Vacation 2011

So I thought I would share this photo book with you. I cannot promise that I won't post some of the same pictures and blog more about my vacation. I had such a fun time playing that I might have to talk about it for a while. Enjoy!

Click here to view this photo book larger

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Maddox turns 3!

So I know I have been absent for over a month, but I was enjoying my summer and my family, and well I have been lazy! This year Maddox is Cars crazy. Well when is not not something crazy? If it isn't Cars it is trains or Toy Story or zombies. Yes. Zombies!

I had a lot of fun decorating and preparing for this one. It was actually the first time I actually put effort into Maddox's Birthday. I have put a lot of effort into his cake and the food, but no decorating. Well in hindsight this year is the first year we actually ha beautiful, hot weather. As my mother can attest his first birthday was wet and cold and his second wasn't really that much warmer either.


I didn't really take pictures of decorations, but I had this banner hanging around the deck, down the fence, and across the yard. There were signs for the different stations.




We had Mater's Obstacle course, Fillmore's organic fuel (drink station), Flo's Diner, and Ramone's Body Paint Shop (which my friend Natasha and I painted various Cars characters and symbols). Obstacle course was a hit. I was worried the kids would think it was boring, but I timed them so they had fun doing it over and over trying to better each other. It was a nice hot day, perfect for swimming. Even some of the adults jumped in to cool off. The cake was another hit. I personally wish I would have been more patient with it because it ended up being really messy, but when you are putting it together until 3 o'clock in the morning you just want to get it done. Why was I doing it so late? Well the day before was a really busy day and I wanted to get it done so I wouldn't be stressed on Saturday.










He might not look happy, but he actually loved his cake in fact I caught him just staring at it for a long time before his party even started. This look on his face is actually because he is really worried that someone is going to take his cake or some of the cars on the cake. Not a false worry though because some kids really did want to take his cars from the cake and we all wanted to eat it.


For his actual birthday we went to the splash pad and then the park.




He had to bring his new cars with him. Not only that, but we were at the park and all he wanted to do was play with his cars so we went home.



After the cake I made him I settled for a store bought brownie for his actual birthday.

It was a good birthday so good in fact he continued to think it was his birthday weeks later. So happy birthday to my crazy, loud, entertaining, dramatic, monkey! I love you!

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Canada Day 2011

So I know that Canada Day comes before Independence Day, but I am American first so I had to blog about that first. This was another first for me in Canada. We went to the Canada Day Parade @ Port Credit. Let's just say for the small community it was an okay parade.



Maddox was sure that all of these cars were his friends. One he was sure it was Ramone, another was Doc Hudson, and I think he thought he saw Sheriff too. I spotted his silver convertible that he received when I got my new car, but I forgot to take a picture!



Waiting for Red...hi Red!



This one reminded me of a post on one of my favourite blogs. Little kids were getting their pictures taken with these giant stuff animals. You know what the sponsor was? An adult play store. Yep! Totally inappropriate.

Some of it rather interesting though.


For instance a mermaid? I guess advertising spas. She was a hit with the peeps around us.


This was fun entertainment, but not quite sure the girl dancing with the booty shorts and the knee length boots (in the heat of summer?) was thinking when she picked that outfit.



This was just random people dancing with music blaring from the trunk of a car. Not quite sure what they were promoting though. Crazy Canadian fun?


Canadians do have great music and this band lifted the mood better than most parading down the road.

Then we walked down to the La Villa Bakery and waited for the one and only Mike Holmes to cut the gigantic Canada Flag cake. We waited in the hot sun for probably 45 minutes, but at least they brought around watermelon and yummy Canada Day sugar cookies for everyone to enjoy. The cake? Actually not bragging or anything, but I like my cakes better. Then again maybe making a cake that big diminishes the yumminess of the cake. I should probably just try some from that bakery another time in order to pass further judgment on the cake.



Monkey fell asleep on the walk to the other side of Port Credit where they had activities for the kids. Bouncy castles, giant bumpy slide, and carnival food was exactly what was needed. My only problem? I forgot to leave the house with extra cash. So all I had on me was 16 dollars for food. That was using all of my coins too! Marcus chose boring pizza, McKayla picked delicious poutine (if you have never had it you are missing out!), and I picked an elephant ear. Which was stolen from me by my children ugh! I remember my dad making these. It was really good.





Finally the heat got to me and a headache started coming on so I gave the kids a few minutes at the overly crowded playground, which was actually quite nice,and then we walked back to the car.



