Busy busy busy!

It seems blogging opportunities are few and far between these days... and while I am not complaining (the blog will always be here), my sweet boys are growing up right before my eyes and are a main reason why I don't have the extra energy at the end of the day to record my thoughts on here like I use to.

I know because I like to write, that I'll get back to it more faithfully one day, but for now... it will be in bits and spurts! I appreciate that you still stop in from time to time... and hopefully a continued lull in posting means that life is just busy and full of fun.

For the last couple of months we've been busy with sports! Soccer and t-ball for E, and swimming for both boys on a weekly basis. To add to the chaos, PC and I are both playing ball on separate nights, and on rare occasions, PC even squeezes in some golf.  E is having fun on the fields... he is really getting into t-ball and loves to play defense on the soccer field. H likes to cheerhis brother on and often works on the side lines to hone his own skills!

PC and E both got new bikes this spring so they are learning the rules of the road together when time permits!

A few weeks back we got invited to a wedding on my side of the family. It was the first time the boys had been to a wedding ceremony and all the fun that comes with the reception. They did really well and we had so much fun!

This past week, E had his JK graduation land now I am x-ing the days off the calendar until school is done for him and I don't have to pack his lunch for a whole two months. It's going to be awesome for both of us! He has done really well at school this year and we are extremely proud of everything he has accomplished in his short school career!

H is busy being a little boy... into everything he can get his hands on, talking up a storm and raising hell at every check point! He keeps us on our toes, but we wouldn't have it any other way. I am clinging to his baby ways as I know he is quickly outgrowing them.  We have registered him for preschool in the fall (which also underlines that he is not a baby anymore) - his transition into that program should be interesting to say the least!
 

In the last little while we also celebrated Mother's & Father's Day! I love these special occasions because it reminds me how lucky we are to have our family life and all of its supporting pieces, including our parents who are hands-down fantastic grandparents. PC and I both enjoyed our special days and mainly because of our two boys who remind us daily how lucky we are to be their parents.

All around its been busy, but yet a great couple of months... we are looking forward to vacation time and doing a little relaxing soon. I took this photo on my phone when we were at the cottage on the long weekend in May. It was a gorgeous evening and this shot is one of my faves!

Until next time... enjoy the little things in life.

 

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone is taking some time today to enjoy the magic of Christmas, I know we are!

Wishing each of you the joy of the season and all the best for 2013.

 (Photos by Sara McConnell Photography, design by A Pretty Little Party)

 

The birthday project for Mom!

Today is my Mom's 60th birthday - (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!)... and what an amazing milestone she has reached.  I remember when I was younger and thinking sixty was old, but now to be in my thirties and have my Mom turning sixty, it doesn't seem old at all! She looks great and now that her and my Dad are both retired, I think they both seem more youthful and relaxed than ever before.

My mom is not an over-the-top person... she is generally easy to please and agreeable, but she does make it known that she is not fond of being the center of attention - at all. With this milestone birthday approaching, I knew she would not want a big surprise party because she is just not that kinda gal, but I didn't want to let the occasion slip by without much mention of it.  After all she is SIXTY, and that deserves some kind of celebration in my (humble) opinion!

About six months ago I stumbled upon a link where a daughter did this fabulous project for her father... and it got me thinking that it was an awesome idea to put in my back pocket for a special occasion in the future.  Well fast forward and although I was in the middle of planning E's birthday party, I thought, what the heck, I think I can pull off 'my version' of the this project too.

So... I took stock of addresses that I had from my wedding folder, and then enlisted my Dad to do some undercover work with my Mom's address book (which thank gawd she still uses the old fashioned pen and paper style book thrown in the junk drawer, my Dad had no problem getting the info I needed). I emailed my invitation lady and got her to whip me up a quick request card informing people what I needed them to do, and BAM! ... I was off and running.

I complied a list of sixty candidates that I thought would be happy to participate and that she'd be happy hear from, if not surprised in some cases.  I located some colourful note cards and envelopes and got my stamping supplies out.  After a few evenings of dedicated prep work, I had sixty cards ready to mail out.

I really wasn't sure exactly how this was going to come together after I dropped the invitations in the mail, but when my Dad was at my house for Thanksgiving, he mentioned that he gets the mail most days, so he could collect the incoming cards as they arrived and save them up until today.  He took this job seriously, and did not disappoint as this morning he was able to present her with a mail bag full of wishes and I know she has enjoyed reading each one.

Thank you to everyone who participated and made this birthday project a total success.

To my Mom... you are a special woman who means a lot me. You are also a special Grandma to my two boys. I am so happy that you continue to play an active and present part in our lives, and I really can't thank you enough for always being at my side no matter what the obstacles or success stories have been. I hope you enjoy this milestone today... and PC, the boys, and I look forward to helping you celebrate many more years of health and happiness.

