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!)

The Joy of Love - day 11 AKA SAM's Bday Bash

11 dreams

Dreams... I think Shaun and I were successful in creating (with help from my friend Stacey) the birthday party of Sam's dreams.  It was a Sesame Street theme (Sam's a big fan) and I think it was a hit.  Sam spent most the party wondering around in a daze.  Maybe it was because there were 14 other toddlers in his house or maybe it was because he couldn't believe how awesome it was!  I think it was probably a combination of the two, but all in all it was a CRAZY fun time.
Once again, I have to give kudos to Stacey.  She did many of the small finishing touches that made it extra special.  The ideas Stacey DREAMs up are amazing... seriously I think you should start making money off your talents, Stac!
We had friends travel from a long way to spend the day with us and never in my DREAMs did I think all the people I invited would be able to make it.  My sister and her little baby even came to take in some of the fun.  I think Brielle will DREAM beautiful DREAMs of her peaceful baby girl after seeing so many wild little boys!
Shaun gave me a hard time putting up so many of the birthday party photos... I narrowed it from 150 to my favorite 52 and then down to these ones.  Less is not more in this case, MORE is MORE.  Not sure, but there might be more added... :)

The party favors.

Birthday cake... definitely did not turn out exactly like we had hoped, but Shaun and I had fun making them.  Tip: If you want BOLD colours, go with gel dye vs dye drops.

One of the 5 stations: BIG BIRD'S BOOKS (complete with elmo beanbag chair and Sesame Street books).  We also had a ME LOVES COOKIES! station that was a very simple pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey style game; ERNIE'S RUBBER DUCKY TUB (pictures of this station are in this blog); ELMO LOVES HIS CRAYON AND PLAYDOH TOO (colouring sheets that I printed off the Sesame Street website which is amazing if your kids are into SS); and finally OSCAR'S TRASH TOSS (also with pictures below).

Party brought to you by the letter S and the number 2!

More kid treat bags, so cute.

Kids get to work colouring!

P trying to use her beauty to get that balloon away from Sam... 

Nate and Matty chillin' wondering where their brother is...

Oh hey Luc!  There you are!

Mac loving a game of balloon toss.

Parker goes for the jello jiggler.

Sam a little skeptical of his jello S... didn't take long before he was loving them!

So much like brother... Sam gets distracted and Smith snags the good stuff off his plate.  Swiper!  No swiping!  Oh wait, this is a Sesame Street birthday, not Dora!

Blowing out his candle.  CAKE TIME!

Jack went for it! 

Smith takes an aggressive stance on cake consumption!

Parker being dainty.

Lincoln not too sure about this cake...

Logan LOVES cake.  

Gavin dives it!

Bennett thinks the icing is the best part.

Sam takes his time.

Too cool!

Best idea!  Created a Oscar trash can out of a large tupperware bin and tinfoil.  All the gift wrap was thrown in the 'trash' after each gift.  Fun and helpful!

Party goes under the table.  Payton, Parker, Smith, Jack and Sam played under this table for at least 15 minutes.  FYI - my super handy husband built this table and it was perfect.  Perfect height and size for the kiddos to colour, play playdoh, eat and play under.  Perfect.

This is Ernie's Tub.  I envisioned kids taking turns with the little net fishing out rubber ducks and playing with bubbles.  My vision was WAY off.  It got CRAZY!

Back in the kitchen, sweet Baby S continues to sleep.  All day.  Seriously, alllllll day.  The loudest and craziest party in my tiny house and she slept through it.  Such a good little girl.

Ok, the tub was a hit.  It got way too intense for the little girls.  Water everywhere!  Soaking wet kids.  Smith even dunked his whole head in.  These guys take their ducky fishing seriously!

Parker returns with the net to try to show them how to do it right... thanks for trying P.

Couple photos out of place... its very hard to add things if you've forgotten them on this blog.  A couple more shots of Sam's buddies!

Logan stops for a water break!

I could take pictures of Avery all day.  Pretty little face.

Jack found the perfect seat.

Sam and Payton playing playdoh.  BFFs.

An attempt at a group shot... not only were the Alexander triplets missing, but Lincoln and Logan escaped and Jack HATES the idea of a group shot.  Meh, there's always next year!

Good bye friends... thank you soooo much for all the fun.  We sure do love you guys.

And as I crawl into bed tonight, I'll think about how two years ago I couldn't have DREAMed what Sam's second birthday would be like.  It's even more wonderful than I could have imagined.