We are back!

Home sweet home. I have a lot of writing to do! And a LOT of pictures. Stay tuned!!!

The trip

So, I had great plans to blog about the trip as we go. Then I didn't get online, then no wifi, then, then, then. I just bought a notebook and I'm going I have to blog everything when we are done the trip.

Epic road trip, day 1

Well day 1 is finished. My kids were amazing! I was seriously worried but we didn't start to get the whining and hate of the car until the last 45 min or so. We brought Austin's Nintendo DS, my DS, and Stephanie brought hers. Austin was so excited. We played the multiplayer Mario kart for oh about 1.5 hrs. I made up little lunch boxes for all 3 of the 'kids' and also had a gift bag for each day with books and stuff to entertain them. I didn't even have to bust out our day 1 bags! Austin was content with the lunch box!

Border crossing was super quick. No lineup, no other cars, just a few transport trucks waiting to cross. It's so funny though, being from Ontario and crossing usually into Buffalo from Niagara Falls, this border crossing was so different. I mean, there are signs and lights and big huge security gates. Not so much here. When we cross into the states in Ontario, there is a big "welcome to the US" sign today there was nothing. Again, the lack of vehicles.... A small lineup in Ontario is a wait of less then 20 min. So weird.

But, we did break the van. Lol. About 15 min before we reached the hotel a duck like bird (it really didn't look like a duck but that's about the size it was) flew out onto the road. I let out a little scream involuntarily as we hit it. The thump! oh man. It then went under the van and we kept going. As we were driving down the road I had visions of the front of our van covered in blood and guts. Thankfully when we checked at the hotel we had a few feathers and a broken van. It cracked a piece of the grill and broke off some of the smaller grill pieces. Stupid bird.

We got in the hotel room and of course Mackenzie fell asleep about 15 min before we got to the hotel and woke up, so she wasn't ready for bed, we ended up doing 2 full laps around the hotel trying to tire her out. I had to put her in the playpen and just let her babble to herself for a while with all the lights off. Eventually she fell asleep. It's now 11pm and everyone is drifted off to sleep around me. Off to catch up on some sleep for day 2!!!

Happy Victoria Day!

Just a quick post to say Happy Victoria Day! I hope everyone had a great long weekend.

We're currently laying in bed. Austin is watching a leapfrog Alphabet video on the iPad, I'm on the laptop and Mackenzie is sleeping. A great way to spend the day!

In case anyone was wondering about the video, it's Leapfrog Phonics Farm.

Such an awesome video! It goes through each of the letters and tells the kids what sound each letter makes and shows animals and actions that start with that letter. Austin is currently tracing the letters as they pop up on the screen. Plus, they go over all the letters at the end with a song. Austin found it on netflix if you want to check it out for your kids!

A big ol walk

Tomorrow is the walk. It's finally here. Through fundraising and the dance that was thrown our team raised over $5,000!!! So amazing to see all the support of people around us.

This all started with my step mom. She wanted to do the CIBC run for the cure for herself. As an end to the chemotherapy and radiation and everything else. Then people said they would walk with her. Now it's a team of 20 people!!! We've made team tshirts, and with the help of some cousins I have made tutus for our team to wear. Yes, even the men! We may look ridiculous tomorrow but we are going to be having a blast!!!

I'm not going to lie though, I am a little worried. My asthma gets so much worse when I'm pregnant. I have to be careful not to over push myself. Also, it's a 5k walk. I've been walking more since finding out I was pregnant but am I ready for a 5k?? Tomorrow night I doubt I'll be able to move much, and I will be exhausted. Lol I'm sure of it. And, I really should get to sleep now since it's 12:30 In the morning. Time to get to sleep!!!

I will be back with some pictures in the next few days. Have a good one!!

Run for the Cure

Hey everyone!

I thought I would just quickly put this out there. Since I was able to come to Ontario to visit with family early, I am able to participate in the CIBC Run for the the Cure. Any money raised goes to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Why is this so important to me?? Last December, just before Christmas, we found out that my step mom had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Mere months before that my 17 yr old cousin had been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer. Needless to say last year our family was hit hard. (My grandfather also passed away from cancer about 6 years ago and my step mom has also recently lost her mother to cancer)

After being there and supportive through what seemed like endless chemo and radiation treatments we are finally done. Most of our family has decided that we are going to do the CIBC Run for the cure and try and raise as much money as we can to help the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Research and support are so important in the never ending battle of cancer.

I am asking that you help me out and donate to our team. We will walk tall and proud (maybe not all that quickly) and will make sure we are having a damn fun time while we're at it. If everyone donates even $1 it will help. I want to thank you for all the support and our team will do you proud!!! Just simply click on the button below and make a mark in the battle against Cancer!!!

