Easter, Mother's Day Run, Tball, Kite Flying and Other Springy Things!

Spring came in like a WHIRLWIND... I realize it's either supposed to be lamb or lion but neither fit the description!  We've had some really awesome family moments this spring.

We purchased zoo passes for this year and made it just in time to say good bye to the elephants.  They are heading to Washington to a beautiful elephant sanctuary... Sam and I agreed that just might mean we have to go there to visit them instead!

Love this boy!

Sammy woke up on Easter morning to discover a trail to his easter surprise.

We also went for our third year in a row to the Airdrie easter egg hunt.  It's such a cool event with more chocolate than a herd of kids could ever want!

This year we completed our 5th Mother's Day Run.  Shaun and I were up just past midnight the night before making shirts for our team.  Each year the run becomes a little easier to physically run and little more meaningful to our family.

This year we entered a team called 'For the Love of Sam'.  

Another awesome thing happened and my parents decided to come down and complete the run with us.  Thanks Mom and Trev!  We love you so!

Apparently my OCD about being incredibly early for everything combined with our really well made team shirts attracted a bit of attention.  As we finished taking our family photos, we got a pic taken by CityTV.  Then Global TV interviewed Sam and I.  It brought out a ton of emotion in me and when I pulled myself together, I found them interviewing Shaun.  Before we had even completed the race I got a text from a friend saying we were on the morning news!!!  I included the link to it at the bottom.  At the finish line we got a family photo taken by the Calgary Sun which apparently was on the front page.  What can I say... they were really great shirts!

Funny... Jen pointing out the 'Walker' sign!!!

Sam and the girl of his dreams having a post race snack.  He probably ran 2.5km out of the 5km.  At one point he was even hassling me that my run wasn't fast enough and probably not even a run at all!!!  Tough love.  I got my best person time and felt amazing at the end.  Well done team, well done!

I'm so grateful that I signed Sam up for T-ball this spring.  It's been so cute to watch and he really loves it.  It's been so much more successful than soccer was last spring.  Here's Sam having some batting practice (little tongue sticking out reminds me of my cousin Anthony!)

Juice break!

Handsomest third baseman in the league!

Sam received this airplane for his 4th birthday and we never really tried it too much.  We brought it out to the acreage this weekend and found out it is SOOOO much fun.  Sam chased it around the yard for hours!

If you ever need a little pick me up, let me know.  I'll share some sideline time with you watching Sam and his cousin Kaili together.  They are two peas in a pod.  She is patient with him and he absolutely adores her!

Not even I can deny that this little relationship isn't just the greatest ever.  Dang big dog winning me over... but seriously look at that face!!!

Hey Grandpa, who's your friend there!?!?1

YES!!!  Our baby tree survived the winter!  YIPPEE!!

http://globalnews.ca/video/1324496/news-hour-may-11-5/

Hopefully you can click this link and it will take you to our minute on the news.  Skip to minute 5:28.  Though VERY overwhelming, I'm so grateful that after all these years we finally got the opportunity to say how much the NICU and the staff there meant to us and I'm sure 1000s of families.

Happy spring everyone.  Summer will be here in a flash!

Being Grateful for Fall Fun on the Farm

As always we headed to Central Alberta for Thanksgiving weekend to be with family and enjoy the beautiful scenery of home before the snow falls.  With so much to be thankful for and fresh air in our lungs, we had a perfect weekend.

Thank God he's a country boy!  I love that we have a place in the world that Sam can be that he's free to be busy and dirty and discover baby kittens.  Somewhere he can feel the breeze on his skin while quadding with his Daddy.  Somewhere slow and quiet and fresh.  These are things that I'm so thankful for.

Sam found the last of the apples on Gramma's apple tree.  There were lower ones but it's more fun to have to jump for them.  The were no longer good for eating....

... but excellent to feed to his favourite fur friend!

Lots and lots of leaves.

Best of friends.  For those of you who have known me for years, you may be surprised to see my little man so close to a large dog (I'm not the biggest fan of big dogs).  However, watching Sam chat with her and watching Roxy follow Sammy around the yard, I've chose to trust that she loves this little bot through and through.  She is a silly mutt but an amazing companion for Sam.  As long as you don't tell anyone, I think she's pretty alright too.

Guess how many times that leaf pile was raked and re-raked!?!?

Awesome huge pile perfect for jumping in!

My fall boy

Content, loved, healthy, happy, smart, funny, beautiful, strong and confident.  I couldn't ask for anything more.

