Shower Pictures

Thanks again Ladies!!

THANK YOU!!!

Thank you to everyone that came to Hayley's shower yesterday!! It was a fabulous morning..I loved how laid back it was..it was so nice to get to visit with everyone. You guys were way too generous with your gifts. THANK YOU!!! 47 days to go...yippee!!

Fox's Red Eye Show..

Ok..so I'm hardly a political activist..and only got involved so passionately in the past election because of my family now being so greatly affected by our relocation here to the USA. Typically I'd have voted for whomever my Dad told me to vote before..I trusted him..I trusted he knew what was best for me..and went along with it. As I got older and out of school and had programs and issues with the goverment myself as a professional (worked in daycare and with children who had special needs) I started to actually pay attention...then I moved..and now it doesn't really matter what I think..I don't vote here in the USA.



Anyway..this clip was pointed out to me of a Fox "talkshow" called Red Eye..a 5 minute clip where they mock, and belittle the Canadian forces that are over in Afghanistan..and those working hand in hand with the USA to keep our (BOTH) borders safe.

I did some research on the show..and found the wiki website to be pretty informative.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Eye_w/_Greg_Gutfeld

You can tell just from watching the show..they are a comedy show..satire..mocking..and any topic they get on would be mocked with the same stupidity as they do the Canadian Armed Forces..who hasn't joked about the Canadian Armed forces before?? Especially compared to the USA (larger population..more money to spend on Military etc)..everyone I know has told Allen if he joined the Canadian Navy he'd have to learn to paddle a canoe. I digress though..this show is on at 3am...and obviously their Neilson ratings prove that there is a reason this show is shown at this time slot..it is NOT a news show..nor is it the American VIEW..while I completely agree it is in total DISTASTE to mock people who are serving our country..your country..their country..any country..and the fact that people are dying..and while it did offend me to a degree..I can't let it get my panties wound so tight I can't focus on the real political issues..(which I just don't have the energy at the moment to post on here).

Basically my point being...the men on this show..are immature..comedians..with little journalistic experience. They come from Maxim and Stuff magazines..and Doug Benson was merely a contestant on Next Comic Standing..what more can you expect from them??

**Added after initially posted..why wasn't there this much uproar made over Obama's Special Olympics comment made on the Jay Leno show which has a much higher Neilson's rating..and was done by the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES..not a bunch of punks?? Obama is "allowed" to make errors in judgement..hrmmm..the people HE offended are people living with special needs..who can't help who they are..and who are sadly and unfortunately mocked..and have negative stereotypes that are extremely hurtful..this show..while mocking the Canadian Military..are a comedy show..at 3am..representing nothing more than the need to get viewers..Obama is the one the Americans elected to represent them..bigger issue..bigger fish..but why was it ignored and swept under the rug??

Where are they??

The Parker Princess birthday pictures?? I fully expected to have a full inbox today.. Are you that busy Lori?? lol ;o)

Happy St. Patricks Day

Highlights of the playdate:
*Finding Ireland on the Globe
*Learning about St. Patrick (he told Ireland about God and scared away the snakes)
*Talking about rainbows, leprachauns, pots of gold and shamrocks
*Dancing and Irish jig
*Going on a St. Patricks Day Parade
*Making rainbow necklaces
*Eating green jello, popcorn, celery

Thank you Carrie for a wonderful morning...

Pretty Tulips...

Pizza Party

Daddy was in charge of picking up something for dinner..I wasn't surprised in the least he went for pizza..but I was thrilled to hear him having the kids help him put it together..I shouted from Emma's room (I was cutting in) for him to take pictures..and that he did..check out the slide show below..they had a great time..and the pizza was YUMMY!!

**I've had to take out the slideshow to get rid of the music..hopefully one day I'll get around to making a new one without music.

Great Wolf Lodge

**Slide Show at the bottom of post if you don't feel like reading**

As most of you know we just got back from Williamsburg VA, where we took the kids on a mini getaway to Great Wolf Lodge. This place is AWESOME..and the timing could not have been better..Thursday was the first COLD day after a bunch of days of summer like weather. It rained on Friday too, so while we were in the bubble of the great wolf we weren't missing out on some fabulous weather.

We didn't tell them we were going until Tuesday night. We gathered them around the good old desk top and pulled up the website first. Showed them pictures, and what the room was going to look like. Then we pulled up a youtube video of the splash area, the crazy slides, wave pool, MagicQuest etc. They were in AWE..and knew they only had 2 sleeps until we left. The next morning the first words out of Emma's mouth to me were "1 more sleep Mom" she was doing the count down. Thank goodness we didn't tell them sooner. That might have got annoying.

On Thursday Allen was off..but we sent AJ to school for the morning. We packed up and cleaned up..and had a nice relaxing morning. Then headed off to pick up AJ. Once all together, we started off our vacation by stopping at Mi Casita for some Mexican lunch, then got on the road to Williamsburg. We pulled up and the kids (and us too) were amazed at the size of this place. It was HUGE. We pulled out our swimming bag and headed in to get our wrist bands so we could enjoy the water park before check in at 4pm..and to our surprise our room was ready. It was so nice to be able to settle into our room, get changed, and then head to the waterpark.

