Hoo's Birthday?

It was a friends birthday this weekend and I think she likes owls. The babies room has an owl motif and I'm assuming she didn't tell her mommy owls were the way to go from inside the womb so that's why I think my friend likes owls. Anyway, I went with it and made her this card for her birthday:

I got to use my metalic pigments for the stamp on the envelope so it was all purple metallic shinny and pretty. I added some glitter to make the owl pop a little bit and did some cliche saying on the inside "Have a hoot of a Birthday" because if you're going to go owl, go all out!

You Spin Right Round Baby Right Round

When I was younger my family took a trip to Disney World. Awesome, I know. It was fun. So fun that even though I was quite a bit younger then I am now I still remember a lot of the trip. I remember Space Mountain, having my dad chase us around the swimming pool, the awesome yellow Mickey Mouse rain poncho's we finally caved in and bought the last day and Indiana Jones at Universal Studio's exploding and feeling the warmth from the explosion on my cheeks. I would say if I asked my mom, dad, sister or myself we would all have the same most memorable moment at Disney World ... the tea cup ride. Oh I'm seriously laughing out loud right now as I'm typing the memory: We all go on the tea cup ride together. It's awesome. Kait and I love going around and around and around and my dad is having so much fun cranking that wheel in the middle to make us spin even faster to hear my sister and I squeal in delight. Yes, so fun. Getting dizzy like that and having the force pull us back into our seats so our hair is flying and we can't pull ourselves any closer to the middle. Nothing beats that. The ride ends and we get off the ride but only 3 out of the 4 of us had fun. Mom apparently didn't appreciate getting dizzy. Even her sunburn had turned white. I know sometimes I'm known to embellish to make a point but I swear it's the truth! Her red sunburned nose was white. So what does my dad do, hahaha, he whips out the video camera like any husband would do to his wife and video tapes the moment so we always have it to look back on. Classic. Anyway, onto my point; when do we loose that love of the spins? Remember the Gravitron ride at Whoop-Up Days or the PNE? I used to never get car sick, almost brag about that fact. Now I'm in my 30's and I'm a wuss. I get nauseous watching my kids spin in circles and I'm popping gravol when we tackle the highways in the Philippines because I know what's coming as Ryan is weaving in and out of traffic and taking hairpin turns at top speed. I was watching the kids at the park this week and for the first time felt sympathy towards my mother and I'd like to say sorry for all the times I've joked about her getting so sick from a little kids ride at Disney World. Little kids rides are for little kids for a reason, us big kids can't handle it anymore. So I hope my kids enjoy it while they can because it probably won't last.

Fairy Wings For Everyone

We seriously have the best kitty in the world as far as putting up with the kids. Maddy carries her around by two legs, by the bum, squishing her tummy and she just goes limp and puts up with it. I guess she really doesn't know any better and that's a good thing. To put up with the constant attention these kids have given her since the day we brought her home is impressive. I thought the novelty would wear off, but no, they still seem seek Sage out to give her some loving. The latest was Sydney wanting Sage to have a turn with the Fairy wings a few days ago. I have no idea how she got them on her but Sage wasn't too impressed. She walked around the house a little bit but when I called her name and asked her to pose for the camera she gave me this glare that just let me know exactly every deadly happy thought she was thinking towards my children.

Shmaddy versus Maddy

Ryan and I have always thought it was a little freaky how quickly our kids can go from happy to angry to full out spaz to laughing. It's like they can do a 180* turn in personality in a matter of seconds. Early on with Brayden we nick named his 'terrible two' personality Shbrayden after Shmegal in Lord of The Rings. It stuck and each of our kids have had a 'Sh' personality. Thankfully it seems that as they get older the Shbrayden and Shydney appear less frequently but Shmaddy still likes to greet us with its presence pouting and freaking out then Maddy appears a second later full of smiles and laughter. Unfortunately Madison is by far the most dramatic of our kids so even in her all out wailing fits her exaggeration of the situation makes us laugh only worsening Shmaddy's mood.

Ready For Take Off

Ryan brought home this huge styrofoam airplane for the kids to put together and fly. Brayden was all over that action. So early in the morning before the wind picked up we took it across the street to the school field to check out if it had any skills or not. Thankfully it didn't disappoint and when it did crash and the wings popped off we could just pop them back in again and it was ready to go, something that is very important when you are flying with young children :)

These Boots Are Made For Walking

Well, it's 31*C outside. Nothing like big warm winter boots to make your feet sweet on a hot day.

Hayabusa

Ryan didn't go too long without a motorbike to ride. This is his new nice weather ride built for speed. The kids seem to be pretty excited but they just like to ride on a motorbike. I don't really think it matters too much what it looks like just as long as it moves at a sufficient speed. Either way, everyone seems pleased so it's a welcomed addition (maybe not so much by the grandparents).

