Tough Enough to Wear Pink!

This year the Calgary Stampede kicked off with a Breast Cancer Fundraiser - "Are you tough enough to wear pink?" Well it had almost the whole city wearing pink for the first few days of Stampede. Jackie and I showed our support and proved that we are both tough enough to wear pink!

We went down to Adam's company Stampede Breakfast on Wednesday, we had a great time socializing with some of the staff that came down from Edmonton and a few wives that came to help out.

My New Clothing Line

Many people don’t know about my hidden talent – designing clothing. Well all this time at home with Jackie has given me the opportunity I needed to expand and market my designs.

The Jenny Hill clothing line will be opening it’s first location in just a few days. Check out the new fall line at http://www.jokebyjenny.com/.

Here is a picture of the new store front.

Okay – totally kidding – my friend Karalee was on vacation in Ontario, as they drove through Listowel (a small town near Kitchener / Waterloo) Karalee noticed the store and made her husband turn around so she could snap a picture for me. I absolutely LOVE it!

Happy Birthday Adam!

I sent Adam a bouquet of flowers for his birhtday.

Cookie flowers

Auntie Amy

My little sister Amy is currently living in Ottawa, she came home for a visit and finally got a chance to meet her niece.

Amy and Jackie

Amy and Brutis

Blake and Karen Nadeau - and their little girl Izzy

Jackie and Grandpa Nadeau

Talking with Dad

Our little Lady is quite the talker, Adam is already getting nervous about what this will lead to in 16 years....

The Bus Stop

When we bought our house last spring we were dealing with a very hot Calgary real estate market where the price rises were not being tracked by the month or day - but by the hour instead. Houses would go on the market and sell in less than 12 hours for tens of thousands over the asking price, so when we got the opportunity to buy a spec home with no competition, we took it.

We loved the house design, we loved the fact we are right across the street from a park, and we have a large corner lot, however we did not stop and think about the bus stop.

The bus route came in front of our house turned the corner and stopped right beside our house - right in front of our kitchen window. This would not be a big deal if everyone taking the bus would patiently wait at the stop, but no - they like to stand on our grass, leave excessive amounts of garbage, sometimes I think they try and watch TV through our window, oh and drive Brutis NUTS!

Well, as of Tuesday July 3, the bus stop has moved - instead of turning the corner it now goes straight. Adam and I are super happy, it will be much quieter, Brutis will be spared having to be a super protector, we won't have as much garbage to pick up and hopefully there will be less people cutting across our lawn.

This is where the new stop is - the grass at the bottom is our lawn

The sign change - when I called and asked questions, I was told they put up the "Future Bus Zone" sign to "save the space". Who knows - in a few years we might get the bus back - but I really doubt our community is big enough to support 2 bus lines.

Canada Day Weekend

We had a wonderful Canada Day weekend. Our friends Pieter and Dawn Allan bought an acreage a few months ago just near Medicine Hat and they had a big Canada Day weekend party. There were over 50 people there, at least 10 trailers a few tents and LOTS of kids. Jackie was the youngest but barely, there were 3 babies all within 2 weeks of each other; Adam and I were just thankful to finally be in the parent club, otherwise we would have been one of the only couples with out a child there.

We had a great time, Pieter and Dawn put on a great party! There was a horseshoe tournament, candy scrambles for the kids, a toy piñata, a jumping castle, a pool, snow cone machine, three legged races, golf - closest to the pin, adult egg toss and a poker tournament. If you don’t think that is enough for them to put on for everyone – they fed us all too! Pancakes, Bacon, Coffee, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and a great potluck dinner on Saturday night.

Anyway – we had a great time socializing with friends and making new friends.

And it would not be camping for us if there was not at least some rain – we got a bit Friday evening, but otherwise we had great weather!

Our Trailer

The house - it looks big - actually it is huge!

View 1 of the "trailer park"

View 2

Setting up the Sno-Kone machine - everyone enjoyed a Sno-Kone or two - the kids especially enjoyed a kone of syrup...

