Random happenings...

So last week was my first week of working out at the gym. Can we say, O-U-C-H!!! Oh my goodness, I can't even tell you the pain I have been in...my muscles are all freaking out...I think it is cause they are in shock cause it has been so long LOL!  

Actually, as bad as it hurts it is a good feeling as I know I am actually doing what I set out to do. 

Brynley is really enjoying going to the gym with me and playing in the daycare with other kids. She gives me a BIG hug and a VERY loud "mwaaaah" on the lips and says, "bye Mum" so happily! I am glad she likes it in there it makes going to the gym so much easier.



Mr.Cole... 
Cole has been babysitting a lot more lately and has been happy to have some money in his pocket. We are trying to teach him that just because you have money it doesn't mean you have to spend it...and he says,

 
"Mom, I am a kid...that is what we do!" 

So far he hasn't spent it and is holding off until something good comes along. He is looking into buying a punching bag to work out on...good idea =)


Goodbye Hockey!
Yes, you heard me correctly as of this morning we officially don't have boys playing hockey anymore???? Strange, but true! 

Cole and Tyson's hockey teams are too big for only 1 team and too small for 2 teams. Long story short, there are A LOT of politics involved in how hockey is ran...and it is all C-R-A-P!!! 

So, the boys each decided they are done with it and wanted to try something different. Actually they both decided that since hockey is played a lot on Sundays (which we didn't let our boys do and that caused a lot of problems with other parents) AND their practice nights were going to be the same night of there Cubs and Scouts (Tuesdays) they would never get to go to their church activities...so, therefore that was not ok with either of them and they were choosing church over hockey! HALLELUJAH we taught them and they actually listened and choose the right all on there own...we are VERY happy parents! 


Don't get me wrong we (and the boys) will miss hockey as it was fun and they both LOVED it! But, it was definitely time to move on. Kent and I are happy to have our weekends back and not have to travel all over the place. We are happy to not have to deal with all the "crap" that came along with playing hockey anymore ((sigh...deep breath))!!


Kickboxing and Muay Thai...
We told the boys if they aren't in hockey they need to be in something else to keep busy and feel apart of something. They have both decided to join a Kickboxing and Muay Thai Class that is taught in Airdrie. They go twice a week and they are really enjoying it! They come out exhausted and EXTREMELY sweaty...so they get a great workout =)




I found these pictures of Brynley and her cousin Kori on my cell phone that I had forgotten about LOL!

Melanie and her kids and I had gone to the mall to do some shopping (this was taken a few months ago). Bryn and Kori were touching everything so while we were waiting for Melanie I let them try on some sunglasses. They were hilarious and were giggling and laughing at themselves in the mirror.

Family Photos

We wanted to get our family pictures done outside this year. Since this past Saturday (Sept. 25) had such beautiful weather we knew we had to take advantage of it. 

My sister in law Melanie and her family wanted them a well. So we borrowed our mother in laws camera (since it is a fancy one) and went out to a place called Big Hill Springs Park. It is a Provincial Park about 15 minutes west of Airdrie...it is BEAUTIFUL there! There are waterfalls, pathways to walk around, a creek and lot's of wonderful photo spots.

We managed to get some good shots. Brynley didn't want to cooperate as there were dogs all over the place. It was busy with people since it was so nice out. So glad we had such a nice day so we could get these done =) 

Tickles and Peanut Butter

All 3 of our kids have always liked getting their arms, face, back tickled from time to time. It is relaxing and feels good. I remember as a child always wanting to sit by my Mom during sacrament meetings (church) as she would always tickle your arm or back as you sat there and it felt so good!

Miss Brynley now will pat wherever she is wanting tickled and then lay there and wait for us to do it. If we take to long she will just keep patting her back or leg or arm until we start to do it...funny girl!

Peanut Butter Kids!

Tyson and Bryn eating peanut butter!
 

As far back as I can remember Tyson has always really liked Peanut Butter. He really likes plain old Peanut Butter sandwiches and he most favorite is simply just eating a big ol' scoop of Peanut Butter off of a spoon. Now, I do it myself from time to time...but Ty does it VERY often! It always seems like we are running out of peanut butter...major "staple" in our house!

Bryn had had enough of Tyson being "in her space" as you can see her pushing his face away from her LOL!