Happy Mother's Day To All You Ladies Out There

I think it's nice that one day every year our children are required to outwardly appreciate the women in their lives and what they do for them. I'm pretty fortunate, my kids are pretty good any given day of the year, but still it's nice to have one day to be spoiled a little bit. This year Brayden and Ryan made me crepes stuffed with whipped cream and strawberries for breakfast along with the cards and crafts from them all. It was yummy. After breakfast we headed to church where all the women were given flowers and a cookie or muffin and so the spoiling continued. We spent the afternoon visiting the grandma's to make sure each one of them knew that they were too appreciated and loved. It was hot, sunny and thankfully we got to spend it relaxing outside. It was a nice day but it's pretty amazing to have three cute kids care about me so much and make me thankful each day that they are in my life. I'm pretty blessed to have the family that I have, I sure do love them ... even when they're rotten. So thanks to my kiddo's for spoiling me and letting me know that you love me and to all the important ladies in my life; Happy Mother's Day to you as well. I hope you felt equally as loved as I did!

Summer Feet

When I was a kid I can remember chasing the dog down the road, climbing around in foundations for the houses being built around the neighbourhood, riding my bike and running down the coulee paths all barefoot. The hardness from the callus was a testament of how awesome summer was and how hard we had played. Well we've had a few hot days reminding me that summer is indeed on it's way and we have spent each of those afternoons outside playing until it's time for dinner. The kids have been riding their bikes, running around the block and eating fudgesicles and freezies all in their bare feet and when we went to the park and Sydney swung those feet in the air pumping to get higher I saw the starts of summer feet!

Nothing like some hot sun and friends to put a smile on a face. We had 2 nieces and 1 nephew with us for some of the day and I don't think they stopped all day. Riding bikes, running, then back on the bikes, down to the river bottom to play and then back on the bikes. Correction ... they did stop for about 2 minutes to watch the train pass by the bridge, then they were back up and running. Too much fun.

Good-Bye Harley

Well, Ryan sold his Harley Davidson. I guess he didn't feel like it was the bike of his dreams and so now he's on to find something bigger and better. In memory or the few months we had it here is Maddy cruising on a Harley for the first time:

Cael

My folks got a new puppy! Super cute Kerry Blue Terrier. He's a tank who loves his food. So far he's pretty quiet unless you're playing with him which is fabulous because really, who wants a yappy dog? I think he's going to be a pretty perfect fit for mom and Brian. Well, move over kids because now you have competition for Nana's attention! *wink wink*

Craftiness

So who loves Pinterest? Well I sure do. I love stealing other peoples genius craft ideas and making them my own. I've been able to use so many cool little storage ideas for my girls Barbie's, the kids rooms and make some yummy treats. I love sitting down and making things, my problem is that it's hard for me to come up with an idea but if someone else has already done that then I'm good to go! For my friends wedding I wanted to make her something so it was a little more personal because I think she's pretty special but I had no idea what to do so I went to Pinterest for help and this is what I was able to create for her and her new hubby:

Her wedding colours were the purple, blue and gold from a peacocks feather and so I used a nice blueish purple paper to make the envelope with a cute little stamp of a bride and groom with gold embossing powder on it. I thought it turned it out so perfectly! I also used their engagement photos to make the blocks thanks to gel medium and the fact that they had such great pics only made it turn out better then I hoped. Now I want to make some for myself, when I get time ...

The Shanks

Ryan and I went up to Canmore for my friends wedding. It's May so well into spring but of course there has to be one last snowfall before we can really put away the winter jackets and so was it really that big of a surprise when we are driving on the highway and HUGE flakes are blinding us? The closer we get to Canmore the smaller the flakes get until it's more like a light rain by the time we pull up to where the ceremony is to be held. We walk in and quickly duck into the bathroom to relieve ourselves after the drive and find these great baskets filled with anything their wedding guests might need and a nice little note to help ourselves. We're talking Advil, Tums, gum, deodorant, liquorice, and tissue (which I totally should have snagged because seriously I could have used it when the tears started flowing). The ceremony was beautiful, the room was amazing with this beautiful flower arch and the fireplace and the glass windows showing off the mountains and the snow lightly falling behind them. The dress ... draw dropping perfect for Dawn. The crappy pictures taken from our phones really do not do it justice. So a day of happy tears and catching up with a few friends I haven't seen in a while = good time!

The Older She Gets, The Older I Get

So to go along with my craftiness I googled some different birthday cards I could make for my sister for her birthday. *sigh* Really, when did we get so old? I found a few that I thought I could put together and this is what I was able to send in the mail to her:

I thought that the kids would probably want to send something a little more fun looking and so the girls sat down with me one afternoon and picked something out with some animals and wanted the embossing to sparkle so we were able to settle on this:

I Heart You

Well ... 9 years. Today 9 years ago Ryan and I were sealed together in the Cardston Alberta temple and family was started. Crazy. Looking back I can't believe all that we've been able to accomplish, grow and do in those 9 years. We've been able to do things in these past 9 years that loads of people don't get to experience in an entire life time. We've been incredibly blessed and made it through some pretty amazing times and some pretty challenging times here we are still in love with each other. Life is good! So I decided that Ryan was worth the time it would take to make his card, so here it is, idea stolen from google: