Back to School?

Its been so busy around here we haven't had time to update the blog! September has just flown by with so much to do. It seems like even though none of us went back to school the back to school rush was here anyway.

Olivia did start back to swimming lessons and she really loves it. She is definitly a water baby. We have also had Ian's birthday where Olivia helped with licking the beaters.

Other than that we have just been busy doing around so I will just add some pictures for your enjoyment.

This is Olivia's picnic iwth Bunny and Mr. Monkey. She ate the "pizzy" while the others got toast!

Another Fun Weekend

The great thing about long weekends is that we all play hard and we all get naps! Yeah! Mommy and Daddy love that about the weekends, a nice little nap always feels great. Although I know there are many other things that need doing - house cleaning, laundry, cleaning up toys, etc - the nap just calls to me and all that other stuff can wait.

With that aside, we had a busy weekend just hanging out together. Saturday we played at the playground and helped clean the garage. That was a lot of fun for Olivia because she likes sitting in the cars. It reminded me of when we were little and mom would run into the store or somewhere and we thought it was fun to turn on the windshield wipers, blinkers, and radio really load so when she got in everything went off. It still makes me laugh to think of it and I bet Olivia will trick me with that too someday.

Sunday we had an adventure going to Butterfield Acres. This is a little farm turned petting farm and day camp for kids. Olivia really loves animals now so we thought this was a great place to go for her and she loved it. There were baby goats, sheep, pony rides, baby pigs, little rabbits and baby chicks. Lots of playgrounds with homemade swings and slides and then lots of little push toys and cars.
There was one little goat that was out of his pen and followed Olivia around. She really liked the little guy and fed him some food. We had a little picnic there and when we got home (after Olivia slept the long trip home) we played in the pool in the backyard. A perfect day.Today Olivia had fun in her pool with her little friend Trystan. And for supper we had Mexican food and she enjoys licking the salsa off the chip and then...double-dipping! Eventually she eats the chip but its the salsa and the guacamole she really likes.

Busy Girl

Olivia decided to try a little rearranging today. She emptied out her bottom drawer; I guess to see if she could fit in there. She lied down with her monkey and baby but it looks like little puppy got the boot.
This is Olivia playing night-night in her crib. Yes, she sleeps with ALL this in there with her, she likes to be cozy.
After bath time, mommy always get a little snuggle.

Babies in the Corner

Olivia and Sebastian had a great time together. Sebastian even shared his binky...I think he had no choice.
The Geisecke's head back to WDC today - we had such a great time together. We are all sad that the trip is over, guess we will have to plan another visit soon.

We have been having such a great time with the Giesecke's!! They got here on Friday last week and we have been non-stop since they got here. We had a great BBQ with friends, went to the zoo, shopped (everyone got shoes and Olivia learned to say "shopping"), and we went to Calaway Park - Calgary's answer to Disney! On a MUCH smaller scale.

We have had lots of backyard time and coloring time for Max too. It is so much fun with all the kids around. I know Olivia will miss her cousins. She says "Mas" when she wakes up in the morning and then calls out "Bassi" for Sebastian!

The babies had and LOVED the fudgescicles - most of it was on them instead of in them...

Sunday Fun at the Zoo

Today we went to the Zoo. Again it was a cooler morning but by the afternoon it had warmed up. We were there early so the animals were all out and busy moving around. Olivia likes seeing all the animals especially the ones that are in her books at home. Its fun that she recognizes them all.

Olivia carried along her new back pack with "her" stuff in it. She looked like a little scool girl!

There are lots of baby animals at the Zoo right now, so that was really exceiting for Olivia. We saw the baby Giraffe, the baby Tiger and a baby Moose. There is a brand new baby Elephant but it is still resting with mommy so we couldn't see it yet.

We met up with friends and Trystan and Olivia enjoyed running and playing together at the playground. Olivia - unlike her mother - is totally fearless. She went through the tunnel while mommy was a little nervous for her, of course, she came out squeeling with delight.

Its funny because she stays awake until we start heading for the exit and shes out! So again it was a fun-filled day and a nap in the car.

Saturday Wilderness Fun

The weather was cooler this weekend - which was a really nice break from the heat and then the rain we have been experiencing. So, Ian suggested that we go out to the mountains on Saturday for a picnic. Luckily, its only about a 1/2 hour drive to a nice little place called Allen Pond. So we packed up all of us - and Rascal too and enjoyed the outdoors.

Olivia enjoyed looking at the Elbow River which runs into the pond and throughing rocks in too.

The area is so beautiful this is my attempt to capture it in a picture...

Then we had a nice little picnic and Olivia loved it as did Rascal because he got some extra snacks too.
A walk by the pond and it was a great day. Of course the ride home was a great nap for Olivia and Mommy. Daddy had to wait til we got home for his nap.

We have been so busy around here! The summer is just flying by with busy weekends. Last week Olivia wasn't feeling well with an ear infection and those nasty i-teeth coming in, so we stayed home a few days until she was feeling better - well enough to lounge and have her feet up on the table! Mommy says, "no feet on the table" and then she just laughs and keeps doing it! UGH. How do you make it not funny? I haven't figured that out yet.We had a great play date with Marissa. They went on the slide and ran all around the play ground. Olivia really enjoyed seeing baby Carson and took a liking to his little feet.This is how Olivia is liking to wear her hat lately so she can chew on the ties. It is kinda an Aunt Jamima look!
A few little horsey rides and rests on Daddy and thats about all we have been up to this week. Trying to take it easy before the Gieseke's arrive next week! We can't wait for all the fun ahead.

I DID IT!! - WE DID IT!!!!