I was extremely happy that I let the kids experience the celebration of Canada Day because well they are Canadian too. But I remembered why I never went before. Going to very crowded street celebrations alone with three kids is exhausting! I wish my hubby didn't have to work every holiday in the summer. Actually every weekend in the summer! I was also very happy I chose to go to Port Credit instead of The Square because while it was probably nicer with more entertainment and brand spanking new grounds I am sure it was 100 times more crowded. We missed the company from McKayla's dance studio perform. I actually had no clue where they were performing and when, but was hoping to catch it. Oh well.

Happy 143rd Birthday Canada!

Oh and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge I did not see. They were in the capital Ottawa celebrating Canada Day. Special side note loving her wardrobe. Very nice.


Can I just say I watched a couple of videos, but this guys opinion of Canada was similar to mine. I am not Canadian, but I love Canada so I celebrate Canada Day.

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Fourth of July in Canada

My bestie refused to be in the photo and insisted that I being the American should pose.




So believe it or not I celebrate Independence Day here in Canada every year, but seeing as it is three days after Canada day it always feels like a four day holiday. This was the first year I celebrated it with friends too. Not just any friends, but my best friend and her family, my FIL, Spanish Missionaries, and another couple from my church. Hosted by my bestie we had tons of yummy food, but for me the highlight was the cake!




She decorated American style with the red, white, and blue and we had some great adult conversation, mostly hilarious stories, while the kids played in the backyard.



They even posed for a photo for me. If you look real close only my monkey decided to crazy up the photo with his crazy eyes. The bum. Oops not supposed to call names. We are currently trying to keep monkey from calling people "meany" and "baby". Let's just say very rude when some random person says hi to him and he says with mean face, "MEANY".



So thank you to those founding fathers who had a vision of a free land where we could worship as we please and have so many opportunities opened up to us. Thank you to those who have fought and are fighting to protect our freedom as well as the freedoms of those who cannot defend themselves. Thank you to the many people all over who make the American Nation something to be admired and modelled after. Thank you to best friends who love you enough to throw BBQ's to celebrate your holiday. Thank you to God for keeping us safe and pouring out so many blessings upon us.

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Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, follow the prophet...

So after three years of waiting for the new Young Women Campsite to be finished this weekend was it. Not only do we get our own awesome campsite 15 acres of developed land, which includes, an amphitheatre, running water, showers, toilets, eating hall, fire pits, Young Women memorial garden, shelter pavilions, trails, floating swim docks, canoes, soccer, baseball, and volleyball areas. With over 400 acres the campsite is truly peaceful. Even with the thousands of people that showed up for the dedication.



I was on the fence whether I wanted to go or not, but I really wanted to see the camp. After two hours of driving we finally arrived with rain gear seeing as it decided to rain on us. My kids were slow moving in the morning so I didn't get there as early as I would have liked to. So my parking spot? About 7 km from the campsite. Yea I know. We pulled up and were told shuttle busses would get us there. I didn't realize a Malibu was a shuttle bus. Okay they did have a couple of those vans too, but I was thinking, along with another lady, we are mormons don't you think there are a few minivans around that could shuttle the hundreds of us? Because well we only had an hour to get there before it started and going 4 at a time was not going to do it. Luckily some of the chartered school buses that had brought people from the 8 stakes which will use this camp were generous enough to act as shuttle buses. So sweet I couldn't be more thankful to them. We arrived to hear prelude music and I immediately knew we got there just in time.


Still raining and muddy ground, but actually not as muddy as I thought that it would be, we got comfortable to listen to the speakers. We sang "O Canada" which even though I am not Canadian I still love to sing and am proud for my children who truly are Canadian. The Young Women choir sang another song and because I was so far back I had to really listen to hear them, but the fact that it was so silent as they were singing said something. Like colourful angels they stood there dressed in white with value coloured scarves around their necks. I was proud even though I have no clue if any of my girls made it to sing in the choir or not.

President Baxter, who is 2nd counselor in the Ontario Mission Presidency, spoke first. He told of the miracles in how this camp was able to put together. Sister Barb Murphy, Church Service missionary, spoke and invited all those in the church to come to the campsite and find those peaceful spots to meditate and grow closer. Then Sister Ann M. Dibb spoke, "M" for Monson yes she is President Monson daughter as well as a counselor in the General Young Women, she spoke and the rain started to slow. I had hope that we could put down our umbrellas and that the sun just might come out. Some Laurels (16-18 year olds) from London Stake sang a beautiful musical number to set the mood for President Monson. As we know he started and made us laugh. He thanked us for giving the camp his name, which we did because of the impact as mission president he was all those years ago. Before he stood to speak McKayla pulled on me and said, "I can't wait to see him." They stood on logs so the could see over the crowd. I remember when I was a youth in the Young Women org. I went to a Youth Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Four stakes of teenagers gathered to listen to the prophet at the time President Gordon B. Hinkley. Granted it was a longer conference and there was a different spiritual message, but I still remember those things that he said and the feelings I had when I listened to him. I actually cut a trip to Milan short just so I could fly back in time to make it to that conference. I was so glad I did. So I jumped at the chance for my kids to be able to see in person the prophet. Who is just a man, but for us like a rock star.



