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!

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!

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.