Early one morning...
I came into the kitchen as I could hear Bryn getting into something and this is what I saw. She had pushed a chair up to where the spoons were at and was putting them into the peanut butter and eating it...not just one spoon...but I there was 4!

She is so independent and just figures out how to do things on her own. Not sure I like this stage as she tends to make some pretty big messes. But she is so dang cute and funny it is hard to stay mad at her.

 

A look inside the peanut butter jar...yep, there are 4 different spoons!

Gee, can ya tell she L-O-V-E-S peanut butter?? She was smacking her lips and licking her fingers after every taste ha ha.


New words and sounds
We have been working on Brynley knowing the "sounds" that animals make. It is so fun to play this with her as she gets right into it. She knows what a cow says, a cat, dog, duck, and now a frog. She came to me one morning pointing to the frog on her jammies wondering what it was, so I taught her what a frog says...she giggled and thought it was great! 

She calls any food "num-num."

She also now says "Tay Too" or "Tank Q" (thank you). She even says it at the appropriate times...even if it is when she is taking a toy from another child LOL!


Aunt Melanie's boots...

Brynley wearing Aunt Melanie's boots! They were so tall they were right up under her butt. But Bryn didn't care she really liked them.

Melanie and her family were over for supper one evening and when it was time for them to go Brynley had gone to the front door and put on Melanie's rain boots. We all had a good laugh as she really liked them and didn't want to take them off. She was not happy when Melanie put them on and left with them...how dare she LOL!?

What's on your "Bucket List?"

Do you have a "Bucket List" of things you would like to accomplish before you die? I sure do!

My list has always just been things I really just always wished for. Never did I even consider actually doing them...they were always put off for "someday." For a while now I have felt like I am missing out on things and not fulfilling all I need to or could be doing. That I am just here...does that make sense?

So, when I got to thinking about what I would like to accomplish I got really excited...it was like something was awakened inside me! I have decided in order for me to grow and feel like I am doing the things I long to do, I need to actually do the things on my "bucket list!" And ever since I made the goal to start doing my "bucket list" I am SO excited!! I feel like FINALLY I am going to do be doing what I need to do to feel fulfilled!!!

Now, my "bucket list" is not a big, deep thinking list...it is pretty basic really. They are goals of things that I personally would like to accomplish so I can be proud of myself. And to be honest, I don't even know all of my "bucket list" yet...I am just getting started on the small things and as I go, more and more will be added to it.

I am not someone who can sing that great...even though I do like to sing. I would never sing a solo that is for sure. However, singing is something I have ALWAYS wished I could do. I am not talented musically in any area. One day I am hoping to change that. I would like to learn how to play the piano, take singing lessons and I think it would be really fun to take a dance class of some sort. Photography is something I would like to learn as well. Those are all pretty big and high up on my "bucket list."

Right now I am conquering one of the items on my "bucket list"...I am learning how to sew. Yep, I have taken my first class and I really enjoyed it! I made Bryn this cute skirt.

 

 It turned out so much cuter than I thought it would.

Dancing with Daddy in the kitchen!

I am VERY proud of myself I will admit =) It turned out really cute and Bryn likes it. She calls it "me pretty!"

Brynley dancing around our kitchen in her new skirt. She kept watching her reflection on the oven door as she danced!

She really likes her skirt and wouldn't let me take it off LOL!


Gradually my hope is to learn how to quilt as I really like quilts. A lady in one of the Airdrie wards (Rose Travers) is volunteering her time to teach whoever wanted to come. There was a good turn out...some of us were beginners and others were over at other tables quilting. The class is every other Thursday from 7-9:30p.m. It took me one full day to finish the skirt...so I figure that was pretty good for a beginner =) I had a lot of fun and I am looking forward to our next class =)

 

Once I am comfortable with sewing and get some knowledge about quilting I will move onto the next item on my "bucket list" and so forth.

 

I am looking forward to taking the necessary steps to be able to cross off all my "bucket list" items. I want to be able to say "Wow, what a ride" at the end of my life and be proud that I lived my best life!

Nose hickey!

Today in church Kent was sitting down between the boys in Sacrament Meeting. I was sitting at the other end near Brynley (so I could easily take her out to the hallway if she started freaking out.) 