This weekend was the Weekend to End Breast Cancer here in Calgary. Way back in February I decided that I would participate and see if I could raise the $2000 necessary to walk in the July 2-day, 60K (35 miles) walking event. And, with the help of so many of you - friends and family alike - I did it. I raised $2300!!!! How great is that! THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING ME REACH MY GOAL!

Saturday morning I got up at 4:45AM (so did Ian) so that I could head off to the Stampede grounds to start my adventure. When I got there, I was a little scared, not knowing what to expect and if I was going to be able to do this - especially on my own. But then the music started and we started to stretch and get ready for the day. It was fun. The CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation talked and told us there was 2036 of us participating and together we raised $5.6 million for Breast Cancer Research in Alberta. AMAZING!!! Several participants walked through the crowd carrying a flag with all our names on it. And then the announcer said..."The Weekend to end Breast Cancer has officially begun!!!" and we were off!

The emotions I felt walking through those doors was overwhelming. I thought of the people in my life who have been effected by breast cancer, family and friends. The group of volunteers that would be our "crew" for the weekend stood there and cheered as we walked by into the morning sun. Telling us we were superheros! And as the tears welled up in my eyes, I thought I don't think I can do this! This is tough. And then I met Candi. Thanks to her, the day was a lot easier to get through. We visited as we walked, ate our snacks together and encouraged each other to keep going. Even when my feet were killing me and her hips were sore we kept moving.

(I didn't opt for the tent spend the night part, we all know, I am not good at that. And a good thing too because Ian rubbed that icy hot stuff on me and slept like a baby).

Day 2 was a lot easier, Candi and I had Ian drop us off and because we knew we were more that half way finished. We picked up another friend, Stephanie, and she was a great addition - cheerful and supportive! It was amazing the encouragement that we got from the community of Calgary. The people in the neighborhoods we walked through were out cheering us on, even at 8:00 in the morning. And some people had their sprinklers on to cool us off, or kids were out handing us freezey pops! The support was unbelievable.

We got to the end and there was a huge welcoming from our families and all the walkers that reached the end sooner. It was an emotional ending knowing that we had walked and raised money for such an important cause. And to know that so many will benefit from our weekend.

At the end we all walked into the Corral Arena to cheers. And as we all waited on bended knee, the women who walked as survivors came in. These women were the true superheros of the day. The ones who have fought breast cancer and won!

I think I will do this again next year. It was a great experience. Thank you again for your support, I couldn't have done it without out.

A Day at the Stampede

Calgary is home to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth AKA - The Calgary Stampede!! It runs for a week long and Calgary has lots of fun. You can eat a FREE pancake breakfast somewhere in the city every morning and there is lots of beef on a bun to be eaten as well. And most fun is the Stampede itself. For those of you from my neck of the woods, its like a great big county/state fair. With Grandmama here for a visit, we decided we better show her how much fun it is here in Calgary.

We all had a great time - including Olivia. The only thing we don't have pictures of is all the junk food we ate. Ya'll don't want to see that anyway! But we indulged on the corn dogs, cheeseburgers, polish sausage, and mini donuts. I guess thats not too bad, it could have been WAY worse, one thing they "featured" this year was deep fried coke. What will they think of next?

Merry-go-round fun for the girls.

Flintstone train ride for Daddy and Olivia was lots o fun.

We ALL enjoyed the SUPERDOGS Show.

Olivia got to see and pet lots of animals even this Brahma Bull!!

Yee Haw or Ya Hoo

However you say it - Happy Stampede!!

Wedding fun for all Ages

Olivia got to go to her first wedding on Saturday. Cousin Diane got married in High River and it was a wonderful day and a great party!

A little playing and running around is always good for Olivia. She got balloons, danced with the big girls and even played "Ring around the Rosie" with Grandma and the older little girls. She was having a great time. And she ate! Lots of cheese, watermelon and even a little bite of roast beef. But she really loved the cake, she had a full piece by herself!! And, then she borrowed shoes from a new friend she made who had some really cute shoes on. This may start to be a problem...lol!

She passed out in the car on the way home in her jammies and made it to bed by 9:00pm - which is late for her. And lucky for mommy and daddy she slept in today until 7:30! We should do this more often!

Just around the house...

Just hangin' around the house this weekend, Olivia was hamming it up for the cameras. Again with mommy's shoes - now shes a runner!

And a belly dancer. I bought her her own little hip scarf so she doesn't have to wear mine! Too cute. She runs around to make it jingle. Olivia also is starting to want to "help" mommy in the kitchen. Today, she helped me make muffins. What a great little helper she is. She was a little upset when they had to go in the oven, but we turned the light on so she could watch them baking.
A little spaghetti dinner makes a great ending for a Sunday.

Girls just want to wear shoes!

You can't say that children aren't "programed" to be like mommy or daddy. Lets just say, Olivia is like mommy. I think she has a thing for shoes...mommy's shoes that it!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Today is Canada's 140th Birthday. So we celebrate, around the same time as in the USA, our birthday with festivities and days off work!

This weekend we had company from the states - the Peelers were here Friday night for dinner - we had a great time visiting; and ShereeAnne was here Saturday and Sunday for a little R&R after her work trip to Vancouver. It was great fun visiting and playing. Olivia enjoyed all the attention and showing off how she can play "Ring around the Rosie", jump and dance.

We had brunch at Inglewood. The day was beautiful and the golf course was packed, but we just enjoyed sitting out on the deck with our Caesars. Olivia had fun watching people putt and smelling the flowers with Daddy.
We came home and blew bubbles in the back yard - I think that mommy and ShereeAnne had way more fun blowing the bubbles than Olivia. She just loved taking the wands in and out of the soap.

Then Olivia got the ride of a lifetime - and Daddy got the workout of a lifetime. Because once you do it once, its again and again and again...
WOW that looks like fun!