeding them bread and they were very tame.  We tried to touch them but they are sneaky!

My guys winding down after a long day in the sun.

Sammy up with the sunrise each day.

Kaili and Sam waiting for our turn to swim with the dolphins.

Kaili getting a dolphin ride.

Grandpa being pushed by the dolphins

Sam and Shaun getting the dolphin to poke out of the water and touch Sam's hand.

Dolphin kiss!

KISS!  He looks equally as impressed as his dad was!

Crazy pool kid

We went down to a little square where there were was shopping.  On the ride there Sam fell fast asleep and slept through our entire tour around.  His mean parents took the opportunity to pose Sam... hehehehe.

Sam got heavy so we let him snooze on the bench!

Sammy and Grandpa!

Gramma, Grandpa and the kiddos!

Second day at the beach... Sam's tracks in the sand.  Love.

Running loose!

Beach baby

This is Sam's Amigo.  Every day we'd visit him at the lobby of our hotel.  He'd call to Sam saying "Hey, it's my amigo!" and Sam would run over and they'd do a little handshake.  It was sooooo sweet.  It melted my heart each time.  While we were there, Sam developed what we think was a heat rash.  Sam's amigo was very concerned that it could be an allergy so he suggested that Sam drink so milk to counteract the reaction.  Without Sam's amigo (and all the other amazing staff) it would have been a completely different trip for me.  The people showed love and kindness that was above and beyond.

Beach at the Tulum ruins.  

My guys getting poked by a cactus.

Tulum.  Absoultely amazing and breath-taking.  Unfortunately it was sooooooo hot and we needed to spend our time moving from one source of shade to another.  Our guide told us much of the history and it was fascinating.  Worth the time if you are ever in Mexico (fyi-the world is not ending... I heard it in the Mayan folks!)

Sam finding all the 's' on the sign.

That is Shaun and I in the top right corner.  We saw 4 turtles while we were snorkling.  It was incredible. 

If you look carefully there is a sting ray on the bottom right under me... too cool.

Boy LOVING the sand.  Luckily Shaun's mom was lovely enough to stay on land with Sam while we snorkled (I did try to put flippers and a mask on him but it was a BAD idea!)

The Connolley clan waiting for the 'tram' to take us from one hotel to another.   On the 5th day we found out that by the time we waited for the tram to come we could have walked to our hotel... it was literally 200m away and we didn't know!  We wondered why the tram drivers looked at us funny when we asked them to drive us!!!

Hammock time!

Parrot by the pool.  

On the final day, Sam was using the tube and swimming all alone.

A final relax by the pool before a VERY long trip home.  Holiday of a life time.  So many wonderful memories... LOVE.