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!

Halloween Fun 2011

Holidays just keep getting more and more fun, the more Sam understands.  I love how he brings the magic back into holiday traditions that had lost their flair.  We took him to Boo at the Zoo for his third annual trip.

Scooby Doo at Boo at the Zoo!

A must stop, the lion den

There were a bunch of stations in the main grassy area.  One was dancing... here is Scooby jump jump jumping!

Though hard to see, Sam got to colour a marshmallow.  Big hit, big big hit!

My boys... I love them.  Sam has this super exaggerated smile... silly!

Auntie Angie stopped by and we made candy apples together.  A MUST as a new Halloween tradition.  Honestly, I might work them into every single holiday!

Time to enjoy!

When I saw this photo, I knew I had to post it.  It seems Sam got his exaggerated smile from me.  Just good genes, I guess.  Exact example of why I'm usually on the other side of the camera.

Parker stopped for a treat.  They decided to pose behind the bush.  Funny kids!

First ever trick or treat adventure.  With the guidance of Lincoln, Sam got the hang of it.  These two were super cute.

Taste testing his goodies.  What a fun fun night!

One of my favourite moments was when Sam turned around on the neighbours deck to tell me "Mom, I said you're welcome!"  Trying very hard to be polite, but we just don't quite have the hang of it yet!  We told him to know loud on the door, so he went up and with the softest knock yelled "BANG BANG BANG, knock loud!"  Love this guy!

Westjet Lunch at the Zoo

Today we spent the entire morning at the zoo.  Checked out the animals... we were there super early (about 8:45am) and all the animals were getting up for their breakfast.  It's a great time to go because it's not busy and all the creatures are very lively!  My fav.  It got very warm this morning, but luckily we were attending a WJ event where we had lunch under a tent and got to meet Sheldon the Tortoise.  Lots of fun!

Learning about Sheldon... he was found on the side of the highway!!!    He's a lot speedier than you'd think!

Sam got the chance to touch him!

June Days...

Been a busy month... just feels like there is so little time to pull out the camera and capture the fun we have.  That is until Shaun bought me a new camera.  I thought I loved my old one, but this has brought it to a whole new level of love!  


Working boy...

The seed whisperer

Planting our tiny pumpkin patch... cross your fingers for us.

Sam hard at work watering Mommy's new flower garden.

Who is who at the zoo?

Seriously, how great is this sign!!!

Sam herding turtles!

Sam bravely wanted to talk to the peacock and got VERY close.  Mommy was busy trying to get a good shot and didn't realize how close he was!

When babies attack!

Easter Long Weekend

What a perfectly long weekend to spend with my boys!  Easter this year was one of my favorite Easter's so far.  Both Shaun and I had Friday off, so we got 3 full days all together and got up to all sorts of fun.  Sam did not acknowledge the idea of an Easter Bunny, especially if you compare it to how interested he was in Santa this year but we had good time nevertheless.  Here is an account of our Easter 2011!

Kicking off Easter weekend with Smith bringing a treat to have on Thursday.  Mmmmm.

It seems we spend every holiday with our buddies at the zoo!  On Friday, we spent a sunny morning at the Zoo Eggstravaganza.  It was a beautiful morning and we got there so early we got to watch all the animals having their breakfast.

Nemo!  Nope, not exactly but at least he knew Nemo is a fish!

Baby Gorilla and Sam have a heart to heart... always our favorite stop!

A little Easter fun, as we pit stop to colour an Easter Egg.

My favorite little face.

Nothing, I repeat nothing, beats a bouncy house!

Another cool station was planting a seed bomb and then decorating the cup.  

Here's our bunny cup... darn it, I thought I might look more excited about this thing than him and this photo is proof!

Chillin' in the butterfly enclosure.  No butterflies but lots of cocoons.

Checkin out girls...

And this is the face that proves how badly Sam needs to wear sunglasses outdoors.  We call it the Pirate!

After nap on Friday, Sam woke up to find out the Easter Bunny had stopped by.  He found a pile of eggs and a clue!

First clue led him to the dryer and he found a new toothbrush!  

Another clue led him to a pile of eggs and a DVD...

The ball tent held some stickers and another clue!

Somehow Monkey even got stuck watching over his new bedtime book and a clue!

After a few more clues, finally it took Sam outside to find his new sand box.  Instantly in love!!!  Such a little boy - loves diggin' and scoopin' and dumpin' sand.  Probably hours of my life will be spent beside this box this summer!

We had gymnastics on Saturday and then made the drive to my Grandparents' farm for Easter lunch.  Sam immediately found himself a buddy in this farm cat.

Back inside to play with the chicken from Granny.  It lays Easter Eggs... Sam at them all.

Two beauties!

Auntie Brie and Kal made a really cool Easter Egg hunt outside for Sam and Colton.  Lots of eggs to find alllll over the yard!

Great Auntie Bobbi got Sam a glider!

Favorite photo of the weekend.  Love everything about it!

Race... Dad is in the lead!

Emptying out all the goodies from the egg hunt... WOW!

Sweet little family... heart!

For Sunday, we again found ourselves in an intense Egg Hunt.  This time at Gramma and Grandpa Connolley's.

Egg Hunters!

One of the cool things that Kaili did to make the Easter Hunt special for Sam!  We sure love her!

Final stop, GOLDEN egg with a little chick inside!

WOWOWOWOW!!!

Roxy catching snowballs on our Easter walk.

Sam throws some snow for Roxy.  Hard to believe it's the last weekend of April and there is still this much snow!!!  Hopefully a few more beautiful days like today and it will be gone for a couple months.

Hiking up the hill with Gramma and Grandpa.

I love rubber boots!

My two favorite guys again!

I don't think this photo gives you even an idea of what sort of a climb this is.  Very steep, very long and Shaun did it running with Sam on his back.  Beyond impressed.  Honestly, I wished he was carrying me up it!!!

Boys!

Connolley guys

Another highlight of the weekend...
Gramma Bee gave us two tiny pet frogs for Easter.  They are soooo cute!  We tried to think of names but Sam only wants to call them Mom and Dad.  Mom and Dad are very happy and adjusting well to their new home.  I was placing them up on the shelf and heard Sam yell to me "No mama, Bam's grogs!"  He loves them!  No good pictures as of yet, but there will be!