Had to take some pictures. I wasn't the only one either everyone was snapping like crazy. I am surprised I only took maybe a dozen others were commenting that they had taken like 30 or 40 shots.



When it concluded and we sang "How Great thou Art" a song which almost always brings me to tears everyone crowded in closer hoping to shake hands with President Monson. It was really great he waved and we waved back. And I have no problem if my children want to emulate this rock star.



The difference between this and a real rock conference? No crowd surfing.




I was amongst those trying to get really close. I think if I didn't have my kids I could've forced myself through to shake his hand, but this was as close as I could get. He waved to the crowd and we waved back.

When it finished we waited another hour and a half or so to get shuttled back to our car. Luckily another bus driver was sweet enough to give us a lift or it would've been dark before we got out of there. I actually would have love to venture the property and see more of it, but by myself carrying a cooler and a bag for all of our other stuff and trying to keep an eye on the three kids I opted to go home. Although it did peek my curiosity enough that I want to go back. If only my hubby liked camping. I look forward to my children being able to use that camp. President Smith had told of a young man who was helping to build the camp who said he was doing it so that his children one day will be able to benefit from this camp.

I hope that as my girls go off to camp in a couple of weeks they value what so many people have done to make it possible for them to enjoy such a beautiful facility. My second hope is that my kids will remember getting to see the prophet and hear him bless that land and bless us.

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My little dancer...

Backstage at showcase 2011


So McKayla has only one thing thing that she truly loves to do and that happens every Saturday throughout the school year. She takes ballet and tap and next year wants to expand and take even more types of dance. For showcase we aren't allowed to videotape, but I did purchase the video as always. Instead I got to take some videos of her during the open house weeks.

As she was preparing for her ballet exams they came in very handy to watch so that I could help her practice. She of course passed with flying colors. Plus I hear her teacher Ms. Natasha thinks McKayla is just a joy to teach and will be sad to not be teaching her next year. (She is going on maternity leave.)

I am glad my princess has discovered something she likes because honestly it is a lot having to give up Saturday mornings to take her to dance. I look forward to next year an hour later!

Her goal this summer? Working on her flexibility. I think she finally figured out that to be a really good dancer flexibility and balance and vital characteristics.

Here is a little video if your are interested. Just some fun clips of when I was actually able to go into her class to see her dance. It's funny how they always act different when you are watching. Somewhere in the middle Maddox was distracting me so my focus on McKayla wasn't that great. Plus, this was a new video cam thing and I am still trying to figure it out.



The day of the showcase came and nerves were high, but she totally belongs on the stage. She loves it.


Pretty princess backstage.



I know I have all kinds of different edits on this post, but what can I say? I can't make up my mind which way I like it!

Thank you to the TDS Dance Space family. All I have to say is they are wonderful and if you live in my area and you have a son or daughter who want to dance this is the place. We love our teachers who are dedicated and love to teach. Plus they are a whole lot of fun. Also, next year I will be there three days a week so won't that be fun? Yea I should be happy I guess Marcus isn't into team sports. I would probably have trouble multiplying myself to get him places. I am contemplating putting him in swimming again, but stalling until we figure out if we are moving or not. So lucky for him he gets to wait.



The traditional daddy daughter pic after the show.

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Who's the dragon on the boat?

So my son has an awesome athletics teacher. He gets them involved in so many great activities. One of them happens to be a dragon boat race between other elementary schools in the area. So three practices (some more successful than others), a false start (let's just say really crappy day, which turned out to be unsafe for the kids to race.), and finally the rescheduled race day. We rushed over right after school to get to the race and were pumped and ready to go. On a brighter side because of the postponement hubby was off so could join us.



Marcus' school had three boats competing during the day. After the heats Marcus' boat ended up in the A final which was so exciting they were going to get to race for gold.

Here is a video of the final race and as you can see it really wasn't all that close. Not to be mean the other boats did a great job, but I think team "2" was not going to lose this one. Yes I was screaming in the video. And yes of course the kids could hear me cheer. (I seriously am pretending they noticed me cheering them on.)




After the race we had to snatch a couple of photos with fellow teammates.







So much fun. I wanted to get in the water and race. Instead this is the day I mangled my left foot. Almost a week later and it is still healing. Oh and we also ended up getting a parking ticket. I know! I don't think either of those things could put a damper on the night. Marcus was still in shock like hours after it happened. Will remember this one for sure.

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