Love you and miss you.
xo
 

Thanksgiving!

Every year around thanksgiving, I get a little sentimental, but I really do love that there is a time of year that reminds us to reflect on what we are thankful for. This year is no different from any other in terms of what I am thankful for.... family and good friendships mean the world to me and I am so thankful to have an abundance of both in my life. I love my family and friends, and I hope health and happiness continues to follow them throughout their lives. 

And it goes without saying, but my little turkeys and their Daddy are at the top of my thanksgiving list! Love my boys and all of their shenanigans! They are getting so big and very busy, and they definitely keep me on my toes, but I would not have it any other way. When I think about all of the happiness they bring to my life, I am truly thankful. They are the best!

I hope all of my Canadians readers had a wonderful long weekend where you could set aside a little time to 'give thanks'! To my American friends, your turn is coming, so rest up!!

Happy Thanksgiving!
 

First time for everything!

Today a very special man in my life celebrates his birthday! That's right... PC is prepping to blow out a small bonfire worth of candles this evening, and while that is a big deal, I think what is an even bigger deal is that for the first time in the ten years I have known him, he is working on his birthday.

Can you believe it?

Is the sky falling?

Hell has clearly frozen over.

PC prides himself in taking a day off on his birthday... and he usually golfs or does something that makes him happy, but this year, work has prevailed and he's up and at it with the rest of the working world today.  However, not to panic people... he's taken Friday off instead, not quite the same as his actually b-day, but a close second!

We are celebrating his big day with his family this evening at our house... and looking forward to Mom C's famous donairs - a birthday tradition in the Coleman household, and oh so yummy!

Happy birthday to my number one (and only) husband, lifelong friend, and rodeo partner! We have our ups and downs, as many couples do, but through thick and thin, I know I love you with all my heart... and you and our boys are truly the best part of life!

Have a great day birthday boy - you seem to enjoy life everyday, but I hope today is extra special!

Look at these kids...

37 years ago today these two young pups said I do... and I am proud to say these are my parents and the grandparents to my children.

October 12th, 1974 - Thessalon

Not too many couples can say they are celebrating 37 years of marriage and are actually HAPPY. But if you know these two... you know that they are in love, and they don't have to brag to anyone about what a great partnership they have... they just live it.

These two truly are an example to me of how I want my marriage to turn out in another 31 years. My parents are not flashy people, they are not over-the-top, and they don't require much in their everyday lives to keep them happy - this is what I love about them. They are honest and sincere, they are supportive and proud, they are realistic and true, they are wonderful individuals, but even more than that, they are a great pair.

After 37 years, I can't say that I have ever witnessed a time in their marriage when they weren't in love... yes they've argued, yes they've been upset from time to time, but in all these years, they have always taken their marriage seriously, and because of that, they truly are the best of the friends.

Mom and Dad, I wish you nothing but happiness today and the MANY years ahead of you. Happy Anniversary to a wonderful couple, and the best parents a girl could ask for!

xoxo

Relax, it's not a fire... just some birthday candles!

On Monday, we celebrated my wonderful husband's birthday! Last year we were at Harvard in Boston, so E didn't get to really partake in any birthday celebrations for his Daddy, but this year, it was different! PC never likes to make too big of deal about his special day, but he still gets excited for presents every now and again!  E on the other hand gets so giddy for birthday celebrations... he can now sing the Happy Birthday song, and he loves ballons, cake, and urging the birthday recipient to open their gift, if not telling them exactly what it is!

PC's birthday was a pretty big deal for E... so we had fun after PC got home from work on Monday! PC is not a traditional cake lover or dessert man in general, so we improvised with a homemade caramel apple dip that he enjoys! As the pictures will show, E was just as into it as the birthday boy himself! H also didn't mind the festivities either, especially the tissue paper!

Happy Birthday PC... you are such an important part of our family, a great partner in life, and the very best Daddy to our beautiful boys! LOVE YOU!

Love to my Mom!

I've heard others say that you can't truly appreciate your Mother until you have children of your own... and I have to say, I couldn't agree more.

I've always had respect for my mother... (okay... maybe not grades 9 through and 12, but other than that small hiatus, I think I can still use the word always!), she is patient, caring, realistic, generous, and supportive. Since having my own children, my respect for her has been catapulted to a whole new level.

When I was younger, my Mom made sure I had everything I needed... good meals, proper clothing, friends, toys, and even things I didn't need like rollerblades, Doc Martins, and that purple bike! But, she didn't just hand these things over, she discussed the necessary decisions with my father, and whether I had to earn it, or save up enough of my own money, I can see that what she was doing was teaching me the value of a dollar, and the cost of hard work.