During one of the talks I could here commotion and then giggling from Tyson. So I leaned forward and glared looked lovingly down there (ha) and gave them (Kent and the boys) "the look" to stop whatever they were doing and to be quiet!

Tyson's nose hickey!

Come to find out Kent had grabbed Tyson by his nose and twisted it all in fun and now Tyson has a nose hickey on the very tip of his nose! 

I tried to take a picture of it but it didn't show up very well. I laughed and laughed when he leaned over to me and said, 

"Mom, look at my nose...do you have any makeup to put on it to cover it up?" 

He was SO embarrassed by it. The Bishop even came up to him and asked him what was on his nose bwahahaha!!!

Drumheller camping

We went camping near Drumheller for our last 10 days in August before school started.

For the first 4 days we had Taylor and Joshua (nephews) with us. The 4 boys had a good time and were very well behaved.

Here are the 4 boys sitting around the campfire telling stories to each other and hanging out. They all slept out in a big tent behind the fifth wheel.

It was funny to watch them play Bocce Ball.

Sheri, Kent and the boys swimming


Sheri and Mike came camping there as well for a couple of days. Sheri was a good sport and joined in with Kent and the boys doing all their contests...like who can do the best cannon ball etc.

I don't remember this little boys name, but they were camping right next to us. Brynley made herself quite comfortable playing with his toys. Then they each got a broom and they played for a good hour with those silly things.


Brynley with a net trying to catch a rabbit that was in the trees near us.

All over the campground there are wild rabbits. And of course the kids all like to try to catch them. Tyson and some friends he made while camping had been trying for days and days to catch a rabbit and had no luck. One morning I was talking on my cell phone to my Aunt outside when I looked over and watched Brynley walk right up to a rabbit and pick it up by the scruff of his neck. I was SHOCKED and I went running over there telling her to let go and put it down. She was holding it like a trophy and saying, "kitty, kitty" and running away from me shaking the poor thing ha ha! You better believe Ty son caught a rabbit later that day once he found out his 22 month old sister had caught one before him LOL!

Sheri and Brynley swimming together.

A year ago Sheri and her family and us camped at this same campground. Look at how much Bryn has grown and changed since then...sweet little thing!

Brynley (10 months old) August 2009...one year ago at the same pool with Aunt Sheri!


Jeff and Family
Jeff and his family came out for the day the first Saturday we were camping. The older kids went swimming with the Dad's and Melanie and I stayed back at the campsite with our 2 little ones as they were napping.

Brynley and Avery chasing rabbits.


We went for a walk with all the kids and ended up at the playground.

Melanie and her kids (Jade, Logan, Kori and Avery) playing at the park with their cousins.

Kent, Jeff and Buddy hanging out and visiting while the kids played.



Taylor and Brynley at the park. Taylor was so good with Bryn! He took her on everything and was so patient with her. She was one happy girl!




Tyson and his buddy T.L.
T.L. was camping right next to us and came right over to Ty and asked him if he wanted to go ride bikes with him. After that they were constantly together...and I mean CONSTANTLY. They even shared our tent together and ate breakfast at each other's place LOL!

Tyson and T.L. rode bikes, went swimming, went on walks, fishing, catching rabbits and so much more together. They had a great time together! I was SO happy Tyson found a friend there as Cole wasn't there he was in Strathmore with his friend Tyler.

Us adults need to take a lesson from our kids in how they get to know each other. It didn't faze them one bit that they didn't know each other. They just said, "hey let's play" and off they went. How cool is that?! I wish as an adult I had that care free spirit...something I need to work out for sure.



Brynley and Buddy hanging out on the dock watching the kids play in the Lake. It was cold and very windy that day. I did eventually let Bryn put her toes in the water and Buddy off his leash. He LOVES the water!

Bryn talking away to the rabbit hiding in the trees. She kept reaching her arms out to it as she wanted to hold it so badly!


Random shots of Bryn while camping. She is a stubborn little girl, but she has the greatest smile and the best giggle!

