week 44

Week 44 comes from Three Valley Gap, where the boys stopped with Amma and Baba on Tuesday on their way to Kelowna. So glad that Gnomee is having a chance to see the countryside as well. Next week they will be home for their gnome picture and our big gnome will no longer be on vacation. Thanks Amma for taking the picture.

Golf Guys

Aside from being with their grandparents, the favorite thing the boys have learned to do was golf. They have been out playing a ton and are anxious to come home and find a par 3 we can all play at. We are looking forward to checking out their mad skillz.

Thanks Shirley for all the pictures you took during your holiday and sending them to us every night so we could see what you had been up to. They have made the time they are away so much easier.

And for all you Roughrider fans - here's proof these are the cutest ones out there!

The Klassen clan came to visit and the boys had a great time with Caleb and Jacob. There was a lot of wrestling and having fun and of course in true Shirley fashion, great family photos were taken. There was a lot of wrestling and just hanging out together and their visit was short and sweet. Who knows when we will see them again, but the boys will have great memories of being with their cousins.

gramma and grampa's

The boys have spent a lot of time doing great things with gramma and grampa. They have seen a ball game, played soccer and baseball, been to McDonald's, the bike park, mini golfing and have learned to golf. There has been great food, lots of fun times, and many golf games. They spent the day in Regina at the Science Centre and had an awesome time. Pictures of their great golfing to follow tomorrow.

Avery's Day

Avery's baptism and birthday were great. She didn't like the Baptism and made it well known she was not happy, but she had a great time at her party. Family came from Calgary, many of them I hadn't seen in years and we had a wonderful afternoon laughing and having fun. Avery had her birthday cupcake and loved it, as you can see. The boys taught Emma how to use a straw to make armpit farts and it was hilarious. She went around asking people to smell her straw. So funny. The party was fun and the food was great. Everyone enjoyed themselves. This is the only half decent picture of the four cousins I got - when I say half decent I mean terrible. Oh Well, what can you do. Maybe when they come in October I can get something better.

Saturday afternoon the boys left for Stan and Shirley's and it was very sad for me but the boys were super excited.

Saturday night Jessica and I went to dinner and the movies and Sunday we had lunch with my mom and then went for pedicures. I had my toenails painted fluorescent orange. They are awful but fun. Sunday afternoon I spent a couple of hours with mom and her place then we went to Jessica's and had a linguine and clam sauce dinner. It was great. Dad worked throughout my trip and so I never got to spend some one on one time with him but I am hoping we get a chance to spend some time together in October. Do you think he'd like to go for a pedicure? Ha!

My sweet niece Avery!

Sterling on his new RipStik Air from Anti for his birthday


Kaedo on his first bike ride with Ken

The cousins - couldn't get Ave in the picture as she was already in bed. I love this picture.

Maybe I can Photoshop Ave in?

We started our holidays at Jessica's and it was very busy and eventful. Jessica had tons planned for us and she is a great host. Wednesday night we went to mom and dad's and had a BBQ and Kaedo actually rode to their place on Ken's motorbike. He was thrilled. We spent the evening there and then went back to Jessica's. On Thursday mom took the boys and Em to the movies. They went and saw "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and loved it. Thursday night we had a campfire at Jessica's and ate s'mores. It was lots of fun. Friday Jessica and I prepped for Avery's Baptism and birthday party and Friday night we went to the Medicine Hat Mavericks baseball game. The boys both got chosen to go on the field and play a game and Sterling won a free Cineplex movie ticket. Emma got to race the mascot and won $5 in Maverick Bucks. We had lots of fun, yelling and laughing. It was a blast.

What the Tweet???

So, I am anti Facebook, MySpace and all those other sites that ask you to rekindle your friendships with people you honestly didn't like the first time they were in your life. HOWEVER, I am a big fan of blogging and often funny things come up and I wish I could blog them but am either away from my computer or unable to get on to the blog for whatever reason. SO - I have decided to start doing Twitter. You can see on the right hand side of the blog there is a widget that says "follow me on twitter". Just click on it, and if you want to follow along with my musings, you can. It will be a fun way for me to post funny things I do, see and think and you'll be able to follow along on your cell phones. Just sign up to follow the tweets and voila!

