Joelle

I have a pretty amazing niece whose name is Joelle. Today I took her out for breakfast for her 17th birthday. I can't believe she is 17 already well not until Thursday but still it seems like she was just born. I think she is a pretty awesome girl and this is probably the last birthday of hers that we will celebrate together in Winnipeg since she has great aspirations to leave Manitoba for the University of Alberta. It is great to live so close to my nieces and nephew here in Winnipeg and really get to know them more as friends.
I have never seen a 17 year old so busy and so motivated to do so many different things.Here are some pics from our yummy breakfast adventure.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JO!!!

Why I love being a Mom

I am just writing a random note about being a Mom today because I just had the most fun this afternoon with Abby and it was totally random and spontaneous.
When I was a kid I loved music and I used to listen to my big sister's records and make up actions to all the songs and sing my little heart out. Today I introduced that to Abby. Okay totally cheesy because really Abby doesn't really get it but she loves music and she dances and she was having fun. What more can a Mom ask? No pictures because well no one needs to see my dance moves but I just wanted to share how much fun it was and how much I love being a Mom.

Fall is in the Air

As the weather starts showing signs of what is to come Abby and I have been trying to get outside as much as possible. It often amazes me at what she can do now and how much she understands. She isn't saying much yet but she is understanding and doing things when I ask her. It is so much fun to watch her. The other day we were at the park and she was determined to climb up those rope ladders. I can say she is definitely a determined little girl and with a little help from Mom she did make it to the top. She was just beaming when she did it too. What can I say she is one smart girl!! Here is a pic of her and her friend Marie-Claude they were so cute walking around the duck pond holding hands.
Ryan headed back to school for his last semester of his undergrad. It is exciting but scary thinking that we are really going to be entering the real world soon. This semester doesn't seem so bad thus far and Abby and I get to see Daddy a bit which is so nice.
My most exciting event is our basement is finally complete. Right before our trip we got our subfloor in and then after we got home our carpet. We decided since it was empty we might as well paint it. Now we are moving everything back in and it looks great. It feels like a brand new basement. Abby and I are enjoying the extra playing area and I am enjoying having my bedroom back.
My favorite thing about being a Mom this week is Abby has learned how to give kisses and she puckers her cute little lips and gives me kisses all day. Nothing is as great as getting hugs and kisses all day. Who says motherhood isn't the greatest job ever!! We also discovered we have a little corn on the cob lover. Yesterday at Grandma and Grandpa's we gave her half a cob and she devoured it.

Smith Family Holidays

Well time goes way too fast and we are home from our holidays already. We spent a couple of days over in P.E.I. On the way over we took a ferry ride which was fun. Abby loved running around on the deck until the big horn sounded signaling time to return to our cars she came racing back to her Dad. We stayed in Charlottetown for two nights it was so nice. The weather continued to be super hot and beautiful.
On Saturday we headed up to Cavendish and Green Gables. I loved seeing the house that the book was based on. We headed on a couple of hikes through Lover's Lane and The Haunted Wood. Although the Haunted Wood wasn't that scary at all. We went to the bookstore there and there was this cute asian girl about the same age as Abby who kept staring at us. She finally came over and started pushing Abby around in the stroller it was so cute. I bought Abby a child's version of the story and I read it to her that night. I know so cheesy but fun. In the afternoon we hit the village of Avonlea which was super duper expensive but we thought we probably won't be here again so we should just do it. We got in and it was lamo. So mad at myself. However there was a little petting zoo which Abby loved so it was really all worth it. We hit the beach after that which was so beautiful. Every single place I have been too has been so beautiful.
We hit the Charlottetown Branch for church on Sunday. I met one of my good friends sister in laws. She was so sweet and I was like I would have never guessed that you are Matt's sister and then she totally imitated Matt to the "t" which was hilarious. After church we hit the road and took a long scenic drive down the coast of PEI to the bridge. It was so beautiful once again but it took quite a long time and by the time we hit the bridge we were so hot and tired.
The bridge is really quite an amazing piece of architecture. However since the Honda sits pretty low the view on the bridge wasn't that amazing I took a pic to show it off but I won't bore you with the cm of ocean that you can visualize.
We finally arrived at the cottage which was totally awesome. It was a beautiful evening so we walked along the beach and enjoyed a beautiful sunset. They have amazing sunsets on the East Coast. Our week at the cottage was super relaxing. Abby and I hit the beach every low tide to collect shells. You would laugh at the big bag I brought home. Oh well. The weather turned from amazing the first week to gloomy and rainy most of the second week so we didn't get much beach time but Abby enjoyed the puddles, I learned to drive a stick shift, and we hit a few towns in the area. We hit the local museum which has an exhibit on a giantess Anna Swain. So funny. We cooked up some lobster well Ryan did and he did an awesome job. I was a little nervous about eating something that was moving 15 minutes earlier but I overcame that once I tasted it.
On our last weekend we headed into Truro to spend some time with Ryan's Grandparents. They took us out for some fish and chips and we played some great crib. On Sunday we had a get together with two of Ryan's aunts and their families. It was so fun to meet everyone.
Well this is way too long and I need to get off the computer but all in all we had a great holiday and are back home ready for real life again. I have to leave you with this video of our little puddle jumper. I hear it runs in the family. Aunt Beth this is for you.