Duke taking some kids out to the golf green

Jenny

Brutis - he was a very bad dog, stealing food from kids, a candy from another dog, eating whatever he could find and if that was a container of Jalapeno Pringles - so be it.

The Jumping Castle

The pool, castle and house

Pieter and Adam making breakfast

Canada Day Weekend - horseshoes

Pieter & Dawn organized a great horseshoe tournament, we all had a lot of fun and some of us discovered a hidden talent (not me...).

The spectators

Jenny - look at that form

Adam - a very intense player

Cam with a counter balance (this is actually his 4 month old daughter Charlie)

Pieter

Camping, again...

Well we attempted the camping again this weekend – we did get rain, but managed quite a few hours of sun as well – finally!

We were back out at Glennifer Lake, spending time with the Pinels and Craigs.

Finally a smile for the camera!

Brutis hanging out with his doggie pals - Jazz and Kia.

Jarilyn - fishing

Yummy!

Welcome Summer!

Finally summer had officially arrived! Does that mean it will actually feel like summer here in Calgary?

Yesterday I was shopping and I picked up a few things that define summer to me - I just had to try the Bikini on Jackie!


Normally we get rain or even snow on the first day of summer - but today it is suppose to be +26 in Calgary, so we had to dress for the weather.

Honest she has great smiles - but getting them on camera is not always easy.

Jackie - 3 months old

Well our little girl is now past the 3 month mark. I weighed her the other day she is 13 pounds 1 ounce.

She has a great smile and an even better giggle.

Camping

To whoever is doing the rain dance every time we go camping…. Please stop!

Last year we camped at least 10 times, not once did it rain – so far we have camped 3 times this year – and it has rained all 3 times and snowed once! We love to camp, but camping with a small baby in the rain presents a few more challenges and also confines us to the trailer a lot more than we want.

This past weekend we took Jackie to the lake (Glennifer) but due to the massive amounts of rain – it rained almost the whole time, we did not get a chance to show her very much. We are very much hoping for better weather the next time we head out.

Mom and Jackie - hanging out inside while it rains.

Brutis spend quite a bit of time being wet this weekend, but this picture was taken when we wanted him to stay dry, he is on the top of the couch watching all his doggie friends play outside while we make him stay in - we are such mean parents.

Father's Day

For Adam’s first Father’s Day we headed out to the lake. Our close friends Cam and Tara’s family own an acreage out at Glennifer Lake. We have spent many weekends out there over the past years, and Adam wanted to spend his Father’s Day there with friends.

Tara and I went together and bought our husbands a pair of water skis to share, but since this is Alberta and summer does not start until the middle of July, there was no water skiing this weekend.

Adam's first picture as a Dad!

Adam and his 2 babies.

We are getting a School!

Announced yesterday, Bridlewood is getting a K-6 public school! We are very excited, this means Jackie will not have to take the bus every day to get to school. I know she is only 3 months old - but the school will not be completed right away - but it is suppose to be done before she starts kindergarten.

I am not sure where in the community it will be located (Adam and I are hoping for a nice big open field that is less than a 5 minute walk from our house).

For those of you that live in Calgary, therefore know the areas - if this school was not built Jackie would have to be bussed to an Elementary school in Woodbine or Midnapore.

Before Wives & Kids!

Adam, Pieter, Cam and Cory

Cam sent me this photo - I am not sure exactly when it was taken - but it was before I met Adam - so more than 4 years ago. Everyone looks so young and skinny - and Adam has hair!

Jackie

Our growing little girl Jacki: she is now able to hold her head up and enjoys sitting in Mom or Dad arms. She really enjoys the TV but she does not seem to mind what she watches.

She is quite the little mover - loves to lay on her back kicking and wiggling. We are having a great time getting to know our little girl - she knows us - both Mom and Dad get lots of smiles - sometimes we are lucky and get giggles too. And she is not she - she will smile for just about everyone.



Trying to get those legs and arms to help her flip over - we still have a ways to go.