Here are the boys getting ready to fly West for their vacation. Kaedo, of course the fashion statement. I love this outfit, it's my favorite. Kaedo was very nervous to get on the plane and so I gave him a Gravol. It ended up he didn't even need it. He did so awesome. His ears were good on the take off and he even looked out the window. That helped him alot. Also, Sterling was awesome with him, and that helped him alot. They watched TV throughout the trip and laughed and took pictures out the window and watched the differing colors of the farmer's fields as we started to land. Kaedo did great on the landing and even entered a mantra on his iPod reminding him that he did a great job on the flight and that he was ready to do it again. They did so well that aside from the peanut thing I am not concerned about them flying home. Now I'm just counting down the days.

Today is their last full day with the gramma and grampa and I'm sure a round of golf will be in the mix. They have learned to play while in Sask. and are loving it. A see a few rounds of golf in my future. Tomorrow they are on their way to spend a week with amma and baba.

For Now...

For Now the blog will be silent. Too much going on in my mind. Too much missing of my boys. Too much to write about but not enough to say. Too many pictures but no willingness to go through them. Will try on Sunday to get my thoughts together and write some things about my holiday and my sweet baby niece and my boys and my time alone with Craig and work and all those other things. BUT - for now - this is all I've got.

See you soon.

weekly gnome pictures

Week 42 - right before we left for Alberta.

Week 43 - in Swift Current, at gramma and grampa's house.

Next week it will be up to mom and dad.

Stay tuned for some pictures of our trip to Alberta. Avery's baptism and party were great and the boys had lots of fun.

8 more hours

Only 8 hours to vacation time and in true form my ears are plugged up and I have a sore throat. I thought I was going to get away with not feeling crappy before my holidays but no such luck. It is the "Shannon Curse". I'm surprised my mom hasn't asked me how I feel as that is the joke around here.
Unfortunately Sterling has a stuffed up nose. Hopefully he will wake up fresh as a daisy and no cold in sight.
We can't wait to see everyone. Not too much longer now.

The blog is now officially on vacation. The next new post will be next Wednesday. Have a good "week". I know I will!

Monday

Only two more days of work and then I'm on HOLIDAYS! Can't wait.
We are pretty much packed. I haven't written a list which makes me a little nervous. As I write this I am deciding that I'm going to sit down and write a list - for my own piece of mind.
The boys are still in their pjs or in Kaedo's case - the clothes he wore yesterday and to bed last night.
I am heading to work in an hour and have to work a night shift tonight. I hate working this shift but what can you do.
Craig is working from home tomorrow, which will be nice for the boys. They will be able to ride their bikes, jump on the trampoline and play in the water. I work a day shift tomorrow and at 6:01pm tomorrow I plan to be in "no work" mode.
We have hired the kids next door to walk Ketchup while we're away, That way he won't be alone all day and not able to go out while Craig is at work. They love Ketchup, so I'm glad we asked them.

Off to write my list!!!

Saturday

Saturday morning and the kids are outside. After being hermits this week I have forced them outside and told them not to come back in. They have been out there for 5 minutes and Kaedo says he's bored, so he is lying on the neighbor's grass trying to figure out a way to get back into the house without me seeing him.

Sterling, in typical find-something-to-destroy-and-make-a-game-of-it fashion has been playing with a broken umbrella and a football.

Laundry has been started and lists are being left out, I am trying to figure out how to make everything fit in the one duffel I intend to take for myself and I have already filled a big bag with books.

Zap from the Past

Here are some pictures from Summer 2008. It is pouring with rain here today so I thought some water fight pictures might be good ones from the archive. Love the long hair! I know they won't be growing it again, but I sure loved it long. At least this year, Sterling won't be mistaken for a girl on his summer holidays.

We are counting down to our trip. 5 more days until lift off. ya! 4 more days of work! boo!

A Great Day Off

We went to my office yesterday for a staff appreciation BBQ. We had so much fun. They had games set up and delicious food and my boss kindly signed the boys in so they could go into the centre and see where I work. I was able to take them through the centre, show them off to my co-workers, and show them all the stuff my office has to offer. They were impressed with all the TVs and the lack of work going on due to the World Cup. In our lobby they even have bleachers set up for the spectators. The kids were shocked at how many people were sitting and watching.

