Birthday Fun!

Everyone makes jokes about turning 30... I have to say, it's been a breeze.  I spent my actual birthday with my two favorite people cruising in Vannie heading toward home after a wonderful week of camping and visiting.  We reach home and a beautiful friend has left a birthday surprise full of little goodies to get me through this new phase.  Then there was cake.... and it was perfect.  I got two super great cards from Sam and Shaun.  Both hilarious and endearing, nothing better!
The next day, after panicking and stressing over my camera not functioning up to par with a wedding that I was shooting quickly approaching, I received my birthday gift from Shaun... a new camera.  Yes, I know I know, no one needs 3 but I definitely LOVE having 3.  With that worry wiped from my mind and a beautiful new camera to try out, the weekend was off to a great start.
On the Sunday, we joined our very good friends for a birthday supper for me and Brady.  I love watching out three little munchkins all play together and I loved it even more when Uncle Bill joined in and took the title of being the biggest kid of all.  I just know these are people that will be forever and ever friends and that makes my heart happy (not that there was any doubt as Shaun has been friends with the guys since kindergarten!)  We had a great meal, an actual visit and another cake!

Is there anything more fun than a sprinkler under a trampoline... I don't think so!

Two little goof balls!

The kids are almost getting to be the same age as when these three men met... how crazy!

My final birthday celebrating happened on the following Tuesday.  We planned a big play date at a splash park in Calgary with all the cmac babies.  Our friend Patricia was in town and it made for a great reason to round up the troops and spend a little time together.

Andreas, Sam and Mac deciding if the water was warm enough or not.

The Z-Hansen's... love them and miss them!

Sam was splashing us so Sarge was giving him a little of his own medicine!  Hehehehe!

The beautiful Brazilians.

The whole crew getting ready to race up the hill.

Speedy shot of the kids before the ran (or rolled) all different directions.

We also had a supper date planned... little did I know that the supper date was a surprise party for me!  How lucky am I!?!?!  Lots of my fav CMac mommas, as well as some other ladies that I adore were there.  They even organized for some of my very fav former students (who are adults now, weird) to come for a visit.  It was perfect... balloons, cake, gifts, cards, laughs, food and drinks.  I'm a very lucky lady to have all these caring friends in my life.  I love them dearly and haven't quite wrapped my head around the fact that they won't be at my school in the fall.  They are the type of women that I'm glad to be associated with and hope that our friendships stay strong regardless of where we all teach.

So 30 isn't that bad, and truly 30 has been pretty frickin' great.  I mean, my early 20s were a lot of fun, probably too fun.  My late 20s brought Sam into my life and completed my family.  20s were wonderful, but the kick off to 30 makes me think that maybe my best years are still to come.  Thank you to my boys and my friends for the lovely few days.  You are the best!

Canada Day Parade

A little family tradition is to take in the Airdrie Rodeo parade that happens on Canada Day.  It's so nice to see Sam understanding it more and more each year.  He is also much more aware of the free candy and that his waving affects how much candy he will receive.  

I realize this photo is over edited, but it was such a cool moment on our walk to the parade.  Sam was busy pointing out fountains and butterflies and bridges.  We were almost to our spot when we saw this beautiful rainbow in the sky.  It hadn't rained this morning, so it was a little random and absolutely necessary to get a family photo with.  The original shot doesn't show the rainbow very well so I adjusted colours until it was easier to see.

Our favorite spot to watch the parade is also right beside the Farrell's favorite spot.  This year was no different.  Sam's good friends Payton and Avery joined us curb side to take in the action.

This year we were extra lucky because Auntie Lindsay and Logan came to sit with us.  Lindsay plopped Logan down beside Sam on the curb and the next thing we knew, he was giving her a little snuggle.  This went on for sort of a long time (maybe a couple minutes).  SOOOOO cute!  They definitely love love love each other.

And Logan then decide to return the love and cuddle Sammy back.  This took no prompting or pleading, this was 100% them.  I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it with my own eyes!

It was a great parade... lots of tractors, horses, cowboys, floats, RCMP and so much more.

It is quite a long parade, especially for two particularly cute kiddos who scored big on the candy.  Soon enough their attention was averted from the parade to the mound a treats on their blanket.  This is a little mini meeting about which candy belongs to who.  Soooo cute!

We also had a BBQ and a long play with our friends.  As we were getting ready to go to the fireworks a CRAZY rain storm hit.  It was like something out of a movie!  We thought for sure the fireworks would be canceled so we let our overtired boy head up to bed.  Just as Shaun was coming back down from saying good night, we heard the popping of fireworks in the distance.  DANG!  I guess we'll just have to find some different ones to see this summer.
Happy birthday Canada... I'm soooo grateful for the country I live in and all that it gives me and my family.

Some Highlights!

We've been having a blast in the last couple days as we get closer to Christmas.  Here are some of our highlights...


10 Days to go - Ginger Train Time!

7 Days to go - Westjet Kids Christmas Party

Sam sat so still while getting his face painted.  He asked the lady to make him a 'kitty'.  This was our very first stop (it's good to come to Westjet events with a game plan as last year we spent over an hour in a line up).

BOUNCY HOUSE!

Like a caged animal!

Quick break for lunch time.  Sam munched on a carrot and a bun... guess he was saving room for cotton candy and cookies that we ate later in the afternoon!