Now... with my boys, I want to instill the same values she taught to me, to them... and I think that if I can do half of what my Mom has done for me, I will consider myself lucky - and my boys too!

Thanks Mom for always being there for me... you know when to push and when give me my own space, and I am so glad to have a great friend in you.  You are wonderful role model to have in my life... and my boys are so lucky to have you in their lives.  I love you!

Happy Mother's Day... to my Mom (and all of the great Mom's out there)!

Family photo... that I love!

Last month, we had a friend of PC's come and take some photos of H to document him in his infant state.  I love the black and white photos when babies are so young, like H, so PC contacted his friend and got the shoot scheduled.

The photographer, Greg Snyder of Greg Snyder Photography, did this at a reduced rate for us (he did not charge us enough for his time, travel, and editing) as he is enhancing his portfolio with more babies. He is already an accomplished landscape and scenery photographer.  You only have to visit his website or blog once to see that the work he has done in the past is breathtaking.

I have to admit, I am a newborn and baby photography website junkie - I visit all kinds of blogs and sites on shooting newborns and kids. Prior to the shoot, I got the impression that Greg had not shot a lot of babies, so my expectations for this shoot were low, but I was pleasantly surprised with how things turned out. 

First of all, Greg is very personable, as is he is lovely wife, Jennie. Although the shoot was a little unconventional, given it was in our home, it all went very well considering we were not in a studio setting. Greg had a good concepts for newborn shots. There are a few shots that although they are not the perfect shot the ideas are very solid. My only regret is that because I was so preoccupied with getting some extra props for the shoot, looking after the kids, and socializing, I did not realize until after Greg was gone that we barely took any pictures of just me and H, or even one of just PC and I (sans kids). However, despite that, I was really happy with the results and I think Greg did a really great job with the shoot given the limitations of our house, and the schedule and temperament of the kids (E was not loving the camera that day at. all.) And, the unexpected bonus... was getting to watch Greg in action - as I learned a few things about photography lighting and background tricks that I can now put to use in my own amateur photo shoots!

Thanks so much Greg (and Jennie) for your work- please know your favour to us has not gone unnoticed. Thanks so much for leaving us with my newest love... an awesome family photo, and some great keepsakes of my boys!

A day on the Rideau Canal

I have been wanting to get to the canal for weeks now (before the Winterlude rush), but it seems either the weather is poor, someone is sick, or PC has hockey. While I was to be away curling this weekend, that didn't happen, so I immediately got the idea to head to the canal.  The forecast was calling for snow but I didn't care... we were doing it, Winterlude madness n' all.

It doesn't matter how prepared I am the night before, getting out of the house with two kids and a hung-over husband takes FOREVER.  I wanted to be gone by 10 am, and I had told PC (who was out the night before) that at 9 am he should be packing the truck, so I could feed H and then we'd be out the door for 10. He agreed to the plan, so the night before I had packed snacks, blankets, extra mitts, skates, etc. so that really all he would have to do is load the truck, load the kids, and the bike trailer.  But of course, nothing ever goes according to MY plan.

Both E and H slept in later than I anticipated, so we were behind before we even started the day... and PC did get the bike trailer out around 9, but had to put air in the tires and then assemble it to see if we could in fact fit the car seat in it, or if we would have to take the stroller for H.  That was a 45 minute venture I did not anticipate... so needless to say once I fed H, we still were packing the truck (not PC's fault, but just a time consumer).

In the middle of it all PC called his dad to see if he wanted to join us, and once he found his skates, and dusted them off, he agreed to come.  He was a huge help in getting us on and off the canal with both kiddies... and much to my delight, we had a photographer with us too!

Although we didn't leave the house until 11:37 (E had to have something to eat, H decided to poop, spit-up, the works), we were off and running before noon and it was just in time for the snow to clear and the sun to shine.  We seriously, could not have picked a better afternoon for the skate.  Little wind, and just an all around beautiful winter day. 

E wasn't too big on skating in the very crowded canal, but loved the ride in the bike trailer as it was enclosed and warm - and he didn't have to wear his mitts (major issue with the mitts all. the. time.), H was asleep and loving the fresh air, only made a peep here and there when we stopped for some photos and then a snack.  He was the best little boy on the canal (IMHO).

We had beavertails and hot chocolate, and skated close to 5 km. An all around GREAT family day with very well behaved boys! It's amazing what a little fresh air can do for everyone's mood.  SO HAPPY!

Here a few pics from our fun afternoon... to see the whole album I posted to Facebook, go here.