After that the kids wanted to go to Scarborough Town Centre, a fancy shopping centre just down the road from my office. We headed over there and walked around for a while. Jessica mentioned to me that Avery wears fancy things in her hair so we were on a mission to find something suitable. We were able to pick up what we were looking for at Gymboree. Cute store but SO expensive. I know now why I never shopped their for my boys. I was lucky to get BOGO half off, so I was happy with the price. When we got them home we were pleasantly reassured that what we bought matched the clothes we have bought her perfectly.

We headed to the grocery store for some supper fixings and then to the library to return a book for Craig and pick up some new ones. Don't know if he has read the ones I picked up for him but we'll see.

The weather got a little cooler now so the boys went going to hang out outside for a while. Craig worked late and I'm just got some things organised. The boys wrote their lists of things "They Just Gotta Have" for their trip. I told them they only have one bag each plus their backpacks so they need to pack accordingly. We'll see.

Week 41! This is the last weekly gnome picture in Ontario for 3 weeks! As you can see, our travelling gnome has joined in the fun. I will be packing mini gnomee into our suitcases today so we remember him. The big thing will be having everyone remember to take the picture while they are away. (hint hint)

This week the boys have been great. They went on little mini adventures the two of them for a couple of hours each day and today we are going to my work for my staff BBQ. I think it will be fun for them. They will get to see where I work and where Craig will be working and will be able to participate in some of the games they will have set up. It will be a fun afternoon. I'm planning to take my camera and get some pictures.

We are in the midst of a heat wave today and boy is it hot! I think it is supposed to cool down later this week.

Craig has joined a new football league and he starts on Sunday. I know he is looking forward to that. I don't think he has played in this league for a few years. It will change up our Sundays and I may do the groceries by myself, but I don't mind and I'm glad he will be doing something he loves so much.

7 more sleeps until we car in Alberta. And as I always say - 6 more sleeps, as we wont be sleeping the night before!

HAppy Canada Day - a day late!

So, how was your Canada Day? Ours was fine. I worked 9-5pm and the boys stayed outside and played with the neighbors for most of the day. Craig mowed the lawn, walked the dog and watched football. Once I got home, we hung out for a while then headed into B'ville to see the fireworks. Kaedo was the only one that wanted to go and with Craig having to work this morning, he didn't want to be caught in a traffic jam. So, being as patriotic as we are, we parked in the Home Depot parking lot to watch the fireworks. It is a special kind of feeling hearing the pre-recorded intercom messages that Home Depot plays in their stores (that you can hear outside) (and that play even when the store is closed) while the fireworks light up the sky. We beat a hasty retreat as soon as the show was over and within 10 minutes we were home.

Today Craig is working up at the contact centre, and I am heading there in the next hour. The boys are heading to Cedar Park with friends and will be spending the afternoon in the sun and water, having a blast.

Summer is definitely here!

Hello All - Here is our official "First Day of Summer in Pictures"...

1. Stop at Busy Bee for our lottery tickets - got my fingers crossed
2. Scotiabank so Kaedo could deposit his money
3. Kaedo eating the free Canada Day cake they gave him at the branch
4. A truck that attempted to drive over the car instead of around it in the parking lot
5. WalMart - need I say more?
6. The video game area - seems to be the only place we visit
7. The rolling duffles we found on sale for $17 for our trip. Back to the old red for Kaedo and blue for Sterling - remember those days???
8. Kaedo's video game purchase - Harry Potter Lego
9. Sterling's video game purchase - Sims
10. The best Chip Truck on the planet
11. The best fries on the planet
12. A trip to Great Clips for haircuts
13 and 14. new and in progress haircuts
15. Sterling's bag - 9 epipens and his new clothes for the baptism

We also made a trip to Old Navy for $5 Canada Day t-shirts. They have a cool promo going where for every t-shirt they sell, they send one to our Canadian Troops. Love that idea.
We also got gas. Came home and hung out for a while. I bbq'd some chicken and got my lunches ready for the next couple of days and the boys jumped on the trampoline. We then sat down and watched 3/4 of "The Mummy" and then the doorbell rang and the boys went outside to play flashlight tag. Did I mention it was 9pm????

Anyways, that's our first day of summer break. I have to work tomorrow but Craig is off with the boys. Hope you had a good day whatever you did.