Another Weekend

Where did this past week go? It's like poof, it's gone! I wanted to get Austin's hair done this week but alas didn't get it done.

I'm writing this post while in the car on the way to Dave's grandparents. We've packed a lunch and goodies and we're going to visit and catch up. I'm not sure if I got a chance to go visit after Brian and Korrinne's wedding, but it's been quite a few months since we've seen them.

They are always so fun to visit. There is only one way to greet Grandma, and that is a hug. Doesn't matter how long she's know you. She's a great complimenter and always makes you feel great. And grandpa, well he just has such a contagious smile and makes you feel like you've just made his day. Of course there are hugs from him too. He is the cutest old man I think I have ever seen. (Think a skinny version of the man in UP!) They truly are a blessed couple and you can see the love for each other after all these years.

They make you so comfortable as you walk in the door. I remember almost 6 years ago now going to meet them for the first time. I was so nervous and worried they wouldn't like me. I was worried that they would decide I wasn't good enough for their grandson and conversation would be awkward. I walked in the door and was greeted by smiles and hugs and immediately felt comfortable. Conversation was easy and I left their house that weekend in love with them.

So today is going to be a great day of visiting grandma and grandpa (or Nana and Opa to Austin) and catching up. We are almost there and I can't wait!


Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Hold onto this time

Some days, I think I am going crazy. That if I hear one more whine or cry my head might actually explode. If another variation of the word no escapes austin's lips I might have to lock myself in the bathroom and bang my head off the wall.

But I also know that before I know it this time will be gone. He is only 2 years, 5 months, 2 weeks, and 4 days old once. Tomorrow will be a different number and within what will seem like only a few months from now he will be 3 years old.

I'm trying my hardest to live every day to the best. There are hard days for sure. Like today. A very hard day. But despite being hard I still try to remind myself to take all of him in. See the silly things. Like trying to sneak and tip toe down the hall when he should be sleeping. Especially when I am looking at him and he's still trying to sneak. Or when he stops, says ready? Go! Then continues running.

I love the way he is so curious about life and want to know "what that mommy?" Or "where did ___ go?" And when he's excited he will say 'look look!" And point out all the things that us as adults don't bother stopping to appreciate.

I look at my niece and nephew while I'm here at my mom's or I look back at videos and pictures of austin and I'm reminded that he's only this age once, every day he gets older and I need to cherish those days. I am going to try my hardest to live each day to it's best. Try to remember the cute when I'm losing patience. Try to tell myself that life is short, do all that I can now. And no matter what I will always love my family.

This weekend's Adventure

Scrapfest!!!!

I am so frickin excited!!

I am leaving tomorrow afternoon around 2pm. Me and my Sister in Law Korrinne are driving out to Kitchener. Since she doesn't have a friday VIP pass she is going to go visit some old friends while I go to the VIP night. Afterwards there has been some talk of going out, maybe some dancing.

Saturday Korrinne and I are going to Scrapfest to spend the day learning new things and adoring all the pretty things.

Then it's back home and I'm heading to a banquet with my family. yah!!

Stay tuned for some pics from scrapfest!

WHAT A WEEKEND

Whew. I need to catch up on everything. We are all moved out of our house and now we are in my mom's basement. I have to say that sharing a room with Austin isn't really all that fun. lol. We're both just sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Thank goodness for that some days. Austin likes to keep rolling off the bed, so it's a short landing to the floor but of course he whines and cries. Our first night was rough. I had forgotten Austin's night light at our house (since we stayed at moms a few days early) and he was up a few times and scared of the dark. At one point I went to his bed to calm him and find he wasn't even in bed. He got up and tried to find me and was standing in the corner crying. My poor baby. The other thing that has been a bit of an adjustment is the new wake up time. I probably notice it more since we're in the same room. This morning he stood at the door to our room (which I have a baby gate across the door) and was sad because papa was leaving for work. Well papa leaves for work around 5:30am!!! I'm slightly afraid of the wake up times once we move. Alberta is 2 hours difference from us, so that would mean he was up at 3:30 in the morning. no.thank.you.

Yesterday we had a fun birthday party for Austin. Sadly, my camera battery was dead so I didn't get too many shots. that definately makes me sad. Everyone had a great time and Austin loved playing outside with his cousins and friends. Since I am at my mom's place I am going to upload the pictures to my computer then plug it into her internet connection instead of trying to upload them to her computer.

We did have some nice family pics done last weekend. Here is a little sneak peek. I think I am going to take Austin down to the lake and get some pictures of him in the next few weeks before we go.

A big thank you to my cousin Kiley who took these pics and to my cousin Sarah who followed through with the idea of family picture day. I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures!