Birthday Party #1

Due to our house not being huge, and there being a lot of people, I decided to do 2 parties for Anderson this year.

The first party was a Family Dinner on Saturday evening.

In attendance was:

Grandma & Grandpa Nadeau

Grandma Hill & Grandpa Eric

Auntie Amy & Uncle Scott

Uncle Paul & Auntie Catalina

Anna & Tony (Anna is the kid's day home provider)

and us of course.

Anna & Tony

Amy & Scott

Anderson sharing his treats.

I made Chicken Tortilla Soup, Caesar Salad and 2 kinds of cupcakes - chocolate and vanilla.

Anderson had a great time, the theme was definitely trucks!

He loved blowing out the candles - as soon as we were done - he said "AGAIN!"

So we did it again.

Then he wanted it again - that is where I drew the line.

He did not end up having any cupcake - but instead showed everyone just what being 2 is all about... throwing a tantrum because you can't get what you want.

My 2 Year Old

I wanted to post these pictures on Friday - his actual birthday, but due to blogger not letting up upload any pictures - here you go.

I do want to know though - how this....

can become this....

in the blink of an eye?

Kisses!

Happy Birthday Anderson!

Okay, I know I am going to sound like every other parent out there when I say I can't believe he is 2 already - I have no idea where the time has gone. But here is the thing for all you non or yet to be parents out there - the reason everyone says that is because it is TRUE!

If you want to speed up time, have kids.

It is amazing how slow but fast time flies.
So many days are agonizingly slow,
but time still flies!

Today my little man is 2 years old.

2 years ago I became the mother to a little boy.
2 years ago I learned how you can love 2 people the same but so differently.
2 years ago I fell in love, again.

Today I look back and see how much that love has grown and changed with you.
Today I celebrate all your milestones, big and small.
Today I look forward to many more milestones to come.
Today I cherish the small quiet moments.
Today I snuggle with you because I know when we celebrate your 2-0 - there is no way you will let me snuggle with you!

Happy Birthday Anderson!

(I have some pictures to post, but bogger is not letting me upload them - so pictures will have to wait.)

T-shirts in November?

One thing I love about living in Calgary is the weather.

I know we all like to complain about it, but recently I decided - there is nothing I can do about the weather, no amount of complaining is going to make it better, so I might as well accept it and enjoy it.

It has been so much nicer once I made that decision.

It did not matter that it was freezing at the beginning of September, and I don't care about how much rain we get. I actually enjoyed all the rain in September.

In the big picture too - is a bit of snow or a few cold days really that bad? We are not dealing with tornadoes, hurricanes, or extreme heat, so hot that you can't be outside and people are dying from dehydration.

Overall - we have it pretty good.

And this fall had been amazing! We have had wonderful warm days, the kids are loving the extra time at the parks this is allowing for, and yesterday, as I left work - this was the temperature!

24 above! Love it!

Now we get to look forward to our first big snow fall - that means snowmen, snow angles, sledding - and all kinds of fun for the kids (and parents!).

Sneak Peak

Swimming Lessons

Since we spend so much time in the summer out at the trailer, and the trailer is on a lake, we thought swimming lessons were in order.

So to make our lives easier, both kids on the same night, at the same time, in the same pool!

Anderson - in a parent and tot class (with Daddy) and Jackie in a preschool class - no parents.

Knowing how shy our little lady is, we have been talking about this for weeks. Telling her she is a big girl, she gets to swim with the big kids, no mommy or daddy - but Anderson is still little and he needs daddy.
She has been so excited!
Looking forward to it for days.
Knowing there would be other kids.
Knowing there would be a teacher.

Here are the before pictures while we wait for the class to start.


Anderson could not wait to get into the pool.

Well, things did not go as planned.
As soon as the instructor came to get his class and do a roll call, her shyness came out.
She was petrified of going with them and not having myself or Adam with her.

She spent the first 20 minutes of the class in 2 inches of water at the edge of the pool while I was on the sidelines trying to convince her to join the class.

The last 10 minutes were spend like this.


With Daddy trying to get her to make friends with Michael the instructor.
Who knows how next week will go?
Anderson - well - he did no better. You see in the parent and tot class, you go into deeper water and the parent hold the child for most of the time.
Anderson did not want to be held - he wanted to do his own thing.
He is Mr. Independent!
We were the parents with 2 crying kids during one 1/2 hour lesson. Fun!!
Can't wait for next week.

On My Nightstand

Here are a few more books I have recently read:

Rachel's Holiday - by Marian Keyes

Rachel is a mid twenties woman, living in New York and a drug addict, but she does not think she is a drug addict.

This is her humorous story about family doing an intervention, getting her into rehab and her journey of self discovery while there.

I really enjoyed this book - although the subject matter is rather heavy, Marian Keyes writes so well and with lots of humour to make this a good book.

My rating: 3 1/2 out of 5.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

This book has been around for a while, but I had never read it.
It is a short little book but really, really good!

This is a story about a boy and his family - his father is very high in the German military during the Second World War - and gets posted as the head prison guard at Auschwitz.
The little boy (9 years old in the book) tells the story from his perspective - and we see through the eyes of a boy who does not understand what is going on around him. We see what he sees - knowing what is really happening.

I would recommend this book to anyone - it was a very powerful read.

My rating: 4 1/2 out of 5.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

This was a book club pick, not a book I really wanted to read, but I did for book club.

The story is about a group of connected people - all told from different perspectives, but it starts out with a man slapping a child at a backyard barbecue that is not his.

It is a great concept - that brings up so many current issues in society today with respect to parenting, however I did not like the book.

This book is crass. The characters are not very nice / good people. I did not like how the author depicted men or their wives.

I did not like how he presented such a touchy yet important subject.

I would not recommend this book.

My rating: 1 out of 5.

Coffee Dates

When I was pregnant with Jackie, everyone asked us if we wanted a boy or a girl.

I knew this was my first pregnancy with one to follow, and I wanted a girl - it did not matter if she came first or second, but I wanted a girl.
When Adam was asked - he told people he wanted a girl. He wanted a girl so I would drag her shopping instead of him.

Well, now that Jackie is a bit older - that is exactly what we do.
She is a great mall companion - however if the trip is going to be on the longer side - I must be prepared with the stroller and a stop at Kernels for popcorn.

Another favourite if ours is to go for "coffee" together.
She knows where Starbucks is (smart girl)!
And she knows a local coffee shop too.

So once in a while we head out together for some quality Mom and Daughter time.

Jackie gets Hot Chocolate.

But a while ago I picked up these super fun, small kid coffee mugs from Starbucks.
This past weekend we pulled them out for an At Home Coffee Date.

I made London Fogs (I have decaf Earl Grey tea bags for her).


We had a great time and look forward to many more coffee dates in the future.

Blog Watch - Joy the Baker

Joy the Baker

I found this blog when a friend listed it as a blog they follow. (Thanks Sarah!)

I love Joy!

She has amazing recipes, great photos and a wonderful sense of humour.

If you are even remotely into baking, this is a blog you should check out from time to time.

I really love her recipe index - makes finding a good cake recipe that much easier.

Just take a look at this picture - love it. Here is the link to this recipe:

Peanut Butter Fudge Treats

Trick or Treat

Trick or treat, trick or treat

Give me something good to eat

Not too big, not too small

Just the size of Montreal!

We had a wonderful time with the kids yesterday trick or treating!

Every ounce of shyness Jackie has vanished.

I could not believe this was my child who boldly said "TRICK OR TREAT" as soon as any door opened.

Anderson caught on quickly, but he was a little slower than Jackie was.

At one house she was there well before him - so she asked for some candy for her brodder.

At another house an extra piece of candy fell on the floor, so Jackie helped pick it up - then declared "This one is mine!"

Anderson was focused on a small box of smarties the whole time - I think it was because he knew what those were - the rest of the chocolate bars and candy - he had yet to discover.

Rockets - are now being called vitamins by Jackie - a favourite of both kids (and adults).

The weather was amazing - we have been very lucky - the last 3 years have been great for trick or treating little ones.

The Unicorn and The Cow

This year for Halloween Jackie was a Purple Unicorn and Anderson was a Cow!

Here are few photos taken on Saturday evening at a friend's party.

Flying!

The funny part is right after this picture was taken Jackie asked Adam why she can't fly.

So Daddy helped her fly.

Pumpkin Carving

The kids were very excited to do the pumpkins this year.
Anderson would not touch the "pumpkin guts" - Jackie could not wait to get her hand in there.
I love how she is getting braver as she gets older.

Too Cool for School

When you make the decision to have children you never know what you are going to get - I really did not think I would get this.

He makes me laugh all the time - and he LOVES his sunglasses.

This is Anderson - soother, blankie and often sporting his sunglasses - it does not matter if we are inside, outside, dark or light out - he will wear them.

Conversation with a 3 year old

Jackie was asking me a question about my wedding flowers (which I have dried in a vase), since she has recently been to a wedding and we watch The Little Mermaid get married at least once a day, she was asking about our wedding.

Jackie: Mommy, can I come to your wedding?
Me: No honey, it was a long time ago, before you were born, when you were just a twinkle in your Daddy's eye.

Jackie: and Anderson is a twinkle in your eye Mommy?
Me: yes, Jackie, he was.

Baking Together

If you know me, you know I love to be in the kitchen.

I love to cook, I love to bake, and I really love to read a new cook book.

(Barefoot Contessa just released a new cook book!!)

I have some great memories of helping my Mom bake.

* Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins - sitting on the kitchen floor, using a hand mixer while Mom added stuff to the bowl.

* Cookies - she would roll out the dough, we would use the cookie cutters, then after they were cooked, we got to deorate them too.

I want to create some great kitchen memories with my children as well.

I also want them to be conforatble in the kitchen.

So it starts early in my house.

(this picture was taken in the summer)

Right now the favourites are:

* turning on and off the stand mixer

* turning on and off the blender

* putting chopped vegetables into bowls

* mixing

* cracking eggs

When we were hunting for a house to buy, we looked for a very specific kitchen layout.

I needed space.

Adam needed space.

Little did we know how nice it is to have such a wide open floor plan with the stove / oven on the other side of the room.

This allows me to work at the kitchen counter with both kids on chairs and have them no where near the dangers of a hot stove.

Next up: I have 2 of the great little knives from Pampered Chef - My Safe Cutter. I am going to start Jackie on her knife skills soon.

Old Pictures

I was going through some old pictures the other day and I thought I would share a few.

There are so many, so I only picked a few, but I will try and post a few more over the next little while.

Sisters

Cory & Ace

No, you can't count the candles to find out how old I am there - let's just say I was somewhere in my 20's.

Good friends Al & Sarah's wedding.

Adam & Shane

Can you tell we all had a few drinks that night?

Sean

Wedding invitation making party - look at how good Adam is!

My Stagette!