Holidays

Well we have almost been on the East Coast for a week and it has been awesome. Tonight we are vegging so I thought I would write a little note and post a few pics. First of all Abby did amazing on the long plane ride. In fact she finally fell asleep when the turbulence hit
We spent a few days in Halifax area. We spent a few touristy days in downtown area which was so much fun. We had yummy yummy food. We tasted what they claim is the best ice cream in Canada but I wasn't so convinced. Our car broke down right before a roundabout which was fun in the middle of rush hour. Luckily Ryan's uncle was only 20 minutes away. We were able to stay with my friend's Mom and her husband. They were super duper nice to us and leant us their car for the evening and morning. We saw some amazing gardens in the city and then we headed off to Great Grandma and Great Grandpa's house.
Nova Scotia is so beautiful with lots of hills and trees. I couldn't believe it. Great Grandma and Great Grandpa live in Truro so we spent a night and day there. It was pretty fun as they had never met Abby before. They have this amazing park and hike into some waterfalls which was really fun until Abby did a faceplant on the cement. Not so much fun and she has a huge bump on her head today.
Today we headed off for PEI. I am kind of a nerd but seriously I loved Anne of Green Gables growing up and this has always been a dream of mine to come to PEI. Once again another beautiful province. We live in such a beautiful country. The ferry coming over was fun and a nice break since it is blistering hot and our amazing little car doesn't have air conditioning. Sure makes you appreciate the times you live in. Think of those pioneers I don't know how they did it. Don't get me wrong I am ultra grateful to have our little red Honda it has just been super duper hot here.
So that's all for now but think of me tomorrow as I visit The Green Gables site and hopefully my husband doesn't get too bored. He is pretty sweet since he has been here before and he keeps patiently listening to me oohing and aahing over everything. There are a lot of more great pics but you will just have to wait.

Reunion/Anniversary

Well time seems to go by so fast these days I can't seem to keep up with it all. For the long weekend Abby and I headed out to Alberta it was a weekend packed with fun. We flew out on Saturday morning and we had a pretty good flight. I had booked a super early flight thinking Abby would sleep but she was far too excited for that. She wanted to touch everything and move everywhere. Luckily it was only a two hour flight so we did great.
Saturday was just my own siblings at my parents farm it was so much fun to see the cousins get to know each other and play together. I can't believe how many cousins Abby has already it is crazy. Here is a pic of all of them on the steps. We were missing four in this pic. Two of my brother's daughters couldn't come because of work and my brother in Colorado didn't come until Sunday with his two boys. Fun times and Abby was loving that Grandma let her have a pink popsicle. The rest of the weekend we had most of my cousins on my Dad's side of the family. It was so much fun. My favorite part was we all hiked the farm and my Dad and his siblings pointed out special places they had when they were growing up. It was really neat. After the hike we headed down to the river for some refreshment. Of course we built the traditional rock bridge. For some reason every reunion a rock bridge gets built. Initally Abby wasn't too keen on the cold water and was not going in there but after a bit she sat right in the water with all her clothes on and was screaming when I took her out. Kids!!
Here is a fun pic of some of the cousins getting a ride back to the farm house. We definitely have a great family heritage to be proud of and it was really a great time to get together and visit with each other again.
The only thing missing was my cute hubby who had to work. Next time I am going to work extra hard to make it happen that he can come because both Abby and I missed him. My cousin Liana graciously gave us a ride back to Calgary let me stay at her house and then drove us to the airport. When I put Abby to bed that night we tried to put her in the trundle bed and she totally came out climbed up the stairs and was like hi Mom. Too funny.
All in all it was an awesome weekend.

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary. Can you believe it? Three years already. It seems crazy. After a crazy shift at work I came home to a beautiful bouquet of flowers and then Ryan and I headed to a movie. I have to admit the best present ever besides the flowers was Grandma and Grandpa took Abby for a sleepover and so we got to stay out late and then sleep in. I am really a simple girl and simple things like that really do make my day sometimes.

The countdown is on for our family vacation to Nova Scotia and P.E.I. We leave next Monday for two whole weeks. I am so excited to see that part of the country meet some of Ryan's relatives and just have some fun family time. Only five more sleeps!!!

Summer is here

Well since girls camp it feels like life has been a whirlwind. Between working, Abby, and yard work I feel completely exhausted but that is the joy of summer right. Long days and warm weather. Abby got her first hair cut and she looks completely adorable. Here are some before and after pictures.

My old roomies and I got together and went for brunch. It was so much fun to catch up with the Berrydale Girls. Since we lived together we have all gotten married. Theresa is almost ready to defend her Phd and Sara is getting ready to have her first baby. Man how time flies. We had so much fun at 129 Berrydale so that was a nice treat to meet up with them. By the way Cora's is delicious for brunch if anyone is looking for a great place in Winnipeg.


My sister Leslye came out for two weeks. We did lot's of shopping including a little day trip to the States. We had so much fun on the roadtrip and had a lot of laughs. We also took a trip to the zoo, lots of walks, and just fun sister time. Wouldn't it be so much fun if she lived closer. Abby definitely thinks so. Aunt Leslye was able to watch Abby a few times and I know Abby had a blast. Here is a pic of Abby enjoying a bite of her first hot dog.

Thankfully vacation time is fastly approaching. July has been crazy since I have been working a few extra shifts to make up for the long weekend off and two weeks at the end of August off. I can't wait to go home this weekend and see all of my brothers and sisters at the Smith Family Reunion. It will be awesome to see all my cousins and their kids as well. I can't wait to see those mountains. YEAH!!!! Then only a few short weeks and we head off for a family vacation with Ryan, Abby, and I. Nova Scotia here we come. I am so looking forward to those two weeks where no one is working and we can do pretty much whatever we feel like doing. We will also get to introduce Abby to her great grandparents for the first time and I will meet some of Ryan's relatives for the first time. Of course I get to visit PEI where my favorite childhood character was created "Anne of Green Gables" Only 19 more sleeps but who's counting??

FYI I had two meals of steamed green beans from my garden this week so YUMMY!!!! I love that I am eating food that I grew.