Talking to "Mama" on the phone

I was trying to get Brynley to have a nap when she found my cell phone. She picked it up and started gibbering away like she was talking to "Mama" on the phone. Whenever I am talking on the phone she always assumes it is my Mom and wants to talk. Cause whenever my Mom calls Brynley and her talk on the phone...which Bryn LOVES!
She is funny to watch as she uses her hands as she is talking and moves her head from side to side and will giggle and everything when talking on the phone. Funny thing is is that no one was on the phone, she just acted like it was "Mama" she was talking to!

She even opened up the curtains and pressed the phone up to the window to show "Mama" what was outside! She is a funny little thing =)


Corn On The Cob
We had Corn On the Cob one night with our supper and this was Brynley's first time having it.

As you can see she REALLY enjoyed it! She was hilarious to watch and listen to as she was just humming as she would bite into it and eat it.

Camping was fun. We didn't get to do much of it this year...but we are glad we were able to do what we did!

Working out...here I come!

OK, so realistically I KNOW I will NEVER look like these girls once I start working out...BUT, I had a good laugh when I saw this picture and just had to post it!

I can honestly say that I am at my "target weight"
(which I have to say feels great to be able to say that...and I am NOT bragging...just relishing that I can actually say it!)
BUT, I am DEFINITELY NOT physically where I would like to be!

So I have been majorly OFF the work out band wagon for roughly ohhhhhh let's say almost 3 years now. Once I got pregnant with Bryn and since I have had her, me working out has come to an abrupt HALT to say the least!! I do have to say I have missed it and I am trying to be accountable...so therefore I am telling you all that I am going to go work out tomorrow morning...that is Wednesday, September 8 2010...just so we are clear! ha ha

I am tired of being tired and having NO energy! Having an almost 2 year old that STILL doesn't sleep through the night doesn't help...but, me not working out isn't helping it is only making things worse.

So, I will be back on the treadmill...which I don't mind doing, but I don't like it either. It is necessary though for me to get my mind and body back to feeling like myself again. I just want to FEEL better and be able to think more clearly. I truly believe what I eat really affects my mind as well...does that make sense??

I used to really enjoy lifting weights and having that as part of my work out as well. I just want to tone up as well...everything seems to be heading south a lot quicker than I would like ha! I am excited to get a routine back and getting myself back to where I know I need to be. I am looking forward to going back to the gym...it is just actually getting there that tends to be the hard part. Bryn will come with me as there is a babysitting place in the gym that I will be going to...so that will be good.


Going to bed now so I can try to get as much sleep as possible so I can be motivated to get my butt to the gym first thing once the kids are off to school...wish me luck =)

Back to School!

Monday night Kent told the boys to come upstairs and into the computer room where I was. Kent wanted to give them their Father's Blessings for the school year. This is a VERY IMPORTANT tradition in our family that we do each year...the night before school starts.

Can I say I was in awe of this man that I get to call my husband. I was so thankful he remembered to do this...as I hadn't even thought about it. Things have just been so busy around here that I had forgotten about thee most important thing they were needing BEFORE they went back to school...a blessing!

Kent even gave Brynley and I a blessing as well...it was so nice! When the boys were getting their blessings Bryn would fold her arms for the first 20 seconds and then start to play. But when the boys blessings were done she climbed up on the chair and sat down folded her arms and bowed her head...SO CUTE!! So Kent gave her a quick blessing as she instantly started to wiggle of course.

I am so grateful Kent asked to give me a blessing as well. Didn't even think about me needing one. But man did I ever! It has helped calm me and remember what is really important.



Tyson and Cole heading off to their first day of school!

Tuesday, August 31 2010

Cole is now in Grade 7...say WHAT?!?!?! Seriously, what the heck...I can't believe I have a kid old enough to be in Grade 7!


Tyson is in Grade 4 and thrilled to have a "guy" teacher this year! His teacher's name is Mr Klinger...Tyson had him as his teacher in Grade 2.

I have to admit I was looking forward to the boys going back to school...like most Mom's! BUT, I do feel bad for them as this Summer didn't feel like much of a Summer. The weather was not good so therefore we just didn't get to enjoy being outside and doing all the fun things we normally like to do.

Tyson was SO excited to go back to school! Cole was so-so about it...but I found it funny that Cole was up and ready before everyone Tuesday morning. So in the end I think he was excited to go back as well.

I remember when I was growing up and the first day of school was ALWAYS so exciting. You got to wear your new clothes, new back pack and see all your friends...what more could a kid want =)