Oh Wait... Where did September Go?!?!

Wow!  Time flies when you are having fun... it also flies when you are opening a new school in a position you've never been in before with all new staff doing as much as you possibly can to complete your to do list but somehow it is always longer at the end of the day.  All that said, I'm nothing short of incredibly lucky and unbelievably grateful to have been selected to be associated with this school.  Our name sake, our principal, the staff and the students are amazing.  It's inspiring to be part of this group and to believe that there is a reason that I'm the one taking this adventure.  I'm not even going to lie and say I haven't had a good old fashion cry or two... but I've been challenged to reach my potential.  Sounds funny, but I truly don't think I've ever had to work my very hardest every single day and come up with how to do my job the best it possibly can be done.  Every day is a first... first time with kids, first gym strip ever given out, first squads, first lesson, first injury, first athletic event, first goal, first assembly and the list goes on and on and on.  Each day I wander home absolutely exhausted, but so excited to return in the morning.  I do miss my friends from CMAC... soooo much.  However, they are wonderful people and I know they'll always be part of my life.  The good ones, anyhow! ;)

So yes, to say the least, September has been a little busy.  I want to reassure everyone that my time with my two boys has been fun and busy too.  I'm so blessed to have a supportive husband who knows and values the importance of the time I spend setting up my program at school.  We've done a lot of fun family things this month.  I'm not neglecting them completely... I promise!

Here are the highlights!

Big Hill Springs Park... we visit it each fall.  This is my new favourite photo.  I love these guys.

Heading out on an adventure.

This year was our first time climbing to the top of the hill (or mountain as Sam told us.)  It's a beautiful view.

Further along the path we found another surprise... a Tipi!  Sam was a little cautious around it.   I highly recommend walking the whole loop at this park.  It's not too far and I only had to piggy back Sam for the last 1/3 of it!  Mostly down hill.  Love it!

We spent an evening flying kites.  Sam got a cool super hero kite from Great Auntie Bobbi for Easter and we finally got out to fly it.  It was super light weight and great size for Sammy to fly it all on his own.  He was very proud of this independence and his skills!  Our other kite is quite heavy and I honestly don't think Shaun really trusts me to fly it unsupervised (joking!  Well mostly joking).   

"Green Batman" kite and it's biggest fan!

My guys with their eyes on the sky.

Cute photo opp!

My favourite little face in the entire world.  I can't help but smile looking at this squinty eyed boy.

SUPER HEROS!

We bought Sammy a ball and bat.  We took it to the park and knew in the back of our mind that we were probably setting ourselves us for a major melt down.  We were sooooo wrong!  The kid is a natural.  He can hit a ball that is pitched to him!  It's amazing.  Granted, he is the only 3 year old that I've ever watched play baseball, I still think he might be the next big thing on the diamond.  Like a mini Babe Ruth!

You can see the ball in between Shaun and Sam... Sam was cranking it!   And the best thing was that he wanted to chase his own hits!!  PERFECT!

After the Spartan race, Sam was certain that he needed a race sign for his daddy because he saw other kids with one at the last race.  So, I made one (Sam did the drawing to the right of the first go... it's a juicebox... I think he's a little bit of an addict.)  It was a HUGE hit at the 10km run that Shaun did in Canmore.  Sam's sign says "My Dad is faster than your Dad."  I thought I then needed a sign to carry that said "My kid is cooler than your kid!"  I may be biased though.

Pre-race... what a goof ball!

Post-race... so proud of his dad!

Another event we attended was the Twilight Festival in our neighbourhood.  It was a cool little evening event with bouncy houses and games and food trucks and activities and fireworks.  So many people turned up.  It sort of felt like one of those block parties that are only on TV or the movies... I loved it!

Giant bouncy house slide!

Shaun and I were judged more than once by the bouncy house supervisors for allowing (and insisting that) Sam  was able to conquer the giant obstacles alone.  There were a few times that I hesitated but Sam is a little monkey and could keep up to kids at least double his age (yes, I know that's only a 6 year old!)

