Can I Hear A Yippee?

The laptop as arrived! Actually it's been here for a little bit but it has taken me until this weekend to sit down and check out the new photo program that it came with.....Photo Director 3.  It is rather overwelming but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon enough.

This past weekend we scooped up the kids (sans Alec who stayed with Willow) and headed to Toronto to check out the new Ripley's Aquarium.  To make it even more of a special treat I booked us into the Westin Harbourfront Castle for the night.  My treat was wandering the streets, eating in restuarants and unlimited Starbucks opportunities. Sigh...........

Here are a few pictures from the weekend.  It was so hard to capture Avery! She is a girl on the move lately and I seriously had to run to keep up with her.  So if my pics are a bit out of focus you know why! :)

Exploring Union Station

The kids were so excited to arrive at the aquarium

Rainbow Reef was the highlight of the day....check out those chompers!

Claire was saying: Oh No! My family has been eaten by jellyfish!  

Avery fell in love with turtles this weekend so we stopped at Allen's Garden on the way home to admire the flowers and check out these little fellas.  She was in love!

Speaking of love............these two were feeling the brother\sister love this weekend.....so nice!

After chasing Miss Avery around to get a picture I caught her and perched her up on a little ledge by the flowers. Here she is plotting her escape. What a busy little gal she is these days!

Working Through My New Years Resolutions............

For the one or two people that I know check in on me through my blog.....YES.....I'm still here. 

I think that 2013 was probably the worst blogging year of my life.  Due in part to 2 computers that have either died or are about to die.  I've been unable to take any photos of my camera in months........out of memory on the laptop and that "thingy' on the side of the laptop that connects the cord from the camera to the laptop stopped working a few months back.  There is a very complicated way to get the pictures off the camera that involves putting them onto an external harddrive and then uploading them into the laptop.......but then I'm back to the old problem of not enough memory and everytime I want to put a picture on I need to delete something else.  And this girl has way better things to do with her time than fiddle around with all of this garbage!  Luckily this girl is married to a very patient man who helped her out and was able to get a few pics on. 

I made it a Resolution to get those onto the blog today.....like before the inevitable "black screen of death" occurs......which with my luck will be any minute.

The computer issue was not the only reason I've been  MIA.  Just before Halloween I was asked (or was arm-twisted :) ) into baking cookies for a corporate Halloween Party.  I am well known for my Gingerbread Boys and Shortbread that I make every Christmas but I had never really mastered sugar cookies.....sure I can bake them but have them look good?......well, not really.  Always up for a challenge though I decided to give it a go.  Well, I guess my first attempt was ok because before I knew it I had business cards and was taking orders. I did 2 parties before Christmas (one was for over 500 cookies), participated in a Holiday Show, and took a few private orders.  All in all my little kitchen produced over 1000 cookies in the weeks leading up to Christmas!  Adam was very supportive and became Mr. Mom allowing me hours and hours on the weekend and in the evenings to bake.  Will I do it all next year? Hmmmm......ask me around July!

So between cookies, working 11 hour days in my daycare, the holidays, Avery's first birthday, Claire's 10th birthday and regular "life stuff" I can say that the end of 2013 kicked my butt! To top it off Adam became quite busy with Real Estate leading up to the final few weeks and we juggled showings and meetings inbetween all of this other stuff. Thank goodness Claire and Evan were always willing to jump in to entertain Miss Avery or run and fetch things I needed......priceless!

Anyways, that is my confession as to why I have been absent from writing.  The good news is that a new computer will be gracing our home in a few more weeks and I should be back up and running again. I am looking forward to settling in for a few "quiet" family months.....heck, I might even read a book!!

Without further waiting, here are a few pictures from the past couple of months......and here is to a better blogging year in 2014.........I made it my Resolution!!!

Enjoying a morning at McPherson Tree Farm.....Claire fell in love with this little guy but was outvoted by the rest of the troops.............................

Avery loving a ride in her carrier despite a horrible cold (and pink eye.....gotta love daycare) that would later require antibiodics to get rid of

Alec's work schedule didn't allow him to join us this year and the privledge of cutting down the tree has moved to the next strong fella of the family.  Great job Evan!

Cookies for a 4 year olds Fireman Themed Party

My first "official" order of cookies for a Halloween Party

Claire designed these cookies for her birthday party and I was happy to decorate them for her!

Apparently cookies on a stick taste even better....I should have made more!

My first Holiday Sale/Show......Claire was awesome......and we had our picture in 2 newspapers!

I went on to make almost 1000 of these little guys before the holidays were over!

A no post would be complete without a few birthday pictures as our little gal turned 1 years old on November 12th!