Look Out Summer 2013

After the craziest work year of my life, I'm ready to enjoy some summer time with my friends and family.  Time to reconnect with people that I didn't see enough of over the past 10 months, quality time adventuring with my boys and remembering to pause and enjoy the time off.
Summer '13 started like this...

This spring we did an awesome science experiment... we grew caterpillars!  It was cool to watch them grow over night and one by one build a chrysalis.  Soon enough we had 5 beautiful butterflies.  I was nervous to let them go, as they had become a real highlight for Sam to check out each day.  On release day, Sam took off the lid and as each one flew away he called out saying "Bye buddy, find your new home."

One of Sam's buddies. 

After the butterflies were gone, Sam took the chance to get an up close look at the empty chrysalis.  This kiddo loves science!

Content

HAPPY!

Patient

Curious and gentle

Proud

This summer has brought a lot of rain.  This storm brought the most perfect rainbow.

Peace

All sorts of Christmas'!

Finally home after celebrating and celebrating and celebrating Christmas!  What a wonderful time to be with family and catch up, share time and food, laughs and stories.  We are super blessed to have so many caring and fun people in our lives to spend all this time with.  

Christmas #1 Waking up at home to find that Santa had come right to our house!

Sam at the tree with his gifts ("Cheese")

Talking to his Santa... loves that guy!

Sam's 'DDD' from his daddy... skateboarding vid of course!

Ball tent from Santa.  Too much fun!

This was the most exciting gift of the season... Sam's very own skateboarder with a skateboard.  LOVES it!  Thanks to some wonderful neighbours!

Big boy gonchies with Oscar the Grouch on them.

By the look on his face, this car track could have been $700 and still worth the money!  

Christmas #2 Boxing Day at Gramma and Grandpa Kane's

Always plenty of fun to be had at Great Grandparents' house.  This is the look Sam gives me before he's about to do something dangerous...

AND JUMP!!!  That's right, he JUMPED off this recliner.  And the stairs.  Over and over and over.  Every time I had a look of worry on my face, someone (Mom, Aunt, cousins) remind me that this is exactly what we used to do in the den too!  I just don't remember any of us only being 1 year old?!?!?!

Cool ball from Great Auntie Bobbi led to a game of catch with Tony.  Big Guy (that's the dog's name) is ready to play too!

Annual tradition in my family is to go bowling.  The guy opens that alley just for our family and we play a couple games.  Always a ton of fun.  This is Sam's very first year bowling and he did soooo good.  He had his own lane and everything!

"Go, ball, go!"  And it did go, very very slowly!

The fam bowling it up!

Sam and his wonderful Godparents.

Sam and his Great Grandparents.

Sam and his Grandparents (my parents) and Kiki (that's what he calls the dog... dog's name is Houston, but Sam might think that he's a kitty.  Not sure.)

Christmas #3 Late morning visit at my sister's house to see my new niece (again) and my brother's kids.

Sam loves Baby S.  After 4 pictures he did say 'Baby S out', but I know he loves her!

Sam with Creig, Maeg and Serenity!

Christmas #4 Celebrating with the Connolley crew at Shaun's parents' house

Sam feeding Roxy her puppy cookies.  If he could do this professionally I think he would!  She is soooo sweet with him when he's feeding her.  He loves this dog!

Hand shake!

Waiting with Kaili for the snowman on the deck to inflate.  Big hit!

Sam with Connolley Christmas tree.

He got his very own Leaptop!

Sam with Kaili, Robyn and Chris.

Sam love love loves Uncle and Kaili.

Getting awfully close to bedtime but always time for one more picture with his Grandparents (Shaun's parents)

Our only family shot this Christmas.

Little Santa!

In the morning, Grandpa hooked Roxy to the sled and she pulled the kids around the yard.  If you knew Roxy, this would seem highly dangerous but she did a great great job!  Gord kept her on the leash and they ran around and around the loop pulling each of the kids.  Keep that up and Roxy and Grandpa will be super skinny by May!!! :)

Sam in the snow with Kaili.  Wasn't too sure about the whole situation.  

Playing on the snowbank.  He had so many layers on that he could barely move!  I LOVE the landscape at home... so beautiful!

Ended our Christmas-ing off with one sled ride with Daddy.  Though they only made it about 5 feet, I think that was enough for both of them!  There's always next year...

Lots of time with family, a beautiful and healthy baby girl, too much food, many laughs... perfect holiday.  How on Earth will we return to reality!?!?  I'm officially ready for 2011 and all the adventures it will bring!