A week of Birthdays

This week in October is always a busy one for us.  We have both Braiden and Blaines birthdays.  We started off the birthdays last Friday.  We headed up to Calgary and went to the temple open house.  It is beautiful!  And I have to put a shout-out to my amazingly talented sis-in-law Candise who worked on the temple for months.  She worked on the decorative painting on the ceilings.  The gold paint of the wheat and roses and other things.  I'm not describing it very well at all, but all I can say is that she did an amazing job!  Oh to have that talent!

After the temple we met up with Blaines mom and sister at the zoo.  We haven't been able to get there this summer so we were so excited to finally check out the penguins!  They are very cool - we all loved them.

Here is Braiden checking out some of the penguins.

We always have to check out the dinosaurs.  If you notice the lovely sign that tells you not to climb on the dinosaurs.  What a bunch of law-breakers we are eh?  :)

Checking out the gorillas.  Always a favourite

Caleb and Emily watching the big gorilla.  Caleb just loved the zoo.  He loves animals, so every animal brought on a lot of excitement. 

We went into the building that housed all the butterflies.  At first I was a little hesitant, but in actuality it was very cool.  Here is a picture of a HUGE moth that was in there.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  It was massive!!

We stayed in Calgary that night and then the next morning was Braidens birthday!!  First thing of course we had to do was open presents.  Always the best part of a birthday right?

A very happy birthday boy!

Later that day we met up with family again and went bowling - Braidens choice.  It was a lot of fun.

After bowling we got to meet up with some more family at Boston Pizza.  When I asked Braiden how his birthday was he answered "Best Birthday Ever!!!"   haha

I think this picture is hilarious!  He looks like a devil child.  We took this the night of Braidens birthday so I figure it's ok to put in.  Besides, I just love it...can't help it....

Today is Blaines Birthday!!!   We absolutely love this guy - he is the best!

He got off work this morning and came home to a very excited little boy (ok, and wife) all ready to give him his presents - Caleb was still sleeping.  It also made it exciting because we hadn't seen him for a few days; but that is an entirely different story

So here he is opening cards.  Braiden waiting sorta patiently for him to open everything.

We have "the" present for Blaine but it is one of those presents that he has to be there to help choose.  So we had to get him a couple presents that he could unrap on his Birthday.   Or you just couldn't call it a b-day.

Opening up his couple of presents.  He really liked his presents (which always makes us happy too)  He was so pumped about the level.  Kinda funny - oh the things that make people happy!  His actually went missing a few years ago, so he has been wanting a new one ever since.  

We are so lucky and blessed to have these guys in our family.  They are amazing people and we love them so much!!!

Happy Birthday Blaine and Braiden!!!

planning ahead

Something that I have to do everyday that I'm not a huge fan of doing is making supper.  It is one of those things that I just really don't enjoy doing; and what I actually dislike even more is the whole "what am I going to make for supper tonight?" which always happens around 4:00.  Awhile ago my oh-so-awesome Aunt Ros had posted about how she had made some freezer meals for the week and how easy it was to do.  I have done this before, but the last time I did it was right before I was about to have Caleb, and I did about 7 or so.... I think....  So anyways, I decided that I was going to plan out a day and get a whole months worth in the freezer.  

So I sat down at the computer and found a bunch of recipes, went shopping then got to work.  My original plan was to make 30 meals.  After searching my brain and the internet for meals I ended up with 26, and I figured that was just going to have to do because I really was sick of searching.  

It was awesome.  I made sure that Blaine was home so that I didn't have to worry about the kids, and I have to put in a bit of praise in for my amazing hubby.  He made sure that I barely even saw the kids, and that I was able to just concentrate on getting my stuff done.  I couldn't have done any of it without him, that's for sure.     

Here is a pic of most of the meals I made.  I only had 6 left to do!

I love that all I have to do now is go into the freezer the night before and pick what we are going to have for supper the next day.  

I already have it planned to do another freezer meal day next month and this time it's gonna be with my mom.  Best idea ever!!

** As a side note - while I was doing the cooking I remembered that my sis-in-law did this once a while ago.  I probably should have talked to her before doing this... next time I'll be calling you Candise!

Strong Kid

To begin with I have to write that we have known for some time that Caleb is quite strong.  He has got this death grip that is insane!    And now to jump to something else (it will all make sense later)  we also have this cupboard full of movies.  And what else could bring more joy to an 18 month old than a whole bunch of dvds to open and destroy?  Can't think of anything.  In order to keep the movies safe from his little hands, we use one of Blaines ties to tie the handles together so the doors can't be opened. Caleb tries quite often to open them, and can usually get it open enough to try and reach his hand in to grab one.  Today he accomplished much more.  

He broke the door!!!  

If you look close the hinges are still attached but the door is actually broken!  Crazy!  We were so shocked, all we could do is laugh.  I think some strong man competitions might be in his future...

A first

Today was the first day of grade 2 for Braiden.  He's getting so big!  To say that he has not been looking forward for school to start would be an understatement.  I'm pretty sure that there are not to many people who completely loved school - except for my mom of course....  I do remember for me that I was always at least excited for the first day, and then after that it seemed to loose it's appeal for the rest of the year.  But not my kid, this morning he even said that I should homeschool him; until I explained that he would still have to do the work, just not get recess with his friends!  He decided he would go to school.  haha  

Unfortunately I did not take the best pictures of him this morning.  Here he is though - ready to go to school.