Once inside Emma who has no fear was off...the free spirited little girl went exploring. I lost sight of her a couple of times..which scared the heck out of me..so we then had to lay down some ground rules. AJ who knows how to swim..went wild..as expected for any 7 year old set loose in a room full of fun stuff. He needed a few reminders how that we need to pay attention the people around us. For the most part he was really well behaved. One minor video game mishap later, and he has learned his lesson.

Connor was surprisingly cautious of the whole thing at first. Held on TIGHT to Daddy or Mommy, and seemed almost afraid of the water. For the kid who LOVES his bathtime and would go headfirst into Lori's pool clothed or not..I was somewhat taken aback by it. It didn't take him long though to warm up to the idea of the water fun, and soon it was Daddy one way..and Mommy the other way watching our babies have the times of their lives. It was stressful at some points..trying to keep them coralled..making sure they are in your line of sight, but really I enjoyed myself watching them have fun.

We splurged and allowed them each to spend some money in the hotel. Emma chose a wand "like Harry Potters" and loved being able to make tress light up..animals wag their tails or howl all around the hotel. We opted out of the game part of Magic Quest..maybe next time. AJ unfortunately signed our room up for the Nintendo games..which of course comes with a fee..and that was what he spent his money on. Connor..well..we walked into the gift shop..and he went STRAIGHT for the footballs..he knows what he likes and likes what he got. He was playing with it in bed this morning.

We ate a FABULOUS meal in the hotel restaurant...it was a great buffet..and the caesar salad was to DIE for. Well worth the money. Considering we only stayed one night..I wasn't worried so much about the price of our meal..just the convienience etc. I really didn't want to pack the kids up in the truck and travel away from the hotel. Allen got himself some beer..and I ordered it to come in a funky cup that lights up. The kids LOVED it..Allen liked the fact that it was 22oz of beer, and refills were "cheap" to him. haha

We truly had a great time, and even though my camera took some crap (some nice) pictures..the memories in our heads will last a life time. We plan on doing it again..perhaps this time again next year, who knows. We'd love to do it with another family next time too..this time it was nice just the 5 of us though. We just thought next time..with a family and spending two nights..each couple could take an evening to themselves, while the kids watched movies in the room together.

This little trip was just the refreshment my family needed. It was so nice to step out of the ordinary and have some fun together.

Fun at the Park..

We went to Bow Creek Rec Center park today, and met up with our friends Miss Nanette, Katherine and Allison. Everyone was very well behaved and seemed to have a good time. I'm amazed at how much little Allison is talking these days. Full on sentences, and such a happy little toot. Katherine and Emma were off and doing stuff princesses do, and Connor was obsessed with the swings. My back hurts just thinking about having to lift him into the swing. It was another beautiful day here too..I think I got more sun..but I love the feeling of getting out of the house and actually DOING something. We had a great picnic lunch, and the kids ate themselves silly!! It was a GREAT morning.

Front of the house spruce up..

Spring was in the air..and seeing as Allen leaves in 2 weeks for 7 weeks..we needed to get to work..I'm no longer embarrassed by the front of our house. It looks clean and tidy (hopefully the grass will green up) and once those rose bushes bloom..it'll be beautiful..the roses will be my little project this summer..keeping them fed, pruned and looking stunning..I'm looking forward to the new hobby.

I'm not sure why Allen and I never take before pictures of the projects we do..but here's some of the pictures from when we were cleaning up and then done.

Enjoy.


Finally something other than weeds in the "triangle garden"..a Quince bush, and some tulips. I need more..but only so much you can squeeze out of a budget in a weekend. ;o) Stay tuned..once everything starts blooming..you'll see more.


Mulched the bush part of the garden..planted Rose bushes where the Azalea's were.


The whole view.


Daddy hosing down the dirt and rocks.


Emma and Connor playing in the water.

Lori's House..

Mommy - "We're almost at Lori's house"!
Connor - "YAY"!
Emma - "I'm going to be nice today Mom".
Mommy - "That would be great Emma".
Connor - "Lori's house..YAY!"

Slide show tells the story..it was a good morning..great morning..the kids were good, the company was good..and the chicken nuggets were FABULOUS!! Mmmm..

Chuck E Cheese Fun

Lori invited us to tag along with her and the girls to Chuck E Cheese. The weather was rough..but the drive was worth it. The kids had SUCH a good time..and we had the place to ourselves..

Again..thanks to Lori ;o) here are a bunch of pictures..enjoy..

I smell...

Over the last 24 hours Emma has been smelling EVERYTHING..last night after the kids were in bed..I popped myself a bag of popcorn..20 minutes later..Emma opens her bedroom door..

"Mommy I smell popcorn". ugh..BUSTED...

This morning..I was trying to surprise the kids with cookies after our trip to Target..until Emma shouts from the family room..

"Mommy I smell cookies". ugh..surprise RUINED...

And finally for dinner I threw in a frozen pizza for the kids..hoping to keep the kids out of the kitchen with the oven was on I did it on the sly..until Emma comes walking into the kitchen..

"Mommy I smell pizza". ugh..all 3 were in the kitchen right quick with that statement.