This girl has a GOOD appetite......she was all about the cake!

 

And it wasn't long before the cake was all over her......LOVE YOU BABY GIRL......HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Halloween......

I was determined to be super organized this year when it came to Halloween night. 

Claire always has these elaborate and very specific ideas about what she wants to be every year.  It almost always means that I have to order her costume from Etsy at about the end of August so that I'll be garunteed to have it here by the big night.  This year she wanted to be an angel with beautiful fluffy wings.  I'm sure I could've pulled this one off without any outside help but with juggling work and the baby sometimes it's just easier to leave it to the experts......if you know what I mean!

Evan is actually super easy every year........something grusome and scary is usually on his list and a quick trip to the local costume store works perfectly.

Avery wanted to be just like her big sister and I was happy to oblige. 

Beyond organizing the costumes I wanted to be "ahead of the game" when it came to the night itself.  The forcast was calling for rain....rain.....and some more rain!  Adam and I planned a quickie dinner that we fed to the kids right after the last daycare child left for the night.  That allowed me enough time to clean up the dishes, pick up the livingroom and make sure the kids weren't rushed while they were getting ready.  Unfortunately our front door looks straight through to the kitchen so there is no hiding mess behind a wall......and I would simply go crazy if I thought people (even if they are strangers) saw my messy kitchen! Crazy eh? Yep....that's my OCD shining through.  :)

So.....did all my planning work out?  Sure did..........house was clean, pictures were taken and we were out the door by 6pm to trick or treat.  Kids came home happy and excited to count their "loot."

Here are a few pictures from their fun night!

Our "Little Angel" who will be turning 1 in just 11 more days.....sigh

Avery is harder to hold onto than she looks!!

The "Soul Taker" joined the "Angels"

Evan strikes his pose!

Ready to head out!  Avery collected treats for her biggest brother who had to work!

Too Cute?

Oh YES you are.............................

11 Months Old....A Trip to the Apple Farm.....and Fall Fair

11 Months Old.....where has the time gone?

 

 

Evan just hanging out and enjoying the Fall weather at the apple farm

We teased Claire that this is probably the last year she'll be able to ride the ponies.  Her feet will soon start dragging on the ground..... :)

Bracebridge Fall Fair ~ A Family Tradition ~ it also marks 13 years since Adam asked me to marry him!

Having a little moment with a fuzzy friend

I sure do love my two beautiful girls ~ I can't wait to see what wonderful women they will grow up to be

My little bundle of energy - spunkiness - and sweetness - all rolled into one

Better Late....and I mean really late..........Than Never

First Day of Grade 3

Excited for Grade 5

Last year of high school......sigh

Avery excited to begin a new year in mommy's preschool

Summer Memories.............

 I have an annual tradition at the end of every summer. I gather up ALL the daycare kids (present and past) and we have what has been affectionately named "Fun Day".  In reality it is only really a Fun Morning because by 1pm I am usually ready to drop from exhaustation!! The kids look forward to it ALL summer and it is by far the most fun we have!

Water pinata, water balloon toss, apple bobbing, pie eating contests, egg on a spoon race, sneaker scramble games, and 3 legged races are just a few of the events the kids participate in.  Evan and Claire were team leaders this year and did an awesome job running the events with their kids.  The main focus of the games are team building and big kids must always help little kids and we cheer for everyone.....winners and losers!

At the end we all celebrate with jumbo popsicles and start planning for the next year!

I can't post any pics with my daycare children in them but here are a couple of Evan having a turn at bobbing for apples!!

 

What is the fascination?

With Tim Horton's coffee cups?

When my coffee came double cupped one day she was "all over" the extra cup

 

Clearly loving being just like her mommy.........

 

And looking pretty darn cute doing it!!

A Few More Summer Pics.............

Summer days shared with friends!

 

 

Avery was battling a cold but Claire managed to capture this smile while out on our morning walk

How cool is this little guy? Or girl?

Claire captured my favourite picture so far this summer!

Evan's favourite past time.............

Awenda Provincial Park.....

....... is where Avery turned 9 months old! Her current list of accomplishments include: clapping her hands, playing Itsy Bitsy Spider, pulling herself to standing, rolling over, crawling backward, saying "mama and dada" and showing you her toes when you ask her.  Of course she always accomplishes stealing our hearts!!

Claire and Evan enjoyed exploring the rocky shoreline of Georgian Bay

Catching a "Pike" was the highlight of the fishing trip (unfortunately mommy missed getting the shot)

 

And Claire enjoyed the sunshine, beach and maybe a smore or two.........