Later this afternoon just while we were doing our regular home stuff, Caleb was walking around drinking from his bottle.  Soon I saw him lie down on the floor so I went over to check and this is what I saw.  

How cute is he?

Last of the summer updates

This is the last of the catch up blogs.  It's a lot of pics of all sorts of things we did during the summer.  

A couple pics of playing at the park at Henderson.   I love these couple of pictures. It's this little cup looking thing that spins around.

Here is Braiden spinning...  Then trying to stand up...

                           And lastly - landing on his butt!

 Caleb playing on another spinning contraption, which had ropes that you could climb up as well.  I don't get the whole wanting to spin thing.. I have always thought that they are the worst.  But the boys seem to love them.

One afternoon we hit up the Birds of Prey centre.  I had not been there since I was young - and it was with the Chicago cousins back then too!

Here we are about to feed the ducks.  I know you can't see any here, but there were a bunch of them.  Caleb especially loved them - he kept chasing them and tried to jump into the water after them.  He is starting to get quite the fascination with animals, and mainly with birds.

The ones who wanted to, got to hold an owl.  It was pretty cool, and Caleb got to pet the owl.  

At the little indoor centre they had a big open room.  Perfect for little guys to run around in.

Here are Caleb and Kent running around - Caleb thought it was great fun to run after him.

This summer my brother got a new trampoline, and so he gave the old one to my parents.  It is a huge hit with all the kids.  And it's always that much better when you have a sprinkler under it.

Braiden and Clarke jumping

We had to make sure that the smaller guys got to take a turn as well.  So they could have it all to themselves. 

While we were in Banff we stopped for a bit at the hot springs.  It was a little pool that was BOILING! I know that is the whole point, but I'm not much of a hot tub person and am done with them pretty quick.  Also we were expecting something like that is at Fairmont, but it was just this little pool.  Oh well.  Lesson learned...

A couple pics of us camping.  It was a pretty nice campground, except for the poor tenters.  they had quite the adventure, and Mother Nature was not kind to them at all!

The kids up to something at the campsite.  They seemed to always find something fun to do.

On our way back from Banff we stopped at the Kananaskis village for a little bit.   Just so we could stretch our legs.

All the kids posing for a picture - and mainly just trying to appease us adults. 

 Blaine and Caleb by the pond thing they had.

This is what Caleb usually looked like when he was by the water.   He just couldn't figure out why we wouldn't let him jump in.  The kid can't go by any water without wanting to dive right in.

Braiden and Tyson climbing on some more rocks

Braiden striking a pose 

 Caleb actually not moving!  This only lasted about 30 seconds...

So there is the end of the summer updates.   This past week I really have felt like the countdown was on for the end of summer.  Here is just hoping that winter stays away for awhile longer.

Last weekend of freedom!

With Braiden going back to school tomorrow, this past weekend has been his last few days of freedom.  So of course one of the days we had to go boating again.  It was super choppy out on the lake so it ended up being a tubing kind of day.

Tyson, Braiden, Zack, Skylar, Blaine - and the feet belong to Clint!  The kids are definitely getting braver on those tubes.  I remember when we would slowly putt around when pulling them... not anymore!  And they had some pretty big waves to contend with as well.

 Having some fun.  Clint kept pushing and kicking the other tube out of the wake and into the crazy waves!

 I had to get my turn on the tube as well

 So what do I do when I'm riding in a tube that is loosing air - and I can feel EVERYTHING; which leads to a very sore butt?

I BAIL!

 Caleb not happy that he has to wear a life jacket.  He did fall asleep about 5 minutes later though, so not to worry

The next day we all went and helped Mom and Dad re-roof the garage.  They worked hard on it.  

Here is Braiden getting into the job.  He's taking out the nails left over from the old shingles.

 A happy helper.  (that didn't last too long though)

 Blaine and Dad hard at work.  They ended up bringing the trampoline over.  And that is how they got up and down from the roof.  It worked great!

 Tyson, Zack and Braiden.  Braiden is now the pouty helper...

Zack and Tyson.  I am so impressed with Tyson.  He worked so hard that day;  he worked with them till the bitter end.  Blaine said he did amazing!  

I had great plans for today, as it was Braidens last day of summer vacation.  But plans change.  We spent the day working around the house, doing laundry and things like that.  We have a few projects on the go, and I just needed to get some stuff done.  Braiden spent the day playing with the other kids who live around here.  We may have not done anything too exciting, but it ended up being a pretty good day!

The one very exciting thing is that we now have bunk beds!!!  So happy!!  The crib is gone - not that Caleb ever slept in it...either did Braiden when he was little.  It was mainly just a nice decoration for the room.

 Happy boys hanging out on the top bunk!

Well tomorrow morning is the start of the new school year.... back to alarms, and school lunches. (my least favourite things about school)  But I'm hoping that it also means getting back into a  routine and finally getting those projects done.  Here is hoping that it is going to be a great year in grade 2 for Braiden.