This was one of the highlights for Sam.  They blew up with hot air balloon on the field of the festival.  It was surprising how large it actually was!  Sam couldn't even believe it... the hot air da-bloom!

Apparently I was sort of excited about the balloon as well!

Blooper reel!  

Two handsome faces getting pumped for the fireworks!

They released a bunch of paper lanterns on the little creek lit with candles.  They were super pretty.  Sam and I got reprimanded but a firefighter for being too close to the water in the dark... once again, not my finest parenting moment but it was real pretty!

We stopped at the doughnut food truck.  We each got a treat and we were certain that Sammy would only have a couple bites and not want it anymore.  Once again, we were wrong.  He ate that entire GIANT doughnut at 9:30pm... ooooppps.

Sharing, but not happy about it.

I was trying to get a shot of Sammy looking at the fireworks but the flash distracted him.  He also told me to stop "flashing him".  Just for the recording, it was the camera doing the flashing not me!!!

So excited for the fireworks.  They were beautiful.  It was a really good show with music and all!

The Best Summer... Ever!

Those of you that know me, know that by the end of July I'm ready to return to work and have grown restless waiting to be back in school.  Though I still felt that way this year, I found a way to balance that desire with enjoying each second of my summer holidays.  I spent my days in the sun either working on my laptop or playing with my boy.  I made plans that included more adventurous activities than my usual playing at the mall.  I enjoyed my friends and their kids.  I took time to appreciate that I have a wonderful group of friends.  A bunch of people that make me a better person, that I feel like I learn from and have grown with.  This summer I realized how lucky I am to be surrounded by women that unconditionally love me - good days and not so good days.  I guess it took the fear of all being apart to discover what I had.  This summer is full of amazing memories, great chats, wonderful surprises, delicious food and truly good people.  How on earth did I get so lucky.

Here are some of the highlights of my August.  We also enjoyed Butterfield Acres, The Science Centre,  Heritage Park, play dates at friends houses, bbqs, lots of pool time, tats with Tat, and so much more.  This is my summer to remember and I truly thank all those special people... you know who you are, I love you!

I love so much about this photo... dirty, soggy, silly, little boys.

Yanna teaches the boys about life.

Building memories.

This is pure joy.  Tons of giggles.  Can just picture them as teenagers...

Daddy's cheer squad getting ready for the Spartan race.

Our Spartan and his biggest fan

Shaun about to leap over the fire!

It's very hard to spot Shaun... he's running just in front of a man in red.  Very close to the front of his pack!

Dressed in all black at the tire pulling station.

The mini-Spartan needed to take his shirt off too... hahaha!

Now covered in mud (we couldn't see that station from our seat) here is Shaun climbing up and backside of the a-frame.

Sam was so pumped for his Dad.  Though he wouldn't let Shaun touch him, he thought is was amazing how dirty he was.  He tells people that Shaun placed the mud on himself... I just wish he could have seen how Shaun got so muddy!  

Sam donating money to the firemen!

This was a highlight for Sam watching his Dad get sprayed with the big hose!

Our third annual trip to the Dirty Bird Westjet event.  It's a fun night for the families to come in for supper and kid friendly activities and then they drive a plane in for the kids to 'wash'.  This is the side effects of Sam eating cotton candy for dessert... yikes!

Watching the plane drive in.

As the jet was pulled into the hangar, Calgary Fire made this water arch over the plane.  It was pretty cool.

Getting ready to squirt the plane.

Quick wipe with this mop-thingy!

And finally the hose!  Sam really wanted to wash the S.

Boy stuff!!

We spent a weekend out at Shaun's parents' place.  Sam has a new love for quadding.  He spent hours riding with Daddy and Grandpa.  Country is in his soul.

Picking apples off the tree.

Diggin' potatoes for supper!

Helping Gramma collect some more apples.

Reaching on tippy toes to get an apple.

Running with cousin Serry.

Oh the fun we had.  Even looking at these photos I smile thinking about the times we spent together with friends and family and the time we had as our own little pod of three.  I am so blessed.

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!