Sam gets his craft on!  Made a cute wreath ornament.

What an amazing Santa... really classy and magical.  The type that can make an adult believe again!

The party was held at Spruce Meadows.  We went on a tour of the stables to see all the horses and ponies.  The jumping horses were HUGE.  Sam LOVE LOVE LOVED them.  

Sam and I went into the petting zoo while Daddy took pictures.  Sammy couldn't even believe how great the animals were.  We petted goats and sheep first.  The sheep were very wooly and we liked poking our fingers into their fur.  Sam thought it was soooo funny. 

Funny pigs!

Big highlight was seeing Santa's reindeer as they rested before their big journey.

Day 6 - 2nd Annual PJ Christmas Party

The boys watching out the window for more friends to come... shy of each other at first but it didn't take long to be buddies again!

Payton and Sammy

All the kiddos in front of the tree after supper, a movie, hide and seek and tons of playing.   Shortly after this they broke into a CRAZY dance party.  There are no words to describe it!

The girls

Here's a photo for their wedding... that's right Uncle Bill!!!   Look at those sweet little interlocked fingers (and we didn't even ask them to do that!)

That car was a hour of entertainment... not a well known fact is that Santa actually travels by lowrider with air suspension while pumping music and rocking out with his reindeer buddies.
(Hilarious moment in the background of Sam and P smooching!)

I LOVE Summer!

Even on the very worst days as a teacher, a mere pause to think of the two glorious months off in the summer, makes things not seem so bad.  Well, my friends, those days are here.  And Summer 2011 has been a whole lot of sunshine and fun so far.  I love that my response to "what's new" is that I got a sunburn today... summer slows life down and has allowed me to focus on the best parts of my life and then things that make me happiest.  Nothing to complain about (all out of chocolate, that's a little disappointing) and excited to go to sleep because tomorrow is another day to look forward to!  I love summer!  Here's what we've been up to in the first week:
Canada Day...

Sporting red and white in tribute to this great country.  Sam couldn't get enough flag waving!

Sitting on the parade route right up front!  Perfect seat to see all the action!

In a parade traffic jam, the Mounties ended up stopped right in front of us.  Sam loved pointing at them and asking me "What's that?"  They toured through the crowd and shook the young peoples' hands wishing them a happy Canada day... pretty cool!

This beautiful rodeo princess waved right at Sam and said hello... ladies love him!

And you wouldn't have a proper Albertan parade without some loud, jacked up vehicle... it was our lucky day because this one was pulling a camper on monster truck tires!

 We had a huge afternoon nap to prepare for the fireworks display on East Lake.  Sam napped until 5:30, then we headed to our faux family's house for a delicious Canada Day meal and to visit and play.  We zipped home to bath and put on our jammies.  The fireworks were on the other side of the lake from the track and field bleachers... it was BEAUTIFUL.  Tons of people but also lots of space for everyone.  Kids galore and a really nice job on the show.  One of my favorite 'firsts' with Sam!

The sun is finally setting and Sam is wondering what on Earth we are doing outside.  We tried to explain fireworks to him, but it wasn't until he saw them that he realized what we were getting on about.

A little nervous at first, but it turned into a lot of "wow"s and "what colour is it". 

Loved it.  Definitely going to be a family tradition!

Love this little peach face!

On Saturday we headed into Calgary on a Vannie mission, but were sad to see that many shops were closed.  Shaun made a spontaneous decision to go to the Riley Park Splashpark and it was great!

My guys! 

Mom, I found a stick!!!!

Good old game of dump the water on the shovel... good times, good times.  Little tip to any future wading pool go-ers - bring a floaty or beach ball or something of the sort because EVERY OTHER CHILD has something and a stick and bucket are only fun for so long!

On Sunday, Sam and I headed back home for some good old family time.  We hit the farm and saw Granny and Big Bob (Sam's names for my grandparents), then some 'good times' at the Ponoka Stampede, over to my Mom's and then a tour around Paskapoo.

This was the only ride that Sam could do all by himself at the Ponoka Stampede.  There was an incredibly embarrassing ride we took together on a Bee (it's not made for kids my size!), a jumpy house, the merry-go-round and an enormous and borderline dangerous slide.  I ended up with a crushed ego, wet bum and the happiest little boy in the world... all in a day's work!

My Aunt and my Mom loving a day with Sam!

In the morning we went to Paskapoo Park.  A little treasure that one just doesn't appreciate until they come back to visit. Beautiful green space, playground, pond and little pieces of history.  Love it!

Sam and Serenity swinging!

Beautiful totem pole to honor the War Vets.  The picture does not do it justice.

A classic Rimbey shot... the Paskapoo pond.

Rimbey School - 1920

Peeking in the window of the corner store.  Lots of neat things to see.

A boy and a train.

I think he looks like his Daddy here... love this little face.

BIG step for a little boy!

Waving bye to Mommy!

Rimbey, home of the international truck museum (and a bunch of other cool old junk!)

Sam loved this old truck.  Pretty cool.

Auntie Brie and Sam checking out the barbershop.

Smiling sunflower also loves Paskapoo!

A sunny afternoon spent with the Gorday girls...

Sam's army guys took a dip with us this afternoon.

Love these two little characters!  Perfect sunshiny day with good friends... ahhhhhh summer!